In short, I think I'd enjoy this story more if it wasn't a remix of Dracula.

Mina is a psychiatrist with unmanaged OCD who specializes in women's trauma. She abruptly left her community in Wales over a decade ago for reasons she refuses to think about, but then her old best friend Lucy sends her an email asking for help. She discovers Lucy has the same strange combination of physical and mental symptoms that a mysterious Jane Doe who was just picked up in London has, and Mina reconnects with old friends as she tries to unravel the mystery connecting them.

I feel like there's very interesting places to take a modern Dracula remix or retelling (ex: what does Mina being the "modern" "New Woman" mean in 2024?), and this book did nothing with the characters or themes but use surface level traits and plot beats. I like the idea of trying to strip the racism from Dracula by making vampires a metaphor for the way men abuse and dispose of women on a systematic level. But this book wound up having "women are awesome, men suck!" energy that is weird to bring into this story. Several of the original story's men have been genderbent into women, and remaining original male characters are either dismissive sexists or revolting villains. I thought if that was the line the author was going to go with then surely Jonathan Harker, fellow victim of Dracula, would be changed into a woman too but he isn't? But Lucy is bisexual so it's not like the author can't bring herself to have a queer main character? Trying to understand the choices made by the author is where I spent most of my attention, and I think it distracted from the story.

If you close your eyes and forgot it's a retelling, it's a nice horror story of how an ancient evil operates in modern times. There's some good body horror in here, enhanced further by the protagonist's phobias about infection and unclean things. There's also some nice nods to Welsh folklore including many things I had never heard of before, and I feel a rabbit hole of research opening before me. It's also fun to watch a group of women come together to triumph over evil.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of my favorite novels, so any retelling of the 1897 classic has to promise something quite original—but not too ridiculous—and be written by someone with the appropriate writing chops, for me to even want to touch it. I had read previous works by author Dawn Kurtagich, so I knew she would be able to create the dark and foreboding atmosphere that this tale needed.
The Madness is set a long way from the infamous setting of Transylvania; it’s set in Wales, where Kurtagich lives. She weaves in local folklore, portrays powerful female protagonists, and gives us a thriller that delivers familiar characters, but with a fresh take on the vampire myth.
There may be vocabulary that will stop you in your tracks (Bara Brith, anyone?), and lush prose that is worth highlighting, but slowing down to savor this novel makes this all the more worthwhile a read.
Readers will likely view the characters of the vampire tale that started it all quite differently after reading The Madness.

I may be biased because I’m a big fan of modern Dracula retellings. Give that retelling a girl power feminist-y twist, and I am all over it. This is exactly that.

When reading Dracula, I always wished for more character development from Mina and Lucy, and this book takes the original and makes them the main characters. Set against the backdrop of Welsh folklore, I really enjoyed the character development of Mina, especially. My one critique is that Mina seemed to be at times a little too staunchly attached to her pro science, anti-folklore beliefs, to the point where it was frustrating and seemed a little little bit implausible in the face of everything that she had experienced. I feel like that messed with the pacing of what was a crucial part of the book a little bit. But overall, I highly recommend this for fans of Dracula, Gothic horror and modern retellings of the classics.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book seemed like it was going to be an amazing read, and then we hit the middle, and it was like pump the breaks. The pacing was all thrown off and it felt like such a drag. Finally at the end things picked back up but you were only rewarded if you made it though the rough middle. I did enjoy reading about the mix of horror and gothic fiction and getting a fresh look at Dracula. There was so much going on with secrets, missing girls, and a powerful nameless force. Despite the pacing issues, I think that a lot of people are really going to like this one, and it has a lot of fun things worth reading for. The character development was done nicely, and I enjoyed it. I think that if you are looking for a spooky, atmospheric read with a modern twist on a classic tale, this book is worth checking out.

I really wanted to love Dawn Kurtagich's "The Madness," but it left me with mixed feelings. This reimagining of the Dracula tale blends Welsh folklore with a modern psychological thriller, which sounds great on paper. The story follows Mina, a psychiatrist dealing with her own demons while trying to help her mysteriously ill friend Lucy. I appreciated some of the fresh takes, like turning Quincy Morris into a lesbian cop, and Kurtagich's vivid descriptions of the Welsh landscape definitely set a creepy mood. But as I read on, things got messy. The book dips into mental illness and human trafficking in ways that made me uncomfortable, feeling more like shock value than thoughtful exploration. While I liked the focus on strong women, many characters fell flat for me. The climax had me turning pages, but it zoomed by so fast I could barely keep up. In the end, "The Madness" bit off more than it could chew. It has some cool ideas, but doesn't quite pull them together. I closed the book feeling more perplexed than satisfied, wishing it had lived up to its intriguing premise.

When Mina receives an unexpected email from her estranged best friend, her life is turned upside down. Mina must leave behind her psychiatric practice, along with her routine and the calmness it brings her, to head back to the town she grew up in. As terrible ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets….

This was a fun gothic horror. A modern spin on Dracula with a feminist twist. I went in blind as recommended by the wonderful ladies at htp hive and I’m so glad I did! The story holds the eerie atmosphere throughout and the suspense continues to build as the history unravels. I enjoyed our MC, Mina, along with all of her quirks and was really rooting for her. If you enjoy an atmospheric gothic story, add this one to your list!

Despite some heavier subject matter, this was a fun, propulsive read that I read in two days. I really loved the Welsh setting and folklore bits, and Mina and Jonathan's relationship had great tension initially. I actually expected this book to be darker, to have a darker ending, but I was pleasantly surprised at how it all turned out. A nice horror read for summer!

I was really intrigued by the premise here. Dracula is a long-time favorite, and I was curious to see where Kurtagich would take this reimagining of the Dracula universe. Unfortunately, I never found my way into it... From the opening pages, I struggled to connect to the characters, plot, and writing style. This one just wasn't for me...

This was definitely an interesting read. I applaud Dawn for creating an intriguing and different book. I was hooked in the beginning with the mysterious Jane Doe and Mina’s life. The more revealed about the missing & sick girls had me curious as what would be the reasoning behind it and how it would all come out. I had my own ideas and was trying to put the puzzle together of how it all worked out.

I definitely wasn’t expecting the twist and it threw me for a whirlwind. Looking back, I can see where a reader could’ve picked up ideas but I didn’t come to the conclusion until it was revealed. With that being said, I wasn’t all impressed with the ending. I felt like it was a little rushed and there were some loose ends that I would’ve like to see wrapped up. I may be the outlier with this but overall I enjoyed the book up until the twist & conclusion.

I loved The Madness by Dawn Kurtagich. The story starts out as a missing person mystery and the main character, Mina, returns home after a lengthy absence to help an old friend who has a strange illness. You learn of Mina's past trauma and how it affects her current life while she tries to find out what's happening to her friend. The people of the town think Mina's mom is a witch because of her odd ways and she thinks her mom might be a witch too. Each chapter takes you to a different time to reveal the young girls being taken into a strange underworld of abuse by men and the vile things that happen to them there. This book keeps you reading with twists and turns that go from mystery to fantasy and finally, horror. I liked the connection between past trauma and Mina's OCD behaviors and how she was able to find healing through reconnection to her past. Bravo!

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I absolutely DEVOURED this book—AND this is a debut?! WHOA! It was a chilling read that weaved a bit of horror, paranormal, thriller, and mystery. This is a modern retelling of Dracula (and I am a huge fan of all things Dracula!) and it did not disappoint. I really enjoyed all of the characters in this one and found them to be powerful, multi-layered, and complex with plenty of depth. The first chapter hooks you in and takes you on a wild ride filled with darkness, folklore, mythology, suspense, and a bit of ‘madness’. Kurtagich knows just how to get your attention, suck you into the story, and keep you guessing until the very end. I also really enjoyed how the author added in some mixed-media bits such as letters and tests—it made it fun and unique. If you are looking for your next fast paced and haunting horror read that will leave you on the edge of your seat then definitely check this one out!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Strong, badass female characters
✦Dracula retelling
✦A debut horror book
✦Darkness, folklore, mythology, suspense, and ‘madness’
✦Mixed-media (Such as letters and texts)
✦A book that keeps you guessing until the very end

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date: Aug. 27, 2024

Dawn Kurtagich, author of the YA series “The Dead House”, brings a next level, paranormal horror with her new novel, “The Madness”.

Mina Murray is a psychologist, helping women suffering from trauma disorders. After suffering a trauma herself as a young woman, Mina left her hometown of Wales, leaving her mother, lover and best friend behind without a word. Now, years later, Mina’s former best friend, Lucy, reaches out with a desperate cry for help and, of course, Mina races to her side. After seeing Lucy and her illness in the flesh, Mina begins to recognize Lucy’s distinctly odd symptoms as they were also experienced by a patient of hers in London. But how have two very different women, who have never met, have in common? What is causing them to be so ill and how does it relate to the hundreds of other missing women around the globe?

“The Madness” is a modern retelling of “Dracula”, but Kurtagich brings her own brand of flair and passion to the pages. In this version, Jonathan Harkness is a jilted lover, gravely disfigured by a “dog” attack years before. Mina, too, has been traumatized so severely that she suffers from tics and compulsions in order to seek control. Take these two struggling, yet fascinating characters, add some age-old vampires (my favourite) and top it off with a sprinkle of the dangerous power of the patriarchy and you have “The Madness” in all of its glory.

Mina is the protagonist, and we learn, slowly, about who she is and what she went through in her past. But there is also an unidentified (at the beginning, anyway) woman who tells her story of what goes on behind the walls of the nightclub with no name and the strange but beautiful Castle in Wales. There are brief moments of female camaraderie in the darkness, and my heartstrings were definitely pulled.

“Madness” is a gothic horror, with a psychological twist. Vampires have been inundating our fiction for the last few years, but it is rare to come across a vampire story that is so creepy and entertaining and Kurtagich was able to pull it off. I hope to see more from Kurtagich, especially if she is going to continue to put her own spin on classics like “Dracula”, because she absolutely rocked it out of the park.

The Madness
Dawn Kurtagich
08/27/2024

“..womens traumas are treated as a kind of madness, something that takes a life of its own..”

Wow. Just wow. I made so many annotations on this one. Simply to go back and look up all the terms and the history that this book is steeped in. Dawn Kurtagich has embedded so much Welsh folklore that I am currently trying to book a trip to Wales and immerse myself even more. Let’s be real, the concept of the undead known as the vampire has wreaked havoc for at least a thousand years. There must be some truth to it!

Inspired by Bram Stoker’s Dracula we have Mina and Lucy. Best friends as children who have grown apart, but when Mina is called upon by Lucy, Mina will stop at nothing to get to her. Listen, I could talk about every aspect of this book for days, from the psychiatric ward to Mina’s mother, to the jaw dropping ending that left me saying --- oh yes!!!! Give me more! It is hard to write a review for a book that you want in hand without giving spoilers.

The Madness is immersive and the perfect blend of horror and paranormal mystery. I cannot wait to see what Ms. Kurtgich comes up with next!

Title- The Madness by @dawnkurtagich
Rating-
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I buddy read this with @fullybookedinkentucky and we got truly enjoyed this one.

I don’t typically read horror books with this element but I truly enjoyed this one. The writing was brilliant. The author’s use of paranormal and psychological elements, combined with Welsh mythology, folklore, and feminist themes, results in a fresh and intriguing perspective on the modern retelling of Dracula.

Synopsis:
Beware what waits in the shadows…

With one unexpected email from her estranged best friend, Lucy, Mina Murray’s carefully curated life is turned upside down. Leaving behind her psychiatric practice in London, along with her routine and the calm it brings, she returns to the windswept shores of Wales. Faced with everything she’s left behind, she soon discovers that Lucy’s symptoms mirror those of her mysterious patient with amnesia hundreds of miles away.

With nothing but an untreatable sickness connecting the two women, and with Lucy’s life on the line, Mina finds herself asking questions and being drawn ever-deeper into a web of secrets, missing girls, and the powerful, nameless force at its center—one that has been haunting her for years.

As terrible, ancient truths begin to reveal themselves, Mina prepares to confront her own darkest secrets, and with them, an evil beyond comprehension. Together with a group of smart, savvy women, Mina seizes one last, desperate chance to stop the cycle that began so long ago. But there are dangers to inviting the attentions of what might not be a man, but a monster…

Give this one a shot when it comes out on August 27, 2024✨

Thanks NetGalley and Harlequin Press publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick, entertaining read about Mina, who suffers from her compulsions; trying to support a patient who presents with delirium and a strange rash. When an old friend reaches out with the same symptoms, Mina becomes involved in the hunt to uncover the connections between several missing women. I enjoyed the characters in this one and could absolutely picture this as a movie. There is a mystical element as well, which makes the story a little more entertaining in my opinion.

I truly enjoyed this read! It was a great way to bring a classic back to life, and had me on edge the entire read. I think the author did a great job setting the mood and making you get the creeps while telling this story.

“ I control the chaos. I tame the fear”

The Madness was enticing to say the least.

I was immediately drawn to Mina’s character. She lives this seemingly tame life and plays it safe but you can tell so much about the character through her internal monologue.

I am always a sucker for retelling and Dracula has always been my favorite. This followed the dark, mysterious and creepy vibes very well.

The mystery illness was interesting and it kept you wanting to continue to read to see what it’s all about.

Mina’s a deep character. Her OCD is controlling her and the way the author portrayed it is just the kind of rep mental illnesses deserve.

Mina having to return to her hometown to help her ex best friend uncover the reasonings for this mystery illness shows so much depth and growth in the healing of trauma.

Having to overcome trauma and learn to open back up and allow people into your life is a part of trauma that deserves recognition and Dawn Kurtagich gave this the grace it deserved.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publisbing for the eARC!

Definitely pick this one up, I hear the first edition will be extra pretty!!

Can we talk about this being aptly named? This whole book is madness! Within the past year, I’ve started reading more horror, and The Madness is a top tier creepfest. So much trauma and so much to wonder about throughout. This was haunting and I refused to read this at night. I loved the addition of the patient file reports and the depth it gave to the plot. I don’t want to say too much and give anything away but suffice it to say, I will be reading Kurtigach’s next book.

oh wow. i’ve been a HUGE fan of dawn kurtagich for years. i obsessed over ‘and the trees crept in’ for multiple years beginning with 7th-ish grade. i’m now going into my junior year of college. her adult writing style is similar enough to her YA books i loved so much that it still felt nostalgic. i was enrapture the entire book, excited to see what came next and if my theories were true. the triggering aspects were really well done, they weren’t graphic in a way that wasn’t needed and very clearly not for plot, but enough that we understood what was happening and the horror of it. Mina’s OCD compulsions were very interesting as well, i do wish there had been like one more paragraph showing how the somewhat aided her in the end as it felt almost like they were forgotten, even though i understood the connection. i really, really enjoyed this book. the mysteries were the perfect level of solvable as you’re reading to see what’s going to happen for some things but still have surprises and shocks. kurtagich remains one of my favorite authors for sure!!

Classic horror lovers are in for a treat with this modern and creative spin on an old favorite. Cleverly tucked between the pages of The Madness, readers can find nods to the original source material (that I will leave as a surprise), while also offering a fresh new story with a modern twist. The Madness had me spellbound from the first page and hooked until the last.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.