Deadly Inheritance

Deadly Inheritance
Jayelle Drewry
Triskelion Publishing
ISBN: 1-60186-169-9
Fiction, Erotic Paranormal, Novella
Reviewed by Shannon Frost

For many people, inheriting great wealth and a castle in a foreign land would be like a dream come true. For Gabrielle Murray, it means reliving the nightmares of her childhood. When she reaches the estate in Romania where she and her mother suffered mental and emotional abuse at the hands of her stepfather, she feels only anxiety and a need to wrap up the legal paperwork so she can get back to the States. Vampire Ivan Tepes and his brother have been at the mercy of Gabrielle’s stepfather for years, imprisoned in the catacombs under the mansion, starved and going slowly mad. When Gabrielle unwittingly frees them, Ivan, driven by bloodlust, attacks and turns her into a fellow vampire. As she lies limp in his arms, Ivan knows that even though she may be the stepdaughter of his greatest enemy, he will stop at nothing to claim her as fully his.
Victorian Gothic authors of old would rejoice in the way author Drewry sets a haunting scene reminiscent of their style; a castle in decay, thick forests shrouded in mist, moonlit gardens where a mysterious stranger awaits. It’s these scenes in and around the castle estate that are the strongest in the story. Ivan’s background is also interestingly spun with how the author borrows from Romanian history and the mythos of Dracula. As Ivan uses his vampire magic and charm to woo Gabrielle, he reveals himself as a deeply sensual character where the reader wants to see more of him. With its blend of old and new, an enjoyable couple in Gabrielle and Ivan, Deadly Inheritance is a fun and erotic quick read.