Reluctant Immortals

By Gwendolyn Kiste

For fans of Mexican Gothic, a harrowing, sultry horror novel about the forgotten women in Dracula and Jane Eyre as they combat the toxic men intent on destroying their lives.
Los Angeles, 1967. Lucy Westenra and Bertha Mason – the forgotten women in Dracula and Jane Eyre – have been existing as undead immortals for centuries, unable to die and still tormented by the monsters that made them.
Lucy has long fought against Dracula's intoxicating thrall, refusing his charismatic darkness and her ensuing appetite for blood. Bertha Mason, the madwoman in the attic, is still pursued from afar by Mr Rochester, who wants to add her to his collection of devoted female followers.
Then Dracula and Rochester make a shocking return in San Francisco. To finally write their own story, Lucy and Bertha must boldly reclaim their stories from the men who tried to erase them in this harrowing gothic tale of love, betrayal and coercion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Titan Books
• Release date: Nov 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781803362915

Gwendolyn Kiste

Gwendolyn Kiste is the three-time Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Rust Maidens, Reluctant Immortals, Boneset & Feathers, Pretty Marys All in a Row, and The Haunting of Velkwood. Her short fiction and nonfiction have appeared in outlets including LitHub, Nightmare Magazine, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Vastarien, Tor’s Nightfire, The Lineup, and The Dark. She’s a Lambda Literary Award winner, and her fiction has also received the This Is Horror Award for Novel of the Year as well as nominations for the Premios Kelvin, Ignotus, and Dragon Awards. Originally from Ohio, she now resides on an abandoned horse farm outside of Pittsburgh with her husband, their excitable calico cat, and not nearly enough ghosts. Find her online at GwendolynKiste.com.

Reviews for Reluctant Immortals

[andy5185 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was fun! Lucy from Dracula and Bertha from Jane Eyre together as vampire and ghost battling against Dracula and Rochester in 1967 LA and the Haight in SF. Psychedelic vampires and ghosties make for a hilarious tale that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Renfield even shows up. Overall, it’s a great feminist revenge story for these side characters to finally get their chance to kick some butt. I always wondered what was up with Rochester and the first wife in the attic anyway… That always seemed a bit shady to me!

[xaverie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of my favourites of the year.