Renfield is given the status of a minor character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. He's already a patient in John Seward's Rushbrook House. It's Renfield who gives Dracula entry into the asylum in order to attack Mina Harker. Renfield tries at the last to stand up to Dracula and for that he is killed. That's the basics of the original stories dealings with Renfield.

Hambly, by telling the story from Renfield's point of view, manages to give us the flavor of his delusion (no pun intended) and fill in for us, the reader, his background and recent past. Then she deftly tells the story by interspersing those parts of the original text that are necessary for the story but sticking as close as possible to Renfield's knowledge of events as possible. She then manages to continue with placing Renfield in the gaps in the story where he would fit without making any changes to the original.

Renfield is indeed a tortured individual. We actually can come to understand his situation even though we may not approve of it or his actions. This is a book of redemption and change. Is long life worth it if each day is torture? Does being a vampire necessarily make one a monster? Does this book answer these questions? No, instead it gives you some information and leaves you to make your own conclusions.

I was pleased to have a chance to visit a familiar tale and see it from a new vantage point. I actually went back to my own copy of Dracula a couple of times to refresh my memory of a scene or incident. This is definitely a book for anyone who is interested in a new slant on an old tale or anyone who just enjoys a good tale well told.