In 1966, producer Dan Curtis launched a daytime soap opera on ABC that would later become TV's most popular soap opera ever. It's name was Dark Shadows and it starred Jonathan Frid as the reluctant vampire, Barnabas Collins. Over the course of the show Barnabas was constantly given hell by his eternal nemisis, Angelique Bouchard, a witch who was always struggling between love and hatred for Barnabas. This book gives us a look at the bizarre life of Angelique in a flash back as Barnabas and other characters read through her diary which has mysteriously surfaced after a fire on Barnabas' family's estate. Beginning with her childhood on the island of Martinique, the book takes us through to the meeting with Barnabas, Angelique's employment in the home of the affluent Du Pres family, and the heart-shattering blow she takes when Barnabas chooses her mistress Josette over her.

The descriptions in this novel are simply breath-taking. I especially enjoyed the reoccuring references to nature, the ocean in particular. The setting is exotic and so well captured that you can almost feel the breeze and smell the salt air. The characters, even those that are not of her own creation, are so alive, each of them likable or unlikable in their own way.

Being a big fan of the show and an even bigger fan of Angelique, I knew before I picked it up that there was nothing about this book that I wouldn't like. I was happy to find that I was right.

This book made me want to watch all the episodes of the show that I had taped off of the Sci-fi Channel. It pulled me into the magic of Dark Shadows all over again and I haven't left since.

I felt a million different emotions while reading this book. I cried everytime Angelique's heart was broken. I laughed at Roger Collins' dry sense of humor. I found myself shaking with fear in the room full of hungry dogs. It was an amazing experience.

Lara Parker is not only the author of this novel, but she also played Angelique on the show. Consequently her knowledge of the character, how she works and feels, is vast and shown here. This is a story told through the eyes of Angelique herself.

For anyone who watched and loved the original TV show, this is a must-read. If you can excuse a few deviations from the show, then you should find this book highly enjoyable.

Children should not read this book because of sexual situations.

This is my most favorite book of all time.

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Created Jul 11, 2003 at 9:02pm • Submit your own review...