Happy Hour at Casa Dracula

Title: Happy Hour at Casa Dracula
Author: Marta Acosta
Publishing Date: 2006

Marta Acosta’s Happy Hour at Casa Dracula is a fresh ensemble of fantasy, romance and humor, perfected with a feisty, contemporary flair. Described as “a cross between Bridget Jones’s Diary and Interview with the Vampire” and “Stephanie Plum meets Sex and the City”, this paranormal romantic comedy is an amusing tale which will have you transfixed from start to finish.

When Milagro de Los Santos, a struggling but spirited novelist, attends a book party for her ex-college sweetheart Sebastian, she is seduced by a dark, alluring man named Oswald who just so happens to be a vampire. The next thing she knows, she’s been bitten and awakens with a drowning sense of delirium and weakness. Initially, Milagro suspects she’s been drugged or has caught a bad case of the flu. But does the flu cause an unusual craving for raw hamburger meat? Fearing a possible “infection”, Oswald’s family steps in and offers her refuge at their secluded country ranch.

Milagro soon discovers that these aren’t your run-of-the-mill vampires with sharp fangs and dramatic black capes. They actually get quite touchy when referred to as vampires, they insist on having a condition, an autosomal recessive disorder due to an enzyme deficiency. They’re every bit as normal as you and I… well, almost. There are just a few extra precautions to take into account, such as taking iron supplements, wearing sun screen and sporting eye protection to relieve those annoying photosensitivity issues. At least your $400 Chanel sunglasses will be put to good use. Develop a thirst for blood? Don’t worry, you won’t have to go all Nosferatu and hunt down people at night. Satisfy those cravings with a soothing glass of Zinfandel, or anything with a reddish hue will do. Stock up on some V8 and cranberry juice and you’ll be just fine. For a nice variation now and then, meet up for happy hour with your friends and enjoy a moderate glass of angora rabbit blood (FYI: No animals were treated inhumanly, the animals are specifically raised for this purpose and the amount of blood extracted is much less in proportion to that if you’d donated blood).

During her stay at the ranch, Milagro is given the opportunity to share time with a family who’ll love her for who she really is. While her relationships become stronger, she also develops stronger feelings for Oswald. Everything seems fine and dandy except for one smidgen of a detail, Oswald is engaged. Doesn’t exactly coincide with the master plan to marry him and ride off into the sunset, does it? With that on her plate, she’s also served up another undesirable surprise. Sebastian is affiliated with a powerful underground organization whose mission is to rid the country of a vile infestation (i.e., kill vampires). Milagro must protect herself and her loved ones from Sebastian’s sinister tactics, but can she protect her heart from the driving stakes of love?

At first, you may be thinking, “How in the world do vampires fit into a romantic comedy, especially a contemporary romantic comedy? Well, that’s the genius of Marta Acosta. She’s a fighting force against the restricted confines of literary fiction boundaries. She breaks free of tight genre limitations and demonstrates how these are not limitations at all, but rather bridges to other genres. So in the end, the finished product isn’t a specific genre, or even a combination of genres, but a whole new, unique piece of work in itself. There’s no rule that says fantasy can’t interrelate with comedy and comedy can’t correspond with mystery or romance or action/adventure. Why not get creative, experiment and mix and match? It’s like adding many different spices to a recipe. Traditionally you may not think paprika mixes well with vanilla extract, but in the right recipe, in the right combination and variance, well, you never know. The trick is playing with the ratios while taking the surrounding content into account and you’ll end up with a totally new recipe that will stand apart from its conventional counterparts.

Acosta’s witty humor is the active catalyst which drives the other literary elements forward and keeps the reader’s interest strong. The 1st person narrative provides much insight into Milagro’s character, who’s a relatable heroine. As a smart and strong Latina who’s quirky and down-to-earth nature is refreshingly honest, readers instantly become attached to this character. The only thing I’m a bit critical of is Oswald’s character. I didn’t particularly like Oswald’s demeanor and overall presence. He just didn’t strike me as someone good enough for this heroine we’ve become so attached to. Sam (Oswald’s cousin) on the other hand, seems much more fitting; he has a sensitive whim to his character that is instantly appealing.

Recommendation:
Well-written and remarkably humorous, the plot flows at a fast, but comfortable pace. Be sure to read Midnight Brunch, the sequel to Happy Hour at Casa Dracula.

Average Rating: 8.7/10

Rating System:
Plot Development: 9/10
Character Development: 9/10
Originality: 10/10
Format: 8/10
Complexity: 7/10
Humor: 9/10