The Nosferatu Conspiracy Volume One: Lady of the Loch by Brian James Gage is a chilling graphic novel set in 1916. Years after her rescue, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna dreams of giant bats and piercing eyes. She has also been diagnosed with hemophilia which was passed down to the young Prince Alexei. With this mysterious shadowy figure visiting Prince Alexei and speaking about his destiny, it’s only a matter of time before blood rains down on the Romanov Dynasty.

The Nosferatu Conspiracy Volume One: Lady of the Loch by Brian James Gage is based on his literary work of the same title. This graphic novel depicts the downfall of the Romanov dynasty as the result of a cultist and sinister conspiracy, with the infamous Rasputin at its center. I loved Gage’s take on the Romanov dynasty and how this story focuses more on Empress Alexandra. The only Romanov I’m really familiar with is the story of Anastasia, the Grand Duchess. Seeing how Gage spiced up this story with supernatural and horrific elements was amazing. The story was set at a moderate pace and was easy to follow. The accompanying art style was vivid and the supernatural creatures had a real-world quality to them. While reading the graphic novel, I felt as though I was playing a game. I also loved the snippets of Russian newspaper clippings that were included alongside their translations.

The Nosferatu Conspiracy Graphic Serial, Volume One: Lady of the Loch is Brian James Gage’s debut graphic novel. In it, he describes a mysterious woman rescued from the waters of Loch Dracul. Her terrified rescuers dumped her at a Bucharest hospital and fled. Tsarevich Nicholas took a personal interest in her, marrying her once she seemed to recover from her illness. Her malady prevailed, also affecting their son Alexi. Twenty-two years after her marriage to Tsar Nicholas II, the Tsaritsa largely withdrew from social functions, putting a strain on her marriage and reflecting poorly on the royal family. As war and social tensions grew, murderous schemes were hatched, but a train headed to St. Petersburg may bring relief to the struggling Tsaritsa and her son and darkness to the Russian royal court.

Brian James Gage has done a brilliant job of incorporating Alexi’s hemophilia into the plot of this graphic novel series. History and legend intertwine, providing the perfect backdrop to the horror story. History tells readers about the events that unfolded during Tsar Nicholas II’s rule, but the allure of secret organizations and supernatural beings reinforces the author’s theme. Gage crafted three chapters of illustrations masterfully, giving the book a vibrant edge over others in its category. The dialogue is purposeful, supplying clues to the outcome but not revealing its secrets. Gage brings Rasputin, a historically mysterious figure, into focus and gives him an almost believable role in this vision of the events in St. Petersburg in 1916. Readers will love the artwork and suspense in Lady of the Loch.