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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Cute story, but it could have used more building (both world and character) at the start of the novel. And it's SUPER obvious who the villains are.
Not normally my type of story (sorry, just not an undead/zombie kind of girl) but I love Sooz and her Truthwitch series so I picked this up. I didn't like the characters at first but the really grew on me. Eleanor is such a great character I cannot wait to read more of her story in book two!
I adored this book. I honestly did not think that I was going to like it as much as I did. I am not usually a fan of books written in the 1800's but this one was great. The character's were great, the plot was amazing and unique and it was overall a really enjoyable read.
The cover of this book is just gorgeous. It is extremely eye catching and HarperTeen did an amazing job with the design. This is a book that I would have bought just for the cover alone.
The premise of this book was enjoyable. It has a great balance of supernatural and romance. Now the romance was not predominant but it's there. I have a feeling the book 2 is where we will get a better glimpse of the relationship between Elenore and Daniel.
I am not a huge fan of Steampunk but like I said this one is definitely a great read. To me it felt like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel.
For those of you who love Steampunk and even for those of you who don't, Something Strange and Deadly is definitely a debut novel that you will want to have on your shelves.
The cover of this book is just gorgeous. It is extremely eye catching and HarperTeen did an amazing job with the design. This is a book that I would have bought just for the cover alone.
The premise of this book was enjoyable. It has a great balance of supernatural and romance. Now the romance was not predominant but it's there. I have a feeling the book 2 is where we will get a better glimpse of the relationship between Elenore and Daniel.
I am not a huge fan of Steampunk but like I said this one is definitely a great read. To me it felt like a cross between Sherlock Holmes and Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Angel.
For those of you who love Steampunk and even for those of you who don't, Something Strange and Deadly is definitely a debut novel that you will want to have on your shelves.
Daniel Sheridan, my heart. 4.5/5 stars. MUST READ FELLOW GEEKS. SO MUCH AWESOME
Easy, quick read. Loved Eleanor. Like how it wrapped up and ended.
Check out my full review at https://dianaprincereviews.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/something-strange-and-deadly-by-susan-dennard/
This was just bad. And seriously boring. I'm amazed that I actually managed to get through the entire thing. Marie Lu recommended this book for "fans of Clockwork Angel," which is one of my absolute favorite YA books, but this was nothing at all like the popular Cassandra Clare trilogy. Eleanor is a thoughtless, annoying protagonist, with an equally bothersome mother. The love triangle and instalove come together to make two barely romantic, unhealthy, and unstimulating relationships between the rich, troubled ass that is Clarence and the 'wrongly accused' convict and broken-hearts-for-eyes Spirit Hunter that is Daniel. Allison is a shrewd yet flimsy attempt at a female friendship, and the only good character, Jie, is a horribly borderline racist portrayal of a Chinese woman in the mid-to-late 1800s. Speaking of that, I wouldn't even know it was set in the 1800s if it wasn't for how often Eleanor brought up how awful her corsets were or how improper it was to go anywhere without a chaperone (but not sneak out to be with Spirit Hunters and hail a cab and come home covered in graveyard dirt. Like, what?)
The Dead are also not intimidating or interesting in the slightest. You would think that more people would be freaking out about dead people coming back to life, but instead it's more of a "oh, that's fascinating. Maybe we should hold a seance and actually try to contact some spirits instead of being afraid for our lives!" (Complete with emphasis and exclamation.) I was really hoping to see some badass Victorian age fighting going on, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies style, but alas, instead we got a sobbing mess, which may be more realistic but certainly wasn't holding my attention while reading.
I got really sick of this writing after three chapters. Truly, the inner dialogue was just cringe-worthy, and I wish it hadn't taken up so much of the book as "how do I move the plot forward? I don't know... Oh, maybe thinking will do the trick!"
Honestly, I don't think I'm going to pick up another Susan Dennard novel after this. She sounds like a wonderful person, and she's best friends with the excellent author Sarah J. Maas, and yet I cannot stand her writing style, story development, or any of her characters in general. I'm simply not enjoying reading her books at all. Hopefully the next Truthwitch novel will be an improvement, but I'm hopping off the bandwagon before I have to sit through another book like this.
This was just bad. And seriously boring. I'm amazed that I actually managed to get through the entire thing. Marie Lu recommended this book for "fans of Clockwork Angel," which is one of my absolute favorite YA books, but this was nothing at all like the popular Cassandra Clare trilogy. Eleanor is a thoughtless, annoying protagonist, with an equally bothersome mother. The love triangle and instalove come together to make two barely romantic, unhealthy, and unstimulating relationships between the rich, troubled ass that is Clarence and the 'wrongly accused' convict and broken-hearts-for-eyes Spirit Hunter that is Daniel. Allison is a shrewd yet flimsy attempt at a female friendship, and the only good character, Jie, is a horribly borderline racist portrayal of a Chinese woman in the mid-to-late 1800s. Speaking of that, I wouldn't even know it was set in the 1800s if it wasn't for how often Eleanor brought up how awful her corsets were or how improper it was to go anywhere without a chaperone (but not sneak out to be with Spirit Hunters and hail a cab and come home covered in graveyard dirt. Like, what?)
The Dead are also not intimidating or interesting in the slightest. You would think that more people would be freaking out about dead people coming back to life, but instead it's more of a "oh, that's fascinating. Maybe we should hold a seance and actually try to contact some spirits instead of being afraid for our lives!" (Complete with emphasis and exclamation.) I was really hoping to see some badass Victorian age fighting going on, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies style, but alas, instead we got a sobbing mess, which may be more realistic but certainly wasn't holding my attention while reading.
"Their fingers dug off my blistered skin, and, oh God - it hurt! Their lidless eyes were so close I could see the milky haze where their pupils had once been. Carrion breath, numbing and noxious, rolled over me. I kept screaming. I pawed at the hands - everywhere! The Dead were everywhere! This was not how I wanted to die!"
I got really sick of this writing after three chapters. Truly, the inner dialogue was just cringe-worthy, and I wish it hadn't taken up so much of the book as "how do I move the plot forward? I don't know... Oh, maybe thinking will do the trick!"
"No chaperone? But that meant. . . My breath caught in my throat. That meant I had an escape! Ugly dress or not, this was a gaping wide opportunity for an unrestrained trip to the Spirit-Hunters!"
Honestly, I don't think I'm going to pick up another Susan Dennard novel after this. She sounds like a wonderful person, and she's best friends with the excellent author Sarah J. Maas, and yet I cannot stand her writing style, story development, or any of her characters in general. I'm simply not enjoying reading her books at all. Hopefully the next Truthwitch novel will be an improvement, but I'm hopping off the bandwagon before I have to sit through another book like this.
What a great, fresh take on zombies! I love tat it's not a post apocalyptic, or dystopian. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the second book.
When I picked up Something Strange and Deadly, I didn't really know what to expect. I had never read a zombie book before, but I figured a book about Victorian steampunk zombies might be a good place to start. The cover promised me that fans of Clockwork Angel would enjoy this book, and while I did see some similarities between the two books: Victorian setting, although one is in America and the other is set in London; a beloved brother who may or may not be tied to a shadowy organization; a girl trying to better her lot in life, a sarcastic love interest who is hiding a troubled past, characters of minorities not usually seen in YA fiction--I can safely say that Something Strange and Deadly is an original book all its own. I really identified with the character of Eleanor, but I loved all the characters equally. The take on zombies was unique as well--not too gory or hokey, and just believable enough to totally immerse me in the world. I saw a few of the plot twists coming, but the one at the very end regarding Eleanor's physical condition completely blindsided me and I'm looking forward to see how that is addressed in the sequel. All in all, Something Strange and Deadly was a fantastic "historical" zombie book, perfect for Halloween!
I feel like a jerk. Let's just come out and say that steampunk is really not my thing. I find it hard to orient myself in a skewed version of history. I find myself wondering "okay, so what's different from reality and what's the same?"
All the same, I was mostly enjoying this book up until the Kiss. I just thought that a genteel young woman of the nineteenth century, like Eleanor, wouldn't have been so...pushy, bold, brazen, whichever word you prefer. If you've read my other reviews, you've probably noticed that me having problems with the romantic elements is something of a trend. Romance seems to be where I get into trouble with most books. Anyway...
The plot:
Aside from my problems, I truly believe that this is a good book. I read it mostly while making dinner and it's a miracle I didn't burn anything. This book is fast paced, interesting, keeps you guessing, and leaves you hungry for the next. I liked Dennard's twist on zombies.
The characters:
Eleanor was a strong, funny, yet relatable and lovable heroine. I rooted for her and appreciated that she had her vulnerabilities. Her loyalty to her brother was deeply touching (and something I related to, with three of my own!). She's independent and has an endearing sense of humor. I'd certainly invite her to my slumber party!
I like to note the love interest, so let me talk about Daniel for a second. Daniel is often sarcastic to the point of rudeness and doesn't overly respect the expectations of society. He has a chip on his shoulder and a guilty conscience over past wrongs, but is doing his best to make up for them.
The other characters were well-fleshed-out and believable. There all had their faults, flaws, and perfections. From Eleanor's out-of-touch mother, to
Ms. Dennard is a talented storyteller and I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future. If you like sassy girls in corsets, zombies, steampunk, or all of the above, give this one a go!
All the same, I was mostly enjoying this book up until the Kiss. I just thought that a genteel young woman of the nineteenth century, like Eleanor, wouldn't have been so...pushy, bold, brazen, whichever word you prefer. If you've read my other reviews, you've probably noticed that me having problems with the romantic elements is something of a trend. Romance seems to be where I get into trouble with most books. Anyway...
The plot:
Aside from my problems, I truly believe that this is a good book. I read it mostly while making dinner and it's a miracle I didn't burn anything. This book is fast paced, interesting, keeps you guessing, and leaves you hungry for the next. I liked Dennard's twist on zombies.
The characters:
Eleanor was a strong, funny, yet relatable and lovable heroine. I rooted for her and appreciated that she had her vulnerabilities. Her loyalty to her brother was deeply touching (and something I related to, with three of my own!). She's independent and has an endearing sense of humor. I'd certainly invite her to my slumber party!
I like to note the love interest, so let me talk about Daniel for a second. Daniel is often sarcastic to the point of rudeness and doesn't overly respect the expectations of society. He has a chip on his shoulder and a guilty conscience over past wrongs, but is doing his best to make up for them.
The other characters were well-fleshed-out and believable. There all had their faults, flaws, and perfections. From Eleanor's out-of-touch mother, to
Ms. Dennard is a talented storyteller and I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future. If you like sassy girls in corsets, zombies, steampunk, or all of the above, give this one a go!