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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Wow... this book had a little bit of everything crammed into it. Some more successfully than others. Still enjoyable.
I read The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison a couple of years ago and thought it was great. It certainly isn't a concept that I had seen a lot before reading it and it still isn't one that I have seen a lot of after reading it. In a lot of ways it felt like a breath of fresh air in fantasy and I still feel it has that place in the genre. Perhaps it is in part because of that feeling that I decided to go into this one without even reading the blurb. I sometimes do this with movies and TV shows, where I want to know as little as possible going into it that I avoid all trailers and reviews. I treated this book the same way.
That is to say, I had no idea this was Sherlock Holmes fanfic- or wingfic rather. I honestly had no idea what wingfic was until after I read this book. I'm also not sure if I would have picked this up based on the description of it and it's merger with the classic Conan Doyle characters. That is generally not something I have had a lot of interest in previously. However, it all seemed to work for me here. Addison was somehow able to blend all these elements into one ball of whodunnit goodness. I liked the world and lore and magical beings at play here. I liked the changes to Sherlock (Crow here) and Watson (Dr. Doyle). I liked how the changes mattered to the plot or to character growth. Most of all, I liked the interactions between Crow and Doyle. Their relationship shined the brightest of all the aspects of this novel. In fact, there are quite a few sweet moments between the two and I loved those moments. They really made the book for me.
By the end of the novel I wanted more. I want more of Crow and Doyle doing Sherlock and Watson things in this wonderfully weird world. And that might be the biggest compliment I can offer. I'm still not sure if I would like this book more if I was more intimately familiar with the Conan Doyle stories or if I would like it less. From my cursory knowledge, I know the mysteries and cases follow similar beats and that might spoil the big reveal at times for some readers. But on the other hand, if I was well versed in the details, would I enjoy the connections between the characters or the call backs on smaller details more? Maybe. I think it is time I finally read A Study in Scarlet.
That is to say, I had no idea this was Sherlock Holmes fanfic- or wingfic rather. I honestly had no idea what wingfic was until after I read this book. I'm also not sure if I would have picked this up based on the description of it and it's merger with the classic Conan Doyle characters. That is generally not something I have had a lot of interest in previously. However, it all seemed to work for me here. Addison was somehow able to blend all these elements into one ball of whodunnit goodness. I liked the world and lore and magical beings at play here. I liked the changes to Sherlock (Crow here) and Watson (Dr. Doyle). I liked how the changes mattered to the plot or to character growth. Most of all, I liked the interactions between Crow and Doyle. Their relationship shined the brightest of all the aspects of this novel. In fact, there are quite a few sweet moments between the two and I loved those moments. They really made the book for me.
By the end of the novel I wanted more. I want more of Crow and Doyle doing Sherlock and Watson things in this wonderfully weird world. And that might be the biggest compliment I can offer. I'm still not sure if I would like this book more if I was more intimately familiar with the Conan Doyle stories or if I would like it less. From my cursory knowledge, I know the mysteries and cases follow similar beats and that might spoil the big reveal at times for some readers. But on the other hand, if I was well versed in the details, would I enjoy the connections between the characters or the call backs on smaller details more? Maybe. I think it is time I finally read A Study in Scarlet.
I could, technically, call this a Sherlock Holmes wingfic (with the greatest love and respect for fanfiction writers of course), but it was so much more - a clever reimagining of some of my favourite stories, deeply subversive yet staying true to the original, full of easter eggs for the die-hard fan in me, and just brimming with the atmosphere+friendship feels that I so love about the Holmes series. Extra points for the truly superb audio narration.
The tagline of this book says This is not the book you are expecting. Which was true in my case. I picked it up blind simply because it is the only other book by the author of the flawless masterpiece The Goblin Emperor.*
However, if what you are expecting is the most strangely, incredibly faithful paranormal Sherlock Holmes adaptation ever, this book is exactly what you are expecting.
Things I don't like:
Things this book has:
Angels I like, but I didn't expect it to make up for my profound hatred of werewolves and vampires. It didn't, but the ridiculously accurate Sherlock Holmes vibe did. For the unfaithful part, there's all the fantasy elements. Sherlock is a white-haired angel named Crow. Watson is actually named Doyle. (Ha ha.) There are other... things... also. The facts of this book are pretty off the wall.
But the vibe. The VIBE is pure Arthur Conan Doyle. Remember how lowkey the original Holmes stories are? This book is equally lowkey. Remember how genuinely nice but also kind of a persnickety weirdo the original Sherlock is? Same. Remember the understated yet extremely vital rapport between Holmes and Watson? Yes.
They literally solve a whole bunch of original Holmes mysteries (but with paranormal twists obviously) as several overarching plotlines slowly weave together in the background. There's a lot of meeting new clients at Baker Street, going on walks together, and arguing with Lestrade. Does this sound boring? IT'S NOT. Well, it might be, but only in the exact same way the original Holmes short stories are boring. If you like those and you like fantasy, you'll like this.
This world and the characters have, honestly, several sequels of this type left in them. I had a LOT of fun with this book and I hope there will be more eventually.
I was waffling between giving this four or five stars. To be honest, I think it's a 4.5, but the author's note where she says this book "began as a Sherlock wingfic" ALMOST killed me stone dead and I cannot in good conscience round up after that. Ms. Addison p l e a s e.
*The only other book by her that isn't an explicit gay romance novel with a lot of rape in it??? Because I guess that's what she writes under her real name?????? PRESERVE US, KATHERINE.
However, if what you are expecting is the most strangely, incredibly faithful paranormal Sherlock Holmes adaptation ever, this book is exactly what you are expecting.
Things I don't like:
• Werewolves of any kind
• Vampires of any kind
Things this book has:
• TWO kinds of werewolves
• THREE kinds of vampires
• Angels
Angels I like, but I didn't expect it to make up for my profound hatred of werewolves and vampires. It didn't, but the ridiculously accurate Sherlock Holmes vibe did. For the unfaithful part, there's all the fantasy elements. Sherlock is a white-haired angel named Crow. Watson is actually named Doyle. (Ha ha.) There are other... things... also. The facts of this book are pretty off the wall.
But the vibe. The VIBE is pure Arthur Conan Doyle. Remember how lowkey the original Holmes stories are? This book is equally lowkey. Remember how genuinely nice but also kind of a persnickety weirdo the original Sherlock is? Same. Remember the understated yet extremely vital rapport between Holmes and Watson? Yes.
They literally solve a whole bunch of original Holmes mysteries (but with paranormal twists obviously) as several overarching plotlines slowly weave together in the background. There's a lot of meeting new clients at Baker Street, going on walks together, and arguing with Lestrade. Does this sound boring? IT'S NOT. Well, it might be, but only in the exact same way the original Holmes short stories are boring. If you like those and you like fantasy, you'll like this.
This world and the characters have, honestly, several sequels of this type left in them. I had a LOT of fun with this book and I hope there will be more eventually.
I was waffling between giving this four or five stars. To be honest, I think it's a 4.5, but the author's note where she says this book "began as a Sherlock wingfic" ALMOST killed me stone dead and I cannot in good conscience round up after that. Ms. Addison p l e a s e.
*The only other book by her that isn't an explicit gay romance novel with a lot of rape in it??? Because I guess that's what she writes under her real name?????? PRESERVE US, KATHERINE.
I struggled with a 3 or a 4 star review, since it really sits at a 3.5 star review I just couldn't do the "bump" to 4 stars.
It's very easy to see this as Sherlock Holmes fan fic, and the author confirms it starts that way. I want to make it clear it's a lot more than that. It's quite clever in building out a "what if" world that has a lot of the familiar Holmes characters and pieces but still manages to make it their own.
For me, it was extremely engaging and was a pretty fast read. While it looks like a novel, think of it more like a collection of serials, much like the source Sherlock Holmes stories, though it does advance linearly with each story building on the prior one.
It's very easy to see this as Sherlock Holmes fan fic, and the author confirms it starts that way. I want to make it clear it's a lot more than that. It's quite clever in building out a "what if" world that has a lot of the familiar Holmes characters and pieces but still manages to make it their own.
For me, it was extremely engaging and was a pretty fast read. While it looks like a novel, think of it more like a collection of serials, much like the source Sherlock Holmes stories, though it does advance linearly with each story building on the prior one.
Fun gender-bent fantasy rewrite of Holmes mysteries and Jack the Ripper.
Four and a half stars, really. I really enjoyed this. I thought "Sherlock Holmes, but Magic" was an excellent premise. I am torn, however, on how derivative it was.
I mean, it's an homage to Holmes. It's DEFINITELY Holmes, only Holmes (Crow) is a not-quite-fallen angel and Watson's (Doyle's) war wound is supernatural in effect. I loved that. I was somewhat bewildered that Holmes is Crow and Watson is Doyle but Lestrade is still Lestrade and Moriarity is still Moriarity (though Moriarity is a coven of vampires). Not entirely sure why Addison decided to change some names but not all, but that's not a big thing.
I do wish she'd made up her own stories rather than just retelling, for example, The Speckled Band, but from a different perspective and with supernatural elements. That was the bit that felt derivative in a way that was, perhaps, TOO.
But on the whole I really loved it and just... didn't care. I loved the Doyle/Crow relationship and just... wanted to hug both of them. That, for me, is enough.
I mean, it's an homage to Holmes. It's DEFINITELY Holmes, only Holmes (Crow) is a not-quite-fallen angel and Watson's (Doyle's) war wound is supernatural in effect. I loved that. I was somewhat bewildered that Holmes is Crow and Watson is Doyle but Lestrade is still Lestrade and Moriarity is still Moriarity (though Moriarity is a coven of vampires). Not entirely sure why Addison decided to change some names but not all, but that's not a big thing.
I do wish she'd made up her own stories rather than just retelling, for example, The Speckled Band, but from a different perspective and with supernatural elements. That was the bit that felt derivative in a way that was, perhaps, TOO.
But on the whole I really loved it and just... didn't care. I loved the Doyle/Crow relationship and just... wanted to hug both of them. That, for me, is enough.
I think the blurb is a little disingenuous not to say this is a Sherlock Holmes variant, or, more precisely, a variant on the show Sherlock. But that's about it. I love how Addison has interwoven the supernatural and found these stories far more interesting than Doyle's originals.
A fun end to my Katherine Addison rabbit hole. Not sure what it says about me that I probably wouldn’t have let it languish as my “because there’s nothing else left” Addison read if I’d realised beforehand that it had its origins as a Sherlock wingfic. That might be why I found it easy to keep reading when reading itself hasn’t always been easy lately. Alas that the trans character means it would be too emotionally fraught to rec to my mom, otherwise she’d probably like it. I feel like I’m getting the hang of Addison’s episodic treatment of mysteries, which will never I think be my preferred mode but does seem intentional in her hands as a way to provide background texture for character development. The worldbuilding and character backgrounds are doled out across the book in a way that did always have me curious and not overwhelmed with information, though I’m always game for a fat glossary. I find myself very curious what the fanfic version was like, and whether that one would have been more likely to enter my rotation for rereading.