Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Man… I really, really wanted to like this.
Was it just blatant retellings of Sherlock Holmes stories but with supernatural creatures? Yes. Did I enjoy it because it made me nostalgic for the BBC Sherlock show? Probably.
But having Doyle’s plot twist be that he’s biologically female was just… not it. And the way that it was handled felt clumsy. I understand in a story that’s historical fiction if he didn’t have the terminology to describe being trans/nonbinary (which is certainly what it seems like the author was going for, even if he refers to himself as a woman multiple times after outing himself), but the fact that it felt like it was done just for a twist and not to add anything interesting to the Watson character just felt cheap.
I really liked the dynamic between Crow and Doyle, but around this point so many of their interactions really started to feel like queer-baiting. Crow offering to have sex with Doyle, the tension when they would touch each other… There was enough queer-baiting in the BBC Sherlock show. I thought a Sherlock wingfic would be a bit less egregious, but I was wrong.
But what really turned me off from the book was the conversation Doyle and Crow have after discussing Doyle’s gender, when Doyle likens sex with Crow to be rape simply because Crow can’t feel sexual desire as an angel, so any sex with him would be coerced. So you’re saying asexual people can’t have sex without it being rape? Come on now. What is that.
Was it just blatant retellings of Sherlock Holmes stories but with supernatural creatures? Yes. Did I enjoy it because it made me nostalgic for the BBC Sherlock show? Probably.
But having Doyle’s plot twist be that he’s biologically female was just… not it. And the way that it was handled felt clumsy. I understand in a story that’s historical fiction if he didn’t have the terminology to describe being trans/nonbinary (which is certainly what it seems like the author was going for, even if he refers to himself as a woman multiple times after outing himself), but the fact that it felt like it was done just for a twist and not to add anything interesting to the Watson character just felt cheap.
I really liked the dynamic between Crow and Doyle, but around this point so many of their interactions really started to feel like queer-baiting. Crow offering to have sex with Doyle, the tension when they would touch each other… There was enough queer-baiting in the BBC Sherlock show. I thought a Sherlock wingfic would be a bit less egregious, but I was wrong.
But what really turned me off from the book was the conversation Doyle and Crow have after discussing Doyle’s gender, when Doyle likens sex with Crow to be rape simply because Crow can’t feel sexual desire as an angel, so any sex with him would be coerced. So you’re saying asexual people can’t have sex without it being rape? Come on now. What is that.
This is a wonderful Sherlock Holmes retelling! It mixes supernatural elements with the classic cases and also an overall mystery of Jack the Ripper. I absolutely enjoyed this book and would recommend for everyone. I loved the character dynamics between Crow (an angel and our Sherlock) and Doyle (a Doctor and our Watson). It was a compulsory read with a great pace. I liked the flow of the characters and how each case was experienced. This book is as if you’re getting a whole seasons worth of Sherlock mixed with Angels, Vampires, Werewolves, etc + Murder mystery! What more could you ask for?!
*thank you netgalley for sending me an arc!*
*thank you netgalley for sending me an arc!*
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
This book sounded so interesting to me. Alternate London with Angels, werewolves and vampires. A Sherlock Holmes retelling. That sounds amazing.
Sadly, it wasn't my favorite. Even with all the supernaturals, it wasn't anything special. It was ok, but I wasn't wowed.
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sadly, it wasn't my favorite. Even with all the supernaturals, it wasn't anything special. It was ok, but I wasn't wowed.
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Great world full of interesting possibilities; only enjoyable if you've never heard a Sherlock story before, or prefer to know the entire plot before it happens. Otherwise it's tragically predicable.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation
This one a Sherlock Holmes, "wings fan fic" set in a steam punk magical London during the Jack the Ripper murders. The Sherlock, in this case, is an angel, named Crow. But not an "It's a Wonderful Life" Angel. And Watson is a physician who has a "supernatural affliction." Not a big Holmes fan and don't know a thing about wings fan-fic, but an engaging, entertaining read.
This book was great!
It was quirky, and weird, and I flew through it.
It's like Sherlock Holmes meets supernatural, and I loved it. The world the author built was fun and amazing, and I'm very bummed it's not a series. I'll be checking out more of her work!!
It was quirky, and weird, and I flew through it.
It's like Sherlock Holmes meets supernatural, and I loved it. The world the author built was fun and amazing, and I'm very bummed it's not a series. I'll be checking out more of her work!!