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motaki's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25
lene_kretzsch's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Lesbian vampires on the high seas! What could be better?
Seriously, though, this first volume in a series following Lucy Harker, the dhampir daughter of Mina Harker and Dracula, is somewhat less perfect than that tag line suggests. Lucy herself, a British secret service agent recruited from childhood by her stepfather, Mycroft Holmes, is rather a wet blanket through much of the book (never fear-she grows and changes and looks to be an interesting protagonist going forward), and the Titanic setting is kind of cringe-worthy. I liked this well enough but read it mainly as background for the rest of the series which I've been assured is much better.
Seriously, though, this first volume in a series following Lucy Harker, the dhampir daughter of Mina Harker and Dracula, is somewhat less perfect than that tag line suggests. Lucy herself, a British secret service agent recruited from childhood by her stepfather, Mycroft Holmes, is rather a wet blanket through much of the book (never fear-she grows and changes and looks to be an interesting protagonist going forward), and the Titanic setting is kind of cringe-worthy. I liked this well enough but read it mainly as background for the rest of the series which I've been assured is much better.
morgandhu's review
4.0
Cynthia Ward’s delightful novella, The Adventure of the Incognita Contessa, is an adventure in exploring the realms of speculative fiction from the late Victorian era, a spy story set in an alternate universe where the British government is working to understand Martian technology following the failed invasion of the British Isles by inhabitants of that planet, and Lucy, the daughter of Mina Harker, works for the head of the British secret service, known as M - short for Mycroft.
Lucy’s mission is to provide unseen protection for Major Butt, an American military officer travelling home, carrying secret engineering specifications concerning the submarine Nautilus, recently recovered by German scientists. Among the other passengers on the newly commissioned oceanliner The Titanic are the vampire Millarca, also known as Carmilla, here cslled Clarimal, a mysterious English Viscount, Lord Greyborough, and his American wife (one must remember that the works of Edgar Rice Bourroughs remain under copyright, unlike many other works of a similar era which have entered the public domain), and assorted wealthy persons with names like Astor and Guggenheim.
Lucy, as we quickly learn, is not herself human, but a dhampir, the child of a vampire - in her case, Dracula himself - and a human. As a British spy, she is obliged to protect the British Empire. As the child of vampire hunters, she has an additional mission, to kill monster. Unless, of course, they are in the service of the Crown themselves. Lucy has justified her killings with the secure knowledge that vampires are soulless creatures who can only mime the emotions and conscience of humans, to lull them into a sense if security so they can feed. But as she becomes close to Clarimal, she begins to wonder if everything she has been taught is true.
Constant Reader has likely noticed that I enjoy ventures of this nature, works that take a canonical source and stretch it, expand it, play with its conceits and give its characters new and interesting things to do. This is a splendid example of the genre.
Lucy’s mission is to provide unseen protection for Major Butt, an American military officer travelling home, carrying secret engineering specifications concerning the submarine Nautilus, recently recovered by German scientists. Among the other passengers on the newly commissioned oceanliner The Titanic are the vampire Millarca, also known as Carmilla, here cslled Clarimal, a mysterious English Viscount, Lord Greyborough, and his American wife (one must remember that the works of Edgar Rice Bourroughs remain under copyright, unlike many other works of a similar era which have entered the public domain), and assorted wealthy persons with names like Astor and Guggenheim.
Lucy, as we quickly learn, is not herself human, but a dhampir, the child of a vampire - in her case, Dracula himself - and a human. As a British spy, she is obliged to protect the British Empire. As the child of vampire hunters, she has an additional mission, to kill monster. Unless, of course, they are in the service of the Crown themselves. Lucy has justified her killings with the secure knowledge that vampires are soulless creatures who can only mime the emotions and conscience of humans, to lull them into a sense if security so they can feed. But as she becomes close to Clarimal, she begins to wonder if everything she has been taught is true.
Constant Reader has likely noticed that I enjoy ventures of this nature, works that take a canonical source and stretch it, expand it, play with its conceits and give its characters new and interesting things to do. This is a splendid example of the genre.
mxphoebesviewpoint's review
4.0
Cynthia Ward brings us an international mystery in The Adventure of the Incognitia Contessa (Aqueduct Press, 161976119X, 2017) “Conversation Pieces #53” or should I say inter-galatic? Hmmmmm….
What is supposed to be a simple mission turns very complex for our Lucy on multiple levels and I am surprised this book is not also labeled as “mashup fiction”. There will be characters you have seen or heard of before involved in this case which was a delight for me.
Ward combines these familiar characters with Lucy, the Countess, and the bad guys which of course may or not include the Countess with seamless storytelling. Of course so and so should be there and lending a hand (laugh). Now you thought I was going to give a spoiler away didn’t you? (laugh). Nope.
There is a surprise romance for Lucy and of course the moral dilemma as to what to do during the story. This is a fade-to-black romance, which is fine as the mystery as to who is actually the bad guy takes precedence.
Then of course the obvious question...does anyone survive the iceberg? Not telling you have to Ward’s Adventure and have just as much fun as I did.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
What is supposed to be a simple mission turns very complex for our Lucy on multiple levels and I am surprised this book is not also labeled as “mashup fiction”. There will be characters you have seen or heard of before involved in this case which was a delight for me.
Ward combines these familiar characters with Lucy, the Countess, and the bad guys which of course may or not include the Countess with seamless storytelling. Of course so and so should be there and lending a hand (laugh). Now you thought I was going to give a spoiler away didn’t you? (laugh). Nope.
There is a surprise romance for Lucy and of course the moral dilemma as to what to do during the story. This is a fade-to-black romance, which is fine as the mystery as to who is actually the bad guy takes precedence.
Then of course the obvious question...does anyone survive the iceberg? Not telling you have to Ward’s Adventure and have just as much fun as I did.
I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.
corrie's review
4.0
The Adventure of the Incognita Countess (Conversation Pieces Book 53 by Cynthia Ward is a delightful Steampunk mash-up with a lot packed into a 82 page story. I mean, we are on board of RMS Titanic on its ill-fated voyage to New York with Dracula’s dhampir (half vampire) daughter Lucy Harker - who is a spy and monster hunter for the British government – making sure some very hush hush Nautilus plans reach America safely.
But there are also German spies on board who want to get their hands on these plans. And to top it off there is Countess Carmilla Karnstein, the seductive Upiór (vampire) who might or might not work for the Germans. Who can Lucy trust? Is she honor bound to stake the Countess?
A well written, fast paced, lovely vampire romance.
f/f any sexy times are happening off screen, it is not that kind of story
Themes: Edwardian Steampunk, in His Majesty’s Secret Service, secret Martian technology, RMS Titanic, upiór, dhampir, to stake or not to stake that’s the question.
4.3 stars
But there are also German spies on board who want to get their hands on these plans. And to top it off there is Countess Carmilla Karnstein, the seductive Upiór (vampire) who might or might not work for the Germans. Who can Lucy trust? Is she honor bound to stake the Countess?
A well written, fast paced, lovely vampire romance.
f/f any sexy times are happening off screen, it is not that kind of story
Themes: Edwardian Steampunk, in His Majesty’s Secret Service, secret Martian technology, RMS Titanic, upiór, dhampir, to stake or not to stake that’s the question.
4.3 stars
alexanderp's review
4.0
Originally published here.
This was a fun little novella set in an alt-earth steampunk-esque world, where Martians have invaded and been repelled, yet with the influx of foreign tech have changed the technological landscape. We find Lucy Harker, a dhampir (half human/half vampire) and an agent of the Crown, who been asked to hop on a first of it’s kind ship, the Titanic to ensure the secret plans of the Nautilus don’t fall into a foreign power’s hands.
Told in a the spirit of crossover fiction, where Dracula, Doctor Frankenstein, and Sherlock Holmes are all mentioned in passing. This story is rich in the homages of monsters past. Ward incorporates a nuanced knowledge of Europe to give this novella a fun flavor that defines it. Lucy’s antagonism among humans, while also being charged to protect them is an interesting tension, while it only tightens when Countess Karnstein comes on the scene and an immediate attraction blooms. This only becomes more complicated as Karnstein may be working with the Germans and that is not the only thing that is an obstacle for Lucy…
Pulpy, but refined and knowledgeable, Ward’s story is a romp back in time to a world not too far from our own, yet oh so fantastic.
This was a fun little novella set in an alt-earth steampunk-esque world, where Martians have invaded and been repelled, yet with the influx of foreign tech have changed the technological landscape. We find Lucy Harker, a dhampir (half human/half vampire) and an agent of the Crown, who been asked to hop on a first of it’s kind ship, the Titanic to ensure the secret plans of the Nautilus don’t fall into a foreign power’s hands.
Told in a the spirit of crossover fiction, where Dracula, Doctor Frankenstein, and Sherlock Holmes are all mentioned in passing. This story is rich in the homages of monsters past. Ward incorporates a nuanced knowledge of Europe to give this novella a fun flavor that defines it. Lucy’s antagonism among humans, while also being charged to protect them is an interesting tension, while it only tightens when Countess Karnstein comes on the scene and an immediate attraction blooms. This only becomes more complicated as Karnstein may be working with the Germans and that is not the only thing that is an obstacle for Lucy…
Pulpy, but refined and knowledgeable, Ward’s story is a romp back in time to a world not too far from our own, yet oh so fantastic.
dawnvogel's review
4.0
(Originally posted at Mad Scientist Journal, 11/22/2017)
The Adventure of the Incognita Countess by Cynthia Ward is a brilliant epistolary short novel featuring Lucy Harker, the daughter of Mina (Murray) Harker and Count Dracula. With a cast of characters drawn from all over Victorian-era literature, coupled with the maiden voyage of the HMS Titanic, the story is both familiar and innovative. Puzzling out just who some of the characters actually are is just one of the many perks of this story.
Lucy Harker works for her stepfather, M (later revealed to be Mycroft Holmes), and the British Secret Service. Her assignment on board the Titanic is to safeguard an American and the secret plans he carries from German interception. But when she discovers a vampire on board the ship, she finds herself distracted by the beautiful undead woman.
What follows is a journey with all sorts of twists and turns, culminating in the (no real spoiler here) sinking of the Titanic. The aftermath of this disaster for Lucy Harker and Countess Karnstein was a pleasant surprise, which I won’t spoil for you.
If you’re a fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (either the movie or the graphic novel on which it was based), you’re likely to find The Adventure of the Incognita Countess a delightful and quick read.
The author provided us with a free copy of this novel in exchange for review consideration.
The Adventure of the Incognita Countess by Cynthia Ward is a brilliant epistolary short novel featuring Lucy Harker, the daughter of Mina (Murray) Harker and Count Dracula. With a cast of characters drawn from all over Victorian-era literature, coupled with the maiden voyage of the HMS Titanic, the story is both familiar and innovative. Puzzling out just who some of the characters actually are is just one of the many perks of this story.
Lucy Harker works for her stepfather, M (later revealed to be Mycroft Holmes), and the British Secret Service. Her assignment on board the Titanic is to safeguard an American and the secret plans he carries from German interception. But when she discovers a vampire on board the ship, she finds herself distracted by the beautiful undead woman.
What follows is a journey with all sorts of twists and turns, culminating in the (no real spoiler here) sinking of the Titanic. The aftermath of this disaster for Lucy Harker and Countess Karnstein was a pleasant surprise, which I won’t spoil for you.
If you’re a fan of the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (either the movie or the graphic novel on which it was based), you’re likely to find The Adventure of the Incognita Countess a delightful and quick read.
The author provided us with a free copy of this novel in exchange for review consideration.
aclaman's review
5.0
This series (the Blood-Thirsty Agent) continues to be a delightful love letter to an influential era of speculative fiction, and has continued to grow as Ward critiques and deconstructs that era's assumptions.
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