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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
A pretty good book, and I did enjoy it. I just feel like it was a little predictable, and for a book that seems to want a “girl power” promoting protagonist, she seems to have her own somewhat sexist mindset (seems to generalize other girls of her class as being interested only in the typical frilly matters as if she’s the only girl interested in the darker forensic sciences) and some parts of it feel too obviously “not like other girls” or “all these pesky men keep getting in my way how dare they just because I’m a girl.” I would recommend this book though, and I I am interested in the rest of the series.
This was so much fun! I don't think it's as polished or as interesting as Maniscalco's later work in Kingdom of the Wicked, but as a debut, it's pretty fucking neat!
It might be because it's a mystery and the audiobook is done by Nicola Barber, but it reminded me of the first Jackaby book: extremely fun an interesting, if a bit juvenile in scope, which isn't necessarily an issue.
My only issue, really, was that I guessed the culprit damn near immediately. That isn't necessarily the worst thing, but the book seemed so intent on insisting, "No, really, it's the red herring, I promise!" when I had known it was, in fact, not the red herring the actual entire time.
But that said, this was a really fun, breezy read and I'd happily read the sequel sometime to follow these characters through another case!
It might be because it's a mystery and the audiobook is done by Nicola Barber, but it reminded me of the first Jackaby book: extremely fun an interesting, if a bit juvenile in scope, which isn't necessarily an issue.
My only issue, really, was that I guessed the culprit damn near immediately. That isn't necessarily the worst thing, but the book seemed so intent on insisting, "No, really, it's the red herring, I promise!" when I had known it was, in fact, not the red herring the actual entire time.
But that said, this was a really fun, breezy read and I'd happily read the sequel sometime to follow these characters through another case!
I absolutely hated this. Full stop.
I had this checked out on audio from my library and I barely got through the opening scene before I returned it. Then I saw a booktuber's review saying that the romance was amazing so I sighed heavily and checked it back out. I powered through waiting for it to be amazing and I am full of regret. I should've listened to my first instinct.
1. Big I'm not like other girls vibes
This was maybe my biggest complaint. For a book whose foreground is feminism and Audrey Rose bucking society's expectations of young women, in the background is this insidious pitting of herself against all the dumb dumbs that are only beautiful and don't mind the status quo. In some cases I would think maybe an author didn't consider the implications of the way she phrased things, but in this book the anti-other-girl points were pretty opaque.
2. What romance?
After reading, I read other readers' reviews to see what they liked and disliked. I was incredibly surprised to find that so many reviews mentioned how swoon-worthy Thomas was. What did I miss? He just kept telling Audrey Rose how much she liked him and was an insufferable know-it-all. There was no chemistry at all, just an inner monologue that said "I love him, I hate him." Not enough for me.
3. The gore
I initially returned this book because I could not get past the autopsy in the opening scene. Why is it so f*cking graphic? And the book continues on in this vein. I have read a lot of thriller/mystery books that involve killing, death, and autopsies, but never before has anything of that sort bothered me. I don't know what this author's point was to describing it so wretchedly. Isn't this supposed to be a YA novel?
4. The reveal
I had this checked out on audio from my library and I barely got through the opening scene before I returned it. Then I saw a booktuber's review saying that the romance was amazing so I sighed heavily and checked it back out. I powered through waiting for it to be amazing and I am full of regret. I should've listened to my first instinct.
1. Big I'm not like other girls vibes
This was maybe my biggest complaint. For a book whose foreground is feminism and Audrey Rose bucking society's expectations of young women, in the background is this insidious pitting of herself against all the dumb dumbs that are only beautiful and don't mind the status quo. In some cases I would think maybe an author didn't consider the implications of the way she phrased things, but in this book the anti-other-girl points were pretty opaque.
2. What romance?
After reading, I read other readers' reviews to see what they liked and disliked. I was incredibly surprised to find that so many reviews mentioned how swoon-worthy Thomas was. What did I miss? He just kept telling Audrey Rose how much she liked him and was an insufferable know-it-all. There was no chemistry at all, just an inner monologue that said "I love him, I hate him." Not enough for me.
3. The gore
I initially returned this book because I could not get past the autopsy in the opening scene. Why is it so f*cking graphic? And the book continues on in this vein. I have read a lot of thriller/mystery books that involve killing, death, and autopsies, but never before has anything of that sort bothered me. I don't know what this author's point was to describing it so wretchedly. Isn't this supposed to be a YA novel?
4. The reveal
Spoiler
I knew that reaching the end of the book, Audrey Rose was way too adamant about her father being the Ripper for that to actually be the case. Then she found that hidden passage in her father's study and I was like... was this a double bluff? But no, it ended up being... her brother? I have to say, this was the worst kind of twist. The entire rest of the book preceding this characterized Nathaniel as an empathetic, caring individual and not a spot of madness (besides combing his hair excessively). This twist was out of nowhere, not because the author laid clues we weren't paying attention to but because there were no clues at all. Also, why did their father not know about that secret room and see his evil lair before all of this? Make it make sense
The idea is fantastic. The execution gave me whiplash.
Audrey goes back and forth between striving to be a modern, independent woman and being kinda immature and obtuse.
Thomas got on my fucking nerves. If I took a shot every time he told Audrey to “contain her emotions” and “think logically” I’d be hammered right about now.
Audrey goes back and forth between striving to be a modern, independent woman and being kinda immature and obtuse.
Thomas got on my fucking nerves. If I took a shot every time he told Audrey to “contain her emotions” and “think logically” I’d be hammered right about now.
I really enjoyed this book and I adored Audrey Rose as she was so unique and strong. I love how she questioned the societal norms of her time and didn't care what people think, she was very intelligent and knew what she wanted out of her life. The story was great and I really enjoyed the different relationships throughout the novel. I did however suspect the ending and although I loved the book, it did ruin it for me a little bit but it was a super interesting spin on the Jack the Ripper and now I just want to know who the real Ripper was!
I loved this book. I've always been obsessed with Jack the ripper and how he was never found and having this story be so wrapped up in true facts from those months of terror was gripping. Loved the pace of the story and enjoyed it a lot. Can't wait to read the second one!!
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
*3.5 stars round up
This was a super interesting story. I’m not usually one to read historical fiction but I love the real stories influence on this story. Thomas was my favorite, he reminded me of Sherlock Holmes with his quick witted thinking and ability to know everything there is about something simply based on the color of dirt coating it.
This was a super interesting story. I’m not usually one to read historical fiction but I love the real stories influence on this story. Thomas was my favorite, he reminded me of Sherlock Holmes with his quick witted thinking and ability to know everything there is about something simply based on the color of dirt coating it.
5 stars! Everything about this book was perfect- the story, the characters, the style of writing. I loved every chapter of it
at first the writing and unlikeable characters bothered me but then i got kinda used to it?? it got okay but still predictable