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desiree_boom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
See the literary locations in this story
Soon to appear on the Crime Cymru digital festival. This series is gory, gothic and medically fascinating. Recommended!
happlepider's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sophb84's review against another edition
5.0
I love Jem Flockhart. What a wonderfully kick-ass character, and this third book is just as good as all the others.
Set in a very creepy, dank and smelly floating hospital, The Blood has you guessing right up until the end what is going on and why all these bodies are appearing in random places. Jem and Will work together while developing their wonderfully platonic (yet pining on Will's part) relationship. Loads of other fascinating characters are introduced along with some other old favourites too.
A fantastic book. Love it.
Set in a very creepy, dank and smelly floating hospital, The Blood has you guessing right up until the end what is going on and why all these bodies are appearing in random places. Jem and Will work together while developing their wonderfully platonic (yet pining on Will's part) relationship. Loads of other fascinating characters are introduced along with some other old favourites too.
A fantastic book. Love it.
sally_evans_xx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
screamdogreads's review against another edition
4.0
"What wickedness might walk amongst us here, hidden in plain sight, concealed by the urgent press of bodies, the scramble for money, for life? I will tell you."
Once again we find ourselves on the cold, dark streets of Victorian London for another installment in the Jem Flockhart series. This is a beautifully crafted novel, from the stunning and evocative writing, to the delicious little mystery, it's just all so wonderful. Victorian London is brought alive in the most vibrant of ways. The cramped, stench ridden spaces of The Blood will almost have you recoiling, the cool, crisp night air will almost give you a chill.
Once again we find ourselves on the cold, dark streets of Victorian London for another installment in the Jem Flockhart series. This is a beautifully crafted novel, from the stunning and evocative writing, to the delicious little mystery, it's just all so wonderful. Victorian London is brought alive in the most vibrant of ways. The cramped, stench ridden spaces of The Blood will almost have you recoiling, the cool, crisp night air will almost give you a chill.
"I wish I was there beside her, dead too, so that I might keep her company in the grave, at least. But then the medical men come, and even that dream is taken from me."
Perhaps one of the most impressive things about this series is how it manages to address some rather serious talking points while not once bogging down the story. E.S Thomson has managed to elequently tackle the treatment of the poor and mentally ill, gender identity, racism, sexism, and the questionable moral standards of medicine at the time, all while fitting these topics into the framework of a murder mystery.
This is by far my favorite in the Jem Flockhart series so far, each book just keeps getting better.
thereadingrachel's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
ashleigh_j3's review against another edition
3.0
I was given the chance by Netgalley to read The Blood before release. I jumped at the chance since I loved Dark Asylum but I can't help but feel disappointed. Whilst still enjoyable, compared to the previous in the series, it just seems slow and lack the same pace. The reader is still left guessing throughout the book but it lacks the overall plot and suspense.
The climax seems to be rushed as if a deadline had needed to be met and the ending is left open, ready for another addition to the series. Perhaps we'll finally find out what happened to Eliza as she continues to be mentioned.
https://www.ashmosphere.com/
The climax seems to be rushed as if a deadline had needed to be met and the ending is left open, ready for another addition to the series. Perhaps we'll finally find out what happened to Eliza as she continues to be mentioned.
https://www.ashmosphere.com/
insert_username's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A tale of secret societies and mistrust, the blood was a brilliant read. A show of ridicule and hate towards humans that do not fit the white male look and a man assuming he is God and playing with prostitutes that "hardly people" (I was truly digusted by this sentiment as it seems to seep through the book).
The cast of characters is diverse, especially in the historical setting that it is placed in, from Dr and Miss Proudlove to even just Jem. The book moves fast enough to keep you going (from someone who has a short attention span) but doesn't feel rushed. Towards the end I don't think I have read a book that had as much tension as The Blood did but yet my favourite part of the book is simply when they are exisiting happily.A particular moment is when Jem, Jenny, Gabriel and Will are in the physic garden and are just doing normal things (picking apples and herbs, starting a fire and eating cheese of a stick) and that even though it was pretty insignificant in the run of things it was probably my favourite scene. I wasn't able to guess who the killer was until the answer was laid before me, I wasn't able go even alude to who it may be
There was mention of a long lost lover, Eliza, but to me that seemed out of place. It didn't matter to the plot and provided me with nothing of interest but maybe its because I started at book three rather then going from the beginning onwards. Apart from that, I truly enjoyed the whole book and, especially, the confessions and the, like, confession, follow through, of Miss Proudlove.
This if a good read for those who perfere dark, murder mystery stories. I enjoyed this book for what it is and will look forward to reading those that come before and and after The Blood.
The cast of characters is diverse, especially in the historical setting that it is placed in, from Dr and Miss Proudlove to even just Jem. The book moves fast enough to keep you going (from someone who has a short attention span) but doesn't feel rushed. Towards the end I don't think I have read a book that had as much tension as The Blood did but yet my favourite part of the book is simply when they are exisiting happily.
There was mention of a long lost lover, Eliza, but to me that seemed out of place. It didn't matter to the plot and provided me with nothing of interest but maybe its because I started at book three rather then going from the beginning onwards. Apart from that, I truly enjoyed the whole book and, especially, the confessions and the, like, confession, follow through, of Miss Proudlove.
This if a good read for those who perfere dark, murder mystery stories. I enjoyed this book for what it is and will look forward to reading those that come before and and after The Blood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Drug use, Racial slurs, and Suicide
vnesting's review against another edition
4.0
This book hits the trifecta for me: vividly drawn characters that I care about; a setting so richly described you can see, smell, touch, hear and taste it; and an engrossing plot that keeps me turning pages.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this advance reading copy.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this advance reading copy.