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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed it, but not as much as the first book. It seemed like it was trying to tell TOO much of a story, unlike the first book, which flowed much more smoothly. I’m still looking forward to reading the third one.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5*
Considering I read this book back in August but wasn’t able to write a review at the time, it speaks that I still have it clearly in my mind.
We’re back with the characters of the Athena Club, introduced in The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, and what a bunch this is! This was one of the things I loved in that book, how Goss took female characters from famous Gothic and Victorian novels, and subverted the whole thing. Each is fascinating in her own right in this new ‘version’, but when you put them together, sparks fly - entertaining sparks :O) And this is what she does here once more, building on the relationships as well as adding to the mix to great effect, this time bringing to the scene Irene Adler (from Sherlock Holmes) and Carmilla (LeFanu’s Carmilla).
The story starts when it comes to the group’s attention that a Lucinda Van Helsing has been kidnapped, and off they go across Europe to the rescue, not without some adventures on the way! It is a long book but truthfully I didn’t notice, being so involved in our intrepid, intelligent, women and their tribulations, from the travel aspects, very well described, to the mysteries and mad rescue plans. Made me want to go off travelling, especially at the mention of all the appetising food (cakes, cakes, cakes!!).
The narration is still in the same style as the first book, with all the characters interrupting the flow to add their opinions. This admittedly will not be to everyone’s taste but to me it worked brilliantly, especially as an audiobook! And yes, Diana and Mary do kind of steal the show... Can’t wait for the next book :O)
Considering I read this book back in August but wasn’t able to write a review at the time, it speaks that I still have it clearly in my mind.
We’re back with the characters of the Athena Club, introduced in The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, and what a bunch this is! This was one of the things I loved in that book, how Goss took female characters from famous Gothic and Victorian novels, and subverted the whole thing. Each is fascinating in her own right in this new ‘version’, but when you put them together, sparks fly - entertaining sparks :O) And this is what she does here once more, building on the relationships as well as adding to the mix to great effect, this time bringing to the scene Irene Adler (from Sherlock Holmes) and Carmilla (LeFanu’s Carmilla).
The story starts when it comes to the group’s attention that a Lucinda Van Helsing has been kidnapped, and off they go across Europe to the rescue, not without some adventures on the way! It is a long book but truthfully I didn’t notice, being so involved in our intrepid, intelligent, women and their tribulations, from the travel aspects, very well described, to the mysteries and mad rescue plans. Made me want to go off travelling, especially at the mention of all the appetising food (cakes, cakes, cakes!!).
The narration is still in the same style as the first book, with all the characters interrupting the flow to add their opinions. This admittedly will not be to everyone’s taste but to me it worked brilliantly, especially as an audiobook! And yes, Diana and Mary do kind of steal the show... Can’t wait for the next book :O)
If it was 200 pages shorter I would have given it 4 stars.
Ways to cut 200 pages:
* Cut every time it states "We will have to wait to do X until we rest/eat/etc."
* Lengthy descriptions of ethnic foods.
* Remove at least half of the "side conversations" that the author thinks are so witty that do nothing to advance the plot.
Ways to cut 200 pages:
* Cut every time it states "We will have to wait to do X until we rest/eat/etc."
* Lengthy descriptions of ethnic foods.
* Remove at least half of the "side conversations" that the author thinks are so witty that do nothing to advance the plot.
The beginning of this book is an absolute delight! The characters are just as charming and humorous as they were in the first volume--and maybe moreso!
The middle lags a bit, getting a bit overburdened with overly helpful auxiliary characters and a rescue mission whose target is quite tedious. There are a lot of pieces to stitch together, combining a couple of vampire stories into the larger tale of the mad scientists' daughters, and a chunk of that work is done with some infodumping.
But the ending is exciting and fun and left me looking forward to the next adventure.
The middle lags a bit, getting a bit overburdened with overly helpful auxiliary characters and a rescue mission whose target is quite tedious. There are a lot of pieces to stitch together, combining a couple of vampire stories into the larger tale of the mad scientists' daughters, and a chunk of that work is done with some infodumping.
But the ending is exciting and fun and left me looking forward to the next adventure.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No