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blissofalife's review
- 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? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Classism, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Blood, and Sexual content
kelisabeth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Biphobia, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Classism, Homophobia, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Alcohol, Blood, Grief, Lesbophobia, Toxic relationship, and Gore
blackcatkai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Classism, Murder, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Body shaming, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Ableism, Violence, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Sexual assault, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Gun violence, and Alcohol
felofhe's review
- 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? No
3.25
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Violence, Classism, Cursing, Death, Murder, Blood, Gaslighting, Grief, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexual content
tamara_joy's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Grief and Murder
Minor: Classism, Confinement, Lesbophobia, and Blood
nrogers_1030's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Murder, Classism, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment
gee_reads_books's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"Established in 1860, the mission of the London Séance Society is to provide clairvoyance and mediumship services throughout the city of London, with the intent of providing peace to mourners and satisfying the populace's growing curiosity about the afterlife."
In Sarah Penner's sophomore novel, "The London Séance Society", we meet one miss Lenna Wickes who is trying to find out who murdered her sister. Despite being a skeptic regarding anything afterlife-related, the need to solve Evie's death sees Lenna becoming renowned medium Vaudeline d'Allaire's apprentice. Under Vaudeline's tutorship, Lenna will find out that another gruesome murder took place the night Evie died; that there's a lot more to the mysterious London Séance Society than it seems; and that the spirit world might be more real, and more dangerous, than she ever thought.
Through the winding streets of Victorian London, and in the hushed backrooms of upperclass houses, this novel takes place in an exquisitely Gothic manner. There's a certain melancholy to Penner's writing, a certain delight in the dark details of the tale, that make this a perfect read for stormy nights in front of a fireplace—or, if you're like me and don't have one, in front of a YouTube video of fireplace ASMR. Filled with ghosts, mystery, and tangled deceit, this was an excellent read for the rainy week we've had where I live, and I was mesmerised by the tale Penner has spun.
Our main character, Lenna, is an exceptionally intelligent young woman who loved her sister enough to plunge into a supernatural world of séances and mediumships she doesn't believe in, if only in case it'll lead her to Evie's murderer. Despite her lack of belief in anything that can't be explained by science, Lenna finds herself growing ever closer to her mentor, the elegant and renowned Vaudeline d'Allaire, who has more than one trick up her sleeve. Even though Lenna and Vaudeline start off student and teacher, they soon develop a much tighter bond, which evolved right before my eyes in a heartwarming way. I was really fond of these two women—but also really intrigued about whether they would get this or that resolution, since more than one character's doings kept twisting reality and messing with Lenna's head. I was really glad to find that, despite being women in a Victorian society that held little to no sympathy towards females, Lenna and Vaudeline didn't allow any man to step on them and their skills. As misogynistic as many male characters were, this book was also filled with strong female characters who stood their ground, and I was absolutely delighted to watch them thrive.
This book has another narrator: mister Morley, one of the most important men in the London Séance Society, who hides a deep insecurity and secrets he would do anything to keep safe. Morley's chapters, unlike Lenna's, were told in first person, and it was really intriguing to go down that path and see things from his point of view. I believe that seeing things through his eyes really added to the mystery, and the eventual unfolding of the truth—no matter how much I disliked him personally, I was really fascinated by him as a character.
Although the story took a bit to truly capture me, once I got into the rhythm of it I was hooked. I felt like I would've liked a slightly broader plot, but everything tied up nicely; and there were a couple of plottwist that, although previsible, nonetheless made me gasp and hold my chest. I was entertained all along, and I would, without a doubt, recommend this book to everyone who enjoys good murder mysteries, spirit world reads, and strong females proving misogynistic times wrong!
Graphic: Body horror, Misogyny, Sexism, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Blood, Death, and Murder
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, and Sexual content