Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

49 reviews

growintogardens's review against another edition

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.75

A lot of promise, but the characters just didn't click for me and the pacing was too slow at times. It sucks because queer characters and the setting had me so excited for this book and historical mysteries are my jam. 
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asanders88's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • 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? Yes

5.0

Very captivating look back to a time when spiritualism was taking over London. The author really painted the picture and drew me into the story. I love a dual point of view as both characters work to solve murders and you wonder about their connection.  Very well written!
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whimsylee's review

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Loved the Victorian spiritualism  and the sapphic romance. The mystery pulled me in and compelled me to keep reading. Some of the writing was redundant and I personally disliked the use of misogyny in this book. If you like spooky/historical mysteries and sapphic romance, I recommend this book. 
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cassie7e's review against another edition

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dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? No

2.5

Best thing about this book is the gay and bi rep. Too slow and somewhat predictable for me, often re-explains points already shown in the scene, and was really not into how big a role predatory men played in the plot.
Not a bad book, just didn't grip me and I finished out of obligation.
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emilywemily6's review

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dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

This one is kind of hard for me to rate, especially because I loved Penner’s first book! The writing at the beginning was hard to follow and so I was confused for the first half of the book that the beginning seance was Evie’s. The first half was kind of slow while the second half got more interesting and definitely picked up speed. I feel like these characters were overly sexualized and the focus on lust detracted from the story and from the other personality traits of the characters- literally everyone is obsessed with sex in this book. I found the society’s secrets very intriguing and how the scandal kept growing, though some of the “twists” were very predictable. I also feel like the ending wrapped up too nicely because of the paranormal being able to do things these characters could not. Lenna did some stupid things and often didn’t even try to fight her way out of tricky situations. I would have appreciated a bit more effort on her part. This book feels  different than Penner’s previous and while I generally enjoyed it, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.
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mckiheather's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced
  • 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

5.0

A great book, it had so many twists but they all unfolded so naturally I just had to think like “of course”. I loved how the whole depth of the conspiracy was never unveiled at once, there was never a moment with like the villain monologue that gives away the whole plan. You alternated POV between Lenna and Morley and pieced together the story as they unveiled what they each knew, and what they each discovered.
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gracescanlon's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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tea_at_mole_end's review

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mysterious medium-paced

3.0

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rachelita's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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cwerber's review

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. I went into it cold after acquiring it from my no buy group on the book of faces and I am glad that I did. 

I liked the character development and wasn't even upset when I figured out the twist in the book. 

But I would have liked to read more from Evie's or the love interest's point of view but whatever. I also would like to know more about Eloise. 

Anyway, an apropos book to read at the beginning of spooky season. 
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