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wishingfish's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.5
mgwuh's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
becka6131's review against another edition
4.0
I motored through this during a sick day and really enjoyed it. The magic system is very well thought out and the alt-Victorian setting felt very organic rather than shoehorned. The murder plot was genuinely very immersive although I do feel it overwhelmed the romance, which was sweet but didn't get enough development for my liking. I am an absolute sucker for friends to lovers/mutual pining and it's not that that wasn't well written here, but there just wasn't enough of it. These two really had problems communicating and while they did sort it out to an extent, it wasn't really enough to convince me in the long run.
Having said that, I'd be pleased to read the sequel if it weren't so expensive! The surrounding cast of characters was very well developed, and I would read other books by these authors.
Having said that, I'd be pleased to read the sequel if it weren't so expensive! The surrounding cast of characters was very well developed, and I would read other books by these authors.
untraveledworld's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
emilyredwood's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
silkymoonshine's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-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
4.0
siria's review against another edition
3.0
A very enjoyable murder mystery set in an alternate Victorian London, where metaphysics (or magic, to you and me) is a respectable profession and Ned Mathey and his old school friend (and lover) Julian Lynes have been hired to solve the murder of Edgard Nevett. Death by Silver rollicks along amiably enough, and there were some little touches I quite liked, but the novel as a whole was lacking some indefinable spark.
The blurb mentions them having to explore London's "sodomitical demimonde", which I suppose is technically true, but it's all in about a sedate a manner as possible. I wanted a little more sense of this as a tangible world, and for a little more yearning, a little more heat, in the romance. Mathey and Lynes' relationship felt cosy more than it did a grand passion—I kept waiting for it to ignite and that never quite happened. Equally I was waiting for Miss Frost's character to be fleshed out more—as it was, she felt uncomfortably like the Competent Self-Assured Female Character who's inserted into a story to defend against charges of sexism. I wanted to see her do stuff, as opposed to being told she'd done stuff/told that she had an interesting back story.
I would definitely read more in this world, though—there's definitely a promise here that I think Scott and Griswold can build on.
The blurb mentions them having to explore London's "sodomitical demimonde", which I suppose is technically true, but it's all in about a sedate a manner as possible. I wanted a little more sense of this as a tangible world, and for a little more yearning, a little more heat, in the romance. Mathey and Lynes' relationship felt cosy more than it did a grand passion—I kept waiting for it to ignite and that never quite happened. Equally I was waiting for Miss Frost's character to be fleshed out more—as it was, she felt uncomfortably like the Competent Self-Assured Female Character who's inserted into a story to defend against charges of sexism. I wanted to see her do stuff, as opposed to being told she'd done stuff/told that she had an interesting back story.
I would definitely read more in this world, though—there's definitely a promise here that I think Scott and Griswold can build on.
snazel's review against another edition
5.0
I adore the worldbuilding and magic system in this, and the mystery was lots of fun. I would really like more in this world. (And admittedly I'm interested to see how the romance will happen once our detectives have stopped being full of misunderstandings at each other.)
I like the characters, the mystery, the romance— I LOVE the world. I want more. I just want an entire book of the characters discussing the latest in metaphysical developments.
I like the characters, the mystery, the romance— I LOVE the world. I want more. I just want an entire book of the characters discussing the latest in metaphysical developments.
kiiouex's review against another edition
3.0
Ok so this is an established-relationship book, but also a completely-based-on-miscommunication relationship, which makes it kind of an odd read! On the one hand, I like established relationships (I like when people, y'know, like each other) the friendship was very comfortable and believable, and it's nice to take a little break from 'who is that handsome stranger bet I won't get along with him'.
but it also stretches my belief juuuust a little that these two are hooking up on the regular, yet have no idea that they mutually like each other. hm.
other than that, the murder-mystery has a lot packed into it, stuff keeps getting introduced well into the book, though I think the main culprit becomes obvious about halfway through (I am a meta-text bitch, I can't help it) it's still a good read. I don't realllly feel like the childhood-abuse flashbacks really... build to anything... it's not really discussed in a way that gives anyone closure, or comeuppance, like you might expect. That's pretty realistic in a lot of ways! But it's still a lot of page time that doesn't really have a payoff.
Anyway! that sounds kind of negative BUT it was a well-told story in an interesting world, and I'm hoping that since they end the book properly together that the sequel will be able to forge onwards with a better arc, and I'm really keen to see what happens with the miscommunication out of the way.
but it also stretches my belief juuuust a little that these two are hooking up on the regular, yet have no idea that they mutually like each other. hm.
other than that, the murder-mystery has a lot packed into it, stuff keeps getting introduced well into the book, though I think the main culprit becomes obvious about halfway through (I am a meta-text bitch, I can't help it) it's still a good read. I don't realllly feel like the childhood-abuse flashbacks really... build to anything... it's not really discussed in a way that gives anyone closure, or comeuppance, like you might expect. That's pretty realistic in a lot of ways! But it's still a lot of page time that doesn't really have a payoff.
Anyway! that sounds kind of negative BUT it was a well-told story in an interesting world, and I'm hoping that since they end the book properly together that the sequel will be able to forge onwards with a better arc, and I'm really keen to see what happens with the miscommunication out of the way.
losthitsu's review against another edition
5.0
Having fallen in love with Astreiant earlier this year, I was hoping to have a similar experience but with a Victoriana twist - and that's exactly what I got. Everything I love about Scott's writing and her exquisite character work is here sprinkled with delightful Holmesian nods (Morocco leather case!) to cheer the heart of a lifelong fan, and all of that wrapped around a gentle, slow-burn romance at the centre.