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smarkies's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ketutar's review
1.0
DNF
I read 60% of the book, I can say I have read enough to decide to stop reading it. There are too many good books out there to waste time reading crap like this.
I read it because it was recommended as Autumnal reading. Probably because Sherlock Holmes is considered very Autumnal, and this is a Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. Now, I was suspicious, because they also recommended [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590945421l/91661._SY75_.jpg|891863] and [b:The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter|34728925|The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club, #1)|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490794116l/34728925._SY75_.jpg|45924715], which also are more or less Sherlock Holmes fan fiction, and I have read the Daughter and it's BS, and I fear the Apprentice is that also, so I don't want to read it. Read the 1-star reviews, and believe them. If there are things said there that make you feel you don't want to read this book, do yourself a favor and read something else. I actually liked [b:Good Night, Mr. Holmes|552534|Good Night, Mr. Holmes (Irene Adler, #1)|Carole Nelson Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1437091135l/552534._SY75_.jpg|2903822], so if you want to read a feminist version of Sherlock Holmes, read that. It's Irene Adler fan fiction :-D (But do read the 1-star reviews first, some people don't like it for reasons, and if their reasons seem good to you, just don't waste your time reading that either.)
So - I think my dislike started from the first page.
The characters are caricatures and cardboard at that. Her father and mother can do only one thing and react the same way to everything that happens.
Every man has a mistress, or more than one.
Young women discuss sex freely.
People who have never worn a Victorian outfit complain about how uncomfortable it is.
I hate when the authors don't seem to understand the general attitudes of the era they are writing about. That was one of my biggest problems with [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659086907l/10964._SY75_.jpg|2489796]. I hate it when they take a thoroughly modern Millie and insert them into a historical time.
It felt like she was using an unnecessarily complicated language because "they spoke like that in the 19th century", and was using a thesaurus way too much. English isn't my native language, but there were some words that cannot be used the way she used them. I also don't think a brougham is what she seems to think it is. Or a "dog cart".
I found it extremely irritating how Charlotte was supposed to be so smart but then make idiotic mistakes. Firstly, she should have gotten herself a proper education already when she was a child. She should have taught herself several languages if her parents had refused to get her a teacher. She could have "helped" her friends and acquaintances with their studies and exchanged favors or other things with their governess to get the education required. She could have discussed with the governesses to find out what was needed to become a headmistress. She could have researched the different routes to becoming an independent woman. She should have considered what would happen if her scheme failed, before running away from home. What would be needed? How difficult it would actually have been to get a job. She could have started applying for a job already when she was 15. She could have started writing to earn some money. And how come she didn't manage to save more than what she had? And why didn't she wait until she was sent to the countryside before she run away? I mean, I would have made an agreement with the driver about him taking me somewhere else - and I would have secured that "somewhere else" already in good time beforehand... I suppose I need to write my version of this to see if it was any better :-D
Also, the scheme she cooked up to force her parents to give her what she wanted was stupid. At that time, all she needed to do was to SAY she had had sex with someone. She didn't need to actually have sex with someone.
Anyway, what made me finally decide not to continue reading was the passage about the relationship between Charlotte and the love interest. *sigh*
I was fascinated by the idea of a young woman being Sherlock Holmes, having chosen the name as a male disguise, but... the name "Sherlock" is a surname, and not common enough for someone to think of it as their pseudonym. She could have chosen any name, John, Edward, Frederick, Oliver, even Charles. No one would have thought the little plumb Charlotte Holmes would be the brilliant detective.
The mystery part of the book was somewhat interesting, even though it wasn't interesting enough for me to want to finish the book to find out the solution. I just don't care.
I suppose Sherry Thomas was writing Charlotte as being on the Autistic spectrum (having Asperger's), people have been having theories about Sherlock Holmes being an Aspie. I can accept her description as someone on AS. Some of us function like that.
I also appreciate the fact that Charlotte was a glutton and rotund. Though I'm thinking about Lily Langtry, the White Elephant, and that being fat wasn't in any way unattractive during the Victorian times.
I read 60% of the book, I can say I have read enough to decide to stop reading it. There are too many good books out there to waste time reading crap like this.
I read it because it was recommended as Autumnal reading. Probably because Sherlock Holmes is considered very Autumnal, and this is a Sherlock Holmes fan fiction. Now, I was suspicious, because they also recommended [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590945421l/91661._SY75_.jpg|891863] and [b:The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter|34728925|The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter (The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club, #1)|Theodora Goss|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1490794116l/34728925._SY75_.jpg|45924715], which also are more or less Sherlock Holmes fan fiction, and I have read the Daughter and it's BS, and I fear the Apprentice is that also, so I don't want to read it. Read the 1-star reviews, and believe them. If there are things said there that make you feel you don't want to read this book, do yourself a favor and read something else. I actually liked [b:Good Night, Mr. Holmes|552534|Good Night, Mr. Holmes (Irene Adler, #1)|Carole Nelson Douglas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1437091135l/552534._SY75_.jpg|2903822], so if you want to read a feminist version of Sherlock Holmes, read that. It's Irene Adler fan fiction :-D (But do read the 1-star reviews first, some people don't like it for reasons, and if their reasons seem good to you, just don't waste your time reading that either.)
So - I think my dislike started from the first page.
The characters are caricatures and cardboard at that. Her father and mother can do only one thing and react the same way to everything that happens.
Every man has a mistress, or more than one.
Young women discuss sex freely.
People who have never worn a Victorian outfit complain about how uncomfortable it is.
I hate when the authors don't seem to understand the general attitudes of the era they are writing about. That was one of my biggest problems with [b:Outlander|10964|Outlander (Outlander, #1)|Diana Gabaldon|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1659086907l/10964._SY75_.jpg|2489796]. I hate it when they take a thoroughly modern Millie and insert them into a historical time.
It felt like she was using an unnecessarily complicated language because "they spoke like that in the 19th century", and was using a thesaurus way too much. English isn't my native language, but there were some words that cannot be used the way she used them. I also don't think a brougham is what she seems to think it is. Or a "dog cart".
I found it extremely irritating how Charlotte was supposed to be so smart but then make idiotic mistakes. Firstly, she should have gotten herself a proper education already when she was a child. She should have taught herself several languages if her parents had refused to get her a teacher. She could have "helped" her friends and acquaintances with their studies and exchanged favors or other things with their governess to get the education required. She could have discussed with the governesses to find out what was needed to become a headmistress. She could have researched the different routes to becoming an independent woman. She should have considered what would happen if her scheme failed, before running away from home. What would be needed? How difficult it would actually have been to get a job. She could have started applying for a job already when she was 15. She could have started writing to earn some money. And how come she didn't manage to save more than what she had? And why didn't she wait until she was sent to the countryside before she run away? I mean, I would have made an agreement with the driver about him taking me somewhere else - and I would have secured that "somewhere else" already in good time beforehand... I suppose I need to write my version of this to see if it was any better :-D
Also, the scheme she cooked up to force her parents to give her what she wanted was stupid. At that time, all she needed to do was to SAY she had had sex with someone. She didn't need to actually have sex with someone.
Anyway, what made me finally decide not to continue reading was the passage about the relationship between Charlotte and the love interest. *sigh*
I was fascinated by the idea of a young woman being Sherlock Holmes, having chosen the name as a male disguise, but... the name "Sherlock" is a surname, and not common enough for someone to think of it as their pseudonym. She could have chosen any name, John, Edward, Frederick, Oliver, even Charles. No one would have thought the little plumb Charlotte Holmes would be the brilliant detective.
The mystery part of the book was somewhat interesting, even though it wasn't interesting enough for me to want to finish the book to find out the solution. I just don't care.
I suppose Sherry Thomas was writing Charlotte as being on the Autistic spectrum (having Asperger's), people have been having theories about Sherlock Holmes being an Aspie. I can accept her description as someone on AS. Some of us function like that.
I also appreciate the fact that Charlotte was a glutton and rotund. Though I'm thinking about Lily Langtry, the White Elephant, and that being fat wasn't in any way unattractive during the Victorian times.
klarial's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I really enjoyed this. The mystery is compelling but what really shines is the character development and simmering romance, which suites me just fine.
moshalala's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? It's complicated
2.25
pinks_paperbacks's review
4.0
I like the fact that even though it’s a recreation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s “A Study in Scarlet” it doesn’t feel forced. Even the characters that were recreated, especially Sherlock Holmes whose gender was changed to a female, doesn’t feel forced on you. There was a running theme of feminism and it spread beautifully in the story that made it a genuine issues and not one where it is used to be on trend.
The writing was so wonderful and weirdly calming to read while keeping the thrill of the story. There was a hint of Agatha Christie’s style of writing, specifically like Hercule Poirot stories which made it even more enjoyable to read. This book did encourage me to read other recreations by the author.
The writing was so wonderful and weirdly calming to read while keeping the thrill of the story. There was a hint of Agatha Christie’s style of writing, specifically like Hercule Poirot stories which made it even more enjoyable to read. This book did encourage me to read other recreations by the author.
brianne_k's review
4.0
*4/5*
This was lots of fun. Took me a little while to get into but I love the genderbent Sherlock Holmes. I can't wait to continue on.
I am totally shipping Charlotte and Lord Ingram too, oh my lord.
This was lots of fun. Took me a little while to get into but I love the genderbent Sherlock Holmes. I can't wait to continue on.
I am totally shipping Charlotte and Lord Ingram too, oh my lord.
verumsolum's review against another edition
4.5
A solid book, and interesting to see how Holmes navigates each situation she finds herself in, but … I feel like my nose is pressed against the window: like I am seeing things happen, but with a slight degree of remove from the situation. I enjoyed it fairly well, but am unsure whether or not I wish to continue with the series. (But that may say more about my reading tastes than the quality of this book)