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agentkp's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I just love Caroline and Jo they are so cute and so badass!! Reading about people being cool with the gayness in historical context is also something else fr
jamietherebelliousreader's review
4.0
4 stars. This was so much better than the first one. Where I found Caroline to be grating in book one I was pleasantly surprised that that was not the case here. I liked her a lot and I think she’s definitely grown as a character. Jo is still just as dreamy and swoon worthy as she was in book one which is great and I really do like the romance between her and Caroline and the way that it’s developing. They work really well together.
I really liked the plot to this one and the writing was absolutely gorgeous and lush. There’s a very sweeping and engaging atmosphere about these books that I enjoy. I’m glad that this one was a success for me and I’m looking forward to continuing on with the series.
I really liked the plot to this one and the writing was absolutely gorgeous and lush. There’s a very sweeping and engaging atmosphere about these books that I enjoy. I’m glad that this one was a success for me and I’m looking forward to continuing on with the series.
frogggirl2's review against another edition
5.0
A fun conclusion to this duology. A nice f/f romance, engaging ancillary characters and an interesting, propulsive plot. A nice weight to the discussions of morality, gender and sexuality.
reginamea's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
corrie's review
5.0
Leviathan is a worthy successor of Harkworth Hall, L.S. Johnson’s first installment of this fantastic Gothic Noir series set in Georgian England. If you haven’t read that one yet you need to start there first.
Leviathan is just as atmospheric as I remember from its predecessor. The descriptions are so vivid, I can almost feel the cold seep into my bones and detect the salty spray of seawater on my face. L.S. Johnson is a terrific storyteller. We are taken right back to oldey timey England when cued wigs and tri-corner hats were fashionable and relations with France extremely volatile.
It seems Caroline and Jo will have to face the monster once again as another Masterson is threatening the safety of England and its poor unsuspecting people. They set off to the harbor town of Medby as married couple Mister and Missus Read, to infiltrate the younger Masterson’s nefarious operations.
And thus begins a whole slew of actions that will keep you turning the pages. I loved Caroline who refused to be side-lined when it came to the hairier bits of the operation and her very human reaction after she had to do wat needed to be done to keep herself and Jo alive. I also love the bond she has with her father.
The author did a great job portraying the sensibilities of 18th century England. It all felt very authentic.
f/f
Themes: women in male drag, that monster will give you the willies, cream buns for the win, the beautiful Madame Viart, oh look my Kindle highlights are finally working, yay!
5 stars
Leviathan is just as atmospheric as I remember from its predecessor. The descriptions are so vivid, I can almost feel the cold seep into my bones and detect the salty spray of seawater on my face. L.S. Johnson is a terrific storyteller. We are taken right back to oldey timey England when cued wigs and tri-corner hats were fashionable and relations with France extremely volatile.
It seems Caroline and Jo will have to face the monster once again as another Masterson is threatening the safety of England and its poor unsuspecting people. They set off to the harbor town of Medby as married couple Mister and Missus Read, to infiltrate the younger Masterson’s nefarious operations.
And thus begins a whole slew of actions that will keep you turning the pages. I loved Caroline who refused to be side-lined when it came to the hairier bits of the operation and her very human reaction after she had to do wat needed to be done to keep herself and Jo alive. I also love the bond she has with her father.
The author did a great job portraying the sensibilities of 18th century England. It all felt very authentic.
f/f
Themes: women in male drag, that monster will give you the willies, cream buns for the win, the beautiful Madame Viart, oh look my Kindle highlights are finally working, yay!
5 stars
jaironside's review
5.0
4.5 stars
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Following on from Harkworth Hall, Leviathan follows the further adventures of Caroline Daniels – a well to do young lady in late Georgian England, and Joanne Chase, intrepid investigator of sea cryptids and their human masters. Now both in the employ of His Majesty, George II, the pair have formed a firm friendship since the last book which is ripening into something even closer. But there is little time for love when word comes that French agents may be meeting with the brother of the villainous Masterson who caused them so much heartache and danger before. The tale of a frightened local woman clinches the decision to remove at once to the port town of Medby – it would seem that the creature roused from the deeps before may have returned…
I am 80% in this just for Jo and Caroline’s relationship. The other 20% is carried along by the historical setting and the author’s crisp and engaging style. Told in first person from Caroline’s POV, these books are a very easy read in the sense that they just sweep you up and take you back to Georgian England. While they are a little light on the mystery side, this works far better in terms of the story which is concentrated on Jo and Caroline’s burgeoning romance, as well as on familial loyalties and constraints. Johnson includes enough historical detail to set the scene without bogging the reader down in needless detail. The depiction of Medby was a spot on portrayal of Georgian Scarborough and while there was no need for long descriptions of tall ships, this volume in the series gave a pleasing feel of the age of sail.
There’s an almost Lovecraftian element too in terms of the sea beastie which is most definitely carnivorous and possibly madness inducing. I enjoyed each twist and turn as the plot thickened and ambitious villains, turbulent rival nations and oceanic abominations all came together for a very dastardly plot indeed.
Caroline and Jo are just adorable together. While there are difficulties and influences on their relationship it would have been strange to ignore, Johnson never turns it into a story about issues. This is an adventure story, a fantasy mystery and very sweet romance.
Thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it. More please.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review
Following on from Harkworth Hall, Leviathan follows the further adventures of Caroline Daniels – a well to do young lady in late Georgian England, and Joanne Chase, intrepid investigator of sea cryptids and their human masters. Now both in the employ of His Majesty, George II, the pair have formed a firm friendship since the last book which is ripening into something even closer. But there is little time for love when word comes that French agents may be meeting with the brother of the villainous Masterson who caused them so much heartache and danger before. The tale of a frightened local woman clinches the decision to remove at once to the port town of Medby – it would seem that the creature roused from the deeps before may have returned…
I am 80% in this just for Jo and Caroline’s relationship. The other 20% is carried along by the historical setting and the author’s crisp and engaging style. Told in first person from Caroline’s POV, these books are a very easy read in the sense that they just sweep you up and take you back to Georgian England. While they are a little light on the mystery side, this works far better in terms of the story which is concentrated on Jo and Caroline’s burgeoning romance, as well as on familial loyalties and constraints. Johnson includes enough historical detail to set the scene without bogging the reader down in needless detail. The depiction of Medby was a spot on portrayal of Georgian Scarborough and while there was no need for long descriptions of tall ships, this volume in the series gave a pleasing feel of the age of sail.
There’s an almost Lovecraftian element too in terms of the sea beastie which is most definitely carnivorous and possibly madness inducing. I enjoyed each twist and turn as the plot thickened and ambitious villains, turbulent rival nations and oceanic abominations all came together for a very dastardly plot indeed.
Caroline and Jo are just adorable together. While there are difficulties and influences on their relationship it would have been strange to ignore, Johnson never turns it into a story about issues. This is an adventure story, a fantasy mystery and very sweet romance.
Thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it. More please.
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