You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
medium-paced
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gilded Needles is a sublime novel of revenge by Michael McDowell.
I'm not typically fond of stories set in New York City in the 19th century, although there are a few exceptions. I can gladly say that Gilded Needles is most certainly an exception, as by the time I was around 40% through this book (both ebook and audio), I could not stop reading.
An amazing, in depth analysis of life in New York City in 1882, McDowell pulls no punches in analysis of the Black Triangle neighborhood and those that would change it. From the intense depictions of squalor, to the detailed enumeration of fencing practices, to the juxtaposition of the self-righteous, pompous Judge Stallworth and Black Lena (the dark heroine of this tale), McDowell leaves nothing to chance and lays it all out.
Another amazing read, and RC Bray is again excellent in narration of a Valancourt production. I relied more heavily on the ebook to get things started as a plethora of characters are introduced, but once I had a handle on the ensemble cast, the audio was pure gold. High quality production as is now expected from Valancourt, and Bray's typical excellence create an atmosphere perfectly suited to this gritty yet linguistically refined read.
While not McDowell's typical fare as this is not a tale of the supernatural, the horror of humanity is here, and well worth reading for any of his fans.
I'm not typically fond of stories set in New York City in the 19th century, although there are a few exceptions. I can gladly say that Gilded Needles is most certainly an exception, as by the time I was around 40% through this book (both ebook and audio), I could not stop reading.
An amazing, in depth analysis of life in New York City in 1882, McDowell pulls no punches in analysis of the Black Triangle neighborhood and those that would change it. From the intense depictions of squalor, to the detailed enumeration of fencing practices, to the juxtaposition of the self-righteous, pompous Judge Stallworth and Black Lena (the dark heroine of this tale), McDowell leaves nothing to chance and lays it all out.
Another amazing read, and RC Bray is again excellent in narration of a Valancourt production. I relied more heavily on the ebook to get things started as a plethora of characters are introduced, but once I had a handle on the ensemble cast, the audio was pure gold. High quality production as is now expected from Valancourt, and Bray's typical excellence create an atmosphere perfectly suited to this gritty yet linguistically refined read.
While not McDowell's typical fare as this is not a tale of the supernatural, the horror of humanity is here, and well worth reading for any of his fans.
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Confinement, Death, Drug use, Grief, Abortion, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
adventurous
dark
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No