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beastreader's review
3.0
I liked this book. A historical fiction mystery story mixed with some romance will attract a bunch of readers. It was nice to see Ailsa and Angus working together. I felt like they made a good team. Plus, it did not hurt that there was an attraction there between them.
The mystery surrounding Clara was intriguing. Whenever the story would flash back to the past, I grew more intrigued to find out what happened to Clara. Although, I have to admit that I did find myself somewhat disconnected with the story as a whole and the characters for about the first half of the story.
For some reason, I struggled a bit to find an emotional connection with the characters. Yet, it improved with the latter half of the story. Which I was happy with the ending.
The mystery surrounding Clara was intriguing. Whenever the story would flash back to the past, I grew more intrigued to find out what happened to Clara. Although, I have to admit that I did find myself somewhat disconnected with the story as a whole and the characters for about the first half of the story.
For some reason, I struggled a bit to find an emotional connection with the characters. Yet, it improved with the latter half of the story. Which I was happy with the ending.
booksbybindu's review
4.0
‘The Wax Artist’ is the start of a brand new Edinburgh mystery series set in the early 1800s. One that focuses on Miss Ailsa Rose a young tavern worker who also has special physic gifts. I found this to be an engaging tale with a strong independently spirited woman at its centre and one I was drawn to.
When a certain Madame Tussaud brings her exhibition of wax figures to Edinburgh it is the talk of the town. Miss Rose a young woman who grew up in Paris, nows works as in a tavern but also has special gifts - physic in nature. She is asked to perform a tea reading for a family and experiences a vision of one of the young ladies, Clara, and her untimely death.
I enjoyed Ailsa Rose as a character as she is certainly unusual for the period that she lives in. I enjoyed her compassion and empathy, she was really well-drawn and I look forward to learning more about her life. Edinburgh, especially the Old Town, is a perfect setting for a tale of the unnatural with it's Luckenbooth and windy closes and the author managed to convey this perfectly.
Looking forward to more from this series!
When a certain Madame Tussaud brings her exhibition of wax figures to Edinburgh it is the talk of the town. Miss Rose a young woman who grew up in Paris, nows works as in a tavern but also has special gifts - physic in nature. She is asked to perform a tea reading for a family and experiences a vision of one of the young ladies, Clara, and her untimely death.
I enjoyed Ailsa Rose as a character as she is certainly unusual for the period that she lives in. I enjoyed her compassion and empathy, she was really well-drawn and I look forward to learning more about her life. Edinburgh, especially the Old Town, is a perfect setting for a tale of the unnatural with it's Luckenbooth and windy closes and the author managed to convey this perfectly.
Looking forward to more from this series!
biblioberg's review
3.0
Thank you to @sarahkingauthor & @lovebookstours for my gifted copy for a honest review.
Spring, 1803. An uneasy peace between Britain and France endures - for now. In Edinburgh, as speculation grows about the resumption of war, the city’s parlours and taverns find distraction in the intriguing new faces appearing in the affluent New Town. On Hill Street, the Andrews family arrives from London, reeling from a recent scandal but determined to make a fresh start. And on Thistle Street, Marie Tussaud’s waxwork exhibition opens, offering vivid glimpses of French royalty and revolutionaries alike.
Glimpses which French émigré and psychic Ailsa Rose does not welcome.
However, unwanted reminders of bloodshed and strife are the least of Ailsa’s worries. When her spiritual abilities cause her to cross paths with the Andrews family, she foresees the death of the eldest daughter, Clara. Disturbed by the violence of her vision, Ailsa feels compelled to investigate and to thwart Clara’s dreadful fate.
But as Ailsa digs deeper into the young woman’s secrets, she also finds herself unearthing the ghosts of her own past, including those she thought she’d left behind in revolutionary France…
My thoughts: this was an interesting journey through Ailsa’s eyes as an refugee from France and now in Scotland. I was a little disappointed that Madame Tussaud wasn’t featured more in this book as the synopsis said. I did found it intriguing that Ailsa had a vision of Clara’s demise & wanted to protect her with the help of a guardsman, Angus. It was a little slow in the beginning but the pace got frenzied during the end. It was all and all a fun read.
Spring, 1803. An uneasy peace between Britain and France endures - for now. In Edinburgh, as speculation grows about the resumption of war, the city’s parlours and taverns find distraction in the intriguing new faces appearing in the affluent New Town. On Hill Street, the Andrews family arrives from London, reeling from a recent scandal but determined to make a fresh start. And on Thistle Street, Marie Tussaud’s waxwork exhibition opens, offering vivid glimpses of French royalty and revolutionaries alike.
Glimpses which French émigré and psychic Ailsa Rose does not welcome.
However, unwanted reminders of bloodshed and strife are the least of Ailsa’s worries. When her spiritual abilities cause her to cross paths with the Andrews family, she foresees the death of the eldest daughter, Clara. Disturbed by the violence of her vision, Ailsa feels compelled to investigate and to thwart Clara’s dreadful fate.
But as Ailsa digs deeper into the young woman’s secrets, she also finds herself unearthing the ghosts of her own past, including those she thought she’d left behind in revolutionary France…
My thoughts: this was an interesting journey through Ailsa’s eyes as an refugee from France and now in Scotland. I was a little disappointed that Madame Tussaud wasn’t featured more in this book as the synopsis said. I did found it intriguing that Ailsa had a vision of Clara’s demise & wanted to protect her with the help of a guardsman, Angus. It was a little slow in the beginning but the pace got frenzied during the end. It was all and all a fun read.
ashhh204's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
1.5
The book cover is beautiful but, very misleading. This book was all over the place for me.
The character development was lacking I felt the character was being developed as the story was being written. It just seemed kind of thrown together.
The plot of the story was actually rather stunning and I would have loved it had it been written differently.
There are parts of the story that due coverthe topic suicide so here is your trigger warning since books don't have to have them ⚠️
The character development was lacking I felt the character was being developed as the story was being written. It just seemed kind of thrown together.
The plot of the story was actually rather stunning and I would have loved it had it been written differently.
There are parts of the story that due coverthe topic suicide so here is your trigger warning since books don't have to have them ⚠️
moonandstarswrites's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Thank you @lovebooktours and @sarahl.king for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review 💛✨
The Wax Artist is a compelling mystery surrounding the spirits that roam the streets of Edinburgh, Madame Tussaud and the aristocratic Clara Andrews.
The story is told from the perspective of Ailsa Rose, a woman who can see and commune with spirits, and offers a unique insight into the world.
The story was engaging from the very first few pages and I didn’t want to put it down! The writing style was lovely though the dialogue took some getting used to.
It was atmospheric and creepy at times and it felt like I was there with her, walking the streets of Edinburgh. I found the ending really satisfying and loved seeing everything come together.
This one is definitely worth the read!
The Wax Artist is a compelling mystery surrounding the spirits that roam the streets of Edinburgh, Madame Tussaud and the aristocratic Clara Andrews.
The story is told from the perspective of Ailsa Rose, a woman who can see and commune with spirits, and offers a unique insight into the world.
The story was engaging from the very first few pages and I didn’t want to put it down! The writing style was lovely though the dialogue took some getting used to.
It was atmospheric and creepy at times and it felt like I was there with her, walking the streets of Edinburgh. I found the ending really satisfying and loved seeing everything come together.
This one is definitely worth the read!
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