Reviews

The Blood by E.S. Thomson

out_with_lanterns's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense 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? Yes

3.75

monniebiloney's review against another edition

dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

You should read Book 1, then Book 3, then Book 2. Because of how the writing style changed between the books.
I have one more of these god forsaken books to read, and if Jem

turns out to be 100% lesbo with no Will I will murder someone. YOU CAN'T MAKE ELSA BEST GIRL IS SHE ONLY SHOWS UP IN THE FIRST BOOK THEN DITCHED OUT. I wanted a threesome in book 1, but now, now I want CARNAGE. You can't say "I love Will"[Platonix] every couple of chapters, STOP IT, Thats straight and it hurts CUZ WILL IS BEST BOY JEM, BEST BOY
crys

Anyway, nice mystery murder plot as always.

BY GOD IF SHE DOESN'T END UP WITH WILL IN BOOK 4 I WILL RAIN HELL FIRE UPON YOU. You could have taken out the romance and just made a cool mystery. YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO MAKE WILL BEST BOY *CRYS* AND THEN JUST DITCH HIM

anyway, lol on page 193, which reflects word for word what I wrote in my first review on book 1 of the Jem Flockman books, and congrats on later on probably clarrifying that yes, JEM

When Will said "The only things I might find attractive with Sophie are things I see in you" was not gay

Like why did she think he said that in Book 2?

I don't feel like doing the content warnings, if you read the previous books, its the same stuff but +some racism (Jem isn't racist, but the sexist characters are also racist)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

abookishtype's review against another edition

3.0

The Blood, by E.S. Thomson, sees the return of apothecary Jem Flockhart and architect Will Quartermain for their third mystery. This time, the pair keep stumbling across bodies as Jem tries to figure out what happened to her friend, an apothecary on a floating hospital, a decommissioned navel vessel called The Blood, now permanently docked in the Thames. The case sends Jem and her fiend Will deep into the world of the medical experiments and the lives of former sex workers in mid-1800s, low class London...

Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss, for review consideration.

farilian's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

laughterhp's review against another edition

4.0

Another great book in the Jem Flockhart series. The London setting is so depressing and gruesome. The story is dark and engrossing. Jem and Will are a great duo. I love this series and hope she keeps writing books!

ygraines's review against another edition

4.0

'but in this city, building anything new seems to require the removal of the vilest and most decayed remnants of the past.’ he rubbed his hands together, and stared at his palms, at the way the dirt had gathered in the lines and fissures of his skin. ‘it’s as though it does not want to be forgotten; as if it does all it can to stay with us, oozing up, seeping through, sticking to everything.'

i thought i'd shaken off the weird fever dream feeling of the last two months. i hadn't, not really. maybe i'm getting closer now?

anyway, these books continue to be grotesque, compelling, unsettling, self-aware, clever penny dreadfuls, and i'm very fond of them.