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charlotte_owl's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the entire book, but around halfway I became really enthralled and read the entire rest of the book. Frey and McGray are both really interesting protagonists, and the plot is fascinating. Dealing with an asylum, witches, and conspiracy, it was a roller coaster of events.
coffee_booked's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
impalalove's review against another edition
3.0
This is a "low" three instead of a proper three stars. I liked this more than the first, and looking forward to a (hopefully!) third installment.
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Visit the locations in the book here : Fever of the Blood Booktrail
This book is simply superb! Such a brilliant follow up to the Strings of Murder. This one is perhaps even more chilling and disturbing and utterly spooky that it deserves to be top of many a TBR pile. There's witches, an asylum, a mad man and an utterly intriguing mystery woven into one heck of a story. Inspired by true facts as well!
I loved the first book in the series but this is just something else. What fascinates and excites me about this book is that the author is Mexican, has lived in both Lancaster and Edinburgh and has set a novel in the 1800s blending all of these places and cultures and more. The famous North - South banter is back ‘You sound like a peacock with its balls being squeezed” and McGray and Nine Nails have never disliked each other so much.
The theme is spooky and chilling - witchcraft and sorcery plus supernatural shadows are handled with the deft of a master craftsman. Oscar explains the research he did in the back of the book and how his knowledge and interest in both UK and Mexican culture lent themselves well to this novel. I’d never read a book with so much background before but never once did it read like a tome. This was fresh, exciting and based on myth that we all know a little of, but with added imagination and pizazz.
Oscar can write and then some. The skill in which he crafts each ‘scene’ is astounding and his characters are so well developed and drawn each of them can be seen as you turn the page. The subject of the Pendle witches was imaginatively woven into a story of murder and madness and it was a chilling treat from start to finish. I can’t praise youse highly enough McGray and Nine Nails. With Master Muriel crafting your next act, youse are likely to be on the crime fiction stage for a long while yet.
This book is simply superb! Such a brilliant follow up to the Strings of Murder. This one is perhaps even more chilling and disturbing and utterly spooky that it deserves to be top of many a TBR pile. There's witches, an asylum, a mad man and an utterly intriguing mystery woven into one heck of a story. Inspired by true facts as well!
I loved the first book in the series but this is just something else. What fascinates and excites me about this book is that the author is Mexican, has lived in both Lancaster and Edinburgh and has set a novel in the 1800s blending all of these places and cultures and more. The famous North - South banter is back ‘You sound like a peacock with its balls being squeezed” and McGray and Nine Nails have never disliked each other so much.
The theme is spooky and chilling - witchcraft and sorcery plus supernatural shadows are handled with the deft of a master craftsman. Oscar explains the research he did in the back of the book and how his knowledge and interest in both UK and Mexican culture lent themselves well to this novel. I’d never read a book with so much background before but never once did it read like a tome. This was fresh, exciting and based on myth that we all know a little of, but with added imagination and pizazz.
Oscar can write and then some. The skill in which he crafts each ‘scene’ is astounding and his characters are so well developed and drawn each of them can be seen as you turn the page. The subject of the Pendle witches was imaginatively woven into a story of murder and madness and it was a chilling treat from start to finish. I can’t praise youse highly enough McGray and Nine Nails. With Master Muriel crafting your next act, youse are likely to be on the crime fiction stage for a long while yet.
rhibbet's review against another edition
3.0
An okay book, fine if you turn your brain off a bit and don’t think too hard about a bit. I read it quite fast as I tended to skim over the bits where Frey and McGray started arguing (which was frequently). If they got on a bit better it would probably make the book a bit more enjoyable, especially as both characters are so unlikable.
icki07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
diannel_04's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in the series but I found it made no difference that I hadn't already read the first one.
An inmate escapes from an insane asylum where McCray's sister is also an inmate. One of the nurses says that the mute girl was actually see talking to Lord Ardglass before he escaped. Because of this "Nine Nails" McCray sets out on a mission to find the escapee to discover what his sister said. Naturally, his subordinate, Frey, has to follow.
As they follow Lord Ardglass the trail takes them from Edinburgh into Lancaster and then on to the headquarters of England's witches.
I really enjoyed the book although I have to admit that there were times when I wanted to slap Frey silly for being such a spoiled rotten, whiner. In fact when McCray did belt him I was practically on my feet cheering.
I am going to start the first book tonight and if it is as good I will be adding this author to my "continue to read" list.
An inmate escapes from an insane asylum where McCray's sister is also an inmate. One of the nurses says that the mute girl was actually see talking to Lord Ardglass before he escaped. Because of this "Nine Nails" McCray sets out on a mission to find the escapee to discover what his sister said. Naturally, his subordinate, Frey, has to follow.
As they follow Lord Ardglass the trail takes them from Edinburgh into Lancaster and then on to the headquarters of England's witches.
I really enjoyed the book although I have to admit that there were times when I wanted to slap Frey silly for being such a spoiled rotten, whiner. In fact when McCray did belt him I was practically on my feet cheering.
I am going to start the first book tonight and if it is as good I will be adding this author to my "continue to read" list.
elreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
2.0
So disappointing! I loved the first book in the series and this one got off to a great start, but unfortunately failed to deliver. It sort of felt like the author had a great premise, but was unable to flesh it out. Just a lot of chasing people around and no real mystery solving going on. I will probably read the next one, just to make sure, but if the rest of the series turns out like this, I wouldn't waste my time.