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subbasegirl's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to love this book. Incorporating all of the characters from other Victorian Era/themed novels was genius. But about halfway through this book I realized there was no plot and I couldn't distinguish any of the characters from each other. Ultimately this was just disappointing.
bbabyok's review
4.0
This book has everything in it that I love and I definitely enjoyed it. Strangely I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I am however looking forward to reading all of the others in this series.
wyrmdog's review against another edition
4.0
I started this book expecting something exceedingly cheesy. What I didn't expect was to be fully engaged, wanting to pick up this book every time I had the chance. Artfully executed and deceptively simple, even the cameos are fun and add rather than detract. I wanted to see more Genevieve kicking ass, though.
=)
Unexpectedly the book also contains 'extras' like an alternate ending, screenplay, short story and author's notes. In all, this was one of the most satisfying purchases I've made in a very long time. I can't believe I missed this when it came out 23 years ago.
=)
Unexpectedly the book also contains 'extras' like an alternate ending, screenplay, short story and author's notes. In all, this was one of the most satisfying purchases I've made in a very long time. I can't believe I missed this when it came out 23 years ago.
calamity_mary's review
3.0
3.5
Very enjoyable read if you like alternative history with a couple of fictional characters from different books/worlds trown in.
As much as I did enjoy it I will not be reading the others in this series. From the synopses they all seem pretty much the same but in different times/historic places.
Anyways,
I do think it's a recommendable book to read if you like vampires and victoriana.
Very enjoyable read if you like alternative history with a couple of fictional characters from different books/worlds trown in.
As much as I did enjoy it I will not be reading the others in this series. From the synopses they all seem pretty much the same but in different times/historic places.
Anyways,
I do think it's a recommendable book to read if you like vampires and victoriana.
cardiganna's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book, but I only liked it. The first chapter really drew me in and made me very excited for the rest of the story, but at times the story felt a little convoluted with a lot of characters. It made me wish for the old Agatha Christie books that listed the entire cast of characters on the first page so the reader could refer back when they got confused. I had trouble telling many of the Carpathians apart and often had to go back several chapters to make sure who was who. It took me out of the story, and so it took me much longer to finish this book than others. I wouldn't count this book out totally. It is chock full of references to other vampire stories and characters from books, short stories, and movies, and the story is good. It's just not great.
alysian_fields's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Blood
batbones's review against another edition
5.0
Just when I reckoned there wouldn't ever be another alternate historical fantasy vampire novel as cleverly-knitted and socio-politically sensitive as Barbara Hambly's James Asher series. I am proven wrong. Hurrah. I love the blatant borrowing that tends to be the signature move in vampire fiction, but it is tiresome if done badly, which this book did not do. It is refreshing to see old characters in new places, adjusting to them and acquiring new grievances. This reads a bit like the James Asher books if they had been written by Jonathan L. Howard; wickedly humorous at times and lots of fun.
The romance between Beauregard and Genevieve (as B's ambivalence towards Penny) was anything but unpredictable, but that was a minor setback in the overall picture. I appreciate the fact that Penny was not left in the lurch of the plot like a mistreated female character that has outlived her purpose, but enough was said that showed she had a new direction to look forward to. Godalming's...conclusion was less than desired. To avoid spoilers, I will only say his degradation was sudden and unconvincing; he was likable for the most part.
The romance between Beauregard and Genevieve (as B's ambivalence towards Penny) was anything but unpredictable, but that was a minor setback in the overall picture. I appreciate the fact that Penny was not left in the lurch of the plot like a mistreated female character that has outlived her purpose, but enough was said that showed she had a new direction to look forward to. Godalming's...conclusion was less than desired. To avoid spoilers, I will only say his degradation was sudden and unconvincing; he was likable for the most part.
smalefowles's review against another edition
3.0
Clever and trashy, in equal measure, but quite readable. Surprised it isn't a tv show, but I guess that was Penny Dreadful.
vanlir's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25