Scan barcode
reading_slowlyn's review against another edition
5.0
Here to another favorite book. I loved how Tillie was that naive yet very curious young girl and how she evolved throughout the story. I loved every characters even the bad one. I loved how smooth that story was that I couldn’t put it down.
But this story is not for everybody, especially with the drug addiction, murders and abuses.
But this story is not for everybody, especially with the drug addiction, murders and abuses.
forgottenmuse's review against another edition
5.0
This one kept me guess who dunnit until the very end.
I suspected everyone else but the person that did it.
I wish there was more at the end. Or at least a second book.
I suspected everyone else but the person that did it.
I wish there was more at the end. Or at least a second book.
tiffbaker's review against another edition
3.0
Probably 3.5. Fluffy but enjoyable. Especially for a free book.
marie_reads_pr's review against another edition
1.0
DNF - It started interesting but quickly got annoyed with the main character and the substance abuse.
shereads_theworld's review against another edition
5.0
Historical books are typically not ones I search out and read, but this one I happened to grab while randomly adding books to my cart and am glad it did.
Though the main character I could not relate to and seemed weak and frustratingly naive until midway through the book, seeing her character grow and strengthen into someone admirable and likeable as she solved the mystery of her sister's death was what kept me reading.
Though the main character I could not relate to and seemed weak and frustratingly naive until midway through the book, seeing her character grow and strengthen into someone admirable and likeable as she solved the mystery of her sister's death was what kept me reading.
onceinorbit's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kensuds's review against another edition
3.0
(Rating, 3.75 stars)
Did someone say an unconventional Victorian teenage girl who's not an absolute Mary Sue?? Sign me up!
Tillie is absolutely clever and courious. It's pulled off rather well, to where it displays her growing a backbone and using her curiosity to her advantage as she investigates vampire-related murders. At first I was worried she was a bit "Mary Sue"-ish, but her character develops through the book in a fairly realistic way.
The writing is also very nice, I found myself thoroughly hooked and I was able to digest the book in small pieces.
I feel like the book's "bad guy revelation" was rushed in the last, like, 5% of the book, which I never really enjoy, and the book ended with a letter talking about where everyone is and all, which I found to be unsatisfactory.
All in all, I say pick up the book and give it a go.
Oh, and James needs to be punched. The end.
Did someone say an unconventional Victorian teenage girl who's not an absolute Mary Sue?? Sign me up!
Tillie is absolutely clever and courious. It's pulled off rather well, to where it displays her growing a backbone and using her curiosity to her advantage as she investigates vampire-related murders. At first I was worried she was a bit "Mary Sue"-ish, but her character develops through the book in a fairly realistic way.
The writing is also very nice, I found myself thoroughly hooked and I was able to digest the book in small pieces.
I feel like the book's "bad guy revelation" was rushed in the last, like, 5% of the book, which I never really enjoy, and the book ended with a letter talking about where everyone is and all, which I found to be unsatisfactory.
All in all, I say pick up the book and give it a go.
Oh, and James needs to be punched. The end.
abilene's review against another edition
4.0
This is not normally something I would read, but it turned out to be very good! It was well written, I liked how all of the characters were written and I was intrigued the entire story. I was unable to guess the killer and was genuinely surprised by who it was.
oneanjana's review against another edition
4.0
“A woman’s mind is ever in need of being uncaged.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)
Oh wow! This one was unexpectedly enjoyable. I actually picked up this book randomly because it was on Amazon Kindle’s deals and briefly read the premises that mentioned vampires and medication topics. Honestly, I didn’t expect much because I’m not a fan of vampires story, but decided to read because somehow the premises sound interesting. Besides, knowing the fact that the author herself is a doctor makes me even more interested.
Opium and Absinthe take place in 1899, Victorian era, I guess. The story follows Tillie Pembroke who look for facts about the death of Lucy, her dear sister, who died with two punctures on her neck and was drained of blood. Just like a vampire.
I like Tillie because she’s a smart and well-read woman. With her big curiosity, she felt confined by her family’s views that considered woman be a good housewife and just sit pretty at home. She’s brave and clever to fancy her own way to seeking answers for her curiosity, although on the other hand, her courage seems to appear to be influenced by opium (laudanum), morphine, even heroine. But, she’s not a junkie by her own volition. She’s just having addiction as a victim, and this thing is also explained by the author in her author’s note.
Unfortunately, most of the other characters are less attractive for me. Well, maybe just Ian and the newsies boys, but they’re not much involved in the story either.
For those of you who are expecting it to be a thrilling story, well, maybe you'll be a little disappointed that the murder story itself is not a big draw. But the mystery part was intriguing. It’s just over 80% that the story gets more intense. Overall, it’s enjoyable and the story flows in a pleasant way to read. It also has addiction issues that raised well, with thoughtful and professional research about the medical topics.
susannareads's review against another edition
4.0
Love a quirky, strong-willed, and flawed female protagonist. Fun and engaging historical mystery!