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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
One of my reading goals this year is to read more historical fiction, particularly in genre fiction. So far, I am finding myself gravitating towards Gilded Age / late Victorian / Belle Epoque settings. I am drawn to the era's fascination with the macabre, ghosts, and the afterlife, so I was especially intrigued by this book's focus on mediums and seances. There's a lot to enjoy here: gender dynamics in Victorian England (gentlemen's social clubs vs the extremely female-dominated industry of spiritualism), a duo of crime-solving sapphic mediums (who might kiss a little), a mystery surrounding a criminal conspiracy (I love a corruption investigation), and otherworldly ghosts (via the titular seances).
I generally enjoyed this book. The mystery was compelling. At first, I was surprised by the narration switching POVs between Lenna, the medium-in-training, and Mr. Morley, a vice president in the London Seance Society. However, I found that this narrative structure helped structure the reveals in a very twisty mystery about corruption, fraud, and murder within the Society's membership.
I do wish the book had been spookier. I didn't find that it quite had the gothic vibe I love. The majority of the plot focuses on a criminal investigation, with the only major seance serving as a final scene to tie the different threads of the mystery together. I would have appreciated more otherworldliness woven throughout. Even so, it is a fun enough read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I generally enjoyed this book. The mystery was compelling. At first, I was surprised by the narration switching POVs between Lenna, the medium-in-training, and Mr. Morley, a vice president in the London Seance Society. However, I found that this narrative structure helped structure the reveals in a very twisty mystery about corruption, fraud, and murder within the Society's membership.
I do wish the book had been spookier. I didn't find that it quite had the gothic vibe I love. The majority of the plot focuses on a criminal investigation, with the only major seance serving as a final scene to tie the different threads of the mystery together. I would have appreciated more otherworldliness woven throughout. Even so, it is a fun enough read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not as good as The Secret Apothecary but still good. I think I would have enjoyed it more in physical copy rather than as an audiobook because the narrator mispronounced words frequently and I found it annoying.
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
This was a fine murder mystery book with a bit of ghostly/haunting vibes. It felt very dry, and the characters felt very distant. I wasn’t rooting for anyone. It was just fine.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF’d at page 50 then skimmed the ending. I just couldn’t get into the female POVs tone or style. I should have looked at the authors other titles before buying as I had to slog through the Lost Apothecary too.