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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
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This was something different for me normally I can't read historical novels and the steampunk genre isn't something that I really understand. What possessed me to read this book was the fact that this was Sherlock Holmes (Who I pictured as Robert Downey Jr. the whole time) niece. This book completely surprised me. It was well written albeit a little long winded at times but enjoyable none this less. It has something for everybody in this book. It has murder, mystery, romance, historical, suspense, and a paranormal aspect, and it's YA (Young Adult).
The characters in this book were very well developed and the plot was amazing. I couldn't even put my finger on what was going on and by the end of the book my jaw hit the floor along with my heart. If you're wondering Sherlock Holmes is in the book but he isn't a heavy hitter character. This book was very descriptive it felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book and while I was hoping it was a book I could devour I found myself wanting to savor the book instead
This was something different for me normally I can't read historical novels and the steampunk genre isn't something that I really understand. What possessed me to read this book was the fact that this was Sherlock Holmes (Who I pictured as Robert Downey Jr. the whole time) niece. This book completely surprised me. It was well written albeit a little long winded at times but enjoyable none this less. It has something for everybody in this book. It has murder, mystery, romance, historical, suspense, and a paranormal aspect, and it's YA (Young Adult).
The characters in this book were very well developed and the plot was amazing. I couldn't even put my finger on what was going on and by the end of the book my jaw hit the floor along with my heart. If you're wondering Sherlock Holmes is in the book but he isn't a heavy hitter character. This book was very descriptive it felt like I was watching a movie instead of reading a book and while I was hoping it was a book I could devour I found myself wanting to savor the book instead
I ended up enjoying this book, took a bit to get into it, started out a bit slow, but of course I expected that since it's the first book in a new series.... but I did enjoy it in the end and looking forward to Evelina's next adventure.....
Setting aside circa a hundred pages in. It's just too woffly - way too many words of rambling description and small details! - and it's taking too long to get back the characters we were first introduced to. (I think I'd actually like Evelina if I had slightly more opportunity.) Moreover, I tend to think that going to the villain's point of view is a poor storytelling choice, and this was a fine example of why you should avoid chapters of mustache-twirling. If your villain needs that much demonstration of what a threat he is, you're not doing very well telling your story.
Also, Sherlock Holmes. I had been hoping he wouldn't show up. He did. To be honest, I'm not interested.
Also, Sherlock Holmes. I had been hoping he wouldn't show up. He did. To be honest, I'm not interested.
Trigger warnings: murder, death of a family member, creepy af robot doll things?
I've been wanting to read this book for YEARS, but for some reason it was never available in the Australian Kindle store. And then the other day, it mysteriously WAS available. So I bought it. And perhaps I've been building it up in my mind too much over the past few years, but this was...meh.
It was almost like it was trying to be one too many things? Like...it was a steampunk book. But it was also a crime book. But it was also a Sherlock Holmes adjacent story. But it was also a historical fiction book about teenage girls making their debuts and debating which hot guy to fall in love with. But it was also a fantasy book with magic and sorcery. And for me? There were just too many things happening and it didn't really deal with any of them adequately.
Add in the fact that there were a few too many perspectives for my liking and this balanced out to blah. Sigh.
I've been wanting to read this book for YEARS, but for some reason it was never available in the Australian Kindle store. And then the other day, it mysteriously WAS available. So I bought it. And perhaps I've been building it up in my mind too much over the past few years, but this was...meh.
It was almost like it was trying to be one too many things? Like...it was a steampunk book. But it was also a crime book. But it was also a Sherlock Holmes adjacent story. But it was also a historical fiction book about teenage girls making their debuts and debating which hot guy to fall in love with. But it was also a fantasy book with magic and sorcery. And for me? There were just too many things happening and it didn't really deal with any of them adequately.
Add in the fact that there were a few too many perspectives for my liking and this balanced out to blah. Sigh.
So, I was a bit bored in places, wanting something to happen. The character switching each 'chapter' was so-so. But I was intrigued enough to finish. Debating reading the second, I made the mistake of reading the excerpt and now I want to know what happens!
The cover is very misleading, but it was an okay Sherlockian side story.
There is quite a lot of character introduction and world building in this book. At times, these totally overwhelmed the plot for me.
This steampunk novel is a big chewy london broil in a buffet full of tasty hamburgers. Realistically flawed protagonists face multi-faceted issues while inhabiting a meticulously-designed yet never-explained fantasy world full of complex politics and social inequity. No punches pulled, nothing fed to the reader. It's a big, multi-plotted multi-POV character-filled novel full of "extraneous" events and "unnecessary" elements that never become relevant to the storyline--and all of it is presented in delightful, rich prose. i loved it. The story takes its time developing, even the main characters barely reveal hints of mysterious pasts, the scenes dwell in the quiet places between events more often than they focus on the center of action, the mechanics of the world are not fully explained at any point, and the resolution does not depend on those unique elements. So, of course, I loved it.
A Study in Silks is a steampunk mystery from debut author, Emma Jane Holloway. Holloway creates a Victorian London that explores the Industrial Age with steam. In Silks, London is essentially ruled by the steam barons that control the power to various sectors of the city. The peerage is rather immobilized in this Steam Age because they do not have the financial backing that the steam barons have claimed. In this society the steam barons rule with an iron fists, making sure that no one poses a threat to their control over England, and this includes magic users who could develop an alternative source of power to steam.
In this world we have Evelina Cooper, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. Evelina was raised in the circus; however, after the death of her mother Grandmother Holmes reclaimed Evelina, determined to raise her into a proper young lady. Evelina did not want to leave her only family behind, but she has magic running in her veins and her contact with her childhood friend, Nick, brought that magic to the forefront, risking exposure and persecution. Now Evelina is enjoying her first season at her best friend, Imogene’s home, when a murderer strikes. Evelina is one of the first on the scene and learns that the murdered maid carries items with a magical signature, which will mean persecution for Imogene’s family if discovered by the police and the steam barons.
Evelina is determined to solve the mystery to protect her friend’s family; however, she doesn’t count on a rake’s attentions, reappearance of her childhood sweetheart, Nick, or an invitation to be presented to the Queen.
For the most part, I liked the idea of A Study in Silks but I found the execution to be lacking. The world building was well done and I felt that I had a good grasp on Holloway’s version of Victorian life; however, I thought the pacing was very slow. In the end Silks was a mystery and I felt that it was written as a mystery, meaning there was a focus on the details as the expense of characters. For example, there was this love triangle between Evelina and her two suitors, both of whom claim they love her; however, I personally felt that they didn’t really interact with Evelina to garner these feelings. As a big reader of romances, this character interaction didn’t work for me and I would have liked more interaction between the three main players.
What also hampered my enjoyment of the book was the fact that I learned that Silks is only book one in a trilogy. After learning this, I knew I was going to be unsatisfied with the conclusion and that I would be waiting quite awhile before getting the next book. Silks did wrap up the loose ends with the maid’s murder; however, much was left unanswered in the wider conspiracy with the steam barons and Evelina’s love life.
Overall, I thought A Study in Silks was okay. I think it’s a book that would appeal to mystery fans but may disappoint romance fans. That said, I enjoyed the world building and that will be enough to bring me back for book two and really, I just need to know how this love triangle plays out (and I have my suspicions).
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
In this world we have Evelina Cooper, the niece of Sherlock Holmes. Evelina was raised in the circus; however, after the death of her mother Grandmother Holmes reclaimed Evelina, determined to raise her into a proper young lady. Evelina did not want to leave her only family behind, but she has magic running in her veins and her contact with her childhood friend, Nick, brought that magic to the forefront, risking exposure and persecution. Now Evelina is enjoying her first season at her best friend, Imogene’s home, when a murderer strikes. Evelina is one of the first on the scene and learns that the murdered maid carries items with a magical signature, which will mean persecution for Imogene’s family if discovered by the police and the steam barons.
Evelina is determined to solve the mystery to protect her friend’s family; however, she doesn’t count on a rake’s attentions, reappearance of her childhood sweetheart, Nick, or an invitation to be presented to the Queen.
For the most part, I liked the idea of A Study in Silks but I found the execution to be lacking. The world building was well done and I felt that I had a good grasp on Holloway’s version of Victorian life; however, I thought the pacing was very slow. In the end Silks was a mystery and I felt that it was written as a mystery, meaning there was a focus on the details as the expense of characters. For example, there was this love triangle between Evelina and her two suitors, both of whom claim they love her; however, I personally felt that they didn’t really interact with Evelina to garner these feelings. As a big reader of romances, this character interaction didn’t work for me and I would have liked more interaction between the three main players.
What also hampered my enjoyment of the book was the fact that I learned that Silks is only book one in a trilogy. After learning this, I knew I was going to be unsatisfied with the conclusion and that I would be waiting quite awhile before getting the next book. Silks did wrap up the loose ends with the maid’s murder; however, much was left unanswered in the wider conspiracy with the steam barons and Evelina’s love life.
Overall, I thought A Study in Silks was okay. I think it’s a book that would appeal to mystery fans but may disappoint romance fans. That said, I enjoyed the world building and that will be enough to bring me back for book two and really, I just need to know how this love triangle plays out (and I have my suspicions).
*Review copy provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No