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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bess recommended this book to me, and I loved it! Victorian England mystery and danger with lepidopterists, a traveling curiosity show, and expertly-altered clothing meant for exploring. The first of a series!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Sometimes one needs a bite-sized entertainment bordering on soap opera and ‘A curious beginning’ delivered exactly that. I am occasionally, as Veronica would say, ‘a woman in search of adventure’ and if you add witty banter, it will bring me a lot of enjoyment.
Honestly, I think Deanna Raybourn has to be a fan of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s works because Veronica gave off strong Anne Shirley vibes (maybe even more the Anne from the Anne with an E adaptation, considering the more progressive views of Veronica). When I read that Lady Beauclerk’s name is Cordelia, I almost exclaimed Excelsior! The connotation with Anne alone, brought me a lot of comforting nostalgia. On top of this, I couldn’t shake the feeling of deja vu during the traveling show episode - it was like seeing my beloved Dr. Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth going undercover as a knife-throwing act again- and I couldn’t not chuckle.
I did not care that much about the mystery plot, and I had to put aside the historical events and people and rather consider this a historical fantasy, but that was perfectly fine for the sake of escape from reality that I desperately needed.
Honestly, I think Deanna Raybourn has to be a fan of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s works because Veronica gave off strong Anne Shirley vibes (maybe even more the Anne from the Anne with an E adaptation, considering the more progressive views of Veronica). When I read that Lady Beauclerk’s name is Cordelia, I almost exclaimed Excelsior! The connotation with Anne alone, brought me a lot of comforting nostalgia. On top of this, I couldn’t shake the feeling of deja vu during the traveling show episode - it was like seeing my beloved Dr. Temperance Brennan and Seeley Booth going undercover as a knife-throwing act again- and I couldn’t not chuckle.
I did not care that much about the mystery plot, and I had to put aside the historical events and people and rather consider this a historical fantasy, but that was perfectly fine for the sake of escape from reality that I desperately needed.
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The banter was so good
Loved the mystery solving
It had so many tropes too: fake marriage, one bed, forced proximity, etc
Loved the mystery solving
It had so many tropes too: fake marriage, one bed, forced proximity, etc
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Possibly one of my favourite books of the year. Gave me everything I wanted from it without being too heavy or info dumpy.
Plus Stoker has me in a chokehold
Plus Stoker has me in a chokehold
I have said it once and I will say it a thousand times more, I really didn't know what to expect from this and I was very much surprised at how energetic these characters were. I suppose I expected some kind of like, dynamic duo of suit-wearing witty Victorians who ran about doing crime solving but I got a love interest with tattoos and an eye-patch, and instead of rushing to Scotland Yard they ended up spending time in a circus and talked about sex and stuff.
Needless to say, this was exactly the kind of low-stakes enjoyable romp I needed after reading quite a lot of pretty dense books in a row and as the end of semester looms with assignments and such.
Needless to say, this was exactly the kind of low-stakes enjoyable romp I needed after reading quite a lot of pretty dense books in a row and as the end of semester looms with assignments and such.