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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't really read Deanna Raybourn, although my impression is that she usually writes female-centered historical mystery series with some romance. That was the case for this book, the first in a new series featuring Veronica Speedwell. When the book informed me that Veronica was part of the scientific name for the speedwell flower, which are the same shade of violet as Veronica's eyes, my own eyes rolled a bit.
Veronica is a butterfly collector, or lepidopterist, as she prefers. She has an unusual backstory- raised by two maiden aunts, moving from village to village, and at the age of 18 somehow getting enough money to go off on butterfly collecting expeditions solo, then making enough money from her collections to continue gallivanting about the world. If you begin to suspect that Veronica's middle name could be Mary Sue, I would agree with you.
The story begins with the funeral of Veronica's last surviving aunt. Veronica returns home to find her cottage mid-burglary. She doesn't succeed in catching the burglar, but he doesn't succeed in kidnapping her either, so it's a draw. Meanwhile, a stately Prussian gentleman appears, offers to protect her (Veronica doesn't see what she needs protecting from) and takes her off to London. Veronica trusts him (why not?) and so allows him to deposit her with Stoker, who is a piratey-looking, lordly acting, alpha male of a romantic interest. He is also a taxidermist. Match made in heaven!
So, the fun of these stories is their frothiness and their fizzy romance, as well as the romanticism of the Victorian era. Veronica feels that she is an utterly sensible person, although she's given to trust people for no reason and never wonders if the burglary has anything to do with her. She is certainly opinionated, and she and Stoker have many the verbal sparring match. I actually began to find it a bit tedious, because as soon as Stoker opened his mouth, she'd contradict him with her "Nonsense!" and her "Ludicrous!" and her "Certainly not!" We get it, you're feisty. Now, calm down, please!
These two also end up at a circus for a bizarrely contrived reason, and the circus really doesn't end up being as much of a feature as you'd think, considering it is the "Curious" part of the title, being a travelling curiosity show. I'm not much a fan of fictional circuses, and this one certainly did not endear itself to me, so I was glad when it was left behind.
So, while I found Veronica's glib stiff-upper-lipness and certainty that she was always in the right kind of annoying, you may enjoy her spirit. There were several helpful coincidences, and I'm not sure how effective this duo is at detective work, but the setting was certainly rich, and I do have a soft spot for Victorian naturalists.
I'm not sure I would read anything else in this series, though. The relationship of necessity must be a very slow burn in order to generate tension, and Veronica rubbed me the wrong way. It did look like the author might have been setting up several other characters to feature more, and maybe have romances of their own- they seemed interesting enough and I wouldn't mind reading more about them.
I haven't really read Deanna Raybourn, although my impression is that she usually writes female-centered historical mystery series with some romance. That was the case for this book, the first in a new series featuring Veronica Speedwell. When the book informed me that Veronica was part of the scientific name for the speedwell flower, which are the same shade of violet as Veronica's eyes, my own eyes rolled a bit.
Veronica is a butterfly collector, or lepidopterist, as she prefers. She has an unusual backstory- raised by two maiden aunts, moving from village to village, and at the age of 18 somehow getting enough money to go off on butterfly collecting expeditions solo, then making enough money from her collections to continue gallivanting about the world. If you begin to suspect that Veronica's middle name could be Mary Sue, I would agree with you.
The story begins with the funeral of Veronica's last surviving aunt. Veronica returns home to find her cottage mid-burglary. She doesn't succeed in catching the burglar, but he doesn't succeed in kidnapping her either, so it's a draw. Meanwhile, a stately Prussian gentleman appears, offers to protect her (Veronica doesn't see what she needs protecting from) and takes her off to London. Veronica trusts him (why not?) and so allows him to deposit her with Stoker, who is a piratey-looking, lordly acting, alpha male of a romantic interest. He is also a taxidermist. Match made in heaven!
So, the fun of these stories is their frothiness and their fizzy romance, as well as the romanticism of the Victorian era. Veronica feels that she is an utterly sensible person, although she's given to trust people for no reason and never wonders if the burglary has anything to do with her. She is certainly opinionated, and she and Stoker have many the verbal sparring match. I actually began to find it a bit tedious, because as soon as Stoker opened his mouth, she'd contradict him with her "Nonsense!" and her "Ludicrous!" and her "Certainly not!" We get it, you're feisty. Now, calm down, please!
These two also end up at a circus for a bizarrely contrived reason, and the circus really doesn't end up being as much of a feature as you'd think, considering it is the "Curious" part of the title, being a travelling curiosity show. I'm not much a fan of fictional circuses, and this one certainly did not endear itself to me, so I was glad when it was left behind.
So, while I found Veronica's glib stiff-upper-lipness and certainty that she was always in the right kind of annoying, you may enjoy her spirit. There were several helpful coincidences, and I'm not sure how effective this duo is at detective work, but the setting was certainly rich, and I do have a soft spot for Victorian naturalists.
I'm not sure I would read anything else in this series, though. The relationship of necessity must be a very slow burn in order to generate tension, and Veronica rubbed me the wrong way. It did look like the author might have been setting up several other characters to feature more, and maybe have romances of their own- they seemed interesting enough and I wouldn't mind reading more about them.
adventurous
challenging
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
it started off so good.
then it got boring idk
then it got boring idk
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
After her house is broken into, a lepidopterist (butterfly scientist) is thrown into chaos when a mysterious baron whisks her away into the safety of a gruff scientist. After the baron is murdered, the pair go on the run all the while trying to figure out why they are being targeted and why the baron was murdered.
A Victorian historical mystery that’s both dramatic and witty. Ridiculous at times, but still enjoyable. It was kinda annoying how the characters would somehow always find a way to show how worldly, well traveled and knowledgeable they are of the utmost reaches of the world. Got to be a little much like we get it already, calm down.
I did really like Veronica Speedwell, despite some of her annoying tendencies. What I liked most about her is also what made her highly anachronistic: her modernism and forthrightness. She repeatedly admits to having “intimate dalliances” with men and freely talks about them with her male companion. Very entertaining to read about, and I like the idea of a feminist Victorian woman, but not too sure how realistic it actually is.
A Victorian historical mystery that’s both dramatic and witty. Ridiculous at times, but still enjoyable. It was kinda annoying how the characters would somehow always find a way to show how worldly, well traveled and knowledgeable they are of the utmost reaches of the world. Got to be a little much like we get it already, calm down.
I did really like Veronica Speedwell, despite some of her annoying tendencies. What I liked most about her is also what made her highly anachronistic: her modernism and forthrightness. She repeatedly admits to having “intimate dalliances” with men and freely talks about them with her male companion. Very entertaining to read about, and I like the idea of a feminist Victorian woman, but not too sure how realistic it actually is.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes