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navayiota's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm upset with myself for not starting it earlier. What a stunning fantasy period piece, also a retelling of three separate classics. I rarely read blurbs so I was flabbergasted when Sherlock Holmes entered the picture. How smart, and masterfully done. It took me a while to adjust to the writing style as it was difficult to understand what was going on by ear, but after I caught on, I was utterly charmed. I have a few nitpicks, like the fact that in real life, corsetry was a way for women to take back an aspect of their lives and not something they rebelled against. It turns out that the myth was perpetuated by men who found it ridiculous to undermine the women (which worked, since so many people believe that it was constricting. Tight lacing was extremely rare and frowned upon, so there was no reason for Beatrice to be so emphatically against it)
Also, I found the narrator slightly irritating in the way she voiced Beatrice, sometimes pushing her accent too far to the point where it was a bit ridiculous. Other than that, I enjoyed the narration.
Also, I found the narrator slightly irritating in the way she voiced Beatrice, sometimes pushing her accent too far to the point where it was a bit ridiculous. Other than that, I enjoyed the narration.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Child abuse, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Infidelity
beca_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
3.75
Overall I did enjoy this book, it took me a while to get into the story, but it turned out to be a pleasant read. We follow Mary who has just lost both of her parents and is left with very little money. A series of murders happen in London which may have a link to the death of her father and a society which he was apart of . She ends up help Sherlock to solve the mystery, and along the way she meets different girls that had fathers that experimented on them. This book left me wanting more, and I hope to get to the second book soon. This book is best described as historical urban fantasy, as there are fantastical elements to the book, this would be perfect for those that enjoy Neil Gaiman's work, and maybe Erin Morgenstern. Goss also interweaves a collection of classics including Frankenstein into this book, and the history of Mary Shelley.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, and Violence
charlottejones952's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This isn’t a book I thought I’d ever pick up but I’ve gotten really into the spooky season this year and though this would be the right level of creepy for me (I get scared easily!).
Drawing on classic characters of Victorian horror such as Jekyll and Hyde, Dr Moreau and Frankenstein’s monster, Theodora Goss creates a band of monstrous women that, joined by Sherlock and Watson, solve the mystery of a series of gruesome murders.
I listened to this book mostly in one day and loved the experience. The characters are flawed but lovable and their relationships are growing in strength. The mystery wasn’t too difficult to solve in my opinion given that you know who these characters are, however I think that the way in which it was unravelled kept me interested throughout.
I’m looking forward to following these characters on their future adventures, particularly now that the whole series is published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Body horror
Moderate: Abandonment, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexism, Medical trauma, Grief, Death of parent, and Blood
yvonne_cl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Death, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death and Confinement
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
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