Reviews

Lifeblood by Tom Becker

emmsdot's review

3.0

3.5* “Why don’t you go and clean up? All that blood on you is making me hungry, and I’d hate to have to eat you”

Carnegie is still the best but we still know nothing about Jonathan’s mother. WHO IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE? IS SHE A RIPPER? OR JUST A BOG STANDARD DARKSIDER? CARNEGIE COULD PROBABLY ANSWER MOST OF THESE QUESTIONS CANT HE JUST SPILL THE BEANS?

contemporarymeepsie's review against another edition

adventurous dark lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

This continuation of the Darkside story is a murder mystery classic. It's got twists and turns and red herrings... and I couldn't tell whether it was my lack of experience with mystery novels or a mishap in the writing but the entire story felt a bit forced and pointless. The subplot of Johnathan searching for his mother in a messy murder investigation was unnecessary. There were a lot of new characters introduced which made it confusing to keep track of and old characters that didn't need to be a part of the story were reintroduced which meant the whole thing felt heavy and over-complicated. Maybe I'm being harsh as I'm not a fan of mysteries but I felt this story had potential it didn't quite grasp.

hannah527's review

3.0

This book was okay...I liked the Ripper part and how we got to see more of Carnegie's work. But I liked the first one better.

wandering_reader's review against another edition

3.0

3.5*

The second book in the Darkside series, following Jonathan’s adventures in the macabre side of London.

More mystery and danger ensue in this instalment, and along the way we learn more about the history of Darkside, its politics, and Jonathan’s family’s role in the district.

If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous middle grade series with a twist, I would highly recommend this one.

madmadammim's review

5.0

I loved this book! I love those happy, pearly, everything-goes-great, fairies and princesses, true-love-conquers-all stories...but sometimes you just need a good old horror! Fighting and mysteries, threat of brutal murder at the next turn of a corner, and of course never knowing who is a friend and who is actually the great grandchild of Jack the Ripper and is out for your throat...Gosh I love this book! I cannot wait for the next book. Totally brilliant on the part of the author, I thank him very much for a thoroughly enjoyable book! C=