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renuked's review
5.0
Uh huh. Oh yeah. Mm hmm. Once more? AWESOME. Yes I thoroughly enjoyed that. Let's start with the cover and title. Perfect. I mean we can already see it's going to be creepy and lush. A Darkness Strange and Lovely. Gorgeous historical dresses. Technological steampunk elements. Romance thrown in just the right amount. And necromancy, as in, the art of raising the dead and communing with spirits. It had literally everything.
The book picks up after the first one leaves off. Eleanor is struggling financially and mentally, and her mother has been placed in a lunatic asylum. She is paranoid and afraid and is still reeling after losing of her hand, seeing her brother turn evil, and receiving a broken heart. So she flees to the only place she feels safe - Paris to meet the Spirit-Hunters. On the way to Paris, she runs into a mysterious friend of her brother's, Oliver, who also turns out to be a demon bound to her brother. Oliver is also not entirely trust-worthy, but hey, you can't not love Oliver and his mysterious past with her brother. *hint, hint*
But Eleanor is not really the nice girl we knew in the previous book, she has definitely changed. Not really for the better, but definitely for the more interesting. Oliver begins to teach her necromancy under stressful circumstances, and next thing we know, Eleanor has crossed over. Yes, she begins to learn necromancy, which automatically makes her awesome, but it also causes her character to make a helluva lot of awful choices. Eleanor turns nasty is the nicest way to put this. She stomps on people continuously and starts chasing power. I started to dislike her as a person (but not as a character). I love morally ambiguous characters.
And the rest was too good not to enjoy. I mean, we've still got Marcus on the loose and now we've got another demon running amok in Paris. This one is not just killing innocents, but horrendously sacrificing people. The hungry Dead (les Morts) are still ever present, and now Eleanor has got to figure out what's going on, learn necromancy, solve her own problems, and keep the trust of the Spirit-Hunters. Plus Daniel returns as an elegant gentleman surrounded by a harem of women. That little twist was really great and the romance never overshadowed the book. It only enhanced it and added some wonderful tension.
The horror and paranormal elements are excellent, the characters are all very fascinating even if I couldn't like any of them, but I think the suspense was the best part. The reader is able to figure out the identity of the demon very quickly, so seeing the Spirit-Hunters and Eleanor struggle with the facts was beyond frustrating. The dramatic irony was absolute murder, and I felt like shaking the characters, especially Eleanor, repeatedly. Overall, the book is really well balanced, and I just really love the setting and the plot. The creepiness of the book is enough to make it a favorite for me.
The book picks up after the first one leaves off. Eleanor is struggling financially and mentally, and her mother has been placed in a lunatic asylum. She is paranoid and afraid and is still reeling after losing of her hand, seeing her brother turn evil, and receiving a broken heart. So she flees to the only place she feels safe - Paris to meet the Spirit-Hunters. On the way to Paris, she runs into a mysterious friend of her brother's, Oliver, who also turns out to be a demon bound to her brother. Oliver is also not entirely trust-worthy, but hey, you can't not love Oliver and his mysterious past with her brother. *hint, hint*
But Eleanor is not really the nice girl we knew in the previous book, she has definitely changed. Not really for the better, but definitely for the more interesting. Oliver begins to teach her necromancy under stressful circumstances, and next thing we know, Eleanor has crossed over. Yes, she begins to learn necromancy, which automatically makes her awesome, but it also causes her character to make a helluva lot of awful choices. Eleanor turns nasty is the nicest way to put this. She stomps on people continuously and starts chasing power. I started to dislike her as a person (but not as a character). I love morally ambiguous characters.
And the rest was too good not to enjoy. I mean, we've still got Marcus on the loose and now we've got another demon running amok in Paris. This one is not just killing innocents, but horrendously sacrificing people. The hungry Dead (les Morts) are still ever present, and now Eleanor has got to figure out what's going on, learn necromancy, solve her own problems, and keep the trust of the Spirit-Hunters. Plus Daniel returns as an elegant gentleman surrounded by a harem of women. That little twist was really great and the romance never overshadowed the book. It only enhanced it and added some wonderful tension.
The horror and paranormal elements are excellent, the characters are all very fascinating even if I couldn't like any of them, but I think the suspense was the best part. The reader is able to figure out the identity of the demon very quickly, so seeing the Spirit-Hunters and Eleanor struggle with the facts was beyond frustrating. The dramatic irony was absolute murder, and I felt like shaking the characters, especially Eleanor, repeatedly. Overall, the book is really well balanced, and I just really love the setting and the plot. The creepiness of the book is enough to make it a favorite for me.
celjla212's review
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp back into the world of our main character, Eleanor Fitt. Since the end of the first book, [b:Something Strange and Deadly|9859436|Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1)|Susan Dennard|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1320688710s/9859436.jpg|14750661], Eleanor has been coming to terms with the novelties that learning about and fighting necromancy brought into her life. She lost her right hand in the fight that also killed her brother Elijah. Her mother, who was already on the verge of madness from losing her husband and her wealth, made the full descent into it when she learned of her son's death. And to top it all off, the Spirit Hunter that Eleanor fell in love with broke her heart and then jaunted off to Paris.
The book starts off with Eleanor boarding a ship and going to find the Spirit Hunters when she learns that Marcus, the nefarious necromancer who is wearing her brother's body, has found her in Philadelphia. Eleanor has discovered that she also possesses the necromancy powers that her brother had. This is distressing, as she definitely does not want to end up down the same dark road that Elijah and Marcus traveled; yet the powers call to her, and they are becoming impossible to resist.
I found this to be a fantastic follow up to Something Strange and Deadly. It is obvious how much the events of just a few months prior have devastated Eleanor. She's still only sixteen years old, but she is far from the girl she used to be. I liked that Eleanor really didn't have to rely on Daniel, the man who rejected her advances, or anyone else to get anything done. I know that the necromancy powers are supposed to be something bad, but to be quite honest I liked the moxie and life they gave to Eleanor--made her feel useful in a world full of otherwise silly women.
As in the first book, I had a feeling of who the villain would be--there is quite heavy foreshadowing and just a general feeling that something is off with the character. Maybe it's just obvious to me because I'm a more seasoned reader and this book is targeted at a young adult audience, but I feel like this obvious foreshadowing is something the author could work on a bit more for the upcoming final book in the series.
There aren't too many zombies in the book, and of course they aren't traditional zombies anyway. But Susan Dennard does such a great job with world building and making you feel as if you are really in some faraway time and land that you don't miss them too much. I really wanted to put on a luxurious ball gown and fill up my dance card alongside Eleanor.
I'm looking forward to the next and final book in this series, and I can't wait to see if Eleanor ends up on her own or not--because I think she will be fine either way.
The book starts off with Eleanor boarding a ship and going to find the Spirit Hunters when she learns that Marcus, the nefarious necromancer who is wearing her brother's body, has found her in Philadelphia. Eleanor has discovered that she also possesses the necromancy powers that her brother had. This is distressing, as she definitely does not want to end up down the same dark road that Elijah and Marcus traveled; yet the powers call to her, and they are becoming impossible to resist.
I found this to be a fantastic follow up to Something Strange and Deadly. It is obvious how much the events of just a few months prior have devastated Eleanor. She's still only sixteen years old, but she is far from the girl she used to be. I liked that Eleanor really didn't have to rely on Daniel, the man who rejected her advances, or anyone else to get anything done. I know that the necromancy powers are supposed to be something bad, but to be quite honest I liked the moxie and life they gave to Eleanor--made her feel useful in a world full of otherwise silly women.
As in the first book, I had a feeling of who the villain would be--there is quite heavy foreshadowing and just a general feeling that something is off with the character. Maybe it's just obvious to me because I'm a more seasoned reader and this book is targeted at a young adult audience, but I feel like this obvious foreshadowing is something the author could work on a bit more for the upcoming final book in the series.
There aren't too many zombies in the book, and of course they aren't traditional zombies anyway. But Susan Dennard does such a great job with world building and making you feel as if you are really in some faraway time and land that you don't miss them too much. I really wanted to put on a luxurious ball gown and fill up my dance card alongside Eleanor.
I'm looking forward to the next and final book in this series, and I can't wait to see if Eleanor ends up on her own or not--because I think she will be fine either way.
aliceboule's review
3.0
Dennard is clearly a talented author and there's a lot of potential to be unearthed in this series. Unfortunately something about it (the characters? the lack of details about the world? the fast pace?) falls flat and makes it hard to be truly invested.
bookishmadness's review
5.0
An equally amazing sequel to Something Strange and Deadly! It had lots of action, new faces and lots if building tension for the next book - which is heartbreaking that it's another year away! Bring it on!! :D
amybraunauthor's review against another edition
5.0
Talk about a dark sequel! Dennard picks up a short while after the previous novel left off, and our poor hero Eleanor simply unable to catch a break. Seriously, so much goes wrong for this poor girl, which leads to a few light hearted moments or tender scenes down the line that really make you feel for her later in the book.
I loved the introduction of more supernatural elements and creatures, which added to the danger and terror of adventure. I had a tricky time pinning down who the main villain would be, and it wasn't who I expected! The action is bigger, stronger, and far more brutal for our heroes. I was literally reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next.
Yet the core of this story is the characters. Eleanor becomes more layered and complex, with darkness and magic twisting her soul, yet you still feel sympathy for her. I also felt a lot for Oliver, the mysterious young man who helps turn her life upside down and adds a connection to Eleanor's past. While Jie was a little more absent than I wanted (it's important to the story, and honestly I just miss the girl), which leads Daniel and Joseph to take more prominent roles. I was glad to see them both, but they were definitely pushing my buttons at some points with how they treated poor Eleanor.
All of this culminates in an explosive finale that leaves unanswered questions and suspense and leaves me wanting more. I'm super excited to read the last book in this thrilling action-fantasy-horror-historical-mashup!
I loved the introduction of more supernatural elements and creatures, which added to the danger and terror of adventure. I had a tricky time pinning down who the main villain would be, and it wasn't who I expected! The action is bigger, stronger, and far more brutal for our heroes. I was literally reading as fast as I could to find out what happened next.
Yet the core of this story is the characters. Eleanor becomes more layered and complex, with darkness and magic twisting her soul, yet you still feel sympathy for her. I also felt a lot for Oliver, the mysterious young man who helps turn her life upside down and adds a connection to Eleanor's past. While Jie was a little more absent than I wanted (it's important to the story, and honestly I just miss the girl), which leads Daniel and Joseph to take more prominent roles. I was glad to see them both, but they were definitely pushing my buttons at some points with how they treated poor Eleanor.
All of this culminates in an explosive finale that leaves unanswered questions and suspense and leaves me wanting more. I'm super excited to read the last book in this thrilling action-fantasy-horror-historical-mashup!
showell's review against another edition
4.0
I gobbled this trilogy up one after another very quickly. Characters are compelling, the plot relentless, the moral quandaries interesting, the debates over them push the story forward instead of bogging it down. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
mandalaclair's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this sequel to something strange and deadly. It kept me engaged and interested and I am ready for book three.
reyap30's review
3.0
After the release of Something Strange and Deadly, I was completely in love with Susan Dennard's writing and this story. I knew we were in for an exciting and adventurous tale with Eleanor and the Spirit Hunters. However, I was disappointed with this book. After carefully thinking about it, I'm not going to say I didn't like the book. I did. It just didn't live up to the expectations I had for it.
The story starts about two months after the previous book with the Spirit Hunters in France. Certain events force Eleanor to travel there and seek out the help of Joseph, Jie and Daniel. Along the way Eleanor creates new companions that serve as supporting characters: Oliver and Laure. This also means Eleanor gets involved in things she shouldn't, especially with Oliver. (But it's not of the romantic sort, don't worry)
A major complaint I have about this book is Eleanor herself. I absolutely adored her in the first book but she doesn't develop much a character in this one. In fact, I'd say it's the opposite. Eleanor acts immaturely and without compassion. She doesn't think before she acts. She becomes easily manipulated. In the fashion of a typical teenager, just because she did something dangerous once, she thinks she can handle anything without dying. I really don't want to dislike her and I'm sure she will be redeemed in the next book, but for now I would deem her character as unpleasant.
Another complaint I have is the the lack of important characters. Most of the book is Eleanor interacting with Oliver or trying to solve a mystery without really trying and gaining no success. I fell in love with the friendship that Eleanor had with the Spirit Hunters. I wanted to see some of that again but sadly it didn't play out that way.
Now for all that I did like, because even though I've ranted there were major brownie points for this book. Firstly, I love Susan Dennard's writing! She's able to tell the story while leaving clues for the final resolution. Also, she writes in first person, but in a way that I personally feel like we get a look at Eleanor's perspective but we're not consumed by it. I could tell when something was wrong even if Eleanor couldn't.
And Daniel. *sigh* I felt like he was regretting the choice he made at the end of book one. The way he acted was very sweet. As if everything did and made himself become was for her. But Eleanor didn't really see that throughout the book, and didn't let him have a chance to correct his mistake. I only hope he gets the courage to do what he wants in the next book.
I also loved the additional characters. Oliver... my hearts breaks for him.
So I'm not giving up an these books. I got hooked with the first book and liked the second one enough. I cannot wait to see what Susan Dennard's got coming up next to end the story. I will be anxiously waiting!
The story starts about two months after the previous book with the Spirit Hunters in France. Certain events force Eleanor to travel there and seek out the help of Joseph, Jie and Daniel. Along the way Eleanor creates new companions that serve as supporting characters: Oliver and Laure. This also means Eleanor gets involved in things she shouldn't, especially with Oliver. (But it's not of the romantic sort, don't worry)
A major complaint I have about this book is Eleanor herself. I absolutely adored her in the first book but she doesn't develop much a character in this one. In fact, I'd say it's the opposite. Eleanor acts immaturely and without compassion. She doesn't think before she acts. She becomes easily manipulated. In the fashion of a typical teenager, just because she did something dangerous once, she thinks she can handle anything without dying. I really don't want to dislike her and I'm sure she will be redeemed in the next book, but for now I would deem her character as unpleasant.
Another complaint I have is the the lack of important characters. Most of the book is Eleanor interacting with Oliver or trying to solve a mystery without really trying and gaining no success. I fell in love with the friendship that Eleanor had with the Spirit Hunters. I wanted to see some of that again but sadly it didn't play out that way.
Now for all that I did like, because even though I've ranted there were major brownie points for this book. Firstly, I love Susan Dennard's writing! She's able to tell the story while leaving clues for the final resolution. Also, she writes in first person, but in a way that I personally feel like we get a look at Eleanor's perspective but we're not consumed by it. I could tell when something was wrong even if Eleanor couldn't.
And Daniel. *sigh* I felt like he was regretting the choice he made at the end of book one. The way he acted was very sweet. As if everything did and made himself become was for her. But Eleanor didn't really see that throughout the book, and didn't let him have a chance to correct his mistake. I only hope he gets the courage to do what he wants in the next book.
I also loved the additional characters. Oliver... my hearts breaks for him.
So I'm not giving up an these books. I got hooked with the first book and liked the second one enough. I cannot wait to see what Susan Dennard's got coming up next to end the story. I will be anxiously waiting!
wildfaeriecaps's review
4.0
This series is completely addicting. The push and pull with Eleanor, Daniel, and Oliver is great. I love that it's not a traditional love triangle. I spend a lot of time wanting to smack Joseph, but that could be the "don't tell me what to do" part of me lashing out!
I am sleep deprived and have not had any coffee today. The book is good. Read it (after the first book, obviously).
I am sleep deprived and have not had any coffee today. The book is good. Read it (after the first book, obviously).