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mollyhyland's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
zoefruitcake's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
I was completely sucked into this rich and vibrant world but half way through it felt like it was ready to finish soon. Once I had that feeling it was a drag to stick with it to discover who dunnit
I was completely sucked into this rich and vibrant world but half way through it felt like it was ready to finish soon. Once I had that feeling it was a drag to stick with it to discover who dunnit
snakeling's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Animal cruelty, Racial slurs, Slavery, Murder, and Torture
Moderate: Sexual violence and Rape
Minor: Child abuse
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
4.0
18th century murder mystery in gritty London dockyards involving slavery and skullduggery. Likeable characters. I hope it is the start of a series.
bookish_niamh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
mogreig's review against another edition
4.0
A powerful tale weaving fact and fiction of one of Englands darkest periods.
lhart2222's review against another edition
4.0
I struggled at first with this book for two reasons. Firstly was how overly descriptive it was. Right off the bat we were thrust into a world where every minute detail was mentioned, which just seemed to drag things out. Secondly was the writing style. Not badly written, it just didn’t flow as well as I’d hoped.
Now that I've finished the book I can firmly say, these two things were not issues and only added to the charm of the book. The former, added in-depth immersion into the world of 1780’s Deptford which made the overall story that much better. The latter, although it did take time to get used to, helped add character to the main protagonist who told the story from a first-person account.
A harrowing story, we follow Captain Harry Corsham as his quest for justice for an old friend leads him to chase answers into a much bigger tragedy. Twist, turns, murder and mutilation throughout. This book scratches the surface of the torturous conditions of the 18th-century slave trade.
Not flawless, this book really is an eye-opening read into one of the world's darkest pasts. Thoroughly compelling Blood & Sugar does a great job of getting the reader invested. Making you ask yourself questions, you’ll be waiting page on page to find out what’s next. When the answers do come they’re not always infallible, with tropes, disbelief or suspension getting in the way. However, for the most part, the story is great.
As for characters, this book has the perfect blend of likeable heroes and dastardly villains with all of the in-between. From the weak and vulnerable to the all-mighty and powerful we get a glimpse of what life is like for all.
Plot-wise this book starts on one path but digs much deeper beyond, having several side plots that all intertwine. Tremendous to follow with a mix of emotions following me as I followed along, once I hit page 100 it was all must-read. All tied together nicely at the end it all made sense, but I did feel certain elements were either left to coincidence or a little too obvious.
Overall a very good book with a very good story to match. Atmospherical magic makes the world as real-life as you’d want it to be, with thought and feeling prevalent from the start. Not without fault, Blood & Sugar was great and had me buying the next from the author.
Now that I've finished the book I can firmly say, these two things were not issues and only added to the charm of the book. The former, added in-depth immersion into the world of 1780’s Deptford which made the overall story that much better. The latter, although it did take time to get used to, helped add character to the main protagonist who told the story from a first-person account.
A harrowing story, we follow Captain Harry Corsham as his quest for justice for an old friend leads him to chase answers into a much bigger tragedy. Twist, turns, murder and mutilation throughout. This book scratches the surface of the torturous conditions of the 18th-century slave trade.
Not flawless, this book really is an eye-opening read into one of the world's darkest pasts. Thoroughly compelling Blood & Sugar does a great job of getting the reader invested. Making you ask yourself questions, you’ll be waiting page on page to find out what’s next. When the answers do come they’re not always infallible, with tropes, disbelief or suspension getting in the way. However, for the most part, the story is great.
As for characters, this book has the perfect blend of likeable heroes and dastardly villains with all of the in-between. From the weak and vulnerable to the all-mighty and powerful we get a glimpse of what life is like for all.
Plot-wise this book starts on one path but digs much deeper beyond, having several side plots that all intertwine. Tremendous to follow with a mix of emotions following me as I followed along, once I hit page 100 it was all must-read. All tied together nicely at the end it all made sense, but I did feel certain elements were either left to coincidence or a little too obvious.
Overall a very good book with a very good story to match. Atmospherical magic makes the world as real-life as you’d want it to be, with thought and feeling prevalent from the start. Not without fault, Blood & Sugar was great and had me buying the next from the author.
ninarg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
3,5 stars.
I read "Daughters of Night" a couple of years ago, not realising that it was a sort of sequel to this book. Or rather, it's a separate story, but where "Daughters of Night" feature Caro Corsham as the main investigator into a murder, this one has her husband Harry doing the detecting. And since I loved "Daughters of Night" and have been wanting to read more by the author ever since, this felt like the perfect book to pick up. I had such high expectations for it.
And it is good. It's good. But it doesn't reaches the heights that "Daughters of Night" does. Cora Corsham I found instantly engaging and sympathetic, and the story was a ride and a half. Harry Corsham is very nice, he is definitely a good guy, but his character seems not quite fully formed. And I thought the plot was a little too convoluted at times; I found it hard to keep track of the characters and what had happened when, and when the solution came I still wasn't sure how I was meant to have solved that myself. I am very busy at the moment, so it may have been my attention span that's at fault here, but I just felt that the plot could have been neater and a bit more engaging, considering the subject matter. But it is still a very impressive debut, a thoroughly researched historical novel and well worth a read. But it isn't "Daughters of Night."
I read "Daughters of Night" a couple of years ago, not realising that it was a sort of sequel to this book. Or rather, it's a separate story, but where "Daughters of Night" feature Caro Corsham as the main investigator into a murder, this one has her husband Harry doing the detecting. And since I loved "Daughters of Night" and have been wanting to read more by the author ever since, this felt like the perfect book to pick up. I had such high expectations for it.
And it is good. It's good. But it doesn't reaches the heights that "Daughters of Night" does. Cora Corsham I found instantly engaging and sympathetic, and the story was a ride and a half. Harry Corsham is very nice, he is definitely a good guy, but his character seems not quite fully formed. And I thought the plot was a little too convoluted at times; I found it hard to keep track of the characters and what had happened when, and when the solution came I still wasn't sure how I was meant to have solved that myself. I am very busy at the moment, so it may have been my attention span that's at fault here, but I just felt that the plot could have been neater and a bit more engaging, considering the subject matter. But it is still a very impressive debut, a thoroughly researched historical novel and well worth a read. But it isn't "Daughters of Night."
cerysvy's review against another edition
I don't want to read about a white man learning to have empathy for enslaved people.