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eleanorgking's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
howtobebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Rich in atmosphere, characterisation and vocabulary, this historical fiction follows the character of Hester White, an 18-year-old living in squalid conditions in 19th century London. A carriage accident may well prove her salvation - passenger, the charismatic Calder Brock, seems determined to rescue her from the gutter, his sister Rebekah to be entrusted with her education.
Following closely in Sarah Waters' footsteps, this is a Victorian pastiche that returns to those perennials of murder, identity, prostitution and female survival. Carlin writes with fluency and conjures up a grim, dank, seedy London where the only sanctuary for our heroine is in female friendship
While this is an enjoyable read, it does feel more generic than original, and there are some clumsy tricks such as the extended death-bed confession/life-story at the end. Great for fans of Victoriana.
Following closely in Sarah Waters' footsteps, this is a Victorian pastiche that returns to those perennials of murder, identity, prostitution and female survival. Carlin writes with fluency and conjures up a grim, dank, seedy London where the only sanctuary for our heroine is in female friendship
While this is an enjoyable read, it does feel more generic than original, and there are some clumsy tricks such as the extended death-bed confession/life-story at the end. Great for fans of Victoriana.
eileenthecrow's review against another edition
2.0
the writing of this book is beautiful... but that's about it. god how i wish the whole "mystery" element of the book was about something else. how i wish that the first half of the book and what was happening in that first half continued on in the second part. it's really upsetting to think this could be one of my favorite novels but the way the story unfolded made me alienate from it and from the characters.
carolyn0613's review against another edition
4.0
Hester is a young woman in Victorian England who has fallen on hard times, She was a genteel daughter of a parson but has been taken in by their gardener and wife after her parents die and moved to London. Strange things are going on in the city and ordinary people are disappearing. Hester is involved in an accident and is taken into be cared for by the gentleman and given to his sister to be educated as an experiment in social mobility.
The writing and atmosphere reminded me of Sarah Waters and Philip Pullman. It was very well written and the Gothic darkness of Victorian England was very well portrayed. I enjoyed this book very much.
The writing and atmosphere reminded me of Sarah Waters and Philip Pullman. It was very well written and the Gothic darkness of Victorian England was very well portrayed. I enjoyed this book very much.
f18's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? No
3.5
The drama and angst of this read as YA to me at the beginning, but the content of the latter half is decidedly adult. Because of that it took me around three chapters to really get invested and I never got as attached to the characters and their relationships as I would have liked, but the overall atmosphere was great and really drew me in. Warning that the mystery element does take a backseat until around the 2/3 mark I think it was.
The Wicked Cometh gave me similar vibes to Fingersmith (have not yet read the Sarah Waters book, but I have seen the BBC miniseries and also Park Chan-Wook's The Handmaiden) but somewhat inferior in quality.
I would recommend listening to the audiobook as I think it adds a lot to the immersion when you can hear the main character code switch between lower and higher class accents. (However I can't vouch for their accuracy!) The only thing unfortunately was that I could hear an electronic noise in the background of the recording two or three times but that was quite minor.
The Wicked Cometh gave me similar vibes to Fingersmith (have not yet read the Sarah Waters book, but I have seen the BBC miniseries and also Park Chan-Wook's The Handmaiden) but somewhat inferior in quality.
I would recommend listening to the audiobook as I think it adds a lot to the immersion when you can hear the main character code switch between lower and higher class accents. (However I can't vouch for their accuracy!) The only thing unfortunately was that I could hear an electronic noise in the background of the recording two or three times but that was quite minor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Classism, Death, Gore, Grief, Animal cruelty, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Alcoholism, Murder, and Sexism
Minor: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Ableism, Homophobia, Sexual harassment, and Suicide
charisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, and Death
ajb24's review against another edition
5.0
THE ENDING TOOK ME ON A TRIP I WAS READY TO BE DEVASTATED BUT !!!!!!
The style of writing and its time period remind me a lot of Sarah Waters, which is awesome because I love her books, and this novel is no exception. The way the surroundings were described really pulled me into the story and I got a full sense of the world (was London really that damn foggy though??). It went a lot darker than I thought it would, but I can’t complain about that because that’s part of the thrill of the book (and it’s basically advertised from the beginning that something really shady is going down).
The age gap between Hester and Rebekah is a little weird, but I kept forgetting that Hester is only 18 for most of this novel since she acts so maturely. I don’t really care though because their expressions of love for each other are so so poetic and beautiful!! The criminal “justice” at the end leaves a lot to be desired, and poor Mrs Cohen holy shit, but Hester and Rebekah get to live their lives together in lesbian countryside bliss forever and ever?!!? I’m in love with their love 😍😍
I want to highlight this quote for myself so I remember:
“Our time apart has served to edify our constancy and we will pass our life’s remainder content in the liberality of our love; a burning flame of the purest love” (337).
TOO good it gives me hope for my own relationship 💕
If anyone says this isn’t realistic, know that I do not care one bit so stfu and let them be happy.
Two last things:
1. I bought this book mostly because the cover was really pretty and that it might have some gay in it, and was that a damn good decision on my part
2. Why do the Brits get all the lesbian historical fiction writers?? Unfair
The style of writing and its time period remind me a lot of Sarah Waters, which is awesome because I love her books, and this novel is no exception. The way the surroundings were described really pulled me into the story and I got a full sense of the world (was London really that damn foggy though??). It went a lot darker than I thought it would, but I can’t complain about that because that’s part of the thrill of the book (and it’s basically advertised from the beginning that something really shady is going down).
The age gap between Hester and Rebekah is a little weird, but I kept forgetting that Hester is only 18 for most of this novel since she acts so maturely. I don’t really care though because their expressions of love for each other are so so poetic and beautiful!! The criminal “justice” at the end leaves a lot to be desired, and poor Mrs Cohen holy shit, but Hester and Rebekah get to live their lives together in lesbian countryside bliss forever and ever?!!? I’m in love with their love 😍😍
I want to highlight this quote for myself so I remember:
“Our time apart has served to edify our constancy and we will pass our life’s remainder content in the liberality of our love; a burning flame of the purest love” (337).
TOO good it gives me hope for my own relationship 💕
If anyone says this isn’t realistic, know that I do not care one bit so stfu and let them be happy.
Two last things:
1. I bought this book mostly because the cover was really pretty and that it might have some gay in it, and was that a damn good decision on my part
2. Why do the Brits get all the lesbian historical fiction writers?? Unfair
debtat2's review against another edition
5.0
This book is hard to review especially as so many other reviews have summed it up perfectly so the highest compliment I can give this book is that
Even before I was half way through this book I preordered a copy from Amazon so I will receive this book release day!
Even before I was half way through this book I preordered a copy from Amazon so I will receive this book release day!