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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
I flew through this novel, and despite quite a slow middle, the last third kept me up reading until the end. A bit darker than I expected, Carlin transports the reader back in time to the dark, gritty, poverty-sticken areas of London in this rags-to-riches-esque historical mystery. Her writing is atmospheric and creates vivid imagery through her descriptions. The tension between some of the characters and the desciption of Hester’s daily routine at Waterford was reminiscent of Du Maurier. It left me feeling uneasy in the first third of the story as I wasn’t sure which whispers to believe in regards to the Brock family. In fact, Carlin is excellent at making you feel unsettled which fit the mystery-murder plot well. The crimes were very much of the time which I appreciated, and I felt it came together believably.
There are times where the writing is a bit clumsy and could do with a more show-not-tell approach and I think the middle section could be cut down to keep the pace flowing. I also felt that perhaps the romance could have had a slower build up. I realise that it begins in the slower section of the book, but i felt Hester became too obsessive a bit too quickly for it to feel natural. Even a comment on Hester’s previous feelings towards family/friends/potential love interests would have fleshed her out a little more and shown us how she normally interacts with people. The rapidity of her obsessiveness contrasts with the apparent ease in which she leaves other characters behind without much care as to whether they’d miss her, or her them. She didn’t seem to be particularly attached to anyone until Waterford, but I digress. Overall a good, fun read and I look forward to seeing more from the author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC :)
There are times where the writing is a bit clumsy and could do with a more show-not-tell approach and I think the middle section could be cut down to keep the pace flowing. I also felt that perhaps the romance could have had a slower build up. I realise that it begins in the slower section of the book, but i felt Hester became too obsessive a bit too quickly for it to feel natural. Even a comment on Hester’s previous feelings towards family/friends/potential love interests would have fleshed her out a little more and shown us how she normally interacts with people. The rapidity of her obsessiveness contrasts with the apparent ease in which she leaves other characters behind without much care as to whether they’d miss her, or her them. She didn’t seem to be particularly attached to anyone until Waterford, but I digress. Overall a good, fun read and I look forward to seeing more from the author.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC :)
dark
mysterious
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
Minor: Sexual content
There is no way for me to accurately rate this book because I both loved and hated it. I think I may have been delusional, just trying to will this book to be something it wasn't, which was a full-on F/F romance with a well-earned payoff. Instead, I waded through a smoldering, yet CELIBATE slow-burn of a novel that constantly interrupted the tension with inopportune maids/butlers/hit men/putrefaction and after 264 pages there is finally a kiss? After the "first ending," I nearly stopped reading, and only continued because I guess I am a masochist? The "second ending" seemed very tacked-on, and "morning after" which offered only one molecule of consolation to my pummeled heart.
I will admit that I am quite in awe of Carlin's writing, though. Her language was lovely and evocative throughout, and the voice of Hester rang very true to me. If you insist on reading this book, I would only recommend reading until the top of page 267 of the paperback edition! Let your own imagination take it from there, in which Hester and Rebekah get it on, stop the bad guys, and live happily ever after. Nothing after page 267 is worth suffering for.
I will admit that I am quite in awe of Carlin's writing, though. Her language was lovely and evocative throughout, and the voice of Hester rang very true to me. If you insist on reading this book, I would only recommend reading until the top of page 267 of the paperback edition! Let your own imagination take it from there, in which Hester and Rebekah get it on, stop the bad guys, and live happily ever after. Nothing after page 267 is worth suffering for.
This was a classic case of gorgeous cover with a decent story behind it, not quite living up to the promise, in my opinion. The parallels to Rebekah [b:Rebecca|17899948|Rebecca|Daphne du Maurier|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1386605169s/17899948.jpg|46663] by Daphne du Maurier and [b:Fingersmith|8913370|Fingersmith|Sarah Waters|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348622459s/8913370.jpg|1014113] by Sarah Waters were obvious, and I recommend those over this one.
The book is well written, with a structured but descriptive style. I enjoyed reading it, even though I could have done without the overly descriptive additions sometimes. Some of the comparisons fell short for me: anyone who has ever heard a deep note from a cello would know that it's not really "soft". And to use a deep cello as a means to exemplify softness just doesn't work. But I could see how other readers might really enjoy her writing style.
The story was fun to follow, the plot had a good pace and character motivations worked for the most part. I especially liked how the author tied up all the mysterious threads she had spun, and how the end, unlike other books, actually was satisfying in almost all regards. This is such an important factor in my overall enjoyment of a book, and how Laura Carlin executed the end really made me appreciate her as a writer.
I picked up this book because of the promised mix of wlw romance and Victorian historical setting, and for that it was too much unexpected mystery and too little romance. I felt like the relationship between Hester and Rebekah was very slow, there was a lot of fantasizing on Hester's side but ultimately too little actual romantic plot. I kept expecting the relationship to take off, but it didn't - only at the very end did we get some semblance of actual romance, and then it ended too quickly.
Also, I kept thinking that the title and teaser on the back of the book were applied way too thickly. Maybe I already knew too much about different parts of life in the Victorian era, but the big reveal of what the "wicked deed" actually was didn't surprise me very much.Granted, the men were immoral, but it really didn't warrant that much attention, which I felt the book gave their actions. I also didn't find the focus on Blister that interesting, for the most part I didn't even understand why Hester and Rebekah were following him and pursuing the mystery at all. I think I went into it expecting more romance.
It was a good idea, the Victorian setting, paired with imagined queer history, is always interesting and I applaud the author for writing this complex mystery with a wlw romance in it. Unfortunately I didn't end up loving it as much as I hoped. Nevertheless I would pick up other books from her as well as other books on the topic.
The book is well written, with a structured but descriptive style. I enjoyed reading it, even though I could have done without the overly descriptive additions sometimes. Some of the comparisons fell short for me: anyone who has ever heard a deep note from a cello would know that it's not really "soft". And to use a deep cello as a means to exemplify softness just doesn't work. But I could see how other readers might really enjoy her writing style.
The story was fun to follow, the plot had a good pace and character motivations worked for the most part. I especially liked how the author tied up all the mysterious threads she had spun, and how the end, unlike other books, actually was satisfying in almost all regards. This is such an important factor in my overall enjoyment of a book, and how Laura Carlin executed the end really made me appreciate her as a writer.
I picked up this book because of the promised mix of wlw romance and Victorian historical setting, and for that it was too much unexpected mystery and too little romance. I felt like the relationship between Hester and Rebekah was very slow, there was a lot of fantasizing on Hester's side but ultimately too little actual romantic plot. I kept expecting the relationship to take off, but it didn't - only at the very end did we get some semblance of actual romance, and then it ended too quickly.
Also, I kept thinking that the title and teaser on the back of the book were applied way too thickly. Maybe I already knew too much about different parts of life in the Victorian era, but the big reveal of what the "wicked deed" actually was didn't surprise me very much.
It was a good idea, the Victorian setting, paired with imagined queer history, is always interesting and I applaud the author for writing this complex mystery with a wlw romance in it. Unfortunately I didn't end up loving it as much as I hoped. Nevertheless I would pick up other books from her as well as other books on the topic.
I am so unimaginably tired of plot twists for the sake of plot twists. but also of personality-lacking characters, baseless romances and mary sue protagonist. at least I’m finally done
Dark, gothic and gritty with moments of incredible tenderness between two women. Absolutely beautiful.
3.5 stars. Really enjoyed this neo-Victorian book overall, but found that it started a bit too slowly. However, if you enjoy Sarah Waters you should definitely try this!
I have to be honest I was intrigued by the blurb but when reading I really struggled to get through it. The story itself is cleverly thought out and well written but for me it was all a bit too slow and it just didn't have enough pace behind it to have me really turning the pages.
I'll admit I was tempted often to skip to end to find out what happens but I persevered with the novel. Just for a comparison a book normally takes me no longer than 2 days to read, this one took me 3 weeks.
I'm not sure if it was the historical side of things and the language used that made it harder for me to connect to it all but being honest The Wicked Cometh just wasn't for me.
If you enjoy the historical genre then I'm quite sure this a book that would appeal to you as like I said at the beginning it is well worded, just not my cup of tea.
I'll admit I was tempted often to skip to end to find out what happens but I persevered with the novel. Just for a comparison a book normally takes me no longer than 2 days to read, this one took me 3 weeks.
I'm not sure if it was the historical side of things and the language used that made it harder for me to connect to it all but being honest The Wicked Cometh just wasn't for me.
If you enjoy the historical genre then I'm quite sure this a book that would appeal to you as like I said at the beginning it is well worded, just not my cup of tea.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No