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espurrr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is such a cute love story set amongst so much death in a really interesting point in history. Nye is a compelling character with infectious passion for his work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, and Classism
erinnh's review
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The Resurrectionist is a genre bending Gothic novel full of adventure, romance, and true crime elements. It takes place in Edinburgh, 1828, during the same time as the infamous real-life Burke and Hare murders.
James Willoughby, a third son with few advantages in life, has arrived in Edinburgh to make a career for himself as a surgeon, but he soon finds himself short on funds. Looking for quick money and opportunities, he is drawn into the lucrative world body snatching. While cadavers were in high demand for research and anatomical study in Edinburgh at this time, they were difficult to obtain through legal means. While James is aware of the risks of his new trade, he and his companions soon face more than any one of them bargained for when a new gang enters the scene.
This book has a lot of things going for it. I love how the author blended fact and fiction here. It made for a wildly entertaining read. It’s also apparent that she did her research.I felt like I was learning things without being bored. I learned about anatomy, the historical characters, deterrents that were used against body snatchers, et cetera. You can tell time and effort went into researching this work and then crafting a narrative that blends reality with an intricate plot. And I have to give the author credit because I think she struck a good balance with the right amount of medical terminology and historical references and also keeping the characters and the plot dynamic and playful. The characters and the story felt alive on the page, and that isn’t necessarily easy to achieve.
The writing style and language was also enjoyable. It was quotable and, overall, a quick read. The themes were engaging. The book dealt with themes around morality, tension between social mores and social progress, and rebirth and resurrection.
I definitely think this book is for readers who enjoy plot-driven narratives. It has elements of adventure, romance, historical fiction, and true crime, and may appeal broadly to readers from any of those genres. Certainly anyone familiar with this particular case should give this novel a go!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing an eARC to review!*
James Willoughby, a third son with few advantages in life, has arrived in Edinburgh to make a career for himself as a surgeon, but he soon finds himself short on funds. Looking for quick money and opportunities, he is drawn into the lucrative world body snatching. While cadavers were in high demand for research and anatomical study in Edinburgh at this time, they were difficult to obtain through legal means. While James is aware of the risks of his new trade, he and his companions soon face more than any one of them bargained for when a new gang enters the scene.
This book has a lot of things going for it. I love how the author blended fact and fiction here. It made for a wildly entertaining read. It’s also apparent that she did her research.I felt like I was learning things without being bored. I learned about anatomy, the historical characters, deterrents that were used against body snatchers, et cetera. You can tell time and effort went into researching this work and then crafting a narrative that blends reality with an intricate plot. And I have to give the author credit because I think she struck a good balance with the right amount of medical terminology and historical references and also keeping the characters and the plot dynamic and playful. The characters and the story felt alive on the page, and that isn’t necessarily easy to achieve.
The writing style and language was also enjoyable. It was quotable and, overall, a quick read. The themes were engaging. The book dealt with themes around morality, tension between social mores and social progress, and rebirth and resurrection.
I definitely think this book is for readers who enjoy plot-driven narratives. It has elements of adventure, romance, historical fiction, and true crime, and may appeal broadly to readers from any of those genres. Certainly anyone familiar with this particular case should give this novel a go!
*Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing an eARC to review!*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Medical content, Murder, and Outing
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism