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blewballoon's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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
4.0
I knew from the premise that this would be dark, but there was a point where I was like "woah this just got extra f**ked up" and I had to put the book down for a bit.
Overall, a very interesting and suspenseful story. It's fairly slow paced for the most part aside from some especially dramatic moments, but during the calmer parts of the story there are always looming threats and the sense that trouble is closing in on the main character. I still have some lingering questions now that the book is over. I did like the romance and the found family elements of the story, they were fairly uncomplicated considering everything else going on. I also enjoyed the the historical scientific elements, but this is not a story for the squeamish.
The audiobook narrator was excellent, I'd definitely like to listen to more of their work.
Bit of a personal criticism, but I did feel a strong lack of women in this story. Up until around 25% into the book there is only a passing reference to the main character's mother and sister, otherwise the world is entirely inhabited by men. I understand that women were not allowed in the medical profession, but surely they did exist in Scotland. The first named woman that does show up is of course flawlessly gorgeous and saintly, which irritated me a bit. The sister mentioned in passing earlier also comes back for two scenes to be generally homophobic and snobby. Again, I understand that this was probably a side effect of the historical setting, but I did feel the absence.
Overall, a very interesting and suspenseful story. It's fairly slow paced for the most part aside from some especially dramatic moments, but during the calmer parts of the story there are always looming threats and the sense that trouble is closing in on the main character. I still have some lingering questions now that the book is over. I did like the romance and the found family elements of the story, they were fairly uncomplicated considering everything else going on. I also enjoyed the the historical scientific elements, but this is not a story for the squeamish.
The audiobook narrator was excellent, I'd definitely like to listen to more of their work.
Bit of a personal criticism, but I did feel a strong lack of women in this story. Up until around 25% into the book there is only a passing reference to the main character's mother and sister, otherwise the world is entirely inhabited by men. I understand that women were not allowed in the medical profession, but surely they did exist in Scotland. The first named woman that does show up is of course flawlessly gorgeous and saintly, which irritated me a bit. The sister mentioned in passing earlier also comes back for two scenes to be generally homophobic and snobby. Again, I understand that this was probably a side effect of the historical setting, but I did feel the absence.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Alcohol
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual content, Death of parent, Murder, and Outing
downtown_kb's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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? No
4.25
“You are telling me that there is a body stowed in the bushes outside my window?”
“Yes.”
“Well then, for God’s sake, put it back!"
James is in Edinburgh to accomplish his dreams of becoming a physician. And in order to truly learn how the body works, James needs hands on experience. What better way to get that then afterhours lab work with cadavers? However, it quickly becomes clear that not only will James needs to supplement his meager funds to afford school, but this town goes through an awful lot of bodies, thanks to all the medical students, and they have to come from somewhere.
This story is about James coming into himself, and for that it is also a queer awakening, and a sweet MM romance. It is also a clever and well researched crime thriller. Many of these events or people in the story are pulled from real history. It is a great mix of romance and the macabre, crime thriller and hilarious hijinks. Did I mention it was hilarious? There were chapters, especially the first night James finds himself hands-on with the crew after hours, that had me laughing out loud.
"This is the face of Progress, James. Don’t you dare look away.”
The romance in this is sweet but is what lost a star for me. It is not a romance subplot. It has all the feels of an actual romance, the author takes times to build it. But not quite enough time. The pacing was off from the falling to the fell in a way that irked me just enough. It needed just a little more time given to it and then it would have truly been perfection. Which is why it irked me, it was close and ultimately once established so sweet and supportive.
Still despite that this story is so clever. The writing is captivating. The setting and atmosphere is dark and gruesome. The crime and mystery are truly sinister. The history in the book is so fascinating and well portrayed. And it is all balanced by funny moment. And James who is just the sweetest naive boy who strongly comes into his own.
I hope so much to see more adventures of James and Aneurin (its left with room to continue) but either way I will be watching this author, excited to see what they write next.
"It was brilliant. Wicked, yes. But brilliant."
“Yes.”
“Well then, for God’s sake, put it back!"
James is in Edinburgh to accomplish his dreams of becoming a physician. And in order to truly learn how the body works, James needs hands on experience. What better way to get that then afterhours lab work with cadavers? However, it quickly becomes clear that not only will James needs to supplement his meager funds to afford school, but this town goes through an awful lot of bodies, thanks to all the medical students, and they have to come from somewhere.
This story is about James coming into himself, and for that it is also a queer awakening, and a sweet MM romance. It is also a clever and well researched crime thriller. Many of these events or people in the story are pulled from real history. It is a great mix of romance and the macabre, crime thriller and hilarious hijinks. Did I mention it was hilarious? There were chapters, especially the first night James finds himself hands-on with the crew after hours, that had me laughing out loud.
"This is the face of Progress, James. Don’t you dare look away.”
The romance in this is sweet but is what lost a star for me. It is not a romance subplot. It has all the feels of an actual romance, the author takes times to build it. But not quite enough time. The pacing was off from the falling to the fell in a way that irked me just enough. It needed just a little more time given to it and then it would have truly been perfection. Which is why it irked me, it was close and ultimately once established so sweet and supportive.
Still despite that this story is so clever. The writing is captivating. The setting and atmosphere is dark and gruesome. The crime and mystery are truly sinister. The history in the book is so fascinating and well portrayed. And it is all balanced by funny moment. And James who is just the sweetest naive boy who strongly comes into his own.
I hope so much to see more adventures of James and Aneurin (its left with room to continue) but either way I will be watching this author, excited to see what they write next.
"It was brilliant. Wicked, yes. But brilliant."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Medical content
Minor: Homophobia and Sexual content
el2319's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, and Medical content
Moderate: Murder and Outing
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
srm's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-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? It's complicated
4.25
A charming story about a young Englishman who heads to Edinburgh in the 1820s for med school. He quickly finds himself involved in the, ahem, supply of specimens for the anatomy students, but darker secrets than mere body snatching lie beneath the city. True crime fans will get a treat, as will historical fiction readers. Also, I very much enjoyed the side of swoony M/M romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
chezler24's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
"We are members of the league of men who call ourselves not by the mantle of snatchers, but Resurrectionists. Our motivation is not the value of the bodies we steal, but in the second life we give them; each acts as a post-mortem Prometheus, bringing fire to mankind." p. 109
I really enjoyed this book, and I wish I had jotted down my thoughts right after reading it, but life has been a bit busy lately. As someone who has always been interested in dark academic tales and learning about medical developments, this book was a perfect pick. Wonderfully gothic and grotesque with a bit of queer romance threaded within the mystery. It did take a bit for the mystery elements to come to the forefront; however, losing myself in 19th-century Scotland almost made me not care. I would definitely read a sequel if Dunlap decides to revisit these characters; I need to see where their romance and medical developments go! (Also the cover is simply gorgeous.)
Advance Uncorrected Proof
I really enjoyed this book, and I wish I had jotted down my thoughts right after reading it, but life has been a bit busy lately. As someone who has always been interested in dark academic tales and learning about medical developments, this book was a perfect pick. Wonderfully gothic and grotesque with a bit of queer romance threaded within the mystery. It did take a bit for the mystery elements to come to the forefront; however, losing myself in 19th-century Scotland almost made me not care. I would definitely read a sequel if Dunlap decides to revisit these characters; I need to see where their romance and medical developments go! (Also the cover is simply gorgeous.)
Advance Uncorrected Proof
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Medical content
Moderate: Homophobia, Violence, Murder, Outing, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual harassment