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A review by illustrated_librarian
Earlyfate by Nat Reeve
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Locked in a morgue, accused of a litany of crimes (only some of which they've committed), and with two local burglars out to settle a score with them - this isn't Pip Property's finest hour. To top it all off their lover, Welsh heiress Rosamund Nettleblack, has disappeared, and the chaotic vigilantes at the Dallyangle Division may be the only hope of finding her. But the Division already have a lot on their plate, and they've never seen eye to eye with Pip.
Charming, charming, charming! Earlyfate marks the return to the neo-Victorian world of Dallyangle, Surrey, peopled with the same melodramatic and endearing lot from Nettleblack, plus some new menaces. Told across journal entries, casebook notes, and phonograph recordings the mystery of a missing heiress plus some missing funding unfolds, but as with Nettleblack the real joy is in the characters.
I really enjoy how Reeve is able to lean into the silliness of this world without detracting from the tender character moments. A focus of the story is Pip breaking out from the confines of the character they've constructed for self-preservation and being able to ask for help, and find themselves worthy of that help even when they're not at their dandyish best. Their backstory and growth are sensitively told without losing any of the snarky humour that's the trademark of their voice.
The mystery element of the story felt more complex than in Nettleblack, and stronger for it. From sinister aristocrats to planted evidence, developments were threaded throughout the story to keep it interesting and unpredictable, but it never overwhelmed the time with characters. There's plenty of lighthearted Divisionary bumbling but they also pull together when it's really needed, forgive old wrongs, and see the best in (almost) everyone when it's most important. And this isn't really a spoiler, but Mordred the ferret makes a comeback.
Meddling aristocrats, feral ferrets, QUEER CHAOS. What more could you need?
Thank you @cipher_press for an early copy of this lovely book. Earlyfate is out 24th October!
Charming, charming, charming! Earlyfate marks the return to the neo-Victorian world of Dallyangle, Surrey, peopled with the same melodramatic and endearing lot from Nettleblack, plus some new menaces. Told across journal entries, casebook notes, and phonograph recordings the mystery of a missing heiress plus some missing funding unfolds, but as with Nettleblack the real joy is in the characters.
I really enjoy how Reeve is able to lean into the silliness of this world without detracting from the tender character moments. A focus of the story is Pip breaking out from the confines of the character they've constructed for self-preservation and being able to ask for help, and find themselves worthy of that help even when they're not at their dandyish best. Their backstory and growth are sensitively told without losing any of the snarky humour that's the trademark of their voice.
The mystery element of the story felt more complex than in Nettleblack, and stronger for it. From sinister aristocrats to planted evidence, developments were threaded throughout the story to keep it interesting and unpredictable, but it never overwhelmed the time with characters. There's plenty of lighthearted Divisionary bumbling but they also pull together when it's really needed, forgive old wrongs, and see the best in (almost) everyone when it's most important. And this isn't really a spoiler, but Mordred the ferret makes a comeback.
Meddling aristocrats, feral ferrets, QUEER CHAOS. What more could you need?
Thank you @cipher_press for an early copy of this lovely book. Earlyfate is out 24th October!