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A review by siobhanward
The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner
mysterious
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? No
3.0
This was a fun read and if you're looking for a beach read that isn't a romance, this would be a good one. The plot moves quickly and the characters are interesting. If you're happy to just read this and enjoy it at surface-level, it's a fine read.
I found when we dig in a bit further, that's when things start to fall apart. It's very small, but Vaudeline mentions making ectoplasm using Borax (essentially listing off a slime recipe), but the timing seemed off. Sure enough, Borax doesn't seem to have been brought to Europe until the 1890s, 20 years after the book is set. It's a small detail, but it's enough of one that it's worth researching before adding it to your book (of course if I'm wrong and someone finds other dates, please feel free to correct me).
This was kind of an ongoing theme through the book - the plot seems fine at a first glance, but things kind of fall apart in the details. Lenna had seemingly no common sense or genuinely much interest in logic, which didn't fit with her logical, science-rooted character. There were various plot points in the middle that just kind of came and went without much explanation or impact.
The premise of this book was great - while I'd read others like it, there was enough creativity that it had its own distinct premise and voice, however it just felt lacking in the execution.
I found when we dig in a bit further, that's when things start to fall apart. It's very small, but Vaudeline mentions making ectoplasm using Borax (essentially listing off a slime recipe), but the timing seemed off. Sure enough, Borax doesn't seem to have been brought to Europe until the 1890s, 20 years after the book is set. It's a small detail, but it's enough of one that it's worth researching before adding it to your book (of course if I'm wrong and someone finds other dates, please feel free to correct me).
This was kind of an ongoing theme through the book - the plot seems fine at a first glance, but things kind of fall apart in the details. Lenna had seemingly no common sense or genuinely much interest in logic, which didn't fit with her logical, science-rooted character. There were various plot points in the middle that just kind of came and went without much explanation or impact.
The premise of this book was great - while I'd read others like it, there was enough creativity that it had its own distinct premise and voice, however it just felt lacking in the execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Gore