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A review by elderlingfool
The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Jenny is down on her luck when she receives a great deal from a lady called Mrs. Dyer. In exchange for money and other favors, she has to spy on an actress called Lilith while taking care of her makeup and wardrobe. The theatre is full with people that believe in superstitions and there is a mysterious clock said to whisper to someone who is in possession of it while tragedy follows.
This was one of the most engaging reads I experienced in a long time. The writing style made everything flow so naturally, the characters were interesting and the different mysteries kept me wanting to read a chapter immediately one after the other.
The book is divided into five acts and, even though I don't think it's necessary to have read the plays presented here, some knowledge about them is helpful in order to notice all the details. The author makes a good job at stating what the plays are about and their themes for the most part and someone that is familiar with them might even find the few repetitions annoying at times. The plays presented are Faust, Macbeth, The Duchess of Malfi, Antony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet. The plot has strong connection to these plays.
The main themes presented are family, superstition, jealousy, revenge and fame while adressing the struggles for women in Victorian London. The three major female characters have really strong personalities and are interesting in their own way. Lilith intrigued me from the start, but Jenny ended up being the best for me because I liked to see her development when it comes to her initial judgements and the care for her family while learning to take care of herself too.
The ending went on for a little too long. Near the end I caught myself thinking "it isn't done yet?" but the finale made sense and it closed with a bang.
I only read two books by this author, this one and The Silent Companions, and so far this one is my favourite. I definitely want to read more of her works.
This was one of the most engaging reads I experienced in a long time. The writing style made everything flow so naturally, the characters were interesting and the different mysteries kept me wanting to read a chapter immediately one after the other.
The book is divided into five acts and, even though I don't think it's necessary to have read the plays presented here, some knowledge about them is helpful in order to notice all the details. The author makes a good job at stating what the plays are about and their themes for the most part and someone that is familiar with them might even find the few repetitions annoying at times. The plays presented are Faust, Macbeth, The Duchess of Malfi, Antony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet. The plot has strong connection to these plays.
The main themes presented are family, superstition, jealousy, revenge and fame while adressing the struggles for women in Victorian London. The three major female characters have really strong personalities and are interesting in their own way. Lilith intrigued me from the start, but Jenny ended up being the best for me because I liked to see her development when it comes to her initial judgements and the care for her family while learning to take care of herself too.
The ending went on for a little too long. Near the end I caught myself thinking "it isn't done yet?" but the finale made sense and it closed with a bang.
I only read two books by this author, this one and The Silent Companions, and so far this one is my favourite. I definitely want to read more of her works.