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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
My rating is more of a 2.5 than a 3. I did enjoy the plot overall and "gothic-ness" of the book. I want to continue reading the series in hopes that the author has shed some of the issues I had with her writing. Okay, on with what I did not enjoy.
1. Darcie. Though I did like her transformation throughout the book, I did still find her annoying. When she asks Damien why he chose her I was hoping he would have an answer I could be onboard with enough to root for their budding relationship. Unfortunately, based on his answer he didn't seem to know why either.
I also could not figure out if the author was trying to paint Darcie as still naïve —despite her time on the streets, stupid, or used her character as a way to explain things she thought would confuse the reader. It was unnecessary and made me very frustrated.
2.
Also Darcie expresses, in thought, that she never thinks of Steppy when she is with Damien. I audibly sputtered. Unfortunately, almost every time she was trapped under another intense gaze from Damien's cool grey eyes her thoughts immediately jump to Steppy and his great betrayal. I mean, I wish Darcie didn't, would have been nice!
3. Damien has no personality. He is the most handsome pile of wood you will ever meet in your life.
4. There was a part of the epilogue that I found incredibly unbelievable. I will leave you to guess what part that was.
Okay, back to something I liked: I thought that was much more authentic than Darcie's romance with Damien.
1. Darcie. Though I did like her transformation throughout the book, I did still find her annoying. When she asks Damien why he chose her I was hoping he would have an answer I could be onboard with enough to root for their budding relationship. Unfortunately, based on his answer he didn't seem to know why either.
I also could not figure out if the author was trying to paint Darcie as still naïve —despite her time on the streets, stupid, or used her character as a way to explain things she thought would confuse the reader.
Spoiler
For instance, when they are at the police station and the inspector lets Damien know that he shouldn't travel outside of the country, I rightly assumed it was because Damien is still considered a person of interest. Sounds simple enough; I have consumed enough media in my life to know what that means. But then Darcie is confused by the inspector's statement, and the author has Damien explain to Darcie, like she's a child, why the inspector said what he said. Like, why was that exchange needed?2.
Spoiler
If you took a shot every time Darcie mentioned Steppy and his great betrayal you would go blind from alcohol poisoning. I feel it was repeated to paint Darcie as still tortured by what happened to her, but the more it was repeated the more hollow it felt. I kept waiting for her to reflect on other memories to show what kind of father he was before, maybe even a memory of an event that could have foreshadowed what was to come, but that didn't happen.Also Darcie expresses, in thought, that she never thinks of Steppy when she is with Damien. I audibly sputtered. Unfortunately, almost every time she was trapped under another intense gaze from Damien's cool grey eyes her thoughts immediately jump to Steppy and his great betrayal. I mean, I wish Darcie didn't, would have been nice!
3. Damien has no personality. He is the most handsome pile of wood you will ever meet in your life.
4. There was a part of the epilogue that I found incredibly unbelievable. I will leave you to guess what part that was.
Okay, back to something I liked:
Spoiler
I actually teared up during Darcie and her sister's reunion as siblings who care for each other.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Disappointing – one of those frustrating mysteries where vital information isn't revealed because conversations are constantly interrupted/suspended or The Important Question isn't asked, with a TSTL heroine who could match Catherine Morland in always Jumping to the Worst Conclusions. By the end, I was mentally pacing as much as Darcie and very tired of being inside her vacillating head (and *how many times* do we need to hear about "Steppy"
emotional
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nicely written, well-paced, gothic mystery romance set in the Victorian Era with a Jack the Ripper style baddie.
Sitting on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, I'm glad I finally got there. Will definitely read more from this series.
This book contains descriptive love scenes.
Sitting on my TBR for an embarrassingly long time, I'm glad I finally got there. Will definitely read more from this series.
This book contains descriptive love scenes.
This book would be hilarious if it wasn't so dull. The "heroine" (who goes from timid as a mouse to bold as brass in the space of one shag) spends most of her time spying on people out of windows (rather, every time she looks out a window, something happens) and jumping to scary-biscuits conclusions, the "hero" is muscular despite never lifting anything heavier than a scalpel and tanned despite barely ever seeing the sun.
Also - know your audience - tanned and buff aren't generally what the goth readership is looking for in a sexy protagonist.
As it happens, all of Darcie's (the female protagonist) wild conclusions she's been jumping to turn out to be false, and she ends the book married with a kid. True gothic fantasy!
Also - know your audience - tanned and buff aren't generally what the goth readership is looking for in a sexy protagonist.
As it happens, all of Darcie's (the female protagonist) wild conclusions she's been jumping to turn out to be false, and she ends the book married with a kid. True gothic fantasy!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-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
Damien the mysterious doctor with a penchant for secrecy, and Darcie the girl with nothing to lose.
Darcie hasn't eaten in 2 days and sleeps in doorways when she gives up hope and visits her sister's brothel. Her sister gives her some money and the name of man who owes her a favour... Dr. Damien Cole.
A serial killer is on the loose and I got a little tired of her feeling 'the shivers' every time she went for a walk. But this is a gothic story after all.
The first third was so predictable I was tempted to quit. But the story got better.
I did guess who the villain was and who the mysterious woman in the miniature were from the get go.
The villain at the end was kinda ridiculously OTT.
But it was still entertaining and the romance was sweet.
safety is good
Darcie hasn't eaten in 2 days and sleeps in doorways when she gives up hope and visits her sister's brothel. Her sister gives her some money and the name of man who owes her a favour... Dr. Damien Cole.
A serial killer is on the loose and I got a little tired of her feeling 'the shivers' every time she went for a walk. But this is a gothic story after all.
The first third was so predictable I was tempted to quit. But the story got better.
I did guess who the villain was and who the mysterious woman in the miniature were from the get go.
The villain at the end was kinda ridiculously OTT.
But it was still entertaining and the romance was sweet.
safety is good
Spoiler
she's the usual virgin. No real deets on him. He was a bit of a rake years ago but there's no mention of anyone lately.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes