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dreizehn's review
2.0
Heart of Perdition is an interesting novella blending fantasy and Gothic horror themes in a steampunk world. Aurelius Shaw is on his deathbed, a fact which greatly distresses James Weston. After all, this eccentric scientist's experimental treatment was the singular hope for James to be cured of his heart infirmity. Desperate for resolution, Weston is willing to take his last risks to retrieve a powerful artifact from the residence of Shaw's daughter on the remote island of St. Kilda. However, Shaw's last words are a chilling warning to avoid his daughter, or she will be the death of James. He isn't being facetious. Elspeth Shaw's legacy is a great curse, brought on by her father's greed in obtaining a powerful artifact he was never supposed to possess. Any and every mortal being that comes into contact with her and feels affection for her dies a terrible death. Thus she has retreated to a solitary life on a lonely island, with only a hateful housekeeper for company. Will James Weston gets more than he bargains for when he retrieves the artifact?
Overall, I found the story relatively enjoyable. Heart of Perdition has elements of steampunk, fantasy, mystery, and Gothic horror. Selah March is successful in creating a world that intrigues the reader and leaves you wondering what will happen next. My biggest problem with the book is just how short it is. I understand it is meant to be a novella, but I felt like the story ended just as the stage had been set. The ending was abrupt and gave no sense of resolution. Despite the abrupt conclusion, however, I enjoyed the end for what it was, very much like a cliffhanger between episodes of a well-planned television show. I do hope that Heart of Perdition will be continued as the end suggests, because I very much want to know what happens next.
This book was obtained freely from the publisher, Carina Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I found the story relatively enjoyable. Heart of Perdition has elements of steampunk, fantasy, mystery, and Gothic horror. Selah March is successful in creating a world that intrigues the reader and leaves you wondering what will happen next. My biggest problem with the book is just how short it is. I understand it is meant to be a novella, but I felt like the story ended just as the stage had been set. The ending was abrupt and gave no sense of resolution. Despite the abrupt conclusion, however, I enjoyed the end for what it was, very much like a cliffhanger between episodes of a well-planned television show. I do hope that Heart of Perdition will be continued as the end suggests, because I very much want to know what happens next.
This book was obtained freely from the publisher, Carina Press, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
tracey_stewart's review
4.0
This novella came by way of Netgalley - thank you to them.
Now, this is steampunk as I keep expecting it to be (and keep being disappointed). Victoriana combined with automata and dirigibles (there should always be dirigibles) and a strange and unaccountable magic, hanging from a very good story: that's what I keep hoping for.
Elspeth Shaw is under a curse. Anyone who cares for her dies horribly, from family to a stray cat. It's all down to an artifact her father unearthed – her now-deceased father, needless to say. She lives on an island and keeps to herself, and sees to it in every way she can manage that the one person she has regular contact with, her housekeeper, simply does not like her.
Meanwhile, in England, James Weston is a young nobleman whose body is failing him. A rumor comes to him of an artifact (yes, that artifact) which can extend life, and he sees this as his only chance. His intrusion into Elspeth's world is unwelcome – especially when she realizes she is beginning to have feelings for him.
The story takes a turn I never expected, to wind up in a conclusion I would never have guessed at. It becomes very dark, very quickly, and feels like one of those episodes of The Twilight Zone – or maybe Alfred Hitchcock Presents – that might not make you reach for your teddy bear, but surely is good for a shiver or two. It's an excellent tale.
A side note, apropos of nothing: the image of the girl is, though flipped, otherwise identical to the girl on the cover of the novella Dark Remains.
Now, this is steampunk as I keep expecting it to be (and keep being disappointed). Victoriana combined with automata and dirigibles (there should always be dirigibles) and a strange and unaccountable magic, hanging from a very good story: that's what I keep hoping for.
Elspeth Shaw is under a curse. Anyone who cares for her dies horribly, from family to a stray cat. It's all down to an artifact her father unearthed – her now-deceased father, needless to say. She lives on an island and keeps to herself, and sees to it in every way she can manage that the one person she has regular contact with, her housekeeper, simply does not like her.
Meanwhile, in England, James Weston is a young nobleman whose body is failing him. A rumor comes to him of an artifact (yes, that artifact) which can extend life, and he sees this as his only chance. His intrusion into Elspeth's world is unwelcome – especially when she realizes she is beginning to have feelings for him.
The story takes a turn I never expected, to wind up in a conclusion I would never have guessed at. It becomes very dark, very quickly, and feels like one of those episodes of The Twilight Zone – or maybe Alfred Hitchcock Presents – that might not make you reach for your teddy bear, but surely is good for a shiver or two. It's an excellent tale.
A side note, apropos of nothing: the image of the girl is, though flipped, otherwise identical to the girl on the cover of the novella Dark Remains.
annastarlight's review
2.0
Heart of Perdition is another steampunk novella published by Carina Press, but this one had a different feel to it than for example Photographs & Phantoms or Like Clockwork. It's a bit darker, more Gothic novel than mystery. There are ancient curses and spooky settings. Although it is a romance, it did felt a little bit lighter on romance than the average Carina Press novel.
I loved the idea of this book. I was kind of amazed by how complex of a story Ms March was building. There was a lot of intrigue and tension, and I started wondering how she would tie all the ends up in such a short story. This is where the low rating comes in - she doesn't tie all the ends up. She doesn't tie a single one of them. There is no redemption, no solution, no confrontation. Just when I think something interesting is about to happen, I see the last sentence. "...To be continued".
Which was terribly lame. It just felt like the author couldn't come op with a handy solution to figure everything out, so she just stamped on a "to be continued" so no one could get angry about it. I've contacted the nice people at Carina Press and they told me that the second part in the series is being currently written, and it will probably release in 2013.
I would still be interested to read the sequel to Heart of Perdition, because I did like the feel of the story. But as a story itself, this was a bit disappointing.
I loved the idea of this book. I was kind of amazed by how complex of a story Ms March was building. There was a lot of intrigue and tension, and I started wondering how she would tie all the ends up in such a short story. This is where the low rating comes in - she doesn't tie all the ends up. She doesn't tie a single one of them. There is no redemption, no solution, no confrontation. Just when I think something interesting is about to happen, I see the last sentence. "...To be continued".
Which was terribly lame. It just felt like the author couldn't come op with a handy solution to figure everything out, so she just stamped on a "to be continued" so no one could get angry about it. I've contacted the nice people at Carina Press and they told me that the second part in the series is being currently written, and it will probably release in 2013.
I would still be interested to read the sequel to Heart of Perdition, because I did like the feel of the story. But as a story itself, this was a bit disappointing.
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