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ashley_elizabeth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wish I could say I liked this more but sadly it just didn't speak to me. I found our two MCs incredibly annoying for different reasons - Evadne is self-righteous and stuck up, while Dorina is selfish and self-centered - and the big "reveal" of the Bag Guy was pretty predictable. I also don't think the whole "inviting a demon's essence into my mind" was really expounded on in any meaningful way. It is talked about and referenced plenty, sure, but it felt like the same thing was said just over an over again without giving much depth to the notion.
As the sequels don't seem to be specifically related to this story but rather to the overall theme of diabolism, I will likely not read them. Bummer!
As the sequels don't seem to be specifically related to this story but rather to the overall theme of diabolism, I will likely not read them. Bummer!
girlofsteel377's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
wibney's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.25
theduchess93's review against another edition
5.0
Demonic lesbian Oscar Wilde fanfiction. Do I need to say more?
mcf's review
4.0
Halfway through this book, I realized I had no idea why I was interested, or what had prompted me to pick it up in the first place. Not because it was bad, but because it was weird, and weird in a way I don't always read. The rhythm was hard to find, and the first 75-80% was, for all intents and purposes, prelude, which made the whole thing feel oddly leisurely (esp because, I mean, DEMONS!). That said, it kept me up too late for several nights and, by the end (especially the end), I found I enjoyed it rather a lot.
mllocy's review against another edition
5.0
Vivid and Exciting
Creatures of Will and Temper is one part Victorian period piece, one part romance, one part supernatural thriller, and one part action flick. These disparate parts are seamlessly pieces together by Tanzer to make a whole that is so much more than the parts.
The pacing of the story gives the author time to flesh out her characters into people you kind of wished you knew personally. Each character is lovingly crafted into a someone that defies easy characterization.
I read late into the night for two nights to finish because I couldn't put it down. You'll feel the same.
Creatures of Will and Temper is one part Victorian period piece, one part romance, one part supernatural thriller, and one part action flick. These disparate parts are seamlessly pieces together by Tanzer to make a whole that is so much more than the parts.
The pacing of the story gives the author time to flesh out her characters into people you kind of wished you knew personally. Each character is lovingly crafted into a someone that defies easy characterization.
I read late into the night for two nights to finish because I couldn't put it down. You'll feel the same.
poisonlizzie's review
4.0
So I rounded up on this one, if I could give it 3.5 stars I would have. My only issue with this was the pacing in the beginning. It felt slow for the first 30-40 pages and then I enjoyed it. Parts 2 and 3 were easily 4 stars hence the round up.
branch_c's review
4.0
This was a pleasant standout in a year of mostly average reads so far. I hadn't realized when reading about it that Tanzer used The Picture of Dorian Gray as a basis for the themes and characters. If I ever read the Wilde book, it was too long ago to remember, so I briefly considered reading it first. But since I was familiar with the basic idea, I decided against it, and I don't think I missed much. The picture in this story is a fairly minor aspect of the plot, and the characters' genders are modified from the original, among other things.
The writing is smooth and elegant and the characters are sharply and painstakingly drawn. The setting is realistic and the pacing is near perfect - we know from the beginning there will be supernatural elements, but their presence is muted for most of the book: a hint of menace and wonder at the edges of the narrative. This is when the story is at its best, focusing on the differences between Evadne and Dorina and their mostly mundane sisterly issues - although I admit that if this were the whole story, I wouldn't have been nearly as interested in their lives.
The plot is slightly reminiscent of a simplified version of The Stress of Her Regard. While it doesn't reach the masterful level of Tim Powers at his best, and it lacks the element of real history, it does have similarities in subject and tone, and should engage fans of that book.
Around the halfway point, the more horrific aspects of what the characters are up against make an appearance, coincident with Dorina's romantic pursuits reaching the next level, and the effect is a bit jarring. While the writing is still solid through this section, it departs somewhat from the style I'd enjoyed up until then.
The final section is nicely done, in keeping with the initial promise, and the ending is appropriate and satisfying. An enjoyable read, recommended for fans of fantasy that's thoughtful, logical, atmospheric, and somewhat dark.
The writing is smooth and elegant and the characters are sharply and painstakingly drawn. The setting is realistic and the pacing is near perfect - we know from the beginning there will be supernatural elements, but their presence is muted for most of the book: a hint of menace and wonder at the edges of the narrative. This is when the story is at its best, focusing on the differences between Evadne and Dorina and their mostly mundane sisterly issues - although I admit that if this were the whole story, I wouldn't have been nearly as interested in their lives.
The plot is slightly reminiscent of a simplified version of The Stress of Her Regard. While it doesn't reach the masterful level of Tim Powers at his best, and it lacks the element of real history, it does have similarities in subject and tone, and should engage fans of that book.
Around the halfway point, the more horrific aspects of what the characters are up against make an appearance, coincident with Dorina's romantic pursuits reaching the next level, and the effect is a bit jarring. While the writing is still solid through this section, it departs somewhat from the style I'd enjoyed up until then.
The final section is nicely done, in keeping with the initial promise, and the ending is appropriate and satisfying. An enjoyable read, recommended for fans of fantasy that's thoughtful, logical, atmospheric, and somewhat dark.
jana_lotte's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
se_wigget's review
4.0
Maybe I should cut back on ginger....
This novel is inspired by The Picture of Dorian Grey (which I've read 18 times) and involves demons in late Victorian London.
I'm thinking of querying the author's agent, but first I want to read this book.
This isn't as ... fun and witty as I expected. I guess I expected more whimsy and Oscar Wilde-style humor. Sure, there's some humor. The tension between the sisters makes me... tense. Of course, I'm reading it during this shit show year, 2020, so there's that. Plus I'm uncomfortable with... the demon stuff.
It seems like Evadne tolerates brusque/rude/improper comments from male fencers but not from women, or at least not women who aren't prim and proper. But eventually she grew on me—it took about 200 pages.
While Lord Henry Wotton in The Picture of Dorian Grey is awful, my least favorite character, his female counterpart in this book is my favorite character.