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bohemianasl's review against another edition
3.0
Great idea, irritating execution
I like the idea and the weaving of the characters. I loathe the constant narrative interruptions of the cast commenting on the writing of the story. It’s cute once. Repeatedly, it’s a disruptive nuisance.
I like the idea and the weaving of the characters. I loathe the constant narrative interruptions of the cast commenting on the writing of the story. It’s cute once. Repeatedly, it’s a disruptive nuisance.
kingabrit's review against another edition
3.0
It started out 4 stars for me. The reason it dropped has nothing to do with the book - it is all me. I am definitely not the right audience as I am not very much fond of the fantasy-horror-sci fi genres, although I read quite a few of these (as nowadays everything belongs to these more or less so they are hard to avoid even in lit fiction). Nevertheless I enjoyed reading it, it kept me interested, although it got a bit cumbersome in the end (hence the star drop).
I could not thread together the two "mysteries" (the murders in Whitechapel and the Society); in spite of the fact I was constantly told there was a definite connection, and the novel was written as if there were indeed, somehow these two parts never clicked together in my mind, and I sensed them as two ill-fitted halves being squeezed together by force. Hard to describe what I mean, but maybe it makes sense for anyone who reads the novel. In the end I could not help thinking the Society part was included just to be able to write a sequel, and that was its main purpose showing up in the book.
A lot of readers complain about the "interruptions". I personally like these sorts of things as they make a novel much more interesting generally, and if the story is well written (and in this case, Goss writes very well), this kind of writing techniques never bothers me. However, I was listening to the audiobook version, and the narrator did an awful job with these commenting parts. She never left a short pause between the regular flow of the story and the comments of the characters. So it took me a (short) while to get used to the structure (i.e. the jumps back and front), which would have been easier I guess if I had read the physical text itself.
Speaking of the narration, it was pretty bad. Not 'bad-bad', but certainly not too enjoyable at all. Other than that comment fiasco I have mentioned, the narrator seemed to have hard time to invent convincing voices, mainly for the male characters. I don't mind if narrators don't come up with different voices for all the characters, but it is very annoying when you can tell their struggle and sweat to do so.
Being Hungarian, I was especially tickled by the frequent mentioning of Budapest (although not in a good context), and pleased to find out that Goss is Hungarian-American.
All and all, I don't mind reading this, and honestly, I am curious how the story goes on, however, I am not sure I will pull out the second part soon.
I could not thread together the two "mysteries" (the murders in Whitechapel and the Society); in spite of the fact I was constantly told there was a definite connection, and the novel was written as if there were indeed, somehow these two parts never clicked together in my mind, and I sensed them as two ill-fitted halves being squeezed together by force. Hard to describe what I mean, but maybe it makes sense for anyone who reads the novel. In the end I could not help thinking the Society part was included just to be able to write a sequel, and that was its main purpose showing up in the book.
A lot of readers complain about the "interruptions". I personally like these sorts of things as they make a novel much more interesting generally, and if the story is well written (and in this case, Goss writes very well), this kind of writing techniques never bothers me. However, I was listening to the audiobook version, and the narrator did an awful job with these commenting parts. She never left a short pause between the regular flow of the story and the comments of the characters. So it took me a (short) while to get used to the structure (i.e. the jumps back and front), which would have been easier I guess if I had read the physical text itself.
Speaking of the narration, it was pretty bad. Not 'bad-bad', but certainly not too enjoyable at all. Other than that comment fiasco I have mentioned, the narrator seemed to have hard time to invent convincing voices, mainly for the male characters. I don't mind if narrators don't come up with different voices for all the characters, but it is very annoying when you can tell their struggle and sweat to do so.
Being Hungarian, I was especially tickled by the frequent mentioning of Budapest (although not in a good context), and pleased to find out that Goss is Hungarian-American.
All and all, I don't mind reading this, and honestly, I am curious how the story goes on, however, I am not sure I will pull out the second part soon.
cindilm76's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 maybe. too many characters in a first book, for my liking. but I'd try book 2, if available.
epoxy's review against another edition
3.0
I’m torn on how to rate this book.
On the one hand, I think it’s a 4. It was well written and well edited which, for some unfathomable reason, has become rare in ebooks. I really enjoyed parts of it. The characters are fun and mostly well developed.
On the other hand a part of me wants to say 3 because, I just didn’t like it. I don’t like the inclusion of everyone from Sherlock Holmes to Frankenstein to Dr. Moreau to Jekyll & Hyde. I didn’t like the whole beast-folk thing. I didn’t like the apparent melting of alchemy and evolution.
charmingrogue's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting idea. I've read most, but not all, of the books/stories that the author pulled together in here. I enjoyed the concept, but felt the ending was very abrupt. Clearly were just supposed to go on to the next book.
jenmb's review against another edition
4.0
A fun book that asks the question, "What if the scientists in Romantic novels had (or created) daughters who were used in (or were) their experiments?" Sounds more complicated than it is.
The book opens as Mary Jekyll, daughter of Dr. Jekyll (and possibly Hyde), is reeling from her mother's death and now probable destitution. From there, she finds a lost/unknown sister, teams up with Holmes and Watson to investigate murders, and starts collecting a crew of women who are determined to discover the depths and purpose of the mysterious Société des Alchemistes -- the secret society that Dr. Jekyll and the other "fathers" in the book belong(ed) to.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter is an obvious setup for further adventures and I hope the next installment is as enjoyable.
The book opens as Mary Jekyll, daughter of Dr. Jekyll (and possibly Hyde), is reeling from her mother's death and now probable destitution. From there, she finds a lost/unknown sister, teams up with Holmes and Watson to investigate murders, and starts collecting a crew of women who are determined to discover the depths and purpose of the mysterious Société des Alchemistes -- the secret society that Dr. Jekyll and the other "fathers" in the book belong(ed) to.
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter is an obvious setup for further adventures and I hope the next installment is as enjoyable.
mandellaeffects's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book... I was somewhat floored by Theodora Goss' writing and her ability to blend so many different existing stories together into a new and compelling one. The camaraderie formed between the main characters, women and girls wronged by fathers and father figures, made me as a reader feel so involved in the story.
I can't wait to pick up the sequel!
I can't wait to pick up the sequel!
ithinktfiam's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely cute novel set in the late 1800s that munges a bunch of 19th century fantasy stories & characters with one 19th century mystery character to have an adventure in London. Also, some feminism done well. The only sour note was the child Diana was just too consistently annoying rather than interesting.
Oh, yes, and the characters adding comments as one is writing their story is usually pretty cute but a bit overused. Still, a good first effort.
Oh, yes, and the characters adding comments as one is writing their story is usually pretty cute but a bit overused. Still, a good first effort.
therealkateclysm's review against another edition
4.0
It was so enjoyable that I bought the second book before I was even done with this one. Lots of fun!