kaitykat's review
4.0
Wow, this book was truly beautiful yet very horrifying. It wasn’t what I expected as I thought this was a historical fiction focused on Pre-Raphaelite art (art that I’ve been obsessed with for years), which is definitely was, but that horror, obsession, and cruelty of Silas really led the book in a direction that made me feel as though I was reading a Victorian version of ‘The Silence of the Lambs’. The detailed cruelty of animals and people in this book disturbed me, but the good was more overpowering.
The good: Art!! Gothic and beautiful story telling that portrayed that griminess of Victorian London. Iris herself was a character I enjoyed so much and I loved reading about her journey into becoming a Pre-Raphaelite model! The story overall was hauntingly beautiful and I truly enjoyed it. 4.5 stars! ✨
The good: Art!! Gothic and beautiful story telling that portrayed that griminess of Victorian London. Iris herself was a character I enjoyed so much and I loved reading about her journey into becoming a Pre-Raphaelite model! The story overall was hauntingly beautiful and I truly enjoyed it. 4.5 stars! ✨
bestendeavour's review against another edition
I found this too slow to draw me in and I hadn't connected with the characters and found I didn't care about what happened to any of them, so have chosen to move on...
hazelrosen's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Sexual violence, and Violence
lindatell's review against another edition
3.0
Uzreiz teikšu, ka vēsturiskie romāni nav mans mīļākais literatūras žanrs. Tomēr atsauksmes par šo grāmatu rosināja ziņkāri, jo ļoti sen neesmu lasījusi gotisko trilleri, kura stāsts risinātos tik senā pagātnē - 1850.gados Londonā.
Stāsts ir par divām māsām Rozu un Airisu un viņu likteņiem - sākot no dzīves leļļu darbnīcā kā māceklēm pie saimnieces, kas nevar iedomāties savu dzīvi bez apreibināšanās ar morfīnu, beidzot ar Airisas izraušanos no vienmuļības sloga un sekošanu savai kaislībai - gleznošanai.
Viņa šajā ceļā satiek gan cilvēkus, kas vēl labu un cenšas palīdzēt, gan tādus, kuriem viņas neparastais skaistums un neatkarīgais raksturs modina slēptas dziņas.
Grāmata sākumā šķiet stāsts par mums grūti iedomājamo dzīvi Londonā pirms pusotra gadsimta. Tomēr ap grāmatas vidu trillera elementi iezīmējas tik skaidri, ka nav šaubu, ka pēdējo trešdaļu lasīšana ir kā uz adatām. Lasīju elpu aizturēdama. Beigas varbūt šķita nedaudz par aprautu, bet, zinot, ka šis ir Elizabetes Macnīlas debijas romāns, gribas teikt “bravo!”. Tēlu raksturi kopā ar vēsturisko fonu un padrūmo atmosfēru ar šausmu elementiem rada neatkārtojamu kombināciju.
Stāsts ir par divām māsām Rozu un Airisu un viņu likteņiem - sākot no dzīves leļļu darbnīcā kā māceklēm pie saimnieces, kas nevar iedomāties savu dzīvi bez apreibināšanās ar morfīnu, beidzot ar Airisas izraušanos no vienmuļības sloga un sekošanu savai kaislībai - gleznošanai.
Viņa šajā ceļā satiek gan cilvēkus, kas vēl labu un cenšas palīdzēt, gan tādus, kuriem viņas neparastais skaistums un neatkarīgais raksturs modina slēptas dziņas.
Grāmata sākumā šķiet stāsts par mums grūti iedomājamo dzīvi Londonā pirms pusotra gadsimta. Tomēr ap grāmatas vidu trillera elementi iezīmējas tik skaidri, ka nav šaubu, ka pēdējo trešdaļu lasīšana ir kā uz adatām. Lasīju elpu aizturēdama. Beigas varbūt šķita nedaudz par aprautu, bet, zinot, ka šis ir Elizabetes Macnīlas debijas romāns, gribas teikt “bravo!”. Tēlu raksturi kopā ar vēsturisko fonu un padrūmo atmosfēru ar šausmu elementiem rada neatkārtojamu kombināciju.
alidy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.5
orangebug's review
4.0
A good tale about Victorian England - following Iris (& Rose) with a great cast of characters and a very Jack the Ripper like story!
thetallestbird's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-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? No
5.0
WOW. What a read! This is an immediate classic in my mind and I'll be reading it again very soon.
The thing I appreciated the most is how so delightfully balanced the author is with her details. She doesn't shy away from how gross Victorian London was, but she doesn't use it for shock value, either. She is clearly well-researched in the history and language of the time, but she doesn't spoon feed the reader with it.
It was truly a delight to read.
The thing I appreciated the most is how so delightfully balanced the author is with her details. She doesn't shy away from how gross Victorian London was, but she doesn't use it for shock value, either. She is clearly well-researched in the history and language of the time, but she doesn't spoon feed the reader with it.
It was truly a delight to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child death, Confinement, Death, Stalking, Violence, Vomit, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Excrement, Mental illness, Murder, Medical content, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, and Cancer
Minor: Misogyny and Sexism
j0ana_'s review
5.0
4.5 ✨️
Such a beautiful book! It's the second time the tube posters did not disappoint me! Also, I'm glad I grabbed this book merely for "the beautiful cover"
(Will update for a detailed review)
Such a beautiful book! It's the second time the tube posters did not disappoint me! Also, I'm glad I grabbed this book merely for "the beautiful cover"
(Will update for a detailed review)
hollyberry_books's review
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Stalking
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Sexual violence
Minor: Cursing and Vomit