ivy123's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Good gothic sequal that had me immersed in the atmosphere.
I loved the setting of this novel and the extra blood shed gave this a distinctly gothic feel. I also enjoyed the romance between Audrey Rose and Thomas as it felt natural and healthy. The arguments solved with discussion and mutual understanding. Thomas ensuring Audrey was able to maintain her independence was something i admired. It was also impressive that the trauma Audrey recieved in book one was not just magically overlooked. She continues to be plagued by this and has to find her own ways of managing which was refreashing. As usual the historical photos were also a major win for me.
Some things that didnt make this entirely perfect for me was some part of the novel felt dragged out and i found myself lacking in concentration at times. Also the writing in the letters was difficult to read allot of the time but this is probably due to my dyslexia.
All in all a fun gothic who done it with an atmospheric setting. Will definently be excited to read the third instalment
I loved the setting of this novel and the extra blood shed gave this a distinctly gothic feel. I also enjoyed the romance between Audrey Rose and Thomas as it felt natural and healthy. The arguments solved with discussion and mutual understanding. Thomas ensuring Audrey was able to maintain her independence was something i admired. It was also impressive that the trauma Audrey recieved in book one was not just magically overlooked. She continues to be plagued by this and has to find her own ways of managing which was refreashing. As usual the historical photos were also a major win for me.
Some things that didnt make this entirely perfect for me was some part of the novel felt dragged out and i found myself lacking in concentration at times. Also the writing in the letters was difficult to read allot of the time but this is probably due to my dyslexia.
All in all a fun gothic who done it with an atmospheric setting. Will definently be excited to read the third instalment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, Grief, Medical content, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Death of parent, Bullying, and Misogyny
bibi_lotta101's review against another edition
dark
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Murder
Moderate: Grief and Death
Minor: Sexism
miakve's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.5
I really liked this book! A great sequel, it continues the story well. The characters are still amazing, and the plot interesting. I look forward to seeing how they and their relationship developes in the next book.
Spoiler
i feel how the final showdown with the markerer happened was a bit too similar to the first book. Finding a hidden creepy room, the murderer is someone their close too, Audrey Rose is about to be killed when other people come in the room and end up killing the murderer. I would have liked to see it be a bit more different. I did however LOVE the end, mostly because of Audrey Rose and Thomas's relationship. The facts that Audrey Rose was struggling with the eventuelt of the first book, ptsd and grief, was great. The events in the first book were traumatizing and im happy to see the realistisk depiction of that. Rating would have been 4 stars had it not been for them being such good characters and such a fantastic couple
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Medical content, Blood, Death, Violence, and Misogyny
Moderate: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Gore, and Injury/Injury detail
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
3.0
I liked this one better than the first one I think because it had a bit more guessing to it with some good twists! There were some frustrating moments as usual - these characters definitely should have figured a few things out sooner - and some cringey moments BUT overall I enjoyed it! Trying to finish out some series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, and Vomit
lauren_shilling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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
4.75
This book was so good! It definitely had some flaws, and it wasn't perfect, but I just had so much fun and I just loved it so much! This was the second book in the Stalking Jack The Ripper series, and it completely delivered on what I wanted it to be! It was dark, and mysterious, and creepy, and it got so disturbing towards the end especially! There was a plot twist at the very end that came totally out of left field and wasn't entirely well-built up to, but that is seriously the sole reason for not giving it the full five star. And even that twist didn't bother me too much because it was based on a topic I know a lot about outside of the book that I really don't see mentioned in books or other media that often, so it was super cool for me. I can see, however, that it might bother some people. I need to give a serious shoutout to Thomas Cresswell too. Like... I haven't loved a fictional love interest this much in a REALLY long time. I loved him in the first book, and I absolutely adored him in this one. He is just incredible and everything about him is perfect. Honestly, his sister too. Like, I have a type, and that type is the Cresswell siblings. But yeah, this book was really good, and it was exactly what I was hoping it would be! I'm so excited to read the next one. Based on the title, it has been the one I have been the most excited for since starting the series and knowing (like three chapters into the first book) that it would be a series I would be continuing with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Medical content, Violence, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
bookedandbusy's review against another edition
dark
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? No
5.0
Such a strong sequel! Loved it even more the second time!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Gore, Blood, and Grief
bookstarbri's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
All the issues I had with book 1 were much better this go around! The tension was awesome and I actually loved this mystery more! It did get a little slow sometimes and I felt like some scenes could’ve been shorter, but overall, a really awesome sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Grief and Violence
mybookthrone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Vomit, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gore, Grief, and Death
starryorbit12's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
A lot more historical liberties were taken with this book, and there isn't a real life case to center around which makes it a slight departure from the first novel. However, the environment still feels rooted in the time period and the gothic elements added with the Romanian setting were great. The surprise historical lesbian couple were great, and Audrey Rose moves away from "not like other girls" brand of feminism the first book had more. I think the addition of more female characters that have devoted page time who are meant to be fleshed out helped. It hard to describe book as feminist and then have your female lead never interact with other women. This felt more on the marl of what I think the author was tryin to go for in Ripper. I also enjoyed that the author let her characters experience trauma of the events they went through and carry in a way real people would. I also feel that the side characters felt a lot less there and lot more like they had an impact on the stories. I enjoyed the letters to her Cousin Liza and her father. It added to the time period. Plus, my copy had exclusive letter between Thomas and his sister set during the first book. Those truly fleshed out there relationship and made me love Daciana more. There exchange was really cute as well. I think that misogyny that Audrey face as the only female student and the pressure be better to be seen as equal was well presented. You can feel her frustration while her classmates don't even realize there privilege or adverse effects of the some of the things they say to her. Plus, there are varying reactions to her presence which feels more realistic.
Conversely, the mystery held the same probably as the first in which I guess the murderer shortly after they are introduced. It's the problem of having a limited cast of characters and limiting actual interaction or development to only a few of that already limited cast. The murderer is never somebody that the main characters have never met or only briefly interacted with because then it feels out of nowhere. Realistically, there only a few characters with enough page time for it to be. It doesn't take much deducing from there.
It's like the romantic conflict in this one. The conflict basically just boiled down to having Thomas act against the things that made a likable and memorable love interest. The thing about the relationship in the first book that was so great, especially for historical normal, was how much Thomas respected Audrey. He saw her as intelligent and capable, and he never coddled her like the other men in her life tried too. Even when they are about to do something dangerous, he taught her how to protect herself rather than trying to convince her or force her not to go through with her plan. This book he constantly tries to dicate her life, and he constantly goes around behind her back to do so. Is that Audrey is so clear that the one thing she wants from him is expect for her independence he keeps acknowledging that while simultaneously going behind her back, and it leads to her being humiliated in front of her classmates that already think her lesser because of sexism. He stops about halfway through the book, but the apology feels more like an excuse because the crux of it is him claiming not to have thought of the consequences in his bad attempts at emotional support. However, Audrey was very clear about what she did not want him to do. It's disheartening because the respect and admiration for Audrey was what distinguished Thomas from the countless other dark haired, sarcastic male love interests with a tragic backstory. The relationship recovers some of its charm near the end, but be prepared to want to kick Thomas for at least half the book.
Conversely, the mystery held the same probably as the first in which I guess the murderer shortly after they are introduced. It's the problem of having a limited cast of characters and limiting actual interaction or development to only a few of that already limited cast. The murderer is never somebody that the main characters have never met or only briefly interacted with because then it feels out of nowhere. Realistically, there only a few characters with enough page time for it to be. It doesn't take much deducing from there.
Spoiler
The big give away for me was the fact that Audrey states that she thinks Anastasia's suggestion of not telling the headmaster was bad idea. Anastasia's had a strange insistence, and her reasons for not telling him we're pretty shallow compared to the benefit of potentially stopping a murder. Audrey Rose agrees despite feeling dreaded the idea for some reason. There's also the fact that she knew exactly what the book in the village girls house was, and no one could figure out that girl's connection to anything. The emphasis on how unrecognizable Anastasia's "body" was, and the fact that she didn't have an established connection to either of the motives murder. The fact that she takes the book, says nothing, and then just "leaves" for hungry based off of a vague connection found without talking to anybody.It's like the romantic conflict in this one. The conflict basically just boiled down to having Thomas act against the things that made a likable and memorable love interest. The thing about the relationship in the first book that was so great, especially for historical normal, was how much Thomas respected Audrey. He saw her as intelligent and capable, and he never coddled her like the other men in her life tried too. Even when they are about to do something dangerous, he taught her how to protect herself rather than trying to convince her or force her not to go through with her plan. This book he constantly tries to dicate her life, and he constantly goes around behind her back to do so. Is that Audrey is so clear that the one thing she wants from him is expect for her independence he keeps acknowledging that while simultaneously going behind her back, and it leads to her being humiliated in front of her classmates that already think her lesser because of sexism. He stops about halfway through the book, but the apology feels more like an excuse because the crux of it is him claiming not to have thought of the consequences in his bad attempts at emotional support. However, Audrey was very clear about what she did not want him to do. It's disheartening because the respect and admiration for Audrey was what distinguished Thomas from the countless other dark haired, sarcastic male love interests with a tragic backstory. The relationship recovers some of its charm near the end, but be prepared to want to kick Thomas for at least half the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Misogyny, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Kidnapping
bigskynavygirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
With SJTR I figured out pretty quickly who the antagonist was, but with this one I was constantly guessing. I also loved the setting of this book and the various characters that we get to meet as well as the growing relationship between Audrey Rose and Thomas. I was suitably horrified by some of the situations they found themselves in and honestly almost threw my book at one point because the situation they were in gave me the heebie geebies so badly. The need to get away from the situation was that strong. Spiders have always terrified me and that was just . . . A lot. Either way, 10/10 would recommend this book. I absolutely loved the atmosphere and the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, and Death
Moderate: Confinement and Grief