The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
colleensreadingadventures's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
There is a little house in London in the Mid 1800âs where Mrs. Sucksby and Mr. Ibbs live. Mrs. Sucksby is quite the fiend for a woman, she is a baby farmer that takes in babies to sell to the highest bidder to families who are unable to conceive or as servants to others. She also houses a ring of petty thieves (aka Fingersmiths) with Mr. Ibbs, who is in charge of purchasing and sales of all stolen goods.
Sue is one of the Fingersmithâs that was taken in by Mrs. Sucksby as a new born. Unlike all the other children Mrs. Sucksby kept Sue and treated her just like she was her own in every way. Sue now a young woman wants to repay the favor so when Gentleman, one of Mrs. Sucksby and Mr. Ibbâs beloved thiefâs comes to visit Sue decides to help him with a con.
He takes Sue to an out of the way town 40 miles away from London as a ladyâs maid for Maud Lilly. Maud Lilly is young woman who was orphaned at birth and sent to live with her Uncle at an early age. Letâs just say Maudâs life didnât get any easier at her uncleâs estate and I wouldnât want that man as my uncle. Maudâs family has money so Gentleman has set his sights on wooing Ms. Lilly into marriage for her fortune and then sending her off to the mad house to be disposed of. But he needs Sueâs help to convince her he is the perfect man.Â
Sue is all in and canât wait to split her money with Mrs. Sucksby for all her kindness, but Sue begins to feel sorry for the innocent Ms. Lilly and eventually develops feelings of sort for Maud that she was not expecting, and sheâs not sure what to do any longer.
But all is not what it seems in this tale of deceit and turning tables and there is no way of knowing who the real villain(s) might be.
I think I enjoyed this much more the second time around and really got into the story. It is told in Sue & Maudâs dual POVâs and is both a character and plot driven story. I canât go into too much detail or I will spill some secrets that made this book so shocking. But I will let you know one thing, NO ONE is what they seem to be. So expect quite a few twists. And also one of my favorite characters was Dainty, who was actually a minor one. If youâve read it you might understand why I feel that way. She turned out to be the hero of the book in my opinion.Â
It is quite a long story and it had parts that dragged a bit but the shocks made up for it. And overall Fingersmith was a worthwhile, interesting read. Iâd say even for some who do not always enjoy historical fiction like myself to give it a try, it might surprise you.Â
Iâm definitely uping my previous rating from 3-4 stars.
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Mental illness
Minor: Death of parent, Drug abuse, and Toxic friendship
emfass's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Forced institutionalization, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexism, Violence, Torture, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, Sexual content, Mental illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child death, and Trafficking
Minor: Religious bigotry
sherbertwells's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
âMy name, in those days, was Susan TrinderâÂ
âHe squatted at the side of the chair and smoothed his fingers over the bullying skirts; then he dipped his hand beneath them, reaching high into the layers of silk. He did it so neatly, it looked to me as if he knew his way, all right; and as he reached higher his cheek grew pink, the silk gave a rustle, the crinoline bucked, the chair quivered hard upon the kitchen floor, the joints of its legs faintly shrieking. Then it was stillâ (34)
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Violence, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual content, Homophobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual assault and Rape
Mrs. Sucksby runs a "baby farm," a Victorian business that cares for babies and occasionally sells them.