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European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss
The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series by Theodora Goss has quickly become one of my favorites, particularly in audio. In fact, when I finished the second book, the third was still two months away from publication! But I wasn’t ready to leave Goss’s world, and I struggled to settle on another book. Eventually, I went back to the Lady Trent series by Marie Brennan because 1) it is also a Victorian-era tale about the power of women, and 2) it is also narrated by Kate Reading, who is a phenomenal voice performer. But as I write this review, I am counting the days until October 1 when the third book in the series, The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl, is available.
Title: European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman
Author: Theodora Goss
Series: Book 02, The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club
Publish Date: July 10, 2018, Simon & Schuester
Genre: Historical fantasy, historical mystery
Narrator: Kate Reading
Source: Purchased
Publisher’s Description: Mary Jekyll’s life has been peaceful since she helped Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson solve the Whitechapel Murders. Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, Justine Frankenstein, and Mary’s sister Diana Hyde have settled into the Jekyll household in London, and although they sometimes quarrel, the members of the Athena Club get along as well as any five young women with very different personalities. At least they can always rely on Mrs. Poole.
But when Mary receives a telegram that Lucinda Van Helsing has been kidnapped, the Athena Club must travel to the Austro-Hungarian Empire to rescue yet another young woman who has been subjected to horrific experimentation. Where is Lucinda, and what has Professor Van Helsing been doing to his daughter? Can Mary, Diana, Beatrice, and Justine reach her in time?
Racing against the clock to save Lucinda from certain doom, the Athena Club embarks on a madcap journey across Europe. From Paris to Vienna to Budapest, Mary and her friends must make new allies, face old enemies, and finally confront the fearsome, secretive Alchemical Society. It’s time for these monstrous gentlewomen to overcome the past and create their own destinies.
Possible spoilers beyond this point.
Invested Ivana says…
In this second installment of adventures, we again see the ladies of the Athena Club come together to save a young woman from the mad “scientific” designs of her father. Only this time, they have to travel to distant lands to do it. Along the way, they put themselves at risk not only to save the girl but to make greater strides in preventing further abuse in the name of science.
The elements I appreciated about the first book in the series are still here—the way this family of women supports one another and the way they are sacrificing to protect others. As a fan of fantasy, literature, history, and culture, I adore all those elements that Goss brings into the story as well—riding the Orient Express, traveling with a Victorian circus, exploring foreign and exotic lands. I am particularly enamored of the coffeehouse in Budapest. I fear I would be as greedy as Diana in that environment, wanting to sample all its flavorful offerings.
The repetition of specific phrases or story elements persists, but I feel it happens less often. It doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story.
Again, I struggle to find new ways to say how much I love this book. I’m already heavily invested in the characters and their world and am finding the wait for the next book, as I’m sure I will find the wait between books three and four, to be excruciating.
Books in this series
- The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter, Book 01
- European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman, Book 02
- The Sinister Mystery of the Mesmerizing Girl, Book 03 to be published Oct 1, 2019
The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss
Imagine the TV show Penny Dreadful, with all of the characters from classic sci-fi and mystery literature, including The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Island of Dr. Moreau, Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. However, instead of horror, picture it as a late-Victorian-era mystery series with a strong dose of girl power. What you get is the Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club series by Theodora Goss. Let me introduce you to the first book in the series.
Title: The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter
Author: Theodora Goss
Series: Book 01, The Extraordinary Adventures of the Athena Club
Publish Date: June 20, 2017, Simon & Schuester
Genre: Historical fantasy, historical mystery
Narrator: Kate Reading
Source: Purchased
Publisher’s Description: Mary Jekyll, alone and penniless following her parents’ deaths, is curious about the secrets of her father’s mysterious past. One clue in particular hints that Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes.
But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana, a feral child left to be raised by nuns. With the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.
When their investigations lead them to the discovery of a secret society of immoral and power-crazed scientists, the horrors of their past return. Now it is up to the monsters to finally triumph over the monstrous.
Possible spoilers beyond this point.
Invested Ivana says…
I find it hardest to review those books I enjoy the most, and so I’m struggling to review this one. I simply love it. I love that all these women come together to form a family. I love that they each have a distinct personality and that they all are so accepting of one another without being too timid about calling one another out. I love how they are all working toward common goals, each in the way that bests uses their talents. I know some of this won’t make sense until you read the book, but the example this book sets for being part of a family, blood-related or not, is a big part of its charm.
Another part I love is how these women are trying to prevent anyone else from being subject to the abuses they have endured. Most of the women in the story have been somehow “created” by their scientifically-minded fathers or keepers. Their primary goal is to prevent other girls from being experimented on or created the way they were. This mirrors much of the activist work we see in women’s groups today, where victims of abuse speak out to prevent others from having to experience the same. I imagine it’s a comment by the author about one of the best qualities we see in women who support each other: We are strong, we survive, and we work hard to protect others.
Being a huge fan of audiobooks, I listened to this book. The narrator, Kate Reading, is amazing. She also narrated the Memoirs of Lady Trent series by Marie Brennan, which I adore. Reading has a large catalog of titles familiar to me, including books by Judy Blume, Jim Butcher, Patricia Cornwell, Sara Donati, Robert Jordan, Sophie Kinsella, Stephanie Meyer, Anne Rice, Brandon Sanderson, V.E. Schwab, and Lauren Willig. She has quickly become one of my favorite narrators, and I will be listening to more of her narration in the future for sure.
However, audiobook listeners may want to download a sample of the ebook or peek at a print book at the bookstore, because the book uses an unusual writing convention, and without the text cues, it may take a bit for the listener to catch on. Essentially, the protagonists of the book, the ladies of the Athena Club, are the ones actually writing the book about their adventures. A character named Catherine is the novelist, and the others insert commentary from time to time. As a result, the book uses both third-person limited and first-person POVs at different points in the story. While it breaks normal convention, it’s done well and is really fun, providing much of the humor in the book.
The only complaint I have, and it’s a minor one, is that bits of the story or even exact phrases are occasionally repeated. Either one of the characters will use the exact phrase they used a few lines ago, or a bit of story will be repeated a couple of times in different places, maybe in the novel text and then the “commentary” text, or maybe in two different places in the story. Those repetitions could be tightened up.
Despite that small complaint, I am in love with this series, particularly in audio. I can’t wait for more adventures with the ladies of the Athena Club.
Eden’s Wake by Lyn Steigleder
Get ready for book 2 in this thriller like sci-fi.
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Title: Eden’s Wake
Author: Lynn Steigleder
Series: The Rising Tide Series 02
Publish Date: May 2015
Genre: Sci-fi, Thriller
Source: Provided by author
Publisher’s Description: Ben’s best friend is killed in an underwater implosion on a dying world. Living to die again, the two men reunite and battle for an ancient artifact, a relic which will ensure this planet’s survival. Ben crosses a threshold. The world he leaves—doomed; the world he enters—reborn. His wife, Eve, and their bumbling charge, Eleazor, follow Ben through the doorway and blindly into the void. This is Book Two in the Rising Tide series.
Luna Lovebooks says…
I was originally approached by Mr. Steigleder to review Terminal Core and he offered Rising Tide as well.
While I see hard core science fiction fans liking/loving this novel/series, I often found myself confused while I was reading. The plot mixes dystopian, sci-fi and spiritual themes and tropes. There are allusions to Christianity’s stories, but they are not super clear; at least to me. The many creatures with unique names were also hard to keep straight. However, if you love worlds where good and evil are still found in large supplies and stories that have similarities to the Christian faith then this book is for you.
I had to take a step back and look at this from a different perspective to give it a true rating since I had difficulties keeping things straight. After looking back over my notes and re-reading parts of the novel, I can safely say that I give this installment 3 stars.
Our reviews in this series…
Other recommendations…
Check out these other great reads: Left Behind by Tim Lahaye and Jerry B. Jenkins, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Rising Tide by Lynn Steigleder
In a world where land is scarce, the forces of good and evil will form and battle it out.
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Title: Rising Tide
Author: Lynn Steigleder
Series: Eden’s Wake 01
Publish Date: June 17, 2015
Genre: Science Fiction
Source: Provided by the author
Publisher’s Description: Rising Tide depicts a world in which land is at a premium due to the advancing sea, where man’s attempt to adapt has led to a decay of morals into survival of the fittest. In the midst of the ocean, a crew of racketeers rescues a stranded diver, Ben Adams. Is the rescue just a fortunate coincidence for Ben, or has he been led to this rendezvous with fate for a common goal? A mysterious island inhabited by a primitive yet advanced race of people. A devious ship captain’s metamorphosis into the essence of evil and a ship’s container discovered by itself in a billion square miles of ocean all play a role in this tale of rebirth for a world corrupted by the collapse of morality.
Luna Lovebooks says…
This novel has an interesting premise. The world has descended into chaos because the world’s oceans have risen. A ship’s captain descends into evil as his crew meets a primitive people and becomes a force for good.
I liked the idea. It was a new concept to me and showed promise. It was a quick read. The world and backstory are set up quickly, within the first few pages/chapters. But the characters weren’t fleshed out as well to me. I found that I wasn’t as sad as I should be when this character dies or these two characters get married. There were some twists that I didn’t see coming. Overall it was a good start to a series.
Even though I read it fairly quickly, I found my interest waning. Rising Tide is a promising start but I felt that it needed a bit more work. Because this is the start to a series, I give it three shipping containers, in hopes that things pick up in later installments.
Other recommendations…
Check out these other popular Science Fiction reads! Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, The Martain by Andy Weir, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Terminal Core by Lynn Steigleder
Science fiction meets the wild west in this stand-alone novel by Lynn Steigleder
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
Title: Terminal Core
Author: Lynn Steigleder
Series: Stand Alone
Publish Date: April 18, 2016
Genre: Space Western
Source: Provided by Author
Publisher’s Description: Aon, a solid core planet made from the priceless and most dense element in the galaxy, caladium, is under silent attack. Plans are made by off-worlders to dissolve the unbreakable core using crude oil obtained from 19th-century Earth. Once the oil is refined, the byproduct, gasoline, will soften the caladium, allowing it to be collected. It is soon discovered the core is made from living beings created from caladium itself. The off-worlders employ a band of corrupt inhabitants to carry on this work. They find themselves in a constant struggle with a small coalition of Aonians bent on saving their homeworld. Both factions clash with the indestructible core creatures. With horrendous beasts one step behind and deadly pitfalls ahead, the coalition struggles to finish its journey, hoping to ensure their races’ survival.
Luna Lovebooks says…
There were several elements that I liked and enjoyed about this novel. For starters, the world building was very interesting. In many science fiction novels, readers either spend time on Earth with advances in technology, or readers go into space and rarely get a look at what Earth is like. In Terminal Core, readers get both. I really enjoyed the mix of western meets sci-fi. The fact that it was unusual also appealed to me.
I had a hard time following the plot as the book is divided into short chapters and each chapter jumps from character to character. This would normally be fine, but a few times, I was thrown for a loop when it seemed like a character died and then a few chapters later would start talking again. I think if the chapters were a bit longer it would have worked out much better. Some of the book is very telling and not showing.
Many of the characters are well written. However, readers are given little time to explore and learn to love or hate them. There are just too many. Character development is okay, but trying to get to know them and care about what happens to them is difficult because there are so many of them. Many are likable for the most part, and a few you would grow to hate if given the chance.
Even though the plot can be hard to follow, everything does come together in the end. Characters meet up or die and the world is saved. For me, this book was just ok. It jumped around too much, and with so many characters, it was hard to keep track of who was who. For this reason, I give this novel three cores. But don’t let me pdissuade you. If you think the premise sounds good or like Space Westerns, then by all means, pick up this unusual book.
Other recommendations…
Try these other great reads: Dread Nation by Justina Ireland, West by Carys Davies, Taming Chaos by Anna Carven
I received an ARC or review copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.
One Book Two 