When this book was first announced, I was both excited and skeptical. Katherine Addison's previous book, The Goblin Emperor, is one of my top comfort-reads and a book I find an endless delight. (as evidenced by the fact that I've read it 5 times in the 6 years since it was published) So I was excited about the possibility of another Addison book! But on the other hand it's a Sherlock Holmes fanfic, featuring the Jack the Ripper murders, and I am a) a bit burned out on Sherlock Homes, and b) not interested in Jack the Ripper. But I figured I would give the book a try anyway, because I trusted Katherine Addison.
And unfortunately I found myself really disappointed in the book, and for unexpected reasons! (And now I'm feeling a lot more trepidatious about the Goblin Emperor sequel coming out next year...)
Usually when I write reviews of books I try to be fair, and acknowledge that books that don't work for me often do have their right readers out there even if I'm not one. But this book has enough stuff going on that I'm uncomfortable with that I don't think I can do that, even though it DOES have some genuinely good aspects too.
( cut for extensive spoilers and negativity )
And unfortunately I found myself really disappointed in the book, and for unexpected reasons! (And now I'm feeling a lot more trepidatious about the Goblin Emperor sequel coming out next year...)
Usually when I write reviews of books I try to be fair, and acknowledge that books that don't work for me often do have their right readers out there even if I'm not one. But this book has enough stuff going on that I'm uncomfortable with that I don't think I can do that, even though it DOES have some genuinely good aspects too.
( cut for extensive spoilers and negativity )