"London, 1892: James Norbury, a shy would-be poet newly down from Oxford, finds lodging with a charming young aristocrat. Through this new friendship, he is introduced to the drawing-rooms of high society, and finds love in an unexpected quarter. Then, suddenly, he vanishes without a trace. Unnerved, his sister, Charlotte, sets out from their crumbling country estate determined to find him. In the sinister, labyrinthine city that greets her, she uncovers a secret world at the margins populated by unforgettable characters: a female rope walker turned vigilante, a street urchin with a deadly secret, and the chilling “Doctor Knife.” But the answer to her brother’s disappearance ultimately lies within the doors of one of the country’s preeminent and mysterious institutions: The Aegolius Club, whose members include the most ambitious, and most dangerous, men in England. In her first novel, Lauren Owen has created a fantastical world that is both beguiling and terrifying. The Quick will establish her as one of fiction’s most dazzling talents."
My Review
Victorian London. A forbidden affair. A random act of violence.
The Quick begins quietly then explodes with a unexpected attack, but then quiets down again. I was a bit surprised when James and Christopher were attacked. I was not expecting the "undid". I knew there would be something. This was the Group Read for RIP X, after all.
Anyway, what happens after this attack is the story. The arrival of James' sister, Charlotte. Her association with Ms. Swift and Shadwell and Mr. Howland who escaped "The Club" with the help of James. I especially liked this part of the story. Their planning and searching for answers on how to help James is what interested me the most.
The journal entries of Doctor Knife slowed down the story a bit, but did give some background info to the creatures that make London their home.
All in all, not a bad choice for RIP X. I do wish there had been a bit more interaction with other readers for this Group Read. Wasn't really sure where to do that.
Oh, this does sound interesting! I love that cover, too; it certainly fits the book's subject matter. And I love novels ser in the Victorian period!
ReplyDeleteI am curious to know how the love affair ties into the plot, as well as how the author resolves this whole puzzle.
Thanks for the intiguing review!
My review of "Tryst", by Elswyth Thane, can be found at MINDSPIRIT BOOK JOURNEYS. (I have two blogs; this is my literary fiction blog.)