Alison Goodman

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN?

Goodman's research into Regency society really shines throughout the book. Attention is paid to "the ton", fashions, publications, etc. Important figures of the era appear: Lord Byron and his lover Caroline Lamb, Beau Brummell, quite a few artists.

Helen is a fabulous heroine because, even though she's curious about everything, fairly ballsy, and can throw a man to the floor, she remains firmly rooted in the period. For example, she doesn't sigh and whine about show more needlework, because it's simply a part of her life. And, of course, she's clever and all that other good stuff.

LORD CARLSTON *shrill yelling* I mean, he's pretty ok I guess. Dastardly and cinnamon roll-y at the same time. Damn him to hell. *more yelling, punctuated by crying* F%$&ing LORD CARLSTON

Also, a huge cast of excellent supporting characters.

I really loved the world-building (besides the well-researched historical bits I mean). It's pretty straightforward and uncluttered. Goodman doesn't suddenly throw a thousand kinds of magical creatures at you. "Oh there are demons. AND ALSO WITCHES AND VAMPIRES AND FAIRIES AND..." None of that (it's not always bad, but more often than not it feels overdone). The demonic classifications didn't come across as stupid-sounding, and they're pretty kick-ass/terrifying. Magical items, some alchemy....it's easy to follow and a delight.

The book starts off pretty slowly, but I didn't mind that at all. A good change from being 15 pages in and having your heroine already inducted into a secret society and battling the bloodthirsty hordes. There isn't a lot of touchy-feely romance (THERE IS SOME DEFINITE DEMON-KILLING-FUELED STEAM IN A FEW PLACES THOUGH), probably to stay true to the era, where almost everything was improper when within 2 feet of the opposite sex. Also fine. I NEED THE REST OF THE SERIES ASAP THOUGH BECAUSE THE SLOWBURN ROMANCE I CAN FEEL COMING IS KILLING ME. But it's fine.

So: well-researched and bursting with historical detail, a perfect (but not in the annoying way) heroine, a ridiculously villainous (tasty, not-so-villainous) lord, a wealth of other amazing characters, world-building to die for.

READ IT. show less

Absolutely delightful historical mystery!

I fell in love with Lady Augusta (Gus) Colebrook and her twin sister, Lady Julia, in the first chapter of this novel set in Regency London. Both are unmarried ladies of a certain age and have been dismissed by most of the ton as old spinsters. Despite their younger brother's efforts to control them, the ladies put themselves into the position of rescuing women in distress. Their adventures are both dangerous and require clever ruses to outwit those show more who would hinder their efforts. Along the way, Gus meets her new partner in peril, Lord Evan Belford, shortly escaped from his prison sentence and on the run from Michael Kent, of Bow Street.

The plot was great, and the narrative was full of great details and dialogue. I liked the main characters and those associated with them as well. Truly an enjoyable read with just enough romance though the three different situations that Gus and her sister get involved in were dark, suspenseful, and dramatic. I believe this is the first in a new series that I will be following as I wait for the second installment with high anticipation.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. Don't miss this if you enjoy intriguing historical mysteries with unlikely heroines. show less

While a lot of crossdressing adventure stories deal with issues of gender and sexism in some way, very few acknowledge transgender people, let alone engage with the trans perspective on gender. This is a damn shame.
Eon bucks the trend by accepting transgender experiences as central to its discussion of gender. The book does this in several ways: first, transgender experiences are acknowledged by having the main character discuss gender issues with a transgender woman. In addition, show more transgender experiences are acknowledged in the rules of the world's story: Eon has its main character perform a setting-appropriate equivalent of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), imbibing a substance that will help her emulate maleness in the same way that testosterone is used by real life trans men.*
Most powerfully, the main character's arc echoes the emotional experiences of many trans people. Her crossdressing ruse is not merely a physical inconvenience, but also mentally taxing and spiritually painful. The experience almost destroys her in the same way that being forced to live contrary to one's gender often destroys the lives of trans people. And the pain of living at odds with herself combines with the main character's other struggles, such as her disability and internalized sexism, to create a tortured but realistic inner world.
In spite of a few imperfections, Eon's portrayal of the transgender experience is both functional and sincere. My big question is this: why isn't the main character just a trans girl? It feels like all the groundwork for that choice is there. Sure, there's a lot more precedent for the crossdressing cis girl narrative than for what I suggest (especially in 2008, when this was published), but that disparity makes placing a trans protagonist into that narrative all the more powerful and groundbreaking. In fact, such a book would still be groundbreaking if it was published today. In many ways, Eon is ahead of its times, but I can't help feeling that it didn't go far enough.

* While a lot of media attention outside of transgender circles is focused on surgery as the primary goal of those transitioning, quite a few trans people consider the hormonal changes caused by HRT a more significant part of their transition, showing that Goodman's knowledge of trans issues is more than surface level. show less

The appalling social conditions for women and children are brought forward in this 1812 adventure. The main characters are two unmarried sisters, older women living independently in London. The elder (Lady Augusta) is a strong-willed woman, unconventional by the days' standards, having an admirable sense of social justice. The younger (Lady Julia) appears as a milder, quietly assertive but conventional person, who comes into her own as she discovers the perfidy amongst the upper classes.

The show more author has excelled in researching her novel's setting and the societal constraints of the day. Readers learn of the awful powers of the men in the family and the lengths they will go to in controlling the females and children. This story is not an easy read because the descriptions are so vivid involving this mistreatment. Nevertheless, it was a compelling read, though the sister's antics do beg us to suspend belief here and there.

The dedication completely resonated with me: This book is dedicated to all the women out there who no longer have the patience or desire to put up with any nonsense. show less