Wicked as They Come

Wanting to try something outside of my usual genres, I wandered over to the romance section of my library. There were many books to choose from, but Wicked as They Come caught my eye with it's absolutely ridiculous cover. And it turned out to be a surprisingly good choice.

Wicked as They Come follows the story of Tish, who steals an old locket from an estate sale, which transports her into an alternate England called Sang, in which vampires, both human and animal, co-exist alongside non-bloodsucking creatures. The locket, enchanted with a magic spell, has brought her to a man looking for his true love, Criminy Stain. The setting is a fascinating mix of steampunk and carnie, with Criminy as the ringmaster of a clockwork carnival of show more lizard boys, blood-drinking tightrope walkers, and other circus freaks. This was right up my alley as I love anything weird, dark, and whimsical-- in fact, the author's website is called "Whimsydark", a perfect way to describe this book.

I definitely fell in love with Criminy just a little bit. He's the kind of character who is instantly likeable-- he's a man who knows what he wants and takes the steps to get it, but without being dominating or pushy about it. He has a quieter confidence, and though he is master and leader of a circus of strange and somewhat frightening carnies, he also has a gentle side. I liked that he was very sensitive to Tish's feelings and was respectful of her wishes, while at the same time still being quite self-assured that she'll eventually come around. Tish was a decent protagonist too, likeable and sensible enough, if a little forgettable. Still, I thought she and Criminy made a great pair and I enjoyed following them on their adventures.

I like that the story, while being a serious story, doesn't take itself too seriously. The plotline moves at a consistent pace and there is never really a dull moment. Even as the first half of the book is mostly setting up the world, it was still fun to read. The dialogue was well-written and engaging, with witty lines and fun banter between the characters. The author has an engaging style of writing, the words flow together seamlessly and drawing you into the tale. Her descriptions are fairly succinct and not overly flowery, focused more on sketching in all you really need to know and pulling you into the action, rather than giving an immense amount of detail. That is one thing I noticed about Dawson's writing-- she gives you just enough information so that you can understand the worldbuilding and infer some things from the text, but not so much that it slows down the pace of the narrative. I like that she doesn't explain too much; it leaves a bit of mystery about the setting and characters, but the book does not feel incomplete. And that ending! It was wonderfully and cleverly done.

I have no interest in reading the rest of the series but the author is clearly skilled at her craft, and blessed with an incredible imagination. I'd be interested in reading other non-romance-centric things that she writes (and I see that she has a fantasy novel coming out this year under a pen name, which I am quite intrigued by: Wake of Vultures (under the name Lila Bowen). show less

When the heroine accidentally steals a locket from an estate sale, she opens if only to have burning red liquid mark her hands. That night she goes to sleep and wake up, naked, in an open field. There she meets the sexy and mysterious hero who created the locket in order to find his perfect love. The world he lives in is a harsh one, especially if your a bludman (or vampire). His kind are treated as less than the humans (or pinkies) and constantly deal with hatred and prosecution. As the master of a circus caravan, the hero takes the heroine into the safety of his camp and puts her to work as a fortune teller once he realizes that she can see the future through touch. The hero is such a complex character and a study in contractions that show more I fell in love with him instantly. He shows the heroine nothing but kindness, love and protection but from his interactions with his employees he's a frightening man with a firm control over what happens in his world. And he was defiantly in control. Every situation the characters found themselves in made the reader and the heroine panic and wonder what to do but the hero was always thinking. You could tell that he always had a plan and that he could make people dance to his drums. It was super attractive to read about such a strong hero who was funny as hell and sort of a goof at the same time. He would pull out magic tricks at random times and dance and sing around the camp fire but when it came down to business he would handle business. The heroine, though strong willed was the complete opposite. She was hardly ever able to to give the reader the idea that she was capable without the hero. That is until the end when she finally buckled up and got over her fears. I got so frustrated with her because she would think one thing but do another. She's attracted to the hero, drawn to his charisma but she pushed him away during each sexual encounter. She spends some time in his world before falling asleep and going back to her own world only to remark how bland her own world in compared to his. Come on his world had bludbunnies which you have to 'punt' away before they drink your blood and it also has Criminy. Best name ever by the way. But the heroine was so focus on having the choice. She needed the locket so she jump back and forth between both world until she could decide which one worked for her. I love the hero's speech when he told her that he didn't a choice because he would choose he every time. And she knows because he cold her point blank that he loved her the second he saw yet, yet he travels into the city, into danger, to steal back the locket that will send her away from him. The heroine let her fears rule her and I just wanted to shake her. Come on girl, you got a sexy beast who drinks your blood and worships the ground you walk on yet you still contemplate leaving him? Craziness. But the end of the book completed the tone for the book. The hero has been shot through the throat by and arrow and dies on the ground with the heroine sobbing over him only to have him jump off and laugh it off as it was all a ruse to trick the evil Coppers. You have to smile because it sealed in what the hero's character was. This was an awesome book. show less

Previous to this book I had read Dawson’s YA book Servants of the Storm and really enjoyed it a lot. This is the first book in Dawson’s Blud series and is the first of three books in this series. It was a well done steampunk romance with gothic overtones.

Tish is a nurse recovering from a bad relationship with an abusive and domineering boyfriend. Then one day at an estate sale she is drawn to a strange locket; little does she know when she opens it she will be answering the call of the bludman Criminy Stain in the land of Sang. In Sang there are people like Tish, called Pinkies, and Bludmen (who live off of blood but really aren’t anything like your traditional vampire). They have trouble coexisting and Tish and Criminy are drawn show more into their politics. Additionally when Tish’s locket gets stolen she loses her only way back home to her old life, she is determined to get the locket back.

There was a lot I really loved about this book. I loved the idea of the world of Sang, where everything has gone a bit wrong and many creatures live off of blood. Nothing is what it seems in Sang and it reminded me of a very dark and twisted Wonderland of sorts.

I also really loved Criminy as a character; he runs a circus in Sang and is a bit creepy. At the same time his ideals, the respect with which he treats Tish, and his general swooniness are very fun to read about. He is a wonderful lead man for this book and just perfect.

Tish was an excellent heroine as well. As a nurse she has a very nurturing side, but in Sang she gets to explore a more mystical side to herself. I thought it was interesting how she was kind of living two lives throughout the book and working to make everything work out for her.

This book is primarily a romance with a lot of steampunk elements. However, the world-building was amazing as well and there is an excellent story to go with the romance. Tish and Criminy have great chemistry together; however I wish some of the scenes between them were a bit more just...well-written. There were scenes in this book that could have been absolutely engrossing but they ended up being just good because of how they were written.

The book ties up in a way that is realistic and interesting, but not exactly the type of happy ending I was hoping for. It does match the dark and gothic tone of the book well though.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will most likely read the rest of the series. I loved the world-building here and really loved the world of Sang. I also enjoy Tish and Criminy as characters. The book is well written and engaging. This book will remind readers of a lot of other steampunk romances out there; although this book has a bit more of fantasy element to it. If you enjoy Calihan’s Darkest London series or McMaster’s London Steampunk series I think you would enjoy this book as well. show less

I received this unsolicited from Pocket Books and I don't think I've ever been as glad as that moment. Admittedly I was interested in the book from way back when I first saw the cover--while there is an abundance of paranormal romance covers with half-naked men strewn about (many of which find their way to my shelf) I suppose something caught my attention enough that I wanted to check out this book when it came out despite there not being a jot about the actual story on the goodreads page (and being a lazy sort I didn't seek out information). However I returned home from a rather horrid trip to the doctor's to the UPS man delivering a package and I leapt on it like a bludbunny on a Pinkie.

Dawson sets up an intriguing blend of show more paranormal, fantasy and romance with enough elements of steampunk to have those bits not overshadow the story. I don't think her intention is to label this in the steampunk genre, but rather to incorporate some of the funner elements (such as clockwork animals). The romance is rather more subdued then in a lot of paranormals, with a lot of the emphasis on Letitia learning to accept that love doesn't mean being trapped rather then on Criminy courting her. He flat out tells her in their first meeting that he had been waiting for her and loved her. To him its not so much a 'will she?' and more of a 'I'll eventually prove to her that she does already' situation.

I have to say I really liked the fact that even though Criminy was very determined and steadfast in his declarations he wasn't above telling Letitia that her indecisiveness was hurting him more deeply than she could imagine. Even after the minor inconvenience that was the possible other love interest (I rolled my eyes the entire time) Letitia is reluctant to commit herself one way or the other. She has real world concerns tying her to this world--well mainly her grandmother's condition and her sense of obligation was simply astounding to me. I would like to think I could do that, but I sincerely doubt I could. A recurring theme throughout is that something easy isn't worth having (or that it loses its meaning) and that's a difficult concept for me to accept. I suppose it greatly depends on what you consider 'easy'.

Oh Criminy--flawed, vicious, bludman Criminy Stain. He's insane, which isn't an insult but a statement of fact. I think everyone in that world was insane to some degree and given his occupation (Magician, caravan owner, Gypsy King, showman) it really only could help him. He's not afraid to show that side of himself to Letitia either; he doesn't hide the gruesome reality of his life, nor make excuses for it. He doesn't go out of his way to shove it in her face, but he's very clear about his pride in what he is.

Letitia felt real to me. Felt like a woman broken by the abuse someone she cared for dealt to her. Someone who didn't heal fully and maybe wouldn't have been able to without help. I felt ambiguous about the fact everything always went back to how Jeff (her ex-fiancee) treated her. It made sense, at first, but as she grew to trust certain people and understand them it began feeling frustrating and grating. As if she didn't want to move past that initial feeling. When she wasn't focusing on that so much I really liked her. Liked that she had a quick wit and thought on her feet. She got over a lot of her initial fright and seemed to embrace the world partially.

The less said about Casper the better. I didn't like him. Not that he was badly written, or such. I just didn't like his character. Every time he put the moves on Letitia I was ready to punt his butt to the nearest bludbunny nest. I have a feeling we'll see him again though.

This was a welcome delight to me. It had me enthralled through the better part of the day, had me staying up until 3am to finish the book and write this review and makes me eager to read more from Dawson. Also to find a Criminy of my own, but that's not here or there. show less

4.5/5
I have two words for you, my dear readers, - Criminy Stain. He is a curious mixture of sexy, insightful and unhurried in his seduction of someone who he believes is his soulmate. *sigh* You don't see usual alpha bullshit here and for that I'm deeply grateful.

The world of Sang is parallel to ours but different in its technological evolution which is close to our 19th century. It's full of steam, coal, poverty, dirt and bludbunnies. Yes, you heard it right.

Sang is separated into Blud creatures and Pinkies. Pinkies dominate in the cities and live in constant fear of vampiric countryside and bludrats in town. They cover most of their body with clothes and protective collars while bludmen dress as they like.

Criminy is a Bludman, a show more magician and a director of a travelling circus. For many years he was waiting for the spell he bought from a witch to find him his soulmate, and at last it found Tish.

Tish is a nurse in our world who looks after terminally ill patients. She just broke up with her abusive boyfriend and is trying to recover her dignity and pride, start a new beginning. When one of her patients dies she is strangely drawn to a medallion she finds in her house. When she pricks herself with the medallion and falls asleep, she wakes up in Sang.

With Criminy's travelling circus she has a chance to be someone different while she is trying to come to terms with this new and strange world without disease and with corsets that make her figure look ravishing. She reinvents herself as Letishia, the fortune teller as it seems she woke up with a touch of Sight. Only when she falls asleep she wakes up in her own world to start the day anew.

When her medallion is stolen by a fanatic Magistrate who came from Tish's world and is bent on ridding Sang from Bludmen, Letishia and Criminy start their dangerous quest of recovering Tish's only way to return to her own life and save the entire species of Bludmen.

This book was gorgeous, grounded, wise, a little bit sad and felt very real. Both Criminy and Tish are fascinating, both surprise you with their hidden depths and both work very well as couple. The elements of steampunk are perfect for this, and I can not wait to read more of Delilah S. Dawson! Her next book Wicked as She Wants comes out in Spring 2013. A long wait, for sure. show less

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/03/wicked-as-they-come-by-delilah-s-dawson.htm...

Tish Everett is a home care nurse who’s just escaped a bad relationship and is settling in to her work, caring for her sick grandmother, and enjoying her new found freedom. When she spots a beautiful locket at an estate sale, it seems to call to her, and before she knows it, she’s walking out the door with locket in hand. Inside is the picture of a rackish young man, and the romantic in Tish is delighted. Delight soon turns to confusion when he wakes up that night in a whole other world; a world of magic beyond Tish’s wildest dreams, and also home to the mysterious man in the locket, Criminy Stain. Her future is show more inexplicably tied to his, and he’s more than determined to make Tish his own, but is she willing to leave everything she loves behind?

Wicked As They Come is cracking good fun! I fell in love with Criminy Stain right away. He’s sly, roguish, devastatingly handsome, and he thinks Tish is the bee’s knees. There’s destiny involved here, and while Tish is concerned about her life back in the real world, she can’t help but be enchanted by Sang and its inhabitants. Criminy’s caravan certainly enchanted me, with its eccentric performers and clockwork animals. Not everything about Sang is magical in a good way, though. Most animals are bluds (the bludbunnies are a good example-cute, yet deadly), and Tish’s status as not only a Stranger, but as a Pinky forces her to cover herself head to toe to keep her scent from driving the bluds into a frenzy. Tish also discovers she has a rather unique talent when Criminy puts her to work as his resident fortune teller, and in the process, she finds out just how much the Bludmen and Bludewomen are hated by the humans of Sang, and also sees a possible future for herself that is anything but magical.

When her locket is stolen, she and Criminy will have to travel to the city to get it back, and what follows is an adventure you won’t soon forget. We’re talking vicious sea creatures, submarines, beautiful bludmares, evil Coppers, mermaids, ghosts, and unlikely (and charming) allies. And kissing, can’t forget the kissing. The tension between Criminy and Tish is delicious, and the author stretches it to the breaking point, with juicy results. Wicked As They Come is a rollicking, steampunk tinged ride down the rabbit hole, if the rabbits had vamp teeth and liked the taste of human flesh, and you’ll find yourself thoroughly charmed by this wonderful, rich, and dangerous world that Ms. Dawson has created. I couldn’t get enough of Wicked As They Come, and absolutely can’t wait for the next book! Very highly recommended! show less

Originally published on Romancing the Dark Side:

Alice in Wonderland meets Steampunk Freakshow!

Letitia "Tish" Paisley Everett, is in dire need of some excitement in her life. As a nurse specializing in hospice care, her days are spent taking care of mostly terminally ill patients, including her own grandmother. When she finds an antique locket in a book at an estate sale, Tish becomes so enamored by it she takes it home with her, without paying for it. Once she opens the locket, she's whisked away to an alternate world and meets the wickedly sexy and enigmatic Criminy Stain, a man who will steal her heart and forever change her world.

"I loved Jane Austen, so this rogue in a cravat was right up my alley, like an extra-naughty Mr. Darcy." show more

I instantly connected with Tish's character. She's just a normal woman who's been through heartbreak, has a career, responsibilities and confidence. Tish isn't your typical kick-butt heroine, but she's smart and sassy which I love just as much. Her logic clashes with the new supernatural world she's introduced to in Sang, but she puts her big girl panties on and adapts to her new environment of blud bunnies and submarines, without whining about it. It was fun to see this woman who mostly believes in science step out of her comfort zone and into a world of "vampire gypsies."

If things weren't crazy enough, while in Sang, Tish also has to deal with two suitors vying for her affection, the mysterious Bludman, Criminy and the charming Jonah (aka Casper) who is a Stranger, a human just like her. I saw the makings of a great love triangle with these three characters but to my disappointment it fizzled too quickly. I have to admit that while I love Criminy's sex appeal and gentlemanly ways, I found myself rooting for a romance between the other two characters for a good portion of the book. Even when she's conflicted in matters of the heart, her honesty and loyalty are admirable. Tish is a great leading lady with a fun personality and heart, she's definitely worthy of the heroine title!

Now onto the hero... Criminy Stain had me at "You're here." In my mind I picture a steampunk looking Johnny Depp, with the swagger of the infamous Jack Sparrow. To my delight, I would later find out I was not the only reader with this idea of Criminy. He's a magician and Bludman, best described as a living vampire, who has waited a long time for the perfect woman to walk into his life.

"He chuckled and leaned over me, and I felt like Little Red Riding Hood, caught in the shadows of a wolf."

Criminy is a fascinating hero to say the least. He's an alpha predator, exudes confidence and has a wicked charm you can't resist. He can be a little possessive when it comes to Tish but he's a true romantic which makes him a scrumptious total package! His personality is a bit overwhelming and I wasn't on board with the insta-love he felt for Tish, but it was delightful to see him courting her before anything happened between them.

"That's the best thing I've ever tasted in my life," he said. "Lift your skirt."

Delilah S. Dawson has created a dangerous but intoxicating world in Wicked as They Come. Time travel, magic, the supernatural and a little mystery are just a few of the highlights of this well crafted story. The intriguing world might be the shining star of Wicked as They Come, but its complex characters will equally win you over. Ms. Dawson's naughty and twisted world will hold you captive, you won't want to leave. Beware the bludbunnies! show less