Creatures of Will and Temper

Creatures of Will and Temper is billed as a lesbian Picture of Dorian Gray. (Some reviews identify it as queer rather than lesbian, but let's be honest: queer Picture of Dorian Gray is just Picture of Dorian Gray, so one needs to be more specific and although there are queer characters who aren't lesbians in this book, of the significant on-page romantic relationships, the only same-sex one is between women.) That's accurate, but not sufficient. It's a bit of a retelling and a bit of an expansion. Although there are several characters with names taken obviously from the original, there's more than one Dorian figure, nor does it follow anything like the same story arc.

The paranormal elements are also rather more pronounced than I recall show more from the original. Obviously a book in which one can sell one's soul so that his portrait will age instead of him isn't exactly what you'd call realistic fiction, but Creatures of Will and Temper fleshes the concept out with societies of demon-worshipers and, of course, fighting demons.

Really, if this is the book for you, I shouldn't have to say anything else. You're probably already ordering it from your library or your favorite book seller. But I really ought to say a little more than one can get from the blurb, and so I'll say that although the basic concept of this book is a terrific hook, what really makes it is the relationship between young Dorina (beautiful, spoiled, in love with all things aesthetic) and her older sister, Evadne (homely, athletic, and a talented fencer). Ultimately, what matters isn't the search for beauty, or fighting demons, it's sisterly love. And sisterly antagonism, but not so much at the end of the day. show less

2.5 stars?

I'm really unsure of how many stars to give this book. It should be a no-brainer for me to love it: late-Victorian setting, a naturalistic approach to fantasy, sisters, art, fencing. It's well-written and the author has a gift for characters. Evadne and Dorina are two sisters who are opposites in most ways, and their interactions prove it. They constantly clash and misunderstand each others' intentions--but then they'll have a moment of true connection, only to lose it again. This relationship was well drawn: readers could understand both sisters' perspectives and I, at least, had sympathy for both of them, even when they were wrong (which was often--they could be very frustrating people, but in a realistic way). The fantasy show more elements were unique and contained some nice twists. And the cover is lovely.

And yet...I didn't really like it? And I can't put my finger on why. I keep going back to it in my mind, trying to figure out why it didn't work for me, but I come up empty handed. I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from reading it--I'm sure many people will love it and it's a quick read. I'm just frustrated that I can't figure out why I didn't love it! show less

Originally published at TheBibliophage.com.

In Creatures of Will and Temper, Molly Tanzer gives us an urban fantasy. As long as you don’t mind defining urban as Victorian era London. Alternately, it’s historical fiction with a distinct supernatural twist. Either way, it’s a romp on the wild side of an oh-so-cultured time.

At first I thought the titular creatures were the main characters, Evadne and Dorina. Dorina, a 17-year old art critic wannabe, is headed to her uncle’s London home for a few months. The older of the sisters, Evadne, catches her in an indiscretion and is included somewhat unwillingly in the trip as chaperone. In London, Uncle Basil introduces them straightaway to Lady Henrietta Wooton (Henry for short). Lady show more Henry becomes their connection to a circle of aesthetes that Dorina gobbles up, and Evadne immediately rejects.

Sister-related melodrama ensues, with neither one feeling entirely comfortable in this new environment. Soon enough, though, Dorina settles into a close relationship with Lady Henry and Evadne finds her place as a fencing student.

Tanzer takes this setting and injects demons in a very cultured way, indicative of the time and place. The demons aren’t running rampant in an overt way. They have subtle power and control over humans who allow them into their minds. And, truthfully, the connection isn’t always subtle. But don’t expect actual creatures on the streets of London.

However, in Tanzer’s imagined world, their are multiple demons each with its own goals and desires. Hence, the simple sister-sister conflict ramps up considerably. This is the part where I tell you very little because I’m a non-spoiler reviewer. But, trust me, there’s plenty of mystery and action once the fantasy clicks into the story.

Tanzer’s writing style is easy to read. She combines modern and Victorian sensibilities well in the world building and character development. I found the sisters to be fairly annoying and unsympathetic at first. But they grew on me. Just like demons in my own mind, I’d catch myself wondering what would come next while I was living other parts of my life. And in that regard, Tanzer pulls some cracking good plot twists that I hadn’t envisioned.

I’d give this 3.5/5 stars, and will look out for Tanzer’s earlier writing as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and John Joseph Adams/Mariner Books for the opportunity to read the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. show less

When Evadne Gray catches her younger sister, Dorinia, dallying with another teen aged girl right after the man Evadne loves informs her that he is marrying someone else, Evadne runs to their mother to tell and assumes it will put a stop to Dorinia’s planned visit to their uncle in London. (Dorinia has the ambition to become an art critic, and there is no art to be seen out in the country where she lives.) Instead, their mother decides that Evadne will accompany Dorinia, something Evadne has no interest in doing.

Upon arrival at their uncle’s house, they meet his friend Lady Henrietta Wotton, who goes by Henry and wears men’s clothing. Dorinia is immediately smitten by Henry, and Henry has taken it upon herself to introduce the show more girls to London. Evadne is shocked and revolted by Lady Henry because of her dress and open smoking. But Evadne has learned to fence and is thrilled to have an invitation to a fencing school from both Henry and the friend (and erstwhile boyfriend) who taught her. While still living with their uncle, Evadne and Dorinia go their separate ways.

Dorinia manages to convince Henry to invite her to a meeting of her secret society. The meeting seems totally harmless- a dinner devoted to one of the sense, so she cannot imagine why it’s considered secret. True, there is a short time where Dorinia is asked to step outside the room, but what could go on in that small space of time?

Evadne is taken on by the top instructor at the fencing school, and finds herself invited to a secret club, too. And she is shocked to discover that there is some common ground between that club and Henry’s…

The story took a very long time to get moving. There was a lot of gorgeous description, perhaps too much. There is a lot of going and coming and eating. I found it hard to really like any of the characters- I didn’t *dislike* them, but they just left me flat. I found it hard to believe that Evadne, who attends a fencing club where she is the only woman, is shocked and disgusted by Henry’s wearing of male attire, especially since she is unshocked by homosexual love. (yes, I know that homosexuality and cross dressing are two different things. But it just seems to me that if a person is okay with one, they’d most likely be okay with the other) I found it equally hard to believe that their uncle, who had left the secret society, would allow Dorinia to go. The book *almost* made me love it, but not quite. It’s a first novel, so I have great hope for this author. And the cover is absolutely gorgeous. Four stars. show less

There is absolutely nothing I didn't love about this first installment. The prose is gorgeous, the characters engaging, the premise refreshing and the pace just right. I rarely finish a book in one read but this one kept me turning pages long into the night.

I'd absolutely recommend this read!

This has a lot of things I love - sisters, intrigue, fully realized queer characters, action, even goats!

Reminiscent of [b:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|5899779|Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1)|Seth Grahame-Smith|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320449653s/5899779.jpg|6072122], a sort of naughty retelling of [b:The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Writings|390353|The Picture of Dorian Gray and Other Writings|Oscar Wilde|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1320482466s/390353.jpg|21904778] from an LGBT perspective just didn't work for me. Not badly written, just an idea that never needed to be shown the light of day. It is what it is and some will like it, but one of them won't be me.