#somethingstrangeanddeadly

Twists I never saw coming: Strange and Ever After

The ballon (Zeppelin) never exploded like I feared, so yay to that!

It was a wild ride (for the characters on the ballon as well, hah) and I truly didn't predict the outcome of this book, it was bittersweet.

The relationships between the characters were done so well, all the ups and downs, so very realistic. Especially between Daniel and Eleanor and her and Oliver!

There was so much character development even with all the action, and, what was especially well done: Eleanor was allowed to fully explore her dark side, to be morally gray, which makes for a very interesting read

The way the Egyptian gods were incorporated into the lore of the world was very well done, so much incorporated and it fit so well.

It was a good conclusion to the book and no question felt left unanswered.

A quick read I enjoyed greatly: A Dawn Most Wicked

I read this right after Something Strange And Deadly and it starts right after the former ends. We get more insight into Daniel Sheridan, our lovely engineer who unfortunately doesn't think too highly of himself.

It's part of his backstory, what he did before he met the spirit hunters and the story of his first romance, all told from his point of view.

I rooted for the two, Cassidy and Daniel, even tho I already knew how it would end as it is set before the first book in the series. Cassidy's character was great, a strong female working a job normally only men were allowed to do! (Which I, as an aspiring engineer appreciate)

I especially liked learning about how Daniel studied engineering and how he thought of the influence machine.

It was nice to see scenes referenced in the first book (like Jie cheating Daniel).

The ghosts that haunted the Sadie Queen were also quite interesting, different from the dead in the first book. Them knowing what you are hiding, speaking of your deepest fears? No wonder no one wanted to work on that steamer for long. Scary.

Didn't want to put it down: A Darkness Strange And Lovely

Slight spoilers ahead, I think

It captured me just like the first two books in the series and I am going to start reading the next one right after I finish writing this.

I felt for Eleanor so much in the Beginning of the book, especially when her mother denounced her. The change in Eleanor that happened in the previous books felt as if it was intensified after the time between the two books.

Allison intrigued me more than I thought she would, Clarences death has really matured her, I'm really looking forward to seeing more of her!

Also hope I get to see more of Daniel's inventions in the next book (the hand!!) and that I get to see him geeking out over the airship! I did thoroughly enjoy all the Zeppelin references (and I sincerely hope it doesn't blow up next book)

The dynamics between Laure and Eleanor and between Eleanor and Jie were so fun, they are all so different.

Oliver was something I didn't see coming and I can hint at his relationship ship with Elijah but I just really wanna see more of him and his backstory.

Eleanor and her complicated relationship with her powers were so well done, the power changes her view of herself and her moral compass as well, as it just feels so good. It does have so many signs of an addiction and that is such a slippery slope.

And Daniel, oh Daniel. That slow burn romance really keeps you at the edge of your seat, all these ups and downs.

There were so many things that I didn't see coming, so many clues that I only realized after they were revealed, so well done.

A book I enjoyed immensely and devoured quickly: Something Strange and Deadly

The beginning takes you right into the middle of the 'walking dead' action and is quite creepy and scary, especially if you listen to the audiobook at night.

The dead get less scary after Eleanor herself learns how to deal with them (by disabling their legs). As Eleanor gets less scared so do we, which is perfectly fine with me.

The historical details strewn in there were one of my favorite things about the book. It is an alternate universe, but keeps so many things like the fashion, with all the (tight-laced) corsets and petticoats, bustles, parasols and technology prevalent back then, like gaslights and telegraphs, the horse drawn street cars and carriages.

It also keeps things like Philadelphia being run corrupt Republican political machine and spittoons (both I looked up to learn more about)

That, together with the language and all the social rules forced upon Eleanor, with the chaperones and the no-no of shaking hands without a third party introducing you, made it easy for me to feel immersed in a different era.

There also is the delightful twist on coffin bells, that were actually put in to warn of someone buried alive, and not of waking dead like they were in the book.

And my absolute favorite thing were Daniel's inventions and how the science behind them made sense and was explained well! Souls being spiritual energy, water working as a conductor, the influence machine, the goggles, the dead alarm as well as the pulse bomb: all explainable with basic physics

I was so fascinated I made detailed notes on all of them.

Eleanor has snark I wished I possessed and I was rooting for her to break out of the cage that is her mom's house. Her growth and her rejection of societies rules and were lovely.

As was the slow burn romance.

Now my two favorite quotes:

"Miss Fitt, you know curiosity gets men killed." I grinned. "Then I daresay it's good I'm a woman."

(It gave me wonderful Lord of the Rings vibes)

"The fault is not in our stars," I whispered to the ceiling. "But in ourselves. This was my choice"