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Dark Gothic
Dark Desires
Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumours that he's a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer. As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances ... and the murders.
With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she falling in love with. Is he an innocent and misunderstood man ... or a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?
Note: All books in the Dark Gothic series can be read as stand-alone novels.
With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she falling in love with. Is he an innocent and misunderstood man ... or a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?
Note: All books in the Dark Gothic series can be read as stand-alone novels.
ebook
First published November 1, 2005
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About the author
Eve Silver
38 books1,568 followersNational bestselling author Eve Silver has been praised for her "edgy, steamy, action-packed" books, darkly sexy heroes and take-charge heroines. Her work won the OLA Forest of Reading White Pine Award 2015, was shortlisted for the Monica Hughes Award for Science Fiction and Fantasy 2014, was listed as a 2013 American Bookseller's Association Best Book for Children and a Canadian Children's Book Centre Best Books for Kids and Teens. She has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Quill and Quire, two RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Awards, Library Journal's Best Genre Fiction Award, and she was nominated for the Romance Writers of America® RITA® Award.
Eve lives with her husband and two exuberant border collie/Australian shepherds.
Contact Eve through her website at http://www.evesilver.net
Eve lives with her husband and two exuberant border collie/Australian shepherds.
Contact Eve through her website at http://www.evesilver.net
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 763 reviews
February 26, 2020
My reasons for reading this novel were not my usual reasons.
❤ The stunning cover. I mean, just look at it!
One of my favourite covers of all time.
❤ Kindle freebie.
OK I'm lying. These are quite usual reasons for me! 😅
But the third reason is not so usual.
These six books keep being made into a series and I don't think this is a series by Goodreads standards. A series on Goodreads should have a character, setting or an overarching storyline in common - & that doesn't seem to be the case here. Dark Gothic is a theme not a series - otherwise all Victoria Holt's books would be a series.
I'll discuss on my blog in a few days why readers should be glad Goodreads has set this standard.
So...seduced by the incredible cover, I was entranced and intrigued by the first chapter & the horrible position the destitute Darcie was in. But after that things started to plateau and then go downhill. Darcie (not a usual female name in nineteenth century England) & the hero's attraction never seemed real to me & multiple depictions of the hero's grey eyes do not a character make. I became bored.
DNF at 34%. Supposedly. This book finishes at 93%.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
❤ The stunning cover. I mean, just look at it!
One of my favourite covers of all time.
❤ Kindle freebie.
OK I'm lying. These are quite usual reasons for me! 😅
But the third reason is not so usual.
These six books keep being made into a series and I don't think this is a series by Goodreads standards. A series on Goodreads should have a character, setting or an overarching storyline in common - & that doesn't seem to be the case here. Dark Gothic is a theme not a series - otherwise all Victoria Holt's books would be a series.
I'll discuss on my blog in a few days why readers should be glad Goodreads has set this standard.
So...seduced by the incredible cover, I was entranced and intrigued by the first chapter & the horrible position the destitute Darcie was in. But after that things started to plateau and then go downhill. Darcie (not a usual female name in nineteenth century England) & the hero's attraction never seemed real to me & multiple depictions of the hero's grey eyes do not a character make. I became bored.
DNF at 34%. Supposedly. This book finishes at 93%.
https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...
October 5, 2016
A thick gray wall of fog hovered over the damp stones of Hanbury Street, carrying the stink of old blood and rotting entrails.
I read this for my Gothic square in Halloween Bingo.
I got this free from Amazon, as a free book, super pleased. The beginning felt a little jerky but once the flow started, I was really enjoying it. As far as it being part of a Gothic series, it had a nice spooky feel with mystery and many questions regarding people and their maybe/maybe not murderous leanings. There's a little bit of Jack the Ripper but the actual murders aren't discussed enough to gross anyone out. The second half let me down a bit. All the answers I was waiting on turned out to be so innocuous, I found myself somewhat let down. Not that I want everyone to be psychotic murderers but reading this for Halloween Bingo and the gothic theme, someone should have at least had a pet spider that they fed mice to, or something.
Romance wise, I really enjoyed the hero and heroine's relationship, even though I missed Damien's point of views. There was an incredible scene where historical feminist views were done so well. A little snippet:
"Precisely," he said. She heard no surprise in his tone, and she realized in that instant that he had expected her to understand. "Do you know, Darcie, that it takes a good deal of thought for some medical students to reach that conclusion?"
"There are no women in medical school." The observation slipped out before she had time to question the wisdom of opening such a Pandora's box.
"No, there are not."
Their gazes met and held. Darcie sensed something in his expression. As he continued to watch her, she felt a warm wave ripple through her, a feeling of pleasure and confidence that blossomed and grew.
"There are no women in medical school," Damien repeated. "Yet."
I swooned so hard with Damien's calm belief in Darcie's intelligence and agency. This scene turned into a sexy, smart, and emotional moment between the two. This is what I mean by relationship building blocks, we see a reason why/how Damien is attracted to Darcie and vice versa. It also felt natural and fit into the time period. A+ to the author.
I think I have the third in the series, free off Amazon also, and will definitely look for other books in the series. I was disappointed that the second half didn't make good on the creepy loaded questions from the beginning and the villain wasn't given enough life for me but it's the Halloween season and I was probably looking extra hard for the spookiness.
All was not right in this house on Curzon Street. There was an evil, an aberration snaking through the shadows.
I read this for my Gothic square in Halloween Bingo.
I got this free from Amazon, as a free book, super pleased. The beginning felt a little jerky but once the flow started, I was really enjoying it. As far as it being part of a Gothic series, it had a nice spooky feel with mystery and many questions regarding people and their maybe/maybe not murderous leanings. There's a little bit of Jack the Ripper but the actual murders aren't discussed enough to gross anyone out. The second half let me down a bit. All the answers I was waiting on turned out to be so innocuous, I found myself somewhat let down. Not that I want everyone to be psychotic murderers but reading this for Halloween Bingo and the gothic theme, someone should have at least had a pet spider that they fed mice to, or something.
Romance wise, I really enjoyed the hero and heroine's relationship, even though I missed Damien's point of views. There was an incredible scene where historical feminist views were done so well. A little snippet:
"Precisely," he said. She heard no surprise in his tone, and she realized in that instant that he had expected her to understand. "Do you know, Darcie, that it takes a good deal of thought for some medical students to reach that conclusion?"
"There are no women in medical school." The observation slipped out before she had time to question the wisdom of opening such a Pandora's box.
"No, there are not."
Their gazes met and held. Darcie sensed something in his expression. As he continued to watch her, she felt a warm wave ripple through her, a feeling of pleasure and confidence that blossomed and grew.
"There are no women in medical school," Damien repeated. "Yet."
I swooned so hard with Damien's calm belief in Darcie's intelligence and agency. This scene turned into a sexy, smart, and emotional moment between the two. This is what I mean by relationship building blocks, we see a reason why/how Damien is attracted to Darcie and vice versa. It also felt natural and fit into the time period. A+ to the author.
I think I have the third in the series, free off Amazon also, and will definitely look for other books in the series. I was disappointed that the second half didn't make good on the creepy loaded questions from the beginning and the villain wasn't given enough life for me but it's the Halloween season and I was probably looking extra hard for the spookiness.
All was not right in this house on Curzon Street. There was an evil, an aberration snaking through the shadows.
October 4, 2015
When I was much younger the selection of romances is not what it is today. Basically you had a choice of 'bodice rippers', the classics, some contemporaries, the gothics and a few Regencies. I enjoyed reading gothics because of the romance and mystery. Velda Johnston was one of my favorite authors and THE LATE MRS. FONSELL comes to mind. DARK DESIRES reminds me of the Victorian romances of the 1970's but with more steam and a crisper edge.
Our moody hero, Damien Cole, has secrets. He is a doctor and one of the settings in the story is Whitechapel. Our author, Eve Silver, was an instructor of human anatomy and microbiology and you can tell her experiences with these subjects sharpens the conspiracy that runs through DARK DESIRES. Though never called by name Jack the Ripper is stalking women and killing them in a grotesque fashion. Darcie Finch, our heroine, also has some secrets. Damien and Darcie meet under unusual circumstances and the story moves forward.
Their love builds slowly but it is believable. The chemistry was wonderful and Damien was years ahead of his time, with his concepts in medicine and how women should be treated. I don't want to give away much more of the story except to say if you are looking for a romance with a gothic touch and some elements of mystery DARK DESIRES is something you need to try. If you like Eve Silver's style of writing but want to try an urban fantasy romance look for DRIVEN written under her alias Eve Kenin.
Our moody hero, Damien Cole, has secrets. He is a doctor and one of the settings in the story is Whitechapel. Our author, Eve Silver, was an instructor of human anatomy and microbiology and you can tell her experiences with these subjects sharpens the conspiracy that runs through DARK DESIRES. Though never called by name Jack the Ripper is stalking women and killing them in a grotesque fashion. Darcie Finch, our heroine, also has some secrets. Damien and Darcie meet under unusual circumstances and the story moves forward.
Their love builds slowly but it is believable. The chemistry was wonderful and Damien was years ahead of his time, with his concepts in medicine and how women should be treated. I don't want to give away much more of the story except to say if you are looking for a romance with a gothic touch and some elements of mystery DARK DESIRES is something you need to try. If you like Eve Silver's style of writing but want to try an urban fantasy romance look for DRIVEN written under her alias Eve Kenin.
January 14, 2017
Tepid & predictable. It might be more palatable if you're new to gothic romance in general, but don't be fooled if you're a hardened genre fangirl. Despite the tension of the cover blurb, this is a toothless read; lots & lots of Feelz examined in the uber-dramatic language of soul-searing schmoopy romance, all serious violence off-page or related after the fact, & an extremely beta hero. The heroine was a dingbat who constantly drew the wrong conclusions -- not because of red herrings, but because she didn't actually LISTEN & attribute proper meaning to conversation & phrasing. This was especially annoying given she was educated & (supposedly) blessed with great insight for detail re: her artistic skills, yet she repeatedly jumped to conclusions about other people's motives for warning her about Damien. (Speaking of which, why did everyone who knew Damien keep scaring Darcie off? They all seemed to know he was a Nice Guy who didn't do anything wrong, yet they're so mysterious re: his lifestyle & personality. Does not compute.)
...And don't get me started on the endless dialogue. Shut up & let the plot actually happen, ffs.
2.5 stars, rounded up for the heroine's sister (who would've made a more interesting heroine) & the WTFlolz ending. But if you want genuinely tense gothic fiction about a maid & her master-with-questionable-ethics that doesn't rely on boring, overwritten, cheesy sex, read Mary Reilly. This was just a cheap knock-off.
...And don't get me started on the endless dialogue. Shut up & let the plot actually happen, ffs.
2.5 stars, rounded up for the heroine's sister (who would've made a more interesting heroine) & the WTFlolz ending. But if you want genuinely tense gothic fiction about a maid & her master-with-questionable-ethics that doesn't rely on boring, overwritten, cheesy sex, read Mary Reilly. This was just a cheap knock-off.
December 30, 2016
Darcie is destitute. She has two choices, either become a prostitute or a maid for a dark and dangerous doctor. She chooses to be a maid for Dr. Damien Cole. He's a very mysterious man who keeps odd hours, receives odd deliveries in the middle of the night, and has a workshop laboratory in the carriage house that no one is permitted to enter. Darcie's imagination + the gossip of a fellow maid makes for some very creepy assumptions of what the doctor is doing.
Darcie is promoted from maid to assistant when the doctor discovers her artistic talent. She's now drawing pictures of his cases, like a patient's wound on day one and day six. She's also assisting in his anatomical studies. That solves just a bit of the macabre mystery surrounding the doctor, but he's still full of secrets and gloom.
Dr. Damien is mysterious, gloomy, and brooding. The regular gothic hero. He's tortured by something and obsessed with his laboratory work. At the same time as a this, there are a series of murders going on in White Chapel, Jack the Ripper style and it's hard for Darcie not to suspect the doctor when he comes home bloody.
This book reminded me of Northhanger Abbey by Jane Austen. The same gothic atmosphere and lots of things pointing to the main character's romantic interest as the villain. Same with that book, there were a lot of times that I rolled my eyes at the heroine's imagination. I think the book improved as the romance progressed since that decreased Darcie's assumptions. All in all, a pretty good gothic romance and a short read.
Darcie is promoted from maid to assistant when the doctor discovers her artistic talent. She's now drawing pictures of his cases, like a patient's wound on day one and day six. She's also assisting in his anatomical studies. That solves just a bit of the macabre mystery surrounding the doctor, but he's still full of secrets and gloom.
Dr. Damien is mysterious, gloomy, and brooding. The regular gothic hero. He's tortured by something and obsessed with his laboratory work. At the same time as a this, there are a series of murders going on in White Chapel, Jack the Ripper style and it's hard for Darcie not to suspect the doctor when he comes home bloody.
This book reminded me of Northhanger Abbey by Jane Austen. The same gothic atmosphere and lots of things pointing to the main character's romantic interest as the villain. Same with that book, there were a lot of times that I rolled my eyes at the heroine's imagination. I think the book improved as the romance progressed since that decreased Darcie's assumptions. All in all, a pretty good gothic romance and a short read.
September 2, 2024
I can't believe I got this book for free it was so good.
Could not put this book down.
I had this book sitting in my kindle for a really long time and finally got around to reading it, but once I realized it was set in the time of Jack The Ripper and was base around the Whitechapel murders I was intrigued. The plot twists were really good and getting crumbs of information as the story unfolds kept me on the edge of my seat just hoping Darcy works out who the killer is before it's to late.
Happy Reading 📙📕📚📓📗📘📒📔📘📒📓📚📗📓📚📙📒📘📔📗📔📙📚📓📗📒📘📕📙📚📒📘📗📖
Could not put this book down.
I had this book sitting in my kindle for a really long time and finally got around to reading it, but once I realized it was set in the time of Jack The Ripper and was base around the Whitechapel murders I was intrigued. The plot twists were really good and getting crumbs of information as the story unfolds kept me on the edge of my seat just hoping Darcy works out who the killer is before it's to late.
Happy Reading 📙📕📚📓📗📘📒📔📘📒📓📚📗📓📚📙📒📘📔📗📔📙📚📓📗📒📘📕📙📚📒📘📗📖
February 20, 2023
Dark Desires was a tough one for me. I love a good gothic tale. Sadly, this one didn’t seem to know what it wanted to be. Is it Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde? Or is it Jack the Ripper? Maybe both mixed with Dr. Frankenstein? I was kind of into it for all those reasons. I was seriously loving the mix and kept reading for the description of dark corners and shadows. Unfortunately, when everything finally got down to it, I was faced with a great deal of repetitive scenes and a lackluster mystery. The evil villain lacked any punch and was too easily beaten. Honestly, it was a ton of build up for nothing. Very disappointing. I did give two stars because some of the build up had a ton of promise.
March 5, 2016
Deliciously Gothic
Dark Desire had all the makings of a great gothic novel. Damien is a brooding, secretive and seemingly haunted man. A doctor that secrets himself in his laboratory.
Darcie is running for her life. She too has secrets and fears. She is sent to Damien for help. She finds him to be more than she expected. He is beautiful and she feels drawn to him. Even after being warned against him. A wonderful tense read that has sweet moments and hints of hopefulness.
White chapel is searching for a madman. No one is safe.
It has been a long time since I found a book that meets all the gothic criteria. This one does!
Dark Desire had all the makings of a great gothic novel. Damien is a brooding, secretive and seemingly haunted man. A doctor that secrets himself in his laboratory.
Darcie is running for her life. She too has secrets and fears. She is sent to Damien for help. She finds him to be more than she expected. He is beautiful and she feels drawn to him. Even after being warned against him. A wonderful tense read that has sweet moments and hints of hopefulness.
White chapel is searching for a madman. No one is safe.
It has been a long time since I found a book that meets all the gothic criteria. This one does!
July 27, 2012
I started out really liking this book - had a dark, gothic atmosphere. The heroine started out meek then got stronger as the book went along and the hero, though mysterious, was revealed to the heroine one layer at a time. He didn't tell about himself, just stepped back to let her find out for herself and I appreciated that.
However, toward the end, the suspicions the heroine had for the hero got to be too many. At every turn when something bad happened in the story, she immediately thought that just maybe he was to blame. At every bad thing. Every time. That was an eye-roller for me.
The other thing that I found absolutely, completely unbelievable for this man of science to do was Really?? No matter how grieved he was, that was a bit too much.
Aside from those things, I enjoyed the story, the hero's angst and the heroine strongly-growing confidence in herself.
However, toward the end, the suspicions the heroine had for the hero got to be too many. At every turn when something bad happened in the story, she immediately thought that just maybe he was to blame. At every bad thing. Every time. That was an eye-roller for me.
The other thing that I found absolutely, completely unbelievable for this man of science to do was Really?? No matter how grieved he was, that was a bit too much.
Aside from those things, I enjoyed the story, the hero's angst and the heroine strongly-growing confidence in herself.
June 27, 2022
Relectura. Me encantó. Aunque en algunas partes románticas lo encontré un poco cursi esta vez.
Uf leído hace muchísimo pero me había encantado. Oscuro, misterioso. Tiene escena hot. Creo que lo voy a releer.
Uf leído hace muchísimo pero me había encantado. Oscuro, misterioso. Tiene escena hot. Creo que lo voy a releer.
December 8, 2025
I don't know if I would call it gothic
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February 1, 2022
re-read, enoyed it a lot.
Really enjoyed it! Dark and gothic... Suspense...
Really enjoyed it! Dark and gothic... Suspense...
November 3, 2016
I really enjoyed this. My only issue would have been the power gap between the H and h. However, I managed to get over this as Damien was a good beta and was nothing but kind (while still managing to be dark) to Darcie, and treated everyone with respect. I also assumed there was an age gap, as Darcie was only 20 and Damien was a doctor, but his age was never explicitly stated. Generally I don't enjoy age gaps as a personal preference, so I thought I'd mention it.
This was a dark and dirty romance with a bit of blood (as stories set in Whitechapel during this time period seem to be). Damien was one of the sexier heroes I've read about in a while. I'm definitely interested in more of Silver's work!
3.5 stars.
This was a dark and dirty romance with a bit of blood (as stories set in Whitechapel during this time period seem to be). Damien was one of the sexier heroes I've read about in a while. I'm definitely interested in more of Silver's work!
3.5 stars.
January 18, 2011
Stinky! I think this is her first book and I like her books under her alias Eve Kenin but boy, this one was pretty bad. The story line would make you think it would be better - middle class woman fallen on hard times goes to her madame sister to work at a doctor who is known to dissect bodies perhaps illegally. But the way Darcie is attracted to Damien and him to her, totally unbelievable and no spark at all, at least in my opinion. I'm only giving her 2 stars because this is probably her first book, otherwise this would be a 1 star.
February 12, 2018
I didn't finish this, but I got close enough to not feel bad about rating and reviewing it. The premise was great, and it started out pretty good. But the pacing is waaayy too slow, and the prose was overly-complicated. The main character, Darcie, thought herself into elaborate, annoying circles just about every two seconds and it was all I could do not to skip all of her thoughts--which is most of the book. I like Dr. Damien Cole quite a lot but unfortunately, I couldn't pull through for him. 2 stars.
June 17, 2021
Damien the mysterious doctor with a penchant for secrecy, and Darcie the girl with nothing to lose.
Darcie hasn't eaten in 2 days and sleeps in doorways when she gives up hope and visits her sister's brothel. Her sister gives her some money and the name of man who owes her a favour... Dr. Damien Cole.
A serial killer is on the loose and I got a little tired of her feeling 'the shivers' every time she went for a walk. But this is a gothic story after all.
The first third was so predictable I was tempted to quit. But the story got better.
I did guess who the villain was and who the mysterious woman in the miniature were from the get go.
The villain at the end was kinda ridiculously OTT.
But it was still entertaining and the romance was sweet.
safety is good
Darcie hasn't eaten in 2 days and sleeps in doorways when she gives up hope and visits her sister's brothel. Her sister gives her some money and the name of man who owes her a favour... Dr. Damien Cole.
A serial killer is on the loose and I got a little tired of her feeling 'the shivers' every time she went for a walk. But this is a gothic story after all.
The first third was so predictable I was tempted to quit. But the story got better.
I did guess who the villain was and who the mysterious woman in the miniature were from the get go.
The villain at the end was kinda ridiculously OTT.
But it was still entertaining and the romance was sweet.
safety is good
October 28, 2018
My first thought upon seeing this was "what an unfortunate cover" (reading it I actually discovered that the heroine doesn't even have ginger hair, as depicted on this edition? oh well), but I was lucky enough to get a free ebook copy via my favourite book shop, and who am I to refuse that?
Now, Dark Desires is overwritten and melodramatic, but that's not a red flag for me. Mind you, heroine Darcie Finch has spent the last months of her wretched gothic life in the backalleys of Whitechapel and therefore has every right to be melodramatic. Once she's taken under the caring and ostentatiously attractive wings of surgeon Dr. Damien Cole as a maid in his household, she does get extremely jumpy for the sake of romantic suspense, but honestly...? There isn't a lot to be scared of besides an obviously Ripper-inspired serial killer case - is her rescuer the bad guy or not? And her libido would get in the way of a good fright anyway.
For a story that constantly mentions how virginal and innocent its female protagonist is (the manly man of course isn't!) and , Darcie sure shows a lot of unrealistic sexual aptitude? Yes, this is sadly more bodice ripper than gothic romance. The famished heroine lusts after her employer from the second he ran her over in his coach while she is close to dying of starvation, and yet she somehow manages to very much notice his angelic looks... and she never stops doing so. I couldn't take the crush she develops for Dr. Cole seriously, not when he has those very modern notions of sexy feminism and knowledge of antibiotics that somehow precedes Fleming's discovery by almost a century. His pants also miraculously disappear during the sex scenes and he manages to have a tan in foggy, Victorian London? What a man.
The constant back and forth between Darcie and her romantic interest is quite exhausting, with him warning her about his painful backstory™ and dangerous sexiness™ one moment, then pulling her into his bedroom the next, but not before suggestively eating a few grapes. The sex scenes were not at all written after my taste. I should have known better than to read anatomist erotica, being trained in medicine myself, and in the end I only flipped through the last pages to see what would happen. Every time I say I don't mind formulaic romance, I end up hating the formulaic romance, and there's not much positive I can say about Dark Desires, except it being a well-meant attempt at bringing back gothic literature.
Now, Dark Desires is overwritten and melodramatic, but that's not a red flag for me. Mind you, heroine Darcie Finch has spent the last months of her wretched gothic life in the backalleys of Whitechapel and therefore has every right to be melodramatic. Once she's taken under the caring and ostentatiously attractive wings of surgeon Dr. Damien Cole as a maid in his household, she does get extremely jumpy for the sake of romantic suspense, but honestly...? There isn't a lot to be scared of besides an obviously Ripper-inspired serial killer case - is her rescuer the bad guy or not? And her libido would get in the way of a good fright anyway.
For a story that constantly mentions how virginal and innocent its female protagonist is (the manly man of course isn't!) and , Darcie sure shows a lot of unrealistic sexual aptitude? Yes, this is sadly more bodice ripper than gothic romance. The famished heroine lusts after her employer from the second he ran her over in his coach while she is close to dying of starvation, and yet she somehow manages to very much notice his angelic looks... and she never stops doing so. I couldn't take the crush she develops for Dr. Cole seriously, not when he has those very modern notions of sexy feminism and knowledge of antibiotics that somehow precedes Fleming's discovery by almost a century. His pants also miraculously disappear during the sex scenes and he manages to have a tan in foggy, Victorian London? What a man.
The constant back and forth between Darcie and her romantic interest is quite exhausting, with him warning her about his painful backstory™ and dangerous sexiness™ one moment, then pulling her into his bedroom the next, but not before suggestively eating a few grapes. The sex scenes were not at all written after my taste. I should have known better than to read anatomist erotica, being trained in medicine myself, and in the end I only flipped through the last pages to see what would happen. Every time I say I don't mind formulaic romance, I end up hating the formulaic romance, and there's not much positive I can say about Dark Desires, except it being a well-meant attempt at bringing back gothic literature.
December 13, 2018
por fin 4 merecidas estrellas. Me ha gustado mucho como esta escrito, los personajes, la trama, las descripciones de la epoca, la angustia de la protagonista.
December 29, 2016
*3.5 stars*
January 9, 2020
How uncertain could one girl possibly be?
June 25, 2020
Early Victorian romance mystery. Plot moves along and characters are fully developed. Enjoyable read.
Read
February 16, 2025DNF @ 50%
I don’t find this one compelling enough to finish. I haven’t connected to these characters, and I don’t think their feelings for each other are believable. This FMC is also an idiot. I know that’s a common trope in gothic books, but it feels like she’s just an idiot for nothing. Not enjoying this and I couldn’t care less about finishing.
I don’t find this one compelling enough to finish. I haven’t connected to these characters, and I don’t think their feelings for each other are believable. This FMC is also an idiot. I know that’s a common trope in gothic books, but it feels like she’s just an idiot for nothing. Not enjoying this and I couldn’t care less about finishing.
October 27, 2016
I read Dark Desires as part of my challenge to read a different subgenre of romance each month, and the first month happened to be gothic romance, just in time for Halloween. I wasn’t entirely sure what “gothic romance” was going in, so I did some reading and basically got “old school mystery with a dark, dangerous, brooding hero”. Apparently, Jane Eyre falls into this category? Yeah, I didn’t know that either.
Anyway, I chose Dark Desires for two reasons:
It was a fairly recently published gothic romance, and I really wasn’t feeling a desire to read old school stuff. Partly because I wanted steaminess. Don’t judge.
Also, it was free on Kindle. Eve was doing the whole ‘make the first book free and they’ll come back to pay for the rest of the series’ trick. It might just work for me… Let’s see!
Full disclosure: I was going through a super depressed phase when I read this, and I read it instead of reading what I should have been or studying for an exam. In fact, the night before and morning of the exam were spent devouring the book instead of studying. I was so whacked out I couldn’t do any of the things I was supposed to, but Dark Desires managed to give me comfort in a weird, twisted sort of way.
Why twisted? BECAUSE THERE ARE BODY PARTS AND BLOOD EVERYWHERE. The book is about an anatomist (Damien Cole) and the girl he takes on to help around the house (Darcie Finch). Except that she ends up seeing disembodied hearts and things. Yeah. My morbid curiosity, like Darcie’s, was piqued. I mean, I had to study anatomy as part of my undergrad degree, and I still have all my textbooks and posters, including a very detailed photographic book of anatomy. So why the hell was I so squeamish about some of these scenes?! I guess I’ll put that down to Eve’s skill at freaking people out.
Also, for most of the book, I was utterly, 100% convinced that Darcie should be running waaaaay away from Damien. CREEPTASTIC. It was only logic that told me that I had to be missing something, because this was supposed to be a romance novel in which, presumably, the heroine ends up living HEA with the hero. So again, props to Eve for messing with my head so well.
My biggest disappointment? You’re going to laugh at me now, I swear. I was sad that it wasn’t more steamy. I mean, the chemistry was pretty good, and there were a couple of ooh la la, get yourself a fan scenes. Oh, and innocent Darcie learned the value of a well-placed knee, if ya know what I mean. BUT I WANTED MORE, K! While the scenes were graphic, they were super short. So maybe some people will actually prefer this book to something more sustained; maybe I just need more heat than most people (while still having a plot). Literary nymphomania is a potential diagnosis. (If no one else has used that term before, I’m claiming it.)
I AM YOURS, DAMIEN.
But let me make this clear: I did enjoy the chemistry. There was definitely insta-lust, but the deeper feelings built over time. Damien was such a tortured soul, so he definitely fit into the whole gothic romance hero stereotype. However, he was also very caring, and he backed off when he believed his advances were unwanted. Hashtag gentleman. Also, he really respected Darcie and saw more to her as a woman than other men of the time. While other men thought women belonged in the home, popping out offspring, he saw no reason they couldn’t be pursuing medical careers.
I did not expect the end at all. I mean, I knew Darcie was going to get herself in trouble, and she was completely reckless, but the how and who of it? Nope, didn’t see it until nearer the time. In all honesty, though, the end was a little weird, which made it more unexpected. It got a little bit rushed and…sloppy? I would have liked it more if mental health wasn’t suddenly used at the very last minute to take the blame. Own your evilness!
Overall, I had fun reading this, even if it made me queasy at times. Actually, it probably made me enjoy it more. If you haven’t read gothic romance and want something written in this millennium, I’d definitely give Dark Desires a go!This review was originally posted on Love in a Time of Feminism
Anyway, I chose Dark Desires for two reasons:
It was a fairly recently published gothic romance, and I really wasn’t feeling a desire to read old school stuff. Partly because I wanted steaminess. Don’t judge.
Also, it was free on Kindle. Eve was doing the whole ‘make the first book free and they’ll come back to pay for the rest of the series’ trick. It might just work for me… Let’s see!
Full disclosure: I was going through a super depressed phase when I read this, and I read it instead of reading what I should have been or studying for an exam. In fact, the night before and morning of the exam were spent devouring the book instead of studying. I was so whacked out I couldn’t do any of the things I was supposed to, but Dark Desires managed to give me comfort in a weird, twisted sort of way.
Why twisted? BECAUSE THERE ARE BODY PARTS AND BLOOD EVERYWHERE. The book is about an anatomist (Damien Cole) and the girl he takes on to help around the house (Darcie Finch). Except that she ends up seeing disembodied hearts and things. Yeah. My morbid curiosity, like Darcie’s, was piqued. I mean, I had to study anatomy as part of my undergrad degree, and I still have all my textbooks and posters, including a very detailed photographic book of anatomy. So why the hell was I so squeamish about some of these scenes?! I guess I’ll put that down to Eve’s skill at freaking people out.
Dr. Cole had not been forthcoming as to the reason that a fresh corpse sat in his carriage.
Also, for most of the book, I was utterly, 100% convinced that Darcie should be running waaaaay away from Damien. CREEPTASTIC. It was only logic that told me that I had to be missing something, because this was supposed to be a romance novel in which, presumably, the heroine ends up living HEA with the hero. So again, props to Eve for messing with my head so well.
My biggest disappointment? You’re going to laugh at me now, I swear. I was sad that it wasn’t more steamy. I mean, the chemistry was pretty good, and there were a couple of ooh la la, get yourself a fan scenes. Oh, and innocent Darcie learned the value of a well-placed knee, if ya know what I mean. BUT I WANTED MORE, K! While the scenes were graphic, they were super short. So maybe some people will actually prefer this book to something more sustained; maybe I just need more heat than most people (while still having a plot). Literary nymphomania is a potential diagnosis. (If no one else has used that term before, I’m claiming it.)
“I want to do all manner of things to you, and have you do them to me. Wonderful things. Pleasurable things.” He ran the pad of his thumb across her lips. “Wicked things.”
I AM YOURS, DAMIEN.
But let me make this clear: I did enjoy the chemistry. There was definitely insta-lust, but the deeper feelings built over time. Damien was such a tortured soul, so he definitely fit into the whole gothic romance hero stereotype. However, he was also very caring, and he backed off when he believed his advances were unwanted. Hashtag gentleman. Also, he really respected Darcie and saw more to her as a woman than other men of the time. While other men thought women belonged in the home, popping out offspring, he saw no reason they couldn’t be pursuing medical careers.
“Do you know, Darcie, that it takes a good deal of thought for some medical students to reach that conclusion?”
“There are no women in medical school.” The observation slipped out before she had time to question the wisdom of opening such a Pandora's box.
“No, there are not.” Their gazes met and held. Darcie sensed something in his expression. As he continued to watch her, she felt a warm wave ripple through her, a feeling of pleasure and confidence that blossomed and grew. “There are no women in medical school,” Damien repeated. “Yet.”
I did not expect the end at all. I mean, I knew Darcie was going to get herself in trouble, and she was completely reckless, but the how and who of it? Nope, didn’t see it until nearer the time. In all honesty, though, the end was a little weird, which made it more unexpected. It got a little bit rushed and…sloppy? I would have liked it more if mental health wasn’t suddenly used at the very last minute to take the blame. Own your evilness!
Overall, I had fun reading this, even if it made me queasy at times. Actually, it probably made me enjoy it more. If you haven’t read gothic romance and want something written in this millennium, I’d definitely give Dark Desires a go!This review was originally posted on Love in a Time of Feminism
April 25, 2016
This Victorian Gothic romance novel pushes all the right buttons: brooding doctor, creepy setting, mysterious secrets, multiple suspects, romantic push and pull and cornered heroine. It has been hard to find a Gothic romance in the tradition of Victoria Holt, but with a more sensual edge. This book by Eve Silver fit solidly into that category.
Darcie is the down-on-her-luck woman sent by her sister to serve in the household of the enigmatic Dr. Damien Cole. He does mysterious, bloody things in the shed at the back of the property, and it is clear the servants of the household are afraid of and/or do not approve of the handsome but remote doctor. Soon, Darcie finds herself closely involved in the doctor's work, but only told as much as necessary to complete her tasks. Is Dr. Cole hiding information or just being fastidiously discreet?
The dreary London location comes through clearly in the book, as does the danger. Women are being horrifically murdered, and Dr. Cole seems some how connected.
The relationship between Damien and Darcie is charged with attraction, but fairly abruptly tips into more. Darcie moved very quickly from skittish mouse to secure siren, and it struck me as a little unrealistic. I was also disappointed in the TSTL decision made by Darcie near the end of the book. Sure, she had grown into a more confident woman, but sadly I didn't think she had become a stupid one at the same time. I had hoped Ms. Silver would not stoop to such a common plot device, but I was disappointed. Regardless, the end was exciting and climactic and had a thorough and pleasing epilogue.
If you are looking for an overtly sensual romance paired with a moody, suspenseful Victorian historical featuring touches of horror made popular at the time by Mary Shelley, then I recommend you pick up this first book in the Dark Gothic series by Eve Silver.
Darcie is the down-on-her-luck woman sent by her sister to serve in the household of the enigmatic Dr. Damien Cole. He does mysterious, bloody things in the shed at the back of the property, and it is clear the servants of the household are afraid of and/or do not approve of the handsome but remote doctor. Soon, Darcie finds herself closely involved in the doctor's work, but only told as much as necessary to complete her tasks. Is Dr. Cole hiding information or just being fastidiously discreet?
The dreary London location comes through clearly in the book, as does the danger. Women are being horrifically murdered, and Dr. Cole seems some how connected.
The relationship between Damien and Darcie is charged with attraction, but fairly abruptly tips into more. Darcie moved very quickly from skittish mouse to secure siren, and it struck me as a little unrealistic. I was also disappointed in the TSTL decision made by Darcie near the end of the book. Sure, she had grown into a more confident woman, but sadly I didn't think she had become a stupid one at the same time. I had hoped Ms. Silver would not stoop to such a common plot device, but I was disappointed. Regardless, the end was exciting and climactic and had a thorough and pleasing epilogue.
If you are looking for an overtly sensual romance paired with a moody, suspenseful Victorian historical featuring touches of horror made popular at the time by Mary Shelley, then I recommend you pick up this first book in the Dark Gothic series by Eve Silver.
October 14, 2018
I discovered gothic romance in high school - authors like Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney - but after I was introduced to historical romance, I grew away from gothic. Recently, gothic seems to be making a comeback, both through rereleases of old ones and new authors to the subgenre.
I confess I bought Dark Desires mainly because of the gorgeous, moody cover. But in this case, the contents lived up to the cover. Darcie Finch was the stepdaughter of a wealthy merchant but has lately fallen on hard times. She finally goes to her sister for help, the sister who is a madam in the Whitechapel district. Abigail sends her away, telling her to go to Dr. Damien Cole, but warns her not to become involved in the doctor’s “secrets.”
The doctor hires Darcie as a housemaid, but he soon learns about Darcie’s talent for drawing. He assigns her to be his assistant, for he is an anatomist and needs a skilled artist to draw and label body parts during his dissections. Darcie soon realizes she has feelings for him, but in addition to her sister’s warning, there are other things about Dr. Cole that don’t add up. Meanwhile, prostitutes are being brutally murdered in Whitechapel and it isn’t just Darcie that has doubts about Dr. Cole.
I really enjoyed the story and the atmosphere was very well done. Just enough mystery and horror to be thrilling but not overly frightening, and a happy ending!
I confess I bought Dark Desires mainly because of the gorgeous, moody cover. But in this case, the contents lived up to the cover. Darcie Finch was the stepdaughter of a wealthy merchant but has lately fallen on hard times. She finally goes to her sister for help, the sister who is a madam in the Whitechapel district. Abigail sends her away, telling her to go to Dr. Damien Cole, but warns her not to become involved in the doctor’s “secrets.”
The doctor hires Darcie as a housemaid, but he soon learns about Darcie’s talent for drawing. He assigns her to be his assistant, for he is an anatomist and needs a skilled artist to draw and label body parts during his dissections. Darcie soon realizes she has feelings for him, but in addition to her sister’s warning, there are other things about Dr. Cole that don’t add up. Meanwhile, prostitutes are being brutally murdered in Whitechapel and it isn’t just Darcie that has doubts about Dr. Cole.
I really enjoyed the story and the atmosphere was very well done. Just enough mystery and horror to be thrilling but not overly frightening, and a happy ending!
August 12, 2013
I grew up reading Victoria Holt novels, but I haven't really read much in the gothic romance genre since then. On a whim, I gave this novel a shot, and I was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me why I used to love Victoria Holt novels so much. This author's writing is strong, the gothic elements very well executed, and the brooding hero very sexy indeed. I also liked how the author took all the elements I loved from Victoria Holt's play book, but added some heat between the heroine and hero. It was pretty steamy in some places, just like I like it, and the author made the heroine's falling into bed/in love with the hero while still harboring suspicions about his role in a string of murders somehow believeable. The heroine only had one Too Stupid To Live moment at the denouement, when she runs off to Whitechapel alone. At night. In the fog. Straight into the villain's clutches. But hey, it's a gothic novel, and that's what the heroine is supposed to do. I am going to read all of these novels, and so should you!
October 9, 2021
5 Very Satisfied Stars for DARK DESIRES a Gothic Suspense Romance novel by Eve Silver. I truly enjoyed this reimagining of the Gothic Romance novels of my youth (Victoria Holt).
*My rating guide: 1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= I mostly enjoyed it; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= Yes; I enjoyed this a lot; 5= I LOVED THIS! (I rarely give 5 Stars).
DARK DESIRES reminded me of the Gothic Romance novels I read many years ago. I could see in my minds eye the fog and the bleakness of the East End streets. The atmosphere and story were mysterious and suspenseful from the beginning, through til the end. I never became bored, flipping the pages quickly to discover what happened next. I was fascinated with the profession of the MMC (a knowledgeable lecturing anatomist), and the back story and life experiences of the FMC while heartbreaking felt authentic. Both characters showed growth as the story progressed. I was particularly pleased that while the FMC was tempted to take matters into her own hands frequently, I didn’t find myself utterly disgusted with her for acting incredibly stupid. Rather, DARK DESIRES reminded me why I once enjoyed reading Gothic Suspense novels. An epilogue is included - a nice touch. Eve Silver has a number of other standalone Gothic novels published. I plan to work my way through them soon.
London, 1828
Darcie Finch/FMC was once the daughter of a wealthy merchant. But her father dies and a number of years later her mother as well. Darcie is left with a step-father who loses his employment soon afterward. Darcie finds herself suddenly struggling to stay alive on the streets. She is near starvation, barely existing in the Whitechapel area when by miraculous intervention she is given an employment opportunity in the home of a very dedicated doctor, the odd and truly unusual Dr. Damien Cole, an anatomist/MMC.
A quote from DARK DESIRES:
“While tomorrow might (bring) heartache, today was truly lovely.” Darcie Finch.
READER CAUTIONS - Not recommended for readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes, but rarely (less than 5x).
VIOLENCE - Yes. This is a Gothic novel (IMO, not particularly dark). Murders occur similar as done by Jack the Ripper (sexual slasher killings). The MMC is a doctor and an anatomist; details of dissections with dead bodies are mentioned.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Detailed scenes of intimacy occur between the MCs beginning before the mid-point.
*My rating guide: 1= dnf/What was that?; 2= Nope, not for me; 3= I mostly enjoyed it; 3.5= I enjoyed it; 4= Yes; I enjoyed this a lot; 5= I LOVED THIS! (I rarely give 5 Stars).
DARK DESIRES reminded me of the Gothic Romance novels I read many years ago. I could see in my minds eye the fog and the bleakness of the East End streets. The atmosphere and story were mysterious and suspenseful from the beginning, through til the end. I never became bored, flipping the pages quickly to discover what happened next. I was fascinated with the profession of the MMC (a knowledgeable lecturing anatomist), and the back story and life experiences of the FMC while heartbreaking felt authentic. Both characters showed growth as the story progressed. I was particularly pleased that while the FMC was tempted to take matters into her own hands frequently, I didn’t find myself utterly disgusted with her for acting incredibly stupid. Rather, DARK DESIRES reminded me why I once enjoyed reading Gothic Suspense novels. An epilogue is included - a nice touch. Eve Silver has a number of other standalone Gothic novels published. I plan to work my way through them soon.
London, 1828
Darcie Finch/FMC was once the daughter of a wealthy merchant. But her father dies and a number of years later her mother as well. Darcie is left with a step-father who loses his employment soon afterward. Darcie finds herself suddenly struggling to stay alive on the streets. She is near starvation, barely existing in the Whitechapel area when by miraculous intervention she is given an employment opportunity in the home of a very dedicated doctor, the odd and truly unusual Dr. Damien Cole, an anatomist/MMC.
A quote from DARK DESIRES:
“While tomorrow might (bring) heartache, today was truly lovely.” Darcie Finch.
READER CAUTIONS - Not recommended for readers who prefer Clean fiction.
PROFANITY - Yes, but rarely (less than 5x).
VIOLENCE - Yes. This is a Gothic novel (IMO, not particularly dark). Murders occur similar as done by Jack the Ripper (sexual slasher killings). The MMC is a doctor and an anatomist; details of dissections with dead bodies are mentioned.
SEXUAL SITUATIONS - Yes. Detailed scenes of intimacy occur between the MCs beginning before the mid-point.
October 16, 2023
3.5 ✨✨✨
A gothic romance with an innocent virgin heroine and an anti type hero that has very interesting…shall we say tastes. A Doctor that dabbles into nighttime undercover activities. This book was definitely intriguing and a good solid read.
A gothic romance with an innocent virgin heroine and an anti type hero that has very interesting…shall we say tastes. A Doctor that dabbles into nighttime undercover activities. This book was definitely intriguing and a good solid read.
July 8, 2020
This book wasn't terrible, but it frustrated me so much that I can't really call it good, either. I've read another book by this author (in the same series) that I enjoyed a lot more, to the point where I'm actually a little confused. How could these books be written by the same author? Then again, the setting and plot are quite different, not to mention that they were published two years apart.
In short, this was a romance with a murder mystery, and the latter was handled pretty poorly. Not only was it convoluted and needlessly complex, but Darcie jumped to conclusions all the time. Also, there were some clues that were just... left hanging. Am I to assume that the scalpel really was planted at the brothel by the murderer? Or did Damien forget it there when he performed the abortion on Mayne? I never got that explained, but the engraved scalpel was one of the main reasons that the police came and questioned Damien. It felt like an important clue, but apparently not?
Sidenote: there must have been something wrong with my book. Chapter 13 ended with Darcie going to bed and chapter 14 suddenly starts with her at the police station. I have no idea how she got there and what the start of the conversation between her, Damien and the inspector looked like. There must have been some pages or passages missing, but how that happens in an e-book, I have no idea.
Also, while Darcie was an expert at assuming things and pointing fingers, that apparently didn't stop her from jumping into bed with Damien. She didn't have any proof of him having done anything, no, but the book kept eluding to it, wanting us and her to THINK that he had. Even before she had sex with him, she suspected him of a) murder, b) grave robbing, c) attempting to strangle her friend Mary. But never so much that it stopped her from falling in love with him. And just... that felt so jarring?
The book kept trying to build Damien up as a spooky, dangerous guy, but all it did was make Darcie look stupid for having sex with him. Who in their right mind would have sex with the man you suspect of having tried to strangle your friend? Are you really that horny? Also, not once did Damien come across as particularly scary to me. Everyone kept telling me that he was — Damien included — but few of them had a good reason. Or were trying to be coy and not explain their reasons, for no other reason than to make it more spooky. But people don't do that.
There's just so much I don't understand. Why did Mary refuse to tell Darcie about who attacked her? She didn't know he was the murderer, did she? Why did Abigail insist on Damien being dangerous when he'd spent years helping her and her girls? Why was there so many references to Damien always knowing where Darcie was and having an unnatural ability of showing up where needed, only for that to go nowhere?
To be honest, I would have liked this book more if it had turned out that he was a vampire. Maybe then it would have made more sense that Damien kept sounding like Edward from Twilight with his "I'm dangerous, you shouldn't be with me" spiel. Damien honestly just sounded stupid when saying it, especially since we found out that he's barely done anything wrong in his entire life, but everyone just hates him because... well, fucked if I know? Because he's an anatomist?
Basically, the murder mystery is poorly handled, Damien's character is all over the place, and the romance felt very weird when Darcie suspected Damien of some pretty horrible things but still went to bed with him. It's not a terrible book, as said, but I'd definitely recommend Dark Prince instead. It's much better at the atmosphere, the dark hero, and has a better overall plot.
In short, this was a romance with a murder mystery, and the latter was handled pretty poorly. Not only was it convoluted and needlessly complex, but Darcie jumped to conclusions all the time. Also, there were some clues that were just... left hanging. Am I to assume that the scalpel really was planted at the brothel by the murderer? Or did Damien forget it there when he performed the abortion on Mayne? I never got that explained, but the engraved scalpel was one of the main reasons that the police came and questioned Damien. It felt like an important clue, but apparently not?
Sidenote: there must have been something wrong with my book. Chapter 13 ended with Darcie going to bed and chapter 14 suddenly starts with her at the police station. I have no idea how she got there and what the start of the conversation between her, Damien and the inspector looked like. There must have been some pages or passages missing, but how that happens in an e-book, I have no idea.
Also, while Darcie was an expert at assuming things and pointing fingers, that apparently didn't stop her from jumping into bed with Damien. She didn't have any proof of him having done anything, no, but the book kept eluding to it, wanting us and her to THINK that he had. Even before she had sex with him, she suspected him of a) murder, b) grave robbing, c) attempting to strangle her friend Mary. But never so much that it stopped her from falling in love with him. And just... that felt so jarring?
The book kept trying to build Damien up as a spooky, dangerous guy, but all it did was make Darcie look stupid for having sex with him. Who in their right mind would have sex with the man you suspect of having tried to strangle your friend? Are you really that horny? Also, not once did Damien come across as particularly scary to me. Everyone kept telling me that he was — Damien included — but few of them had a good reason. Or were trying to be coy and not explain their reasons, for no other reason than to make it more spooky. But people don't do that.
There's just so much I don't understand. Why did Mary refuse to tell Darcie about who attacked her? She didn't know he was the murderer, did she? Why did Abigail insist on Damien being dangerous when he'd spent years helping her and her girls? Why was there so many references to Damien always knowing where Darcie was and having an unnatural ability of showing up where needed, only for that to go nowhere?
To be honest, I would have liked this book more if it had turned out that he was a vampire. Maybe then it would have made more sense that Damien kept sounding like Edward from Twilight with his "I'm dangerous, you shouldn't be with me" spiel. Damien honestly just sounded stupid when saying it, especially since we found out that he's barely done anything wrong in his entire life, but everyone just hates him because... well, fucked if I know? Because he's an anatomist?
Basically, the murder mystery is poorly handled, Damien's character is all over the place, and the romance felt very weird when Darcie suspected Damien of some pretty horrible things but still went to bed with him. It's not a terrible book, as said, but I'd definitely recommend Dark Prince instead. It's much better at the atmosphere, the dark hero, and has a better overall plot.
April 10, 2019
Entertaining, but I'm not sure I'd go right to good. Rounded up for entertainment value. I'm a sucker for a Gothic novel sometimes, so I got a set of these for my own amusement. Parts of this aren't bad, but parts of this don't really work. I've read two now, and while entertaining, they seem to follow a fairly set formula: Woman in (generally financial) trouble is forced out of desperation to work in the house of a semi-shady dude. Dude has a dark secret pain, and is involved in some vaguely sinister activities related to death (a.k.a. he's a doctor with an unusual specialty - not spoiler-tagging this because it's fairly obvious, fairly early on). The pair have an immediate and all-consuming attraction. The heroine receives vague warnings from all and sundry about the evils lurking in the house and in the heart of our hero. However, none of our heroes actions actually indicate that they are a terrible person. Broody and nursing a serious tragic past of pain/guilt, absolutely. Evil and cruel? NOPE.
The thing is, in both, our hero also seems to require that our heroine trust him unconditionally, despite the fact that A) he is aware of the rumours surrounding his activities, including rumours that he's probably a murderer (or similar), B) he engages in seriously shady-looking activities for the time period, often in the dead of night, and C) he never actually tells her anything, even when asked directly, due to reasons of "I need to protect you (and your innocence) from the horrors and guilt that will forever plague my soul. You do not know what I am. Keep your innocence a safe distance from me and my horrible self. I do not deserve/cannot love... or have nice things."
EXCEPT, that I also feel like the horrible thing is... not that horrible at all? I grant you, it's not great; But even beyond the tragic past, a simple, "Oh, FYI, I know there are a lot of rumours about me, but let's clear the air: I am a respected anatomist and doctor. I lecture across the country, and get all my subjects through channels that are 100% above-board" would have removed the lion's share of misunderstandings and suspicions. I get the not disclosing the tragic past secret, but the present-day activities could have been dispensed with in half a page. In a ludicrously easy way. Given both characters are actually sensible.
I dunno, the pacing was off. And there was too much trying to make characters appear sinister, when it was blatantly obvious that they were not...
Also, the actual murderer was telegraphed ridiculously obviously.
And I read this a week ago and kinda forgot about it.
The thing is, in both, our hero also seems to require that our heroine trust him unconditionally, despite the fact that A) he is aware of the rumours surrounding his activities, including rumours that he's probably a murderer (or similar), B) he engages in seriously shady-looking activities for the time period, often in the dead of night, and C) he never actually tells her anything, even when asked directly, due to reasons of "I need to protect you (and your innocence) from the horrors and guilt that will forever plague my soul. You do not know what I am. Keep your innocence a safe distance from me and my horrible self. I do not deserve/cannot love... or have nice things."
EXCEPT, that I also feel like the horrible thing is... not that horrible at all? I grant you, it's not great; But even beyond the tragic past, a simple, "Oh, FYI, I know there are a lot of rumours about me, but let's clear the air: I am a respected anatomist and doctor. I lecture across the country, and get all my subjects through channels that are 100% above-board" would have removed the lion's share of misunderstandings and suspicions. I get the not disclosing the tragic past secret, but the present-day activities could have been dispensed with in half a page. In a ludicrously easy way. Given both characters are actually sensible.
I dunno, the pacing was off. And there was too much trying to make characters appear sinister, when it was blatantly obvious that they were not...
Also, the actual murderer was telegraphed ridiculously obviously.
And I read this a week ago and kinda forgot about it.
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