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Something Strange and Deadly #0.5
A Dawn Most Wicked
He has stolen Eleanor Fitt's heart, but who was Daniel Sheridan before he became a Spirit-Hunter? In this suspenseful 100-page digital-original romance novella from Something Strange and Deadly author Susan Dennard, Daniel's past—and his first love—will be exposed.
With a checkered past like Daniel Sheridan's, landing an apprenticeship aboard the Sadie Queen was just the fresh start he was looking for. But that's the last thing it's been. Teeming with ghosts that plague the crew with horrific nightmares, this ship is more trouble than it's worth to Daniel. Except for Cass...
Gorgeous and stubborn to a fault, apprentice pilot Cassidy Cochran is the one thing keeping Daniel on board. Though they started as best friends, their relationship has grown into something more intense. Their stolen, sometimes steamy moments have Daniel feeling something he never thought possible: love.
Enlisting the help of a short-tempered Chinese boy named Jie and a Creole gentleman named Joseph, the three attempt to rid the boat of the ghosts—for if they don't, the Sadie Queen will be put out of business. And with Cass's fatally-ill sister in need of expensive medical help, Daniel is more determined than ever to save the ship. But when he discovers that the ghosts are linked to a dangerous curse whose caster wants everyone on board dead, Daniel will come face-to-face with an evil so dark, so wicked, that it will change the course of his life forever.
With a checkered past like Daniel Sheridan's, landing an apprenticeship aboard the Sadie Queen was just the fresh start he was looking for. But that's the last thing it's been. Teeming with ghosts that plague the crew with horrific nightmares, this ship is more trouble than it's worth to Daniel. Except for Cass...
Gorgeous and stubborn to a fault, apprentice pilot Cassidy Cochran is the one thing keeping Daniel on board. Though they started as best friends, their relationship has grown into something more intense. Their stolen, sometimes steamy moments have Daniel feeling something he never thought possible: love.
Enlisting the help of a short-tempered Chinese boy named Jie and a Creole gentleman named Joseph, the three attempt to rid the boat of the ghosts—for if they don't, the Sadie Queen will be put out of business. And with Cass's fatally-ill sister in need of expensive medical help, Daniel is more determined than ever to save the ship. But when he discovers that the ghosts are linked to a dangerous curse whose caster wants everyone on board dead, Daniel will come face-to-face with an evil so dark, so wicked, that it will change the course of his life forever.
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2013
28 people are currently reading
3581 people want to read
About the author
Susan Dennard
25 books9,394 followersSusan Dennard is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series (now in development for TV from the Jim Henson Company), and the Something Strange and Deadly series, in addition to various other fiction published online.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Before becoming an author, she got to travel the world with her M.Sc. in marine biology. She also runs the popular newsletter for writers, the Misfits and Daydreamers. When not writing or teaching writing, she can be found rolling the dice as a Dungeon Master or mashing buttons on one of her way too many consoles.
You can learn more about Susan on her website, blog, newsletter, Twitter, or Pinterest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
February 19, 2015
My Rating: 3.95 stars
I really hate that I have to start this review with a complaint but I just want to get it out of the way. Once again I've come across a novella that has been wrongly labeled. A Dawn Most Wicked should be read AFTER Something Strange and Deadly. I don't know why this is labeled a 0.5 book when the excerpt for the next book is the second book in the series -_- I feel like I've beenslightly spoiled. So to the people who prefer to read the books in order, be weary of novellas, I would check the reviews first. I'd hate for anyone else to be spoiled. Now on to the review.
This book was very slow paced and it didn't start to pick up until the end. I thought the characters were pretty average, and I don't have much of an opinion on them, yet. Although I can already tell that Daniel is going to be one of my favorite characters. He was so sweet and I loved how he put others before himself, especially Cassie.
I also love the fact that we're going to have a strong female character in this series. Jie seems like such a bad-ass. And last but not least we have Joseph Boyer. I find myself really intrigued by him; I can't wait to learn more about his back-story,
As for the plot, I thought the author had an interesting take on ghosts. Not only are they creepy, as any ghost should be, but they are able to transform into your deepest regrets from the past. Whatever dark secret you hold within you, they're able to project that memory and make you feel guilty, therefore leaving you vulnerable. They can mimic voices of the people from your past.
These aren't your average ghosts and I loved how much of a threat they were. It makes for an exciting story. And it doesn't stop there:
I'm so glad that this book also has zombies. It's refreshing to come across a story that deals with zombies, without there being some type of apocalypse. I love post-apocalyptic/survival-horror books but those can get repetitive after a while. This book has the feel of Clockwork Angel , with zombies! I have high hopes for this trilogy.
Overall, I think this was a great "start" to a series and I can't wait to read Something Strange and Deadly.
I really hate that I have to start this review with a complaint but I just want to get it out of the way. Once again I've come across a novella that has been wrongly labeled. A Dawn Most Wicked should be read AFTER Something Strange and Deadly. I don't know why this is labeled a 0.5 book when the excerpt for the next book is the second book in the series -_- I feel like I've been
This book was very slow paced and it didn't start to pick up until the end. I thought the characters were pretty average, and I don't have much of an opinion on them, yet. Although I can already tell that Daniel is going to be one of my favorite characters. He was so sweet and I loved how he put others before himself, especially Cassie.
I also love the fact that we're going to have a strong female character in this series. Jie seems like such a bad-ass. And last but not least we have Joseph Boyer. I find myself really intrigued by him; I can't wait to learn more about his back-story,
As for the plot, I thought the author had an interesting take on ghosts. Not only are they creepy, as any ghost should be, but they are able to transform into your deepest regrets from the past. Whatever dark secret you hold within you, they're able to project that memory and make you feel guilty, therefore leaving you vulnerable. They can mimic voices of the people from your past.
"If these apparitions are able to speak, and they also have the ability to dredge into our pasts, to haunt us with nightmares and voices, then I wonder..."
These aren't your average ghosts and I loved how much of a threat they were. It makes for an exciting story. And it doesn't stop there:
I'm so glad that this book also has zombies. It's refreshing to come across a story that deals with zombies, without there being some type of apocalypse. I love post-apocalyptic/survival-horror books but those can get repetitive after a while. This book has the feel of Clockwork Angel , with zombies! I have high hopes for this trilogy.
Overall, I think this was a great "start" to a series and I can't wait to read Something Strange and Deadly.
December 29, 2014
Rating: 3.75/5
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!
Read
February 19, 2021While at the beginning I was excited to have Daniel’s POW in this novella, even more so when we realize we are going to see how he met Joseph and Jie I fastly began losing interest on it and found myself skipping thru it.
February 9, 2017
As expected, A Dawn Most Wicked is fun, exciting, and romantic! Susan Dennard has written a novella from Daniel’s point of view, and not only does she add dimension to his character, but she also gives us a closer look at Joseph and Jie prior to the origin of the Spirit-Hunters team.
This novella is set on a steamer, three years before the events of Something Strange and Deadly proceed. During this time, Daniel's working on the Sadie Queen as an apprentice. He's struggling with his status, trying to prove his worth as a man. He's pining for Cassidy, the captain's daughter; though she's leagues above him and there are issues, she's just as interested in Daniel as he is in her. But don't be deterred if romance as a central plot device isn't your thing, because A Dawn Most Wicked is so much more! Dennard combines romance, action, and an eerie mystery – of the ghostly variety, quite effortlessly and creatively, and her sharp and straight-forward writing style works well for the story.
In SS&D, Daniel’s fears and insecurities are mostly tucked away, but here, in this novella, he is openly vulnerable and quite the passionate suitor. By revealing a snippet of Daniel’s past, readers will understand his present tough exterior, and they'll undeniably find him more attractive here. I must confess, I liked Daniel in SS&D, but after reading this novella, I became completely smitten with the rascal!
...but let me dial it back. As I stated above, there is more to this story. There is also Joseph and Jie; though they remain part of the supporting cast, they play important and unforgettable roles in this little narrative too, and it's all very well done. A Dawn Most Wicked is a self-contained story, but it adds depth to the series in a lot of ways.
So, if you’re itching to start the Something Strange and Deadly series or you're already a fan, my advice is not to pass up on the novella. You’ll be missing out if you do! For new readers, I recommend you read SS&D before you take this on. Not only will you get more out of the experience, but the final scene in SS&D is the opening scene in A Dawn Most Wicked – this time, told from Daniel's perspective (instead of Eleanor's). So, don't spoil the emotional ending of SS&D for yourself! You might just regret it.
This novella is set on a steamer, three years before the events of Something Strange and Deadly proceed. During this time, Daniel's working on the Sadie Queen as an apprentice. He's struggling with his status, trying to prove his worth as a man. He's pining for Cassidy, the captain's daughter; though she's leagues above him and there are issues, she's just as interested in Daniel as he is in her. But don't be deterred if romance as a central plot device isn't your thing, because A Dawn Most Wicked is so much more! Dennard combines romance, action, and an eerie mystery – of the ghostly variety, quite effortlessly and creatively, and her sharp and straight-forward writing style works well for the story.
In SS&D, Daniel’s fears and insecurities are mostly tucked away, but here, in this novella, he is openly vulnerable and quite the passionate suitor. By revealing a snippet of Daniel’s past, readers will understand his present tough exterior, and they'll undeniably find him more attractive here. I must confess, I liked Daniel in SS&D, but after reading this novella, I became completely smitten with the rascal!
...but let me dial it back. As I stated above, there is more to this story. There is also Joseph and Jie; though they remain part of the supporting cast, they play important and unforgettable roles in this little narrative too, and it's all very well done. A Dawn Most Wicked is a self-contained story, but it adds depth to the series in a lot of ways.
So, if you’re itching to start the Something Strange and Deadly series or you're already a fan, my advice is not to pass up on the novella. You’ll be missing out if you do! For new readers, I recommend you read SS&D before you take this on. Not only will you get more out of the experience, but the final scene in SS&D is the opening scene in A Dawn Most Wicked – this time, told from Daniel's perspective (instead of Eleanor's). So, don't spoil the emotional ending of SS&D for yourself! You might just regret it.
January 9, 2018
This novella was good but I noticed that I was jealous for most of it and I missed Eleanor so much. She makes the series and that’s how it should be. Jie and Joseph are amazing as always and I love Daniel. I did like seeing how they became a team and the end! In Daniels point of view 😍
August 29, 2013
Um... 100 pages all about Daniel?! How could you not want to read it?
June 30, 2017
I think if I would have read the full length first novel in this series I would have liked this more. I felt confused for a good portion of the book and I think that was partially due to not knowing who anyone was or the basic plot/setting. I did find some things interesting, though, like the ghosts.
I didn't like some of the language, so that was a negative for me personally.
All in all, an okay read.
I didn't like some of the language, so that was a negative for me personally.
All in all, an okay read.
February 20, 2015
This review can also be seen on Cristina's Book Reviews.
Excuse me, what are these things coming out of my eyes?
Let me clear something up though. This is not technically a prequel. The first chapter takes place after the end of Something Strange and Deadly . So if you don’t want spoilers for that book, read this after!
Anyways, I absolutely loved reading this from Daniel’s perspective. Throughout the series I’ve always wanted to know what goes on through Daniel’s brain, so finally getting my wish is both good and heartbreaking.
Daniel is such a broken character. We get to see why he thinks of himself so lowly, and it hurts. Because we know that he’s a wonderful soul.
His relationship with Cass is definitely very surprising. I was expecting not to like their relationship, but I ended up rooting for them, even if I knew how it ended. Speaking of, I thought the way they ended wouldn’t have affected me, but DANGIT it broke my heart.
This book is different than the others from the series because it exposes steampunk much more. The whole story revolved around a ship, and I loved reading about how the contraptions worked and whatnot. I was never lost and my attention was captured.
Overall, as far as novellas go, this is one really amazing one. Expect a heavy dose of feels with this one, and prepare to fall in love with Daniel even more!
4.5 stars
Amazon Review.
Excuse me, what are these things coming out of my eyes?
Let me clear something up though. This is not technically a prequel. The first chapter takes place after the end of Something Strange and Deadly . So if you don’t want spoilers for that book, read this after!
Anyways, I absolutely loved reading this from Daniel’s perspective. Throughout the series I’ve always wanted to know what goes on through Daniel’s brain, so finally getting my wish is both good and heartbreaking.
Daniel is such a broken character. We get to see why he thinks of himself so lowly, and it hurts. Because we know that he’s a wonderful soul.
His relationship with Cass is definitely very surprising. I was expecting not to like their relationship, but I ended up rooting for them, even if I knew how it ended. Speaking of, I thought the way they ended wouldn’t have affected me, but DANGIT it broke my heart.
“In that moment I had her attention, and she had my heart.”
This book is different than the others from the series because it exposes steampunk much more. The whole story revolved around a ship, and I loved reading about how the contraptions worked and whatnot. I was never lost and my attention was captured.
Overall, as far as novellas go, this is one really amazing one. Expect a heavy dose of feels with this one, and prepare to fall in love with Daniel even more!
4.5 stars
Amazon Review.
June 7, 2013
I don’t know what to do or what to say—except maybe this: I am entirely overwhelmed by feels.
H o l y p a n c a k e s.
I wasn’t even going to write a rec for this e-novella. I wasn’t! As a (loose) rule, I only recommend first books in a series, and while the novella can stand alone, it is definitely part of the SS&D universe. But I just had to.
Susan is such a genius. Or a genie, I don’t know. Maybe both.
A DAWN MOST WICKED was like the best type of candy, the sweet kind that makes you excited to get and is both completely satisfying and leaves you wanting more. and o boi do i want more
Daniel is just the best. He has such a compelling voice and skills and awesomeness. Am I swooning? I’m swooning. He carries this whole novella on his shoulders and I would read it just for him. I don’t even have to, though: Joseph and Jie! Their meeting! The formation of The Spirit Hunters! The ghosts. It was almost too much for my heart to handle.
And I cried. I knew how it might end and I still cried. Daniel I love you so much more now my poor angel
I don’t usually like novellas. They’re short and rely on me liking the characters enough to overlook underdeveloped plots (because of word limits and such, not always the author’s fault), so I confess I wasn’t planning on loving ADMW, even though I love everything Sooz writes and I knew she was fabulous.
I adored it.
And you will, too, so go read it. Now I shall sit here and rock back and forth, waiting for A DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY to release. Also, can we say, best book titles?
H o l y p a n c a k e s.
I wasn’t even going to write a rec for this e-novella. I wasn’t! As a (loose) rule, I only recommend first books in a series, and while the novella can stand alone, it is definitely part of the SS&D universe. But I just had to.
Susan is such a genius. Or a genie, I don’t know. Maybe both.
A DAWN MOST WICKED was like the best type of candy, the sweet kind that makes you excited to get and is both completely satisfying and leaves you wanting more. and o boi do i want more
Daniel is just the best. He has such a compelling voice and skills and awesomeness. Am I swooning? I’m swooning. He carries this whole novella on his shoulders and I would read it just for him. I don’t even have to, though: Joseph and Jie! Their meeting! The formation of The Spirit Hunters! The ghosts. It was almost too much for my heart to handle.
And I cried. I knew how it might end and I still cried. Daniel I love you so much more now my poor angel
I don’t usually like novellas. They’re short and rely on me liking the characters enough to overlook underdeveloped plots (because of word limits and such, not always the author’s fault), so I confess I wasn’t planning on loving ADMW, even though I love everything Sooz writes and I knew she was fabulous.
I adored it.
And you will, too, so go read it. Now I shall sit here and rock back and forth, waiting for A DARKNESS STRANGE AND LOVELY to release. Also, can we say, best book titles?
December 19, 2014
rating: 3.75/5
review to come.
review to come.
November 15, 2014
Daniel Sheridan. Period. <3
August 20, 2017
So I really enjoyed this novella! I don't want to say I enjoyed it more than the book, because it's so much shorter, but I think I like Daniel just as much as Eleanor, so it was awesome to get to read from his point of view. I loved the setting on the boat, as well as getting to see how Daniel, Jie, and Joseph came to know each other. (Joseph's powers are also pretty sweet, honestly.) The three of them are just really good characters--and some other good characters were introduced in this novella as well! I wonder if we'll see them again...?
I would love to see a novella about Joseph, because I think out of the book (and a...half? I guess?) that I've read so far, he's definitely the one out of the four mains we know the least about. Hopefully we find out more in the next two books!
One last thing I liked--I really enjoyed that Daniel was almost three years younger in this novella. I liked that he's eighteen-nineteen in the main novel, and here we get to see how he has progressed through his teenage years. I thought that the story did a great job of showing that!
I'll be picking up the rest of the trilogy!
I would love to see a novella about Joseph, because I think out of the book (and a...half? I guess?) that I've read so far, he's definitely the one out of the four mains we know the least about. Hopefully we find out more in the next two books!
One last thing I liked--I really enjoyed that Daniel was almost three years younger in this novella. I liked that he's eighteen-nineteen in the main novel, and here we get to see how he has progressed through his teenage years. I thought that the story did a great job of showing that!
I'll be picking up the rest of the trilogy!
July 29, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this novella and getting more as to how the Spirit-Hunters came to be! In Something Strange and Deadly the reader was given a few subtle hints as to the start of their encounter, but never the full on story so this was a pleasant surprise. Plus getting to know more about Daniel is always great, I did enjoy his character arc in the story and just wanted to know more about him. So this was a wonderful addition to understand Daniel's doings a lot more!
I wonder if we will get other novellas about the other two characters?
I wonder if we will get other novellas about the other two characters?
June 8, 2019
This was a decent short story that gave some insight to the character of Daniel Sheridan. I enjoyed seeing how Joseph, Jie and he became the Spirit-Hunters, as well as seeing how Daniel became who he is as Eleanor knows him in 1876. A short, quick read that just helped to understand a certain character better than we already do.
3 stars
3 stars
October 30, 2022
What more could you ask for in a book? Romance, action, steam punk, the Dead, adventure, mystery, betrayal and a curse. This is a good start to the series. I can't wait to see where our spirit hunters go next and how this plot unfolds.
Read
August 16, 2019Great story about the formation of the 1870's "ghost-busters"!
November 21, 2020
I LOVED reading from Daniel's perspective! :)
July 8, 2020
I'd not started the series yet so I thought I'd read the prequel - well it's kind of a prequel, a remembrance within a story. It was good. I'm hoping the rest of the series is as well.
September 26, 2019
“In that moment I had her attention, and she had much heart” are you KIDDING ME with that line Sooz?????? This series has my heart wow
November 10, 2013
“In that moment I had her attention, and she had my heart.”
If you don’t think novellas are for you, A Dawn Most Wicked is the book sure to change your mind. This is not a re-hashing of things we already know. This is a fresh and engrossing story that I completely and categorically loved. The ending of Something Strange and Deadly, book one of the series, left me with a lot of questions and a bit of anxiety. This intriguing novella takes place right at that last scene in Something Strange and Deadly – only from Daniel’s perspective, which is splendid because I wanted to know exactly what he was thinking when everything transpired… and now I do. As Daniel weighs his current situation, he thinks back to another time in his life: his first love, Cassidy, and the perfect team they made aboard the steamboat The Sadie Queen. We find them racing along the Mississippi, powering up for the big race against The Abby Adams, and … oh yeah… trying to stay away from the stampede of ghosts that have taken over the steamboat. And these are no friendly Caspers or lost souls hoping you can help them right the wrongs of their past. These ghosts can see into YOUR past. They know your darkest secrets and turn them into your worst nightmares.
“Their cries for blood laced together in a sound like bone rubbing on bone.”
This ghostly plague is about to put the once-popular Sadie Queen out of business; and if that happens, Cass and her family won’t be able to afford the expensive medical treatment that her fatally ill younger sister Ellis needs. Daniel is determined to save the fate of the steamboat and ensure Ellis gets the care she requires. He will do anything for his best friend Cassidy – the best friend he just happens to have fallen in love with. But the ghosts are about to get even more powerful unless one man can figure out how to stop them and keep The Sadie Queen afloat.
“Necromancy and black magic will always end in death.”
A Dawn Most Wicked gives us a lot of insight into Daniel’s life pre-Eleanor and brings much awareness to why he said and did the things he did in Something Strange and Deadly. And when a certain Creole gentleman and a young boy make his acquaintance in New Orleans, I nearly did a happy dance. I adored being privy to their first meeting!
Susan Dennard blew me away with the details of running a steamship and the vivid imagery along the Natchez and in New Orleans -- a brilliant author whose writing is simply stunning. This novella is one of my favorites.
“At the very least it was a nice dream for all the wicked dawns ahead.”
Review originally posted at A Belle's Tales.
If you don’t think novellas are for you, A Dawn Most Wicked is the book sure to change your mind. This is not a re-hashing of things we already know. This is a fresh and engrossing story that I completely and categorically loved. The ending of Something Strange and Deadly, book one of the series, left me with a lot of questions and a bit of anxiety. This intriguing novella takes place right at that last scene in Something Strange and Deadly – only from Daniel’s perspective, which is splendid because I wanted to know exactly what he was thinking when everything transpired… and now I do. As Daniel weighs his current situation, he thinks back to another time in his life: his first love, Cassidy, and the perfect team they made aboard the steamboat The Sadie Queen. We find them racing along the Mississippi, powering up for the big race against The Abby Adams, and … oh yeah… trying to stay away from the stampede of ghosts that have taken over the steamboat. And these are no friendly Caspers or lost souls hoping you can help them right the wrongs of their past. These ghosts can see into YOUR past. They know your darkest secrets and turn them into your worst nightmares.
“Their cries for blood laced together in a sound like bone rubbing on bone.”
This ghostly plague is about to put the once-popular Sadie Queen out of business; and if that happens, Cass and her family won’t be able to afford the expensive medical treatment that her fatally ill younger sister Ellis needs. Daniel is determined to save the fate of the steamboat and ensure Ellis gets the care she requires. He will do anything for his best friend Cassidy – the best friend he just happens to have fallen in love with. But the ghosts are about to get even more powerful unless one man can figure out how to stop them and keep The Sadie Queen afloat.
“Necromancy and black magic will always end in death.”
A Dawn Most Wicked gives us a lot of insight into Daniel’s life pre-Eleanor and brings much awareness to why he said and did the things he did in Something Strange and Deadly. And when a certain Creole gentleman and a young boy make his acquaintance in New Orleans, I nearly did a happy dance. I adored being privy to their first meeting!
Susan Dennard blew me away with the details of running a steamship and the vivid imagery along the Natchez and in New Orleans -- a brilliant author whose writing is simply stunning. This novella is one of my favorites.
“At the very least it was a nice dream for all the wicked dawns ahead.”
Review originally posted at A Belle's Tales.
June 30, 2013
Review originally posted at Step Into Fiction
Mr. Daniel Sheridan, I love you. Seriously - what happened to humans where men don't court women like they used to? When everyone had manors, dignity and honor? That is basically non-existent today and it makes me sad. That being said - this may be a novella but I have come to truly love these short stories. Not only do they satisfy your need for more of the characters we've grown to love but it also, usually, gives you a look in to a different characters mind and their history. This novella is no different.
Eleanor is not the first girl Daniel Sheridan has loved but we all hope she will be the last. Years ago, he was engineer on the haunted Sadie Queen and best friends with the captains daughter, Miss Cassidy Cochran. I shall use the term 'best friend' loosely because those were not the feelings he had for her but he knew they were all he could possess for her. The down side of this time period; most average boys/men are not 'good enough' for women like Cassidy.
If you're like me you fell in love with Daniel and need more of him. Even 150 pages was not enough to satisfy my craving but it'll do. The epilogue of this novella was just perfect and pulled at my heartstrings. He's confident it's not the last time he'll see Eleanor and come on, we all know he's right.
The best thing about this novella? Getting to see Jie cheat him in poker and how he met Joseph. But wait, I lied. That's not the best thing about this novella; the best thing is seeing how those three became what they are in Something Strange and Deadly. How well they worked together without really knowing one another. They are stronger and more productive as a unit and if this trio were ever destroyed, I may just cry like a baby.
Do you need to read this novella? No. It's nothing that may come in handy for future novels (at least, I don't think so) but if you're a fan of the second book, salivating for the second book then why not? It's fantastic, gives you more ghosts, more romance and most importantly - more Daniel.
Mr. Daniel Sheridan, I love you. Seriously - what happened to humans where men don't court women like they used to? When everyone had manors, dignity and honor? That is basically non-existent today and it makes me sad. That being said - this may be a novella but I have come to truly love these short stories. Not only do they satisfy your need for more of the characters we've grown to love but it also, usually, gives you a look in to a different characters mind and their history. This novella is no different.
Eleanor is not the first girl Daniel Sheridan has loved but we all hope she will be the last. Years ago, he was engineer on the haunted Sadie Queen and best friends with the captains daughter, Miss Cassidy Cochran. I shall use the term 'best friend' loosely because those were not the feelings he had for her but he knew they were all he could possess for her. The down side of this time period; most average boys/men are not 'good enough' for women like Cassidy.
If you're like me you fell in love with Daniel and need more of him. Even 150 pages was not enough to satisfy my craving but it'll do. The epilogue of this novella was just perfect and pulled at my heartstrings. He's confident it's not the last time he'll see Eleanor and come on, we all know he's right.
The best thing about this novella? Getting to see Jie cheat him in poker and how he met Joseph. But wait, I lied. That's not the best thing about this novella; the best thing is seeing how those three became what they are in Something Strange and Deadly. How well they worked together without really knowing one another. They are stronger and more productive as a unit and if this trio were ever destroyed, I may just cry like a baby.
Do you need to read this novella? No. It's nothing that may come in handy for future novels (at least, I don't think so) but if you're a fan of the second book, salivating for the second book then why not? It's fantastic, gives you more ghosts, more romance and most importantly - more Daniel.
June 12, 2013
I loved Daniel in Something Strange and Deadly, and was so stoked to find out that there was going to be a novella about his past. I mean, it's about the girl before Eleanor, but still, it's all about Daniel! I especially liked that it's written as a flashback - we start and end in Eleanor's hospital room at the end of the events of Something Strange and Deadly. I thought it was really neat how the two stories and the two girls are tied together.
I also really enjoyed seeing how the Spirit Hunters become a group. I mean, we know that they all meet at the same time, but we don't know much about how or why they end up together. And even though this is Daniel's story, we still get a glimpse into Jie's and Joseph's past. It just adds so much more to those characters, and I love when we learn back stories for minor characters.
The story itself is also really intriguing. A haunted Mississippi steam boat? I had so many questions going into it about why it was haunted and how it came to be that way, and how in the world Joseph would help Cassidy and Daniel (although I already had a pretty good idea about that last one). Plus, why did Daniel leave the ship anyway? All of these questions and more are answered! I don't want to ruin it for you, so you should definitely just go read it yourself. I read this all in one sitting and didn't want to put it down until I reached the end. It's pretty fast paced and attention grabbing.
I would totally recommend this to anyone who has read Something Strange and Deadly and is anxiously awaiting A Darkness Strange and Lovely. And if you haven't read Something Strange and Deadly you should go do that ASAP! Especially if you like books about zombies and steampunk and romance and just really like a good book. You won't be disappointed. A 5/5 for this novella! I can't wait for the next book to come out in July!
I also really enjoyed seeing how the Spirit Hunters become a group. I mean, we know that they all meet at the same time, but we don't know much about how or why they end up together. And even though this is Daniel's story, we still get a glimpse into Jie's and Joseph's past. It just adds so much more to those characters, and I love when we learn back stories for minor characters.
The story itself is also really intriguing. A haunted Mississippi steam boat? I had so many questions going into it about why it was haunted and how it came to be that way, and how in the world Joseph would help Cassidy and Daniel (although I already had a pretty good idea about that last one). Plus, why did Daniel leave the ship anyway? All of these questions and more are answered! I don't want to ruin it for you, so you should definitely just go read it yourself. I read this all in one sitting and didn't want to put it down until I reached the end. It's pretty fast paced and attention grabbing.
I would totally recommend this to anyone who has read Something Strange and Deadly and is anxiously awaiting A Darkness Strange and Lovely. And if you haven't read Something Strange and Deadly you should go do that ASAP! Especially if you like books about zombies and steampunk and romance and just really like a good book. You won't be disappointed. A 5/5 for this novella! I can't wait for the next book to come out in July!
June 26, 2013
Mr. Daniel Sheridan, I love you. Seriously - what happened to humans where men don't court women like they used to? When everyone had manors, dignity and honor? That is basically non-existent today and it makes me sad. That being said - this may be a novella but I have come to truly love these short stories. Not only do they satisfy your need for more of the characters we've grown to love but it also, usually, gives you a look in to a different characters mind and their history. This novella is no different.
Eleanor is not the first girl Daniel Sheridan has loved but we all hope she will be the last. Years ago, he was engineer on the haunted Sadie Queen and best friends with the captains daughter, Miss Cassidy Cochran. I shall use the term 'best friend' loosely because those were not the feelings he had for her but he knew they were all he could possess for her. The down side of this time period; most average boys/men are not 'good enough' for women like Cassidy.
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
Eleanor is not the first girl Daniel Sheridan has loved but we all hope she will be the last. Years ago, he was engineer on the haunted Sadie Queen and best friends with the captains daughter, Miss Cassidy Cochran. I shall use the term 'best friend' loosely because those were not the feelings he had for her but he knew they were all he could possess for her. The down side of this time period; most average boys/men are not 'good enough' for women like Cassidy.
Read full review at Step Into Fiction
Review completed by: Jessica
April 3, 2014
2.5 stars
(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
This is a story about Daniel and his past, how he met Jie, and how he left the girl he loved behind.
First I have to say that having this listed as the pre-quel novella (0.5) on Goodreads is a joke! The beginning of this book has a recap of the last chapter of ‘Something Strange and Deadly’, and should definitely not be read before the first book!!
That being said, this was an okay story, but I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as the first book in the series. To be honest I found this pretty darn boring, and I really did not care about the freaking steam-ship that Daniel worked on before he started spirit hunting, and although it was marginally entertaining to re-cap Daniel’s first meeting with Jie, it certainly wasn’t enough to make this interesting.
There was romance in it, which I suppose was okay, but it didn’t really endear me to the romance between Eleanor and Daniel, as it now feels like Daniel should have stayed with Cassidy rather than moving on to Eleanor!
The ending was also pretty boring, and I was really glad to be finished.
Overall; not impressed,
5 out of 10.
(Source: I own a copy of this book.)
This is a story about Daniel and his past, how he met Jie, and how he left the girl he loved behind.
First I have to say that having this listed as the pre-quel novella (0.5) on Goodreads is a joke! The beginning of this book has a recap of the last chapter of ‘Something Strange and Deadly’, and should definitely not be read before the first book!!
That being said, this was an okay story, but I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as the first book in the series. To be honest I found this pretty darn boring, and I really did not care about the freaking steam-ship that Daniel worked on before he started spirit hunting, and although it was marginally entertaining to re-cap Daniel’s first meeting with Jie, it certainly wasn’t enough to make this interesting.
There was romance in it, which I suppose was okay, but it didn’t really endear me to the romance between Eleanor and Daniel, as it now feels like Daniel should have stayed with Cassidy rather than moving on to Eleanor!
The ending was also pretty boring, and I was really glad to be finished.
Overall; not impressed,
5 out of 10.
July 6, 2016
Though it’s not very long to go now till A Darkness Strange and Lovely is released, perhaps you want to satisfy your craving by reading the recently released novella, A Dawn Most Wicked. If you’re like me and have a huge soft spot for Daniel, you’re going to love this story! The reader is given a glimpse into Daniel’s past, in particular during the time that he’s on the Sadie Queen. Readers get a glimpse of his intellect, kindness and his passion – and it will certainly make you want more! I finished the novella wanting to give Daniel a hug (and possibly not letting him go…). If you’re a fan of this series, I definitely recommend reading the novella, if only for more Daniel (and you can never go wrong with that)!
(Review is also on the blog)
(Review is also on the blog)
September 2, 2013
I'm DNF this book after more than 50% and some attempts I just skimmed through the rest. The idea of ghosts and zombies here was original. The writing is fairly okay, but I failed to feel the period of time and more importantly I kept waiting for it to get interesting and it didn't.
The novella failed to catch my interest. Daniel's voice is dull, boring, he is a lovely boy but that's about it.
I'll probably try to read the first book in the series, and hope it would be better than this since it's from someone else's POV. from what I understand Daniel is supposed to be the love interest in the series- I just hope he's better at that job.
also, just for common knowledge- it seems like you don't really have to read this one to enjoy the other books- so skip it if you can, IMO.
The novella failed to catch my interest. Daniel's voice is dull, boring, he is a lovely boy but that's about it.
I'll probably try to read the first book in the series, and hope it would be better than this since it's from someone else's POV. from what I understand Daniel is supposed to be the love interest in the series- I just hope he's better at that job.
also, just for common knowledge- it seems like you don't really have to read this one to enjoy the other books- so skip it if you can, IMO.
May 13, 2015
This book was a short novella on Daniel Sheridan from the first book. Let me make something clear first of all. This is NOT a prequel. This contains spoilers from the first book as well as an excerpt from the second book so read the first book before you read this book. Luckily, thats what i did. So we saw Daniel's past love life and it was extremely bittersweet because he left Cassidy but, future with Eleanor is right around the corner. I loved Daniel in the first book, this just gives you a feel of who he is, so you can't really describe him from this book alone
But Daniel is hot! damn him! Why do all the boys have to be hot
But Daniel is hot! damn him! Why do all the boys have to be hot
June 4, 2013
THAT. WAS. SO FREAKING GOOD I CAN'T EVEN SAY ANYTHING ELSE.
If you loved Something and Strange Deadly then you will LOVE A Dawn Most Wicked. Just get it and read it and love it. End of discussion.
If you loved Something and Strange Deadly then you will LOVE A Dawn Most Wicked. Just get it and read it and love it. End of discussion.
July 11, 2013
Oh, I loved this. Just loved it. Such a fun glimpse into the life of Daniel and the Spirit Hunters before they became THE SPIRIT HUNTERS. I really felt like I got to know Daniel, Joseph and Jie more intimately. (And the scene where they all first meet is priceless). This story is compelling and creepy in the same breath, and paints a vivid image of nineteenth century New Orleans. A GREAT read.
March 22, 2016
Really enjoyed getting to know Daniels back story and how he came to meet the spirit hunters. Was just as action packed as the books and intense! So sad to see this world go! Desperately hope that Dennard might do more with the world in the future but for now fingers crossed I fall in love with Truthwitch just as much as I did with the Something Strange and Deadly trilogy!
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