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The St. Croix Chronicles #2
Gilded: A Victorian Mystery Adventure Where an Unconventional Society Lady Confronts Murder and Alchemy
In the gleaming heights of Victorian London, a world of deception awaits an unconventional Society lady whose taste for adventure makes her a most formidable adversary . . .
Though Society demands that I make a good marriage, I, Cherry St. Croix, have neither the time nor the interest. I am on the trail of a murder with no victim, a mystery with no motive, and the key to an alchemical formula that could be my family's legacy.
Yet the world is not so kind as to let me pursue simple murder and uncomplicated bounties. Above the foggy drift, an earl insists on my attention, while my friends watch my increasingly desperate attempts to remain my own woman. From the silken demands of the Midnight Menagerie—to whose dangerously seductive ringmaster I owe a debt—to the rigorous pressures of the peerage, all are conspiring to place before me a choice that will forever change my life.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2012
9 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Karina Cooper
23 books265 followersAfter writing happily ever afters for all of her friends in school, Karina Cooper eventually grew up (sort of), went to work in the real world (kind of), where she decided that making stuff up was way more fun (true!). She is the author of dark and sexy paranormal romance, steampunk urban fantasy, and writes across multiple genres with mad glee.
One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain’s wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, a severe coffee habit, and a passel of adopted gamer geeks. Visit her at www.karinacooper.com, because she says so.
One part glamour, one part dork and all imagination, Karina is also a gamer, an airship captain’s wife, and a steampunk fashionista. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with a husband, a menagerie, a severe coffee habit, and a passel of adopted gamer geeks. Visit her at www.karinacooper.com, because she says so.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 26, 2012
This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.
Expected Release Date: December 26, 2102
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Author’s Website: http://karinacooper.com/
My Source for This Book: Edelweiss
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, St. Croix Chronicles
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Chaste
There is a twist in this story that changes everything. I want so badly to discuss it, but I refuse to ruin the surprise for anyone, and as such, I must leave you with the fact that while reading, I literally sat straight up in bed in shock at one point while reading. I have to admit, even though I was quite unhappy with the direction that the story took, that twist just knocked my socks off.
I’m dying to see where Ms. Cooper takes these characters, and have no doubt in my mind that whatever she has planned is going to blow my mind.
Even better than the first book, I would recommend this for any fan of steampunk, multifaceted characters, and intriguing mystery.
A resounding 5/5 Stars.
Expected Release Date: December 26, 2102
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Author’s Website: http://karinacooper.com/
My Source for This Book: Edelweiss
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 2, St. Croix Chronicles
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Chaste
There is a twist in this story that changes everything. I want so badly to discuss it, but I refuse to ruin the surprise for anyone, and as such, I must leave you with the fact that while reading, I literally sat straight up in bed in shock at one point while reading. I have to admit, even though I was quite unhappy with the direction that the story took, that twist just knocked my socks off.
I’m dying to see where Ms. Cooper takes these characters, and have no doubt in my mind that whatever she has planned is going to blow my mind.
Even better than the first book, I would recommend this for any fan of steampunk, multifaceted characters, and intriguing mystery.
A resounding 5/5 Stars.
December 22, 2012
Recommendation : If you enjoy Steampunk with a sassy heroine who fights crime than give this one a try.
Gilded is the second book in the St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper. Steampunk is this series’ beautiful home and that in and of itself makes me happy. I adore Steampunk and hot men and this series has both! Before I expound upon this amazing book I must emphasize that if you have not read Tarnished, you must. I will say it didn’t rate as well as this book, but you need it to set the stage. The actors and actresses are introduced and the plot must be set only then can you enter Gilded.
I think this was the first book that as I was reading I didn’t want to take notes of what was going on. I wanted to write letters to the characters. I know this isn’t a new idea, but for me, I don’t believe I have ever done this in a review.
I think it might be due to the fact that as I was reading it was like I was sitting on the side of the road watching a car accident in motion. Every tiny event shifted into place and I couldn’t help but want to scream, No! No! Damn you, No! or What the Hell?!
And so as I was reading along I desperately wanted to sit Cherry down and hash out a few things, but alas I must suffice with a letter. Oh, Compton and Cage, you aren’t left out of this. Your turn will come.
For the first time in book slayer history I give you a letter to the heroine of the hour, Cherry St. Croix.
Dearest Cherry,
I know that Tarnished was a bit slow for me, but I have to say that I loved Gilded. Maybe it’s due to understanding this new London or maybe because the suspense drove me forward at a much quicker pace. All I know is that there were plenty of ups and downs along the way. This is why, dear Cherry, I am writing today.
First off, I am truly sorry about your late mad father’s experiments, in which you were sucked into.
“Brilliant or simply mad; the two so often came hand in hand.”
We, unfortunately, do not get to pick the families that we are born into, but can create bonds with others that can replace that. I know that you and Zylla had a bit of a rocky patch, since she was sent to tattle tell on you, but I truly believe she does care. Keep her close, she may surprise you.
Now on to a more delicate matter. You must know that I am and will be honest here. I think you are a strong woman who has survived in a world that has wronged you at almost ever turn. Orphaned, enslaved, abused by not only family, but society. But you keep on. You find what works for you and push forward. That is what I admire about you. You could spend your days twiddling your thumbs and talking about lace this and that, but you don’t. You go out and put the skills that you learned as a kid into helping yourself stay sane and helping others.
“Tight places had long since ceased to bother me. Dark places were my bread and butter. … I am a collector a seeker of bounties for coin.”
Even in your own words you do realize that life has made you more, harder. Your fight or flight response has been switched permanently to fight. This, Cherry, is why my only response to all this Compton business can only be, What the Hell were you thinking?!
While Compton isn’t a bad guy and I might say he is rather kind, he is. not. for. you. The man has no earthly idea what you do with your free time. He lives in a society that expects him to keep you in line. Now I ask, is that what you want?! No?! I didn’t think so. So really, why keep this going? You and I know it can’t end well. Not if the price is your silence and sitting in parlors gossiping about clothing etc. *shudders*
I think you may enjoy the idea of winning such a grand prize as Compton, to rub the noses of society’s elite in. But I think we both know who has started to win your heart.
That is right, Micajah Hawke. The man might be a little rough around the moral edges, but really does that bother you? I can’t say that it does me. He saved your life in Tarnished and I am sure cost him dearly. I know, I know, it cost you too, but I am sure he did not go unpunished. Oh and do I have to point out all the little ways he tries to keep you away from danger? Because you and I know that he does. He plays the big bad wolf rather well, but he has a soft spot for you. He doesn’t judge and has kept your secrets.
My last piece of advice before I bid you ado, is to watch out for Compton’s brother. You know the shady one. I think he did the thing at the end which I can’t actually talk about and yet I am. Yes, I believe he is our mysterious man. Remember, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Those Compton’s are bad news all around.
Stay safe. Please for the love of Steampunk, do not die a virgin. Seriously, go spend some time with Cage.
Yours truly,
Amanda, the book slayer
Trust me Compton’s and Cage’s letters are much shorter. Ahem.
Dear Cornelius Compton,
I am sad to say that I have never really liked you. I wish I could say that I cared about how things went, but well I just can’t. I hope you don’t take offense, but it’s just that you are in no way a good match for Cherry.
Best Wishes,
Amanda, the book slayer
ps. Beware of train whistles
Last but not least, Micajah.
Cage,
You sir need to get that sexy butt in gear. Honestly, are you really going to just sit back and let Cherry set herself up for a life of disappointment?! Now, what is done, is done. It’s time to make your move. You have put it off for too long. I don’t know what is holding you back, but get over it and man the fuck up.
Big Fan,
Amanda, the book slayer
ps. Whips are sexy but so is being bound. I totally think a scene between you and Cherry is a must.
I feel so much better now that I got that off of my chest. Back to what you can expect when you pick this book up.
Suspense, intrigue and murders abound. I am telling you that I did not want to put this book down. I was hanging onto every move Cherry was making and yes, I was pissed off at half the things that transpired, but that ending, it was pure win! I would have to say that it was poetic justice in a way. I am still grinning, shame on me.
[image error]
It is what it is and I am happy for know. I can only hope that Cage and Cherry will get to know each other a little better (*wink, wink*) and that the Ripper will be brought into the light of day and justice will prevail.
For all those that are interested, here is the book trailer for Gilded, produced by Book Candy Studios.
Book Trailer for Gilded by Karina Cooper
I also want to say Thank you to Avon via Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book, which I was excited to get ahold of, for an honest review. I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the ending.
Gilded is the second book in the St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper. Steampunk is this series’ beautiful home and that in and of itself makes me happy. I adore Steampunk and hot men and this series has both! Before I expound upon this amazing book I must emphasize that if you have not read Tarnished, you must. I will say it didn’t rate as well as this book, but you need it to set the stage. The actors and actresses are introduced and the plot must be set only then can you enter Gilded.
I think this was the first book that as I was reading I didn’t want to take notes of what was going on. I wanted to write letters to the characters. I know this isn’t a new idea, but for me, I don’t believe I have ever done this in a review.
I think it might be due to the fact that as I was reading it was like I was sitting on the side of the road watching a car accident in motion. Every tiny event shifted into place and I couldn’t help but want to scream, No! No! Damn you, No! or What the Hell?!
And so as I was reading along I desperately wanted to sit Cherry down and hash out a few things, but alas I must suffice with a letter. Oh, Compton and Cage, you aren’t left out of this. Your turn will come.
For the first time in book slayer history I give you a letter to the heroine of the hour, Cherry St. Croix.
Dearest Cherry,
I know that Tarnished was a bit slow for me, but I have to say that I loved Gilded. Maybe it’s due to understanding this new London or maybe because the suspense drove me forward at a much quicker pace. All I know is that there were plenty of ups and downs along the way. This is why, dear Cherry, I am writing today.
First off, I am truly sorry about your late mad father’s experiments, in which you were sucked into.
“Brilliant or simply mad; the two so often came hand in hand.”
We, unfortunately, do not get to pick the families that we are born into, but can create bonds with others that can replace that. I know that you and Zylla had a bit of a rocky patch, since she was sent to tattle tell on you, but I truly believe she does care. Keep her close, she may surprise you.
Now on to a more delicate matter. You must know that I am and will be honest here. I think you are a strong woman who has survived in a world that has wronged you at almost ever turn. Orphaned, enslaved, abused by not only family, but society. But you keep on. You find what works for you and push forward. That is what I admire about you. You could spend your days twiddling your thumbs and talking about lace this and that, but you don’t. You go out and put the skills that you learned as a kid into helping yourself stay sane and helping others.
“Tight places had long since ceased to bother me. Dark places were my bread and butter. … I am a collector a seeker of bounties for coin.”
Even in your own words you do realize that life has made you more, harder. Your fight or flight response has been switched permanently to fight. This, Cherry, is why my only response to all this Compton business can only be, What the Hell were you thinking?!
While Compton isn’t a bad guy and I might say he is rather kind, he is. not. for. you. The man has no earthly idea what you do with your free time. He lives in a society that expects him to keep you in line. Now I ask, is that what you want?! No?! I didn’t think so. So really, why keep this going? You and I know it can’t end well. Not if the price is your silence and sitting in parlors gossiping about clothing etc. *shudders*
I think you may enjoy the idea of winning such a grand prize as Compton, to rub the noses of society’s elite in. But I think we both know who has started to win your heart.
That is right, Micajah Hawke. The man might be a little rough around the moral edges, but really does that bother you? I can’t say that it does me. He saved your life in Tarnished and I am sure cost him dearly. I know, I know, it cost you too, but I am sure he did not go unpunished. Oh and do I have to point out all the little ways he tries to keep you away from danger? Because you and I know that he does. He plays the big bad wolf rather well, but he has a soft spot for you. He doesn’t judge and has kept your secrets.
My last piece of advice before I bid you ado, is to watch out for Compton’s brother. You know the shady one. I think he did the thing at the end which I can’t actually talk about and yet I am. Yes, I believe he is our mysterious man. Remember, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Those Compton’s are bad news all around.
Stay safe. Please for the love of Steampunk, do not die a virgin. Seriously, go spend some time with Cage.
Yours truly,
Amanda, the book slayer
Trust me Compton’s and Cage’s letters are much shorter. Ahem.
Dear Cornelius Compton,
I am sad to say that I have never really liked you. I wish I could say that I cared about how things went, but well I just can’t. I hope you don’t take offense, but it’s just that you are in no way a good match for Cherry.
Best Wishes,
Amanda, the book slayer
ps. Beware of train whistles
Last but not least, Micajah.
Cage,
You sir need to get that sexy butt in gear. Honestly, are you really going to just sit back and let Cherry set herself up for a life of disappointment?! Now, what is done, is done. It’s time to make your move. You have put it off for too long. I don’t know what is holding you back, but get over it and man the fuck up.
Big Fan,
Amanda, the book slayer
ps. Whips are sexy but so is being bound. I totally think a scene between you and Cherry is a must.
I feel so much better now that I got that off of my chest. Back to what you can expect when you pick this book up.
Suspense, intrigue and murders abound. I am telling you that I did not want to put this book down. I was hanging onto every move Cherry was making and yes, I was pissed off at half the things that transpired, but that ending, it was pure win! I would have to say that it was poetic justice in a way. I am still grinning, shame on me.
[image error]
It is what it is and I am happy for know. I can only hope that Cage and Cherry will get to know each other a little better (*wink, wink*) and that the Ripper will be brought into the light of day and justice will prevail.
For all those that are interested, here is the book trailer for Gilded, produced by Book Candy Studios.
Book Trailer for Gilded by Karina Cooper
I also want to say Thank you to Avon via Edelweiss for providing me with a copy of this book, which I was excited to get ahold of, for an honest review. I enjoyed every minute of it, especially the ending.
April 16, 2016
Seemed promising to begin with but was very disappointing. It gets two stars (one and a half really I suppose) because it had patches of feminism and even though I think in many ways Cherry was a sell-out there wasn't the more obvious romantic bent to that.
It's a well imagined steampunk world with potentially fertile explorations of class, gender, social mobility, wealth and identity. It seems to degenerate more often than not into the spectacular (by which I mean the chapter is just a spectacle with no real content) of clothes, settings and movie-like sets. Characters seemed to be underdeveloped and there are some troubling stereotypes: e.g. the good feminist is attractive, radiates sexuality and a sort of tragedy whereas the bad feminist is unattractive (to men, to society women) and really just a hyena in a petticoat. Women are uncomlicated back-stabbing bitches and women's power is mean-girl power.
The relationship between Cherry and Zylphia (did I get that right? she was elusive enough in the book for me to be unsure) was also promising but underdeveloped. Cherry seems to see nothing untoward or troubling at her "friend" waiting on her, staying up to do her errands after she collapses exhausted and being less than a confidant and less significant to her than the initially discarded earl. Zylphia is a racialised, exoticised non-event in a book that pays lip-service to feminism and women's relationships but seems to find equal relationships between anyone not only too hard to manage, but not necessary.
Consider p329: '"leave it to me my future countess" he repeated firmly "I will take care of you"'. Sure within the plot as a whole that is somewhat ironic...extremely ironic but nevertheless it sums up the earls whole (2 dimensional) personality very simply. He in fact does nothing to alleviate any of the suffering he is part of (like the bullying of his mother) does not even have anything to say to her that is remotely supportive or helpful, simply abandons her to all that and dangles material advantage to force her to accept his proposal because she could grow to feel affection for him.
The opium theme through the book was sort of excessive and tiresome (as other reviewers have pointed out) and the constant minute description of clothing and society people made me doubt the author's commitment to the ideas of agency, action and women's empowerment espoused in part of the book. Hawke was sickening and I didn't need him lingered on as somehow attractive in his misogyny and exploitative attitude.
Worst of all the ending. I just can't and won't read the next in the series considering where she is bound next.
It's a shame because all the two tiered fog/aether society and the access to university stuff and the many sorts of diversities on the fringes of the novel could have made the novel (with it's alchemical, pseudo-scientific and mystery aspects) really, really mindblowingly good. If it didn't degenerate into titillation (that didn't work for me) and spectacle.
It's a well imagined steampunk world with potentially fertile explorations of class, gender, social mobility, wealth and identity. It seems to degenerate more often than not into the spectacular (by which I mean the chapter is just a spectacle with no real content) of clothes, settings and movie-like sets. Characters seemed to be underdeveloped and there are some troubling stereotypes: e.g. the good feminist is attractive, radiates sexuality and a sort of tragedy whereas the bad feminist is unattractive (to men, to society women) and really just a hyena in a petticoat. Women are uncomlicated back-stabbing bitches and women's power is mean-girl power.
The relationship between Cherry and Zylphia (did I get that right? she was elusive enough in the book for me to be unsure) was also promising but underdeveloped. Cherry seems to see nothing untoward or troubling at her "friend" waiting on her, staying up to do her errands after she collapses exhausted and being less than a confidant and less significant to her than the initially discarded earl. Zylphia is a racialised, exoticised non-event in a book that pays lip-service to feminism and women's relationships but seems to find equal relationships between anyone not only too hard to manage, but not necessary.
Consider p329: '"leave it to me my future countess" he repeated firmly "I will take care of you"'. Sure within the plot as a whole that is somewhat ironic...extremely ironic but nevertheless it sums up the earls whole (2 dimensional) personality very simply. He in fact does nothing to alleviate any of the suffering he is part of (like the bullying of his mother) does not even have anything to say to her that is remotely supportive or helpful, simply abandons her to all that and dangles material advantage to force her to accept his proposal because she could grow to feel affection for him.
The opium theme through the book was sort of excessive and tiresome (as other reviewers have pointed out) and the constant minute description of clothing and society people made me doubt the author's commitment to the ideas of agency, action and women's empowerment espoused in part of the book. Hawke was sickening and I didn't need him lingered on as somehow attractive in his misogyny and exploitative attitude.
Worst of all the ending. I just can't and won't read the next in the series considering where she is bound next.
It's a shame because all the two tiered fog/aether society and the access to university stuff and the many sorts of diversities on the fringes of the novel could have made the novel (with it's alchemical, pseudo-scientific and mystery aspects) really, really mindblowingly good. If it didn't degenerate into titillation (that didn't work for me) and spectacle.
November 29, 2012
Cherry St. Croix is a lady of Society that is living a dual life with that of a Collector. She has 2 men that make her pulse increase and a serial killer toying with her. Her life is unconventional so she doesn’t understand the interest of the Earl. Never wanting to lose her freedom, Cherry must continue to make drastic choices to insure her future.
Gilded is highly complex and I’ve decided not to give any more story details in fear that I may give away something that you should experience for yourself.
This book was bloody brilliant. My reaction after reading Gilded was bereft that it is over and a bit of awe at what a marvelous story! I love steampunk and if you looked up the definition of steampunk this book should be referenced. It had a fabulous historical atmosphere with the perfect amount of gadgets and scientific advanced! I loved this book. Karina Cooper weaved a fantastic, riveting tale that sucked me into this fabulous world she created. I was literally hanging on every word and shocked by the explosive ending. My only complaint is waiting for the next book in The St. Croix Chronicles. Gilded is a fast paced, action packed adventure with an imperfect heroin. Perfectly crafted story, that you definitely don’t want to miss. Gilded is 5 Stars and definitely joining those special books on my favorite shelf.
This copy of Gilded was given to me by Edelweiss and Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: December 26, 2012.
Gilded is highly complex and I’ve decided not to give any more story details in fear that I may give away something that you should experience for yourself.
This book was bloody brilliant. My reaction after reading Gilded was bereft that it is over and a bit of awe at what a marvelous story! I love steampunk and if you looked up the definition of steampunk this book should be referenced. It had a fabulous historical atmosphere with the perfect amount of gadgets and scientific advanced! I loved this book. Karina Cooper weaved a fantastic, riveting tale that sucked me into this fabulous world she created. I was literally hanging on every word and shocked by the explosive ending. My only complaint is waiting for the next book in The St. Croix Chronicles. Gilded is a fast paced, action packed adventure with an imperfect heroin. Perfectly crafted story, that you definitely don’t want to miss. Gilded is 5 Stars and definitely joining those special books on my favorite shelf.
This copy of Gilded was given to me by Edelweiss and Avon in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date: December 26, 2012.
September 30, 2013
"Never fear , Miss Black . I take care of all my pets . "
Damn this book robbed me of all my emotions ! I wasn't sure if I was happy or angry or happily angry .. or something else entirely !
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And so the misadventures of Miss Cherry St.Croix continues ...
One Month Later .. And Cherry is still trying to find the mad scientist who almost killed her trying to bring a dead woman back to life .. ( I'm being absolutely vague here .. The identity of the scientist and the woman are major spoilers ! ) .. She is also trying to find the Sweet tooth or more likely known as Jack the ripper , AND she is also looking for the other collector who , FYI , is a total loon ! Psycho loco bitch for sure ... who is making her life a living hell . Add to that , a new mystery , looking for the murderer who is cleverly killing off professors ... Now we know all these murderers are different people , but the big question remains , W to the H to the Y - WHY ?!! .. Oh and adding to all this mayhem is Cherry's personnel agenda's . Her health issues and a certain * cough* proposal *cough * seems to be on her mind , mixing the whole shenanigans into a big dollop of hysteria !
Color me knackered !
I kinda missed Micajah but trust me , those moments where he was in the picture , he totally rocked it . Cherry's illness has me a little worried , truth be told . A part of me wonders that maybe its just withdrawal from not getting her opium fix . But the other part of me thinks that there is something seriously going on with her . The author makes reference to these in future tense with statements such as , ' Had I known earlier ' etc which just manages to affirm my doubts and theories !
The ending of this book ....
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MIND = BLOWN !!!
I can't wait to see what Cherry does after this !
LOVE THIS SERIES !!!
I only need more HAWKE TIME !! :D
Damn this book robbed me of all my emotions ! I wasn't sure if I was happy or angry or happily angry .. or something else entirely !
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
And so the misadventures of Miss Cherry St.Croix continues ...
One Month Later .. And Cherry is still trying to find the mad scientist who almost killed her trying to bring a dead woman back to life .. ( I'm being absolutely vague here .. The identity of the scientist and the woman are major spoilers ! ) .. She is also trying to find the Sweet tooth or more likely known as Jack the ripper , AND she is also looking for the other collector who , FYI , is a total loon ! Psycho loco bitch for sure ... who is making her life a living hell . Add to that , a new mystery , looking for the murderer who is cleverly killing off professors ... Now we know all these murderers are different people , but the big question remains , W to the H to the Y - WHY ?!! .. Oh and adding to all this mayhem is Cherry's personnel agenda's . Her health issues and a certain * cough* proposal *cough * seems to be on her mind , mixing the whole shenanigans into a big dollop of hysteria !
Color me knackered !
I kinda missed Micajah but trust me , those moments where he was in the picture , he totally rocked it . Cherry's illness has me a little worried , truth be told . A part of me wonders that maybe its just withdrawal from not getting her opium fix . But the other part of me thinks that there is something seriously going on with her . The author makes reference to these in future tense with statements such as , ' Had I known earlier ' etc which just manages to affirm my doubts and theories !
The ending of this book ....
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MIND = BLOWN !!!
I can't wait to see what Cherry does after this !
LOVE THIS SERIES !!!
I only need more HAWKE TIME !! :D
November 14, 2013
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.
Quick & Dirty: Woman on a mission to discover more about her father and circumvent the rules and regulations of her place in society lives two lives. But will she charm you?
Opening Sentence: When I was ten years of age, Monsieur Marceaux’s Traveling Circus retained a new magician.
The Review:
Normally I don’t look at reviews prior to reading a book but this cover art had me very concerned. I get that the publisher was trying to visually display to the book buying public that this book is more gritty than your run of the mill romance. The only thing that it served for this reader was to bump it down to the “Must Be Read” category rather than “I can’t wait to read it” category.
My intuition about this book unfortunately proved to be true despite the numerous glowing reviews I had read, I am in the camp that would be quite happy to never see another book from this series EVER.
This story took an enormous amount of time to develop. In fact it was so long that there were points I literally decided that this was going to be the first book since I started reviewing book in January that I would not finish. Many of you will not know this but there are only a handful of books that I have in all my life ever not finished. Some have taken a while to draw me back but I finish books. This one nearly ended up on the infamous never to be finished list.
Here is why besides the story being stuck in the fog, our heroine, Cherry St. Croix is a drug addict. This is the first female lead I have read that I wanted to reach into the book and strangle or would have been happy to see her get strangled by the two villains in this book. Her addiction to opium and laudanum are not unusual for the time but didn’t gel with the scientific side of her. What scientist fills themselves with so much pain medication that she is unable to think clearly? I know I can hear a few of you yelling about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, but neither of those stories have I been asked to review.
Furthermore, this story is as confused as our heroine is when she is taking her drug of choice. I was unsure more times that I would like to recall whether this story is set in Victorian times or a future where we have resorted to Victorian methods as a way to cope with the future.
The two men that star in Miss St. Croix’s story are too ephemeral to even warrant an entire paragraph for themselves. Both Lord Cornelius Kerrigan Compton and Micajah Hawke only serve as street lamps in this story, glimpsed but often lost in the fog of poor story telling. I’m still unsure about the exact relationship that Hawke and St. Croix had in the past, even after completing the book. While Lord Compton is the typical Victorian suitor, I struggle to see why he is so enamored with St. Croix other than her unwillingness to follow social guidelines.
I have struggled with giving a rating for this book, which is typically the easiest part of the review process, but this was tough. In the end, I even revisited what my initial reaction was but after careful thought and even re-reading this review, there is but one answer that I can give with complete honesty. And if you haven’t guessed by this stage — this is a do not buy from me.
Notable Scene:
My maid hurried to catch up with my sudden frenetic pace. “What do you hope to find?”
“Anything.” A clue. A sign that I was not the only body on this world who knew what went on in that tunnel. Perhaps a hint that the collector I hunted–the so-named sweet tooth Zylphia and her fellow sweets had hired me to collect–was still out there.
I knew he was. He left me flowers for every successful assassination he answered on the collection board.
He left them for me upon my windowsill, regardless of its height above the ground. Somehow, he knew who I was, and I only knew that he taunted me.
Yet, even as I considered it, it occurred to me that I had not seen flowers for near a fortnight now. Perhaps he’d injured himself on a bounty?
FTC Advisory: Avon provided me with a copy of Gilded. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Woman on a mission to discover more about her father and circumvent the rules and regulations of her place in society lives two lives. But will she charm you?
Opening Sentence: When I was ten years of age, Monsieur Marceaux’s Traveling Circus retained a new magician.
The Review:
Normally I don’t look at reviews prior to reading a book but this cover art had me very concerned. I get that the publisher was trying to visually display to the book buying public that this book is more gritty than your run of the mill romance. The only thing that it served for this reader was to bump it down to the “Must Be Read” category rather than “I can’t wait to read it” category.
My intuition about this book unfortunately proved to be true despite the numerous glowing reviews I had read, I am in the camp that would be quite happy to never see another book from this series EVER.
This story took an enormous amount of time to develop. In fact it was so long that there were points I literally decided that this was going to be the first book since I started reviewing book in January that I would not finish. Many of you will not know this but there are only a handful of books that I have in all my life ever not finished. Some have taken a while to draw me back but I finish books. This one nearly ended up on the infamous never to be finished list.
Here is why besides the story being stuck in the fog, our heroine, Cherry St. Croix is a drug addict. This is the first female lead I have read that I wanted to reach into the book and strangle or would have been happy to see her get strangled by the two villains in this book. Her addiction to opium and laudanum are not unusual for the time but didn’t gel with the scientific side of her. What scientist fills themselves with so much pain medication that she is unable to think clearly? I know I can hear a few of you yelling about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde, but neither of those stories have I been asked to review.
Furthermore, this story is as confused as our heroine is when she is taking her drug of choice. I was unsure more times that I would like to recall whether this story is set in Victorian times or a future where we have resorted to Victorian methods as a way to cope with the future.
The two men that star in Miss St. Croix’s story are too ephemeral to even warrant an entire paragraph for themselves. Both Lord Cornelius Kerrigan Compton and Micajah Hawke only serve as street lamps in this story, glimpsed but often lost in the fog of poor story telling. I’m still unsure about the exact relationship that Hawke and St. Croix had in the past, even after completing the book. While Lord Compton is the typical Victorian suitor, I struggle to see why he is so enamored with St. Croix other than her unwillingness to follow social guidelines.
I have struggled with giving a rating for this book, which is typically the easiest part of the review process, but this was tough. In the end, I even revisited what my initial reaction was but after careful thought and even re-reading this review, there is but one answer that I can give with complete honesty. And if you haven’t guessed by this stage — this is a do not buy from me.
Notable Scene:
My maid hurried to catch up with my sudden frenetic pace. “What do you hope to find?”
“Anything.” A clue. A sign that I was not the only body on this world who knew what went on in that tunnel. Perhaps a hint that the collector I hunted–the so-named sweet tooth Zylphia and her fellow sweets had hired me to collect–was still out there.
I knew he was. He left me flowers for every successful assassination he answered on the collection board.
He left them for me upon my windowsill, regardless of its height above the ground. Somehow, he knew who I was, and I only knew that he taunted me.
Yet, even as I considered it, it occurred to me that I had not seen flowers for near a fortnight now. Perhaps he’d injured himself on a bounty?
FTC Advisory: Avon provided me with a copy of Gilded. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
December 9, 2012
4.5/5
The ending in this book is such a shocker, ladies and gents! I wanted to scream with frustration!!! Miss Cooper doesn't end her books with a cliffhanger per se, but she definitely knows how to end a book with a bang.
There is more darkness and desperation in Cherry this time. She feels trapped. By her debt to Karakash Veil, by the societal obligations and by her worsening addiction to opium. It's hard and painful to read about her horrible descent into abyss, but it's necessary too.
Sometimes a heroine needs to hit rock bottom to truly find what she is made of, I hope that's where we find how really awesome Cherry would become.
In this book she is still trying to find the mysterious Ripper and the traces of an alchemical formula Karakash Veil wants so much. She also works on a murder mystery for her patroness lady Rutledge which involves poisoned professor in King's college.
Her ton life intensifies when her admirer Lord Compton comes back from his mysterious journey and redoubles his attempts to woo her while his mother plots Cherry's disgrace behind their backs...
And above it all, Cherry slowly unravels unable to lead her double life for much longer.
I absolutely loved this book, and I already said that any fan of Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane should take a look at The St. Croix Chronicles, - you most likely would love it too. Very much recommended.
The ending in this book is such a shocker, ladies and gents! I wanted to scream with frustration!!! Miss Cooper doesn't end her books with a cliffhanger per se, but she definitely knows how to end a book with a bang.
There is more darkness and desperation in Cherry this time. She feels trapped. By her debt to Karakash Veil, by the societal obligations and by her worsening addiction to opium. It's hard and painful to read about her horrible descent into abyss, but it's necessary too.
Sometimes a heroine needs to hit rock bottom to truly find what she is made of, I hope that's where we find how really awesome Cherry would become.
In this book she is still trying to find the mysterious Ripper and the traces of an alchemical formula Karakash Veil wants so much. She also works on a murder mystery for her patroness lady Rutledge which involves poisoned professor in King's college.
Her ton life intensifies when her admirer Lord Compton comes back from his mysterious journey and redoubles his attempts to woo her while his mother plots Cherry's disgrace behind their backs...
And above it all, Cherry slowly unravels unable to lead her double life for much longer.
I absolutely loved this book, and I already said that any fan of Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane should take a look at The St. Croix Chronicles, - you most likely would love it too. Very much recommended.
February 17, 2013
Rounding up because while Gilded still has some of the issues I complained about in Tarnished THE ENDING (!!) just about made me scream!! Our dear Miss St. Croix is at quite a crossroads as this story ends and I literally have no idea what direction she will go and how it will all shake out. Where is book 3?! I don't even see mention of it and that makes me sad!
May 10, 2013
Screw this book. I'm so mad, I can't even write anything intelligent about it. I'm going to create my own fantasy ending, wherein the last 30 pages don't happen, and just before those, the Too Stupid To Live "heroine" dies a horrible gruesome death. Which would have made this book a Happily Ever After, at least for me.
December 8, 2013
Hmmm...Is it bad that the only part I liked was when the earl Cherry had just married bit the dust?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2015
Wow!! Love this series! Can't wait to see what the future holds for Cherry!
April 17, 2019
Another great read from Karina Cooper in The St. Croix Chronicles series. Because of the world building in the first read I do not recommend starting with this novel, it would be a little too confusing. Cherry is still torn between two worlds, living on the outskirts of high London society and working as a bounty hunter for the lower levels. Her family's past leaves her confused about who she may be and her feelings for the various men in her life leave her confused about where her future may lead. When tragedy and mystery strike too close to home Cherry is left in limbo and quick decisions, sometimes the wrong ones, change her life forever. Fun read and I can't wait to continue the series!
December 31, 2017
This series had a lot of promise but ultimately it missed the mark big time. I really really wanted to like this series but each book was essentially the author trying to mirror some other novel (for example: there is a straight rip off of The Portrait of Dorian Grey). Such things would have been fine with better editing and more cohesive storyline.
The second book is a lot of wtf.
The second book is a lot of wtf.
January 28, 2020
Honestly, I got to around page 150 and then skimmed to the end. I just never got pulled into the story and didn't really care what was happening. I think this is the end of the road for me and this series.
August 12, 2018
Wow... That ending blew my mind.
April 9, 2024
Blech, first book was so good. Skimmed at least half , this book went nowhere and ended nowhere.
September 28, 2013
Originally published at Reading Reality
I think there’s a theme to the titles of the books in Karina Cooper’s St. Croix Chronicles. Her terribly flawed heroine, Cherry St. Croix, always feels as if she is living in some kind of cage. The titles of the books in the series, Tarnished, Gilded, and book 3, Corroded, represent the type of cage that Cherry is trapped in during that part of her life.
Yes, I know, the prequel novella, The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway, doesn’t fit the pattern, but there’s always an exception that fits the rule.
The world of the St. Croix Chronicles is a very dark steampunk version of London where the division between rich and poor has been made quite visibly manifest. An engineer who went stark raving mad found a way to raise London’s wealthy districts above the murk and pea-soup fogs created by her industries, while leaving the poor in the wretchedness of London quite literally below.
The social strata given form.
Cherry straddles two worlds, and not just because of her unconventional parents and hidden unsavory upbringing, but because she herself has been unable to settle into the role (she would call it a strait-jacket) that Victorian society forces on upper-class females.
Also, she is still addicted to opium, a legacy of her lost days in the underworld, and she requires a method of paying for continued habit.
In Tarnished, Cherry tells the story of her continuing to lead the double life of society miss by day and London’s only female Collector, that is bounty hunter, by night, while keeping her household, and society, in the dark as she waits out the last days before she turns of age and can claim her rights to her inheritance.
But instead of freedom, the Midnight Menagerie sunk its own claim into her as she meddled in something either alchemical, magical or scientific beyond her ability to escape.
In Gilded, Cherry discovers that society has its own methods of forcing her to do its will, even as she beats her hands against the bars of the cage she feels closing around her. And even though she knows that marriage is a trap for any woman who would otherwise possess her own fortune, the Midnight Menagerie blackmails her into doing their bidding.
It is only then that she discovers the true nature of the cage that she has stepped into, even as she hears the key turning in the lock.
Escape Rating B+: The St. Croix series gets darker and grittier as it goes, and it keeps going downward in that sense. It’s very good, but don’t read it if you’re looking for a “pick me up”! While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that you will not leave this story with a smile. More like a heartrending moan.
Cherry is hunting Jack the Ripper and someone is hunting her. This was established in Tarnished and is still part of the underlying plot in Gilded, but the overarching story in Gilded is the “what is Cherry going to do” story. Everyone in London above is hell-bent on Cherry marrying Earl Compton before she reaches her majority except Cherry. I almost wonder if there’s a plot behind that, now that I think about it.
Cherry is also trying to solve a murder at King’s and University Colleges, one that also involves female rights, so again, there’s the theme of what rights do women have and someone seems to be making sure that Cherry can’t claim hers. This may be my interpretation.
Cherry is incredibly flawed, and the story is told from her first-person perspective. She is unquestionably an opium addict, even if she can’t admit it to herself. She’s not even trying to quit. Sometimes she runs out of funds and can’t buy any, but she has no intention of quitting. Her usage simply spirals up and down as fortunes permit. I’m not sure I’ve ever read of an unrepentant addict as a hero or heroine before. She lies, she cheats, she steals, and she loses track of everything she says and does. But she still solves her cases, eventually. She also makes horrific mistakes because of her addiction. But in at least two cases, it also saves her life.
Which makes Cherry’s opium the very model of a conflict of desires.
I think there’s a theme to the titles of the books in Karina Cooper’s St. Croix Chronicles. Her terribly flawed heroine, Cherry St. Croix, always feels as if she is living in some kind of cage. The titles of the books in the series, Tarnished, Gilded, and book 3, Corroded, represent the type of cage that Cherry is trapped in during that part of her life.
Yes, I know, the prequel novella, The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway, doesn’t fit the pattern, but there’s always an exception that fits the rule.
The world of the St. Croix Chronicles is a very dark steampunk version of London where the division between rich and poor has been made quite visibly manifest. An engineer who went stark raving mad found a way to raise London’s wealthy districts above the murk and pea-soup fogs created by her industries, while leaving the poor in the wretchedness of London quite literally below.
The social strata given form.
Cherry straddles two worlds, and not just because of her unconventional parents and hidden unsavory upbringing, but because she herself has been unable to settle into the role (she would call it a strait-jacket) that Victorian society forces on upper-class females.
Also, she is still addicted to opium, a legacy of her lost days in the underworld, and she requires a method of paying for continued habit.
In Tarnished, Cherry tells the story of her continuing to lead the double life of society miss by day and London’s only female Collector, that is bounty hunter, by night, while keeping her household, and society, in the dark as she waits out the last days before she turns of age and can claim her rights to her inheritance.
But instead of freedom, the Midnight Menagerie sunk its own claim into her as she meddled in something either alchemical, magical or scientific beyond her ability to escape.
In Gilded, Cherry discovers that society has its own methods of forcing her to do its will, even as she beats her hands against the bars of the cage she feels closing around her. And even though she knows that marriage is a trap for any woman who would otherwise possess her own fortune, the Midnight Menagerie blackmails her into doing their bidding.
It is only then that she discovers the true nature of the cage that she has stepped into, even as she hears the key turning in the lock.
Escape Rating B+: The St. Croix series gets darker and grittier as it goes, and it keeps going downward in that sense. It’s very good, but don’t read it if you’re looking for a “pick me up”! While I won’t spoil the ending, I will say that you will not leave this story with a smile. More like a heartrending moan.
Cherry is hunting Jack the Ripper and someone is hunting her. This was established in Tarnished and is still part of the underlying plot in Gilded, but the overarching story in Gilded is the “what is Cherry going to do” story. Everyone in London above is hell-bent on Cherry marrying Earl Compton before she reaches her majority except Cherry. I almost wonder if there’s a plot behind that, now that I think about it.
Cherry is also trying to solve a murder at King’s and University Colleges, one that also involves female rights, so again, there’s the theme of what rights do women have and someone seems to be making sure that Cherry can’t claim hers. This may be my interpretation.
Cherry is incredibly flawed, and the story is told from her first-person perspective. She is unquestionably an opium addict, even if she can’t admit it to herself. She’s not even trying to quit. Sometimes she runs out of funds and can’t buy any, but she has no intention of quitting. Her usage simply spirals up and down as fortunes permit. I’m not sure I’ve ever read of an unrepentant addict as a hero or heroine before. She lies, she cheats, she steals, and she loses track of everything she says and does. But she still solves her cases, eventually. She also makes horrific mistakes because of her addiction. But in at least two cases, it also saves her life.
Which makes Cherry’s opium the very model of a conflict of desires.
March 16, 2017
Dark side of a steampunk novel; flawed and scarred characters, drugs, violence, murder, vengeance, betrayal, fragile hope.
January 8, 2013
Original review at Layers of Thought.
A darkly intriguing mystery/romance and the second book in an action packed steampunk series. Including a brilliant and strong willed female lead that goes against the Victorian-like social norms of the setting, and perhaps a glimpse of a “Jack the Ripper–ish” sort of villain.
*(SPOILER ALERT) Please note if you have not read the first in this series this review does contain spoilers. Read my review for Tarnished (book #1) and pick it up first. I believe that they are still selling the ebook version for .99 cents at various online retailers. What a deal!
About: In a realistic yet fantastical setting – a steam powered Victorian London - we have the second in this atmospheric series. The complex and strong main character, Cherry St. Croix, was once a circus waif and performer, giving her physical attributes which allow her to pursue and apprehend persons of greater strength and stature than herself. A petite red-head with striking thick hair which she covers with lampblack on her outings into the polluted city underworld, she is not of bad character. Her darkness is due to forced circumstance. She is addicted to Laudanum (a poppy -derived opiate that was popular during Victorian times) and is also what is termed a “collector” – where she finds wanted persons or information for nefarious others for a price. It’s her way to maintain her addiction and to prevent herself from going mad due to the constrained mores for women of the times. Cherry does her best to get by in this world where women aTarnishedre not allowed to own property and are considered wards of their male family members.
In the first book of the series (Tarnished) we become familiar with Cherry, her romantic entanglements, and find out that she is the daughter of a crazy scientist and a beautiful socialite. In this second book, Cherry is in pursuit of a killer (she thinks Jack the Ripper perhaps?) who is dissecting the underworld “sweets” (prostitutes.) However, she finds that there is in fact another killer – so another mystery ensues.
Thoughts: Karina Cooper writes in an old fashioned convoluted style in this series, which works very well for the setting. It creates text that feels authentic and Victorian-ish. I do need to mention that readers may have to consult Google when looking up some of the old fashioned English words the author uses. Even John (my UK/English dictionary/husband) had some difficulty telling me what several words meant. But this is all good. We both “learnt somefink”.
It also has another fun cover much like the first in the series. I am really glad there is not a naked guy or a lot of skin featured on it. Which brings me to mention that I liked the light and tasteful romantic involvement included in both books since there’s nothing worse than a sex scene that makes me laugh when it’s not supposed to.
What happens to Cherry as we find out more about her and her romantic interests is the best part of this story. Cooper does romance well. But most compelling is how the author sets up this book for the next in the series with it’s heart pounding, drop off the edge of your seat ending. So don’t expect closure, I am thinking the next in this series will have a “Kill Bill-ish” flavor set in steampunk Victorian times? I can’t wait.
Recommended for readers who like strong and dark female leads, unexpected twists, a bit of a murder mystery and of course romance and steampunk. Skip this if you are looking for a solid ending, want happily ever after, or are not interested in being addicted to a series. I enjoyed this book A LOT. It’s a fun second book to hopefully a long series. 4 stars. My only regret is that I am not reading this series after the entire collection has been completed.
A darkly intriguing mystery/romance and the second book in an action packed steampunk series. Including a brilliant and strong willed female lead that goes against the Victorian-like social norms of the setting, and perhaps a glimpse of a “Jack the Ripper–ish” sort of villain.
*(SPOILER ALERT) Please note if you have not read the first in this series this review does contain spoilers. Read my review for Tarnished (book #1) and pick it up first. I believe that they are still selling the ebook version for .99 cents at various online retailers. What a deal!
About: In a realistic yet fantastical setting – a steam powered Victorian London - we have the second in this atmospheric series. The complex and strong main character, Cherry St. Croix, was once a circus waif and performer, giving her physical attributes which allow her to pursue and apprehend persons of greater strength and stature than herself. A petite red-head with striking thick hair which she covers with lampblack on her outings into the polluted city underworld, she is not of bad character. Her darkness is due to forced circumstance. She is addicted to Laudanum (a poppy -derived opiate that was popular during Victorian times) and is also what is termed a “collector” – where she finds wanted persons or information for nefarious others for a price. It’s her way to maintain her addiction and to prevent herself from going mad due to the constrained mores for women of the times. Cherry does her best to get by in this world where women aTarnishedre not allowed to own property and are considered wards of their male family members.
In the first book of the series (Tarnished) we become familiar with Cherry, her romantic entanglements, and find out that she is the daughter of a crazy scientist and a beautiful socialite. In this second book, Cherry is in pursuit of a killer (she thinks Jack the Ripper perhaps?) who is dissecting the underworld “sweets” (prostitutes.) However, she finds that there is in fact another killer – so another mystery ensues.
Thoughts: Karina Cooper writes in an old fashioned convoluted style in this series, which works very well for the setting. It creates text that feels authentic and Victorian-ish. I do need to mention that readers may have to consult Google when looking up some of the old fashioned English words the author uses. Even John (my UK/English dictionary/husband) had some difficulty telling me what several words meant. But this is all good. We both “learnt somefink”.
It also has another fun cover much like the first in the series. I am really glad there is not a naked guy or a lot of skin featured on it. Which brings me to mention that I liked the light and tasteful romantic involvement included in both books since there’s nothing worse than a sex scene that makes me laugh when it’s not supposed to.
What happens to Cherry as we find out more about her and her romantic interests is the best part of this story. Cooper does romance well. But most compelling is how the author sets up this book for the next in the series with it’s heart pounding, drop off the edge of your seat ending. So don’t expect closure, I am thinking the next in this series will have a “Kill Bill-ish” flavor set in steampunk Victorian times? I can’t wait.
Recommended for readers who like strong and dark female leads, unexpected twists, a bit of a murder mystery and of course romance and steampunk. Skip this if you are looking for a solid ending, want happily ever after, or are not interested in being addicted to a series. I enjoyed this book A LOT. It’s a fun second book to hopefully a long series. 4 stars. My only regret is that I am not reading this series after the entire collection has been completed.
March 24, 2014
http://lynnsbooks.wordpress.com/2014/...
Okay, so I finished the second of the St Croix Chronicles a few days ago but was literally stunned into silence and needed a few days to absorb events. This book is quite the riot of emotions ending on a final note of utter shock. I've tried to stay away from reviews for this series to avoid spoilers and it worked because the ending of this took me totally by surprise, and yet at the same time that it blew me off my feet with it's unexpected quality it also felt sort of inevitable!
Gilded is the second in the St Croix series the first being Tarnished (my review here). I really do recommend reading these books in order and not just jumping in at No.2. Gilded pretty much starts off where Tarnished ended. Cherry is determined to find out what took part in the underground tunnel (and I won't say more for fear of spoilers). We still have two killers on the loose on the streets of London down below and on top of this there now appears to be a new murderer on the scene - intent on killing professors from London's finest educational establishments. Aside from all of this Cherry is in debt to the menagerie, is being pursued by the Earl, castigated by the upper echelons of society and suffering illness from the side effects of her double life and secret addiction. It's quite daunting just to think about it.
Ms Cooper certainly doesn't make it easy to review her books because there's very little to say without giving away spoilers. This is a new murder mystery and really apart from a few tidbits of information doesn't really take us too much further in pursuit of Cherry's original goals and yet there are certain elements that make you realise that so much is connected. It's a sort of bring them up to watch them fall instalment.
Gilded is quite a fast paced and intriguing instalment and in fact I would say even more enjoyable than the first (which is a surprise given the very short space that Mr Hawke makes an appearance for). Cherry is without doubt a flawed character. She makes mistakes and she can make you feel frustrated as anything. But, I like her and given the constraints placed upon her in this faux Victorian era she's actually very forward thinking. She's torn between wanting her friends and family to be happy and wanting to maintain her own individuality. What's a girl to do? Aside from all that of course is that Cherry is basically, deep inside a good person. She tries to make the right decisions. She's wound up in a situation where she's indebted to the wrong sort - and this is a result of the night time activities she pursues in order to raise money to buy laudanum (which she only uses to quell her night terrors). She also seems to have drawn a lot of negative attention both above and below London. You can't help feeling quite a lot of sympathy for her whilst also wanting to shake her occasionally!
Anyway, there are two new murders and clearly these are the work of somebody different from the Sweet Tooth and the Ripper. The academia are being targeted and Cherry is given a riddle to solve which will unwittingly take her into the path of danger yet again. The plot culminates in a fantastic masked ball which ends with a bang!
Murder, mystery, alchemy, fog, rippers, dashing Earls, sexy Micajah Hawke - and an ending that left me without words! Yes, this feels like a guilty pleasure and yet I don't actually feel guilty at all in fact, quite the opposite. Bring on number 3.
Okay, so I finished the second of the St Croix Chronicles a few days ago but was literally stunned into silence and needed a few days to absorb events. This book is quite the riot of emotions ending on a final note of utter shock. I've tried to stay away from reviews for this series to avoid spoilers and it worked because the ending of this took me totally by surprise, and yet at the same time that it blew me off my feet with it's unexpected quality it also felt sort of inevitable!
Gilded is the second in the St Croix series the first being Tarnished (my review here). I really do recommend reading these books in order and not just jumping in at No.2. Gilded pretty much starts off where Tarnished ended. Cherry is determined to find out what took part in the underground tunnel (and I won't say more for fear of spoilers). We still have two killers on the loose on the streets of London down below and on top of this there now appears to be a new murderer on the scene - intent on killing professors from London's finest educational establishments. Aside from all of this Cherry is in debt to the menagerie, is being pursued by the Earl, castigated by the upper echelons of society and suffering illness from the side effects of her double life and secret addiction. It's quite daunting just to think about it.
Ms Cooper certainly doesn't make it easy to review her books because there's very little to say without giving away spoilers. This is a new murder mystery and really apart from a few tidbits of information doesn't really take us too much further in pursuit of Cherry's original goals and yet there are certain elements that make you realise that so much is connected. It's a sort of bring them up to watch them fall instalment.
Gilded is quite a fast paced and intriguing instalment and in fact I would say even more enjoyable than the first (which is a surprise given the very short space that Mr Hawke makes an appearance for). Cherry is without doubt a flawed character. She makes mistakes and she can make you feel frustrated as anything. But, I like her and given the constraints placed upon her in this faux Victorian era she's actually very forward thinking. She's torn between wanting her friends and family to be happy and wanting to maintain her own individuality. What's a girl to do? Aside from all that of course is that Cherry is basically, deep inside a good person. She tries to make the right decisions. She's wound up in a situation where she's indebted to the wrong sort - and this is a result of the night time activities she pursues in order to raise money to buy laudanum (which she only uses to quell her night terrors). She also seems to have drawn a lot of negative attention both above and below London. You can't help feeling quite a lot of sympathy for her whilst also wanting to shake her occasionally!
Anyway, there are two new murders and clearly these are the work of somebody different from the Sweet Tooth and the Ripper. The academia are being targeted and Cherry is given a riddle to solve which will unwittingly take her into the path of danger yet again. The plot culminates in a fantastic masked ball which ends with a bang!
Murder, mystery, alchemy, fog, rippers, dashing Earls, sexy Micajah Hawke - and an ending that left me without words! Yes, this feels like a guilty pleasure and yet I don't actually feel guilty at all in fact, quite the opposite. Bring on number 3.
December 26, 2012
3.5 stars
Cherry St. Croix is a society lady by day, but at night she is a collector. A collector is something like a bounty hunter who flies under the radar, or in this case below the drift. There is a kind of fog that surrounds most of London. Most of society lives above it for the most part. Cherry is invited to a luncheon and given a mystery that leads her to a dead college professor. As she is piecing together the mystery and Earl decides to court her.
Gilded is the second book of Karina Cooper’s The St. Croix Chronicles. It took me a little while to get used to the tone of the novel. Cherry starts out in her collector disguise, and then moved to her getting home. I was thrown by it, not only because of the double lives, but because she seemed to self-aware and independent on the street and the complete opposite at home. I didn’t read the first book, Tarnished. It did fill in some of the background that happened in the first book, but some parts were a little confusing. In other words, it’s best to start with book one.
My favorite thing about this book, other than the jaw dropping ending, is that I had no idea how versatile Cooper is. The tone of the novel is completely different from anything I have ever read by her. I thought when I opened the book it would remind me of her Paranormal series, but it didn’t. Instead it surprised me.
Let’s be honest, history wasn’t that great to women. Steam Punk has a funny nature about carrying over some of the things I don’t like about the Victorian age. All those manners, all those rules give me the shivers. Cherry would agree with me, the difference is she has to live it. The problem here though is that while she is a no fear kind of girl, she does fear the social elite. This kept me at a distance from her. So much of her claims not to care, but in that she is very dishonest, she does care or it wouldn’t give her fits.
I haven’t gone hardcore into the plot, and that’s because it’s hard without being spoilerish. I have said there is a mystery, and who is dead, but there is a lot more going on. She is being pursued for her hand by an Earl, who isn’t bad looking. This rivaled for my attention when it came down to it. This isn’t something that takes a back seat in the plot. Everything is connected in some way, but the main mystery opens doors to bigger ones like her family’s past. Even the Earl’s family provides little hidden details into what, or who her parents were as people. There are some serious secrets playing in the background of the overall plot line.
I mentioned the jaw dropping ending. Actually, the very end wasn’t so jaw dropping, but the space right before it. Gilded took me by surprise. It wasn’t something I expected, and it has a lot more flavor than other Steam Punk novels out there. The main character isn’t my favorite. I felt distant from Cherry and her ever wandering mind. The dead professor mystery seemed a little bland, and not for me. On the other hand a glimpse at the bigger picture going on behind the actually story held my interest. I often say, ‘yea, that novel didn’t go far enough.’ That’s not true here. I was pleasantly surprised by how far it went.
- Beth
Cherry St. Croix is a society lady by day, but at night she is a collector. A collector is something like a bounty hunter who flies under the radar, or in this case below the drift. There is a kind of fog that surrounds most of London. Most of society lives above it for the most part. Cherry is invited to a luncheon and given a mystery that leads her to a dead college professor. As she is piecing together the mystery and Earl decides to court her.
Gilded is the second book of Karina Cooper’s The St. Croix Chronicles. It took me a little while to get used to the tone of the novel. Cherry starts out in her collector disguise, and then moved to her getting home. I was thrown by it, not only because of the double lives, but because she seemed to self-aware and independent on the street and the complete opposite at home. I didn’t read the first book, Tarnished. It did fill in some of the background that happened in the first book, but some parts were a little confusing. In other words, it’s best to start with book one.
My favorite thing about this book, other than the jaw dropping ending, is that I had no idea how versatile Cooper is. The tone of the novel is completely different from anything I have ever read by her. I thought when I opened the book it would remind me of her Paranormal series, but it didn’t. Instead it surprised me.
Let’s be honest, history wasn’t that great to women. Steam Punk has a funny nature about carrying over some of the things I don’t like about the Victorian age. All those manners, all those rules give me the shivers. Cherry would agree with me, the difference is she has to live it. The problem here though is that while she is a no fear kind of girl, she does fear the social elite. This kept me at a distance from her. So much of her claims not to care, but in that she is very dishonest, she does care or it wouldn’t give her fits.
I haven’t gone hardcore into the plot, and that’s because it’s hard without being spoilerish. I have said there is a mystery, and who is dead, but there is a lot more going on. She is being pursued for her hand by an Earl, who isn’t bad looking. This rivaled for my attention when it came down to it. This isn’t something that takes a back seat in the plot. Everything is connected in some way, but the main mystery opens doors to bigger ones like her family’s past. Even the Earl’s family provides little hidden details into what, or who her parents were as people. There are some serious secrets playing in the background of the overall plot line.
I mentioned the jaw dropping ending. Actually, the very end wasn’t so jaw dropping, but the space right before it. Gilded took me by surprise. It wasn’t something I expected, and it has a lot more flavor than other Steam Punk novels out there. The main character isn’t my favorite. I felt distant from Cherry and her ever wandering mind. The dead professor mystery seemed a little bland, and not for me. On the other hand a glimpse at the bigger picture going on behind the actually story held my interest. I often say, ‘yea, that novel didn’t go far enough.’ That’s not true here. I was pleasantly surprised by how far it went.
- Beth
December 26, 2012
Cherry St. Croix is a society lady by day, but at night she is a collector. A collector is something like a bounty hunter who flies under the radar, or in this case below the drift. There is a kind of fog that surrounds most of London. Most of society lives above it for the most part. Cherry is invited to a luncheon and given a mystery that leads her to a dead college professor. As she is piecing together the mystery and Earl decides to court her.
Gilded is the second book of Karina Cooper’s The St. Croix Chronicles. It took me a little while to get used to the tone of the novel. Cherry starts out in her collector disguise, and then moved to her getting home. I was thrown by it, not only because of the double lives, but because she seemed to self-aware and independent on the street and the complete opposite at home. I didn’t read the first book, Tarnished. It did fill in some of the background that happened in the first book, but some parts were a little confusing. In other words, it’s best to start with book one.
My favorite thing about this book, other than the jaw dropping ending, is that I had no idea how versatile Cooper is. The tone of the novel is completely different from anything I have ever read by her. I thought when I opened the book it would remind me of her Paranormal series, but it didn’t. Instead it surprised me.
Let’s be honest, history wasn’t that great to women. Steam Punk has a funny nature about carrying over some of the things I don’t like about the Victorian age. All those manners, all those rules give me the shivers. Cherry would agree with me, the difference is she has to live it. The problem here though is that while she is a no fear kind of girl, she does fear the social elite. This kept me at a distance from her. So much of her claims not to care, but in that she is very dishonest, she does care or it wouldn’t give her fits.
I haven’t gone hardcore into the plot, and that’s because it’s hard without being spoilerish. I have said there is a mystery, and who is dead, but there is a lot more going on. She is being pursued for her hand by an Earl, who isn’t bad looking. This rivaled for my attention when it came down to it. This isn’t something that takes a back seat in the plot. Everything is connected in some way, but the main mystery opens doors to bigger ones like her family’s past. Even the Earl’s family provides little hidden details into what, or who her parents were as people. There are some serious secrets playing in the background of the overall plot line.
I mentioned the jaw dropping ending. Actually, the very end wasn’t so jaw dropping, but the space right before it. Gilded took me by surprise. It wasn’t something I expected, and it has a lot more flavor than other Steam Punk novels out there. The main character isn’t my favorite. I felt distant from Cherry and her ever wandering mind. The dead professor mystery seemed a little bland, and not for me. On the other hand a glimpse at the bigger picture going on behind the actually story held my interest. I often say, ‘yea, that novel didn’t go far enough.’ That’s not true here. I was pleasantly surprised by how far it went.
Gilded is the second book of Karina Cooper’s The St. Croix Chronicles. It took me a little while to get used to the tone of the novel. Cherry starts out in her collector disguise, and then moved to her getting home. I was thrown by it, not only because of the double lives, but because she seemed to self-aware and independent on the street and the complete opposite at home. I didn’t read the first book, Tarnished. It did fill in some of the background that happened in the first book, but some parts were a little confusing. In other words, it’s best to start with book one.
My favorite thing about this book, other than the jaw dropping ending, is that I had no idea how versatile Cooper is. The tone of the novel is completely different from anything I have ever read by her. I thought when I opened the book it would remind me of her Paranormal series, but it didn’t. Instead it surprised me.
Let’s be honest, history wasn’t that great to women. Steam Punk has a funny nature about carrying over some of the things I don’t like about the Victorian age. All those manners, all those rules give me the shivers. Cherry would agree with me, the difference is she has to live it. The problem here though is that while she is a no fear kind of girl, she does fear the social elite. This kept me at a distance from her. So much of her claims not to care, but in that she is very dishonest, she does care or it wouldn’t give her fits.
I haven’t gone hardcore into the plot, and that’s because it’s hard without being spoilerish. I have said there is a mystery, and who is dead, but there is a lot more going on. She is being pursued for her hand by an Earl, who isn’t bad looking. This rivaled for my attention when it came down to it. This isn’t something that takes a back seat in the plot. Everything is connected in some way, but the main mystery opens doors to bigger ones like her family’s past. Even the Earl’s family provides little hidden details into what, or who her parents were as people. There are some serious secrets playing in the background of the overall plot line.
I mentioned the jaw dropping ending. Actually, the very end wasn’t so jaw dropping, but the space right before it. Gilded took me by surprise. It wasn’t something I expected, and it has a lot more flavor than other Steam Punk novels out there. The main character isn’t my favorite. I felt distant from Cherry and her ever wandering mind. The dead professor mystery seemed a little bland, and not for me. On the other hand a glimpse at the bigger picture going on behind the actually story held my interest. I often say, ‘yea, that novel didn’t go far enough.’ That’s not true here. I was pleasantly surprised by how far it went.
January 4, 2013
See this review and others like it at BadassBookReviews.com!
Gilded was another fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable outing in the St. Croix Chronicles, but it is the ending that makes this book such a success. I was completely shocked by what happened and a little sad. But, when I sat down and really thought about it, I was in awe of Ms. Cooper’s skill in manipulating her characters into horrible situations but it still feeling organic to the story. She definitely knows how to end a book with a bang and leave her readers wanting more.
Cherry is sinking deeper and deeper into despair and her opium addiction in this book. The two sides to her life are conflicting more and more. She finds herself drawn back into the society scene when Cornelius returns, but she also has her debt to Karakash Veil hanging over her head. The two groups clash in a fascinating scene near the end of the novel and it was interesting to see the contrasts, especially Micajah versus Cornelius. By the end of the novel, Cherry has hit rock bottom and I am interested to see how Ms. Cooper will be able to drag her back up.
I do still enjoy Cherry as a character and loved learning even more about her family, but I’m really worried for her. I loved the progress she seemed to make throughout the book but the ending just shattered everything and left her worse off than in the beginning. I love the cast of characters that populate Cherry’s life, especially Zylla, Cornelius, and Lady Rutledge. I’m still undecided about Micajah Hawke; we don’t learn much more about him and I still don’t trust him. It will be interesting to see who Cherry considers her allies in the next book. I would also like to learn more about the fallout between Cherry’s mother and Cornelius’ mother. Also, I don’t quite trust Cornelius’ younger brother and am sure we haven’t seen the last of him.
The focus of this book is still the mysterious Ripper and the traces of an alchemical formula that Cherry owes to the Karakash Veil. Not much progress is made on either front, but Cherry does find a few interesting nuggets of information. I’m beginning to develop a suspicion about who the Ripper is, but I’m going to play it close to the vest for now. Cheery is also working on a mystery presented to her by Lady Rutledge that involves murder at the King’s College. A larger portion of this book focuses on Cherry’s society life and we get to see how she is treated by different people based on her parents’ legacies. Cornelius is her one rock in society and I thought the developments between them were nicely done.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was even better than the debut novel, Tarnished. The ending was masterfully done and I can’t wait to see how the repercussions shape the next story in the St. Croix Chronicles.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Avon for providing an ARC copy of this book!
Gilded was another fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable outing in the St. Croix Chronicles, but it is the ending that makes this book such a success. I was completely shocked by what happened and a little sad. But, when I sat down and really thought about it, I was in awe of Ms. Cooper’s skill in manipulating her characters into horrible situations but it still feeling organic to the story. She definitely knows how to end a book with a bang and leave her readers wanting more.
Cherry is sinking deeper and deeper into despair and her opium addiction in this book. The two sides to her life are conflicting more and more. She finds herself drawn back into the society scene when Cornelius returns, but she also has her debt to Karakash Veil hanging over her head. The two groups clash in a fascinating scene near the end of the novel and it was interesting to see the contrasts, especially Micajah versus Cornelius. By the end of the novel, Cherry has hit rock bottom and I am interested to see how Ms. Cooper will be able to drag her back up.
I do still enjoy Cherry as a character and loved learning even more about her family, but I’m really worried for her. I loved the progress she seemed to make throughout the book but the ending just shattered everything and left her worse off than in the beginning. I love the cast of characters that populate Cherry’s life, especially Zylla, Cornelius, and Lady Rutledge. I’m still undecided about Micajah Hawke; we don’t learn much more about him and I still don’t trust him. It will be interesting to see who Cherry considers her allies in the next book. I would also like to learn more about the fallout between Cherry’s mother and Cornelius’ mother. Also, I don’t quite trust Cornelius’ younger brother and am sure we haven’t seen the last of him.
The focus of this book is still the mysterious Ripper and the traces of an alchemical formula that Cherry owes to the Karakash Veil. Not much progress is made on either front, but Cherry does find a few interesting nuggets of information. I’m beginning to develop a suspicion about who the Ripper is, but I’m going to play it close to the vest for now. Cheery is also working on a mystery presented to her by Lady Rutledge that involves murder at the King’s College. A larger portion of this book focuses on Cherry’s society life and we get to see how she is treated by different people based on her parents’ legacies. Cornelius is her one rock in society and I thought the developments between them were nicely done.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it was even better than the debut novel, Tarnished. The ending was masterfully done and I can’t wait to see how the repercussions shape the next story in the St. Croix Chronicles.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Avon for providing an ARC copy of this book!
September 15, 2013
http://vampchix.blogspot.com
Cherry St. Croix is part Francesca Cahill (from the Brenda Joyce books) and part Sherlock Holmes. Her methods are unorthodox, her addiction is secretive, and her nights are spent leading a double life that is most unbecoming to those in Victorian society, should they ever find out. Cherry is also curious, loyal, intelligent, and by the end of Gilded, vengeful and...empty.
What appealed to me with Tarnished (book 1) was that Cherry was different from all the women in many popular books these days. She doesn't possess any magical powers, she isn't obscenely attractive and oozing sex appeal, and she uses her razor-sharp mind to investigate and collect bounties, something she does to support her addiction to opium, mainly in its laudanum form, although she isn't above using the other forms, like smoking or eating, when necessary. In other words, she is flawed and real. Gilded showcases Cherry as even more dedicated towards finding the truth, even more determined to avoid the trappings of society, and by the end, driven to seek revenge. My heart bled with this book. My mind reeled as events began to unfold and I wanted to scream at Cherry, "No, do not do this thing!" but as with all page turners you must follow the characters to the end even when that path is not what you would have chosen for them. A ruthless murderer has put Cherry in his sights and he knows of her real identity, leaving taunting clues in her house and forcing her to take risks that place her in harm's way and threatens her confidence. She seems to always be one step behind or a second too late. This case in particular threatens Cherry and will change the course of her life forever.
Rarely have I wanted a next book so badly, and rarer still when the happenings of a book kept me so focused days after finishing. My mind is running away with possibilities and Corroded, Fall 2013, cannot come soon enough! Cherry has a difficult road ahead and my hope is that she will turn to Hawke for help and that he is able to give it. I think she will need him, despite her wishes to the contrary, in order to regain her sanity and catch a most diabolical killer. Karina Cooper continues to deliver powerfully emotional and imaginative narratives that bring her version of Victorian London to life in a way that leaves readers begging for more.
The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway, a Cherry St. Croix novella, will be available August 5th from Amazon, B&N, and Carina Press, with 50% of the proceeds being donated to Make A Wish Foundation. I can't think of a better way to spend a few bucks...you get an awesome Cherry novella that tells of her very first bounty, plus the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped a child. It's a win-win all around and I am happy to make the purchase.
Corroded, St. Croix #3, will be out in the Fall...and I've already marked my calendar with bright red Sharpie!!!
Cherry St. Croix is part Francesca Cahill (from the Brenda Joyce books) and part Sherlock Holmes. Her methods are unorthodox, her addiction is secretive, and her nights are spent leading a double life that is most unbecoming to those in Victorian society, should they ever find out. Cherry is also curious, loyal, intelligent, and by the end of Gilded, vengeful and...empty.
What appealed to me with Tarnished (book 1) was that Cherry was different from all the women in many popular books these days. She doesn't possess any magical powers, she isn't obscenely attractive and oozing sex appeal, and she uses her razor-sharp mind to investigate and collect bounties, something she does to support her addiction to opium, mainly in its laudanum form, although she isn't above using the other forms, like smoking or eating, when necessary. In other words, she is flawed and real. Gilded showcases Cherry as even more dedicated towards finding the truth, even more determined to avoid the trappings of society, and by the end, driven to seek revenge. My heart bled with this book. My mind reeled as events began to unfold and I wanted to scream at Cherry, "No, do not do this thing!" but as with all page turners you must follow the characters to the end even when that path is not what you would have chosen for them. A ruthless murderer has put Cherry in his sights and he knows of her real identity, leaving taunting clues in her house and forcing her to take risks that place her in harm's way and threatens her confidence. She seems to always be one step behind or a second too late. This case in particular threatens Cherry and will change the course of her life forever.
Rarely have I wanted a next book so badly, and rarer still when the happenings of a book kept me so focused days after finishing. My mind is running away with possibilities and Corroded, Fall 2013, cannot come soon enough! Cherry has a difficult road ahead and my hope is that she will turn to Hawke for help and that he is able to give it. I think she will need him, despite her wishes to the contrary, in order to regain her sanity and catch a most diabolical killer. Karina Cooper continues to deliver powerfully emotional and imaginative narratives that bring her version of Victorian London to life in a way that leaves readers begging for more.
The Mysterious Case of Mr. Strangeway, a Cherry St. Croix novella, will be available August 5th from Amazon, B&N, and Carina Press, with 50% of the proceeds being donated to Make A Wish Foundation. I can't think of a better way to spend a few bucks...you get an awesome Cherry novella that tells of her very first bounty, plus the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped a child. It's a win-win all around and I am happy to make the purchase.
Corroded, St. Croix #3, will be out in the Fall...and I've already marked my calendar with bright red Sharpie!!!
December 28, 2012
4.5 stars!
Gilded is the second in Karina Cooper's St. Croix Chronicles, which follows a feisty and intelligent heroine through an alternate Victorian London. Cherry's life should be simple - attend fancy soirees, collect her inheritance when she turns twenty-one in less than a year, and marry a rich and handsome man that will take care of her. But instead Cherry lives a double life as a collector, battles an opium addiction, and can't stay away from hunting murderers.
All of my issues with the first book in this series are resolved in this sequel. The plot is faster paced and more exciting, as it focuses heavily on Cherry chasing down a murderer who is killing off professors. This plot line tied in nicely with the story line involving Cherry's father and alchemy from the first book. We get not only the mystery of who the killer is, but also a fun second mystery as to how the killer is doing it.
The plots involving Jack the Ripper and the sweet tooth killer are both in this book as well, but they don't play as much of a role for most of the book. It seems like Cherry might be pursuing these two throughout the whole of the series.
In Tarnished we were introduced to two would-be love interests for Cherry, both with their advantages and disadvantages. In Gilded we get to know one of those men a little better. Lord Compton's determination to make Cherry his wife is sweet and I found him very likable in this book. Even though I still don't think he is the right match for her, I warmed up to him in this one. His mother and all of her society friends are even crueler to Cherry in this book than the last, which I didn't think was even possible. There were many heart-wrenching scenes that made my heart go out to her.
Hawke, or Cage, is absent for a good part of the book. Fortunately, in the few scenes he is in he really shines. He is dark and mysterious and its obvious that even if he did have feelings for Cherry, which we still don't really know, his loyalty is to the Veil. I'm very interested to see where things with him will go in the next book.
Gilded is a wild ride of hunting down clues, navigating high-society, evading a murderer, and making tough romantic choices. And if that's not enough for you, the shocking events that occur in the last handful of chapters will have readers begging for book three!
Recommended for fans of: historical fiction, Jack the Ripper, murder mysteries, Victorian London, and steampunk.
This review is based on an advance copy of the book, provided by the publisher.
Read more of my reviews at: http://goldiloxandthethreeweres.blogs...
Gilded is the second in Karina Cooper's St. Croix Chronicles, which follows a feisty and intelligent heroine through an alternate Victorian London. Cherry's life should be simple - attend fancy soirees, collect her inheritance when she turns twenty-one in less than a year, and marry a rich and handsome man that will take care of her. But instead Cherry lives a double life as a collector, battles an opium addiction, and can't stay away from hunting murderers.
All of my issues with the first book in this series are resolved in this sequel. The plot is faster paced and more exciting, as it focuses heavily on Cherry chasing down a murderer who is killing off professors. This plot line tied in nicely with the story line involving Cherry's father and alchemy from the first book. We get not only the mystery of who the killer is, but also a fun second mystery as to how the killer is doing it.
The plots involving Jack the Ripper and the sweet tooth killer are both in this book as well, but they don't play as much of a role for most of the book. It seems like Cherry might be pursuing these two throughout the whole of the series.
In Tarnished we were introduced to two would-be love interests for Cherry, both with their advantages and disadvantages. In Gilded we get to know one of those men a little better. Lord Compton's determination to make Cherry his wife is sweet and I found him very likable in this book. Even though I still don't think he is the right match for her, I warmed up to him in this one. His mother and all of her society friends are even crueler to Cherry in this book than the last, which I didn't think was even possible. There were many heart-wrenching scenes that made my heart go out to her.
Hawke, or Cage, is absent for a good part of the book. Fortunately, in the few scenes he is in he really shines. He is dark and mysterious and its obvious that even if he did have feelings for Cherry, which we still don't really know, his loyalty is to the Veil. I'm very interested to see where things with him will go in the next book.
Gilded is a wild ride of hunting down clues, navigating high-society, evading a murderer, and making tough romantic choices. And if that's not enough for you, the shocking events that occur in the last handful of chapters will have readers begging for book three!
Recommended for fans of: historical fiction, Jack the Ripper, murder mysteries, Victorian London, and steampunk.
This review is based on an advance copy of the book, provided by the publisher.
Read more of my reviews at: http://goldiloxandthethreeweres.blogs...
December 26, 2012
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION’s Pack Alpha – Michelle L. Olson:
I really enjoyed the first installment of Karina’s ST CROIX CHRONICLES, "Tarnished", but the sequel blew me away. My exact, 'first thought' words upon completion were: "Hells bells & damn Karina... You butter us up for a book & a 1/2 and then drop THAT on us!? Just wow. The series is getting better & darker & I want the next one now!"
Once again we're immersed in a split world, that of London above and below, where the line between the classes is darkly drawn, and where Cherry is not quite completely a part of either.
Gilded picks up where Tarnished left off with Cherry trying to fit in with the upper-crusters of London above, but continuing her work as a Collector below the drift as she tries to get over the ordeal she went through in Tarnished.
Immediately upon starting out she's battling her demons, both real-world and inner, while trying to make her chaperone happy by entertaining the advances of Lord Compton and attending soirees. In true Cherry St. Croix fashion however, she remains outspoken and doesn't shy away from her love of science and the mystery therein, thereby shocking and scandalizing society and intriguing Lord Compton all the more.
The heart of Gilded revolves around Cherry’s quest to solve Lady Rutledge's riddle about some mysterious murders of Men of the University while still playing a game of cat and mouse with the mysterious collector who both hindered and helped her in Tarnished.
Once again Karina weaves a wonderfully magical tale of Victorian Gothic literature using some of the best aspects of the classics we all know and love and gives us an utterly spell-binding read.
Not only was the mystery amazing, the action was captivating, and that ending... holy cow! I said I wasn't going to forget Tarnished anytime soon, that goes doubly for Gilded. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Gilded 4 1/2 Skulls.
I really enjoyed the first installment of Karina’s ST CROIX CHRONICLES, "Tarnished", but the sequel blew me away. My exact, 'first thought' words upon completion were: "Hells bells & damn Karina... You butter us up for a book & a 1/2 and then drop THAT on us!? Just wow. The series is getting better & darker & I want the next one now!"
Once again we're immersed in a split world, that of London above and below, where the line between the classes is darkly drawn, and where Cherry is not quite completely a part of either.
Gilded picks up where Tarnished left off with Cherry trying to fit in with the upper-crusters of London above, but continuing her work as a Collector below the drift as she tries to get over the ordeal she went through in Tarnished.
Immediately upon starting out she's battling her demons, both real-world and inner, while trying to make her chaperone happy by entertaining the advances of Lord Compton and attending soirees. In true Cherry St. Croix fashion however, she remains outspoken and doesn't shy away from her love of science and the mystery therein, thereby shocking and scandalizing society and intriguing Lord Compton all the more.
The heart of Gilded revolves around Cherry’s quest to solve Lady Rutledge's riddle about some mysterious murders of Men of the University while still playing a game of cat and mouse with the mysterious collector who both hindered and helped her in Tarnished.
Once again Karina weaves a wonderfully magical tale of Victorian Gothic literature using some of the best aspects of the classics we all know and love and gives us an utterly spell-binding read.
Not only was the mystery amazing, the action was captivating, and that ending... holy cow! I said I wasn't going to forget Tarnished anytime soon, that goes doubly for Gilded. I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!
LITERAL ADDICTION gives Gilded 4 1/2 Skulls.
January 6, 2013
This second installment of the St. Croix Chronicles finds our dear Cherry a woman on the verge. She sits on the threshold of her inheritance, new found love and social standing, and as always...on the trail of a murder.
Life has never been what one would hazard to call easy for young Cherry St.Croix; what with her father being a mad scientist who tried to kill her in order to resurrect her dead mother, her ever present hunger for opium, and her unseemly associations with the Karakash Veil and a certain Mr Hawke. Such is her life however, and a certain Earl and his meddling mother are not making things any better.
Professors are dying, and Cherry St. Croix has been charged with the task of finding out why?
As the mystery deepens Miss St. Croix comes to find that the answers to the gruesome questions that she is being forced to ask rest a lot closer to the pristine streets of the rarefied social elite than anyone would have ever dared guess.
Cherry's story is as captivating as ever, as she walks the tightrope between her lives above and below the drift with surprising grace. The problem however is that the separation between the two is becoming harder to determine as the days pass. Though the pace of this novel is considerably slower than than that of Tarnished, that by no means should be interpreted as it's being any less action packed.
The difference being that the action and intrigue here is based more firmly in the society that Cherry has tried to avoid.
As things heat up for Cherry on both sides of her double life, and the story twists and turns in a labyrinthine maze of murder, magic, science, steampunk, and society; readers will not want to miss a minute of this spine tingling tale.
This is an honest review of a literary work. The reviewer has in no way been compensated for opinions expressed herein.
To see this review as it appears on my blog go to: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2013/...
Life has never been what one would hazard to call easy for young Cherry St.Croix; what with her father being a mad scientist who tried to kill her in order to resurrect her dead mother, her ever present hunger for opium, and her unseemly associations with the Karakash Veil and a certain Mr Hawke. Such is her life however, and a certain Earl and his meddling mother are not making things any better.
Professors are dying, and Cherry St. Croix has been charged with the task of finding out why?
As the mystery deepens Miss St. Croix comes to find that the answers to the gruesome questions that she is being forced to ask rest a lot closer to the pristine streets of the rarefied social elite than anyone would have ever dared guess.
Cherry's story is as captivating as ever, as she walks the tightrope between her lives above and below the drift with surprising grace. The problem however is that the separation between the two is becoming harder to determine as the days pass. Though the pace of this novel is considerably slower than than that of Tarnished, that by no means should be interpreted as it's being any less action packed.
The difference being that the action and intrigue here is based more firmly in the society that Cherry has tried to avoid.
As things heat up for Cherry on both sides of her double life, and the story twists and turns in a labyrinthine maze of murder, magic, science, steampunk, and society; readers will not want to miss a minute of this spine tingling tale.
This is an honest review of a literary work. The reviewer has in no way been compensated for opinions expressed herein.
To see this review as it appears on my blog go to: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2013/...
September 8, 2013
Review can be found here couresty of Romance Junkies
Cherry St. Croix leads a double life. During the day, she is the black sheep of the cruel Society she was born into and the bane to LAMB (Ladies of Admirable Mores) - a group of haughty noblewoman who write a column in the society papers of the expect behavior of a proper lady of Society. The nights, she sheds propriety, blackens her hair, and dons trousers to become the only female Collector in the drift.
Almost a month has passed since Cherry’s last misadventure in book one, TARNISHED. Now indebted to the Midnight Menagerie for saving her life, considered their “pet” collector, until she can find her father’s serum. If that was not all, a suitor she thought gone returns, redoubling his efforts for her hand. One of Society’s Lady Matrons issues a challenge, to solve a mystery that embroiders Cherry in the dark side of things.
I liked how not too much time has passed between book one and GILDED. I got the feeling there was an undercurrent with Zylphia’s character that the author was not telling us just yet. That she was setting something up for future use. The pace moved with no lagging, and I especially like how Cooper dropped the little nugget dealing with her mother and Cherry’s arch nemesis, Marchioness Northampton. Cherry and Cornelius budding romance gave a break to the grittiness and dark nature of the story. The twist Cooper delivered near the end of the book left me gaping in disbelief, near to tears, which soon morphed into melancholy. That part did seem to color the rest of the book for me but my heart broke for Cherry.
GILDED is a grab-you-by-the-throat read. The moment I sat down to start GILDED, I wanted to gobble up the pages. It engaged a wild range of emotions from me. Even though the part near the end colored the ending, it only whets my interest to see what direction the author intends for Cherry.
Cherry St. Croix leads a double life. During the day, she is the black sheep of the cruel Society she was born into and the bane to LAMB (Ladies of Admirable Mores) - a group of haughty noblewoman who write a column in the society papers of the expect behavior of a proper lady of Society. The nights, she sheds propriety, blackens her hair, and dons trousers to become the only female Collector in the drift.
Almost a month has passed since Cherry’s last misadventure in book one, TARNISHED. Now indebted to the Midnight Menagerie for saving her life, considered their “pet” collector, until she can find her father’s serum. If that was not all, a suitor she thought gone returns, redoubling his efforts for her hand. One of Society’s Lady Matrons issues a challenge, to solve a mystery that embroiders Cherry in the dark side of things.
I liked how not too much time has passed between book one and GILDED. I got the feeling there was an undercurrent with Zylphia’s character that the author was not telling us just yet. That she was setting something up for future use. The pace moved with no lagging, and I especially like how Cooper dropped the little nugget dealing with her mother and Cherry’s arch nemesis, Marchioness Northampton. Cherry and Cornelius budding romance gave a break to the grittiness and dark nature of the story. The twist Cooper delivered near the end of the book left me gaping in disbelief, near to tears, which soon morphed into melancholy. That part did seem to color the rest of the book for me but my heart broke for Cherry.
GILDED is a grab-you-by-the-throat read. The moment I sat down to start GILDED, I wanted to gobble up the pages. It engaged a wild range of emotions from me. Even though the part near the end colored the ending, it only whets my interest to see what direction the author intends for Cherry.
November 22, 2012
Gilded, the second installment in the St. Croix Chronicles, was a more emotional story than the debut with strong character development and a heartbreaking ending that left me speechless.
Cherry finds herself involved in a search for a murderer, trying to discover the identity of the collector who has taken a disturbing interest in her, and attempting to uncover her mad father's secrets.
We learned in the series' debut that Cherry is a bold and spirited protagonist who greatly values her independence. She ignores the pressures from society and her chaperone, Fanny, to tie herself to a man by marrying him. She has no need of an arrangement for financial or emotional gain and cares little about what others think when it comes to her single, unwed status.
All of these beliefs and values are tested by the return of a man she didn't expect to see again. Earl Compton reappears with little explanation for his absence and a renewed determination in pursuing a relationship with Cherry. But with Compton's attention comes his mother's disapproval and Cherry must deal with the torment of social vipers determined to demean and humiliate her.
Along with these complications, Cherry is also struggling with her laudanum addiction and the nightmares and lack of sleep caused by her need of a larger supply.
It seems as if she can't catch a break and I'm hoping that somehow circumstances will begin to turn in her favor. She'll have a long way to go and there are many problems left to solve, but I adore Cherry and will be rooting for her all the way. I've become emotionally invested in her story's outcome and I'm anxious to see what Cooper will deliver next.
Fans of dark steampunk mysteries, the St. Croix Chronicles is a must-read.
Cherry finds herself involved in a search for a murderer, trying to discover the identity of the collector who has taken a disturbing interest in her, and attempting to uncover her mad father's secrets.
We learned in the series' debut that Cherry is a bold and spirited protagonist who greatly values her independence. She ignores the pressures from society and her chaperone, Fanny, to tie herself to a man by marrying him. She has no need of an arrangement for financial or emotional gain and cares little about what others think when it comes to her single, unwed status.
All of these beliefs and values are tested by the return of a man she didn't expect to see again. Earl Compton reappears with little explanation for his absence and a renewed determination in pursuing a relationship with Cherry. But with Compton's attention comes his mother's disapproval and Cherry must deal with the torment of social vipers determined to demean and humiliate her.
Along with these complications, Cherry is also struggling with her laudanum addiction and the nightmares and lack of sleep caused by her need of a larger supply.
It seems as if she can't catch a break and I'm hoping that somehow circumstances will begin to turn in her favor. She'll have a long way to go and there are many problems left to solve, but I adore Cherry and will be rooting for her all the way. I've become emotionally invested in her story's outcome and I'm anxious to see what Cooper will deliver next.
Fans of dark steampunk mysteries, the St. Croix Chronicles is a must-read.
July 26, 2013
Once again I'm torn on my rating.
★★★★'s for World Building. Its an interesting and intriguing Sci-Fi twist to a fantasy-London.
★★★'s for the premise and execution of the story. I was definitely deeply involved in the mystery.
It's well written, and I had no trouble visualizing. And despite my irritation at certain characters and decisions, it still managed to garner an emotional response from me, which I always count as a good thing. And although marketed as a romance, I found that the mystery murder over-rode it nicely fitting more into the Steam-punk Adventure genre. (My personal opinion of course! And it could just be that, not being a major fan of romance, I simply glanced over that aspect.)
★★'s for the ending.
In short, I expected so much more from the second novel.
I don't want to add in any spoilers, however, be prepared for a minor cliff-hanger.
Not to mention the number of unanswered questions, and the ambiguity of certain character's actions/suggestions. I understand that as a series, some aspects are left open for future novels, but this just irked me.
Often, and throughout the novel, side notes are made, Later I would realise...; Later I would come to understand...; I would later regret... and yet - later never seemed to arrive and get explained.
And right at the end of the novel, our protagonist suddenly has a... I dunno. Fit of Conscience? Minor personality split? Whatever it was, she acted quite out of character.(though perhaps its only me.)which once again irritated me slightly.
I'll most likely read the next installment, in the hope that things become a little clearer, and that some of my questions finally received satisfactory answers.
★★★★'s for World Building. Its an interesting and intriguing Sci-Fi twist to a fantasy-London.
★★★'s for the premise and execution of the story. I was definitely deeply involved in the mystery.
It's well written, and I had no trouble visualizing. And despite my irritation at certain characters and decisions, it still managed to garner an emotional response from me, which I always count as a good thing. And although marketed as a romance, I found that the mystery murder over-rode it nicely fitting more into the Steam-punk Adventure genre. (My personal opinion of course! And it could just be that, not being a major fan of romance, I simply glanced over that aspect.)
★★'s for the ending.
In short, I expected so much more from the second novel.
I don't want to add in any spoilers, however, be prepared for a minor cliff-hanger.
Not to mention the number of unanswered questions, and the ambiguity of certain character's actions/suggestions. I understand that as a series, some aspects are left open for future novels, but this just irked me.
Often, and throughout the novel, side notes are made, Later I would realise...; Later I would come to understand...; I would later regret... and yet - later never seemed to arrive and get explained.
And right at the end of the novel, our protagonist suddenly has a... I dunno. Fit of Conscience? Minor personality split? Whatever it was, she acted quite out of character.(though perhaps its only me.)which once again irritated me slightly.
I'll most likely read the next installment, in the hope that things become a little clearer, and that some of my questions finally received satisfactory answers.
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