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Electric Empire #1
The Diabolical Miss Hyde
Forensic science, magic, mystery, and romance mix in this edgy steampunk fantasy—a retelling of the horror classic, in which Dr. Eliza Jekyll, daughter of the infamous Dr. Henry Jekyll—pursues a dangerous murderer in an alternate Victorian London.
In an electrified Victorian London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with newfangled technological gadgets. She will need every advantage available to catch a terrifying new psychopath splattering London with blood. Hidden in the grimy shadows, the fiendish murderer preys on beautiful women, drugging them before slicing off their limbs. Finding the “Slicer” can make Eliza’s career . . . or unmask her darkest secret. Like her father, she has a hidden second self that emerges when she drinks his forbidden magical elixir. Just a few sips, and a seductive and impulsive Lizzie Hyde is unleashed.
The members of the Royal Society do not trust Eliza, and they send their enforcer, the mercurial Captain Lafayette, to prove she’s a dangerous sorceress. The careful doctor knows that one wrong step can make her prey to the clever Lafayette, a man who harbors an evil curse of his own. No matter how much she craves the elixir, she must resist.
But as the Slicer case draws her into London’s luminous magical underworld, Eliza will need the potion’s power to help her . . . even if it might attract the attentions of Lafayette. .
Even if it means setting the wild Lizzie free. . . .
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 367 reviews
September 19, 2017
There is a murderer loose in London that is slicing of women’s limbs for some insidious purpose. Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator and she is called out to the first crime scene and there she meets Captain Lafayette from the Royal Society. She must be very careful around him since magic is strictly forbidden and the Captain is hunting anyone that uses magic of any kind. But the need for her to take the elixir is sometimes too strong for her to resist.
I bought The Diabolical Miss Hyde a couple of months ago, well this spring actually. And, I even started to read it, but then other books came between and then a couple of weeks ago did I finally return to it. And, oh Wow! This is a fantastical great steampunk book.
I liked Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde very much and I liked that Lizzie and Captain Lafayette relationship which is, even more, interesting because Eliza isn’t feeling the same way about him and since they share the same body is that a bit of a problem. The same body? Yes, Eliza and Lizzie are “the daughter” of Henry Jekyll from the classic book: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And, Eliza is the good daughter and Lizzie is the bad one that is turned loose when Eliza drinks her father’s elixir.
I loved that the book had no vampires or that it felt YA. Instead, it felt gloriously dark and adult to read. Yes, the story could be a bit predictable. It wasn’t that hard to figure out who was the guardian for Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde and I wasn’t that surprised when the true killer was revealed. But, nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book immensely.
I was very curious about Eliza’s “relationship” with Razor Jack (Malachi Todd), a serial killer that she caught before everything happened in this book. Eliza and Todd felt a bit like Clarice and Hannibal Lecter. I especially got that vibe when she was in the mental hospital where he is and he is telling her what the killers want (well telling her very subtle, she had to figure it out herself of course). Does it feel a bit weird to ship Eliza with Jack? Yeah, it does, but I just can’t help it. And then again Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris) is hardly a saint and I liked him. I hope to read in the future about how Eliza captured him, not just as a flashback in a book. I want the whole story.
I bought The Diabolical Miss Hyde a couple of months ago, well this spring actually. And, I even started to read it, but then other books came between and then a couple of weeks ago did I finally return to it. And, oh Wow! This is a fantastical great steampunk book.
I liked Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde very much and I liked that Lizzie and Captain Lafayette relationship which is, even more, interesting because Eliza isn’t feeling the same way about him and since they share the same body is that a bit of a problem. The same body? Yes, Eliza and Lizzie are “the daughter” of Henry Jekyll from the classic book: The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And, Eliza is the good daughter and Lizzie is the bad one that is turned loose when Eliza drinks her father’s elixir.
I loved that the book had no vampires or that it felt YA. Instead, it felt gloriously dark and adult to read. Yes, the story could be a bit predictable. It wasn’t that hard to figure out who was the guardian for Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde and I wasn’t that surprised when the true killer was revealed. But, nevertheless, I enjoyed reading this book immensely.
I was very curious about Eliza’s “relationship” with Razor Jack (Malachi Todd), a serial killer that she caught before everything happened in this book. Eliza and Todd felt a bit like Clarice and Hannibal Lecter. I especially got that vibe when she was in the mental hospital where he is and he is telling her what the killers want (well telling her very subtle, she had to figure it out herself of course). Does it feel a bit weird to ship Eliza with Jack? Yeah, it does, but I just can’t help it. And then again Eric Northman (Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris) is hardly a saint and I liked him. I hope to read in the future about how Eliza captured him, not just as a flashback in a book. I want the whole story.
June 23, 2017
"I want you to meet your new sister, he'd said that night, as she trembled, the hot sweet scent of elixir watering her thirsty mouth. Perhaps you've dreamt of her. Her name is Lizzie Hyde, and she wants you to be happy...but you mustn't ever make her angry, my sweet. You mustn't ever betray her. She won't understand."
The Diabolical Miss Hyde is one of those cases where the book itself is nice and creative, but you're just not feeling it. I mean, a gender-bender Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde should have been perfect for me, and it combines elements from Jack the Ripper and Frankenstein, with a dash of steampunk to jazz up its Victorian setting.
I did like the relationship between Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde. Her shadow self resents Eliza for locking her away, but also takes care of her in a way much like an older sister. The writing styles compliments their dual perspectives perfectly. Eliza's POV is in third-person, symbolizing her more "orderly" nature, someone more polite and rational; while Lizzie's POV is first-person, all emotion and impulse, suitably intimate.
Captain Lafayette, the main love interest, didn't capture my attention though. He's kind of typical—charming, rude, sarcastic, in a position of authority compared to the MC... but lacks genuine spark. Peel back his layers and he's absolutely empty.
The writing's also a bit weird in places. You can clearly see sentences where the author was straining for metaphors or just tacked one on for aesthetic reasons.
I'd say give it a try anyway because the concept is quite lovely and the story is solid. But it just didn't work for me.
February 16, 2015
I rarely gush about books, or review them, unless they are simply so full of awesome that I have to share my love with the world! Let's just say, I adored this book. It's dark, the mystery is fascinating, the world building is fantastic, and the characters are just... incredible. At first, after meeting Lizzie, I thought it was going to be difficult for Eliza to be half as compelling, but she definitely held her own, and I loved the interaction between the two. They are both protective of each other (not just because they share the same body), but also interact a little like sister's, though, with the revelations of their respective love interests, I think there is definitely going to be some forthcoming conflict in the next book.
The plot: A little bit Silence of the Lambs meets Penny Dreadful meets Jekyll and Hyde. It's fast-paced, unpredictable, and although I did have a certain feeling about who the murderer was, the author laced other suspects through really well and I began to doubt myself. His motivations were a little chilling, but I couldn't wait to see how it ended. He was also not the most dangerous person around either (:
Some of my favourite parts:
Mr. Todd. Let's just say, there's a reason we are fascinated with Hannibal Lector, and Mr. Todd is just as compelling. Every time he was in the scene, I was both curious about him, his fascination with Eliza, and also sitting on the edge of my chair, because his motives are just so unpredictable. From the ending, I have a nervous little feeling he and Eliza are going to meet again, and I'm not certain how it's going to play out.
Lizzie Hyde - the darker side of Eliza, she's her own character, trapped inside until Eliza needs her or takes her special formula. Lizzie is wild, sensual and bawdy - she's every dark instinct inside Eliza unleashed - though I loved her vulnerabilities. She's very much afraid that Eliza is trying to get rid of her, and that nobody wants her as much as they want Eliza in her life. When romance rears it's head, those same vulnerabilities play out.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll: near-sighted, highly intelligent corpse examiner, who is trying to be a woman in a man's world. Eliza is just as wonderful as Lizzie, though perhaps she's got an even darker side. Lizzie might be vice personified, but she's incredibly honest about it. Eliza is hiding some very dangerous inclinations, and as the story progresses, she finds it more and more difficult to control Lizzie.
Remy: sexy, Remy with his own dark secrets. The conversation between he and Eliza is wonderful, and laced with tension, though I'm not sure if something is going to happen there. As for he and Lizzie, I love the way she sees him, truly sees him, and his secrets, though she doubts that he is actually interested in her, and feels jealousy about Eliza on this one. Is this a love triangle. Um, no? Eliza has her own... interests. If that's not your thing, don't think it will play out the way I'm making it sound. It's very much not a love triangle at this stage, though I'm wondering how it's going to go.
Overall, this is one of the best steampunk mysteries I've read. It is meticulously plotted, fast-paced, fascinating and dark, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen in book two!
The plot: A little bit Silence of the Lambs meets Penny Dreadful meets Jekyll and Hyde. It's fast-paced, unpredictable, and although I did have a certain feeling about who the murderer was, the author laced other suspects through really well and I began to doubt myself. His motivations were a little chilling, but I couldn't wait to see how it ended. He was also not the most dangerous person around either (:
Some of my favourite parts:
Mr. Todd. Let's just say, there's a reason we are fascinated with Hannibal Lector, and Mr. Todd is just as compelling. Every time he was in the scene, I was both curious about him, his fascination with Eliza, and also sitting on the edge of my chair, because his motives are just so unpredictable. From the ending, I have a nervous little feeling he and Eliza are going to meet again, and I'm not certain how it's going to play out.
Lizzie Hyde - the darker side of Eliza, she's her own character, trapped inside until Eliza needs her or takes her special formula. Lizzie is wild, sensual and bawdy - she's every dark instinct inside Eliza unleashed - though I loved her vulnerabilities. She's very much afraid that Eliza is trying to get rid of her, and that nobody wants her as much as they want Eliza in her life. When romance rears it's head, those same vulnerabilities play out.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll: near-sighted, highly intelligent corpse examiner, who is trying to be a woman in a man's world. Eliza is just as wonderful as Lizzie, though perhaps she's got an even darker side. Lizzie might be vice personified, but she's incredibly honest about it. Eliza is hiding some very dangerous inclinations, and as the story progresses, she finds it more and more difficult to control Lizzie.
Remy: sexy, Remy with his own dark secrets. The conversation between he and Eliza is wonderful, and laced with tension, though I'm not sure if something is going to happen there. As for he and Lizzie, I love the way she sees him, truly sees him, and his secrets, though she doubts that he is actually interested in her, and feels jealousy about Eliza on this one. Is this a love triangle. Um, no? Eliza has her own... interests. If that's not your thing, don't think it will play out the way I'm making it sound. It's very much not a love triangle at this stage, though I'm wondering how it's going to go.
Overall, this is one of the best steampunk mysteries I've read. It is meticulously plotted, fast-paced, fascinating and dark, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen in book two!
March 11, 2016
This review appears on Happy Indulgence. Check it out for more reviews!
Steampunk isn’t my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Diabolical Miss Hyde. While it isn’t particularly heavy on the steampunk elements, the gender swapped Jekyll/Hyde story in a fey-ridden Victorian London gave the story an interesting twist.
I’ve read the original Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and I’m pleased to say that in this book, the author takes the split personality concept and makes it her own. I loved the contrast between Dr Eliza Jekyll’s uptight, analytical personality, and her more voracious, impulsive alter ego, Lizzie. They both presented an interesting dynamic in a society that’s restrained and heavily slanted towards repressed women.
Dr Jekyll for instance, as a crime scene investigator, presents a paradox in herself. In Victorian London, women weren’t any better than staying at home and sewing, while leaving the real jobs to the men. But Eliza has chosen to educate herself and step out on her own, not shying away from murder scenes with her keen sense of logic. While many men continue to make sexist remarks and passes at her, she always makes quick work of them while solving crimes.
Lizzie on the other hand, is a seductress, representing the darker parts of Eliza. While Eliza sticks to the more respectable parts of London, investigating crimes, getting antidotes at the apocathery and and skirting around the handsome Captain Remy Lafayette, Lizzie spends her time in London’s underground, drinking, sleeping with others, and causing mischief. She’s fiesty, rash and confident, whose courage and boldness is needed at times.
Miss Hyde is narrated from Lizzie’s point of view, instead of dual perspectives. Although Lizzie and Eliza have a completely different way of viewing things, I enjoyed her perspective on Eliza’s journey throughout the story. It was interesting that they were both cognizant of each other, with each other’s memories and even talking to each other in their head at times. The way they were the best and worst parts of each other was interesting and used to their advantage during the story.
The plot centres around a murder mystery, where a killer is on the loose removing parts of women in their death. Every time Eliza gets close to solving the mystery and figuring out who the murderer is, the author would throw a curve ball in the way, veering the suspect off into a different direction. You’ll suspect absolutely everyone here, with the final killer as someone who I didn’t suspect. No one is as they seem here, and it really shows that people only show the faces that they want you to see.
Romance isn’t necessary in a story for me to enjoy it, but I particularly loved the romance here with Lafayette. It was interesting how different parts of him appealed to both Lizzie and Eliza and the chemistry between the both of them was absolutely hot! I loved how the romance presented yet another interesting side to the split personality – if he has a relationship with the both of them, is he technically cheating or being faithful? Definitely an interesting question to ponder!
While The Diabolical Miss Hyde isn’t normally something I would have picked up – it just goes to show reading outside your comfort zone can sometimes yield the best reward. I ended up absolutely loving every minute of it, from the interesting split personalities, to the fey underworld, to the saucy romance and the haunting murder mystery. I can see this appealing to anyone who loves a paranormal romance, those who love steampunk or murder mysteries and Sherlock. As for me, I’ll be putting the sequel onto my TBR!
Steampunk isn’t my usual genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed The Diabolical Miss Hyde. While it isn’t particularly heavy on the steampunk elements, the gender swapped Jekyll/Hyde story in a fey-ridden Victorian London gave the story an interesting twist.
I’ve read the original Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and I’m pleased to say that in this book, the author takes the split personality concept and makes it her own. I loved the contrast between Dr Eliza Jekyll’s uptight, analytical personality, and her more voracious, impulsive alter ego, Lizzie. They both presented an interesting dynamic in a society that’s restrained and heavily slanted towards repressed women.
Dr Jekyll for instance, as a crime scene investigator, presents a paradox in herself. In Victorian London, women weren’t any better than staying at home and sewing, while leaving the real jobs to the men. But Eliza has chosen to educate herself and step out on her own, not shying away from murder scenes with her keen sense of logic. While many men continue to make sexist remarks and passes at her, she always makes quick work of them while solving crimes.
Lizzie on the other hand, is a seductress, representing the darker parts of Eliza. While Eliza sticks to the more respectable parts of London, investigating crimes, getting antidotes at the apocathery and and skirting around the handsome Captain Remy Lafayette, Lizzie spends her time in London’s underground, drinking, sleeping with others, and causing mischief. She’s fiesty, rash and confident, whose courage and boldness is needed at times.
Miss Hyde is narrated from Lizzie’s point of view, instead of dual perspectives. Although Lizzie and Eliza have a completely different way of viewing things, I enjoyed her perspective on Eliza’s journey throughout the story. It was interesting that they were both cognizant of each other, with each other’s memories and even talking to each other in their head at times. The way they were the best and worst parts of each other was interesting and used to their advantage during the story.
The plot centres around a murder mystery, where a killer is on the loose removing parts of women in their death. Every time Eliza gets close to solving the mystery and figuring out who the murderer is, the author would throw a curve ball in the way, veering the suspect off into a different direction. You’ll suspect absolutely everyone here, with the final killer as someone who I didn’t suspect. No one is as they seem here, and it really shows that people only show the faces that they want you to see.
Romance isn’t necessary in a story for me to enjoy it, but I particularly loved the romance here with Lafayette. It was interesting how different parts of him appealed to both Lizzie and Eliza and the chemistry between the both of them was absolutely hot! I loved how the romance presented yet another interesting side to the split personality – if he has a relationship with the both of them, is he technically cheating or being faithful? Definitely an interesting question to ponder!
While The Diabolical Miss Hyde isn’t normally something I would have picked up – it just goes to show reading outside your comfort zone can sometimes yield the best reward. I ended up absolutely loving every minute of it, from the interesting split personalities, to the fey underworld, to the saucy romance and the haunting murder mystery. I can see this appealing to anyone who loves a paranormal romance, those who love steampunk or murder mysteries and Sherlock. As for me, I’ll be putting the sequel onto my TBR!
October 21, 2017
I read this for the Darkest London square for Halloween Bingo
In London, we've got murderers by the dozen. Rampsmen, garroters, wife beaters and baby farmers, poisoners and pie makers and folk who'll crack you over the noddle with a ha'penny cosh for the sake of your flashy watch chain and leave your meat for the rats. Never mind what you read in them penny dreadful: there ain't no romance in murder.
This was a mashup of steampunk, Victorian, Gothic, and classic horror. Our heroine is Dr. Eliza Jekyll AND Lizzie Hyde. She helps Inspector Griffin study crime scenes to catch the killers, currently trying to find The Chopper, and works/studies at Bedlam. Captain Lafayette comes on the scene, he works for the Royal Society. The Royal Society works to keep fey/magical people from society, they burn them when they find them. We also have a Mr. Todd who currently resides in Bedlam courtesy of Eliza, Finch who makes Eliza's elixir that helps keep Lizzie at bay, A.R. who is Eliza's mysterious benefactor, two doctors at Bedlam who may be up to no good, Johnny the mysterious fey boy, a Penny Dreadful writer, and a bunch of characters I'm probably forgetting because holy cow. All those characters I mentioned bring with them previously created horror themes. We've got Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (of course), Frankenstein, Werewolves, Sweeny Todd, Jack the Ripper, and a sort of Silence of the Lambs relationship. Again, I'm probably forgetting something.
It took me until around the 15% mark to get any sort of footing because of the amazing amount of characters and story threads happening, I felt like I was starting in the middle of a series. The Chopper plot started off the strongest and I thought that was the main one but towards the middle, it starts to get left behind as we focus more on Eliza and issues in her life. All male characters seem to be in love with her, which was sort of annoying and the few female characters seemed to be jealous of her.
I pull his hand beneath my skirts, between my thighs, an inch above my garter where the stiletto sings. "See?" My breath is sultry against his neck. "Told you I had a weapon."
"Consider me ambushed."
Eliza, Inspector Griffin, and Captain Lafayette had fun chemistry when they went back and forth in their conversations but then Griffin heads more to the sides and a romance teases around Lafayette and Eliza and Lizzie. This is clearly the first in a series that will follow Eliza and I'm sure there will be a deepening of this relationship as we just get the start here.
Most of this was in first person pov from Eliza, with Lizzie cutting in and as so, when action scenes happen it was sometimes hard to follow along. I'm sure the author had a clear picture in her mind of what was happening but as a new to the scene reader, it was far from being clear and some of it breezed by me, it would have been nice to have a third person overview.
Basically, this story was jammed packed with characters and storylines (Sir Isaac Newton makes an appearance and starts a storyline that I'm not sure was ever really explained) and I spent a lot of time feeling lost. It was different and interesting and I might try the second now that I have at least an introduction to the world and characters.
(If anyone has read this, who is supposed to be on the guy on the cover?! Johnny?)
In London, we've got murderers by the dozen. Rampsmen, garroters, wife beaters and baby farmers, poisoners and pie makers and folk who'll crack you over the noddle with a ha'penny cosh for the sake of your flashy watch chain and leave your meat for the rats. Never mind what you read in them penny dreadful: there ain't no romance in murder.
This was a mashup of steampunk, Victorian, Gothic, and classic horror. Our heroine is Dr. Eliza Jekyll AND Lizzie Hyde. She helps Inspector Griffin study crime scenes to catch the killers, currently trying to find The Chopper, and works/studies at Bedlam. Captain Lafayette comes on the scene, he works for the Royal Society. The Royal Society works to keep fey/magical people from society, they burn them when they find them. We also have a Mr. Todd who currently resides in Bedlam courtesy of Eliza, Finch who makes Eliza's elixir that helps keep Lizzie at bay, A.R. who is Eliza's mysterious benefactor, two doctors at Bedlam who may be up to no good, Johnny the mysterious fey boy, a Penny Dreadful writer, and a bunch of characters I'm probably forgetting because holy cow. All those characters I mentioned bring with them previously created horror themes. We've got Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (of course), Frankenstein, Werewolves, Sweeny Todd, Jack the Ripper, and a sort of Silence of the Lambs relationship. Again, I'm probably forgetting something.
It took me until around the 15% mark to get any sort of footing because of the amazing amount of characters and story threads happening, I felt like I was starting in the middle of a series. The Chopper plot started off the strongest and I thought that was the main one but towards the middle, it starts to get left behind as we focus more on Eliza and issues in her life. All male characters seem to be in love with her, which was sort of annoying and the few female characters seemed to be jealous of her.
I pull his hand beneath my skirts, between my thighs, an inch above my garter where the stiletto sings. "See?" My breath is sultry against his neck. "Told you I had a weapon."
"Consider me ambushed."
Eliza, Inspector Griffin, and Captain Lafayette had fun chemistry when they went back and forth in their conversations but then Griffin heads more to the sides and a romance teases around Lafayette and Eliza and Lizzie. This is clearly the first in a series that will follow Eliza and I'm sure there will be a deepening of this relationship as we just get the start here.
Most of this was in first person pov from Eliza, with Lizzie cutting in and as so, when action scenes happen it was sometimes hard to follow along. I'm sure the author had a clear picture in her mind of what was happening but as a new to the scene reader, it was far from being clear and some of it breezed by me, it would have been nice to have a third person overview.
Basically, this story was jammed packed with characters and storylines (Sir Isaac Newton makes an appearance and starts a storyline that I'm not sure was ever really explained) and I spent a lot of time feeling lost. It was different and interesting and I might try the second now that I have at least an introduction to the world and characters.
(If anyone has read this, who is supposed to be on the guy on the cover?! Johnny?)
February 9, 2015
Two and a half stars: A good mystery that falters with too much wandering and extraneous detail.
Eliza takes careful account of the murder victim sprawled in the alley. She was a talented ballerina, murdered, with her legs cut off. As Eliza investigates, she is accosted by Captain Lafayette, one of the enforcer's of the Royal Society. Eliza must now dodge his inquisitive questioning as she attempts to solve the crime, and all while she tries to keep her darker half, Lizzie under control. Can Eliza catch a killer or will she succumb to her shadow?
What I Liked:
*I so wanted to love this one, and while it had many intriguing and promising things about it, I struggled to stay engaged. However, if you are patient and you want an interesting, darker retelling of Jekyll and Hyde with some steampunk and the daughter of the doomed scientist, you might want to try this. I liked the twists, and I really enjoyed the duality of Eliza and Lizzie.
*The shining part of the story for me was the dual nature of Eliza and Lizzie. Just like her father, Eliza battles with her darker nature which manifests as Lizzie. By day, Eliza is the cool, calm, intelligent Dr. Jekyll who works part time as a murder investigator. Eliza has lots of gadgets and gizmos to help her solve crimes. To help keep her shadow in check, Eliza takes an elixir brewed by an apothecary who was a friend of her father, unfortunately, the elixir isn't working as well and Eliza feels Lizzie in her thoughts trying to burst forth. When Lizzie does come on scene she is everything Eliza is not. She is brazen, driven, impetuous and unafraid. She prefers bright, gaudy, tight and revealing dresses. She isn't afraid of a fight, and she dares to go where no civilized woman would go, and drinks heavily. Her speech is crass and she is rough around the edges. I very much enjoyed the whole dynamic and relationship regarding Lizzie and Eliza. I especially liked how they ended up working together. If you are a fan of the original, you will likely enjoy this sequel/ retelling that is steampunk style.
*This book takes time and patience, but once you hit the final third, it moves quickly with some stunning developments and some dark twists you won't see coming. If you want a good, twisty, steampunk mystery, try it. I liked the steampunk gadgets and gizmos.
And The Not So Much:
*This book was a struggle for me due to its convoluted writing and slow pace. I found it hard to stay engaged with the book, and didn't find myself connecting until the final portion. This was a story that required extreme patience. This would have been so much better if the story was more focused.
*There are too many story lines going in too many directions. I didn't like how unfocused everything was. There was a story line introduced involving Sir Isaac Newton that goes nowhere. What was the point of bringing it up if the author wasn't planning on dealing with it in this book? This book needs a sharper focus.
*I am a detail reader, and though the author includes plenty of detail, it was on the wrong aspects. I needed to know more about the world and the fey and all that, and instead I got continuous, lengthy descriptions on the filth and squalor in the streets that Lizzy visited. I could have done without all the talk of human waste. What I needed was a better understanding of the world, the Royal Society, the fey and all of that. The world building was shaky at best.
The Diabolical Miss Hyde was not a good fit for me, but don't take my word for it. Other reviewers have read and enjoyed this book. It is a dark, twisty reboot of Jekyll and Hyde. I thought the book lacked focus, and the pace was too slow. However, I did enjoy the refashioning of Jekyll and Hyde in the female form. Though this was not a good fit for me, if you are a fan of steampunk and retellings, it might work better for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
Eliza takes careful account of the murder victim sprawled in the alley. She was a talented ballerina, murdered, with her legs cut off. As Eliza investigates, she is accosted by Captain Lafayette, one of the enforcer's of the Royal Society. Eliza must now dodge his inquisitive questioning as she attempts to solve the crime, and all while she tries to keep her darker half, Lizzie under control. Can Eliza catch a killer or will she succumb to her shadow?
What I Liked:
*I so wanted to love this one, and while it had many intriguing and promising things about it, I struggled to stay engaged. However, if you are patient and you want an interesting, darker retelling of Jekyll and Hyde with some steampunk and the daughter of the doomed scientist, you might want to try this. I liked the twists, and I really enjoyed the duality of Eliza and Lizzie.
*The shining part of the story for me was the dual nature of Eliza and Lizzie. Just like her father, Eliza battles with her darker nature which manifests as Lizzie. By day, Eliza is the cool, calm, intelligent Dr. Jekyll who works part time as a murder investigator. Eliza has lots of gadgets and gizmos to help her solve crimes. To help keep her shadow in check, Eliza takes an elixir brewed by an apothecary who was a friend of her father, unfortunately, the elixir isn't working as well and Eliza feels Lizzie in her thoughts trying to burst forth. When Lizzie does come on scene she is everything Eliza is not. She is brazen, driven, impetuous and unafraid. She prefers bright, gaudy, tight and revealing dresses. She isn't afraid of a fight, and she dares to go where no civilized woman would go, and drinks heavily. Her speech is crass and she is rough around the edges. I very much enjoyed the whole dynamic and relationship regarding Lizzie and Eliza. I especially liked how they ended up working together. If you are a fan of the original, you will likely enjoy this sequel/ retelling that is steampunk style.
*This book takes time and patience, but once you hit the final third, it moves quickly with some stunning developments and some dark twists you won't see coming. If you want a good, twisty, steampunk mystery, try it. I liked the steampunk gadgets and gizmos.
And The Not So Much:
*This book was a struggle for me due to its convoluted writing and slow pace. I found it hard to stay engaged with the book, and didn't find myself connecting until the final portion. This was a story that required extreme patience. This would have been so much better if the story was more focused.
*There are too many story lines going in too many directions. I didn't like how unfocused everything was. There was a story line introduced involving Sir Isaac Newton that goes nowhere. What was the point of bringing it up if the author wasn't planning on dealing with it in this book? This book needs a sharper focus.
*I am a detail reader, and though the author includes plenty of detail, it was on the wrong aspects. I needed to know more about the world and the fey and all that, and instead I got continuous, lengthy descriptions on the filth and squalor in the streets that Lizzy visited. I could have done without all the talk of human waste. What I needed was a better understanding of the world, the Royal Society, the fey and all of that. The world building was shaky at best.
The Diabolical Miss Hyde was not a good fit for me, but don't take my word for it. Other reviewers have read and enjoyed this book. It is a dark, twisty reboot of Jekyll and Hyde. I thought the book lacked focus, and the pace was too slow. However, I did enjoy the refashioning of Jekyll and Hyde in the female form. Though this was not a good fit for me, if you are a fan of steampunk and retellings, it might work better for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.
February 17, 2017
I always want to like Steampunk more than I actually like Steampunk.
November 10, 2015
This book was amazing! It was a steampunk twist on Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde with even a dash of Frankenstein thrown in for good fun. You follow the main characters Eliza and Lizza as they try to solve a murder, escape the Royal enforcers and figure out who they really are. The world build is prefect, I mean spot on, I normally have a hard time with steampunk and honestly sometimes, especially when Eliza was talking it did seem a little verbose but all and all I enjoyed it immensely. The story itself broke a lot of my rules, too many plot lines, too many characters, too much going on but guess what I DIDN'T CARE! Yeah I liked it that much. Read it!
April 26, 2015
“In London, we've got murderers by the dozen. Rampsmen, garroters, wife beaters and baby farmers, poisoners and pie makers and folk who’ll crack you over the noddle with a ha’penny cosh for the sake of your flashy watch chain and leave your meat for the rats. Never mind what you read in them penny dreadfuls: there ain’t no romance in murder.
But every now and again, we gets us an artist.”
If you've read my pre-review, you'd know that I was really excited for this book (see below of you haven't). And not only was I excited, but I also had high expectations. When those two things get combined, the odds of being disappointed are high. Good thing I am not disappointed, because I got all I wanted.
Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator. She has helped to capture many murderers and now she has a most interesting and gruesome case—the case of “the Chopper.” All the victims he killed have many things in common. Let's say, he leaves his signature in all of their bodies. In all the corpses were traces of an electrical weapon of some sorts, all were drugged before being murdered... and all of them are missing limbs.
But Eliza Jekyll is not only that. She's also the daughter of the famous Henry Jekyll. You know him, don't you? He's the man who split himself in two halves—one good, one bad—and tried to get rid of his bad half—Edward Hyde. Just as him, Eliza has a bad half, and her name is Lizzie Hyde. Both of them are completely different.
First, there's Eliza. She's what one would call a “proper woman,” in the Victorian standards. She's intelligent, witty, observant, calm and she takes meticulous care of her reputation, because she doesn't want to end like her father. She's a little shy and she's afraid of showing the world what she really is and what she thinks.
And then, there's Lizzie. If you've read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, you can probably guess how she is, but if you haven't, then I'll tell you: She's impulsive, reckless, uncontainable, seductive and selfish. Not only that, but she also doesn't give a damn about what people think of her.
The book is not just a mystery novel. It's also about the struggles of a girl fighting her inner demons and her struggles in trying to be a respectable physician and detective in a time in which women were not taken seriously for these things. It was by no means a perfect book, but it was cleverly written and enjoyable.
The writing is also good. I had some complaints about it (oh, my), but I let them pass. It follows two formats: One is in an omniscient way, and that one is present whenever Eliza is present; the other one is in first person and is narrated by Lizzie. Both feel different, but I liked them. There's plenty use of slang (mostly Lizzie's) and scientific terms, but that didn't make it less enjoyable. If anything, it made me like it better.
You have to pay attention to all details if you want to figure out who the murderer is before the answer is revealed because there are plenty of suspects and there are more details than grains of sand.
Needless to say, I liked all the characters. Neither of them were perfect. They all had their flaws, and that made me like them even more. Perfect characters can be boring, and these ones were far from that. Besides, they were all really intriguing and they all had interesting backstories.
Twist after twist after another twist, this books managed to be liked by me. I'm hard to please, so that should tell you something. It's thrilling, dark at some points, it had two—no, three—kick-ass women, it's a crime novel... Completely enjoyable for me.
Oh, and one more thing: THIS IS NOT A PARANORMAL ROMANCE MASQUERADING AS A CRIME/MYSTERY BOOK! There, I've said it. With just that (and all of the above), you know that this is highly recommended. I'll most certainly read the sequel if this is indeed a series and not a stand-alone.
Pre-review:
Whoa, whoa, whoa...
Reasons why I want to read this book:
1. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde retelling: Why not? I love that book. It's dark, and really interesting. One of my favorite books of all time.
2. "In an electric-powered Victorian London (...)": Victorian London is given for dark and mysterious tales.
3. "Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a crime scene investigator, hunting killers with inventive new technological gadgets (...)": You tell me what part of that doesn't sound amazing. Crime scene investigator? Yes, please. And also, she's a chick. The odds of her being kick-ass are high.
4. DA COVERRRR: C'mon, you can't deny it's awesome.
In summary,
I AM EXCITE!
September 22, 2019
Good story about the darkness that lives in us all.
Read
May 2, 2017DNF (read less than 50% so no rating)
I don't really want to say too much. Honestly I didn't read enough of it to be fair. What I will say is I didn't like it. The violence appeared to be gratuitous and the characters vacuous.
But I read less than 20% so take my comments with a grain of salt.
I don't really want to say too much. Honestly I didn't read enough of it to be fair. What I will say is I didn't like it. The violence appeared to be gratuitous and the characters vacuous.
But I read less than 20% so take my comments with a grain of salt.
January 25, 2015
I got a copy of this book to review through Edelweiss. This was a wonderfully dark steampunk story with an investigative urban fantasy feel to it. I loved the characters, the world, and the plot. The story was very engaging and incredibly fun to read.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the notorious Henry. She is a doctor and works both as a crime scene investigator and as a doctor at the insane asylum Bethlam. She’s been helping to investigate a series of murders where women are found with their limbs chopped off, the murderer is being called the Chopper. Things get complicated when the Royal’s Captain Lafayette is put on the case as well, he has a side mission to prove that Eliza is a sorceress. Of course Eliza does have many dark secrets of her own, the main one being her Shadow persona...Lizzie. Eliza does a good job of keeping Lizzie locked away but once in a while Eliza has to take an elixir to let Lizzie out to play...
This book reminds a bit of the Penny Dreadful TV series; it incorporates a number of characters from literature during the Victorian time period in London. Also our main heroine is generally very composed as Eliza but when Lizzie comes out to play things get pretty dark.
Carr does a wonderful job of making Eliza and Lizzie two very different people. I really enjoyed reading about them both. Eliza is witty and smart and has all of these really nifty mechanical devices she likes to use. Eliza is struggling to make it as a woman doctor in an age where there just aren’t women doctors. Lizzie is all grit and sass and tough as nails and is a hoot to read about. The two have an interesting relationship together and I enjoy how they took care of each other and helped each other in their own ways.
The description throughout the book is fantastic, it is easy to picture settings and characters. There are a number of interesting side characters. Sweeney Todd is in here and he is delightful evil, yet intriguing. Captain Lafayette also has many dark and intriguing secretes. Then there is the mysterious man that sponsors Eliza’s lodging...
More than anything this book is just delightfully fun to read. It is gory and dark at points, but never over the top. The story does an excellent job of reflecting that Jack the Ripper era of London, but in an alternate history sort of way. Speaking of which this book is definitely set in an alternate London where there are Fey throughout the city who are seen as lesser citizens. I would have liked to see the world-building and history of this new and alternate London gone into a bit more, but that is really my only complaint about this book.
Overall this book was wonderful fun and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I love the characters in here and enjoy the setting of an alternate London. The book has a very investigative urban fantasy feel to it, but also has a lot of steampunk elements and some horror elements. I definitely recommend both to steampunk fans and urban fantasy fans. This is an excellent retelling/extension of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and it was great fun to read. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the notorious Henry. She is a doctor and works both as a crime scene investigator and as a doctor at the insane asylum Bethlam. She’s been helping to investigate a series of murders where women are found with their limbs chopped off, the murderer is being called the Chopper. Things get complicated when the Royal’s Captain Lafayette is put on the case as well, he has a side mission to prove that Eliza is a sorceress. Of course Eliza does have many dark secrets of her own, the main one being her Shadow persona...Lizzie. Eliza does a good job of keeping Lizzie locked away but once in a while Eliza has to take an elixir to let Lizzie out to play...
This book reminds a bit of the Penny Dreadful TV series; it incorporates a number of characters from literature during the Victorian time period in London. Also our main heroine is generally very composed as Eliza but when Lizzie comes out to play things get pretty dark.
Carr does a wonderful job of making Eliza and Lizzie two very different people. I really enjoyed reading about them both. Eliza is witty and smart and has all of these really nifty mechanical devices she likes to use. Eliza is struggling to make it as a woman doctor in an age where there just aren’t women doctors. Lizzie is all grit and sass and tough as nails and is a hoot to read about. The two have an interesting relationship together and I enjoy how they took care of each other and helped each other in their own ways.
The description throughout the book is fantastic, it is easy to picture settings and characters. There are a number of interesting side characters. Sweeney Todd is in here and he is delightful evil, yet intriguing. Captain Lafayette also has many dark and intriguing secretes. Then there is the mysterious man that sponsors Eliza’s lodging...
More than anything this book is just delightfully fun to read. It is gory and dark at points, but never over the top. The story does an excellent job of reflecting that Jack the Ripper era of London, but in an alternate history sort of way. Speaking of which this book is definitely set in an alternate London where there are Fey throughout the city who are seen as lesser citizens. I would have liked to see the world-building and history of this new and alternate London gone into a bit more, but that is really my only complaint about this book.
Overall this book was wonderful fun and I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I love the characters in here and enjoy the setting of an alternate London. The book has a very investigative urban fantasy feel to it, but also has a lot of steampunk elements and some horror elements. I definitely recommend both to steampunk fans and urban fantasy fans. This is an excellent retelling/extension of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and it was great fun to read. I will definitely be reading more books in this series.
September 23, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Eliza Jekyll has a string of murders to solve, but her alter ego, Lizzie Hyde, has some plans of her own in this interesting, but not great, first book in the Electric Empire series.
Opening Sentence: In London, we’ve got murderers by the dozen.
The Review:
Women are being murdered in an alternate version of Victorian London. Brutally murdered – with body parts missing. Eliza Jekyll is determined to find out who’s behind the crimes, despite having to deal with misogynistic behavior at every turn. In addition to trying to solve the murders, she has to deal with the arrival of a Society Inspector, one who has the power to arrest her at the slightest hint of the use of anything other than “normal” science. While Eliza uses all the usual methods of scientific investigation, she has a far more dangerous secret. For Eliza is the daughter of Dr. Henry Jekyll – a man who developed an elixir that split him in two. And now Eliza has the same problem. She’s had to deal with the presence of her alter ego Lizzie Hyde for years, but with the help of a remedy, she’s been able to keep Lizzie at bay. Until now. For Lizzie is beginning to make herself known at all times, a constant presence in the back of Eliza’s head. And the need to transform into Lizzie has begun happening more often as well, with one such instance resulting in Lizzie possibly becoming a murderess. Will Eliza be able to prove Lizzie’s innocence, find the the Chopper serial killer, and prevent herself from descending into madness?
I was a little hesitant in picking this book up just because, as much as I love steampunk, it can be incredibly complicated. On the bright side, the world here isn’t too complicated. The bad news though is that it’s not very well explained either. The reader is just thrust into the world with no explanations as to how it operates. The Fey exist here, but I have no idea how they got here or why they stayed. On the subject of lack of explanation, there is also no real back story given on a previous case of Eliza’s that plays a very important role in the story. I thought I may have missed a prequel somewhere along the lines, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. It was very frustrating to feel like I had been left out of the loop somewhere along the line.
All of that aside, the strength of this novel lies in the characters and their interactions with each other. Eliza and Lizzie are both great characters, although I have to admit to liking Lizzie more. While she is brash and doesn’t always think through her actions, there’s a vulnerability to her that makes her very easy to connect to. Eliza isn’t quite as easy to connect to, but she is still a very likeable character in her own right. I have great admiration for how she’s able to stand up to the misogyny she’s faced with every single day. When she actually begins to acknowledge rather than fight Lizzie, she becomes an even stronger character, and I look forward to seeing where she goes from here.
All in all, this was a good first book in a series, but not a great one. Despite the lack of an explanation for the world, I found myself caught up in what was going on and often didn’t want to put the book down. With a little more effort given to explain the world, this could turn into a great series.
Notable Scene:
A desperate feather of reason tickled the back of her neck. Startled, she opened her eyes.
The long mirror on the cabinet wall reflected her, stark and pale in her white chemise. Her reddened eyes were demented. She breathed deep, shuddering, sweating, the fever sprinting madly under her skin, a dread curse she couldn’t escape.
She shouldn’t. She mustn’t.
But she had to.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the fire’s glare and tipped the flask to her lips.
Molten gold, rolling down her throat. Thick salt stung her tongue, coated the inside of her mouth, sickening yet delicious. Thirst ripped her raw, and she gulped, mouthful on mouthful…
Fire erupted in her guts, sweeter than any caress. She groaned in pure abandon. Spreading outwards through her belly, tingling along her limbs, a shivering shock wave of delight…
Agony, hacking every nerve ragged. Muscles contorting, bones twisting, red mist descending like poison, it’s torture, it’s being dragged apart on the rack in some rat-infested Tower chamber, beyond endurance, no one can take this, no one. A scream crawls up her throat, she’s yelling, I’m yelling, she’s clawing at her face but it’s my face, my hands, my nails catching in her hair. We throw our head back, arching our spine, joints grating, our muscles shudder and squeal and thrash one final time…
Suddenly, the pain falls silent. The red mist dissolves…and in the mirror, dark eyes flash, wicked and alive with intent.
Sharp, intelligent face, crooked seducer’s smile, a body with lush, dangerous curves. Long curly hair tumbles over the white chemise, no longer fine and blond but dark, lustrous mahogany.
And here I stand.
FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of The Diabolical Miss Hyde. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Eliza Jekyll has a string of murders to solve, but her alter ego, Lizzie Hyde, has some plans of her own in this interesting, but not great, first book in the Electric Empire series.
Opening Sentence: In London, we’ve got murderers by the dozen.
The Review:
Women are being murdered in an alternate version of Victorian London. Brutally murdered – with body parts missing. Eliza Jekyll is determined to find out who’s behind the crimes, despite having to deal with misogynistic behavior at every turn. In addition to trying to solve the murders, she has to deal with the arrival of a Society Inspector, one who has the power to arrest her at the slightest hint of the use of anything other than “normal” science. While Eliza uses all the usual methods of scientific investigation, she has a far more dangerous secret. For Eliza is the daughter of Dr. Henry Jekyll – a man who developed an elixir that split him in two. And now Eliza has the same problem. She’s had to deal with the presence of her alter ego Lizzie Hyde for years, but with the help of a remedy, she’s been able to keep Lizzie at bay. Until now. For Lizzie is beginning to make herself known at all times, a constant presence in the back of Eliza’s head. And the need to transform into Lizzie has begun happening more often as well, with one such instance resulting in Lizzie possibly becoming a murderess. Will Eliza be able to prove Lizzie’s innocence, find the the Chopper serial killer, and prevent herself from descending into madness?
I was a little hesitant in picking this book up just because, as much as I love steampunk, it can be incredibly complicated. On the bright side, the world here isn’t too complicated. The bad news though is that it’s not very well explained either. The reader is just thrust into the world with no explanations as to how it operates. The Fey exist here, but I have no idea how they got here or why they stayed. On the subject of lack of explanation, there is also no real back story given on a previous case of Eliza’s that plays a very important role in the story. I thought I may have missed a prequel somewhere along the lines, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. It was very frustrating to feel like I had been left out of the loop somewhere along the line.
All of that aside, the strength of this novel lies in the characters and their interactions with each other. Eliza and Lizzie are both great characters, although I have to admit to liking Lizzie more. While she is brash and doesn’t always think through her actions, there’s a vulnerability to her that makes her very easy to connect to. Eliza isn’t quite as easy to connect to, but she is still a very likeable character in her own right. I have great admiration for how she’s able to stand up to the misogyny she’s faced with every single day. When she actually begins to acknowledge rather than fight Lizzie, she becomes an even stronger character, and I look forward to seeing where she goes from here.
All in all, this was a good first book in a series, but not a great one. Despite the lack of an explanation for the world, I found myself caught up in what was going on and often didn’t want to put the book down. With a little more effort given to explain the world, this could turn into a great series.
Notable Scene:
A desperate feather of reason tickled the back of her neck. Startled, she opened her eyes.
The long mirror on the cabinet wall reflected her, stark and pale in her white chemise. Her reddened eyes were demented. She breathed deep, shuddering, sweating, the fever sprinting madly under her skin, a dread curse she couldn’t escape.
She shouldn’t. She mustn’t.
But she had to.
She squeezed her eyes shut against the fire’s glare and tipped the flask to her lips.
Molten gold, rolling down her throat. Thick salt stung her tongue, coated the inside of her mouth, sickening yet delicious. Thirst ripped her raw, and she gulped, mouthful on mouthful…
Fire erupted in her guts, sweeter than any caress. She groaned in pure abandon. Spreading outwards through her belly, tingling along her limbs, a shivering shock wave of delight…
Agony, hacking every nerve ragged. Muscles contorting, bones twisting, red mist descending like poison, it’s torture, it’s being dragged apart on the rack in some rat-infested Tower chamber, beyond endurance, no one can take this, no one. A scream crawls up her throat, she’s yelling, I’m yelling, she’s clawing at her face but it’s my face, my hands, my nails catching in her hair. We throw our head back, arching our spine, joints grating, our muscles shudder and squeal and thrash one final time…
Suddenly, the pain falls silent. The red mist dissolves…and in the mirror, dark eyes flash, wicked and alive with intent.
Sharp, intelligent face, crooked seducer’s smile, a body with lush, dangerous curves. Long curly hair tumbles over the white chemise, no longer fine and blond but dark, lustrous mahogany.
And here I stand.
FTC Advisory: HarperCollins provided me with a copy of The Diabolical Miss Hyde. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
October 23, 2016
http://abooktopia.weebly.com
I was fortunate enough to receive a signed copy of this dark and perplexing novel and I’m so glad I did! This novel is a new personal favourite of mine, and I cannot wait until the second novel The Devious Dr. Jekyll as part of the Electric Empire series is released this coming October. The cover is breathtaking and has completely wooed me, as it is the best cover I have seen all year! This novel has definitely compelled me to read a lot more steampunk and mystery novels, so don’t be surprised if I get my hands on some in the near future.
I love how The Diabolical Miss Hyde is not just a retelling of the well-known story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but instead is the extension story of his daughter Dr. Eliza Jekyll and her dark side Miss Lizzie Hyde.
Now an orphaned woman, Dr. Eliza Jekyll takes after her father: the infamous Dr. Jekyll. Eliza is a crime scene investigator and a doctor who works at the insane asylum Bethlam. With two new murder scenes, Elisa must expose the anonymous murderer known as the ‘Chopper’ (who cuts the limbs off his victims) before he kills his next target.
Things start to get complicated when the Royal’s Captain Lafayette is oddly positioned to work alongside Dr. Eliza with her murder case. Unsure whether to trust him, both Elisa and Lizzie suspect he’s hiding something and could potentially become a danger to them both. But Lafayette is not the only one hiding deep secrets… With a single drop of elixir, there’s no knowing just what Elisa’s impulsive shadow façade Lizzie Hyde might do once she’s freed from her slumber.
I found it extremely intriguing that Viola Carr chose to alternate her writing from 1st person to 3rd person as she wrote from both Eliza and Lizzie’s perspective. She does an incredible job at keeping both their characters separate from one another. Eliza is the smart shortsighted girl with her opticals and resourceful gadgets, whilst Lizzie is the wild and adventurous shadow persona that is uncontrollable. Though Lizzie may be extremely strong willed and brave, she is still afraid that Eliza wishes for nothing more than to get rid of her. I also loved how throughout the novel, they consistently helped one another out, even without the other one’s acknowledgement at times.
This novel was fast past and unpredictable as it had you second-guessing just who this ‘mysterious’ murderer might be. Viola Carr also cleverly weaves other potential murderers artfully. The plot is well built with remarkable new characters that you can’t help but want to grasp just what was going on inside that head of theirs. I hope to one-day see this novel be produced into a film, as I believe it would work wonderfully.
***I received a personalised signed copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review***
February 6, 2015
I have this obsession with Steampunk - art, gadgets, wardrobe, lifestyle, etc - so when a book comes across my desk, I just can't help myself - I have to read it. This one especially so because it's another look at the Jekyll and Hyde story, this time a woman.
I absolutely love the cover - THIS is a physical book that I need for my shelves.
Before the story begins, there is a "playbill," giving you a little look-see at the main characters in the book. Such a cool addition to the story. More people should do this.
I really enjoyed this book, from start to finish. The characters are fun and memorable, the murders and mystery were attention grabbing, the setting a perfect backdrop for the story. This was a great beginning of a series that I can't wait to finish.
I really like how the story was told - there is a narrator for most of the story, but when Lizzie is running loose, you get to see things from her perspective, and even hear her voice in Eliza's head.
My favorite characters are Lizzy (she is amazing) , Malachi Todd/Razor Jack (there is just something about him) and Hippocrates (oh so cute).
This is DEFINITELY my favorite book so far this year.
Note: I received a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Please remember that this review is my opinion based on my own personal impression of the book.
I absolutely love the cover - THIS is a physical book that I need for my shelves.
Before the story begins, there is a "playbill," giving you a little look-see at the main characters in the book. Such a cool addition to the story. More people should do this.
I really enjoyed this book, from start to finish. The characters are fun and memorable, the murders and mystery were attention grabbing, the setting a perfect backdrop for the story. This was a great beginning of a series that I can't wait to finish.
I really like how the story was told - there is a narrator for most of the story, but when Lizzie is running loose, you get to see things from her perspective, and even hear her voice in Eliza's head.
My favorite characters are Lizzy (she is amazing) , Malachi Todd/Razor Jack (there is just something about him) and Hippocrates (oh so cute).
This is DEFINITELY my favorite book so far this year.
Note: I received a copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Please remember that this review is my opinion based on my own personal impression of the book.
October 19, 2017
Ugh! First off, what women falls in love with and agrees to become and is turned on by becoming That makes absolutely no sense. And speaking of making no sense, all of these peripheral events take place and then you hear nothing about them. Was the woman in the pyre saved? What about dad? Why use an initial when any reader with half a brain could figure out who Mr. H is at the end of the book? That was a mystery that didn't even need one.
The beginning of the book was great, the end was awful.
The beginning of the book was great, the end was awful.
September 10, 2016
4 1/2
wow. just wow. I had a few problems going in (Eliza's personality and some really excessive convolution), but still a great novel, above all as a debut.
Update: RachelW discovered this isn't a debut author, simply a new pen name. :)
wow. just wow. I had a few problems going in (Eliza's personality and some really excessive convolution), but still a great novel, above all as a debut.
Update: RachelW discovered this isn't a debut author, simply a new pen name. :)
March 21, 2015
Steampunk fanatics, there is a new author in town and she's taking this town with lightening, steam and mystery. Ms. Carr is a new to me author and I'm impressed. This story takes a classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and takes it far outside the realms most readers would guess. This is more than just a story reimagined into Steampunk with Victorian times and gas lights. This is a story of intrigue, arcane magic, persecution and murder.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the infamous Dr. Jekyll. Orphaned when her father died, she's an adult and a doctor in her own right, despite the misogynist society. She helps the police on murder cases. She uses her expertise to advise and help solve cases. What she tries to hide is her own demons. Eliza takes after her father, more than just in name. When her stronger and more impulsive self, Lizzie, comes out to play, there is no knowing what will happen.
The world building in this book is complicated and not complete. My guess is there will be more reveals to this world in the next book in the series. For those who are not expecting it, there is a London Underworld here, except somehow it involves the Fey. This is something that came out of left field and yet it works really well. Combining a Steampunk world filled with iron and juxtaposing the Fey world which is allergic to iron is unexpected and unique. The book is a bit hard to follow for those who aren't used to this genre. This is because there are some familiar aspects to it yet there are so many different threads going on that it does become a bit confusing. I liked this feeling even when I became frustrated.
The character development is fabulous. Learning about how Eliza and Lizzie interact with each other is fascinating. Whilst I do like Eliza, I think I'm more attracted to Lizzie. She's wild, busty and aggressive. She's a sociopath who oozes sensuality. Would it be so bad if Eliza is to disappear and Lizzie becomes the main persona? Maybe not.
The intrigue in this story is on several fronts. There is the hidden agenda of the dastardly Royal Society. The big reveal there is a bit shocking. Eliza's determination in solving the serial murder case brings her into danger. Her finding of the culprit is another shocking unexpected turn of events. Basically, this entire story feels like running through a Funny House whilst drunk off Absinthe and what we see is not reality. Ms. Carr does a great job at keeping the reader guessing and off balance.
I do enjoy the character dialog in this book. It's witty and sarcastic. This book is not a simple and easy read. It requires a reader to be fully engaged to catch the little nuances and tiny bits of hidden information. I enjoy this kind of book. Here is an example of dialog which makes thrilled to read.
“To Bethlem? On a night like this? Voltage exploding everywhere, thunder bellowing, lunatics going doubly off their heads?” Lafayette’s eyes glinted eagerly.
“Do you really want to see what Fairfax is up to tonight?” Her blood thrilled, a cocktail of excitement and dread.
“Resurrecting a stitched-up corpse with his wife’s brain inside? Absolutely I do. It’s potentially the ground-breaking experiment of our age.”
“Well, when you put it like that . . .”
“The end of mystical superstition and irrational fear of death,” she added.
“If you care about that sort of thing. Oh, and the chance to bring a ruthless murderer to justice. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“How inappropriately fascinating.”
“Thank you.” Lafayette grinned. (Kindle loc. 6225-6233)
For a first book, Ms. Carr does a great job. This is a 3.5 star book for me. I eagerly look forward to the next book in this series. This book is recommended to Steampunk lovers who enjoy a female sarcastic Sherlock Holmes with a very dark side.
*provided by Edelweiss
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is the daughter of the infamous Dr. Jekyll. Orphaned when her father died, she's an adult and a doctor in her own right, despite the misogynist society. She helps the police on murder cases. She uses her expertise to advise and help solve cases. What she tries to hide is her own demons. Eliza takes after her father, more than just in name. When her stronger and more impulsive self, Lizzie, comes out to play, there is no knowing what will happen.
The world building in this book is complicated and not complete. My guess is there will be more reveals to this world in the next book in the series. For those who are not expecting it, there is a London Underworld here, except somehow it involves the Fey. This is something that came out of left field and yet it works really well. Combining a Steampunk world filled with iron and juxtaposing the Fey world which is allergic to iron is unexpected and unique. The book is a bit hard to follow for those who aren't used to this genre. This is because there are some familiar aspects to it yet there are so many different threads going on that it does become a bit confusing. I liked this feeling even when I became frustrated.
The character development is fabulous. Learning about how Eliza and Lizzie interact with each other is fascinating. Whilst I do like Eliza, I think I'm more attracted to Lizzie. She's wild, busty and aggressive. She's a sociopath who oozes sensuality. Would it be so bad if Eliza is to disappear and Lizzie becomes the main persona? Maybe not.
The intrigue in this story is on several fronts. There is the hidden agenda of the dastardly Royal Society. The big reveal there is a bit shocking. Eliza's determination in solving the serial murder case brings her into danger. Her finding of the culprit is another shocking unexpected turn of events. Basically, this entire story feels like running through a Funny House whilst drunk off Absinthe and what we see is not reality. Ms. Carr does a great job at keeping the reader guessing and off balance.
I do enjoy the character dialog in this book. It's witty and sarcastic. This book is not a simple and easy read. It requires a reader to be fully engaged to catch the little nuances and tiny bits of hidden information. I enjoy this kind of book. Here is an example of dialog which makes thrilled to read.
“To Bethlem? On a night like this? Voltage exploding everywhere, thunder bellowing, lunatics going doubly off their heads?” Lafayette’s eyes glinted eagerly.
“Do you really want to see what Fairfax is up to tonight?” Her blood thrilled, a cocktail of excitement and dread.
“Resurrecting a stitched-up corpse with his wife’s brain inside? Absolutely I do. It’s potentially the ground-breaking experiment of our age.”
“Well, when you put it like that . . .”
“The end of mystical superstition and irrational fear of death,” she added.
“If you care about that sort of thing. Oh, and the chance to bring a ruthless murderer to justice. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“How inappropriately fascinating.”
“Thank you.” Lafayette grinned. (Kindle loc. 6225-6233)
For a first book, Ms. Carr does a great job. This is a 3.5 star book for me. I eagerly look forward to the next book in this series. This book is recommended to Steampunk lovers who enjoy a female sarcastic Sherlock Holmes with a very dark side.
*provided by Edelweiss
February 10, 2015
The Diabolical Miss Hyde is the proof that you should not judge a book by it’s cover. So, what does this cover promises? Steampunk, pretty flirty heroine, handsome hero as backup and, of course, romance. What did I get? Complex, and at times disturbing, story about a girl, fighting for her place, in a world dominated by man. Was I disappointed? Hell, no. But it did take me time to adjust.
Viola Carr takes us to a version of Victorian England we usually don’t encounter in steampunk novels. Sure, there are various steam powered devices, even robot policeman, but first thing that hits you here is dirt, poverty and injustice. There are no noble gentlemen, glamorous balls and polite behavior.
"Here in the slums, where the weird lurks, the gutters run with shit and the air chokes me, thick with cholera and black lung and the forbidden stink of spellwork."
In this dark London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is working as a medical investigator for police. This profession was, until recently, reserved only for men. Like working on murder cases and examining brutally mutilated corpses was not hard enough, Eliza is constantly fighting to prove her equality and that she is good enough.
And that’s not the end of Eliza’s troubles. We all have urges that we suppress. Sometimes when someone pisses you off, you bite your tongue to not insult them. Or you try to act all proper at work when all you want is to kick off your shoes and slump in a chair.
"I hate this. I want to get out. To roam where I choose, feel skin under my fingers, harsh winter wind on my face. To put a match to this ugly world and dance while it burns."
Eliza has a whole suppressed personality - Lizzie Hyde. Lizzie is everything Eliza is not: curvy, mouthy, flirty, free… Chapters switch between their’s points of view and Lizzie’s narration takes some time until you get used to her language.
But, when you get comfortable with Lizzie’s narration and dark atmosphere of the book, The Diabolical Miss Hyde becomes a page turner. Who is the cruel murderer? What will happen next? Will Eliza be able to keep Lizzie under control?
These are not the only mysteries that will intrigue you while reading. Romance, while not dominant, will often appear as plot element. And there is some very entertaining banter too:
“Do you meet many dashing young officers, Doctor?”
“Lately?” She smiled sweetly. “None.”
“You wound me, madam.”
“Really? How quaint. I imagine you as barely bruised.”
A grin. “But you do imagine me.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“When I decide to push, Doctor, luck will not come into it.”
Who is attracted to whom? What is the real love and what is a lie? For the murder victims and our own heroines, question who is the man they loved is often the biggest mystery. Eliza and Lizzie both surprised me in the end with their choices.
The Diabolical Miss Hyde is just a beginning of the brand new series. Maybe the murder mystery was resolved, but there are so many questions left unanswered in general about Eliza’s and Lizzie’s co-existence – I can not wait for the next book in Electric Empire series.
IN THE END…
If you are looking for a refreshing spin of an old tale about doctor Jekyll and mister Hyde, and you like dark steampunk murder mysteries, The Diabolical Miss Hyde is the book for you!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
Viola Carr takes us to a version of Victorian England we usually don’t encounter in steampunk novels. Sure, there are various steam powered devices, even robot policeman, but first thing that hits you here is dirt, poverty and injustice. There are no noble gentlemen, glamorous balls and polite behavior.
"Here in the slums, where the weird lurks, the gutters run with shit and the air chokes me, thick with cholera and black lung and the forbidden stink of spellwork."
In this dark London, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is working as a medical investigator for police. This profession was, until recently, reserved only for men. Like working on murder cases and examining brutally mutilated corpses was not hard enough, Eliza is constantly fighting to prove her equality and that she is good enough.
And that’s not the end of Eliza’s troubles. We all have urges that we suppress. Sometimes when someone pisses you off, you bite your tongue to not insult them. Or you try to act all proper at work when all you want is to kick off your shoes and slump in a chair.
"I hate this. I want to get out. To roam where I choose, feel skin under my fingers, harsh winter wind on my face. To put a match to this ugly world and dance while it burns."
Eliza has a whole suppressed personality - Lizzie Hyde. Lizzie is everything Eliza is not: curvy, mouthy, flirty, free… Chapters switch between their’s points of view and Lizzie’s narration takes some time until you get used to her language.
But, when you get comfortable with Lizzie’s narration and dark atmosphere of the book, The Diabolical Miss Hyde becomes a page turner. Who is the cruel murderer? What will happen next? Will Eliza be able to keep Lizzie under control?
These are not the only mysteries that will intrigue you while reading. Romance, while not dominant, will often appear as plot element. And there is some very entertaining banter too:
“Do you meet many dashing young officers, Doctor?”
“Lately?” She smiled sweetly. “None.”
“You wound me, madam.”
“Really? How quaint. I imagine you as barely bruised.”
A grin. “But you do imagine me.”
“Don’t push your luck.”
“When I decide to push, Doctor, luck will not come into it.”
Who is attracted to whom? What is the real love and what is a lie? For the murder victims and our own heroines, question who is the man they loved is often the biggest mystery. Eliza and Lizzie both surprised me in the end with their choices.
The Diabolical Miss Hyde is just a beginning of the brand new series. Maybe the murder mystery was resolved, but there are so many questions left unanswered in general about Eliza’s and Lizzie’s co-existence – I can not wait for the next book in Electric Empire series.
IN THE END…
If you are looking for a refreshing spin of an old tale about doctor Jekyll and mister Hyde, and you like dark steampunk murder mysteries, The Diabolical Miss Hyde is the book for you!
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
February 9, 2015
O_o! I've just finished The Diabolical Miss Hyde, and for once the name is apt. It's diabolical. Delicious. Vividly Gothic. Marvellously twisted and dark... I know without a doubt that this is another of my reading highlights of 2015.
Contrary to the graphics on this blog, I don't read that many steampunk books per year to make it a dominant genre for me, but from what I read I can make a list of traits that would endear me to the author forever. It has to be dark, grisly and Gothic. The world building must be lush and complex, and the characters must toe the line between good and evil until it's slightly blurred.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll investigates horrible murders with Detective Griffin. The connection between them is old and established. They already caught one serial killer, Razor Jack, to whom Eliza feels a strange attraction, and now they are trying to find The Chopper, a murderer severing limbs from talented working women and committing his crimes so fast that there are no witnesses.
Eliza is a busy girl and a woman of many secrets, one of which is her shadow self, Lizzie Hyde. Where Dr. Jekyll is prim and proper, - a beautiful lady, Lizzie Hyde feels familiar with the slams of London. She is a gorgeous, voluptuous redhead with a fine temper and a taste for gin and laudanum. They share some memories but feel like two different characters with distinct personalities.
The book reminded me of Silence of The Lambs and Penny Dreadful. There are secrets upon secrets, connections which make you think that this is not the first book in the series. Eliza visits patients in Bethlem trying to help them. She tries to suppress Lizzie with experimental tonics, she has a mysterious guardian, she has a weird connection to Mr. Todd (oh Mr. Todd, how I loved thee!),a serial killer she helped to catch and lock in the asylum for the insane previously....
Then there is Remy Lafayette, a representative of The Royal, a certain institute akin to Inquisition. He is dashing and attractive, sarcastic as hell (the banter between him and Eliza is positively sizzling) and full of his own secrets.
This book is so choke full of action, the reader flies through it. The world is vivid to almost fairytale quality, and Lizzie's voice is particularly strong. In fact, Miss Hyde and Mr. Todd were my two absolute favourite characters.
Sometimes things are confusing, and the ending is a stalemate, but it positively made me itch to get my hands onto the next book as soon as humanly possible. If you are a fan of Bec McMaster, Emma Jane Holloway, Emma Cornwall and Amy Carol Reeves, read it and let me know what you'd think. This book is not without its flaws, but it's never boring.
Contrary to the graphics on this blog, I don't read that many steampunk books per year to make it a dominant genre for me, but from what I read I can make a list of traits that would endear me to the author forever. It has to be dark, grisly and Gothic. The world building must be lush and complex, and the characters must toe the line between good and evil until it's slightly blurred.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll investigates horrible murders with Detective Griffin. The connection between them is old and established. They already caught one serial killer, Razor Jack, to whom Eliza feels a strange attraction, and now they are trying to find The Chopper, a murderer severing limbs from talented working women and committing his crimes so fast that there are no witnesses.
Eliza is a busy girl and a woman of many secrets, one of which is her shadow self, Lizzie Hyde. Where Dr. Jekyll is prim and proper, - a beautiful lady, Lizzie Hyde feels familiar with the slams of London. She is a gorgeous, voluptuous redhead with a fine temper and a taste for gin and laudanum. They share some memories but feel like two different characters with distinct personalities.
The book reminded me of Silence of The Lambs and Penny Dreadful. There are secrets upon secrets, connections which make you think that this is not the first book in the series. Eliza visits patients in Bethlem trying to help them. She tries to suppress Lizzie with experimental tonics, she has a mysterious guardian, she has a weird connection to Mr. Todd (oh Mr. Todd, how I loved thee!),a serial killer she helped to catch and lock in the asylum for the insane previously....
Then there is Remy Lafayette, a representative of The Royal, a certain institute akin to Inquisition. He is dashing and attractive, sarcastic as hell (the banter between him and Eliza is positively sizzling) and full of his own secrets.
This book is so choke full of action, the reader flies through it. The world is vivid to almost fairytale quality, and Lizzie's voice is particularly strong. In fact, Miss Hyde and Mr. Todd were my two absolute favourite characters.
Sometimes things are confusing, and the ending is a stalemate, but it positively made me itch to get my hands onto the next book as soon as humanly possible. If you are a fan of Bec McMaster, Emma Jane Holloway, Emma Cornwall and Amy Carol Reeves, read it and let me know what you'd think. This book is not without its flaws, but it's never boring.
March 11, 2015
Review courtesy of All Things Urban Fantasy
THE DIABOLICAL MISS HYDE was an entertaining twist on the classic tale of THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. I love a good murder mystery and one where the protagonist in part doesn't know if she is the killer makes for an especially juicy story. The story, like the kind upright Dr. Eliza Jekyll is split in narration between her and her more brash and violent alter ego Lizzie Hyde. One would think knowing Lizzie Hyde's side of the story would make her guilt or innocence clear cut. Luckily for the tension of the tale we aren't privy to the clear facts due to hazy memories on both Eliza and Lizzie's parts. What was particularly interesting was the way the narration was in the first person when Lizzie was in control and third person with Eliza.
On the relationship front the most fascinating in this story is the one between Eliza and Lizzie. I was fascinated by the way they communicate with eachother and have their own separate lives sort of the way the original Jekyll and Hyde did. At times when Eliza was arguing with Lizzie I had to step back and think that she must look crazy to anyone watching as she i just talking to herself. Its amazing that Eliza was never really caught arguing to herself as she'd be sent right to the insane asylum. Were I to pick a favorite of the two personalities I'd have to go with Lizzie. She is fun, brash, and bold. Since her POV was done in the first person I felt like I knew her better than Eliza and as a result it felt like this was more Lizzie's story.
With a wonderful splendid series title of The Electric Empire this story has some clever steampunk inventions that I would love to see in person namely Eliza's cute robot helper Hippocrates. THE DIABOLICAL MISS HYDE does suffer from too many plot threads which didn't get confusing so much as they made the story feel long. Granted I loved each and every one of the threads and I'd be hard pressed to pick which one I'd throw out. Through excellent writing and creativity the Eliza and Lizzie come alive as two halves of the same person who work amazingly well together to solve some very gruesome murders. In the end this was a most excellently dark steampunk murder mystery and I am very interested in seeing more from this series.
THE DIABOLICAL MISS HYDE was an entertaining twist on the classic tale of THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE. I love a good murder mystery and one where the protagonist in part doesn't know if she is the killer makes for an especially juicy story. The story, like the kind upright Dr. Eliza Jekyll is split in narration between her and her more brash and violent alter ego Lizzie Hyde. One would think knowing Lizzie Hyde's side of the story would make her guilt or innocence clear cut. Luckily for the tension of the tale we aren't privy to the clear facts due to hazy memories on both Eliza and Lizzie's parts. What was particularly interesting was the way the narration was in the first person when Lizzie was in control and third person with Eliza.
On the relationship front the most fascinating in this story is the one between Eliza and Lizzie. I was fascinated by the way they communicate with eachother and have their own separate lives sort of the way the original Jekyll and Hyde did. At times when Eliza was arguing with Lizzie I had to step back and think that she must look crazy to anyone watching as she i just talking to herself. Its amazing that Eliza was never really caught arguing to herself as she'd be sent right to the insane asylum. Were I to pick a favorite of the two personalities I'd have to go with Lizzie. She is fun, brash, and bold. Since her POV was done in the first person I felt like I knew her better than Eliza and as a result it felt like this was more Lizzie's story.
With a wonderful splendid series title of The Electric Empire this story has some clever steampunk inventions that I would love to see in person namely Eliza's cute robot helper Hippocrates. THE DIABOLICAL MISS HYDE does suffer from too many plot threads which didn't get confusing so much as they made the story feel long. Granted I loved each and every one of the threads and I'd be hard pressed to pick which one I'd throw out. Through excellent writing and creativity the Eliza and Lizzie come alive as two halves of the same person who work amazingly well together to solve some very gruesome murders. In the end this was a most excellently dark steampunk murder mystery and I am very interested in seeing more from this series.
September 12, 2015
I find myself unable to discuss this book without revealing details of the ending, so be warned here in the first sentence and read no further if you are bothered by such things.
Having read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde earlier this year, I was intrigued by this modern steampunk version, featuring Dr. Jekyll’s daughter, Eliza, and her alter-ego, Lizzie Hyde. Set in an electrified Victorian London, the book certainly speaks to the repression of women. Despite her education and competence, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is sidelined by the Old Boys Club amongst the constabulary, which still believes that women should be restricted to needlepoint and producing babies. As infuriated by this attitude as she is, there are no legitimate routes for a gentlewoman to protest these conditions. But as Lizzie Hyde, she unleashes her ambition, her sexuality, and her street-smarts—and sometimes Lizzie is convinced to help her solve a crime.
I appreciated the little touches—the addition of a journal of Victor Frankenstein, for example. The Royal Society as a repressive regime, persecuting renegade scientists rather than religious heretics. Eliza’s mysterious guardian, whom she meets only on his terms, never knowing what he looks like.
I sense a second book in the making, as Eliza has not made a clear decision between the potential men in her life by book’s end. Ironically, Lizzie is drawn to the Royal Society man (with secrets of his own) and Eliza is lured by the criminal whom she saved from the gallows.
Playful and easy to read, I would recommend it to fans of steampunk and of the Jekyll & Hyde story.
Having read the original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde earlier this year, I was intrigued by this modern steampunk version, featuring Dr. Jekyll’s daughter, Eliza, and her alter-ego, Lizzie Hyde. Set in an electrified Victorian London, the book certainly speaks to the repression of women. Despite her education and competence, Dr. Eliza Jekyll is sidelined by the Old Boys Club amongst the constabulary, which still believes that women should be restricted to needlepoint and producing babies. As infuriated by this attitude as she is, there are no legitimate routes for a gentlewoman to protest these conditions. But as Lizzie Hyde, she unleashes her ambition, her sexuality, and her street-smarts—and sometimes Lizzie is convinced to help her solve a crime.
I appreciated the little touches—the addition of a journal of Victor Frankenstein, for example. The Royal Society as a repressive regime, persecuting renegade scientists rather than religious heretics. Eliza’s mysterious guardian, whom she meets only on his terms, never knowing what he looks like.
I sense a second book in the making, as Eliza has not made a clear decision between the potential men in her life by book’s end. Ironically, Lizzie is drawn to the Royal Society man (with secrets of his own) and Eliza is lured by the criminal whom she saved from the gallows.
Playful and easy to read, I would recommend it to fans of steampunk and of the Jekyll & Hyde story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Harper Voyager) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Fiction / Science Fiction / Steampunk
*Rating* 3
*My Thoughts*
I was going to hold off writing my review for this book, and save it for my Steampunk Saturday feature which I am hoping to start soon. But, I'm as impatient as a little kid on Christmas morning. Why wait to open a present, when you can rip it open and immediately enjoy what's in it? Yes, I was that kid. Sorry, not sorry!
Viola Carr's The Diabolical Miss Hyde is her version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886). Carr's version is with female characters, werewolves, Fey, and a surprising connection to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Here is where things get really interesting. Carr tells her story by alternating first person narrative with third person. Dr. Eliza Jekyll is in the third person narrative, while her "sister" Miss Lizzie Hyde, is in the first person narrative. Carr really does a good job separating the two characters voices and giving them a uniqueness all their own.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd 11/19/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: February 10th 2015 by Harper Voyager
*Genre* Fiction / Science Fiction / Steampunk
*Rating* 3
*My Thoughts*
I was going to hold off writing my review for this book, and save it for my Steampunk Saturday feature which I am hoping to start soon. But, I'm as impatient as a little kid on Christmas morning. Why wait to open a present, when you can rip it open and immediately enjoy what's in it? Yes, I was that kid. Sorry, not sorry!
Viola Carr's The Diabolical Miss Hyde is her version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (1886). Carr's version is with female characters, werewolves, Fey, and a surprising connection to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Here is where things get really interesting. Carr tells her story by alternating first person narrative with third person. Dr. Eliza Jekyll is in the third person narrative, while her "sister" Miss Lizzie Hyde, is in the first person narrative. Carr really does a good job separating the two characters voices and giving them a uniqueness all their own.
*Full Review Posted @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Recvd 11/19/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: February 10th 2015 by Harper Voyager
June 4, 2017
3.5 Stars. The story was interesting, if overlong and a little too much exposition for my tastes. I'm not sure how to categorize it, there was a little bit of a number of genres. Mystery, thriller, crime, PNR, UF, steampunk, horror, science fiction; it's all in there, plus a liberal dash of social commentary. There were just too many elements being drawn into the story, and bouncing all over the place. After a while it just became too much. Oh, and another round of editing for length wouldn't have hurt any.
Still, I'm intrigued enough to check out the authors work written as Erica Hayes.
Still, I'm intrigued enough to check out the authors work written as Erica Hayes.
August 6, 2016
What a clever idea using much loved characters both real and imagined of the Victorian Era in this thoroughly enjoyable steampunk reimagining of Dr Jeykll and Mr Hyde. And the writing is so evocative it takes you to the dingy streets of the Seven Dials and the dark and threatening corridors of Bedlam. Looking forward to the next instalment.
4.5 stars.
4.5 stars.
April 13, 2015
3.5 stars
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a forensic doctor in a re-imagined 19th century London. As her infamous father did before her, she has a "shadow" side in the person of Lizzy Hyde, who hankers to be let loose far more often than Eliza is comfortable permitting. Because any type of "otherness" or hint of alchemy (anything not "provable" by known science) is forbidden, Eliza reins in her more brash alter ego with a potion she gets from a trusted friend. As she tries to solve a series of brutal murders, she struggles to balance her two sides and discovers there are far more dangerous and bizarre things out there than she, and things and people she thought she knew are proven false. Entwined with all this are an interfering yet compelling officer of the Royal who harbors secrets of his own, a charismatic serial killer Eliza helped capture but who continues to fascinate her, and a scattering of fictionalized scientists and politicians with agendas of their own.
This is a difficult book to categorize--and to rate. It is a melange of steampunk, paranormal, horror, and murder mystery. While it borrows heavily from stories and characters like Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein, and even Hannibal Lecter, it somehow has a flavor all its own. Carr has created and recreated some memorable characters, and her vivid descriptions of this other London have a real flair.
And yet...
For large portions of the book, the story did not hold my attention. While the descriptions were lush, it was too much of a good thing, and I ended up skimming through some of them and getting impatient while reading some others. Apart from getting to know the main characters and discovering the murders, little happens in the first half of the book. Then there is excitement followed by more exposition, sprinkled with some more excitement. Despite the extensive descriptions of places and things, however, there was frustratingly little explanation of some of the more unusual aspects of the world. There seem to be fae-like beings present, but of too wide a variety and without any sense of what they can do and how they came to be. Likewise, at least some of the other creatures we see in typical paranormal stories are present, but there is frustratingly little information about them, either. Perhaps these will become more clear in upcoming books in the series.
I likely will read on both for that and because this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I only hope the author kills a few more of her darlings in those so we can get more quickly to the heart of future stories in this intriguing world.
Dr. Eliza Jekyll is a forensic doctor in a re-imagined 19th century London. As her infamous father did before her, she has a "shadow" side in the person of Lizzy Hyde, who hankers to be let loose far more often than Eliza is comfortable permitting. Because any type of "otherness" or hint of alchemy (anything not "provable" by known science) is forbidden, Eliza reins in her more brash alter ego with a potion she gets from a trusted friend. As she tries to solve a series of brutal murders, she struggles to balance her two sides and discovers there are far more dangerous and bizarre things out there than she, and things and people she thought she knew are proven false. Entwined with all this are an interfering yet compelling officer of the Royal who harbors secrets of his own, a charismatic serial killer Eliza helped capture but who continues to fascinate her, and a scattering of fictionalized scientists and politicians with agendas of their own.
This is a difficult book to categorize--and to rate. It is a melange of steampunk, paranormal, horror, and murder mystery. While it borrows heavily from stories and characters like Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein, and even Hannibal Lecter, it somehow has a flavor all its own. Carr has created and recreated some memorable characters, and her vivid descriptions of this other London have a real flair.
And yet...
For large portions of the book, the story did not hold my attention. While the descriptions were lush, it was too much of a good thing, and I ended up skimming through some of them and getting impatient while reading some others. Apart from getting to know the main characters and discovering the murders, little happens in the first half of the book. Then there is excitement followed by more exposition, sprinkled with some more excitement. Despite the extensive descriptions of places and things, however, there was frustratingly little explanation of some of the more unusual aspects of the world. There seem to be fae-like beings present, but of too wide a variety and without any sense of what they can do and how they came to be. Likewise, at least some of the other creatures we see in typical paranormal stories are present, but there is frustratingly little information about them, either. Perhaps these will become more clear in upcoming books in the series.
I likely will read on both for that and because this book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I only hope the author kills a few more of her darlings in those so we can get more quickly to the heart of future stories in this intriguing world.
April 29, 2017
2.5 stars
It took me days to get through this. It's not that I didn't have the time to read because I did. I couldn't bear to read more than a chapter at a time for the first half of the book. The writing style didn't work for me. It was hard to stay engaged. It didn't give enough of the right information. All the details I wanted to know weren't there, but useless details about clothing or how a room looked were. The world building was awful. The history of the world was lacking. There were a lot of things I had to take as is without explanation such as Eliza's predicament and the fae. Automatons existed, but I have no clue if they were common or what they were capable of.
Eliza and Lizzie sort of shared a body but weren't the same in their thoughts or actions. Lizzie was a promiscuous bitch, and Eliza was a prim and proper lady. Aside from Lizzie being more reckless and blunt, they were too similar for split personalities or whatever the hell they are. Both were prone to rage. Every time someone pissed them off the urge to seriously injure or kill was there. Underneath Lizzie's tough exterior, she was just as kind as Eliza. The frequent desire to kill didn't work for me. It made it hard for me to like either of them. Their situation wasn't properly explained. Why did their body transform?
Todd was an unusual LI. In a bizarre way, he and Eliza make sense, but I can't imagine they could ever last long term. Lizzie was into Remy. It took a while for me to like him. Their choices in men were odd. I would have expected each of them to like whom the other person did. The romance didn't sell me on this story, but without it, it would far more drab.
The serial killer mystery was okay. I didn't figure out who it was. The parts of the story I liked weren't focused on much like The Royal and Eliza's guardian. There is a lot to learn about the characters and the world. I'm not going to continue with the series because if I discover as little about the world in the next book as in this, I'll be really disappointed.
It took me days to get through this. It's not that I didn't have the time to read because I did. I couldn't bear to read more than a chapter at a time for the first half of the book. The writing style didn't work for me. It was hard to stay engaged. It didn't give enough of the right information. All the details I wanted to know weren't there, but useless details about clothing or how a room looked were. The world building was awful. The history of the world was lacking. There were a lot of things I had to take as is without explanation such as Eliza's predicament and the fae. Automatons existed, but I have no clue if they were common or what they were capable of.
Eliza and Lizzie sort of shared a body but weren't the same in their thoughts or actions. Lizzie was a promiscuous bitch, and Eliza was a prim and proper lady. Aside from Lizzie being more reckless and blunt, they were too similar for split personalities or whatever the hell they are. Both were prone to rage. Every time someone pissed them off the urge to seriously injure or kill was there. Underneath Lizzie's tough exterior, she was just as kind as Eliza. The frequent desire to kill didn't work for me. It made it hard for me to like either of them. Their situation wasn't properly explained. Why did their body transform?
Todd was an unusual LI. In a bizarre way, he and Eliza make sense, but I can't imagine they could ever last long term. Lizzie was into Remy. It took a while for me to like him. Their choices in men were odd. I would have expected each of them to like whom the other person did. The romance didn't sell me on this story, but without it, it would far more drab.
The serial killer mystery was okay. I didn't figure out who it was. The parts of the story I liked weren't focused on much like The Royal and Eliza's guardian. There is a lot to learn about the characters and the world. I'm not going to continue with the series because if I discover as little about the world in the next book as in this, I'll be really disappointed.
January 20, 2015
I was provided a gratis copy of the book by the publisher.
Right from the first page, I loved the voice of this and how the author handled the split nature of Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde. The plot is part mystery, part horror. It's a dark read that delves into serial killers, the sordid underbelly of London society, and the fluctuating nature of medical science and invention in an altered steampunk Victorian time period. It's not a book for everyone, and there were certainly times when I went, "Yikes!" but it remained an engrossing read. Carr wrote something of a love letter to Victorian literature. It's a twisted, topsy-turvy love letter, but a well-done homage just the same.
Right from the first page, I loved the voice of this and how the author handled the split nature of Eliza Jekyll and Lizzie Hyde. The plot is part mystery, part horror. It's a dark read that delves into serial killers, the sordid underbelly of London society, and the fluctuating nature of medical science and invention in an altered steampunk Victorian time period. It's not a book for everyone, and there were certainly times when I went, "Yikes!" but it remained an engrossing read. Carr wrote something of a love letter to Victorian literature. It's a twisted, topsy-turvy love letter, but a well-done homage just the same.
March 16, 2015
After a very boring and confusing start it came out as a very good book!
At the beginning everything is very confusing and I had a feeling this would be a DNF, but, because of the many raving reveiws, I kept on and it didn't disappoint.
A small pet peeve of mine: there are many onomatopoeia. I hate them because I find that they distract instead of pulling you in the action.
So, if you are a patient person and do not mind onomatopoeia, this book is for you! :)
At the beginning everything is very confusing and I had a feeling this would be a DNF, but, because of the many raving reveiws, I kept on and it didn't disappoint.
A small pet peeve of mine: there are many onomatopoeia. I hate them because I find that they distract instead of pulling you in the action.
So, if you are a patient person and do not mind onomatopoeia, this book is for you! :)
September 30, 2016
Rated 3.5 Stars
The Diabolical Miss Hyde was boring and interesting at the same time. I did not think that was at all possible but in this book it so was. I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series but I won't rule it out.
The Diabolical Miss Hyde was boring and interesting at the same time. I did not think that was at all possible but in this book it so was. I'm not sure if I'll read the next book in the series but I won't rule it out.
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