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The Empire of Steam #1
Cold Stone and Ivy
Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling, and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living, and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling, and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living, and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
466 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2016
172 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
H. Leighton Dickson
20 books320 followersH. Leighton Dickson grew up in the wilds of the Canadian Shield, where her neighbours were wolves, moose, deer and lynx. She studied Zoology at the University of Guelph and worked in the Edinburgh Zoological Gardens in Scotland, where she was chased by lions, wrestled deaf tigers and fed antibiotics to Polar Bears by baby bottle.
A successful indie author, Heather is now repped by D. Ellis Wilson of Looking Glass Literary & Media. She has 10 indie novels including the 'Rise of the Upper Kingdom' series and the Empire of Steam series, as well as the award-winning DRAGON OF ASH & STARS. Her next novel, SHIP OF SPELLS, is published by Red Tower Books and will be available November 4, 2025.
Come join the conversation at http://www.hleightondickson.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HLeightonDickson
A successful indie author, Heather is now repped by D. Ellis Wilson of Looking Glass Literary & Media. She has 10 indie novels including the 'Rise of the Upper Kingdom' series and the Empire of Steam series, as well as the award-winning DRAGON OF ASH & STARS. Her next novel, SHIP OF SPELLS, is published by Red Tower Books and will be available November 4, 2025.
Come join the conversation at http://www.hleightondickson.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HLeightonDickson
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 22, 2018
I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review.
The old silent movie Metropolis’ pictures are just perfect to convey the feeling of this book! :)
The story is very confusing at the beginning and all the while I read it I was imagining the piano music that accompany the silent movies! I was expecting the old caption to appear too at the beginning of each chapter too! LOL
The whole story is like a mystery book from the twenties: the tone of voice of each character, the steampunk elements, the love interest, the dialogue, the description… everything…
It was challenging to read, but I still enjoyed it! I know, I’m strange…
So we have Ivy, the heroine, daughter of a police detective, a wannabe sleuth and feuilleton mystery writer. She's rather famous and she think that she’s a detective like her father too. She’s also engaged to Christien, the brother of the Mad Lord Sebastien of Lasingstoke. Her mother is catatonic and, since Ivy and Christien are going to be married, Ivy will not be able to take care of her any more, so Christien suggests that Ivy stays in his family manor while her mother is treated in a sanatorium near there. Ivy agrees and thus meets the Mad Lord, Sebastien.
In the meanwhile, Christien is involved with some very strange people: very important and very mysterious people who are gathered at a Ghost Club, where his own father was a founding member.
In London murdered and mutilated women continuously appear. Some in pieces, some without organs…
Even Ivy receives a heart by mail! And that’s the main reason Christian and her father wants her out of London.
Sebastien is called Mad Lord with a reason: he sees spirits and they’re very, very angry!
So, basically, the book takes you on a trip to discover who the murderer is. And what a ride it is!!
We met some famous characters, such a Jeck The Ripper, Mr. Jackyll/Hyde, but also there’re allusions to other, Like Freud, Frankenstein…
The mystery is very intriguing and the author guides you to its resolution with small steps and gives you crumbs of information that oh, so slowly point to the solution. A very unusual solution, but one that you’ll come to expect!
The old silent movie Metropolis’ pictures are just perfect to convey the feeling of this book! :)
The story is very confusing at the beginning and all the while I read it I was imagining the piano music that accompany the silent movies! I was expecting the old caption to appear too at the beginning of each chapter too! LOL
The whole story is like a mystery book from the twenties: the tone of voice of each character, the steampunk elements, the love interest, the dialogue, the description… everything…
It was challenging to read, but I still enjoyed it! I know, I’m strange…
So we have Ivy, the heroine, daughter of a police detective, a wannabe sleuth and feuilleton mystery writer. She's rather famous and she think that she’s a detective like her father too. She’s also engaged to Christien, the brother of the Mad Lord Sebastien of Lasingstoke. Her mother is catatonic and, since Ivy and Christien are going to be married, Ivy will not be able to take care of her any more, so Christien suggests that Ivy stays in his family manor while her mother is treated in a sanatorium near there. Ivy agrees and thus meets the Mad Lord, Sebastien.
In the meanwhile, Christien is involved with some very strange people: very important and very mysterious people who are gathered at a Ghost Club, where his own father was a founding member.
In London murdered and mutilated women continuously appear. Some in pieces, some without organs…
Even Ivy receives a heart by mail! And that’s the main reason Christian and her father wants her out of London.
Sebastien is called Mad Lord with a reason: he sees spirits and they’re very, very angry!
So, basically, the book takes you on a trip to discover who the murderer is. And what a ride it is!!
We met some famous characters, such a Jeck The Ripper, Mr. Jackyll/Hyde, but also there’re allusions to other, Like Freud, Frankenstein…
The mystery is very intriguing and the author guides you to its resolution with small steps and gives you crumbs of information that oh, so slowly point to the solution. A very unusual solution, but one that you’ll come to expect!
August 4, 2016
I read this because a fellow ARC reader read and loved it. Our tastes are very similiar. And this book proves it yet again.
It's an interesting combination of genres. You have a murder mystery... two in fact. A bit of steampunk, there are airships. Qualifies as period fiction as it's set in Victorian England times complete with lords.
Add one feisty woman who refuses to be constrained by society's rules for women. You've got a rollicking adventure of a book.
The sanitarium bit was a bonus for me.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys period fiction and likes a couple dashes of "speculative" fiction which has become a good catchall for unusual elements outside of reality. But where it's not the dominant genre.
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book and I'm adding Dickson to my list of new authors to follow.
It's an interesting combination of genres. You have a murder mystery... two in fact. A bit of steampunk, there are airships. Qualifies as period fiction as it's set in Victorian England times complete with lords.
Add one feisty woman who refuses to be constrained by society's rules for women. You've got a rollicking adventure of a book.
The sanitarium bit was a bonus for me.
Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys period fiction and likes a couple dashes of "speculative" fiction which has become a good catchall for unusual elements outside of reality. But where it's not the dominant genre.
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy of this book and I'm adding Dickson to my list of new authors to follow.
May 28, 2016
Heather Dickson puts the steam in steampunk and the super in supernatural.
Okay, I admit it, sometimes my first impressions are wrong. I was a few chapters into Cold Stone and Ivy and thought I had stumbled onto a young adult steampunk Nancy Drew story. (There _is_ a character with the corny name of Penny Dreadful, and a girl detective wanna-be.)
WRONG! I was wrong. Wrong. I deserve to be pilloried. In the end I was grateful that there were four hundred and fifty pages so I could hang onto this absorbing story a little longer. The perfect cover opens onto a story of serial murder and mayhem, mad lords and levitating lunatics. The name-dropping is hilarious, like "Grigori Rasmussen, Rastafarian, Raspberry . . . Something like that."
If you willingly embrace Queen Victoria as the Clockwork Empress, sassy young women in breeches, and "science, spiritualism, and alchemy all rolled into one little bauble," tarry no longer. The game is afoot.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, I admit it, sometimes my first impressions are wrong. I was a few chapters into Cold Stone and Ivy and thought I had stumbled onto a young adult steampunk Nancy Drew story. (There _is_ a character with the corny name of Penny Dreadful, and a girl detective wanna-be.)
WRONG! I was wrong. Wrong. I deserve to be pilloried. In the end I was grateful that there were four hundred and fifty pages so I could hang onto this absorbing story a little longer. The perfect cover opens onto a story of serial murder and mayhem, mad lords and levitating lunatics. The name-dropping is hilarious, like "Grigori Rasmussen, Rastafarian, Raspberry . . . Something like that."
If you willingly embrace Queen Victoria as the Clockwork Empress, sassy young women in breeches, and "science, spiritualism, and alchemy all rolled into one little bauble," tarry no longer. The game is afoot.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
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July 26, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fun! That's the short version.
Here's more detail: the book is about a smart, plucky young woman who's trying to figure out what would make her happy. We can all relate to that, can't we? Ivy Savage is a policeman's daughter who writes pulp fiction about a girl detective named Penny Dreadful (also the daughter of a policeman) when she can. So, fun, right? The setting: steampunk London. Maybe it's just me, but just about all of the "steampunk" books I've read seem to feel that they _should_ be steampunk because it's the thing, especially if they want be about Victorian England, but forget about it off and on because their heart really isn't in it. That's how this felt to me. There was no dearth of amusing little gewgaws, steamcars, airships, but really this book wants to be about magic and ghosts, not technology. It's more of a gothic at heart than a detective story.
What I liked about this book is that it never quite went full cliche, but could surprise you. And that's even with an obvious love triangle, a Jack-the-Ripper type mystery, and a tragic haunted young lord. So many tropes, but I loved it anyway! Dickson managed to make everything a little bit tongue in cheek but keep my emotions fully invested in spite of that- no mean trick. And she does this despite some admittedly clunky writing. At times it felt like the author reached for and then couldn't quite find the right word. So, mechanically the story could have been smoother, hence four stars instead of five. But the emotion felt pitch-perfect.
Is this YA? Well, our heroine is young and spunky and nothing really sexy happens, but there's a decent amount of gore. So... hard to say. I think it could go either way. This looks like the start of a series, but I fear it may be one of those books that doesn't get the attention it deserves and may not take off. (Look at the cover- would you pick that up without a recommendation?)So here I am recommending it. It's a fast read, it's a fun read, it's worth a read.
This book was fun! That's the short version.
Here's more detail: the book is about a smart, plucky young woman who's trying to figure out what would make her happy. We can all relate to that, can't we? Ivy Savage is a policeman's daughter who writes pulp fiction about a girl detective named Penny Dreadful (also the daughter of a policeman) when she can. So, fun, right? The setting: steampunk London. Maybe it's just me, but just about all of the "steampunk" books I've read seem to feel that they _should_ be steampunk because it's the thing, especially if they want be about Victorian England, but forget about it off and on because their heart really isn't in it. That's how this felt to me. There was no dearth of amusing little gewgaws, steamcars, airships, but really this book wants to be about magic and ghosts, not technology. It's more of a gothic at heart than a detective story.
What I liked about this book is that it never quite went full cliche, but could surprise you. And that's even with an obvious love triangle, a Jack-the-Ripper type mystery, and a tragic haunted young lord. So many tropes, but I loved it anyway! Dickson managed to make everything a little bit tongue in cheek but keep my emotions fully invested in spite of that- no mean trick. And she does this despite some admittedly clunky writing. At times it felt like the author reached for and then couldn't quite find the right word. So, mechanically the story could have been smoother, hence four stars instead of five. But the emotion felt pitch-perfect.
Is this YA? Well, our heroine is young and spunky and nothing really sexy happens, but there's a decent amount of gore. So... hard to say. I think it could go either way. This looks like the start of a series, but I fear it may be one of those books that doesn't get the attention it deserves and may not take off. (Look at the cover- would you pick that up without a recommendation?)So here I am recommending it. It's a fast read, it's a fun read, it's worth a read.
May 24, 2016
Much to my surprise I was totally enthralled by this novel, a fascinating hybrid of historical fiction and fantasy with the new-to-me label of Steampunk. Neither fantasy nor sci-fi are my favourite genres, so I started reading with trepidation. But Dickson's world where Victorian life and characters mix with steamships and automatons drew me in immediately. It is a vivid, fast-paced read with lots of winks and nudges to well known personalities, both real and fictional, that add yet another stratum to this already multi-layered novel. Indeed, I was so taken in by this book that I bought a necklace while travelling, not realizing until after the fact that it resonated with the locket at the heart of the book, though not in its supernatural abilities. In all transparency, I will say that I know Dickson from a local writing group. So part of my anxiety about reading her novel was thinking about what I would say if I didn't like it. My response would have been "interesting". But no need to search for neutral words. Cold Stone and Ivy is beyond interesting. It is a well-written novel and a terrific read. Looking forward to the sequel.
April 25, 2016
Originally reviewed at West Coast Book Reviews.
So humour
Such chills
Very mystery
I finished reading Cold Stone and Ivy a few days ago and still have a big stress relieving sigh when I think about it. H. Leighton Dickson has brought together a clever combination of 1888 Jack the Ripper history, steampunk Victorian England, a daring heroine and four (and six) wheeled steamcars and airships and ghosts and dogs and murder and severed arms...
As with her fantastic Tales from the Upper Kingdom series, Dickson charmed me. She convinced me I'd figured out her twists and then several times, without so much as an 'if you please,' showed me I was completely and deliciously incorrect. Cold Stone and Ivy ties up a comprehensive and well engineered plot with unique characters and fascinating steampunk scenes.
My two favourite characters are Ivy, crime fiction writer and daughter of the Police Inspector, and the Mad Lord himself, Sebastien. Along with Jack the Ripper and the top hat and cloak in which he's frequently represented, I see Ivy and Sebastien in a very super-hero like way. Ivy in her very fine boots, riding breeches with pale, soft leather on the insides of the legs, a slightly oversized peacoat, read corset and her bowler, tipped slightly to the side. Sebastien in a long cloak, the hem a pack of dogs swarming dust and movement and a fine three barrelled pistol all dark wood and inlaid (with care) with swirls of copper and brass.
Cold Stone and Ivy satisfies cravings for smart humour, detailed steampunk, icy thrills and an honest to goodness who-done-it. Please, treat yourself. You really, really should.
So humour
Such chills
Very mystery
I finished reading Cold Stone and Ivy a few days ago and still have a big stress relieving sigh when I think about it. H. Leighton Dickson has brought together a clever combination of 1888 Jack the Ripper history, steampunk Victorian England, a daring heroine and four (and six) wheeled steamcars and airships and ghosts and dogs and murder and severed arms...
As with her fantastic Tales from the Upper Kingdom series, Dickson charmed me. She convinced me I'd figured out her twists and then several times, without so much as an 'if you please,' showed me I was completely and deliciously incorrect. Cold Stone and Ivy ties up a comprehensive and well engineered plot with unique characters and fascinating steampunk scenes.
My two favourite characters are Ivy, crime fiction writer and daughter of the Police Inspector, and the Mad Lord himself, Sebastien. Along with Jack the Ripper and the top hat and cloak in which he's frequently represented, I see Ivy and Sebastien in a very super-hero like way. Ivy in her very fine boots, riding breeches with pale, soft leather on the insides of the legs, a slightly oversized peacoat, read corset and her bowler, tipped slightly to the side. Sebastien in a long cloak, the hem a pack of dogs swarming dust and movement and a fine three barrelled pistol all dark wood and inlaid (with care) with swirls of copper and brass.
Cold Stone and Ivy satisfies cravings for smart humour, detailed steampunk, icy thrills and an honest to goodness who-done-it. Please, treat yourself. You really, really should.
June 23, 2016
I had a fantastic time reading this book. The synopsis really doesn't do it justice.
If a sequel is ever written, count me in!
If a sequel is ever written, count me in!
August 4, 2018
Cold stone and ivy by H Leighton Dickson.
Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved ivys character. I also loved franny and fanny. How they were together. Brilliant. I don't normally read historic but I do love anything with the ripper in it. Didn't see that coming. And what an ending. I do hope there is more to come 5*.
Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved ivys character. I also loved franny and fanny. How they were together. Brilliant. I don't normally read historic but I do love anything with the ripper in it. Didn't see that coming. And what an ending. I do hope there is more to come 5*.
August 4, 2018
Cold stone and ivy by H Leighton Dickson.
Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved ivys character. I also loved franny and fanny. How they were together. Brilliant. I don't normally read historic but I do love anything with the ripper in it. Didn't see that coming. And what an ending. I do hope there is more to come 5*.
Jack the Ripper gave her his heart. Now he wants it back.
The year is 1888, the clockwork British Empire is crumbling and young writer Ivy Savage has literally received a heart in the post. Terrified, her father sends her north to a strange sanitarium in Lancashire where the brilliant but unpredictable “Mad Lord of Lasingstoke” makes his home.
Here, Ivy finds the dead are as dangerous as the living and she is immediately swept into a world of manners, mystery, and supernatural intrigue, uncovering a secret that will lead both her and the Mad Lord back to London and the dark streets of Whitechapel.
An absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved ivys character. I also loved franny and fanny. How they were together. Brilliant. I don't normally read historic but I do love anything with the ripper in it. Didn't see that coming. And what an ending. I do hope there is more to come 5*.
January 10, 2017
Eeekkk!! I loved this book SO MUCH I've been singing its praises to anyone and everyone. A fantastic steam punk jaunt into Victorian England, with spectacular imagined characters and a crackers story. It's so different from anything else I've read and I'm dying (pun intended) to read the next 2 books in the series. Please hurry with the next installments, H. Leighton Dickson!! If you're into steam punk, read this. Even if you don't think this I'd your kind of book, read it. You can thank me later
June 2, 2016
It’s rare for a story to really stop me in my tracks early on but, with Cold Stone and Ivy, Dickson did something that I was beginning to think I’d never see outside a Kurt Vonnegut story, and she did it in a way that was utterly foreign to me. You see, when combined with the blurb on the front of the book and the synopsis on the back, the first chapter has an added layer of suspense and excitement that authors rarely achieve in their work by providing the reader with more information than her characters. And Dickson very effectively teases us by having those characters doddle along with a lack of urgency when we know that everything’s about to irrevocably change.
Cold Stone and Ivy is a murder mystery that takes place in an alternative Victorian England with steampunk technology. It’s common knowledge that Sebastien de Lacey, the Lord of Lasingstoke, is mad, but that doesn’t stop Ivy Savage’s father and fiancé from sending her to lay low on his estate after she receives a heart in the mail from Jack the Ripper. While there, she discovers that Sebastien’s actually haunted by ghosts of the deceased, and the only way he knows to send them away is by killing their murderers. His special set of skills gets him recruited by the queen to find the Ripper and stop him before he kills again.
Most of the effectiveness of mystery writing is related to the plot, the strength of the resolution, and the balance of hinting at the solution without giving too much away, and the entire first part of Cold Stone and Ivy is testimony to Dickson’s skills as such an author. She gives out enough conflicting, but reasonable, details to get readers guessing who the killer is, and paces her story effectively. Dickson also shows some great restraint in her storytelling; as I settled in on my explanation, I found myself going back, re-reading sections, and finding details I previously glossed over that later bolstered my theories.
But then things change quite drastically in Part II. The pacing suffers a bit as we alternate between leisurely explanations of the overarching story and action that didn’t feel as significant, to me, as in the first part. Dickson also attempts to throw in details to throw readers off the scent in the second part, but I didn’t find anything was strong enough to convince me that my initial conclusion was wrong. It’s unfortunate, but I firmly feel as though I would have appreciated the second half more had the big reveal surprised me.
So, we arrive at this awkward spot where it feels really great as a reader to pick up on the hints Dickson peppered throughout and figure it all out before it’s explained, but it seems to hold less weight when you get there, if this happens. Is there any helping that? I couldn’t really say. What I do know, however, is that, despite its faults, Cold Stone and Ivy most definitely contains great writing and Dickson even succeeds with some storytelling techniques that I’ve never seen used as effectively.
Cold Stone and Ivy is a murder mystery that takes place in an alternative Victorian England with steampunk technology. It’s common knowledge that Sebastien de Lacey, the Lord of Lasingstoke, is mad, but that doesn’t stop Ivy Savage’s father and fiancé from sending her to lay low on his estate after she receives a heart in the mail from Jack the Ripper. While there, she discovers that Sebastien’s actually haunted by ghosts of the deceased, and the only way he knows to send them away is by killing their murderers. His special set of skills gets him recruited by the queen to find the Ripper and stop him before he kills again.
Most of the effectiveness of mystery writing is related to the plot, the strength of the resolution, and the balance of hinting at the solution without giving too much away, and the entire first part of Cold Stone and Ivy is testimony to Dickson’s skills as such an author. She gives out enough conflicting, but reasonable, details to get readers guessing who the killer is, and paces her story effectively. Dickson also shows some great restraint in her storytelling; as I settled in on my explanation, I found myself going back, re-reading sections, and finding details I previously glossed over that later bolstered my theories.
But then things change quite drastically in Part II. The pacing suffers a bit as we alternate between leisurely explanations of the overarching story and action that didn’t feel as significant, to me, as in the first part. Dickson also attempts to throw in details to throw readers off the scent in the second part, but I didn’t find anything was strong enough to convince me that my initial conclusion was wrong. It’s unfortunate, but I firmly feel as though I would have appreciated the second half more had the big reveal surprised me.
So, we arrive at this awkward spot where it feels really great as a reader to pick up on the hints Dickson peppered throughout and figure it all out before it’s explained, but it seems to hold less weight when you get there, if this happens. Is there any helping that? I couldn’t really say. What I do know, however, is that, despite its faults, Cold Stone and Ivy most definitely contains great writing and Dickson even succeeds with some storytelling techniques that I’ve never seen used as effectively.
June 30, 2025
God, I didn’t know where to start. Okay, I found this book because one day, when I was opening a fanfiction website, apparently, one of my favorite fanfiction writers actually had published her book, and when I checked out the premise of one of her books, I immediately knew I had to read it.
The premise was hooking me from the start, but steampunk wasn’t my usual choice of genre, so I have very little knowledge and imagination of how those automatons, steamcars, and all the other elements work. Naturally, I was expecting myself to be a little bit lost, and I did get lost a handful of times during, but it didn’t affect me much. Thank God, there’s a technology called Google where a simple search can help me figure out things. I love the world building of the book; it’s neat, though I am still a bit stumbled at grasping the paranormal and supernormal elements.
A few chapters in, I already know how ‘heavy’ and ‘complex’ the plot would be, but nothing would ever prepare me for the storm that is the love triangle between brothers. I mean, even the usual love triangle is already messy, and between brothers? Disaster, I’ll tell you that. I’m not saying I hate it, I just hate how it makes the whole matter even more difficult, but the way the trope tangled with the whole plot is deliciously good, and the angst is so tasty, I hate it, I cannot wait for it to get messier :)
Since I’ve read a few of Dickson’s fanfics, I know how good she is at writing mysteries with intricate plots, and I must tell you, I think she has outdone herself. The book is well-written, the plot is flowing smoothly, it’s full of shocking mysteries and twists, and by the time I got into the second half of the book, I was so frustrated and was on the edge the entire time. The changing of pace from the first half to the second half, how the truths and the gossips buried with each other, the mysteries painfully and slowly revealed, the TENSION, the higher the stakes, I almost passed out from how thrilled I got. Overall, I am satisfied with how the mysteries and the plot go, though I still have some unanswered questions — but those either will be answered in the next books or must’ve been missed by me, I guess.
Some of the “twists” are foreshadowed before, but every single time, they were being passed over as afterthoughts in my brain, so when it was to be revealed, I was kinda shocked, even though I’ve already predicted it. But the execution was neat and nicely done, so I love it!
Now, I wanna talk about the characters. Starting with Ivy, she did give me a bit of the stereotypical “different from other girls” heroine, but she never acted like that just because she’s a slightly tomboy. She’s clever, brave, witty, full of love and compassion, and she loves being around girls. She’s lovable, and I will defend her forever!! It breaks my heart how the “good girl” title everyone associated her with is restricting her, caging her from her longing freedom and life of adventure, and when she “failed” their expectation, they acted like she’s already ruined for life :( She’s quite layered as a character to me, but I’m really hoping to see more of her character growth in the next books. Oh, I also love the detail where her written Penny Dreadful stories parallel with what happened to her in real life. It’s like she’s writing her own fanfiction about herself (especially that volume of her story where Penny kissed Dunn LOL girlie literally just wrote she wanted to do to Sebastien xD).
Sebastien. My dear boy. I love how he’s so kind, cheerful, and selfless, but he can also appear to be a bit ruthless. It must be lonely and frightening not to be able to differentiate which one’s the living and which one’s the dead. He’s so eager to deny his feelings for Ivy, it makes me sad, because he deserves so much love, and Ivy also had the same feelings for him. I just want more of their romance moment!!! And more of their banter!!! Also, perhaps a riding horse together scene!!! What he had to go through during the whole book is so terrible, and though I know there are still more unpleasant accidents awaiting him in the next books, I just wanna hug him and protect him from the world. Please, just let him happily live in Lasingstoke with his tea, horse, and six dogs (and with Ivy and Rupert and the household members), so PLEASE, no more physical and emotional torture for him.
The romance between Ivy and Sebastien... I wouldn't really describe it as slow burn, because it only took a few days for them to harbor feelings for each other, but the ‘pushing and pulling’ and the denial, oh my God... absolutely delicious. The first meet, their first “adventure”, the kiss on the cheek and how they were so shy after that, the scene at St. Katherine dock, the shared moment under the blanket. I desperately need more of their scenes together, the happy ones, please.
Now, Christien. I had a very much mixed feelings with what I feel about him. At first, I saw him as quite a boring gentleman, but I know he was actually hiding whatever it is his intention under that “perfect” mask. Also, his interaction with Ivy didn’t show much affection from his side, and his reaction when he knew Ivy had feelings for Sebastien was kinda off to me, as if like he wasn’t that bothered, so I figured he didn’t love her as much as I think. But then, the last few chapters happened, and I don’t know what to think. And now, after what he did to Ivy and those women, I’m so curious as to know what his reaction was and what happened to him in the future. And for the love of God, please give your blessing to Ivy and Sebastien, I need them to be happy together.
Special mentions for Rupert, btw, which I think has redeemed himself during the second half of the book, for being less than an asshole to Ivy, for being such a great uncle to his beloved boys, and (I sense) for rooting of Ivy and Sebastien. Oh, also Franny and Fanny, for being such kind, delightful, and amazing friends! I hope to see more of them in the next books, too <3
All in all, I love this book, and I am satisfied with how it turned out. I cannot wait to read the next books and uncover more of the oncoming mysteries!!!
The premise was hooking me from the start, but steampunk wasn’t my usual choice of genre, so I have very little knowledge and imagination of how those automatons, steamcars, and all the other elements work. Naturally, I was expecting myself to be a little bit lost, and I did get lost a handful of times during, but it didn’t affect me much. Thank God, there’s a technology called Google where a simple search can help me figure out things. I love the world building of the book; it’s neat, though I am still a bit stumbled at grasping the paranormal and supernormal elements.
A few chapters in, I already know how ‘heavy’ and ‘complex’ the plot would be, but nothing would ever prepare me for the storm that is the love triangle between brothers. I mean, even the usual love triangle is already messy, and between brothers? Disaster, I’ll tell you that. I’m not saying I hate it, I just hate how it makes the whole matter even more difficult, but the way the trope tangled with the whole plot is deliciously good, and the angst is so tasty, I hate it, I cannot wait for it to get messier :)
Since I’ve read a few of Dickson’s fanfics, I know how good she is at writing mysteries with intricate plots, and I must tell you, I think she has outdone herself. The book is well-written, the plot is flowing smoothly, it’s full of shocking mysteries and twists, and by the time I got into the second half of the book, I was so frustrated and was on the edge the entire time. The changing of pace from the first half to the second half, how the truths and the gossips buried with each other, the mysteries painfully and slowly revealed, the TENSION, the higher the stakes, I almost passed out from how thrilled I got. Overall, I am satisfied with how the mysteries and the plot go, though I still have some unanswered questions — but those either will be answered in the next books or must’ve been missed by me, I guess.
Some of the “twists” are foreshadowed before, but every single time, they were being passed over as afterthoughts in my brain, so when it was to be revealed, I was kinda shocked, even though I’ve already predicted it. But the execution was neat and nicely done, so I love it!
Now, I wanna talk about the characters. Starting with Ivy, she did give me a bit of the stereotypical “different from other girls” heroine, but she never acted like that just because she’s a slightly tomboy. She’s clever, brave, witty, full of love and compassion, and she loves being around girls. She’s lovable, and I will defend her forever!! It breaks my heart how the “good girl” title everyone associated her with is restricting her, caging her from her longing freedom and life of adventure, and when she “failed” their expectation, they acted like she’s already ruined for life :( She’s quite layered as a character to me, but I’m really hoping to see more of her character growth in the next books. Oh, I also love the detail where her written Penny Dreadful stories parallel with what happened to her in real life. It’s like she’s writing her own fanfiction about herself (especially that volume of her story where Penny kissed Dunn LOL girlie literally just wrote she wanted to do to Sebastien xD).
Sebastien. My dear boy. I love how he’s so kind, cheerful, and selfless, but he can also appear to be a bit ruthless. It must be lonely and frightening not to be able to differentiate which one’s the living and which one’s the dead. He’s so eager to deny his feelings for Ivy, it makes me sad, because he deserves so much love, and Ivy also had the same feelings for him. I just want more of their romance moment!!! And more of their banter!!! Also, perhaps a riding horse together scene!!! What he had to go through during the whole book is so terrible, and though I know there are still more unpleasant accidents awaiting him in the next books, I just wanna hug him and protect him from the world. Please, just let him happily live in Lasingstoke with his tea, horse, and six dogs (and with Ivy and Rupert and the household members), so PLEASE, no more physical and emotional torture for him.
The romance between Ivy and Sebastien... I wouldn't really describe it as slow burn, because it only took a few days for them to harbor feelings for each other, but the ‘pushing and pulling’ and the denial, oh my God... absolutely delicious. The first meet, their first “adventure”, the kiss on the cheek and how they were so shy after that, the scene at St. Katherine dock, the shared moment under the blanket. I desperately need more of their scenes together, the happy ones, please.
Now, Christien. I had a very much mixed feelings with what I feel about him. At first, I saw him as quite a boring gentleman, but I know he was actually hiding whatever it is his intention under that “perfect” mask. Also, his interaction with Ivy didn’t show much affection from his side, and his reaction when he knew Ivy had feelings for Sebastien was kinda off to me, as if like he wasn’t that bothered, so I figured he didn’t love her as much as I think. But then, the last few chapters happened, and I don’t know what to think. And now, after what he did to Ivy and those women, I’m so curious as to know what his reaction was and what happened to him in the future. And for the love of God, please give your blessing to Ivy and Sebastien, I need them to be happy together.
Special mentions for Rupert, btw, which I think has redeemed himself during the second half of the book, for being less than an asshole to Ivy, for being such a great uncle to his beloved boys, and (I sense) for rooting of Ivy and Sebastien. Oh, also Franny and Fanny, for being such kind, delightful, and amazing friends! I hope to see more of them in the next books, too <3
All in all, I love this book, and I am satisfied with how it turned out. I cannot wait to read the next books and uncover more of the oncoming mysteries!!!
August 1, 2016
This book was a delightful hodgepodge of different genres that even includes characters from other Victorian-era stories! It blends steampunk, paranormal, murder mystery, and thriller, with a dash of romance to boot! I was initially worried because I have read many books and seen many movies and tv shows that have involved Jack the Ripper and I didn't think there could be any new ideas on who he was. This book surprised me, even at the very end! About halfway through I thought I had it figured out. As an avid mystery reader, I usually figure it out sooner than most. The twist towards the end totally threw me for a loop!
I love the characters too. The heroine Ivy is a crime investigator's daughter/penny dreadful author, who has previously been living her dreams vicariously through her character. Once she receives a human heart in the mail from the infamous Jack the Ripper, she has to become the girl criminologist she has always dreamed of being. She is assisted by several wonderfully zany characters she meets along the way.
I would love to read more stories about these characters and will definitely seek out more from this author!
I love the characters too. The heroine Ivy is a crime investigator's daughter/penny dreadful author, who has previously been living her dreams vicariously through her character. Once she receives a human heart in the mail from the infamous Jack the Ripper, she has to become the girl criminologist she has always dreamed of being. She is assisted by several wonderfully zany characters she meets along the way.
I would love to read more stories about these characters and will definitely seek out more from this author!
June 7, 2016
Holy crap! Just finished this roller coaster ride of a story that kept me up till 3 a.m. two nights-well, mornings, in a row. I am thankful it's summer break! At first, I was thoroughly confused, because, much as I wanted to like the characters (and that's pretty amazing so early in a book) I thought I was losing my mind. Who the hell was this Tad fellow and how did I miss him being introduced? Later, I thought, "ohhhhh, it's a typo--should be 'dad'". Turns out I was close, but no cigar--"tad" was indeed "dad," in Welsh. {face palm}. I suspect I was reading too fast and just.glossed over that little tidbit. but boy was.I confused at first. That said, confusion and all, I thoroughly enjoyed this romp of a steam punk mystery within a mystery, including getting to read the newspaper clippings and the snippets.of the Penny Dreadful serials. Fascinating alternate Victorian England, wonderful technologies, clever use of literary references, and a calamity of a heroine that I hope will be returning with more stories to tell.
This review based on a.NetGalley ebook edition.
This review based on a.NetGalley ebook edition.
March 6, 2017
I thought this book was a gripping read. I loved the paranormal Victorian style atmosphere and the steampunk setting. The world was very immersive.
Great plot, which escalated towards the end and kept me turning the page. And all the ends were neatly tied together. Very satisfactory.
Ivy was a good female lead, a strong woman in a frustratingly male environment. A writer looking for freedom, she came over well. The de Lacey gentlemen were interesting characters with foibles and backstory that kept me guessing to the end.
Minor niggles :
- the plot was pretty complicated, it took me a while to untangle everything, it was quite a heavy read and not for the faint of heart
- the cast of characters was a bit too large, I struggled to tell some of them apart and keep track of them
- a lot of typos, could do with another edit.
Great plot, which escalated towards the end and kept me turning the page. And all the ends were neatly tied together. Very satisfactory.
Ivy was a good female lead, a strong woman in a frustratingly male environment. A writer looking for freedom, she came over well. The de Lacey gentlemen were interesting characters with foibles and backstory that kept me guessing to the end.
Minor niggles :
- the plot was pretty complicated, it took me a while to untangle everything, it was quite a heavy read and not for the faint of heart
- the cast of characters was a bit too large, I struggled to tell some of them apart and keep track of them
- a lot of typos, could do with another edit.
April 2, 2016
Steampunk Gothic Thriller - Dickson's ability to combine historical fact, science, and fiction has created a unique thriller with a spunky lead character and numerous twists and turns. Ivy Savage has received a heart in the mail, and her detective father and medical student fiancé think it best that she leave London until the mysteries of the Whitechapel murders are solved. All good, in theory, but mystery and intrigue follows, and Ivy isn't really one to hide. Memorable characters, automatons, airships, Russian mystics, Royals, the Ghost Club, Victorian London... and Jack the Ripper. Great read!
May 9, 2019
NetGalley Review
Victorian London. Automatons. Mysterious murders. What more could you possibly ask for? This steampunk and the supernatural story will surely leave you on the edge of your seat. Immediately, you are transported back in time. Dickson’s diction creates vivid imagery and curious characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the snippets from Ivy’s story and newspaper articles woven in throughout the book. Very rarely do the readers actually get to see a fictional character’s work, especially if they are a writer. This creatively crafted tale surprised me, far exceeding my expectations. I curious to find out what awaits Ivy in her next mystery.
Victorian London. Automatons. Mysterious murders. What more could you possibly ask for? This steampunk and the supernatural story will surely leave you on the edge of your seat. Immediately, you are transported back in time. Dickson’s diction creates vivid imagery and curious characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the snippets from Ivy’s story and newspaper articles woven in throughout the book. Very rarely do the readers actually get to see a fictional character’s work, especially if they are a writer. This creatively crafted tale surprised me, far exceeding my expectations. I curious to find out what awaits Ivy in her next mystery.
October 18, 2016
This book was awesome. It pretty much had everything: mystery, steampunk, romance, humor. It was killer. The characters, especially Sebastien, we're really unique and loveable. The plot kept me guessing. The ending was amazing.
I will admit it took me a while to get into the book, due to it changing POV's and then going to newspaper clippings and Ivy's books. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Which is saying something because this book is long.
I'm really pumped that the author is releasing more books in the series.
4.5/5
I will admit it took me a while to get into the book, due to it changing POV's and then going to newspaper clippings and Ivy's books. But once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. Which is saying something because this book is long.
I'm really pumped that the author is releasing more books in the series.
4.5/5
October 28, 2016
Loved this book! Hoping for a a sequel!
So many reasons make this a great book. One: I fell in love with the characters. So many characters! of them! Complex and unique and fallible. Two: The twisty storyline. Impossible to predict. Three: Names you already know... Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden... Four: The settings, from a creepy sanitarium to the dirty streets of London after dark. And Five: superb writing. Be prepared to turn off your phone and do nothing but read for hours, because you won't be able to put this book down .
So many reasons make this a great book. One: I fell in love with the characters. So many characters! of them! Complex and unique and fallible. Two: The twisty storyline. Impossible to predict. Three: Names you already know... Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden... Four: The settings, from a creepy sanitarium to the dirty streets of London after dark. And Five: superb writing. Be prepared to turn off your phone and do nothing but read for hours, because you won't be able to put this book down .
December 14, 2016
A delightful supernatural thriller, with an interesting twist on Jack the Ripper. I loved the historical setting and the cast of characters, specially, Ivy and Rupert. The book is quite fast paced, but takes it time to build up the characters and the setting. I liked all the different cameos from historical figures; I couldn't help but smile when hearing the name of Remy's neighbor, and a certain patient in the sanitarium.
November 24, 2016
This imaginative book takes us to a Steampunk London where Jack the Ripper stalks the streets, ghosts demand justice, and our brave heroine writes novels to escape into a world she can control. There's a lot going on in this book, both in the characters' personal lives and in the streets of the city, but all is interwoven into a fast-paced story about family, love, murder, and loyalty. I really enjoyed it! Highly recommended.
March 14, 2017
Well done! Enjoyed this book very much.
This is the first book of H. Leighton Dickson that I have read and was pleasantly surprised. The charters are well thought out, fun and lively. The story itself was refreshingly different. It wasn't all about sex and romance, granted there was romance but the mystery and suspense where the main attraction.
I would highly recommend this book to ages 17 and up. It does have some gruesome and graphic disruptions of murdered women.
This is the first book of H. Leighton Dickson that I have read and was pleasantly surprised. The charters are well thought out, fun and lively. The story itself was refreshingly different. It wasn't all about sex and romance, granted there was romance but the mystery and suspense where the main attraction.
I would highly recommend this book to ages 17 and up. It does have some gruesome and graphic disruptions of murdered women.
November 12, 2016
Jack the Ripper
Loved this supernatural, steampunk take on Jack the Ripper. I love Ivy, the female Victorian sleuth, who loves to wear men's breeches and Chase a mystery. There are fun and thrilling moments, as we follow the trail of the killer in the back alleys of London and fly on the airships with the clockwork Royals.
Loved this supernatural, steampunk take on Jack the Ripper. I love Ivy, the female Victorian sleuth, who loves to wear men's breeches and Chase a mystery. There are fun and thrilling moments, as we follow the trail of the killer in the back alleys of London and fly on the airships with the clockwork Royals.
November 14, 2016
An old tale amazingly told!!
I did not want to stop reading. I loved the charters the base of the story is an old one but the thrilling way it was written by H. Leighton Dickson was wonderful and fantastic :) Loved every page!
This is the first time I have read any of authors books , I am looking forward to read more of her books and hope to read more of Cold Stone & Ivy :)
I did not want to stop reading. I loved the charters the base of the story is an old one but the thrilling way it was written by H. Leighton Dickson was wonderful and fantastic :) Loved every page!
This is the first time I have read any of authors books , I am looking forward to read more of her books and hope to read more of Cold Stone & Ivy :)
November 15, 2016
I usually find it difficult to get into steampunk novels. However, this book held its appeal the entire way through. With a wonderful range of characters and personalities, steampunk technology which doesn't feel forced, and the well-written backdrop of Victorian England, this is definitely a book I'll be recommending.
January 29, 2017
Steam punk and mystery
This is a unexpected read. It's not straightforward filled with twist and turns. Ivy is smart and feisty ready to stand up for what she believes in. A good read.
This is a unexpected read. It's not straightforward filled with twist and turns. Ivy is smart and feisty ready to stand up for what she believes in. A good read.
June 25, 2016
I received a copy from Netgalley to read and review.
Entertaining read of a clockwork mystery. I haven't read too many in this genre and it was fascinating.
Entertaining read of a clockwork mystery. I haven't read too many in this genre and it was fascinating.
October 21, 2016
I received this book free from Amazon.
This book was so wonderfully intense and full of twist and turns.
I couldn't put it down.
I can't wait for book 2.
This book was so wonderfully intense and full of twist and turns.
I couldn't put it down.
I can't wait for book 2.
November 19, 2016
What a weird and wonderful little book! Historical steampunk fantasy mystery, all wrapped up in a penny dreadful. Or maybe that is a typical penny dreadful.
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