What do you think?
Rate this book
The Peculiar Adventures of John Loveheart, Esq. #2
The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl
Two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, are sent to live in the sinister village of Darkwound. There they meet and befriend the magical and dangerous Mr Loveheart and his neighbour Professor Hummingbird, a recluse who collects rare butterflies. Little do they know that Professor Hummingbird has attracted the wrath of a demon named Mr Angel-Cakes. One night, Mr Angel-Cakes visits Boo Boo and carves a butterfly onto her back. Boo Boo starts to metamorphose into a butterfly/human hybrid, and is kidnapped by Professor Hummingbird. When Mr Loveheart attempts to rescue her with the aid of Detective White and Constable Walnut, they are turned into butterflies. Caught between Professor Hummingbird and the demon Angel-Cakes, Loveheart finds himself entangled in a web much wider and darker than he could have imagined, and a plot that leads him right to the Prime Minister and Queen Victoria herself ...
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
13 people are currently reading
1264 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
August 7, 2015
Welcome back to the bizarre world of John Loveheart Esq. in The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl by Ishbelle Bee - the sequel to The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath. This is Victorian England as you’ve never seen it – unless of course you’ve read Bee’s first novel. Although this second book in the series offers a few new very interesting twists to her world.
Early on in this book we are introduced to a character who is described as a “demonic multi-tasker.” (I laughed out loud when I read this scene; you’ll love it). We meet him as he is blissfully perusing dungeon equipment and lauding the fact that people invented it, not demons and he says “you make me smile.” Here is our hero’s nemesis in all his deranged, pure evil, glory.
Our hero? Well, Mr Loveheart is back! He is still a wonderfully psychotic hero with a penchant for drama and an obsessive sweet tooth for pastries, sponges and custard tarts. Our dear deranged Mr Loveheart is lonely - he “seeks a queen” with a “good sense of humour. Fond of cakes. Mad as a kilt.” When he finds his dream girl, he must not only win her, but save her. He parades through the novel displaying his outrageous fashion sense and wielding a sword trying to defeat our mega multi-tasking demon. He is aided in his mission by the return of Detective White and Constable Walnut of Scotland Yard. These two are essentially the “straight men” to Loveheart and they really do help make this a fun book.
Structurally, I found The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl more fragmented than the The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath. I found the multiple story threads were not quite as seamlessly integrated – although there was no problem with keeping track of the different POVs. It was merely that occasionally my reading experience was jarred by the transitions. There was a battle in a church seemed a little too contrived – almost like Bee waved her wand to get out of a literary “corner”. Although in a world so heavily laced with magic and with these characters perhaps they took control in their own inimitable fashion. These tiny issues were something I didn’t notice with the first book. However despite this The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl is an action packed, hilariously horrific, engrossing story that I could not put down – I loved it!
Bee’s brilliance in lies in, not only her bizarre world vision, but in the wonderfully deranged stream of consciousness that she writes for her hero and his nemesis. Her style in these passages, complete with varying font sizes and placement, make for hilarious reading that I found myself reading aloud with delight - again. Keep watch for the incident with the cursed sapphire and Wales – another laugh out loud moment. (Oh who am I kidding? There were lots of laugh out loud moments!)
The ending resolves the main plot arcs here nicely, but leaves things open nicely for a new adventure – I can’t wait!
For more reviews check out http://tracymjoyce.blogspot.com.au/
Early on in this book we are introduced to a character who is described as a “demonic multi-tasker.” (I laughed out loud when I read this scene; you’ll love it). We meet him as he is blissfully perusing dungeon equipment and lauding the fact that people invented it, not demons and he says “you make me smile.” Here is our hero’s nemesis in all his deranged, pure evil, glory.
Our hero? Well, Mr Loveheart is back! He is still a wonderfully psychotic hero with a penchant for drama and an obsessive sweet tooth for pastries, sponges and custard tarts. Our dear deranged Mr Loveheart is lonely - he “seeks a queen” with a “good sense of humour. Fond of cakes. Mad as a kilt.” When he finds his dream girl, he must not only win her, but save her. He parades through the novel displaying his outrageous fashion sense and wielding a sword trying to defeat our mega multi-tasking demon. He is aided in his mission by the return of Detective White and Constable Walnut of Scotland Yard. These two are essentially the “straight men” to Loveheart and they really do help make this a fun book.
Structurally, I found The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl more fragmented than the The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath. I found the multiple story threads were not quite as seamlessly integrated – although there was no problem with keeping track of the different POVs. It was merely that occasionally my reading experience was jarred by the transitions. There was a battle in a church seemed a little too contrived – almost like Bee waved her wand to get out of a literary “corner”. Although in a world so heavily laced with magic and with these characters perhaps they took control in their own inimitable fashion. These tiny issues were something I didn’t notice with the first book. However despite this The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl is an action packed, hilariously horrific, engrossing story that I could not put down – I loved it!
Bee’s brilliance in lies in, not only her bizarre world vision, but in the wonderfully deranged stream of consciousness that she writes for her hero and his nemesis. Her style in these passages, complete with varying font sizes and placement, make for hilarious reading that I found myself reading aloud with delight - again. Keep watch for the incident with the cursed sapphire and Wales – another laugh out loud moment. (Oh who am I kidding? There were lots of laugh out loud moments!)
The ending resolves the main plot arcs here nicely, but leaves things open nicely for a new adventure – I can’t wait!
For more reviews check out http://tracymjoyce.blogspot.com.au/
August 7, 2016
I realize that this review sounds somewhat angry. And I guess it is, as the author clearly took little to no time to craft her story, pulled a bait and switch, and then held out her hand demanding our money and time. As you can see I don't write many reviews, but this was such a slap in the face that it's been eating at me for a few days.
This book is a mess and, worse, it feels more like a padded outline than a novel (I'm guessing the word count is somewhere around 60,000). I saw this book at my local bookstore and read the first chapter, which I found to be very good. The character introduced here is vivid and her desires and motivation are very clear. So I bought it assuming I would read more of the character in chapter one. I was wrong. We don't hear from this character again and the tone changes after the first chapter. I would be very surprised to learn that the author didn't rush the writing of it.
While the character of Loveheart is fantastic, no one else is. Maybe Zedock Heap, but we don't get much of him and the tone and style of his chapters is exactly the same as Loveheart's. Boo Boo could have been a wonderful character had the author decided to care about fleshing her out. Boo Boo is a main character (the titular butterfly girl) but probably the most one-dimensional.
Here are some of the other problems I had with this book [minor spoilers]:
-We're supposed to believe that Pedrock suddenly gives up on trying to help his sister escape the murderous Hummingbird simply because...a "strange boy" visits him in the night and tells him it's fine? Pedrock adds nothing to the story. He didn't need to be a part of the story at all. Remove him and nothing changes. The author obviously realized this at some point and instead of doing the work of taking him out she just said "Eh, he moves on and doesn't care anymore".
-How does Loveheart "pluck a windfall apple"? Windfall isn't a variety of apple. Windfall means the wind has shaken the apple loose, causing it to fall. This bit made me nuts.
-What is Angelcakes? I get he's something supernatural that wears the skin of others, but who the frick is he, exactly? If he's hummingbird's old partner how did he become supernatural? If he's only something supernatural wearing his skin, why does he care about getting revenge on Hummingbird? Does the skin make you take on the spirit of the person? This is never explained. It may make sense in the author's mind but her whole job is to make these things clear to us.
-The timeline jump backward. Okay. While he is trapped as a butterfly, does Loveheart age? At the beginning of the book he turns 18. Does this mean that after he's freed from being a butterfly that he's now 28 (or so) and courting a 16 year old Boo Boo? Did they not age? Does being Lord of the Underworld preclude him from aging? And where does that leave him and Boo Boo? Clearly she is aging. None of this was explained.
-The butterfly mark. Does simply getting the butterfly mark make one an angel-eater? Does it have to be given by someone specific? In a certain way? If not, there are a lot of women out there with butterfly tramp stamps that you might want to watch out for.
-I don't even know how many times the author used the word "splodge" and "wobble". Enough times to make me very aware of it.
- Boo Boo was so flat as to make me think she was maybe slow. She says little and kills everything. So this made me feel really skeeved out, thinking that the older (28? I don't know) Loveheart was taking advantage of her. Boo Boo says she sleeps next to him in his bed, which I can only guess is the author's way of saying they're having sex. There is no building of their relationship. She's a little girl, then she's older, then they kiss, once, then sex and living together. That's it.
The most aggravating aspect is that some characters are great and the author's imagination and style are lively and unforgettable. The problem is that it seems the author either doesn't know what she's doing or doesn't care. This story is rushed, scrawny, disjointed, and mangy. I wish I could return it (Update: I donated it to the library).
This book is a mess and, worse, it feels more like a padded outline than a novel (I'm guessing the word count is somewhere around 60,000). I saw this book at my local bookstore and read the first chapter, which I found to be very good. The character introduced here is vivid and her desires and motivation are very clear. So I bought it assuming I would read more of the character in chapter one. I was wrong. We don't hear from this character again and the tone changes after the first chapter. I would be very surprised to learn that the author didn't rush the writing of it.
While the character of Loveheart is fantastic, no one else is. Maybe Zedock Heap, but we don't get much of him and the tone and style of his chapters is exactly the same as Loveheart's. Boo Boo could have been a wonderful character had the author decided to care about fleshing her out. Boo Boo is a main character (the titular butterfly girl) but probably the most one-dimensional.
Here are some of the other problems I had with this book [minor spoilers]:
-We're supposed to believe that Pedrock suddenly gives up on trying to help his sister escape the murderous Hummingbird simply because...a "strange boy" visits him in the night and tells him it's fine? Pedrock adds nothing to the story. He didn't need to be a part of the story at all. Remove him and nothing changes. The author obviously realized this at some point and instead of doing the work of taking him out she just said "Eh, he moves on and doesn't care anymore".
-How does Loveheart "pluck a windfall apple"? Windfall isn't a variety of apple. Windfall means the wind has shaken the apple loose, causing it to fall. This bit made me nuts.
-What is Angelcakes? I get he's something supernatural that wears the skin of others, but who the frick is he, exactly? If he's hummingbird's old partner how did he become supernatural? If he's only something supernatural wearing his skin, why does he care about getting revenge on Hummingbird? Does the skin make you take on the spirit of the person? This is never explained. It may make sense in the author's mind but her whole job is to make these things clear to us.
-The timeline jump backward. Okay. While he is trapped as a butterfly, does Loveheart age? At the beginning of the book he turns 18. Does this mean that after he's freed from being a butterfly that he's now 28 (or so) and courting a 16 year old Boo Boo? Did they not age? Does being Lord of the Underworld preclude him from aging? And where does that leave him and Boo Boo? Clearly she is aging. None of this was explained.
-The butterfly mark. Does simply getting the butterfly mark make one an angel-eater? Does it have to be given by someone specific? In a certain way? If not, there are a lot of women out there with butterfly tramp stamps that you might want to watch out for.
-I don't even know how many times the author used the word "splodge" and "wobble". Enough times to make me very aware of it.
- Boo Boo was so flat as to make me think she was maybe slow. She says little and kills everything. So this made me feel really skeeved out, thinking that the older (28? I don't know) Loveheart was taking advantage of her. Boo Boo says she sleeps next to him in his bed, which I can only guess is the author's way of saying they're having sex. There is no building of their relationship. She's a little girl, then she's older, then they kiss, once, then sex and living together. That's it.
The most aggravating aspect is that some characters are great and the author's imagination and style are lively and unforgettable. The problem is that it seems the author either doesn't know what she's doing or doesn't care. This story is rushed, scrawny, disjointed, and mangy. I wish I could return it (Update: I donated it to the library).
January 8, 2017
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
I find it difficult to review The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl. Much like its predecessor The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath, it will be unlike anything you've read before. Which also makes it hard to properly rate it.
John Loveheart is back and he's probably madder than ever before, as he dances his way through this story. It was interesting, but at times I have to admit that it really lost me and maybe was a bit too weird, sliding into absurdism that wasn't adding to the story any more.
However, at parts, following the crazy thoughts of John Loveheart are what made the story interesting. It is like a fairy tale for adults, as this sequel was darker than the first novel. In the end, there is room for another story, and I'm still curious.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I find it difficult to review The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl. Much like its predecessor The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath, it will be unlike anything you've read before. Which also makes it hard to properly rate it.
John Loveheart is back and he's probably madder than ever before, as he dances his way through this story. It was interesting, but at times I have to admit that it really lost me and maybe was a bit too weird, sliding into absurdism that wasn't adding to the story any more.
However, at parts, following the crazy thoughts of John Loveheart are what made the story interesting. It is like a fairy tale for adults, as this sequel was darker than the first novel. In the end, there is room for another story, and I'm still curious.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
August 9, 2015
[I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
Like the first novel in this series, I had trouble rating this one. Some aspects I really found delightful, while others left me cold.
I loved the "mad" characters' narratives—Loveheart's and Heap's. The way they tell of the events from their point of view, their disjointed thoughts, the apparently random use of capital letters, how they go about killing or maiming while wishing for custard and pursuing so many different musings, all these quite nicely reflected the fact they were all but human. Heap made for a glorious villain, while Loveheart was his lovely psychopathic self. I couldn't help cheering for him, even though he was basically just as much a monster as his nemesis. Only he didn't kill on such a large scale. Or did he? With him, you can never tell.
I also liked seeing White and Walnut back in action. They made for a funny duo, from their fumbling steps with the cursed jewel that sent them to Wales, to how they always ended up in dire straits due to being somewhat silly. In other circumstances, I'd file them as Too Stupid To Live; however, the tone here being clearly humorous and tongue-in-cheek, it left room for that, and it was alright.
On the other hand, a lot of the other characters were either quickly dispatched or barely etched, and very little development happened in that regard (though Mrs Charm and her medieval horror novels were amusing—I'd definitely read those if they existed, I mean, come on, "The Cannibal Bishop of Edinburgh" is a winning title, isn't it?). I would've wanted Boo Boo, more specifically, to be more fleshed, as she was an intriguing girl, considering how and where she was brought up.
The action felt disjointed in some parts, which was fitting when it came to Loveheart, but caused the story to be stuck at times on killing and severed heads flying in the room, but little else. The ending dragged a little, too, the very last chapter opening towards a third novel, yet the ones in between taking maybe just wee bit too long to close up the remaining characters' storylines.
Overall, a somewhat over-the-top novel that manages to make light of dark situations, with a charming twist of language, even though its rhythm itself was uneven. 3.5 stars.
Like the first novel in this series, I had trouble rating this one. Some aspects I really found delightful, while others left me cold.
I loved the "mad" characters' narratives—Loveheart's and Heap's. The way they tell of the events from their point of view, their disjointed thoughts, the apparently random use of capital letters, how they go about killing or maiming while wishing for custard and pursuing so many different musings, all these quite nicely reflected the fact they were all but human. Heap made for a glorious villain, while Loveheart was his lovely psychopathic self. I couldn't help cheering for him, even though he was basically just as much a monster as his nemesis. Only he didn't kill on such a large scale. Or did he? With him, you can never tell.
I also liked seeing White and Walnut back in action. They made for a funny duo, from their fumbling steps with the cursed jewel that sent them to Wales, to how they always ended up in dire straits due to being somewhat silly. In other circumstances, I'd file them as Too Stupid To Live; however, the tone here being clearly humorous and tongue-in-cheek, it left room for that, and it was alright.
On the other hand, a lot of the other characters were either quickly dispatched or barely etched, and very little development happened in that regard (though Mrs Charm and her medieval horror novels were amusing—I'd definitely read those if they existed, I mean, come on, "The Cannibal Bishop of Edinburgh" is a winning title, isn't it?). I would've wanted Boo Boo, more specifically, to be more fleshed, as she was an intriguing girl, considering how and where she was brought up.
The action felt disjointed in some parts, which was fitting when it came to Loveheart, but caused the story to be stuck at times on killing and severed heads flying in the room, but little else. The ending dragged a little, too, the very last chapter opening towards a third novel, yet the ones in between taking maybe just wee bit too long to close up the remaining characters' storylines.
Overall, a somewhat over-the-top novel that manages to make light of dark situations, with a charming twist of language, even though its rhythm itself was uneven. 3.5 stars.
February 9, 2016
Ishbelle Bee has done it again! If you love unique fairy-tales then look no further!
Honestly, her work is like a fantastical nightmare-dream come to life. She has such a magical and unusual way with words, it's impossible not to be sucked into her chaos-infested world!
Once again, Mr Loveheart is my favourite character (closely followed by Boo Boo who is such a kick-ass character!) Together they are quite a force to be reckoned with.
This time we have Professor Hummingbird as our main villain and the intriguing Mr Angel-Cakes who I quickly came to like (despite his unsightly appearance).
I have never read anything remotely like this before - it is a full-on flight of the imagination with some gorgeous descriptions along the way.
Escapist fiction at it's best!
Honestly, her work is like a fantastical nightmare-dream come to life. She has such a magical and unusual way with words, it's impossible not to be sucked into her chaos-infested world!
Once again, Mr Loveheart is my favourite character (closely followed by Boo Boo who is such a kick-ass character!) Together they are quite a force to be reckoned with.
This time we have Professor Hummingbird as our main villain and the intriguing Mr Angel-Cakes who I quickly came to like (despite his unsightly appearance).
I have never read anything remotely like this before - it is a full-on flight of the imagination with some gorgeous descriptions along the way.
Escapist fiction at it's best!
October 11, 2015
delightfully charming and cleverly violent. loved it!
June 21, 2017
If you divide the good bits by the I-don't-give-a-damn-what-kind-of-sloppy-tiresome-crap-I-write bits, you get 2 stars. But only if you round it up.
February 13, 2020
Really not my style and I found it hard going. So many characters and so much constantly going on that I found it had to engage with the book. An extra star for the quirky changes in font and the chapter titles but otherwise, just not my thing. 2 stars (just.)
Read
May 2, 2018Just like with part 1 (which I read over 2 years ago, so that probably didn't help) this book was just weird :P I do like how the typograpghy was used though, it definitely added something.
July 29, 2015
Pedrock and Boo Boo Frogwish are taken by the well-meaning but befuddled Reverand Plum, avid reader of such literary masterpieces as ‘A Dangerous Romance on the Moors’, to live with their uncle Mr Grubweed. But they are far from save in the sinister village of Darkwound, home to a collection of eccentric neighbours who could be described as homely (although they are capable of producing some exceeding good cake).
So begins the extraordinary and ghoulish adventures of Pedrock and Boo Boo, along with a host of outrageous characters who graced the pages of the previous book of ‘The Peculiar Adventures of John Loveheart Esquire’ duology. Oh and of course the loveable, but ever so slightly wicked Mr Loveheart puts in more than a cameo appearance.
Once again Ishbelle Bee’s firm grasp of the many ways in which you can use words to convey a story are brought into play. As far as the plot and characters are concerned think Blackadder meets Mel Brooks’ Frankenstein only writ large and far more outrageous. The orphans, particularly Boo Boo are flung from one Lemony Sniket style crisis to the next, only for this is for adults with a warped sense of humour and an appreciation of what can be done if the horror found in fairy tales is ramped up several notches.
Ishbelle Bee’s particular skill is in using dialogue, action and brilliantly written inner monologues to make each character stand out and ensure that each new incident feels fresh. The humour is found both in the description of the scene and the reactions and observations of the characters to a particular event. The interactions between the characters also provide a real sense of an ensemble piece. The evil are truly unpleasant and the anti-hero Loveheart, along with a resourceful Boo Boo and his friend the adventure Rufus Hazard (possessing more than a whiff of Lord Flashheart) are wickedly endearing. The heroic and tireless detectives exude just the right amount of haplessness, frustration and outrage as the events whirl round them in ever increasing increments of unpleasantness.
Great fun and I look forward to reading more of the author’s work.
So begins the extraordinary and ghoulish adventures of Pedrock and Boo Boo, along with a host of outrageous characters who graced the pages of the previous book of ‘The Peculiar Adventures of John Loveheart Esquire’ duology. Oh and of course the loveable, but ever so slightly wicked Mr Loveheart puts in more than a cameo appearance.
Once again Ishbelle Bee’s firm grasp of the many ways in which you can use words to convey a story are brought into play. As far as the plot and characters are concerned think Blackadder meets Mel Brooks’ Frankenstein only writ large and far more outrageous. The orphans, particularly Boo Boo are flung from one Lemony Sniket style crisis to the next, only for this is for adults with a warped sense of humour and an appreciation of what can be done if the horror found in fairy tales is ramped up several notches.
Ishbelle Bee’s particular skill is in using dialogue, action and brilliantly written inner monologues to make each character stand out and ensure that each new incident feels fresh. The humour is found both in the description of the scene and the reactions and observations of the characters to a particular event. The interactions between the characters also provide a real sense of an ensemble piece. The evil are truly unpleasant and the anti-hero Loveheart, along with a resourceful Boo Boo and his friend the adventure Rufus Hazard (possessing more than a whiff of Lord Flashheart) are wickedly endearing. The heroic and tireless detectives exude just the right amount of haplessness, frustration and outrage as the events whirl round them in ever increasing increments of unpleasantness.
Great fun and I look forward to reading more of the author’s work.
January 21, 2016
Well, Ishbelle Bee has done it again. After my wonderful experience reading
The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath
(I can truly only describe reading it as an experience), I was anxious to see where Bee was going to take both her characters and us, the reader, and I am tickled by the result.
This time around, I feel like Ms Bee really let herself take off with the story; she has a much clearer idea of who the characters are that inhabit her world, and what a fine and madcap cast they are! Mr Loveheart is back this time, along with White & Walnut of Scotland Yard, and they are joined by a wild new group of characters: Pedrock and Boo Boo, orphans sent to live with their relatives in the village of Darkwound, where we also find Mr Loveheart and his various, colorful neighbors; Professor Hummingbird, a butterfly aficionado; and Mr Angel-Cakes, Boo Boo's mysterious, and possibly quite deadly, imaginary friend.
Ms Bee has injected an entirely fantastic level of humor into her story, reminding me of Gail Carriger's books. Here again, the lack of explanation, just the necessity to accept the magic in her world is expertly wielded, and something that I'm very happy to see carried over from the first book. Her use of typography to express some of the action is still present, as well, something I'm very happy to see. This is something that I think works so well in her books, and I hope she continues using it, should there be more books.
Needless to say Ishbelle Bee has completely won me over, and I can only hope that we have a great many more adventures with Mr Loveheart to look forward to!
I need to take a moment again to comment on the cover! Somebody at Angry Robot is doing a bang-up job on these covers and book design, and I desperately wish that as we are given more adventures with Mr Loveheart, we are also given more of these gorgeous covers. Beautiful marketing, Angry Robot! Keep up the good work.
This time around, I feel like Ms Bee really let herself take off with the story; she has a much clearer idea of who the characters are that inhabit her world, and what a fine and madcap cast they are! Mr Loveheart is back this time, along with White & Walnut of Scotland Yard, and they are joined by a wild new group of characters: Pedrock and Boo Boo, orphans sent to live with their relatives in the village of Darkwound, where we also find Mr Loveheart and his various, colorful neighbors; Professor Hummingbird, a butterfly aficionado; and Mr Angel-Cakes, Boo Boo's mysterious, and possibly quite deadly, imaginary friend.
Ms Bee has injected an entirely fantastic level of humor into her story, reminding me of Gail Carriger's books. Here again, the lack of explanation, just the necessity to accept the magic in her world is expertly wielded, and something that I'm very happy to see carried over from the first book. Her use of typography to express some of the action is still present, as well, something I'm very happy to see. This is something that I think works so well in her books, and I hope she continues using it, should there be more books.
Needless to say Ishbelle Bee has completely won me over, and I can only hope that we have a great many more adventures with Mr Loveheart to look forward to!
I need to take a moment again to comment on the cover! Somebody at Angry Robot is doing a bang-up job on these covers and book design, and I desperately wish that as we are given more adventures with Mr Loveheart, we are also given more of these gorgeous covers. Beautiful marketing, Angry Robot! Keep up the good work.
June 25, 2015
https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/06/2...
Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: August 2015
ISBN: 9780857664464
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.8/5
Publisher Description: Two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, are sent to live in the sinister village of Darkwound. There they meet and befriend the magical and dangerous Mr Loveheart and his neighbour Professor Hummingbird, a recluse who collects rare butterflies. Little do they know that Professor Hummingbird has attracted the wrath of a demon named Mr Angel-Cakes.
Review: This continues to follow the story of Mr. Loveheart and his schizophrenic ascendance into more heightened states of insanity. There are worse than he that continue to roam the bowels of the universe and with the help of Scotland Yard begin to unravel the minions of the Queen.
Not much to say without giving it all away. The characters and instances are brilliant and the scenes rendered in flawless fashion. Again, very entertaining and well written.
Publisher: Angry Robot
Publishing Date: August 2015
ISBN: 9780857664464
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 4.8/5
Publisher Description: Two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, are sent to live in the sinister village of Darkwound. There they meet and befriend the magical and dangerous Mr Loveheart and his neighbour Professor Hummingbird, a recluse who collects rare butterflies. Little do they know that Professor Hummingbird has attracted the wrath of a demon named Mr Angel-Cakes.
Review: This continues to follow the story of Mr. Loveheart and his schizophrenic ascendance into more heightened states of insanity. There are worse than he that continue to roam the bowels of the universe and with the help of Scotland Yard begin to unravel the minions of the Queen.
Not much to say without giving it all away. The characters and instances are brilliant and the scenes rendered in flawless fashion. Again, very entertaining and well written.
November 8, 2015
Better than the first one. This one was written much more cohesively, though still felt like a demented fever dream. As the dreamlike quality was the only thing I liked about the first one, I am okay with that.
October 15, 2025
I LOVED the first book in this duology, The Singular & Extraordinary Tale of of Mirror & Goliath. Though, the conclusion of this second book hints at a trilogy? Perhaps a potential third book, featuring a showdown between the Queen and Loveheart?!
I'm getting ahead of myself. If possible, I LOVED this one even more than the first book! Bee plays around with mythology, horror, baked goods, and experiments in typography again in this one, which all combine with great success and aplomb.
As a prologue we get a massacre by the Angel-eater in the Temple of Butterflies in Mexico in 1407, to set the stage and tone so to speak for the events to come in 1889. Then we get the first chapter of Part I from the perspective of the Prime Minister, a demon of course. Then we get a second chapter to get reacquainted with that unpredictable rogue Mr. Loveheart (awwwww.... he's lonely!).
THEN we get to something resembling a typical narrative structure. Patience, dear readers! If you are willing to be open to the meandering preamble, it will eventually prove relevant and you will be rewarded, though in butterflies rather than spades.
The story (eventually) begins with two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, who end up in the dangerous village of Darkwound. We meet them on a train ride, escorted by the kind but ineffective Reverend Plum. He has no time for the children, or their nonsense, as he's too busy reading A Dangerous Romance on the Moors.
"Is it an absorbing read?" I ask.
Reverend Plum, annoyed, glances up from his forbidden retreat. "Yes, it's an enjoyable distraction."
"What's the story about?"
He looks uncomfortable. "Well. It's a love story."
"Between who?"
"Between a priest and a," (he pauses) "a farm girl. It's actually more of a warm friendship."
HAHAHAHA. Sure Reverend Plum, just keep telling yourself that. Odd the publishers didn't decide to go with "A Warm Friendship on the Moors" as the title, would have been a bestseller for sure.
Pedrock and BooBoo meet up with their Uncle Grubweed, where they have gone to live indefinitely as their new home. There's an odd assortment of neighbors in Darkwound, most notoriously Mr. Loveheart, and including Mrs. Lavender Charm, who makes excellent chutney and writes medieval horror novels, Rufus Hazard, an adventurer who always travels with his trusted machete, the widowed Lady Beetle and her (odious) son Horatio who for better or worse is the local ladies man among the young and foolish, Grubweed himself who is a retired undertaker that has done surprisingly (mysteriously? suspiciously?) well for his occupation. Then there's Professor Hummingbird, an odd recluse with a disturbing obsession with butterflies. Last but not least, though least substantial physically and most alarming, Mr. Angel-Cakes, a dangerous demon playing a cat-and-mouse game with long odds and a longer timeline. He's ensnared Boo Boo and sculpted her into an agent of destruction, in the peculiar and particular form of a butterfly assassin.
There is a plot and it moves quickly as Boo Boo is adopted by Professor Hummingbird when Grubweed suddenly goes missing just days after Pedrock and Boo Boo arrive at the house. All precipitated by the decapitation of a dinner guest at the Grubweed home just a night or two prior. Boo Boo has been found with the bloody axe and an alarming insouciance about the whole affair.
There's an abundance of villains, with Mr. Loveheart the only hope as a Mad Hatter type of antihero. I tore through this in one sitting and cackled maniacally in the last few chapters with so many funny final scenes. Hoping for a third book featuring Mr. Loveheart someday. In the meantime, these will have pride of place among my favorites on the bookshelf.
One final thought. Bee has some quiet poetic lines sprinkled throughout all the madcap mayhem and violence. I'll leave you with a favorite among them:
"Above in the black sky, a comet tail blazes and explodes... It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and yet it is the death of a star."
I'm getting ahead of myself. If possible, I LOVED this one even more than the first book! Bee plays around with mythology, horror, baked goods, and experiments in typography again in this one, which all combine with great success and aplomb.
As a prologue we get a massacre by the Angel-eater in the Temple of Butterflies in Mexico in 1407, to set the stage and tone so to speak for the events to come in 1889. Then we get the first chapter of Part I from the perspective of the Prime Minister, a demon of course. Then we get a second chapter to get reacquainted with that unpredictable rogue Mr. Loveheart (awwwww.... he's lonely!).
THEN we get to something resembling a typical narrative structure. Patience, dear readers! If you are willing to be open to the meandering preamble, it will eventually prove relevant and you will be rewarded, though in butterflies rather than spades.
The story (eventually) begins with two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, who end up in the dangerous village of Darkwound. We meet them on a train ride, escorted by the kind but ineffective Reverend Plum. He has no time for the children, or their nonsense, as he's too busy reading A Dangerous Romance on the Moors.
"Is it an absorbing read?" I ask.
Reverend Plum, annoyed, glances up from his forbidden retreat. "Yes, it's an enjoyable distraction."
"What's the story about?"
He looks uncomfortable. "Well. It's a love story."
"Between who?"
"Between a priest and a," (he pauses) "a farm girl. It's actually more of a warm friendship."
HAHAHAHA. Sure Reverend Plum, just keep telling yourself that. Odd the publishers didn't decide to go with "A Warm Friendship on the Moors" as the title, would have been a bestseller for sure.
Pedrock and BooBoo meet up with their Uncle Grubweed, where they have gone to live indefinitely as their new home. There's an odd assortment of neighbors in Darkwound, most notoriously Mr. Loveheart, and including Mrs. Lavender Charm, who makes excellent chutney and writes medieval horror novels, Rufus Hazard, an adventurer who always travels with his trusted machete, the widowed Lady Beetle and her (odious) son Horatio who for better or worse is the local ladies man among the young and foolish, Grubweed himself who is a retired undertaker that has done surprisingly (mysteriously? suspiciously?) well for his occupation. Then there's Professor Hummingbird, an odd recluse with a disturbing obsession with butterflies. Last but not least, though least substantial physically and most alarming, Mr. Angel-Cakes, a dangerous demon playing a cat-and-mouse game with long odds and a longer timeline. He's ensnared Boo Boo and sculpted her into an agent of destruction, in the peculiar and particular form of a butterfly assassin.
There is a plot and it moves quickly as Boo Boo is adopted by Professor Hummingbird when Grubweed suddenly goes missing just days after Pedrock and Boo Boo arrive at the house. All precipitated by the decapitation of a dinner guest at the Grubweed home just a night or two prior. Boo Boo has been found with the bloody axe and an alarming insouciance about the whole affair.
There's an abundance of villains, with Mr. Loveheart the only hope as a Mad Hatter type of antihero. I tore through this in one sitting and cackled maniacally in the last few chapters with so many funny final scenes. Hoping for a third book featuring Mr. Loveheart someday. In the meantime, these will have pride of place among my favorites on the bookshelf.
One final thought. Bee has some quiet poetic lines sprinkled throughout all the madcap mayhem and violence. I'll leave you with a favorite among them:
"Above in the black sky, a comet tail blazes and explodes... It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and yet it is the death of a star."
May 3, 2019
Втората част на невъзможно красивата тайна мистерия на Мирър и Голиат, заради несъмнената си уникалност е една от най-заслужаващите живот и облекло в родни думи истории, сравнима по очарование и откаченост само с приключенията на едно русокосо момиченце със склонност към преминаване в невъзможни светове на име Алиса. Да, сюрреалистичната детска класика намира своя пораснал, малко извратен и прилично кървав братовчед в тъмните очи на златокосото алтер его на Шапкаря в неговото най-най-неконтролируемо аз и една пеперудена богиня на войната и мъстта, станала фикс идея на не един демон от ада. И резултатът е едновременно смразяващ кръвта и бушуващ адреналина, сякаш Тарантино и Бъртън са скрепили с братска прегръдка и обещание за жертви на първородни синове една съвършена дяволоугодна вакханалия от цветове, нелогизъм и фонтани кръв.
Ишбел Бий отваря нови врати към най-тъмните кътчета на съзнанието си, разкриваща, че и мракът си има мрак, от който му се покосяват мрачните пипалца и му се разтрисат вариантите на мрачни коленца. Демоните управляват света, парламента, великото британско кралство. Лондон е в ръцете на най-извратените, кръвожадни и безмилостни създания в няколко реалности наоколовръст, а когато пред теб не просто се надигне бездната да отвърне на погледа ти, ами и те покани на чай и сладки с уговорката, че ще си тръгнеш от гостито само с няколко крайника или глави по-малко и значително по-ниска от обичайното телесна температура, просто на здравият разум му се налага да си стегне куфарите и да замине на някое слънчево и проветриво местенце да си лекува нервите. Така оставаме с една планина свръхествени същества с изявени хомицидни склонности и свръх агресивни способности за унищожение на безкрайно количество различно живи и различно хомосапиенсни струпвания, пред които Джак Изкормвача е като невинно момченце с къси панталонки. О, да, кървища за масите, но някак декадентски великолепни такива. Вярвате или не – възможно е.
Можете да приемете всичко пред очите си като нивга несвършващ кошмар, като поглед към бъдещето на Апокалипсиса след последния съден ден, като алтернативна реалност, в която господарите на деня най-вероятно си отглеждат Ктхулу вариация на нашите мопсове, но в естествени размери. Истинската заешка дупка, но с много зъби, остри предмети и тежка магия по пътя, от която кръвта изпитва смущаваща склонност да се лее щедро през порите на всеки сантиметър кожа. Животът на хората в това превъплъщение на ада струва смешно малко, а очите на боговете са винаги жадни за още и още гледки на загниващо трупно месо. Хорър, но от изящния, елегантния, стиймпънк технологичния и очарователно сатиричния вид, в който влюбите ли се – този глад за кървава красота трудно ще утолите с др��ги автори. Ех, Ишбел, дай ни още от кошмарите си, ти странна богиньо на трудната красота…
Ишбел Бий отваря нови врати към най-тъмните кътчета на съзнанието си, разкриваща, че и мракът си има мрак, от който му се покосяват мрачните пипалца и му се разтрисат вариантите на мрачни коленца. Демоните управляват света, парламента, великото британско кралство. Лондон е в ръцете на най-извратените, кръвожадни и безмилостни създания в няколко реалности наоколовръст, а когато пред теб не просто се надигне бездната да отвърне на погледа ти, ами и те покани на чай и сладки с уговорката, че ще си тръгнеш от гостито само с няколко крайника или глави по-малко и значително по-ниска от обичайното телесна температура, просто на здравият разум му се налага да си стегне куфарите и да замине на някое слънчево и проветриво местенце да си лекува нервите. Така оставаме с една планина свръхествени същества с изявени хомицидни склонности и свръх агресивни способности за унищожение на безкрайно количество различно живи и различно хомосапиенсни струпвания, пред които Джак Изкормвача е като невинно момченце с къси панталонки. О, да, кървища за масите, но някак декадентски великолепни такива. Вярвате или не – възможно е.
Можете да приемете всичко пред очите си като нивга несвършващ кошмар, като поглед към бъдещето на Апокалипсиса след последния съден ден, като алтернативна реалност, в която господарите на деня най-вероятно си отглеждат Ктхулу вариация на нашите мопсове, но в естествени размери. Истинската заешка дупка, но с много зъби, остри предмети и тежка магия по пътя, от която кръвта изпитва смущаваща склонност да се лее щедро през порите на всеки сантиметър кожа. Животът на хората в това превъплъщение на ада струва смешно малко, а очите на боговете са винаги жадни за още и още гледки на загниващо трупно месо. Хорър, но от изящния, елегантния, стиймпънк технологичния и очарователно сатиричния вид, в който влюбите ли се – този глад за кървава красота трудно ще утолите с др��ги автори. Ех, Ишбел, дай ни още от кошмарите си, ти странна богиньо на трудната красота…
March 28, 2019
The formatting was a bit distracting, but I gather that in this book series, that's the idea. Because we've seen books how they're supposed to look and read having this chaos before me was actually very refreshing, especially with how well I could still understand the plot of the story and the characters involved, unlike in other more conveniently formatted titles.
I'd recommend this for anyone sick of the modern literature landscape that seems to be getting more and more formulaic every year. It's like taking a deep breath for the first time - overwhelming at first but once you breathe out again it's very appreciated.
This book has a lot of things about it I wouldn't normally read - the horror genre, first person narratives, changing perspectives, an alternate Victorian London - but it works well. I was pleasantly surprised by the mention of Aberystwyth, as I went there on holiday once and it's a really nice seaside town that gets a lot of sun.
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security - it may have a clear plot, characters and settings but this book is complete madness. I'm sure even if you read the first book this is a ride and a half. It's a bottle of organised chaos, only showing us little tidbits like exposition ought to be done. Confusing, whimsical, horrific at parts... it's like opening up your childhood imagination again. Honestly, it reminded me of the frantic feeling of making up a story as I went playing with my action figures and dolls - captured that wonderfully.
Though there are a lot of allegories to fairy stories, I'd only truly say it's like that in content. The structure and setting I don't think apply themselves to that distinction. I'd say it's more like literally jumping through people's minds where you're not sure what's real and relevant until you get to the outcome. But that's why I enjoyed it so much.
Like I said, I'm not too invested in the premise of the series enough to give it obsession status. That being said, if I see any other books by Isabelle Bee, I'll definitely give them a chance. I'd recommend people do the same at least once.
I'd recommend this for anyone sick of the modern literature landscape that seems to be getting more and more formulaic every year. It's like taking a deep breath for the first time - overwhelming at first but once you breathe out again it's very appreciated.
This book has a lot of things about it I wouldn't normally read - the horror genre, first person narratives, changing perspectives, an alternate Victorian London - but it works well. I was pleasantly surprised by the mention of Aberystwyth, as I went there on holiday once and it's a really nice seaside town that gets a lot of sun.
Don't be lulled into a false sense of security - it may have a clear plot, characters and settings but this book is complete madness. I'm sure even if you read the first book this is a ride and a half. It's a bottle of organised chaos, only showing us little tidbits like exposition ought to be done. Confusing, whimsical, horrific at parts... it's like opening up your childhood imagination again. Honestly, it reminded me of the frantic feeling of making up a story as I went playing with my action figures and dolls - captured that wonderfully.
Though there are a lot of allegories to fairy stories, I'd only truly say it's like that in content. The structure and setting I don't think apply themselves to that distinction. I'd say it's more like literally jumping through people's minds where you're not sure what's real and relevant until you get to the outcome. But that's why I enjoyed it so much.
Like I said, I'm not too invested in the premise of the series enough to give it obsession status. That being said, if I see any other books by Isabelle Bee, I'll definitely give them a chance. I'd recommend people do the same at least once.
April 17, 2020
THE CONTRARY TALES OF THE BUTTERFLY GIRL.
.
"Above in the black sky, a comet tail blazes and explodes... It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and yet it is the death of a star."
.
.
Welcome to the absurd sequel to "The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath." Don't be fooled by the beautiful cover art of this book. It's not a disney children fairy tale but it is full of surpises, twists, and turns. One moment I'm reading from the mad mad mad perspective of Mr. Loveheart when all of a sudden it turns to manslaughter and cannibalism! And there was also this moment that I'm reading the sentiments of Pedrock on his miseries in life as orphans then it turns to a murder scene with decapitating involved.
.
The writing style is delightfully dark like overdosing with dark chocolates. It's whimsically and lyrically original. It's like reading through the Mad Hatter's head. The action thrilled every page. Once started, it's already so hard to put it down. Even when my eyeglasses broke, I squinted to read it till the end.
.
The characters are so uniquely mad. The whole village of Darkwound is MAD. MAD. MAD. MAD. MAD. Our hero is psyhotic. John Loveheart is bizzarely endearing. Although at first I flinched everytime I read his absurd stream of consciousness, I found Professor Hummingbird more psychotic. I abhor the Prime Minister Zedock Heap! Mad is Mr. Loveheart but sinister is The Queen! She's soooo terrifying with all her blood roses. 😭 And Boo Boo is so precious. Don't we just adore rooting for a female killing machine? 🤣
.
This novel drove me insane. Bizzare. Witty. Deadly. Dark. Mad. Bloody. It's the perfect fairytale for adults! Fans of Alice in Wonderland would rejoice to read this dark madly twisted tale.
.
.
5 gems for you Ishbelle Bee! 💎💎💎💎💎
.
.
#owlsreadathon2020 finished subjects 4/8
✔DADA
✔Potions
✔Muggle Studies
✔Transfiguration
.
#bookstagram #booktalk #bookblog #bookreview #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammersunite #bookstagramerph #bookworm #YAfantasy #adultfantasy #darkfantasy #aliceinwknderland #thecontrarytalesofbutterflygirl #ishbellebee #magicalreadathon #ravenclaw #readingnest #quillingtime
.
"Above in the black sky, a comet tail blazes and explodes... It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, and yet it is the death of a star."
.
.
Welcome to the absurd sequel to "The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath." Don't be fooled by the beautiful cover art of this book. It's not a disney children fairy tale but it is full of surpises, twists, and turns. One moment I'm reading from the mad mad mad perspective of Mr. Loveheart when all of a sudden it turns to manslaughter and cannibalism! And there was also this moment that I'm reading the sentiments of Pedrock on his miseries in life as orphans then it turns to a murder scene with decapitating involved.
.
The writing style is delightfully dark like overdosing with dark chocolates. It's whimsically and lyrically original. It's like reading through the Mad Hatter's head. The action thrilled every page. Once started, it's already so hard to put it down. Even when my eyeglasses broke, I squinted to read it till the end.
.
The characters are so uniquely mad. The whole village of Darkwound is MAD. MAD. MAD. MAD. MAD. Our hero is psyhotic. John Loveheart is bizzarely endearing. Although at first I flinched everytime I read his absurd stream of consciousness, I found Professor Hummingbird more psychotic. I abhor the Prime Minister Zedock Heap! Mad is Mr. Loveheart but sinister is The Queen! She's soooo terrifying with all her blood roses. 😭 And Boo Boo is so precious. Don't we just adore rooting for a female killing machine? 🤣
.
This novel drove me insane. Bizzare. Witty. Deadly. Dark. Mad. Bloody. It's the perfect fairytale for adults! Fans of Alice in Wonderland would rejoice to read this dark madly twisted tale.
.
.
5 gems for you Ishbelle Bee! 💎💎💎💎💎
.
.
#owlsreadathon2020 finished subjects 4/8
✔DADA
✔Potions
✔Muggle Studies
✔Transfiguration
.
#bookstagram #booktalk #bookblog #bookreview #bookish #bookishfeatures #booknerd #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammersunite #bookstagramerph #bookworm #YAfantasy #adultfantasy #darkfantasy #aliceinwknderland #thecontrarytalesofbutterflygirl #ishbellebee #magicalreadathon #ravenclaw #readingnest #quillingtime
November 3, 2021
Two orphans, Pedrock and Boo Boo, are sent to live in the sinister village of Darkwound. There they meet and befriend the magical and dangerous Mr Loveheart and his neighbour Professor Hummingbird, a recluse who collects rare butterflies. Little do they know that Professor Hummingbird has attracted the wrath of a demon named Mr Angel-Cakes. One night, Mr Angel-Cakes visits Boo Boo and carves a butterfly onto her back. Boo Boo starts to metamorphose into a butterfly/human hybrid, and is kidnapped by Professor Hummingbird. When Mr Loveheart attempts to rescue her with the aid of Detective White and Constable Walnut, they are turned into butterflies. Caught between Professor Hummingbird and the demon Angel-Cakes, Loveheart finds himself entangled in a web much wider and darker than he could have imagined, and a plot that leads him right to the Prime Minister and Queen Victoria herself ...
dnf. no idea what the hell this is.
dnf. no idea what the hell this is.
May 29, 2017
What do I even say about a book like this?
It's horrifying. Yet intriguing. Grotesque. Yet fascinating. I love it at the same time as barely understanding it.
Am I insane? I feel insane. I'm writing like the madmen in this book, aren't I?
Okay, yeah, that might have been on purpose.
This book. This damn book. It's so weird. It's so freaking weird. Yet I love it, in a weird way. Some where along the way I get sucked in and just can't put it down.
And that bit with the Queen? Yeah, that bit. Jesus.
It's horrifying. Yet intriguing. Grotesque. Yet fascinating. I love it at the same time as barely understanding it.
Am I insane? I feel insane. I'm writing like the madmen in this book, aren't I?
Okay, yeah, that might have been on purpose.
This book. This damn book. It's so weird. It's so freaking weird. Yet I love it, in a weird way. Some where along the way I get sucked in and just can't put it down.
And that bit with the Queen? Yeah, that bit. Jesus.
August 6, 2017
Basically a whimsical and bloody steampunk novel set in a Victorian England full of demons and magic. This is an alternate world in which people can and do die by the score (to the point where you wonder how England isn't completely depopulated by now) and nobody (neither characters nor reader) bats an eye; and yet Scotland Yard still sends out detectives to investigate a single unexplained rural homicide. In short: it makes no sense, it's not supposed to, and if you're not in the market for a fun and silly romp this shouldn't be on your reading list.
March 5, 2024
Very cute would not be accurate. Intriguing? I felt much confused as I was with the original Alice in Wonderland, however, it was well done. You will need to be ready to disconnect your rational mind and try no to make sense of nonsense. Once you let go of the illusion of time and what words/adjectives should be used to describe human and animal body parts ...you will be close to the right head space to read this.
Truly an artistic vision.
Truly an artistic vision.
July 23, 2018
Well this book was weirder, creepier and madder than the last one. I love how absurd the world of Ishbelle Bee is - this is the main reason I enjoy her books that much. Mr Loveheart is back and so the adventure continues! I could barely keep truck of all the cakes and puddings involved (also a lot of chopping going on). Interesting read, a bit chaotic but that's part of its charm.
October 15, 2018
I was a little disappointed in the lack of humorous moments in this compared to book one...until the last fifteen pages.
Book two definitely took a little more tine unraveling its story but the payoff was just as good.
The last chapter, though. Oh boy.
Give me book three.
I want to see Loveheart, Boo Boo, Walnut, and White take down Queen Victoria.
Book two definitely took a little more tine unraveling its story but the payoff was just as good.
The last chapter, though. Oh boy.
Give me book three.
I want to see Loveheart, Boo Boo, Walnut, and White take down Queen Victoria.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 25, 2020
Marginally better than the first book, in that this time there was a follow-able plot and identifiable main characters. Also, I suppose I adjusted my approach. If you accept the surrealism, you find yourself enjoying certain sequences and raw quotes.
The prose style - perspective-hopping, typographical craziness, stream-of-consciousness at times - remains schizophrenic, though.
The prose style - perspective-hopping, typographical craziness, stream-of-consciousness at times - remains schizophrenic, though.
November 19, 2018
Slightly more fragmented than the first in the series, but still chock full of the wonderful colorful characters and humor and horror. A voice like no other over ever read- I cannot wait for further installments. I do so hope there will be more. Like Loveheart’s cakes, I simply cannot get enough.
December 20, 2019
This is perhaps the best book ever written. Come join the mad adventures of Loveheart. Watch him create havoc and make everything appear normal. A fantastic book where so few words say so much. Join the fun, join the madness and rejoice. Decapitations are so much fun.
August 15, 2020
This book was better than the last, no more tense switching. There were less grammar mistakes and no plot holes. Out of the four parts of the book, the beginning was okay, the second part was bad, the third was really good, and the last was okay.
December 26, 2016
I can defiantly understand that its not as good as the first book, but it still stays true to the style and the characters, which i really like and enjoy. I hope their is a third one coming out soon.
October 10, 2017
i have absolutely NO idea of what i just read...
and the book description is wrong.
and the book description is wrong.
October 21, 2018
So weird, dark, creepy, and wonderful all at the same time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews