Ahoy there me mateys! I read the first book, karen memery, back before I had this log. It was fantastic. This be book two. They both take place in a “steampunk Victorian Pacific Northwest city” with a western feel. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye haven’t read the first book then ye might want to skip this post. If ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .

I think Karen Memery be one the more fun characters to read about and is written with a truly distinct voice. The first book was full of action, great world building, and excellent, diverse characters. So I was excited to see where this story picked up.

I can’t really tell ye where it started due to spoilers but I have to admit that I was surprised by the turn of events for the characters. What I can tell ye is that the characters be in the midst of a dinner at a fancy hotel restaurant when a haunting begins. Ye see a grisly series of murders took place there back in the day. Luckily the hotel is currently hosting a female magician and two female spiritualist sisters. Only the sisters and the magician don’t get along and have some bad history. Can Karen get the three women to cooperate to solve the the haunting? Or is it all one big con?

I loved getting to visit Karen again. She be awesome. But this was an odd story. The action portion of the story involving the haunting only takes up a little over half of the 192 page novella. The other focus of the novella is on Karen’s romantic situation and involves a lover’s quarrel and the angst about the escalation of the adult responsibilities of the relationship. Both sides be stubborn. And while I understood both points, both of the lovers were kinda ridiculous and I just wanted them to resolve it and get back to the action. Only the action was over.

So while I rather loved the first part of the novella, the second part was just okay. The problems in the relationship really were the point of the novella. I wasn’t expecting that. I am glad I read it and I do want more adventures of Karen in the future.

Side note: This was another novella by Tor.com. I love them and want them all!!

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