That was gory!

I remember picking this up from Chapters bookshop in Dublin when I was a Young Teenager in the 80's. I was fascinated and it was quickly passed around my friends that summer. Its highest recommendation came from my best Friend's older brother who was in a band and read it in one sitting - stating it was excellent!

Totally weird, and mostly unrealistic trash, parts of this outrageous story stuck with me right up to watching Buffy the Vampire on TV where a particular scene about two lovers could have been ripped right out of this tale.

I loved this book right from the beginning when it reminded me of my weird teenage fascination with [a: John Christopher|2001324|John Christopher|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1437333572p2/2001324.jpg]'s [b: The Little People|13479933|The Little People|John Christopher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1328915499l/13479933._SY75_.jpg|77725] down to my more recent reads of the slightly better authors Michael McDowell and Joan Samson (The Auctioneer).


Mostly though I am absolutely enraptured by the cover art of the 1970s and 80’s mass paperbacks and have found a new appreciation of their illustrators.

The only flaw – have you any idea how large my PayPal bill is for all the vintage paperbacks I have just sourced over the past couple of days – Damn, you damn you to Hell Mr. Hendrix. Oh and while you're there could you see if you can pick me up a clean copy of [bc: Our Lady of Darkness|102267|Our Lady of Darkness|Fritz Leiber|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1397097260l/102267._SY75_.jpg|288561] - cheers mate!

I found every moment of this one a pleasure to read. Somehow it gave me a Victorian rather than Georgian feeling - but that may have been its sensationalist and gothic vibes or it may just be that I have read far more Victorian novels .

I loved the character explorations of the two mothers, especially of Alexandria.

The sense of place and time was definitely 18th Century London, with a lot of details of dress, the Thames, powdering of hair, etc. However, the language, with the exception of a couple of swear words, is definitely 21st Century English. Not a bad thing in and of itself.

The novel relied a little too much on coincidence but that is common in many of the Victorian novels I have read, if not the Georgian period and so is forgivable in this kind of tale.

However, the ending was too trite, sugar-sweet, and wrapped up in ribbons for me. I would definitely recommend this novel to those of my friend who read for escapism only and desire happy endings. The ending was not for me though I am far too dark at heart . Nevertheless, a four-star read.

On a reread I am not 100% Happy with whom are being called the "creatures" in this book - even though I acknowledge that they are also portrayed as both the heroes and the victims.

So in one word - unsettling?