FictionTea

Leave a Comment

Book Review | ‘Escaping From Houdini’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Escaping From Houdini
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 18th September 2018
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (437 pages)
Source:  ARC / Advanced Proof (Sent by publisher in exchange for an honest review)
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, may contain spoilers for previous books in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her partner-in-crime-investigation, Thomas Cresswell, are en route to New York to help solve another blood-soaked mystery. Embarking on a week-long voyage across the Atlantic on the opulent RMS Etruria, they’re delighted to discover a traveling troupe of circus performers, fortune tellers, and a certain charismatic young escape artist entertaining the first-class passengers nightly.

But then, privileged young women begin to go missing without explanation, and a series of brutal slayings shocks the entire ship. The strange and disturbing influence of the Moonlight Carnival pervades the decks as the murders grow ever more freakish, with nowhere to escape except the unforgiving sea. It’s up to Audrey Rose and Thomas to piece together the gruesome investigation as even more passengers die before reaching their destination. But with clues to the next victim pointing to someone she loves, can Audrey Rose unravel the mystery before the killer’s horrifying finale?”

Review

We have joined Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell as they investigate and solve the Ripper murders, and as they discover the secrets of a Romanian forensic school said to be haunted by Vlad Dracula. Now we’re following them as they cross the Atlantic to the United States on the RMS Etruria where a number of passengers are being murdered one by one. Audrey Rose and Thomas, now open with their feelings for one another, find themselves stuck on a ship in the middle of the Atlantic with a murderer who is using morbid and magical acts to kill their victims. Whilst Audrey and Thomas are aboard the RMS Etruria, they meet the Moonlight Carnival, a group of performers hired to entertain the passengers throughout the journey. But, when the mysterious ringmaster Mephistopheles offers his assistance, Audrey Rose and Thomas’ companionship is put to the test.

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review| ‘Hunting Prince Dracula’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Hunting Prince Dracula
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 19th September 2017
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (435 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(Disclaimer: This review is spoiler free. However, contains spoilers for the first book in the series!)

 

Synopsis

“Following the grief and horror of her discovery of Jack the Ripper’s true identity, Audrey Rose Wadsworth has no choice but to flee London and its memories. Together with the arrogant yet charming Thomas Cresswell, she journeys to the dark heart of Romania, home to one of Europe’s best schools of forensic medicine…and to another notorious killer, Vlad the Impaler, whose thirst for blood became legend.

But her life’s dream is soon tainted by blood-soaked discoveries in the halls of the school’s forbidding castle, and Audrey Rose is compelled to investigate the strangely familiar murders. What she finds brings all her terrifying fears to life once again.”

Review

There are very few books in the world I love that much, that I actually wish they had hundreds of more pages so the story would just keep going. ‘Hunting Prince Dracula‘ (HPD) is one of those books. This is book two in the ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ (SJTR) series, which you can read my review for here. It picks up a couple of weeks after SJTR ends and begins with Audrey Rose Wadsworth and her ridiculously witty and handsome companion, Thomas Cresswell, heading to a top forensic school in Romania. The school is a magnificent dark castle with secrets of it’s very own. When strange murders start to befall the students and guests of the school, Audrey and Thomas are eager to investigate and find out if it’s really the infamous Vlad Dracula who’s committing these heinous crimes.

Read More

Leave a Comment

Book Review| ‘Stalking Jack the Ripper’ by Kerri Maniscalco

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Publisher: Little Brown / Jimmy Patterson
Release Date: 20th September 2016
Genre/Age Group: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery
Format: Hardcover (416 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free!)

 

Synopsis

“Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord’s daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father’s wishes and society’s expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle’s laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.”

Review

‘Stalking Jack the Ripper‘ was always one of those books that I had a feeling I’d enjoy. Nevertheless, it sat on my TBR shelf for almost a year before I finally decided to pick it up. And boy, I regretted waiting so long to dive into this one. This book is a fantastic historical fiction, mystery and thriller that will have your jaw dropping and chills crawling up your spine. It’s set in nineteenth century London, and as you can probably tell from the title, the infamous case of Jack the Ripper is worked into the gripping plot line. It really made the story feel more realistic and terrifying. It’s not constant blood and gore though. Our protagonist is Audrey Rose Wadsworth who is a high society lady, so there are definitely some lovely tea parties in there for us readers to enjoy (and drool over the foods described). But, Audrey has a secret. She has a passion for forensic science, which definitely isn’t a profession nineteenth century women would find themselves in. Luckily, her forensic scientist Uncle allows her to study under him.

Read More

Comments : 9

Book Review: ‘Kingdom of Ash’ by Sarah J Maas

Title: Kingdom of Ash
Author: Sarah J Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: 23rd October 2018
Genre/Age Group:  Fantasy, New Adult, Adventure
Format:  Hardcover (992 pages)
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

(This review is spoiler free, however, may contain spoilers for previous books)

 

Synopsis

Aelin has risked everything to save her people―but at a tremendous cost. Locked within an iron coffin by the Queen of the Fae, Aelin must draw upon her fiery will as she endures months of torture. Aware that yielding to Maeve will doom those she loves keeps her from breaking, though her resolve begins to unravel with each passing day…

With Aelin captured, Aedion and Lysandra remain the last line of defense to protect Terrasen from utter destruction. Yet they soon realize that the many allies they’ve gathered to battle Erawan’s hordes might not be enough to save them. Scattered across the continent and racing against time, Chaol, Manon, and Dorian are forced to forge their own paths to meet their fates. Hanging in the balance is any hope of salvation―and a better world.

And across the sea, his companions unwavering beside him, Rowan hunts to find his captured wife and queen―before she is lost to him forever.

Read More