Welcome to my stop on The Daemoniac blog tour hosted by Xpresso Book Tours. I am so happy to share with you my third Kat Ross book of the year. All I can say is that they keep getting better and better. If you stay to the end, you can also enter in our giveaway!
The Daemoniac
A Dominion Mystery #1
Published on October 12, 2016
Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult
This book was provided to me from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review. I swear on my bookshelf that this has not affected my opinion of the book.
It’s August of 1888, just three weeks before Jack the Ripper will begin his grisly spree in the London slum of Whitechapel, and another serial murderer is stalking the gas-lit streets of New York. With taunting messages in backwards Latin left at the crime scenes and even more inexplicable clues like the fingerprints that appear to have been burned into one victim’s throat, his handiwork bears all the hallmarks of a demonic possession.But consulting detective Harrison Fearing Pell is convinced her quarry is a man of flesh and blood. Encouraged by her uncle, Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry hopes to make her reputation by solving the bizarre case before the man the press has dubbed Mr. Hyde strikes again.From the squalor of the Five Points to the high-class gambling dens of the Tenderloin and the glittering mansions of Fifth Avenue, Harry and her best friend, John Weston, follow the trail of a remorseless killer, uncovering a few embarrassing secrets of New York’s richest High Society families along the way. Are the murders a case of black magic—or simple blackmail? And will the trail lead them closer to home than they ever imagined?
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Review
I will admit that mystery and historical fiction are my least read genres. History has never been my favorite subject and my attention tends to wander the farther you go back in history. And, not to brag or anything, but I am usually able to guess the plot twists in mysteries by the tenth page. The action and magic of fantasy and science fiction are usually more interesting to me. But, man, did Ross shatter all of those preconceptions.
Due to her masterful writing, intriguing history, and suspenseful mysteries, The Daemoniac was just as amazing as Ross's other fantasy series that I love so much.
Due to her masterful writing, intriguing history, and suspenseful mysteries, The Daemoniac was just as amazing as Ross's other fantasy series that I love so much.
Ross proved that the landscape of historical New York is just as magical as any fantasy setting. The city came alive in Ross's writing and did the city that never sleeps the justice that it deserves. Developing setting is one of Ross's strong suits in her writing. I found myself poring over the descriptions instead of just superficially glancing over them like normal.
The historical aspects of the story were just as interesting as the action. I wish Ross was my history teacher when I was in high school because it would have been my favorite class. She artfully placed anecdotes and historical references to recreate the time period. I feel as if I am an expert on 19th century New York City, even though I have never actually step foot in the metropolis.
Ross also excels at writing strong, independent, and witty female characters. Harrison is pretty much everything I could want in a main character. She is fiercely intelligent and definitely not afraid to speak her mind. She was determined to break the expectations of women at the time without a care what society pressured her into.
Ross uses a complex cast of characters to tell her story, most of which I was able to recognize from old history lessons. It was neat to see famous authors, journalists, and murderers made appearances on the page. Her secondary cast of characters was perfectly complemented the story. I cannot pick a favorite, but I loved both John and Edward. They were the perfect sidekicks for Harrison and her exploits.
I would recommend The Daemoniac to any history buffs out there who are looking for a wild ride of a book. Even if you are not super into history, you will still be hooked by the gorgeous scenery, entertaining characters, and suspenseful mysteries.
Author Bio
Kat Ross worked as a journalist at the United Nations for ten years before happily falling back into what she likes best: making stuff up. She lives in Westchester with her kid and a few sleepy cats. Kat is also the author of the dystopian thriller Some Fine Day (Skyscape, 2014), about a world where the sea levels have risen sixty meters. She loves magic, monsters and doomsday scenarios. Preferably with mutants.
Giveaway
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You can follow the rest of the tour here!
Are you planning to read The Daemoniac now? Are you a fan of historical fiction or mystery? Do you have any other recommedations for me? Have you read any of Kat Ross's other novels? If not, I highly suggest you do!
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