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Elemental World #3.5 (A Very Proper Monster)
Beneath a Waning Moon
Two delightfully dark tales of Gothic romance from Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven.
In A Very Proper Monster, Josephine Shaw spends long nights filling the pages of her Gothic stories with the fantastic and the macabre, unaware that the suitor her father has arranged is one of the dark creatures she’s always dreamed. For Tom Dargin, courting an ailing spinster was only one duty in a long life of service to his sire. But after he meets the curious Miss Shaw, will Tom become the seducer or the seduced? Can a love fated to end in tragedy survive a looming grave?
In Gaslight Hades, Nathaniel Gordon walks two worlds—that of the living and the dead. Barely human, he's earned the reputation of a Bonekeeper, the scourge of grave robbers. He believes his old life over, until one dreary burial he meets the woman he once loved and almost married. Lenore Kenward stands at her father’s grave, begging the protection of the mysterious guardian, not knowing he is her lost love. Resolved to keep his distance, Nathaniel is forced to abandon his plan and accompany Lenore on a journey into the mouth of Hell where sea meets sky, and the abominations that exist beyond its barrier wait to destroy them.
In A Very Proper Monster, Josephine Shaw spends long nights filling the pages of her Gothic stories with the fantastic and the macabre, unaware that the suitor her father has arranged is one of the dark creatures she’s always dreamed. For Tom Dargin, courting an ailing spinster was only one duty in a long life of service to his sire. But after he meets the curious Miss Shaw, will Tom become the seducer or the seduced? Can a love fated to end in tragedy survive a looming grave?
In Gaslight Hades, Nathaniel Gordon walks two worlds—that of the living and the dead. Barely human, he's earned the reputation of a Bonekeeper, the scourge of grave robbers. He believes his old life over, until one dreary burial he meets the woman he once loved and almost married. Lenore Kenward stands at her father’s grave, begging the protection of the mysterious guardian, not knowing he is her lost love. Resolved to keep his distance, Nathaniel is forced to abandon his plan and accompany Lenore on a journey into the mouth of Hell where sea meets sky, and the abominations that exist beyond its barrier wait to destroy them.
233 pages, ebook
First published September 29, 2015
97 people are currently reading
1655 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Hunter
83 books6,266 followersELIZABETH HUNTER is an eleven-time USA Today bestselling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in Central California and Addis Ababa, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over fifty works of fiction and sold over two million books world-wide. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
She has published over fifty works of fiction and sold over two million books world-wide. She is the author of the Elemental Mysteries, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
February 10, 2016
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
With the growing popularity of novellas as prequels or in-between-full-installment stories, I've gotten less blindly one-clicky and more discerning . . . So many authors and/or publishers are shamelessly capitalizing on the trend, producing not much more than filler that leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied and mislead . . .
NOT so, Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven, two of my most favorite indie authors in the history of ever.
Their latest joint venture, BENEATH A WANING MOON was a delight to read. Both stories were better developed than many a full-length novel I've read, but that is the kind of quality I've come to expect from both Hunter and Draven, so I wasn't surprised.
Well done, ladies. Well done. *tips imaginary hat*
A VERY PROPER MONSTER by Elizabeth Hunter
I've been a long time fan of Hunter's novellas. They regularly move me to tears, and by tears, I mean sobbing like I've been done some kind of personally injurious harm . . . Sometimes several times . . . *sighs* . . . It can be embarrassing.
This gem was no exception, and (IMO) it can be read without prior series knowledge.
That being said, in Hunter's most recent installment of her ELEMENTAL WORLD series, we found out that Patrick Murphy's #2 (Tom) was Mated to a rather ethereal creature named Josephine a loooong time ago.
Josephine was a character I instantly liked. She was a novelist, she was a hermit, she was determined, she was prone to fits in which she rambled nonsense that might not be as nonsensical as initially believed.
Her fits were explained as a side effect of being turned while in poor health.
In A VERY PROPER MONSTER, we get to witness Tom and Josie's love as it blossomed and grew into something so intense, so profound that Tom could not contemplate life without Josie by his side.
And you don't want him to have to. You really don't. It hurts. *whispers* In a good way.
Other points of interest include a villainous villain who reminds me of Lorenzo (from ELEMENTAL MYSTERIES), a pre-split Anne and Murphy, and a multitude of hilarious letters from Josephine to her friend Lenore:
Good times are had by all (except cousin Neville, the swine), and Josephine is a solid contender for favorite ELEMENTAL WORLD character to date.
A VERY PROPER MONSTER proudly adds another feather to Hunter's cap (that is well on its way to becoming scandalously ostentatious). Highly recommended.
GASLIGHT HADES by Grace Draven
SO. It's no secret that steampunk isn't my thing. Too often the gadgets overwhelm the plot that is too often filled with dead things (b/c Victorian obsession with death).
*melancholy sigh* (b/c the moods of books, they're infectious.)
I don't like dead things. Ironically, Draven perfectly captures my view on the subject in this very tale:
BUT. There is no surplus of gadgets, there is only one (pseudo) dead thing in this tale, and even if you don't typically like steampunk, GASLIGHT HADES has a strong enough romance-based plot line to hold your interest.
I know this for FACT.
The beginning was a little bit slow for me, but once Nathaniel and Lenore started getting (re)acquainted, I was hooked:
*swoons*
Not to mention how interesting Nathaniel's altered existence is. *high fives Draven* for creating a scenario in which someone dead could be brought back to life in a way I didn't find objectionable. *pigs fly*
Sadly, I'm not current enough with Draven's work (a deficiency I plan to remedy) to know whether or not GASLIGHT HADES in a standalone story or part of a series, but I was fine reading it as a standalone regardless. Also highly recommended.
Once again the combined work of this talented duo is well worth the small expense--gotta love the rare beast that is the quality indie publication. If you haven't already checked out Elizabeth Hunter or Grace Draven, please do so immediately. I'm only looking out for your best interests. *nods emphatically* And BENEATH A WANING MOON is an excellent place to either start or renew your acquaintance with these lovely ladies.
With the growing popularity of novellas as prequels or in-between-full-installment stories, I've gotten less blindly one-clicky and more discerning . . . So many authors and/or publishers are shamelessly capitalizing on the trend, producing not much more than filler that leaves the reader feeling unsatisfied and mislead . . .
NOT so, Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven, two of my most favorite indie authors in the history of ever.
Their latest joint venture, BENEATH A WANING MOON was a delight to read. Both stories were better developed than many a full-length novel I've read, but that is the kind of quality I've come to expect from both Hunter and Draven, so I wasn't surprised.
Well done, ladies. Well done. *tips imaginary hat*
A VERY PROPER MONSTER by Elizabeth Hunter
I've been a long time fan of Hunter's novellas. They regularly move me to tears, and by tears, I mean sobbing like I've been done some kind of personally injurious harm . . . Sometimes several times . . . *sighs* . . . It can be embarrassing.
This gem was no exception, and (IMO) it can be read without prior series knowledge.
That being said, in Hunter's most recent installment of her ELEMENTAL WORLD series, we found out that Patrick Murphy's #2 (Tom) was Mated to a rather ethereal creature named Josephine a loooong time ago.
Josephine was a character I instantly liked. She was a novelist, she was a hermit, she was determined, she was prone to fits in which she rambled nonsense that might not be as nonsensical as initially believed.
Her fits were explained as a side effect of being turned while in poor health.
In A VERY PROPER MONSTER, we get to witness Tom and Josie's love as it blossomed and grew into something so intense, so profound that Tom could not contemplate life without Josie by his side.
And you don't want him to have to. You really don't. It hurts. *whispers* In a good way.
Other points of interest include a villainous villain who reminds me of Lorenzo (from ELEMENTAL MYSTERIES), a pre-split Anne and Murphy, and a multitude of hilarious letters from Josephine to her friend Lenore:
Do not reveal this to anyone (unless you're taken by villains and tortured for it, of course).
Good times are had by all (except cousin Neville, the swine), and Josephine is a solid contender for favorite ELEMENTAL WORLD character to date.
A VERY PROPER MONSTER proudly adds another feather to Hunter's cap (that is well on its way to becoming scandalously ostentatious). Highly recommended.
GASLIGHT HADES by Grace Draven
SO. It's no secret that steampunk isn't my thing. Too often the gadgets overwhelm the plot that is too often filled with dead things (b/c Victorian obsession with death).
*melancholy sigh* (b/c the moods of books, they're infectious.)
I don't like dead things. Ironically, Draven perfectly captures my view on the subject in this very tale:
After Harvel’s experiment, and with gehenna-tainted blood in his veins, he was no more human than the Hound and a hundred times more terrifying. Like those fearful folk, he’d once been an ordinary person. Now he represented the horrors that might have happened to any one of them but by the grace of God had not. In his observations, people feared the almost far more than the what if.
BUT. There is no surplus of gadgets, there is only one (pseudo) dead thing in this tale, and even if you don't typically like steampunk, GASLIGHT HADES has a strong enough romance-based plot line to hold your interest.
I know this for FACT.
The beginning was a little bit slow for me, but once Nathaniel and Lenore started getting (re)acquainted, I was hooked:
“I would give all of eternity for one more hour with you,” he said . . . He kissed her forehead. “But today, it’s not to be.”
*swoons*
Not to mention how interesting Nathaniel's altered existence is. *high fives Draven* for creating a scenario in which someone dead could be brought back to life in a way I didn't find objectionable. *pigs fly*
Sadly, I'm not current enough with Draven's work (a deficiency I plan to remedy) to know whether or not GASLIGHT HADES in a standalone story or part of a series, but I was fine reading it as a standalone regardless. Also highly recommended.
Once again the combined work of this talented duo is well worth the small expense--gotta love the rare beast that is the quality indie publication. If you haven't already checked out Elizabeth Hunter or Grace Draven, please do so immediately. I'm only looking out for your best interests. *nods emphatically* And BENEATH A WANING MOON is an excellent place to either start or renew your acquaintance with these lovely ladies.
October 2, 2015
I stayed up late in the AM last night to finish Beneath a Waning Moon: A Duo of Gothic Romances because there was no way I was going to bed until I saw the end of these stories. I read them in reverse order mainly because I had read more snippets of "Gaslight Hades" than I had "A Very Proper Monster" so my review is also in reverse order.
Gaslight Hades - This tale of everlasting love is skillfully woven within a complex framework of Meljean Brook, Mary Shelly, and even a touch of Silas from Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book . The fact she took these threads and wove them into a forever romance speaks of her huge skill in telling a great story (and apparently superb editing since I only had to pull my dictionary out twice). This morphs into an edge-of-your-seat adventure with a happy ending if everyone survives, something that is far from guaranteed (and no I won't tell you either). 5 stars and the only negative thing is Grace Draven has opened up a world that even this dullard of a reviewer can see has a minimum of 6 more stories to tell that we might have to wait a year (years?) to get written.
A Very Proper Monster - I have to be honest, after reading Gaslight Hades I was pretty sure that this story would be boring in comparison and once again I was faced with the painful fact that sometimes I don't have a clue.
Now while Gaslight Hades was an adventure romance, this was more of a true Gothic romance with sacrifice, tragedy and heartbreak but an ending that Ms Hunter kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time wondering "Surely not, she can't let this happen" and that is the undercurrent for the majority of the story. If there is any downside to this story it is that while there is a lot happening your mind is still wandering back to that thought. I can't say too much about the actual story other than what is in the synopsis for fear of spoiling one of the best love stories I have read in ages. It was one of those stories that had me wondering about the ending after only a few pages and Elizabeth Hunter strung me along right up until the end. This is one of those "This is why we read romance" stories you will always remember.
I am beginning to think that if either of these ladies wrote a menu it would be 5 Star reading . I need to get Grace Draven a maid and a nanny so she can get busy .....
Gaslight Hades - This tale of everlasting love is skillfully woven within a complex framework of Meljean Brook, Mary Shelly, and even a touch of Silas from Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book . The fact she took these threads and wove them into a forever romance speaks of her huge skill in telling a great story (and apparently superb editing since I only had to pull my dictionary out twice). This morphs into an edge-of-your-seat adventure with a happy ending if everyone survives, something that is far from guaranteed (and no I won't tell you either). 5 stars and the only negative thing is Grace Draven has opened up a world that even this dullard of a reviewer can see has a minimum of 6 more stories to tell that we might have to wait a year (years?) to get written.
A Very Proper Monster - I have to be honest, after reading Gaslight Hades I was pretty sure that this story would be boring in comparison and once again I was faced with the painful fact that sometimes I don't have a clue.
Now while Gaslight Hades was an adventure romance, this was more of a true Gothic romance with sacrifice, tragedy and heartbreak but an ending that Ms Hunter kept you on the edge of your seat the whole time wondering "Surely not, she can't let this happen" and that is the undercurrent for the majority of the story. If there is any downside to this story it is that while there is a lot happening your mind is still wandering back to that thought. I can't say too much about the actual story other than what is in the synopsis for fear of spoiling one of the best love stories I have read in ages. It was one of those stories that had me wondering about the ending after only a few pages and Elizabeth Hunter strung me along right up until the end. This is one of those "This is why we read romance" stories you will always remember.
I am beginning to think that if either of these ladies wrote a menu it would be 5 Star reading . I need to get Grace Draven a maid and a nanny so she can get busy .....
February 12, 2016
5 stars for both stories!
A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter
Wow.
I honestly forgot how amazing an author Elizabeth Hunter is! She weaved such a beautiful tale of heart wrenching love. This story, I can't fully express my love for it!
It was that perfect.
Josie suffers from Tuberculosis and her father is dying. He asks her to marry so he knows she's protected for the short time she has left on this earth. She agrees since she loves her father dearly and once she meets the wonderful Tom, she actually looks forward to their short time together.
Tom Dargin is a man who hasn't known much happiness and doesn't really want to marry a sick woman until he sees her once, he knew he had to have her. Of course, he falls in love with her but dreads the unavoidable event; her death.
Their love was a beautiful thing to read but I too, was dreading her death because she was a woman full of life. She loved to read, write and just be. Tom couldn't accept the inevitable and that was heartbreaking!
The writing, as I said, was phenomenal. I loved everything about this short story. The development of their love was believable even though it wasn't a full length book. I felt like nothing was rushed. The characters were awesome! I honestly wish it was longer because I want more of this couple. Elizabeth Hunter, will you consider writing more in this time setting!?!?!?! Like what happens with everyone else!??
Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven
Okay, so I've been wanting to read this story since I heard that Grace Draven was writing a serial story. I was so dismayed when she said she would be taking it down from her site because some people are buttholes... I've never really read a Steampunk story before and I was really excited to dive into one by one of my fav authors.
We start with the death of Lenore's father and we see a Guardian of the dead close by...watching her. Unbeknownst to her, it is her once dead now undead lover from five years ago, Nathaniel.
This story was so unique and unlike anything I've read. I loved Nathaniel!!!
Like, I seriously have a crush on him.
His love for Lenore was such a beauty to read about! He loved her so deeply and so fully that as a reader, I felt his yearning. He was such a well fleshed out character and I really want more of him!!!!!!!!!! And his gentlemanly nature and his awesome hair and just him!!!!
K, done with my ode to Nathaniel...
Pacing was great in this story as well as character development. I loved Lenore's desire to fly in an airship and her strength. She abhorred society's view on women of her stature, you go girl! I felt like this story needed to be longer because many things are left unsolved and some things were explained fully. But, I just read on the author's Facebook page, she's deciding to make this a series !! The second one may be called Gaslight Viduus!
COLOUR ME EXCITED!!!!
Alright I feel like this review went on long enough! If you have any reservations on whether or not you should read this book...don't have 'em. These stories are epic love stories, ones I'll re-read many times...I already feel the pull to read it once more!
SO READ IT.
A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter
Wow.
I honestly forgot how amazing an author Elizabeth Hunter is! She weaved such a beautiful tale of heart wrenching love. This story, I can't fully express my love for it!
It was that perfect.
Josie suffers from Tuberculosis and her father is dying. He asks her to marry so he knows she's protected for the short time she has left on this earth. She agrees since she loves her father dearly and once she meets the wonderful Tom, she actually looks forward to their short time together.
Tom Dargin is a man who hasn't known much happiness and doesn't really want to marry a sick woman until he sees her once, he knew he had to have her. Of course, he falls in love with her but dreads the unavoidable event; her death.
Their love was a beautiful thing to read but I too, was dreading her death because she was a woman full of life. She loved to read, write and just be. Tom couldn't accept the inevitable and that was heartbreaking!
The writing, as I said, was phenomenal. I loved everything about this short story. The development of their love was believable even though it wasn't a full length book. I felt like nothing was rushed. The characters were awesome! I honestly wish it was longer because I want more of this couple. Elizabeth Hunter, will you consider writing more in this time setting!?!?!?! Like what happens with everyone else!??
Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven
Okay, so I've been wanting to read this story since I heard that Grace Draven was writing a serial story. I was so dismayed when she said she would be taking it down from her site because some people are buttholes... I've never really read a Steampunk story before and I was really excited to dive into one by one of my fav authors.
We start with the death of Lenore's father and we see a Guardian of the dead close by...watching her. Unbeknownst to her, it is her once dead now undead lover from five years ago, Nathaniel.
This story was so unique and unlike anything I've read. I loved Nathaniel!!!
Like, I seriously have a crush on him.
His love for Lenore was such a beauty to read about! He loved her so deeply and so fully that as a reader, I felt his yearning. He was such a well fleshed out character and I really want more of him!!!!!!!!!! And his gentlemanly nature and his awesome hair and just him!!!!
K, done with my ode to Nathaniel...
Pacing was great in this story as well as character development. I loved Lenore's desire to fly in an airship and her strength. She abhorred society's view on women of her stature, you go girl! I felt like this story needed to be longer because many things are left unsolved and some things were explained fully. But, I just read on the author's Facebook page, she's deciding to make this a series !! The second one may be called Gaslight Viduus!
COLOUR ME EXCITED!!!!
Alright I feel like this review went on long enough! If you have any reservations on whether or not you should read this book...don't have 'em. These stories are epic love stories, ones I'll re-read many times...I already feel the pull to read it once more!
SO READ IT.
Read
July 21, 2016COMING OCTOBER 1st, 2015.
November 2, 2015
Beneath a Waning Moon is a duo, consisting of two stories by two popular Gothic/Fantasy writers of today. A Very Proper Monster is written by Ms. Elizabeth Hunter, while Gaslight Hades is by Ms. Grace Draven.
GASLIGHT HADES: 4 STARS
Ah, where do I start? I think I've established how brilliant a writer Ms. Draven is in my previous reviews of her works. But heck there's no harm in saying it again here: MY GOD MS. DRAVEN HAS MAGIC IN HER WRITINGS. And I'm not talking about the technical aspect of writing here; it's the way she weaves words together to create a world where you can lose yourself into--that's the magic I'm talking about.
I don't know how she does it, but I feel so absorbed by her narration that I can easily finish her books in just one sitting. And this one did not disappoint, although I feel like I have to something clear: Gaslight Hades is different from Ms. Draven's other works. It's a wistful tale of yearning and loss, and while it has traces of the writer's trademark wit, it is by no means a funny and lighthearted read. For a majority of the novel, we get to see a man who mourns after the woman he loved, and the humanity he lost.
Nathaniel is a man who the world believed as dead. He is given a chance at life with a cost: his own humanity. Through a process that stripped him of everything that made him the man that he was, Nathaniel was revived in a body not of his own, and with powers no normal person possessed. 5 years have passed since his revival, and now fate has brought Lenore back to his path when he encounters her at the cemetery where he serves as a Guardian. She does not seem to recognise him, but their meeting sparks a chain of events that will bring their love into fruition.
There is less character development here, since this is a rather short story, but Lenore and Nathaniel were fleshed out well. They're rather sombre for Ms. Draven's standards, but they suit the purpose of the novel, and I, for one, love them nonetheless. There are a few rare moments of laughter, and they were enough for me. Also, the pacing seemed kind of slow at the beginning, but the plot was beautifully executed.
A VERY PROPER MONSTER: 4.5 STARS
Elizabeth Hunter is one very talented writer. Just like Ms. Draven, her prose is exquisite. I appreciate the fact that some of the character's dialogues have substance.
This story is darker, sadder, and much more emotional than the other one, though. A tale about a woman destined to die, and the lover she meets at Death's door. Josie and Tom's time together is short; they both know this. But perversely enough, that adds beauty to their love, making you see just how much pain they're willing to go through to be together.
I really, really loved reading about Josie and Tom. I love them both individually, and even more when they're together. I had to control my tears when they had to deal with Josie's impending death. Fuck. I hadn't cried that hard in a while.
Overall, this was a great read. I really loved it. It packs quite an emotional punch, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for those who only want a nice, light read.
GASLIGHT HADES: 4 STARS
Ah, where do I start? I think I've established how brilliant a writer Ms. Draven is in my previous reviews of her works. But heck there's no harm in saying it again here: MY GOD MS. DRAVEN HAS MAGIC IN HER WRITINGS. And I'm not talking about the technical aspect of writing here; it's the way she weaves words together to create a world where you can lose yourself into--that's the magic I'm talking about.
I don't know how she does it, but I feel so absorbed by her narration that I can easily finish her books in just one sitting. And this one did not disappoint, although I feel like I have to something clear: Gaslight Hades is different from Ms. Draven's other works. It's a wistful tale of yearning and loss, and while it has traces of the writer's trademark wit, it is by no means a funny and lighthearted read. For a majority of the novel, we get to see a man who mourns after the woman he loved, and the humanity he lost.
Nathaniel is a man who the world believed as dead. He is given a chance at life with a cost: his own humanity. Through a process that stripped him of everything that made him the man that he was, Nathaniel was revived in a body not of his own, and with powers no normal person possessed. 5 years have passed since his revival, and now fate has brought Lenore back to his path when he encounters her at the cemetery where he serves as a Guardian. She does not seem to recognise him, but their meeting sparks a chain of events that will bring their love into fruition.
There is less character development here, since this is a rather short story, but Lenore and Nathaniel were fleshed out well. They're rather sombre for Ms. Draven's standards, but they suit the purpose of the novel, and I, for one, love them nonetheless. There are a few rare moments of laughter, and they were enough for me. Also, the pacing seemed kind of slow at the beginning, but the plot was beautifully executed.
A VERY PROPER MONSTER: 4.5 STARS
Elizabeth Hunter is one very talented writer. Just like Ms. Draven, her prose is exquisite. I appreciate the fact that some of the character's dialogues have substance.
“There is so much more to this life than we know, isn’t there? It could be real. It could be. Fairies and shape-shifters. Airships and demon lovers. Why couldn’t they be real, Tom? Why would we dream of them if they weren’t real?”
This story is darker, sadder, and much more emotional than the other one, though. A tale about a woman destined to die, and the lover she meets at Death's door. Josie and Tom's time together is short; they both know this. But perversely enough, that adds beauty to their love, making you see just how much pain they're willing to go through to be together.
He was her favorite form of madness.
I really, really loved reading about Josie and Tom. I love them both individually, and even more when they're together. I had to control my tears when they had to deal with Josie's impending death. Fuck. I hadn't cried that hard in a while.
Overall, this was a great read. I really loved it. It packs quite an emotional punch, though, so I wouldn't recommend it for those who only want a nice, light read.
April 25, 2016
The story of Tom and Josie in "A Very Proper Monster" is heart-breakingly romantic and beautifully paced for a fairly short novella. Josie is distressingly ill, smart and sarcastic and Tom is world-weary and common, with a strong moral center and sense of self. The two are a mismatch in every way, including the human/monster way. At the very beginning, these two "get" each other, and it is a bittersweet pleasure to see their doomed courtship unfold.
"We're shocking the servants," Josie whispered against his neck. "If they're not scandalized by the time this night is over, then I'll consider it a personal failure." Josie is undaunted but realistic about her health, and lives for each moment. It adds a wonderful, fleeting dimension to this book. She is a character you can't help loving.
Tom can't help loving her either. He is enamored. For a rough and gruff former pugilist, he comes up with some of the most romantic words of love you will ever read in a Gothic novel.
She filled his heart and broke it all at once.
Elizabeth Hunter had me on a roller coaster of emotion while reading this novella. I chuckled. I sighed. I cried. I smiled. I wished my husband spoke to me like Tom spoke to Josie....
Grace Draven's "Gaslight Hades" surprised me a little because I did not expect to be taken on a steampunk journey through a Victorian fantasy England. Steampunk is a genre I have never read before, but the horror, science and action melded seamlessly into a fantasy world that gave women a little more power and independence than they might have seen in the latter half of the 19th century.
Lenore Kenward and Nathaniel Gordon take on the role of fated lovers damned by circumstances in the past, and it seems neither can accept their fates in the present. Nathaniel is a protector - of graves and one special girl. Lenore has no idea the intriguing Guardian is her former sweetheart. Machinations, desire and circumstance place the two in each other's orbit once again. But Nathaniel's role as protector may prove fatal once again.
While the romantic portion of this story was impeccable, I felt it had a few issues with world building. I had some difficulty understanding the role of the Guardians and their creation story and the reason for the battles at the rift. These concepts are introduced with nominal detail, but eventually more is revealed. However, there were times I felt adrift in Draven's steampunk universe.
Both Hunter and Draven can weave a helluva story filled with compelling main characters and fun and interesting side characters. Both excel at telling a deeply romantic tale within an "otherworld" context.
"We're shocking the servants," Josie whispered against his neck. "If they're not scandalized by the time this night is over, then I'll consider it a personal failure." Josie is undaunted but realistic about her health, and lives for each moment. It adds a wonderful, fleeting dimension to this book. She is a character you can't help loving.
Tom can't help loving her either. He is enamored. For a rough and gruff former pugilist, he comes up with some of the most romantic words of love you will ever read in a Gothic novel.
She filled his heart and broke it all at once.
Elizabeth Hunter had me on a roller coaster of emotion while reading this novella. I chuckled. I sighed. I cried. I smiled. I wished my husband spoke to me like Tom spoke to Josie....
Grace Draven's "Gaslight Hades" surprised me a little because I did not expect to be taken on a steampunk journey through a Victorian fantasy England. Steampunk is a genre I have never read before, but the horror, science and action melded seamlessly into a fantasy world that gave women a little more power and independence than they might have seen in the latter half of the 19th century.
Lenore Kenward and Nathaniel Gordon take on the role of fated lovers damned by circumstances in the past, and it seems neither can accept their fates in the present. Nathaniel is a protector - of graves and one special girl. Lenore has no idea the intriguing Guardian is her former sweetheart. Machinations, desire and circumstance place the two in each other's orbit once again. But Nathaniel's role as protector may prove fatal once again.
While the romantic portion of this story was impeccable, I felt it had a few issues with world building. I had some difficulty understanding the role of the Guardians and their creation story and the reason for the battles at the rift. These concepts are introduced with nominal detail, but eventually more is revealed. However, there were times I felt adrift in Draven's steampunk universe.
Both Hunter and Draven can weave a helluva story filled with compelling main characters and fun and interesting side characters. Both excel at telling a deeply romantic tale within an "otherworld" context.
September 30, 2015
Grace Draven has chosen to pull the Gaslight Hades serial from her blog due to the possibility of piracy. I do not blame her. I wish the world were a better place where bottom feeding pond scum did not steal what is not theirs. I will post a review when the book is published.
Merged review:
I received an ARC of A Very Proper Monster from Elizabeth Hunter on Sept. 26 around 1am. I finished reading this lovely, sad, funny story around 3:30am. Although I have not yet read any of the Elemental Mysteries series (I planned to read them this weekend), I do not think my lack of exposure to the characters affected my enjoyment of Tom and Josie's story. Josie is a wonderful, fascinating, funny character, and Tom is a good...man...of course Tom is also a vampire. And Josie does not know. Josie is dying from consumption, what we know as tuberculosis, and her dying father wants her protected from scoundrels. A Very Proper Monster will have a very proper spot on my favorites shelf.
I will finish my review when I read Gaslight Hades, which promises to be spectacular.
Gaslight Hades is...fantastic, phenomenal, intriguing, mysterious, thrilling, romantic, slightly creepy, and so very wonderful. Grace Draven graciously gave me an ARC, but my opinion was not influenced by the gift. This story is everything I love about Grace's books; even the less than human characters are so very, very human, (except for the monsters, both human and other, they are very monstrous). The world building is magnificent for a novella, and I have no problem with an author who "makes things up." The world belongs to Draven, and she can build it however she wants. I am thrilled she invited us to visit this world. I hope the other Guardians get their own happily ever after.
Merged review:
I received an ARC of A Very Proper Monster from Elizabeth Hunter on Sept. 26 around 1am. I finished reading this lovely, sad, funny story around 3:30am. Although I have not yet read any of the Elemental Mysteries series (I planned to read them this weekend), I do not think my lack of exposure to the characters affected my enjoyment of Tom and Josie's story. Josie is a wonderful, fascinating, funny character, and Tom is a good...man...of course Tom is also a vampire. And Josie does not know. Josie is dying from consumption, what we know as tuberculosis, and her dying father wants her protected from scoundrels. A Very Proper Monster will have a very proper spot on my favorites shelf.
I will finish my review when I read Gaslight Hades, which promises to be spectacular.
Gaslight Hades is...fantastic, phenomenal, intriguing, mysterious, thrilling, romantic, slightly creepy, and so very wonderful. Grace Draven graciously gave me an ARC, but my opinion was not influenced by the gift. This story is everything I love about Grace's books; even the less than human characters are so very, very human, (except for the monsters, both human and other, they are very monstrous). The world building is magnificent for a novella, and I have no problem with an author who "makes things up." The world belongs to Draven, and she can build it however she wants. I am thrilled she invited us to visit this world. I hope the other Guardians get their own happily ever after.
June 4, 2017
Great story by the always fabulous Elizabeth Hunter. A Very Proper Monster is a lovely read, appropriately dark and gothic as promised. Regular readers of the series already know Tom and Josie; but it was a nice trip back to the beginning of their relationship. It gave me a new perspective on present day Josie's quirks and oddities. It can be read standalone, but the glimpse into the early days of Murphy and Anne (before the 100 year separation) is a special treat for fans. I'm ready for Declan's story now.
On to Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven, another fav author. I started reading this as a serial on Draven's website before it had to be pulled by the author for business reasons. It will be great to read the finished (and probably altered) version.
The finally finished version of Gaslight Hades was a fantastic and well thought out SteamPunk story. A little dark, and a bit gritty,which was great; it fit the setting. There were the 'Guardians', who are beings resurrected/created from the dead à la Frankenstein; the airships, the rift between two worlds, and an intriguing SteamPunk setting. Oh, and a second chance at love story, a really good one. The wordbuilding in this one was great, and I'm hoping this is the beginning of a new series. There is so much more to tell in this world; and I want to know the story behind Guardians Zachariah and Gideon...and Rachel. Hope there is more forthcoming.
On to Gaslight Hades by Grace Draven, another fav author. I started reading this as a serial on Draven's website before it had to be pulled by the author for business reasons. It will be great to read the finished (and probably altered) version.
The finally finished version of Gaslight Hades was a fantastic and well thought out SteamPunk story. A little dark, and a bit gritty,which was great; it fit the setting. There were the 'Guardians', who are beings resurrected/created from the dead à la Frankenstein; the airships, the rift between two worlds, and an intriguing SteamPunk setting. Oh, and a second chance at love story, a really good one. The wordbuilding in this one was great, and I'm hoping this is the beginning of a new series. There is so much more to tell in this world; and I want to know the story behind Guardians Zachariah and Gideon...and Rachel. Hope there is more forthcoming.
August 10, 2016
This is not the first duology I have read from Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven, two of my most favorite indie authors:) All the Stars Look Down is another winner.
A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter:
It can be read as a stand-alone even if you have not read Hunter’s Elemental World series. Think vampire;)
GasLight Hades by Grace Draven:
“I should make a wish. Two wishes. That you come back to me so I can tell you...tell you yes instead of no.”
I am super impressed with Ms. Draven’s creativity to blend steampunk element into this novella. The setting seems to have a similar feel to Iron Seas world by Meljean Brook, but it has no complicated gadgets, and overwhelming landscape to distract the readers from the main plot.
What did both novellas deliver?
Second-chance love stories.
Intelligent, loyal, resolute heroines.
SWOOOOOONY heroes.
While A Very Proper Monster ends on a lovely note, GasLight Hades has me craving for more stories about Guardians(Bone keepers)!
A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter:
It can be read as a stand-alone even if you have not read Hunter’s Elemental World series. Think vampire;)
GasLight Hades by Grace Draven:
“I should make a wish. Two wishes. That you come back to me so I can tell you...tell you yes instead of no.”
I am super impressed with Ms. Draven’s creativity to blend steampunk element into this novella. The setting seems to have a similar feel to Iron Seas world by Meljean Brook, but it has no complicated gadgets, and overwhelming landscape to distract the readers from the main plot.
What did both novellas deliver?
Second-chance love stories.
Intelligent, loyal, resolute heroines.
SWOOOOOONY heroes.
While A Very Proper Monster ends on a lovely note, GasLight Hades has me craving for more stories about Guardians(Bone keepers)!
December 31, 2015
4.5 stars-I read these in the in reverse order - because Draven had originally started Gaslight Hades as a serial on her blog and I've been dying to know how things turned out.
Neither story was what I expected, but both were very good. I loved the start of Gaslight Hades, but was surprised at the direction into steam punk adventure and Hunter ripped my heart to shreds with her story of doomed love - I adored Tom, the gentle giant with hidden intelligence - I love a Hero who is so utterly besotted with his heroine. I was happy that I read Hunter's story last because I left this book on a emotional high note.
Neither story was what I expected, but both were very good. I loved the start of Gaslight Hades, but was surprised at the direction into steam punk adventure and Hunter ripped my heart to shreds with her story of doomed love - I adored Tom, the gentle giant with hidden intelligence - I love a Hero who is so utterly besotted with his heroine. I was happy that I read Hunter's story last because I left this book on a emotional high note.
February 22, 2016
Elizabeth Hunter - "A Very Proper Monster" - for me it was a 3,5 stars
A lovely story, with great hero, but with a weak heroine.
This is a classic vampire story, nothing new. Good writing, but already read the same story many times.
Grace Draven - "Gaslight Hades" - for me it was a 5 stars
Wonderful and inventive story with a great, languid hero and interesting heroine!
An interesting world: classical steampunk, but with a novel type of monster!
All in all a solid 4 stars!
A lovely story, with great hero, but with a weak heroine.
This is a classic vampire story, nothing new. Good writing, but already read the same story many times.
Grace Draven - "Gaslight Hades" - for me it was a 5 stars
Wonderful and inventive story with a great, languid hero and interesting heroine!
An interesting world: classical steampunk, but with a novel type of monster!
All in all a solid 4 stars!
November 8, 2015
This book was an anthology containing two stories by Authors Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven.
1st story was by Elizabeth Hunter - "A Very Proper Monster" = 3.5 stars
This one was part of her Elemental World series, which I have not read, but was able to follow just fine. This was a sweet romance about a dying mortal woman and a vampire who falls in love with her. It was set in Historic times. I liked it, a tad bit too sweet for me but it was still good.
2nd story was by Grace Draven - "Gaslight Hades" = 4 stars
This one was a bit more exciting to me. The story had some adventure to it. It was a steam-punk Gothic book. This one was about a woman who falls in love with a bone keeper she meets at her fathers funeral... at the cemetery. You could really feel the attraction between the two characters.
1st story was by Elizabeth Hunter - "A Very Proper Monster" = 3.5 stars
This one was part of her Elemental World series, which I have not read, but was able to follow just fine. This was a sweet romance about a dying mortal woman and a vampire who falls in love with her. It was set in Historic times. I liked it, a tad bit too sweet for me but it was still good.
2nd story was by Grace Draven - "Gaslight Hades" = 4 stars
This one was a bit more exciting to me. The story had some adventure to it. It was a steam-punk Gothic book. This one was about a woman who falls in love with a bone keeper she meets at her fathers funeral... at the cemetery. You could really feel the attraction between the two characters.
October 4, 2015
5/5
A VERY PROPER MONSTER is utterly, utterly gorgeous. In fact, it's Elizabeth's finest work so far. The writing is poetic, the story is heart-breakingly beautiful. I finished it last night and cried. This doesn't happen to me often.
This novel is about Tom and Josie whom we met in The Scarlet Deep, in case you are wondering how it's connected to Elizabeth's other works. That Josie, a mysterious recluse author with the visions, remember? This is Tom and Josephine's love story, tragic, lovely and sweet.
Josephine Shaw is a delightful young woman with a very fancy imagination. She writes a score of popular Gothic romances under a couple of pen names, she has a lively correspondence with her dearest friends in London and she is surrounded by people who love and appreciate her spirit. But, Josephine is dying of consumption. She'd known that for a long time and she accepted that there is nothing that can be done to reverse her situation.
Tom Dargin pretends to be Murphy's brother along with Declan, while the trio tries to consolidate their power to move on to the current ruler of Dublin. One of the moves is acquiring Shaw's mills and boats. Mr.Shaw is gravely ill and would like to sell his business to someone who would care for it like he does. He is also worried about his dying daughter and stipulates that he will give the mills and the boats to Murphys if one of the brothers marry Josephine to protect her from her conniving cousin.
Tom agrees to meet Josephine and to their mutual surprise the two find they suit. She is fragile and ethereal, but wilful and practical. He is a solid bear of a man, but under his brute facade is a romantic heart and a wicked dry sense of humour. These two are hot together, my dear readers!
Obviously you know how this story ends, but you don't know what had to be done to get there, and I am keeping my mouth shut so as not to spoil the journey for you. It's heart-wrenching, emotional and perfectly Gothic. You should all read it, no question about it. *grins*
Anne shook her head. "Good heavens, you two really are perfect for each other. Who would have guessed?"
"Me," Josie said with a sweet smile. "We knew we'd get on the first night he called on me."
Tom smiled and went back to his paper. Sweet butterfly girl...
"Oh?"Anne asked. "Why's that?"
"It was obvious," Josie said. "He brought me a book."
4.5/5
GASLIGHT HADES was bittersweet and lovely. There was more horror in it than in A Very Proper Monster, and it certainly had a great Gothic atmosphere (foggy cemeteries, floating hair and a sense of tragic loss included). The steampunk elements totally kicked butt, and I especially loved the creation of Redan - an aether wall protecting humans from horrifics - monsters from a different dimension.
There were just so many juicy tidbits in there despite the shortness of the novel, that it felt like an optical illusion of a hefty tome. There certainly was an undercurrent of a much bigger story.
Lenore just lost her much beloved father, and at the height of body snatching in 19th century London she is worried that her father's grave will get disturbed. However the Highgate cemetery is protected by one of the Bonekeepers created as a result of a horrendous experiment which took dead bodies and successfully brought them back from the death as superstrong paranormal beings.
There are seven Guardians of cemeteries in London, seven Bonekeepers, and Lenore asks one of them to look after her dad's grave. Only she doesn't understand why she is attracted to this ghostly, thin, eery being with floating white hair, and who he reminds her of.
Nathaniel died five years ago in a brutal airship battle, and while his body was beyond repair, his essence got transferred into one of Bonekeepers. Now he forever looks after the dead and stays away from his ex-fiance, whom he loves dearly still.
As you can guess, Lenore is the one, and this book is their bittersweet reunion. Gaslight Hades sends a wonderful message that true love knows no boundaries, and that life does give you second chances. It also feels like a part of much larger story. There are seven Guardians which makes me think that they all should have their happy ending. There is also a very intriguing female airship captain who needs to tell her life story to the reader as well. Gaslight Hades is an impertinent tease, and I demand from it to stop all this nonsense and show us the rest of its stories at once!
Honestly, this was a fantastic duology, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Superbly written, wonderful stories.
A VERY PROPER MONSTER is utterly, utterly gorgeous. In fact, it's Elizabeth's finest work so far. The writing is poetic, the story is heart-breakingly beautiful. I finished it last night and cried. This doesn't happen to me often.
This novel is about Tom and Josie whom we met in The Scarlet Deep, in case you are wondering how it's connected to Elizabeth's other works. That Josie, a mysterious recluse author with the visions, remember? This is Tom and Josephine's love story, tragic, lovely and sweet.
Josephine Shaw is a delightful young woman with a very fancy imagination. She writes a score of popular Gothic romances under a couple of pen names, she has a lively correspondence with her dearest friends in London and she is surrounded by people who love and appreciate her spirit. But, Josephine is dying of consumption. She'd known that for a long time and she accepted that there is nothing that can be done to reverse her situation.
Tom Dargin pretends to be Murphy's brother along with Declan, while the trio tries to consolidate their power to move on to the current ruler of Dublin. One of the moves is acquiring Shaw's mills and boats. Mr.Shaw is gravely ill and would like to sell his business to someone who would care for it like he does. He is also worried about his dying daughter and stipulates that he will give the mills and the boats to Murphys if one of the brothers marry Josephine to protect her from her conniving cousin.
Tom agrees to meet Josephine and to their mutual surprise the two find they suit. She is fragile and ethereal, but wilful and practical. He is a solid bear of a man, but under his brute facade is a romantic heart and a wicked dry sense of humour. These two are hot together, my dear readers!
Obviously you know how this story ends, but you don't know what had to be done to get there, and I am keeping my mouth shut so as not to spoil the journey for you. It's heart-wrenching, emotional and perfectly Gothic. You should all read it, no question about it. *grins*
Anne shook her head. "Good heavens, you two really are perfect for each other. Who would have guessed?"
"Me," Josie said with a sweet smile. "We knew we'd get on the first night he called on me."
Tom smiled and went back to his paper. Sweet butterfly girl...
"Oh?"Anne asked. "Why's that?"
"It was obvious," Josie said. "He brought me a book."
4.5/5
GASLIGHT HADES was bittersweet and lovely. There was more horror in it than in A Very Proper Monster, and it certainly had a great Gothic atmosphere (foggy cemeteries, floating hair and a sense of tragic loss included). The steampunk elements totally kicked butt, and I especially loved the creation of Redan - an aether wall protecting humans from horrifics - monsters from a different dimension.
There were just so many juicy tidbits in there despite the shortness of the novel, that it felt like an optical illusion of a hefty tome. There certainly was an undercurrent of a much bigger story.
Lenore just lost her much beloved father, and at the height of body snatching in 19th century London she is worried that her father's grave will get disturbed. However the Highgate cemetery is protected by one of the Bonekeepers created as a result of a horrendous experiment which took dead bodies and successfully brought them back from the death as superstrong paranormal beings.
There are seven Guardians of cemeteries in London, seven Bonekeepers, and Lenore asks one of them to look after her dad's grave. Only she doesn't understand why she is attracted to this ghostly, thin, eery being with floating white hair, and who he reminds her of.
Nathaniel died five years ago in a brutal airship battle, and while his body was beyond repair, his essence got transferred into one of Bonekeepers. Now he forever looks after the dead and stays away from his ex-fiance, whom he loves dearly still.
As you can guess, Lenore is the one, and this book is their bittersweet reunion. Gaslight Hades sends a wonderful message that true love knows no boundaries, and that life does give you second chances. It also feels like a part of much larger story. There are seven Guardians which makes me think that they all should have their happy ending. There is also a very intriguing female airship captain who needs to tell her life story to the reader as well. Gaslight Hades is an impertinent tease, and I demand from it to stop all this nonsense and show us the rest of its stories at once!
Honestly, this was a fantastic duology, and I'd recommend it to anyone. Superbly written, wonderful stories.
March 28, 2016
2 short stories by two fantastic authors.
This is my first read by Elizabeth Hunter, who authored the first story in this book and I am quite impressed. I have read Grace Draven's works before and I have loved them all, and her story in this book does not disapoint.
I can say that both stories are extremely well written and have well developed and likeable characters. I truly have no comments about either except they were wonderful and I enjoyed them.
Definately one I would recommend.
This is my first read by Elizabeth Hunter, who authored the first story in this book and I am quite impressed. I have read Grace Draven's works before and I have loved them all, and her story in this book does not disapoint.
I can say that both stories are extremely well written and have well developed and likeable characters. I truly have no comments about either except they were wonderful and I enjoyed them.
Definately one I would recommend.
September 16, 2015
I will mark this as "read" and log the review when I read Grace Draven's half.
I'm excited!! A Very Proper Monster was KILLER.
I'm excited!! A Very Proper Monster was KILLER.
October 16, 2015
"A Very Proper Monster" by Elizabeth Hunter is a novella in the "Elemental World" series and tells the story of Tom Dargin and Josephine Shaw.
We've met them both before as a married, happy couple. Now we have the chance to learn how they reached that happiness and I couldn't be more excited.
Add to that that it's a Gothic style romance and I'm head over heels.
Josie is the daughter of a wealthy business-man who's dying and wants to make sure his daughter it taken care off.
Patrick Murphy wants to take over the business and so his right hand man, Tom Dargin offers to marry Josie.
What starts out as a business venture turns quickly into more when Tom and Josie discover they have more in common than they thought - a dry humor, wit, lack of social skills and a passion for the written word.
They complement each other perfectly, but with Josie's sickness time is not on their side and there are secrets both of them hide that could make or break their relationship. You know, minor things like the husband being a blood-sucking undead.
I love Josie and Tom together. They just fit perfectly in all their imperfection. Together, their quirks and habits were charming, not annoying.
But then again, I don't find anything about either of them annoying at all.
Tom has a tough, brutish exterior. He's not a man of many words but is used to letting his fists speak for him. When he does talk, he's honest and straightforward - brutally so.
But at the same time he's sweet, caring, passionate and intelligent. He's loyal and loving - especially toward Josie.
Josie is full of contradictions as well. Frail and sick on the outside, she has a strong, positive personality with an incredible imagination, wit and determination to boot.
And Tom coaxes out her more hopeful and playful side.
The love they share is heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time - full of passion as well as tenderness.
Just like anything else by Elizabeth Hunter, this book is pure perfection and allowed me to disappear into a world long gone by.
5+ a-beatiful-Gothic-tale stars.
We've met them both before as a married, happy couple. Now we have the chance to learn how they reached that happiness and I couldn't be more excited.
Add to that that it's a Gothic style romance and I'm head over heels.
Josie is the daughter of a wealthy business-man who's dying and wants to make sure his daughter it taken care off.
Patrick Murphy wants to take over the business and so his right hand man, Tom Dargin offers to marry Josie.
What starts out as a business venture turns quickly into more when Tom and Josie discover they have more in common than they thought - a dry humor, wit, lack of social skills and a passion for the written word.
They complement each other perfectly, but with Josie's sickness time is not on their side and there are secrets both of them hide that could make or break their relationship. You know, minor things like the husband being a blood-sucking undead.
I love Josie and Tom together. They just fit perfectly in all their imperfection. Together, their quirks and habits were charming, not annoying.
But then again, I don't find anything about either of them annoying at all.
Tom has a tough, brutish exterior. He's not a man of many words but is used to letting his fists speak for him. When he does talk, he's honest and straightforward - brutally so.
But at the same time he's sweet, caring, passionate and intelligent. He's loyal and loving - especially toward Josie.
Josie is full of contradictions as well. Frail and sick on the outside, she has a strong, positive personality with an incredible imagination, wit and determination to boot.
And Tom coaxes out her more hopeful and playful side.
The love they share is heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time - full of passion as well as tenderness.
Just like anything else by Elizabeth Hunter, this book is pure perfection and allowed me to disappear into a world long gone by.
5+ a-beatiful-Gothic-tale stars.
October 29, 2015
I liked EH's story, but loved GD's entry in this dark, gothic romance. It was steampunk with gothic overtones. I hope we get more Guardian stories, because there are 7 spectral men who may have a 2nd chance at love. *fingers crossed*.
May 26, 2017
I was going to read the Grace Draven story and I noticed that someone in their review mentioned that there was this book which had two stories, so I thought why not? And I'm going to have to go against most of the other reviewers who said the Draven story was the best story here. I liked the Draven story, but just never really connected with it. I don't seem to connect for some unknown reason with steampunk stories, even though I absolutely love the concept. I've not yet read a steampunk that I've loved and this was the case with the Draven story too. Like, not love. I kept putting the book down and making myself go back to it.
Now, the other story by Elizabeth Hunter I loved! I really connected in a big way with the hero and heroine. I could just feel they were made for each other. I even got really emotional towards the end when . I enjoyed this story so much I'm going to check out this author's other books. Anyone who can connect me so strongly with the hero AND heroine in such a short story has to be a good writer.
I thought this book was really worthwhile. Not a five star read, but very enjoyable and introduced me to a new writer, and that has to be a good thing!
Now, the other story by Elizabeth Hunter I loved! I really connected in a big way with the hero and heroine. I could just feel they were made for each other. I even got really emotional towards the end when . I enjoyed this story so much I'm going to check out this author's other books. Anyone who can connect me so strongly with the hero AND heroine in such a short story has to be a good writer.
I thought this book was really worthwhile. Not a five star read, but very enjoyable and introduced me to a new writer, and that has to be a good thing!
October 27, 2020
The first story was so cute and sweet!! I loved the writing and the characters. The second story fell completely flat for me.
November 5, 2015
I thought I have read gothic novels before but I guess I was wrong.
This book has 2 short stories. One about a vampire and his sick wife and the other about a woman and her ex-lover who died and was "resurrected" in another person's body.
Vampire & The Sick Lady
I liked Tom better than whatever-her-name-was. I think Tom the vampire was better drawn out as a character whereas the sick lady was......sick. Her condition was such a prominent theme that I had difficulties imagining her being anything else. I imagine a big selling point would be their romantic relationship but whenever I read about their intimate relationship I could not help but think: how is she supposed to survive passionate sexual act with her tuberculosis? She had trouble breathing and coughed often. I pictured her to be someone suffering from severe asthma and the practical person in me kept wondering: isn't this kind of dangerous???
In the end things turned toward the vampire theme where the sick lady was turned into another vampire and lived (by dying). All in all I enjoyed reading about Tom more than anything else. He was supposed to be older, somewhere near 40. He seemed mature and steady. I appreciated that.
The Dead Man and his Ex-Lover
This is truly a morbid story where the hero was dead. Somehow someone put his soul/spirit into another man and he lived on as a bonekeepr, some kind of a grave guard. The heroine Lenore wanted to go on a ship and become some kind of a pirate where the catpain was woman? He proposed before he died and the woman turned him down (I don't understand why?) He died and finally they met again when her father passed away. But of course she did not recognized him. So the story began: should I tell her or not? No I cannot tell her.
Again the hero in this book outshined the heroine in my eyes. I could not quite see the heroine as a character. The way she was written did not endear her to me whereas I felt I knew the hero and his POV better.
I have a feeling that romance is only one of the themes in these books. I am always more curious about how the writers would depict the relationships than anything else. These 2 books while being successful in creating alternative worlds, did not capture my heart. But as gothic novels they have captured my attention.
My final point, is the same for all the short stories I read: they are just not long enough for me. I feel that I did not know the characters enough to read about their sex life. lol If ever there is such a thing. In the end I went with 2 stars because 2 stars meant "it was ok" and that is exactly how I feel about them.
This book has 2 short stories. One about a vampire and his sick wife and the other about a woman and her ex-lover who died and was "resurrected" in another person's body.
Vampire & The Sick Lady
I liked Tom better than whatever-her-name-was. I think Tom the vampire was better drawn out as a character whereas the sick lady was......sick. Her condition was such a prominent theme that I had difficulties imagining her being anything else. I imagine a big selling point would be their romantic relationship but whenever I read about their intimate relationship I could not help but think: how is she supposed to survive passionate sexual act with her tuberculosis? She had trouble breathing and coughed often. I pictured her to be someone suffering from severe asthma and the practical person in me kept wondering: isn't this kind of dangerous???
In the end things turned toward the vampire theme where the sick lady was turned into another vampire and lived (by dying). All in all I enjoyed reading about Tom more than anything else. He was supposed to be older, somewhere near 40. He seemed mature and steady. I appreciated that.
The Dead Man and his Ex-Lover
This is truly a morbid story where the hero was dead. Somehow someone put his soul/spirit into another man and he lived on as a bonekeepr, some kind of a grave guard. The heroine Lenore wanted to go on a ship and become some kind of a pirate where the catpain was woman? He proposed before he died and the woman turned him down (I don't understand why?) He died and finally they met again when her father passed away. But of course she did not recognized him. So the story began: should I tell her or not? No I cannot tell her.
Again the hero in this book outshined the heroine in my eyes. I could not quite see the heroine as a character. The way she was written did not endear her to me whereas I felt I knew the hero and his POV better.
I have a feeling that romance is only one of the themes in these books. I am always more curious about how the writers would depict the relationships than anything else. These 2 books while being successful in creating alternative worlds, did not capture my heart. But as gothic novels they have captured my attention.
My final point, is the same for all the short stories I read: they are just not long enough for me. I feel that I did not know the characters enough to read about their sex life. lol If ever there is such a thing. In the end I went with 2 stars because 2 stars meant "it was ok" and that is exactly how I feel about them.
February 9, 2018
These two authors have done Duo collections in the past and they are always good. I have to say that I am already in love with Elizabeth Hunter's Elemental series and am always glad for anything that takes me back into their world. I enjoyed the first thing I read from Grace Draven and so was looking forward to what she would have on offer here. When I averaged my rating for each story I came away with 3.7 stars.
"A Very Proper Monster" gets 4.5 stars. I pretty much liked everything about this even though it took me a minute to realize whose story was being told here. It just lagged a bit in the beginning but when it picked up it almost rushed through their early life together. But it was still a nice turn since we have never really gotten to see much of either of these characters.
Josephine Shaw is a spinster who spends her her nights filling the pages of her Gothic stories with fantastical creatures for the enjoyment of others. She is unaware that her father is looking for a husband to care for her when he is gone. Tom Dargin agrees to court the ailing spinster in order to secure a deal between Mr. Shaw and his boss Patrick Murphy. But when he finally meets the woman in question he is drawn to her and no longer sees this as just a duty.
This was a sweet love story with bite. Tom and Josephine were destined even if neither could see t at first.
"Gaslight Hades" I gave 3.2 stars mainly because it was confusing for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and did not really warm up to the characters until almost the end. While it was supposed to be a Gothic romance I got more of a steampunk feel from it, not that I don't like steampunk. The story somewhat reminds me of Lovecraft because of the monsters.
Nathaniel Gordon was a man once upon a time but now he is barely human and walks among both the living and the dead. Nathaniel is a Bonekeeper, a guardian against grave robbers who has a well earned reputation for protecting his charges. He has resigned himself to the fact that his old life is over until he spots the woman he once loved in his grave yard.
Lenore Kenward has lost her father, a man she both loved and admired after losing her almost fiancé years before. While at the grave side she senses something and finds a guardian watching her, instead of being frightened like so many she asks him to keep her fathers grave safe. She also feels there is something familiar about him.
This was a really slow burn but delivered a decent love story in the end. Not my favorite but I came to like them both.
"A Very Proper Monster" gets 4.5 stars. I pretty much liked everything about this even though it took me a minute to realize whose story was being told here. It just lagged a bit in the beginning but when it picked up it almost rushed through their early life together. But it was still a nice turn since we have never really gotten to see much of either of these characters.
Josephine Shaw is a spinster who spends her her nights filling the pages of her Gothic stories with fantastical creatures for the enjoyment of others. She is unaware that her father is looking for a husband to care for her when he is gone. Tom Dargin agrees to court the ailing spinster in order to secure a deal between Mr. Shaw and his boss Patrick Murphy. But when he finally meets the woman in question he is drawn to her and no longer sees this as just a duty.
This was a sweet love story with bite. Tom and Josephine were destined even if neither could see t at first.
"Gaslight Hades" I gave 3.2 stars mainly because it was confusing for me. I had a hard time getting into the story and did not really warm up to the characters until almost the end. While it was supposed to be a Gothic romance I got more of a steampunk feel from it, not that I don't like steampunk. The story somewhat reminds me of Lovecraft because of the monsters.
Nathaniel Gordon was a man once upon a time but now he is barely human and walks among both the living and the dead. Nathaniel is a Bonekeeper, a guardian against grave robbers who has a well earned reputation for protecting his charges. He has resigned himself to the fact that his old life is over until he spots the woman he once loved in his grave yard.
Lenore Kenward has lost her father, a man she both loved and admired after losing her almost fiancé years before. While at the grave side she senses something and finds a guardian watching her, instead of being frightened like so many she asks him to keep her fathers grave safe. She also feels there is something familiar about him.
This was a really slow burn but delivered a decent love story in the end. Not my favorite but I came to like them both.
October 5, 2015
I read and reviewed A VERY PROPER MONSTER by Elizabeth Hunter....
Something about her nature spoke to him. She was, despite her proper upbringing, an outsider by nature and circumstance. A caterpillar in a world that was not ready to see the butterfly she might become.
***
Each time I crack open one of Hunter's books; I become so caught up in the world in which she writes. And when I finish, I long for more of that world and more of the characters. Same holds true for this book as well. The words are such a lyrical delight on my mind. (I cannot be the only one who thinks this, am I right?) Oh yes, Hunter's writing absolutely consumes me.
I adored reading about Tom and Josie and all that they faced in this short story. It is hard to believe that so much happens in such a small amount of time. But I can promise you will experience all the feels. Josephine is quite the character; a wonderful leading lady that will have you smiling in all that she does. Tom is who he is. An amazing guy that makes up for his unexceptional looks with his exceptional charm. I think that is the only way to put it.
If you are in need of a quick visit back to the Elemental world that Hunter has created, this book is exactly what you need. 5 Most Excellent Stars!
Something about her nature spoke to him. She was, despite her proper upbringing, an outsider by nature and circumstance. A caterpillar in a world that was not ready to see the butterfly she might become.
***
Each time I crack open one of Hunter's books; I become so caught up in the world in which she writes. And when I finish, I long for more of that world and more of the characters. Same holds true for this book as well. The words are such a lyrical delight on my mind. (I cannot be the only one who thinks this, am I right?) Oh yes, Hunter's writing absolutely consumes me.
I adored reading about Tom and Josie and all that they faced in this short story. It is hard to believe that so much happens in such a small amount of time. But I can promise you will experience all the feels. Josephine is quite the character; a wonderful leading lady that will have you smiling in all that she does. Tom is who he is. An amazing guy that makes up for his unexceptional looks with his exceptional charm. I think that is the only way to put it.
If you are in need of a quick visit back to the Elemental world that Hunter has created, this book is exactly what you need. 5 Most Excellent Stars!
February 19, 2016
This book is composed of two stories - one by Elizabeth Hunter and the other by Grace Draven. And both of these stories illustrated perfectly that it is possible for me to fall in love with characters in less than 300 pages as well. Both of them are roughly 100 pages long and both Hunter and Draven managed to make me root for their stories' heroes and heroines. If that isn't exemplary writing, I don't know what is.
More of my thoughts can be found HERE.
More of my thoughts can be found HERE.
October 4, 2016
Elizabeth Hunter and Grace Draven on the same docket?! There is indeed a Reader's Deity that occasionally will bestow reward on to a poor devoted shlob that have been wading through a lot of kaka lately. Absolutely gorgeous! My only problem is - after you have tasted sublime,it leaves you hunger for more and makes it impossible to be satisfied with mundane. This one is definitely for my Mary Poppins shelf - you know, the one that is practically perfect in every way.
Read
January 16, 2016Edited A Very Proper Monster by Elizabeth Hunter
February 7, 2017
Two gothic paranormal romance novels. I liked both stories. Grace Draven's was better.
August 9, 2016
A VERY PROPER MONSTER - 3.75 stars
[Review may contain spoilers.]
I picked up this duet of novellas by two indie authors with very high ratings on Goodreads because of the subtitle on the main book: “A Duo of Gothic Romances.”
By the time I’d gotten to the end of the first (Kindle) page, I realized this wasn’t actually Gothic romance; rather, A Very Proper Monster is more accurately categorized as paranormal romance. Although the generalized definition of “Gothic fiction” includes horror classics such as Dracula and Frankenstein, the subgenre of Gothic Romance evolved to include certain, very specific tropes such as:
--Typically in first-person POV from the heroine’s viewpoint. If it’s in third person, it may be omniscient (events are narrated, never gets into the heads of the characters) and/or the heroine’s is still the only viewpoint the reader is given.
--One or more characters surrounding the heroine has/seems to have malevolent intentions toward the heroine. This includes the “hero” character.
--The reader is not privy to the thoughts, motivations, or intentions of the other characters surrounding the heroine. It’s similar to an unreliable narrator situation because the only POV character, the heroine, suspects everyone/anyone.
--The heroine’s life is in jeopardy---or seems to be---from someone close to her.
--There are, or seem to be, paranormal elements.
--Many times, there are two male characters vying for the affection of the heroine---one is dark, mysterious, and potentially dangerous, while the other seems to be bright, forthright, cheerful, and safe---in other words, they seem to be the exact opposite of each other.
--The setting plays a major role in the story---whether it’s an ancient estate on a misty moor, Mr. Rochester’s house with its strange sounds at night, a creepy castle in the far mountains of Transylvania in the 1800s (Deanna Raybourn’s The Dead Travel Fast), or a Gothic-style Victorian home in foggy Northern California filled with previously unknown relatives and a dying grandfather (White Jade by Willo Davis Roberts---my favorite Gothic Romance novel).
--There is a lot of focus on the psychological impact on the heroine of the fear driven by the setting, situation, and surrounding characters.
This novella, while a quick, interesting read, did not hit most of these tropes.
--Written in third person, not only do we get the hero’s POV, the story actually opens in his POV, so we know right from the beginning that he’s a “tame” vampire.
--The heroine, Josie’s, cousin could fill the “has malevolent intentions toward the heroine” role---except he didn’t have the agency or the power (or the intelligence) to actually do anything to her. There is a minor character who seems to be the Big Bad for the wider world of the series this novella fits into, but, again, aside from being told that he’s the Big Bad and runs the vampire community in Dublin, there was never truly any jeopardy from him for the heroine.
--There is no unreliable narrator situation created. Because we get Tom’s POV right from the start, we know that he’s a good guy and that he only wants to help Josie/her father.
--The heroine’s life was in jeopardy, yes---but only because she was consumptive and had been slowly dying for years from tuberculosis.
--There definitely were paranormal elements, given that most of the characters in it are vampires---and for a novella that fits into a wider storyworld, Hunter did a fabulous job of doing just enough world-building that I was never confused (for long) over a few made-up words or situations. It helps that she kept most of the standard rules for vampires (can’t go out in the sun, have the ability for mind control, have heightened sight and smell and hearing, etc.).
--There was no foil for Tom; and given that he never had, nor seemed to have, malevolent intentions toward her, combined with the shorter length of this story, it would have been hard to do that.
--The setting didn’t really play a role here. It could have been set in London or Edinburgh or New York and that wouldn’t have changed anything about the story. It was set in 1880s Dublin, so the actual world didn’t have to be built---only a few details given here and there to make it feel real . . . though not Gothic or fear-inducing.
--This was a very straight-forward romance. The only psychological focus was on her falling in love with him (and the potential that she wasn’t quite right in the head?) and his worry---then fear---of losing her when he was falling in love with her. She never feared him, or anyone else in the story.
I really did appreciate the fact that, because this obviously fits into a wider storyworld, I didn’t really have any trouble figuring out what was going on. Hunter gave just enough backstory for Tom and his “brothers” that I immediately was able to place each of them in my mind and keep them straight throughout. She also did a great job of contextualizing the paranormal elements so that I never had to wonder for more than a page or two what a certain (made up?) world-specific word or scenario meant.
As a romance writer myself, I’m always looking for the “big problem”---what’s the final big conflict that threatens to tear the couple apart seemingly forever (or which threatens their relationship but which they both must fight together, which brings them closer). In this story, because Josie is dying, which we know from the beginning, and because Tom is a vampire, I never truly felt their relationship was in any jeopardy. I knew right from the beginning that he would turn her (have her turned) rather than let her die---especially once they fell in love so quickly/easily.
And then Josie’s transition into being a vampire . . . yes, there was discomfort and a little disorientation, but again, there was never any jeopardy, despite Anne and Murphy’s worrying over whether nor not she’d become problematic after turning, or all of the “dire” warnings in the narrative about how dangerous newborn vampires are. Sure, it was dangerous for Neville, but that needed to happen anyway.
All-in-all a fun, quick read . . . just not the “Gothic Romance” I was prepared for. It was good enough that I may look at eventually reading other books in this series. And this author is going onto my "ones to watch" list!
[Review may contain spoilers.]
I picked up this duet of novellas by two indie authors with very high ratings on Goodreads because of the subtitle on the main book: “A Duo of Gothic Romances.”
By the time I’d gotten to the end of the first (Kindle) page, I realized this wasn’t actually Gothic romance; rather, A Very Proper Monster is more accurately categorized as paranormal romance. Although the generalized definition of “Gothic fiction” includes horror classics such as Dracula and Frankenstein, the subgenre of Gothic Romance evolved to include certain, very specific tropes such as:
--Typically in first-person POV from the heroine’s viewpoint. If it’s in third person, it may be omniscient (events are narrated, never gets into the heads of the characters) and/or the heroine’s is still the only viewpoint the reader is given.
--One or more characters surrounding the heroine has/seems to have malevolent intentions toward the heroine. This includes the “hero” character.
--The reader is not privy to the thoughts, motivations, or intentions of the other characters surrounding the heroine. It’s similar to an unreliable narrator situation because the only POV character, the heroine, suspects everyone/anyone.
--The heroine’s life is in jeopardy---or seems to be---from someone close to her.
--There are, or seem to be, paranormal elements.
--Many times, there are two male characters vying for the affection of the heroine---one is dark, mysterious, and potentially dangerous, while the other seems to be bright, forthright, cheerful, and safe---in other words, they seem to be the exact opposite of each other.
--The setting plays a major role in the story---whether it’s an ancient estate on a misty moor, Mr. Rochester’s house with its strange sounds at night, a creepy castle in the far mountains of Transylvania in the 1800s (Deanna Raybourn’s The Dead Travel Fast), or a Gothic-style Victorian home in foggy Northern California filled with previously unknown relatives and a dying grandfather (White Jade by Willo Davis Roberts---my favorite Gothic Romance novel).
--There is a lot of focus on the psychological impact on the heroine of the fear driven by the setting, situation, and surrounding characters.
This novella, while a quick, interesting read, did not hit most of these tropes.
--Written in third person, not only do we get the hero’s POV, the story actually opens in his POV, so we know right from the beginning that he’s a “tame” vampire.
--The heroine, Josie’s, cousin could fill the “has malevolent intentions toward the heroine” role---except he didn’t have the agency or the power (or the intelligence) to actually do anything to her. There is a minor character who seems to be the Big Bad for the wider world of the series this novella fits into, but, again, aside from being told that he’s the Big Bad and runs the vampire community in Dublin, there was never truly any jeopardy from him for the heroine.
--There is no unreliable narrator situation created. Because we get Tom’s POV right from the start, we know that he’s a good guy and that he only wants to help Josie/her father.
--The heroine’s life was in jeopardy, yes---but only because she was consumptive and had been slowly dying for years from tuberculosis.
--There definitely were paranormal elements, given that most of the characters in it are vampires---and for a novella that fits into a wider storyworld, Hunter did a fabulous job of doing just enough world-building that I was never confused (for long) over a few made-up words or situations. It helps that she kept most of the standard rules for vampires (can’t go out in the sun, have the ability for mind control, have heightened sight and smell and hearing, etc.).
--There was no foil for Tom; and given that he never had, nor seemed to have, malevolent intentions toward her, combined with the shorter length of this story, it would have been hard to do that.
--The setting didn’t really play a role here. It could have been set in London or Edinburgh or New York and that wouldn’t have changed anything about the story. It was set in 1880s Dublin, so the actual world didn’t have to be built---only a few details given here and there to make it feel real . . . though not Gothic or fear-inducing.
--This was a very straight-forward romance. The only psychological focus was on her falling in love with him (and the potential that she wasn’t quite right in the head?) and his worry---then fear---of losing her when he was falling in love with her. She never feared him, or anyone else in the story.
I really did appreciate the fact that, because this obviously fits into a wider storyworld, I didn’t really have any trouble figuring out what was going on. Hunter gave just enough backstory for Tom and his “brothers” that I immediately was able to place each of them in my mind and keep them straight throughout. She also did a great job of contextualizing the paranormal elements so that I never had to wonder for more than a page or two what a certain (made up?) world-specific word or scenario meant.
As a romance writer myself, I’m always looking for the “big problem”---what’s the final big conflict that threatens to tear the couple apart seemingly forever (or which threatens their relationship but which they both must fight together, which brings them closer). In this story, because Josie is dying, which we know from the beginning, and because Tom is a vampire, I never truly felt their relationship was in any jeopardy. I knew right from the beginning that he would turn her (have her turned) rather than let her die---especially once they fell in love so quickly/easily.
And then Josie’s transition into being a vampire . . . yes, there was discomfort and a little disorientation, but again, there was never any jeopardy, despite Anne and Murphy’s worrying over whether nor not she’d become problematic after turning, or all of the “dire” warnings in the narrative about how dangerous newborn vampires are. Sure, it was dangerous for Neville, but that needed to happen anyway.
All-in-all a fun, quick read . . . just not the “Gothic Romance” I was prepared for. It was good enough that I may look at eventually reading other books in this series. And this author is going onto my "ones to watch" list!
October 7, 2015
A VERY PROPER MONSTER
Ms. Hunter never disappoints and I love reading her stories, especially those set in the Elemental World, that I suspect will always remain a favorite of mine to revisit. This world is bursting with complex, vivid characters, who are at times eccentric, romantic, brave and all those other things that we always yearn our heroes (and heroines) to be. So it's no surprise that I found A Very Proper Monster and it's characters - Josie and Tom - exactly perfect. We've met both of them in Ms. Hunter's recent full novel, The Scarlet Deep, and here, they get to play the lead in their own love story, which is touching and sweet, if only a tad too quick, that must be the fault of the novella format. Nevertheless, I loved learning more about Josie and Tom, and I quite enjoyed Ms. Hunter's exploration of historical genre - in fact, I demand more!
As I mentioned above, this novella is part of the larger Elemental World series, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone or a first foray into Ms. Hunter's wonderful world of elemental vampires, because, trust me - you wouldn't want to stop just here! Highly recommended.
GASLIGHT HADES
Now, after finishing A Very Proper Monster and craving more of the same I was a tad hesitant to dive into Gaslight Hades. But, knowing how Ms. Draven time and again pulls me in with her works - I gave it a go. I have to admit, Gaslight Hades got off to a slow start but quickly gained speed and I barely noticed how I've raced through the pages to the end. The novella format felt both short and surprisingly longer than intended (in a good way!) - Ms. Draven manages to masterfully make it feel like a full fledged, well developed story with complex characters, an intricate new world, and surprising steampunk elements that were so elegantly woven-in. I savored the idea of the Guardians, the Gothic feel of the story, the steampunk airships and frightful battles at the Redan (you'll have to read to find all about it!) and I absolutely want more. I feel like this is the beginning of a beautiful new series that will quickly gather many admirers and make many readers fans of Ms. Draven's works.
Also highly recommended.
Ms. Hunter never disappoints and I love reading her stories, especially those set in the Elemental World, that I suspect will always remain a favorite of mine to revisit. This world is bursting with complex, vivid characters, who are at times eccentric, romantic, brave and all those other things that we always yearn our heroes (and heroines) to be. So it's no surprise that I found A Very Proper Monster and it's characters - Josie and Tom - exactly perfect. We've met both of them in Ms. Hunter's recent full novel, The Scarlet Deep, and here, they get to play the lead in their own love story, which is touching and sweet, if only a tad too quick, that must be the fault of the novella format. Nevertheless, I loved learning more about Josie and Tom, and I quite enjoyed Ms. Hunter's exploration of historical genre - in fact, I demand more!
As I mentioned above, this novella is part of the larger Elemental World series, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone or a first foray into Ms. Hunter's wonderful world of elemental vampires, because, trust me - you wouldn't want to stop just here! Highly recommended.
GASLIGHT HADES
Now, after finishing A Very Proper Monster and craving more of the same I was a tad hesitant to dive into Gaslight Hades. But, knowing how Ms. Draven time and again pulls me in with her works - I gave it a go. I have to admit, Gaslight Hades got off to a slow start but quickly gained speed and I barely noticed how I've raced through the pages to the end. The novella format felt both short and surprisingly longer than intended (in a good way!) - Ms. Draven manages to masterfully make it feel like a full fledged, well developed story with complex characters, an intricate new world, and surprising steampunk elements that were so elegantly woven-in. I savored the idea of the Guardians, the Gothic feel of the story, the steampunk airships and frightful battles at the Redan (you'll have to read to find all about it!) and I absolutely want more. I feel like this is the beginning of a beautiful new series that will quickly gather many admirers and make many readers fans of Ms. Draven's works.
Also highly recommended.
October 4, 2016
Seriously, you can not go wrong with an Elizabeth Hunter or Grace Draven fantasy.
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/angelas-end-y...
’m kind of in love with Grace Draven’s fantasy romances so one-clicking this on release day was a no brainer. I had an ARC of Gaslight Hades, which was Ms. Draven’s contribution, but felt I needed to buy the finished product to get the most out of it. I read this book out-of-order because of that insane love just so I could get to her story first. I didn’t even read the blurb beforehand, just jumped right in. Which is why I had no idea this was steampunk. STEAMPUNK! Grace Draven wrote a second chance steampunk romance with a reincarnated hero and a smart heroine who desperately wants to carry on in her father’s engineering footsteps. And it was beyond lovely. So far I believe this is to be a stand-a-lone, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this author decides to venture back into this world in the future.
Favorite Quote:
Elizabeth Hunter’s contribution to this duology is a novella in her Elemental World series, which I hadn’t read and didn’t know much about. I so adored this tale of doomed love that I immediately went out and one-clicked the first three books. I’m serious, I needed to know more. A Very Proper Monster tells the tale of Tom, a vampire, and the ailing spinster he agrees to wed. It’s sweet, at times heartbreaking, but also quite endearing. I guarantee you’ll be thinking about this love story long after you’ve finished.
Favorite Quote:
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/angelas-end-y...
’m kind of in love with Grace Draven’s fantasy romances so one-clicking this on release day was a no brainer. I had an ARC of Gaslight Hades, which was Ms. Draven’s contribution, but felt I needed to buy the finished product to get the most out of it. I read this book out-of-order because of that insane love just so I could get to her story first. I didn’t even read the blurb beforehand, just jumped right in. Which is why I had no idea this was steampunk. STEAMPUNK! Grace Draven wrote a second chance steampunk romance with a reincarnated hero and a smart heroine who desperately wants to carry on in her father’s engineering footsteps. And it was beyond lovely. So far I believe this is to be a stand-a-lone, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this author decides to venture back into this world in the future.
Favorite Quote:
“I would give all of eternity for one more hour with you,” he said.
Elizabeth Hunter’s contribution to this duology is a novella in her Elemental World series, which I hadn’t read and didn’t know much about. I so adored this tale of doomed love that I immediately went out and one-clicked the first three books. I’m serious, I needed to know more. A Very Proper Monster tells the tale of Tom, a vampire, and the ailing spinster he agrees to wed. It’s sweet, at times heartbreaking, but also quite endearing. I guarantee you’ll be thinking about this love story long after you’ve finished.
Favorite Quote:
“I will never forget this,” he whispered against her lips. “Not a moment. If I live a thousand years, I will never forget this. Do you understand? I will never forget you.”
June 2, 2016
A solid 4 stars for this Gothic duo -- very well developed characters and great stories that are well written makes both novellas thoroughly enjoyable.
Having read the Elemental Mystery Series and the spinoff Elemental World Series, A Very Proper Monster does not disappoint! I LOVE the Elemental characters. This was the story of how Tom and Josie met. It was a beautiful, tragic gothic love story and while the epilogue was a nice hint of the future, I'd really like a book about their life together. I just love these two characters, even more than I thought I would. Moving on to the next novella in this gothic collection...
Second half of this duo, Gaslight Hades, was really good. Quite different from most other books I've read. More of the Steampunk genre to me, which I've been wanting to read. The Guardian was eerie and intriguing at the same time. Loved Lenore, her personality, her loyalty. Poor, sweet Nathaniel. And, Nettie, what a hoot. Would love to know more about her. Took a little time to figure out some words and phrases that were unfamiliar to me but it wasn't bad. A little "technical" but not overdone, imo. I don't know much about Ms. Draven's work, although I have read another novella of hers, but I will certainly read more of her work.
Having read the Elemental Mystery Series and the spinoff Elemental World Series, A Very Proper Monster does not disappoint! I LOVE the Elemental characters. This was the story of how Tom and Josie met. It was a beautiful, tragic gothic love story and while the epilogue was a nice hint of the future, I'd really like a book about their life together. I just love these two characters, even more than I thought I would. Moving on to the next novella in this gothic collection...
Second half of this duo, Gaslight Hades, was really good. Quite different from most other books I've read. More of the Steampunk genre to me, which I've been wanting to read. The Guardian was eerie and intriguing at the same time. Loved Lenore, her personality, her loyalty. Poor, sweet Nathaniel. And, Nettie, what a hoot. Would love to know more about her. Took a little time to figure out some words and phrases that were unfamiliar to me but it wasn't bad. A little "technical" but not overdone, imo. I don't know much about Ms. Draven's work, although I have read another novella of hers, but I will certainly read more of her work.
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