I received a copy of The Shadow Revolution, by Susan and Clay Griffith from Netgalley.
Description from Goodreads:
They are the realm’s last, best defense against supernatural evil. But they’re going to need a lot more silver.
As fog descends, obscuring the gas lamps of Victorian London, werewolves prowl the shadows of back alleys. But they have infiltrated the inner circles of upper-crust society as well. Only a handful of specially gifted practitioners are equipped to battle the beasts. Among them are the roguish Simon Archer, who conceals his powers as a spell-casting scribe behind the smooth veneer of a dashing playboy; his layabout mentor, Nick Barker, who prefers a good pub to thrilling heroics; and the self-possessed alchemist Kate Anstruther, who is equally at home in a ballroom as she is on a battlefield.
After a lycanthrope targets Kate’s vulnerable younger sister, the three join forces with fierce Scottish monster-hunter Malcolm MacFarlane—but quickly discover they’re dealing with a threat far greater than anything they ever imagined.
Review:
Really quite enjoyable. There was a lot of action here and two subtle romantic subplots…ok, one subtle romantic subplot and one hint at a future subtle romantic subplot. Either way, I liked knowing it was there but having it never come to the fore. I liked that the women were strong, ingenuitive, action-takers and I liked that the men let them be agents of their own destiny, never insisting they stay behind where they’d be safe and protected.
I suppose I could argue that this same acceptance and admiration for Kate and Penny’s outspoken, take charge attitudes (not to mention the women’s behaviours itself) was completely anachronistic to the Victorian setting, But since I enjoyed it, I’m willing to roll with the inference that since they’re all outsiders of one sort or another that explains it. It doesn’t really, but I’ll take it.
The book did get bogged down in endless fighting at times. I’ve no problem with violence or even gore, but at times it went on so long it began to feel redundant. Along the same line, there seemed to be an endless supply of mindlessly violent werewolves to fight through, despite being told they were rare. Which also led me to wonder why it was only little Charlotte who wasn’t in a beserker rage and therefore available and willing to side with and assist the ‘good guys.’
All-in-all, a fun start to a new series that I’ll be more than happy to continue.
