The Quick - an early review

by Lauren Owen

Hardcover: 544 pages - 19.99 $

Publisher: Random House (June 17, 2014)

An astonishing debut, a novel of epic scope and suspense that conjures up all the magic and menace of Victorian London

London, 1892: James Norbury, a shy would-be poet newly down from Oxford, finds lodging with a charming young aristocrat. Through this new friendship, he is introduced to the drawing-rooms of high society, and finds love in an unexpected quarter. Then, suddenly, he vanishes without a trace. Unnerved, his sister, Charlotte, sets out from their crumbling country estate determined to find him. In the sinister, labyrinthine city that greets her, she uncovers a secret world at the margins populated by unforgettable characters: a female rope walker turned vigilante, a street urchin with a deadly secret, and the chilling “Doctor Knife.” But the answer to her brother’s disappearance ultimately lies within the doors of one of the country’s preeminent and mysterious institutions: The Aegolius Club, whose members include the most ambitious, and most dangerous, men in England.

In her first novel, Lauren Owen has created a fantastical world that is both beguiling and terrifying. The Quick will establish her as one of fiction’s most dazzling talents.

What's about that book

I enjoyed the quality of writing, fluid and very pleasant. From the beginning of the book, one is swept away by the story. James and Charlotte are two characters we love to discover. The very Victorian style, both in writing and in story, which makes its charm. Some topics, interesting and well fed (but not enough exploited). All in all, the book is very pleasant and one loves to meander in London or to live a happy life in Italy. I really loved some characters, even if they weren't not present for long (Shadwell and Adeline). It does have a bit of Anne Rice in it, mostly for the supernatural part, the way the characters are written or the setting. 

I least enjoyed the second quarter of the novel - after James' disappearance - which mainly includes the logbook of the famous Doctor Knives, interspersed with parts of the story. It was very confusing, especially as the logbook is not very understandable. Of course, we understand that the logbook was partially destroyed for who knows what reason and it missing pieces but the writing is so weird that it becomes difficult to understand. That would have been clever if one did not already know what element Doctor speaks in his diary. In short, it was a rather laborious part to read and therefore quite unpleasant.

Thereafter, the story starts again and one finds again with pleasure the writing of the author, to which she adds different characters and themes. Now, I admit that the profusion of themes is, in my opinion, unnecessary and sometimes superfluous. The story of the disappearance of an aspiring poet, linked with a more or less secret society of the Victorian London and the differences in social classes have enough to make a good book, given the ease with which the author takes us into her story.

Some characters deserved a little more flesh on the bones as they were so promising. I think of Liza, the street urchin, Mrs. P., Alia's emblematic figure, James which is no that important after all, Burke who is so important but of whom we know nothing...

In a nutshell

A pleasant novel, Gothic at will, well written but which probably addresses too many themes and has too many character at the same time to make it consistent. This is a 3.5 / 5 for me.

Warning: An e- galley of this title was provided to me by the publisher. No review has been promised and chronic above is an unbiased review of the novel.

Blood of the Lamb

by Sam Cabot

PENGUIN GROUP Blue Rider Press - First Edition edition (August 6, 2013)

433 pages - 16.68 $ (kindle edition)

Sam Cabot is a pseudonym for two authors: SJ Rozan who lives in Manhattan and Carlos Dews, who lives in Rome.

The Historian meets The Da Vinci Code in this exhilarating supernatural thriller set in Rome, where rival groups are searching for a document that holds a secret that could shatter the Catholic Church.

This document, dear friend, will shatter the Church...  

Reading these words in a letter in a dusty archive, Thomas Kelly is skeptical. The papers to which they refer have vanished, but Father Kelly, a Jesuit priest, doubts anything could ever have had that power—until the Vatican suddenly calls him to Rome to begin a desperate search for that very document.

Meanwhile, standing before a council of her people, Livia Pietro receives instructions: she must find a Jesuit priest recently arrived in Rome, and join his search for a document that contains a secret so shocking it has the power to destroy not only the Catholic Church, but Livia’s people as well.

As cryptic messages from the past throw Thomas and Livia into a treacherous world of art, religion, and conspiracy, they are pursued by those who would cross any line to obtain the document for themselves. Thomas and Livia must race to stop the chaos and destruction that the revelation of these secrets would create. Livia, though, has a secret of her own: She and her people are vampires.

In a sprawling tapestry that combines the religious intrigue of Dan Brown with the otherworldly terror of Stephenie Meyer, Blood of the Lamb is an unforgettable journey into an unthinkable past.

What I think of it

I enjoyed walking through the streets of Trasteverde near Rome. The descriptions are not too long and fairly well written so I can imagine all the places. One appreciate the sweetness of Rome, the Italian life, the churches and their timeless beauty. The descriptions are very well done, Livia and Thomas are friendly and the characters in general are well written.

There's without doubt a small Da Vinci Code side in this novel, this time through hidden poems that will ultimately enable Livia and Thomas to discover a very important and amazing document. This document, the heart of the novel, is sought by different groups for completely opposite grounds. Between those who want to disclose it and those who want to leave it hidden, followers of pros and cons have very different reasons to do so. Livia and Thomas are sent by their respective groups to find the document and must work together, to the chagrin of Thomas when he discovers what Livia is.

I enjoyed the the authors's view about vampires. It's far from Twilight or Interview with the vampire. Not too bloody or too watered down. The nature of vampires is scientifically explained which makes it almost plausible. Known elements (garlic, mirror and other anti-vampire weapons) are presented here as a folklore maintained by the vampires themselves to enable them to better hide among non- vampires. It is very well done.

What I like least about the book is the religious aspect. I skipped several passages a little too much like an essay on religion for my taste and that's rarely a good thing! One of Elmore Leonard's 10 writing rules is to remove passages that readers tend to skip. The concern of these passages is that they tend to make less dynamic narrative. This novel is not a page-turner, even if the action is always present.

Another flaw but much less serious concerns the similarity of names of some characters. The three police orders team up to arrest what they think are religious relics thieves. However, two investigators from two police orders have somewhat similar names. As a result, it took me some time to understand who was who. This is certainly not a big deal but it hinders the flow of reading when you have to stop to ask " but who is this one already? "

In a nutshell

The writers have written a fantasy novel with a vision of vampires quite new and credible, which in itself makes it a very cool book. The Italian atmosphere is very nice and there's well-made characters. The small weak point remains the religious aspect too far present for my taste. This is a 3.5 / 5 for me.