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There are currently 37 member reviews
for The Quick
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Sue P. (Richardson, TX)
The (not so) Quick
This is a long book. It's also a very good book; however, it risks being bogged down by its sheer volume of people, places and situations. I've not read a better description of London at the turn of the century - the atmosphere is brilliant, and it is populated by fascinating (and wonderfully weird) people. Gothic in the extreme, and ultimately, very satisfying.
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Ruthie A. (Summit, NJ)
Victorian Gothic with a BIG Surprise!
It is best to read this book with no foreknowledge so try not to read reviews as they may spoil the "surprise"! I will not reveal it here, so proceed!
The books begins with young Charlotte and James, living in the family mansion, their mother dead, father away. Fairly neglected by the help, young Charlotte raises James until father dies and James is sent to boarding school and later Oxford, and Charlotte moves to a smaller cottage on the property to live with and later take care of, an aunt. Fast forward to James, graduated, living in London, attempting to write poetry. He rooms with a college friend and experiences London's high society lifestyle. And then he disappears. Cue the ominous music.
While I enjoyed this novel, I found it a bit frustrating. We get to know characters, and then they are gone. Pivotal characters are not always sufficiently realized, others that seem like they should be very important fizzle out. Characters make decisions that are out of character, again without explanation. The author seemed to spend a lot of time on certain set-ups that were never resolved - perhaps there is a sequel in the works?
Despite the issues I had with the book I found much to enjoy. The new author can really write. Her descriptions; of the sights, sounds and smells of London in the 1860s, of her cast of characters and their thoughts, fears and loves, are impressive. She is definitely a talent worth watching. The book often reads as if it was written in the 1860's; the language and tone are very accurate, giving the reader a true Gothic experience.
Fans of historical fiction and gothic novels will enjoy this book. There is an entire other genre of readers this book will appeal to... but that would spoil the "surprise"!!
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Nan G. (Mazomanie, WI)
Long but worth the read
I want to start by saying that it is very difficult to honestly review The Quick without giving away plot points that would ruin the experience. So...what can I say? Well written, atmospheric, one surprising ( in a good way) character for a Victorian Gothic, twisty plot that is decidedly creepy (also in a good way) with a satisfactory, if unsettling, ending (which I am betting will lead to a sequel)- all of these describe this intriguing novel. Some may find it too predictable, it is long - the ARC was 500 pages- and there is a large cast of characters that can be difficult to navigate but in the end it was worth my time. I would recommend it.
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Deanna W. (Port Jefferson, NY)
Do I want to join this club?
What goes on behind the doors of The Aegolius Club? In this 19th century style novel the reader will find a straight-up gothic horror tale told from multiple points of view. If you enjoyed THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova, you will want to discover the secret hidden in the shadows of Victorian London.
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Maggie A (New Jersey)
Victorian Suspense
The Quick is a suspenseful, fast-paced Victorian Gothic novel. The story, which incorporates elements of fantasy and the macabre, is rich in period detail. I much appreciated the literary quality of the writing. This novel has a large cast of characters, my favorite of whom was a female tightrope walker! Shifting points of view and the use of different narrative voices throw the reader off-balance at times, but the momentum of the plot never falters. There is a fair amount of violence, but not too much gore. One of my favorite things about the book is that the plot encompasses three different love stories, all intriguingly unconventional.
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Kenan R. (Liberty, MO)
Meh
I am not a huge fan of this particular genre. That being said- I can enjoy and devour any story with engaging characters, vivid locations, and an intriguing plot. Sadly this story not only slogged through the 500 plus pages, it was bogged down by an over large cast of characters so sketchily presented it was difficult to keep track let alone care about them. There were multiple subplots so abruptly started and stopped as to be confusing and beg the question - "why are we being told this?" I made it through but it was rough and occasionally tedious. I was left feeling a book this long shouldn't have been so vague. The few plot twists that were interesting were never fully realized and as such unable to make up for the plodding pace of the narratives.
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Kristy G. (Jonesboro, AR)
The Quick
The book starts out strong, creating a spooky gothic atmosphere with a secret society and a strange disappearance. The author is great at setting a story, and she does know how to turn a phrase. Unfortunately, I found myself becoming bored by the middle of the book. The author weighs the book down with too much detail leading to a slow, laboriously paced story.
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