3.5 stars. This book is not at all what I expected! I thought it was historical fiction, but there's too much crazy melodrama for it to be that. Then I thought it was a historical romance, but it's far too detailed and well done for that, too. So the book is either extremely campy historical fiction or really, really excellent historical romance. But either way, it's loads and loads of fun.

A few things you should know about me that factor into why I enjoyed this book so much:

* I am picky about my tea. I have a lot of tea accessories and I love the ritual of going to tea and eating elegant little sandwiches.
* I have a weakness for gorgeous gowns and ladies in big hats. I read lots of catalogues and fashion magazines.
* I own vintage gloves and handkerchiefs. I dart around flea markets looking for pretty brooches. I get Victorian Papers catalogue.
* I am somewhat obsessed with food. I read food blogs and tweets and magazines and cookbooks. I have a whole cupboard devoted to baking materials.

That part of me, the girly romantic part who loves pretty fans and peonies and nesting, is the one who loves this book. The author writes wonderful descriptions that bring up the exotic scent of tea wafting up from a tin, the heartiness and comfort of a good hot meat pie, and the bustling activity on the teeming streets of London.

The sensible part of me, the one who files her taxes in January and grits her teeth at the misuse of the term "literally," notes the following:

* This book is wildly melodramatic and unrealistic and predictable.
* Every character is one-dimensional; they are either perfect or evil.
* There are too many POVs.
* The Jack the Ripper subplot is superfluous, as are some of the secondary characters and details.
* Far too many people die.
* There is too much name-dropping. (Yep, you can do that in a Victorian novel, as long as you include Gauguin and the Prince of Wales various other luminaries in your anecdotes.)
* There is an unfortunate tendency to jump forward in the story and then backtrack with a flashback.
* The author gives her characters a little too much credit in coming up with innovations in their fields.
* There are too many instances of telling us things about a character rather than showing them.
* Fiona is the ultimate Mary Sue with her beautiful face and figure, brilliant blue eyes, and tendency to strike awe and admiration in everyone she meets.

Having said all that, however, I really started to like Fiona after she leaves London. In the beginning, she's just a willful, reckless teenager, but she gradually develops into a pretty strong and admirable woman. I also liked how she gradually builds her wealth through her ingenuity and enthusiasm (and lots of luck), as well as the master scheme she undertakes to take revenge on those who have done her wrong.

I really liked the descriptiveness of the author's writing, particularly in regards to London and the day to day life of the working class. The author has a good ear for language and I enjoyed reading about the tea factory and the development of Fiona's tea trade, Joe's vegetable stand, and Fiona's little merchant shop. I am surprised that an author who writes so well in that regard, however, settles for such sketchy characterizations and overly dramatic plots. Fiona and Joe and Nicholas and so on are all likable, but none of them are very deep, and they all behave in ways that approach hysteria at times. I would also have liked to have seen Fiona achieve some measure of (view spoiler)[personal fulfillment outside of her relationship with Joe. You shouldn't have to wait 10 years and cross an ocean to get to happiness. (hide spoiler)]There are also far too many instances of "Look how wonderfully Fiona does this" types of passages. Editing these sorts of things could have easily turned this into a truly excellent work of historical fiction.

Still, I was so entertained by this novel that I couldn't stop reading it. It's sort of like a Victorian soap opera--high camp, beautiful clothes and setting, and lots of fun. I wasn't at all surprised by any of the events that occurred or by any of the characters, but I was pleased by the time I spent with them.