Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly, #1) in And So It Begins Reading Challenge

Nov 13, 2011 Ezmirelda rated it really liked it

Shelves: romance, paranormal, can-t-wait, must-read, 2012, steam-punk

Update: I'm SOO SOOO excited to be on the ARC blog Tour for SS&D! I can't wait to start reading it!

The cover is so beautiful and the premise is enticing!
Zombies + Spirit-Hunters + handsome invetors *swoons* = winning
I absolutely can NOT wait to read this. =)

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Mar 15, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it really liked it

Shelves: i-own-this, gmta-luxury, zombeeeeez

So, this was my first Victorian/steampunk horror novel. It was definitely an interesting genre for me, as I'm used to reading books with fierce, warrior-like heroines who would never dream of fighting the supernatural while also having to wear a corset and layers of frilly skirts. But, I did come to at least partially like Eleanor. I just had a hard time seeing her worry about her reputation and pleasing her mother so much. She is only 16, and I have to remember that 1876 was a very different ti So, this was my first Victorian/steampunk horror novel. It was definitely an interesting genre for me, as I'm used to reading books with fierce, warrior-like heroines who would never dream of fighting the supernatural while also having to wear a corset and layers of frilly skirts. But, I did come to at least partially like Eleanor. I just had a hard time seeing her worry about her reputation and pleasing her mother so much. She is only 16, and I have to remember that 1876 was a very different time from 2012. During the course of the book, she changes a great deal and I found her stronger by the end.

While I went into this novel thinking it would be more of a zombie attack book, it was not like that at all. The zombies are an important part of the novel, but they are not really the zombies most of us love in literature. These walking dead are more like controlled drones than flesh eating beasts. But that's OK with me...as the story progressed I came to enjoy the necromancer plot and how it all tied together in the end.

There was a very delicate thread of romance woven into the story. Eleanor nearly finds herself in two romances, actually. One she doesn't want because her mother is trying to puch her into it, and one she never expected but still wants even though she knows she shouldn't. That was another aspect of the book I liked--times were different in the way relationships progressed as well. There is none of the dreaded insta-love in this book, and that is a breath of fresh air.

I did have some problems with the pacing, though. The first 100 or so pages were very slow for me. Then some action would happen, then lots of exposition in between important plot points. But all in all the action interspersed was enough to keep be reading steadily.

This was a very different and intriguing novel for me, and I LOVED that there was not a perfect fairy tale ending. The end was sort of left open for a sequel, although I feel this could almost be a stand alone book. I could see myself reading more from this genre, and from this writer. ...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Molly Frenzel rated it really liked it

Shelves: gravetells-reviews

See the full Gravetells.com review here: http://gravetells.com/2012/07/10/revi...

The year is 1876, over a quarter of a century after the great Industrial Revolution. Someone is raising the dead in Philadelphia and they’ve taken Eleanor’s brother. Determined to find him, Eleanor enlists the help of the Spirit Hunters, a group of people that protect the living from the dead. With murder and political intrigue around every corner and the ravenous, walking dead on her heels, Eleanor’s quest to find ...more

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Sep 27, 2020 thuy rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, young-adult, e-arc, dac-2012, horror, steampunk, 52-books-in-52-weeks-2020

I’m pretty late to the game on this series but I’m so glad that I finally read this because it is one of my fave reads so far this year. This book had a great mix of steampunk, romance, horror, and intrigue that sucked me in from the beginning. Dennard’s world building is rich and detailed and peppered with interesting and nuanced characters. I loved that Eleanor started off as a stereotypical high society miss who takes control of her own life and and proves herself to be a smart, brave and com ...more

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