"Way will open." She is Artifice. A resurrected criminal and agent of HRH Prince Albert's Secret Commission. An artificial ghost. A Quaker. He is Jim Dastard. The oldest surviving agent of the Secret Commission. An animated skull. A mentor to newly resurrected agents. It is 1880 in a mechanical and supernatural London. Agents of Prince Albert's Secret Commission, their criminal pasts wiped from their memories, are resurrected to fight the eldritch evils that threaten England. Amidst this turmoil, Jim Dastard and his new partner Artifice must stop a re-animationist raising murderous dead children. As Art and Jim pursue their quarry, Art discovers clues about her past self, and through meeting various intriguing women--a journalist, a medium, a prostitute, and a mysterious woman in black--where her heart lies. Yet the question remains: What sort of criminal was she? A new beginning, a new identity, and new dangers await Art as she fights for the Secret Commission and for her second life.
Review:
This novella is quirky and dark. Art is a curious main character. She is quiet, and we only get small tantalising glimpses into her thoughts. The mystery of Art's past is really what drives this story. She was killed for being a criminal, but that doesn't mesh with her Quakerism. The fact that she is a Quaker is a nice touch and really does help to make this story unique.
The internal story arc is Jim and Art searching down a re-animationist. It would have benefited from slightly more foreshadowing and development. The arc for the series however - the story of Art - is much better handled. I really look forward to seeing how this develops over the series.
This story reads very much like a cartoon - and it would make a fine cartoon or graphic novel. That is unsurprising given the author is an animator and graphic novelist of over twenty years.
Review:
This novella is quirky and dark. Art is a curious main character. She is quiet, and we only get small tantalising glimpses into her thoughts. The mystery of Art's past is really what drives this story. She was killed for being a criminal, but that doesn't mesh with her Quakerism. The fact that she is a Quaker is a nice touch and really does help to make this story unique.
The internal story arc is Jim and Art searching down a re-animationist. It would have benefited from slightly more foreshadowing and development. The arc for the series however - the story of Art - is much better handled. I really look forward to seeing how this develops over the series.
This story reads very much like a cartoon - and it would make a fine cartoon or graphic novel. That is unsurprising given the author is an animator and graphic novelist of over twenty years.
I really enjoyed the aesthetic of this story. It did take me a chapter or two to adjust between my idea of Victorian London to Watasin's, but once I did, it was thoroughly enjoyable.
The romance elements are not overly present in the first novella in the series. We are informed of Art's attraction to women, and there are hints of past and possibly future relationships. It is great to see a queer protagonist, nonetheless, even if I have to wait for the romance story arc over the series.
Title: Dark Victorian Vol. 1: Risen
Author: Elizabeth Watasin
Publishing Date: Nov 1, 2012
Length: Novella
Genre: Paranormal/Steam Punk
Type: f/f
The romance elements are not overly present in the first novella in the series. We are informed of Art's attraction to women, and there are hints of past and possibly future relationships. It is great to see a queer protagonist, nonetheless, even if I have to wait for the romance story arc over the series.
Title: Dark Victorian Vol. 1: Risen
Author: Elizabeth Watasin
Publishing Date: Nov 1, 2012
Length: Novella
Genre: Paranormal/Steam Punk
Type: f/f
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