The story follows John, a newly appointed Lord in late 18th-century England, as he attempts to uncover who murdered his brother and why. Joined by his friend Sylvia, he works to unearth the mystery, comfort his sister-in-law, and traverse a thick fog that is pervading the streets.

The story is a lot of fun. For those who enjoy this time period, there’s a glimpse into the life of both the upper and lower class, as well as a touch of the supernatural. The novel is easy to read as the prose is concise. There didn’t appear to be any anachronisms regarding the time period, which I appreciated.

Yet, there are things that needed more detail. The characters’ actions make sense and I liked them, but there could have been a lot more exposition to flesh them out. We’re given a good reason for most of what happens in the novel, but the book denies us more extrapolation into the most interesting facets of the characters’ backstories. For example, how did John and Sylvia meet? Why is Sylvia such an unorthodox woman? Did Clara really love Nicolas, or was it a marriage of convenience?

Tied to this, the world-building is lacking. I wasn’t sure while reading whether this was set in the actual fin de siècle or some alternate steampunk reality – the blurb prepares for this but we’re not given any sort of grounding in this regard. There are these “aether” stones that seem connected to electromagnetic fields (as far as I can tell). Unfortunately, we’re not given a lot of detail into this aspect of the world. It’s explained that not a lot is known about these stones, but it was distracting not to know the intent of the setting. The focus on the real historical discrimination that occurred in London during this time was well-done but was downplayed by the steampunk/paranormal aspects of the story.

Yes, despite these issues, I did enjoy it very much. The mystery was compelling, Clara’s reaction to Sylvia is fun, and the story moves at a quick pace. It’s a period piece with quirks that will entertain those who love the era.

There isn’t much to say about me. I’m a wife and mother living in Yorkshire, UK. I love telling stories and I feel privileged to be able to share them. I feel blessed that you have stopped by and I hope you enjoy reading the stories.

I also share my thoughts on books I have read and I love sharing wonderful stories from other authors and sharing glimpses into their journeys. I am always honest, but I also try to be kind.

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