Elizabeth Watasin

The book is described like this--Gaslamp, steampunk, Gothic Victorian horror and mystery; bringing you an uncanny heroine in a mechanical, paranormal, alternate world London--and that should tell you how awesome it is.

The Secret Commission can't do it all and when they can't Elle Black steps in. A Victorian housewife who loves nothing more than spending time with her wife, Elle is also a "perturbationist," a psychic with great powers. She's asked to investigate a hotel that is famous for its occult nature, engineering triumphs, and missing guests.

Watasin has a gift for creating well fleshed-out characters and a deeply atmospheric world. Good stuff.… (mehr)

3.5/5 stars. Once again Artifice and Jim Dastard must solve an occult mystery, this time one of dead bodies being found completely without their skeletons. But this book is not only a mystery. As a matter of fact, this mystery is actually a minor plot in this book, which is far more concerned with the mystery of Artifice's pre-resurrection identity, and her lovelife where it concerns Manon the dryad-prostitute and Helia Skycourt, the demon-tainted journalist. It also spends a great deal of time with Delia, Jim's new assistant, the cozy triangle of Manon-Arlette-Oleg, Helia and sister Helene and their connection to Artifice past and present, and Jim's quite odd manner of speech. The world Watasin has built is fascinating and I adore spending time in it.… (mehr)