Book review - The Fascination

 * A huge Thank You to Anne of Random Things Tours for inviting me on another fabulous book tour. And Thank You to Orenda Books, for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis

Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn't grown a single inch since she was five. Coerced into promoting their father's quack elixir as they tour the country fairgrounds, at the age of fifteen the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’. Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has a dark interest in anatomical freaks and other curiosities … particularly the human kind. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, when Seabrook remarries and a new heir is produced, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his name. Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London, and here he meets Captain and his theatrical ‘family’ of performers, freaks and outcasts. But it is Theo’s fascination with Tilly and Keziah that will lead all of them into a dark web of deceits, exposing unthinkable secrets and threatening everything they know… 

My review

This gothic novel is set in Victorian London and centres around the obsession with ‘deformo-mania’, how those that were born ‘different’ managed to make a living for themselves, and about the sick individuals who wanted to display them as curiosities. The Fascination explores universal themes of love and loss, the power of redemption and what it means to be unique. I was prepared to feel upset by the storyline, but instead, I found myself being inspired by the strength, loyalty and determination in this book.

I enjoyed the found family aspect of the story and how everyone was accepted, loved, and protected in Captain’s family. I felt relieved when Tilly and Keziah finally felt what it was like to be loved again, after living with their evil father and stepmother for so long. My favourite characters were Captain, Aleski, and Martha. The villains of the story, (of which there are quite a few) were horrendous, but they made for compulsive reading.

Keziah was my favourite of the two sisters. She often felt like she was living in Tilly’s shadow, although always supportive of her sister’s singing and endeavours, she searched for something she could be equally good at. I loved how Keziah’s story developed and how she found herself by the end of the book. I also liked the will-they-wont-they love story of Keziah and Aleski. Aleski’s character reminded me of Petrus Gonsalvus, a Spaniard who also suffered from hypertrichosis, and was sent to the court of Henry II, King of France in 1547.

Tilly was a complex character, and although I didn’t warm to her in the same way I did Keziah, I felt sympathy for her. She was manipulated, and often went along with things in the hopes she would be loved and accepted. The addiction she had suffered from since her childhood was also heartbreaking. I was so pleased with the ending she was given.

There were some things I would have loved to have explored further, such as in-depth backstories, Theo’s sexuality, more of how Victorian London reacted to the appearance of the main characters - and how this affected their mental health. However, the book was just over 300 pages long, and the author would have had to compromise on the plot, had she delved deeper. There were some great twists in this book, one of which came at the very end.

Speaking of the twist at the end… this is a spoiler, so skip this paragraph if you’re planning on reading this book! I read the last paragraph of the story about 5 times! What!!?? Whilst I thought it was an excellent twist, I didn’t understand how Theo’s Grandfather and his wife were not obsessed with his size, but they were Tilly’s. That left me a bit confused. This new knowledge of Theo makes me want to re-read the book to see if I pick up on any hints!

A great read! Highly addictive and what a stunning front cover and sprayed edges! 

Buy your own copy here

Meet the author

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing. After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, and then book publishers George Allen & Unwin, before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.