Andrea Berthot

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I've been contemplating for a while where to start with The Hypnotic City. I really enjoyed The Heartless City, although I complained about it being a zombie book without zombies. My experience this time was much the same, it felt like there was not a lot of the first book in the second, making it feel more like standalone novels.

Philomena is - for most of the story anyway - the returning main character and with the quarantine lifted she's decided to leave London and move to New York to finally become a star. She learns quite quickly to hide her London origin and things don't really go as planned, so she ends up working in a small theater which isn't at all what she had in mind. However, at some point she's offered the chance of a lifetime.

Besides feeling disorientated, because I had no clue where the story was going in the beginning, now that most of the characters were far away and didn't seem to play a role in the story, but it turned into a fast read quickly. I wasn't too much surprised with the turns the story took, because all the way I was expecting something to happen, and this was the more obvious choice, but it was nice to read anyway. What I didn't particularly liked was the romance plot, once again, since it was rather cheesy with him complaining about things which made Philomena feel insecure and hide her past and then much 'misunderstanding' and the like. The re-introduction of the characters from the first book only took place near the end, and that part felt a bit rushed.

I seem to remember this was going to be a duology, in which case I can reflect that it certainly is not a standard read. The two books are very different, but in all honesty I preferred The Heartless City.

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!… (plus d'informations)

3.5 Stars

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

Two things up front:

1. I chose this book because of the cover

2. This is one of those books where you shouldn't read the whole blurb because it spoils most of what happens in the book (I really don't see why authors/publishers would do this!)

London, 1903. It has been quarantined for the last 13 years after a pill was given to its inhabitants that renders them monsters. Human on the outside, but with the ability to transform within moments into Hydes, which are basically zombies with a fixation for human hearts. It is to this London that Iris Faye is trying to go. But why ever would she want to enter a city like this?

I liked reading it, although it was completely different from what I expected. Do not expect a zombie novel, the biggest part of the book takes place at a palace which is (un)fortunately zombie free. I found the novel instead of being a suspense filled read it was more about characters deciding who they are in a world that wants to decide this for them. At least for the sidecharacters, who in my opinion made the story. Iris and Elliot are very typical heroes and their romance is quite insta-love which I didn't really appreciate.

I hope to see slightly more zombies/Hydes in the second novel :)

Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review!… (plus d'informations)

Free review copy; I was interested in the idea of retelling the Jekyll & Hyde story. London is quarantined as a result of the crisis brought about by Dr. Jeckyll’s invention, which has spread in tablet form to transform so many Londoners into monsters that the city has been shut off from the rest of the country. A privileged young man, experimenting with a serum to quell his feelings, instead turns himself into an empath, and then falls in love with a girl whose own unusual abilities might save them all—if they can only survive his father and the Lord Mayor. Wrapped up a bit too swiftly and neatly, but I liked the attempt to breathe new life into the Hyde mythology.… (plus d'informations)