Who Doesn't Love a Monstrous Gentlewoman?

European Travel for the Monstrous Gentlewoman by Theodora Goss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 2 in the series. Still good fun. Both are recommended.

New characters are added in this sequel. In addition to the daughters of Dr. Jekyll (and Mr. Hyde), the wife of Frankenstein, and the others from the first book, we mostly have characters from the story of Dracula--Mina Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, his wife and daughter, and a few others--along with characters from other 19th Century British adventure literature. It's a lot of fun to see them come together as if they are all real people.

The story is a sort of mix between a novel of manners, a Sherlock mystery, and an early-type science fiction adventure, with a touch of the comic tossed in with a good dose of feminism. It's fun and works, though I'll admit it slowed down a bit in this volume. One of my favorite aspects of both stories is the way the author has the characters interrupt from time to time, disagreeing with the presentation of events or how they're portrayed by the supposed author, Catherine Moreau. It is clever and funny and a good tool for developing character.

Speaking more generally, I also really enjoy the reuse and recycling of old gothic tales and adventure stories, bringing them back to life, Frankenstein-like, by centering minor female characters or little-read heroes. It feels like a look behind the curtain as well as a nice antidote to the male-centered originals. It's a breath of fresh air--and lots of fun.

I'm looking forward to the third book.

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