The Quick - Book Review

From the cover :

London 1892: James Norbury, a shy would-be poet newly down from Oxford, finds lodging with a charming young aristocrat. Through this new friendship, he is introduced to the drawing-rooms of high society and finds love in an unexpected quarter. Then, suddenly, he vanishes without a trace. Alarmed, his sister, Charlotte, sets out from their crumbling country estate determined to find him. In the sinister, labyrinthine London that greets her, she uncovers a hidden, supernatural city populated by unforgettable characters: a female rope walker turned vigilante, a street urchin with a deadly secret, and the chilling “Doctor Knife.” But the answer to her brother’s disappearance ultimately lies within the doors of the exclusive, secretive Aegolius Club, whose predatory members include the most ambitious, and most bloodthirsty, men in England.
 
In her first novel, Lauren Owen has created a fantastical world that is both beguiling and terrifying.The Quick will establish her as one of fiction’s most dazzling talents.

My thoughts :

I'm still having an inner discussion about how much of the plot of The Quick by Lauren Owen to share in my review. I noticed that there have been a few changes to the wording in the cover synopsis since I got my early review copy. These changes give the reader a small glimpse into what they're getting into when they pick up this hefty novel (a bit over 500 pages long).

I had no idea and was just reading along through a story about a young poet's personal struggles in Victorian London and I was blindsided at page 100. I hesitate to divulge the secret because for me, that was part of the fun of the novel. The Quick was different from most novels that I read. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it--a delightful yet macabre change of pace. The characters were unique and it wasn't always immediately evident who was friend or foe. There were parts that dragged a little, but I was still surprised how quickly I became immersed in the story. 500 pages suddenly felt like nothing.

The Quick by Lauren Owen is morbid and gruesome while being refined and considerate. Owen takes her readers into a world that by the end feels fully plausible and wholly terrifying. It's definitely worth taking the descent into the gloomy but entertaining adventure.

The Quick is Lauren Owen's debut novel. It is published by Random House and releases on June 17, 2014.

**I received a complimentary copy of The Quick in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. No compensation was received.**