Elle Black, an unconventional psychic detective in an unconventional Victorian marriage, leaves her housewifely duties to answer a desperate plea. Guests are vanishing in a mechanical hotel known as the Sundark, and Elle must use her 'anomalous perturbationist' gift--the ability to moves objects with her mind--to save herself and the remaining hotel residents from malevolent, sidereal powers. But with apparitions appearing, magnetic lines disrupted, and clairvoyant guests lurking, who is the true murderer--or murderess?Gaslamp, steampunk, Gothic Victorian horror and mystery; bringing you an uncanny heroine in a mechanical, paranormal, alternate world London. Join Elle Black, female sleuth, in her supernatural adventuress tales!
Title: Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread
Author: Elizabeth Watasin
Genres: Steampunk, Supernatural
Length: 144 Pages
Publication Date: December 9, 2013
The mystery surrounding the Sundark, with its mechanical dome for stargazing and beautiful witch's hat dome architecture is perfectly paced. If the home-turned-hotel didn't devour people and spit out their remains in the garden, I would be ready to move in.
A bonus for me was when I realized that Elle Black lives in the same reality as Artifice, the artificial ghost, and Jim Dastard, the animated skull, from The Dark Victorian series. Their paths almost cross when a character from The Dark Victorian shows up in Sundark.
This is a fast-paced, exciting read, that dives right into the mystery, with truly unique characters. My favorites, of course, are Elle and her wife, Faedra, who share a genuine love for one another.
The twist at the end was brilliant, and I look forward to reading more of Elle's sleuthing adventures.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Elizabeth Watasin is the acclaimed author of the Gothic steampunk series The Dark Victorian, The Elle Black Penny Dreads, and the creator/artist of the indie comics series Charm School, which was nominated for a Gaylactic Spectrum Award. A twenty year veteran of animation and comics, her credits include thirteen feature films, such as Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Lion King, and The Princess and the Frog, and writing for Disney Adventures magazine. She lives in Los Angeles with her black cat named Draw, busy bringing readers uncanny heroines in shilling shockers, preternatural fantasies, and adventuress tales.Follow the news of her latest projects at A-Girl Studio.