I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for the first book in the series, Dangerous Remedy, last year and it's fair to say these characters have been, as is their way, living rentfree in my mind ever since. Not only was the first book such a fantastic read, it ended on a cliffhanger promising many more adventures to come, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second installment in this series. Thus, I shall share with you all things Monstrous Design so that you can join in my excitement!
Synopsis:
Following the thrills and spills of Dangerous Remedy, the Battalion of the Dead return in a dazzling new adventure, set amid the opulence and squalour of 18th-century London and Paris.
1794, London: Camille and Al are desperately hunting Olympe's kidnapper. From the glamorous excesses of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens to the city's seedy underbelly, they are caught in a dangerous game of lies and deceit. And a terrible new enemy lies in wait with designs more monstrous than they could ever imagine... Can Camille play on to the end or will she be forced to show her hand?
In Paris, the Duc is playing his own dangerous games. With Ada in his thrall, old loyalties are thrown into question. The Battalion are torn apart as never before, and everything – Ada's love for Camille, her allegiance to the battalion itself – is under threat.
Review:
You may be able to tell that I had very high expectations for this novel as I had loved the first one and saw great potential for this, with the scope of the story broadening; not only are the characters separated from one another, their bonds tested in these unprecedented pairs, they must also learn who they themselves are when put into situations they hadn't anticipated, stripped from the group they had used to define themselves in the past.
Dunn did not disappoint in the slightest, sprinkling in some surprises along the way: the internal conflicts of the characters intensify under these circumstances, yet the stakes of the broader plot are not sacrificed for this. The overall effect then, is a palpable tension on multiple levels that keeps the reader wanting to turn the page on and on in order to find out what our favourite rascals are up to next (this is, I have to say, made even easier by the short and snappy chapters, which really help the pace of the story).
I think it's natural to be worried that at least one of the perspectives may feel stilted when faced with either new narrators or new settings, but Dunn made it so that it is easy to dive right into the book and allow it to carry you through without ever questioning it, which was proof of the author's skill. Dunn manages to write characters that may easily be dismissed as 'unlikeable' with such tenderness and care and heart that it is impossible not to find them endearing at the end of the day. All of these characters, ultimately, mess up in many ways, but always with the best interest at heart.
To my personal delight, Dunn also adds more heat to the elements that I love most: freaky science, political intrigue, bitter feminism and romantic Angst™ among others that you'll have to read for yourself to find out. There are few things that can take me by surprise while reading, but I found myself slightly aghast and utterly enthralled by the unexpected turn the story took quite a few times while reading this. Some key players in the grander conflicts at play are moving some bold moods, so I'm somehow even more excited once more to see where the next volume takes us and am itching to reread this already to fill the void it left behind.
If you haven't picked up Dangerous Remedy yet, then take this as your sign to do yourself a favour and catch up and get both volumes as soon as possible! Also do make sure to check out the other lovely people part of the blog tour celebrating the release of Monstrous Design!
Some of the places Monstrous Design is available (though you should always consult your fave local indie where possible!):
- bookshop.org: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/monstrous-design-9781789543681/9781789543681
- blackwells: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Monstrous-Design-by-Kat-Dunn-author/9781789543681
- waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/monstrous-design/kat-dunn/9781789543681
- forbidden planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/328265-monstrous-design-hardcover-signed-edition/
- easons: https://www.easons.com/monstrous-design-kat-dunn-9781789543681?gclid=CjwKCAjwwqaGBhBKEiwAMk-FtO-Nmkih4k9hCslYKztDRt5Mbfe39Kzt-7yE3anrOa1KWXECqdL_BhoCPl0QAvD_BwE
- book depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Monstrous-Design-Kat-Dunn/9781789543698?ref=grid-view&qid=1598670684692&sr=1-30
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