I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Sanctuary of Spirits on November 12th, 2019 Format: ARC, eBook
So you’re actually getting a two-fer today, because when I was contacted to review Leanna’s second book in this series, I realized I hadn’t yet read the first. As long-time followers of WFF will know, Leanna has been a friend to this site for many years. I reviewed her first series, and even featured an exclusive short story from that world. In short, we are fans here at WFF, and always have been. (Even if we find ourselves short of time to stay caught up on every book that we would like!)
So here’s what I think. If you’re one of those people (like me) who enjoy being reminded that women of the past were just as independent, just as feisty, and just as sick of men’s shit misogyny as we are today, then you’ll enjoy reading about Eve Whitby.
Eve heads up the NYPD’s Ghost Precinct, a team of psychics and spiritualists that use their talents to solve crimes and help souls to go to their rest. The team is pretty diverse, even by today’s standards, and the narrative doesn’t shy away from showing us the consequences a 19th century lady could expect from being different in that society. It also doesn’t shy away from Eve’s knowledge of her rich, white, aristocratic background, and she tries to use her privilege to help her team, her ghost friends, and the wronged dead. It’s quite a relief to see a story that doesn’t just leave “well, it’s historically accurate” to lie oozing all over the place.
So, listen. Strangely Beautiful was a lyrical, beautiful, wonderful tale. It was reminiscent, for me, of stories like The Secret Garden. It was a story set in a time and place that felt more like a dream that something that had been real. I adore Percy, but I wouldn’t have seen myself having tea (coffee, for me) with her.
Eve and her world is raw. It’s real. I feel like I could walk into it, sit down, and have a conversation. While reading, I kept thinking, this feels like something that was hinted at in Strangely Beautiful has finally been realized in full Technicolor. I believe it’s this author’s talent. I’m so proud I could practically pop.
