Manners and Monsters - Tilly Wallace // Book Review

 

Manners and Monsters

Tilly Wallace || Publication Date - 07.06.2019

An amicable amalgamation of a stemmed zombie apocalypse and Victorian polite high society.

Historical | Fantasy | Mystery

Hannah isn't a normal polite lady in high society, she's a brilliant minded daughter of a renowned scientist and a zombified mother.

A product of war, face powder, was used to assail the city of London and it's most prevalent citizens. It had been tainted with a curse of magic which turned any who used this powder into one of the Afflicted. Hearts stopped beating all over London and over the next few days, many women (and men) were presumed dead. Much to the horror of those who loved and lost, the dead did in fact reanimate and are now, years later, integrated with society and seem to live comfortable, albeit altered, lives.

Hannah's mother was unfortunately one who was taken prematurely by the cursed cosmetic. She and her father have been studying this Affliction trying to find a way to reverse it's affects, kickstart her mothers heart, and return her to the living. This research gets put on hold when a gruesome murder at the hands of a rogue Afflicted occurs and Hannah is poised to learn the truth. Her reluctant partner, whom she is dragged along with, Viscount Wycliff is determined to slag the Afflicted and smear their reformed progress through the mud.

Can Hannah ensure the integrity and reputations of the Afflicted high society remain intact, while also using her knowledge to catch a murderer?

The Review (may contain spoilers)

I want to preface this by admitting that I had won an audio copy of this book through the Storygraph giveaways. And whatever giver of luck that I had pleased to win this, I am forever grateful. Had I not, I likely would never have remembered this title existed and subsequently would never have read it.

This book was so much fun! I loved the main character Hannah and her family. Her outlook and disposition on the entire world was very modern and progressive for the time in which this book is set in. She is also partial to opinions from both sides of the fence, with her mother being one of the Afflicted, and her father a scientist trying to find a cure.

The way that magic is weaved into this world is not particularly explained, however it's a common occurrence for all characters involved. I would assume in later volumes in this series that the world would further be explored and questions would be answered. However, I am also expecting different types of supernatural beings to exist as others had been mentioned in passing.

As for the plot, this murder mystery was nothing particularly special. Most of my accolades for this novel come from the characters and creative setting. The mystery was a good introduction to the reader for the world, the placing of the characters and their lives along with establishing the future instalments for Hannah and her new ventures.

Overall Thoughts

If you're in the mood for a Historical fiction set in Victorian high society, with a "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" type of feel then this would be an amazing book for you. It has the elements of a fun and creative idea, excellent writing and a wonderful and smart main female lead.

I had the pleasure of listening to this on Audio and I would recommend both mediums. It wasn't particularly long, and would be something I could happily listen to while doing housework or driving to my day job.