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Spectacle #1
Spectacle
Paris, 1887.
Sixteen-year-old Nathalie Baudin writes the daily morgue column for Le Petit Journal. Her job is to summarize each day's new arrivals, a task she finds both fascinating and routine. That is, until the day she has a vision of the newest body, a young woman, being murdered--from the perspective of the murderer himself.
When the body of another woman is retrieved from the Seine days later, Paris begins to buzz with rumors that this victim may not be the last. Nathalie's search for answers sends her down a long, twisty road involving her mentally ill aunt, a brilliant but deluded scientist, and eventually into the Parisian Catacombs. As the killer continues to haunt the streets of Paris, it becomes clear that Nathalie's strange new ability may make her the only one who can discover the killer's identity--and she'll have to do it before she becomes a target herself.
Sixteen-year-old Nathalie Baudin writes the daily morgue column for Le Petit Journal. Her job is to summarize each day's new arrivals, a task she finds both fascinating and routine. That is, until the day she has a vision of the newest body, a young woman, being murdered--from the perspective of the murderer himself.
When the body of another woman is retrieved from the Seine days later, Paris begins to buzz with rumors that this victim may not be the last. Nathalie's search for answers sends her down a long, twisty road involving her mentally ill aunt, a brilliant but deluded scientist, and eventually into the Parisian Catacombs. As the killer continues to haunt the streets of Paris, it becomes clear that Nathalie's strange new ability may make her the only one who can discover the killer's identity--and she'll have to do it before she becomes a target herself.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2019
41 people are currently reading
4,431 people want to read
About the author
Jodie Lynn Zdrok
3Ìýbooks118ÌýfollowersJodie Lynn Zdrok holds two MAs in European History and an MBA. She enjoys rooting for Boston sports teams, traveling, doing races (to offset being a foodie), and posting cat photos to Instagram. She works in technology and lives in North Carolina by way of Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 322 reviews
December 21, 2019
Nathalie Baudin writes the morgue column for Le Petit Journal, which is all the more impressive considering she’s a sixteen-year-old in 1887. Though she longs for a more challenging journalist position, she dutifully attends morgue viewings each day without incident. That is, until the body of a murder victim is displayed, and Nathalie has a vision of the killing in brutal detail. Soon, Paris is in a panic as more bodies are discovered and someone begins taking gleeful credit for their demise� the Dark Artist. Nathalie realizes, with the aid of her newfound visions, she might might be the only one able to find the killer’s identity and bring peace to city, even if she risks becoming a victim herself.
Great books, in their opening pages, totally transport readers to a different time and place. Here, readers are plopped into a stunning portrayal of 1880s Paris, and it’s due to the careful direction of author Jodie Lynn Zdrok. She opens with a bang, expertly twisting the start around Nathalie attending a crowded corpse viewing at La Morgue and then suffering a psychic vision. It’s doubly unexpected, but sets the tone perfectly� here’s a society obsessed with death, and it’s about to get even more macabre.
But then Zdrok pulls back, letting some slack in the pacing. She takes her time building the mystery, building the characters, and, ultimately, crafting an engrossing world. The payoff is immense. This glimpse into Paris feels real, and there’s an ever-present danger� after all, there’s a killer on the loose. But it’s not immediately evident how this directly affects Nathalie. Zdrok dangles each reveal carefully, dropping new twists that draw Nathalie in and propel the action forward at the most delicious times.
Really, there’s perhaps no better character to follow around 1880s Paris as she stalks a murderer than Nathalie. She’s cool, determined, and complicated� everything a main character should be, and more. She’s helped along by a brilliant cast of friends and family. Scenes with her mother are highlights, and Zdrok, with finesse, navigates the complications of a mother-daughter relationship as Nathalie moves to the cusp of adulthood.
At its core, this book is a mystery, but it certainly isn’t a standard one. In fact, it tosses out the formula entirely. There’s more introspection, with Nathalie constantly questioning her role in the sleuthing process. Her detective work is just as much about her journey as it is about the case, which clicks. It’s a character-driven process, with clues and red herrings taking a backseat at times, but Zdork merges these two narratives in such a satisfying way.
All of this is not to suggest there isn’t a bit of fun to be had. Nathalie’s best friend, Simone, works in a club and adheres to some mysticism, providing both fun and tricky subplots. And there’s some mild flirting with Christophe, an inspector. Refreshingly, romance is not a major element of the book, and their interactions feel sweet and perfectly natural.
That’s the beauty of Spectacle. Sure, there’s a serial killer on the loose and some paranormal aspects that are being kept hush-hush, but everything feels natural. That’s an amazing feat on Zdrok’s part, and it’s resulted in a brilliant debut.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
Great books, in their opening pages, totally transport readers to a different time and place. Here, readers are plopped into a stunning portrayal of 1880s Paris, and it’s due to the careful direction of author Jodie Lynn Zdrok. She opens with a bang, expertly twisting the start around Nathalie attending a crowded corpse viewing at La Morgue and then suffering a psychic vision. It’s doubly unexpected, but sets the tone perfectly� here’s a society obsessed with death, and it’s about to get even more macabre.
But then Zdrok pulls back, letting some slack in the pacing. She takes her time building the mystery, building the characters, and, ultimately, crafting an engrossing world. The payoff is immense. This glimpse into Paris feels real, and there’s an ever-present danger� after all, there’s a killer on the loose. But it’s not immediately evident how this directly affects Nathalie. Zdrok dangles each reveal carefully, dropping new twists that draw Nathalie in and propel the action forward at the most delicious times.
Really, there’s perhaps no better character to follow around 1880s Paris as she stalks a murderer than Nathalie. She’s cool, determined, and complicated� everything a main character should be, and more. She’s helped along by a brilliant cast of friends and family. Scenes with her mother are highlights, and Zdrok, with finesse, navigates the complications of a mother-daughter relationship as Nathalie moves to the cusp of adulthood.
At its core, this book is a mystery, but it certainly isn’t a standard one. In fact, it tosses out the formula entirely. There’s more introspection, with Nathalie constantly questioning her role in the sleuthing process. Her detective work is just as much about her journey as it is about the case, which clicks. It’s a character-driven process, with clues and red herrings taking a backseat at times, but Zdork merges these two narratives in such a satisfying way.
All of this is not to suggest there isn’t a bit of fun to be had. Nathalie’s best friend, Simone, works in a club and adheres to some mysticism, providing both fun and tricky subplots. And there’s some mild flirting with Christophe, an inspector. Refreshingly, romance is not a major element of the book, and their interactions feel sweet and perfectly natural.
That’s the beauty of Spectacle. Sure, there’s a serial killer on the loose and some paranormal aspects that are being kept hush-hush, but everything feels natural. That’s an amazing feat on Zdrok’s part, and it’s resulted in a brilliant debut.
Note: I received a free ARC of this book through NetGalley.
February 8, 2019
"Nathalie was never afraid of the dark, even as a child. If anything, she wanted to know what was in it."
Oh how I wanted to love this one.Ìý It was right up my alley - historical fiction, strong feminist character and a cool mystery.Ìý Unfortunately, this one feel a little flat in places for me.
Spectacle starts off very intriguing.Ìý Set in Paris, in the 1880s, there is a man running around killing young women ala Ripper style that the press have named The Dark Artist.Ìý ÌýOur main protagonist, Nathalie works for a newspaper company, writing the morgue column (dreary much!).Ìý The morgue happens to be displaying dead people (including the murder victims) for all the world to see.Ìý Kind of like a side-show attraction.Ìý Nathalie frequents this place often to write her column and when she comes face-to-face with the first victim of the killer, she feels the sudden urge to touch the glass - showing her a vision of the murder taking place.Ìý Obviously, she is scared of what she saw and if it's even real and what's more it seems that she can't figure out who the killer is, but the killer just might know who she is.
I first want to say that I did enjoy this book.Ìý I probably went in with too high of expectations because I love this type of story.Ìý It had lots of potential and lots going for it.Ìý The main character was a strong female - she was 16 and talked much older but that is pretty normal in YA books, so that didn't bother me.Ìý She's inquisitive, brave and ahead of her time and I really enjoyed her as a character.Ìý I also loved that their are not one, but two different strong female/female friendships.Ìý The friendships are beautiful to read and they weren't about boys.Ìý I love seeing more and more of this in YA - I really do hope it becomes the norm, because it's wonderful to read and really connects me to the characters so much more.
Another wonderful thing was the author's beautiful writing and descriptions.Ìý ÌýI could imagine Paris in that time because of her lovely writing and there is enough talk about French pastries that I had to go get a snack while I was reading (ok, a couple snacks, but who's counting!).Ìý I also loved that the author chose to throw some French in here and there, it just really adds to the atmosphere and getting lost in it.
Ok, so what was my issue with the book? The pacing - the pacing wasn't just slow, it was repetitive.Ìý I felt like I spent half the book, at least, reading about the main character not accepting her ability.Ìý It really slowed the story down and didn't offer a ton, it should've been wrapped up quicker, in my opinion, or we should've been getting more in-depth useful information while she went through her whole ordeal.Ìý Although, many of the descriptions are well written and beautiful - the back stories and learning about key information (such as experiments) weren't really fleshed out enough. I wanted more of that type of writing and less French pastries.
There was also a very small love interest story that seemed a little pointless, but maybe it comes into play more in the second book.Ìý The mystery was interesting, but I wanted some kind of cool twist, which didn't happen at all.Ìý I do think that the end set up the second story to be much more exciting though and hopefully answer a ton of unanswered questions.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and will likely try the second one.Ìý I had no idea this book wasn't a stand-alone when I went into it but I'm fine with that.Ìý This is Jodie Lynn Zdrok's debut novel and I think her writing is very strong and certainly an author to watch.Ìý If you like stories like Stalking Jack the Ripper then you might enjoy this one.Ìý Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
Thank you to netgalley and Tor Teen for an earc, in exchange for my honest review.Ìý
Oh how I wanted to love this one.Ìý It was right up my alley - historical fiction, strong feminist character and a cool mystery.Ìý Unfortunately, this one feel a little flat in places for me.
Spectacle starts off very intriguing.Ìý Set in Paris, in the 1880s, there is a man running around killing young women ala Ripper style that the press have named The Dark Artist.Ìý ÌýOur main protagonist, Nathalie works for a newspaper company, writing the morgue column (dreary much!).Ìý The morgue happens to be displaying dead people (including the murder victims) for all the world to see.Ìý Kind of like a side-show attraction.Ìý Nathalie frequents this place often to write her column and when she comes face-to-face with the first victim of the killer, she feels the sudden urge to touch the glass - showing her a vision of the murder taking place.Ìý Obviously, she is scared of what she saw and if it's even real and what's more it seems that she can't figure out who the killer is, but the killer just might know who she is.
I first want to say that I did enjoy this book.Ìý I probably went in with too high of expectations because I love this type of story.Ìý It had lots of potential and lots going for it.Ìý The main character was a strong female - she was 16 and talked much older but that is pretty normal in YA books, so that didn't bother me.Ìý She's inquisitive, brave and ahead of her time and I really enjoyed her as a character.Ìý I also loved that their are not one, but two different strong female/female friendships.Ìý The friendships are beautiful to read and they weren't about boys.Ìý I love seeing more and more of this in YA - I really do hope it becomes the norm, because it's wonderful to read and really connects me to the characters so much more.
Another wonderful thing was the author's beautiful writing and descriptions.Ìý ÌýI could imagine Paris in that time because of her lovely writing and there is enough talk about French pastries that I had to go get a snack while I was reading (ok, a couple snacks, but who's counting!).Ìý I also loved that the author chose to throw some French in here and there, it just really adds to the atmosphere and getting lost in it.
Ok, so what was my issue with the book? The pacing - the pacing wasn't just slow, it was repetitive.Ìý I felt like I spent half the book, at least, reading about the main character not accepting her ability.Ìý It really slowed the story down and didn't offer a ton, it should've been wrapped up quicker, in my opinion, or we should've been getting more in-depth useful information while she went through her whole ordeal.Ìý Although, many of the descriptions are well written and beautiful - the back stories and learning about key information (such as experiments) weren't really fleshed out enough. I wanted more of that type of writing and less French pastries.
There was also a very small love interest story that seemed a little pointless, but maybe it comes into play more in the second book.Ìý The mystery was interesting, but I wanted some kind of cool twist, which didn't happen at all.Ìý I do think that the end set up the second story to be much more exciting though and hopefully answer a ton of unanswered questions.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and will likely try the second one.Ìý I had no idea this book wasn't a stand-alone when I went into it but I'm fine with that.Ìý This is Jodie Lynn Zdrok's debut novel and I think her writing is very strong and certainly an author to watch.Ìý If you like stories like Stalking Jack the Ripper then you might enjoy this one.Ìý Give it a shot and let me know what you think!
Thank you to netgalley and Tor Teen for an earc, in exchange for my honest review.Ìý
March 8, 2019
This was a disappointment. The historical details of Paris were a pleasant change of scene, so I’ve rounded up from 2.5 to 3 stars, but the story seemed all over the place. It was neither a satisfying ending nor a lure to the next book (if there is one).
February 16, 2019
Hi friends! I'm posting all the main points of my review, but if you want my cheesy jokes and rambling weirdness check out my blog review (link in bio!)
This follows a reporter named Nathalie, who, while visiting the morgue for an article, touches the viewing glass and gets a glimpse of the murder. In reverse. So she’s obviously shook, and is trying to reconcile what she knows about the world around her and the secrets everyone has been keeping from her. Meanwhile, the killer? Yeah, he knows who she is�
This was spectacular. YA mysteries are far too often filled with petty drama, unlikable characters, and predictable twists. Spectacle, however, was none of these things. The author did a beautiful job of balancing gorgeous French phrases and historical buildings with just a touch of magic.
Jodie’s prose paints pictures in your mind, it plants thoughts of true depth to be pondered upon at a later notice. That’s a more fancy way of saying I LOVED HER WRITING *flails forever. Even if the flow was a little bit choppy, I found the entirety of it to be rather impressive for a debut author.
Nathalie was definitely a strong female character in many ways. Her dedication to being a reporter was actually rather inspirational, so don’t blame me when I run off to join the online newspaper. I will say that I sometimes felt like her personality wasn’t always steady. Sometimes she’d make choices I didn’t think went with choices she would otherwise make? And sometimes her actions would annoy me but that’s probably because I get impatient. And want the answers.
This was ridiculously twisty? Like, I THOUGHT I saw a couple of things coming but haha no. So many tiny details come into play later, but in ways I never expected. Of course, there were a few moments where I thought NOOOOO, FORCED ROMANCE but I was actually pleasantly surprised! Sometimes, I thought that the plot was a little scattered but I was honestly too caught up in everything to care.
And the magic was too perfect? Like, it’s magic/science and it’s so flipping cool. The way it’s integrated into the story is pure brilliance. THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH. I also really appreciate that Nathalie actually has a family? Which for some reason is rare in YA.
I’d totally recommend this to fans of Stalking Jack The Ripper! While it lacks the wonderful sass of Thomas Cresswell, it DOES have a female character placed in a “traditionally male role� in historical fiction, a murder mystery, and awesomeness. Except that this has a touch of magic, and a more well-thought out mystery!
So all in all, I was really, really happy with this one! I had so much fun with it and while I can see that some people won’t like it, this was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. And I know that some of you will feel the same! Tell me: are you excited for this? What’s your favorite YA mystery?
A HUGE thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This follows a reporter named Nathalie, who, while visiting the morgue for an article, touches the viewing glass and gets a glimpse of the murder. In reverse. So she’s obviously shook, and is trying to reconcile what she knows about the world around her and the secrets everyone has been keeping from her. Meanwhile, the killer? Yeah, he knows who she is�
This was spectacular. YA mysteries are far too often filled with petty drama, unlikable characters, and predictable twists. Spectacle, however, was none of these things. The author did a beautiful job of balancing gorgeous French phrases and historical buildings with just a touch of magic.
Jodie’s prose paints pictures in your mind, it plants thoughts of true depth to be pondered upon at a later notice. That’s a more fancy way of saying I LOVED HER WRITING *flails forever. Even if the flow was a little bit choppy, I found the entirety of it to be rather impressive for a debut author.
Nathalie was definitely a strong female character in many ways. Her dedication to being a reporter was actually rather inspirational, so don’t blame me when I run off to join the online newspaper. I will say that I sometimes felt like her personality wasn’t always steady. Sometimes she’d make choices I didn’t think went with choices she would otherwise make? And sometimes her actions would annoy me but that’s probably because I get impatient. And want the answers.
This was ridiculously twisty? Like, I THOUGHT I saw a couple of things coming but haha no. So many tiny details come into play later, but in ways I never expected. Of course, there were a few moments where I thought NOOOOO, FORCED ROMANCE but I was actually pleasantly surprised! Sometimes, I thought that the plot was a little scattered but I was honestly too caught up in everything to care.
And the magic was too perfect? Like, it’s magic/science and it’s so flipping cool. The way it’s integrated into the story is pure brilliance. THAT CLIFFHANGER THOUGH. I also really appreciate that Nathalie actually has a family? Which for some reason is rare in YA.
I’d totally recommend this to fans of Stalking Jack The Ripper! While it lacks the wonderful sass of Thomas Cresswell, it DOES have a female character placed in a “traditionally male role� in historical fiction, a murder mystery, and awesomeness. Except that this has a touch of magic, and a more well-thought out mystery!
So all in all, I was really, really happy with this one! I had so much fun with it and while I can see that some people won’t like it, this was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. And I know that some of you will feel the same! Tell me: are you excited for this? What’s your favorite YA mystery?
A HUGE thank you to Tor Teen and NetGalley for providing me with this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 23, 2020
A murder mystery set in Paris, in 1887? I was so thrilled about this, more when I saw that Nathalie Beaudin had visions! I loved how the mystery and the supernatural were mixed, it made everything realistic and plausible. All the emotions, the responsibilities that Nathalie experienced in that whole summer, presented with the historic view of a sixteen year old girl, were very interesting and are the reason I devoured this book.
February 9, 2019
Oh, this isÌýso delightfully messed up! I mean it, it is sometimes downright gruesome, so if you can't handle death and morgues and such... might want to skip it. But if you can handle it, this was a really good one! Let us discuss why!
•Nathalie was morbidly curious, yet still relatable. I mean, I don't frequent places of death personally, and I imagine most of you don't either. But I understood Nathalie's inquisitiveness too. Especially since apparently, this was a legit pastime in France. (Can we please have another shout-out to how delightfully strange old-timey France was? Love it.) Plus she isn't like, messed up- just interested in death and the macabre a bit more than the average bear. No shame, girl.
•The mystery kept me on my toes. I cannot tell you how many times I wrote "wait maybe it wasÌýhim!" in my Kindle notes. I was usually wrong, so sue me. That's the good part though- I wasÌýwrong, because the mystery wasÌýgood. I love a good whodunit. And this was one.
•It was thought-provoking. So many questions about death, and choices, and more stuff that I can't talk about because it would probably be spoilery, but I loved it.
•Friendships FTW! I love me some strong female friendships, and they were front and center in this novel! Again, I don't want to give too much away because they are important to the story, but the relationships felt really authentic.
•It tugged at my heartstrings a bit! That was unexpected, actually. It's not often that a murder mystery gets me teary, but here we are. (Also, does the fact that I list "crying" as a positive make me a complete masochist, or...?)
My only real qualm was that I would have liked a bit more from the ending? It definitely answered some questions, but then others were left more open. I assume there's a chance this will get a sequel? I do hope so, as I'd definitely be reading it! Also, it's pretty much romance-free, which isn't exactly a negative, but I wouldn't turn one down, either!
Bottom Line: Pretty messed up, but in the good way! A mystery that kept me guessing and characters I enjoyed make me hope this doesn't end up being a standalone!
February 11, 2019
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok is a pretty fantastic debut YA historical fantasy mystery set in fin de siècle Paris. I enjoyed all of the historical detail that's gone into the story, like the construction of the Eiffel Tower for example. I also particularly enjoyed getting to know Nathalie. She's a great protagonist. Her curiosity (things get a bit morbid, fair warning), determination, and dedication are quite refreshing. All that said I was also hooked on working out the mystery surrounding the fantastic abilities Nathalie has discovered she has while working on her morgue report for the newspaper and a Jack the Ripper-esqe killer behind a recent string of murders in the city. Plus, I just have to mention that I appreciated the female friendships and the scenes between Nathalie and her mother. Honestly, this was almost a five star read for me, but sometimes the pacing drags and that ending was a bit cruel. Fingers crossed that Zdrok's upcoming release, Exposition, is going to be a sequel because I need to know more. I highly recommend Spectacle to fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco and Penny Dreadful.
Spectacle by Jodie Lynn Zdrok is a pretty fantastic debut YA historical fantasy mystery set in fin de siècle Paris. I enjoyed all of the historical detail that's gone into the story, like the construction of the Eiffel Tower for example. I also particularly enjoyed getting to know Nathalie. She's a great protagonist. Her curiosity (things get a bit morbid, fair warning), determination, and dedication are quite refreshing. All that said I was also hooked on working out the mystery surrounding the fantastic abilities Nathalie has discovered she has while working on her morgue report for the newspaper and a Jack the Ripper-esqe killer behind a recent string of murders in the city. Plus, I just have to mention that I appreciated the female friendships and the scenes between Nathalie and her mother. Honestly, this was almost a five star read for me, but sometimes the pacing drags and that ending was a bit cruel. Fingers crossed that Zdrok's upcoming release, Exposition, is going to be a sequel because I need to know more. I highly recommend Spectacle to fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco and Penny Dreadful.
February 12, 2019
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review
You can also find this review and others on the blog here:
Another historical fiction! I never seemed to enjoy this genre much before because I felt that they were either too dense or too slow. And while this book was a tad on the slow side, it was also really interesting and quite an adventure! After falling in love with the Stalking Jack the Ripper series last year I’ve been dying for another gory old timey mystery and when I read the blurb for this one I was so hopeful that I had found just the right book to bring my search to an end. While I thoroughly enjoyed reading Spectacle, there was also something that kept me from truly loving it.
Spectacle is also one of the many books set in France that I have read here lately. I seem to have a theme I am chasing in my book selections lately. Or maybe its the authors that have been on a theme to their writing lately. Did the chicken or the egg come first? The world may never know.. But I digress, the setting, while familiar also took a peak at the darker more dangerous side of Paris. It wasn’t all cafe life and trips to the Eiffel Tower. This book was filled with murder, serial killers, and danger. This was a side of France that didn’t thrive in romance and wealth.
This book is about a girl named Nathalie who after her mother is injured and her dad leaves on business, she must find a job through her fathers connection at the local newspaper to help provide for her family. Missing out on a summer away with her best school friend, Nathalie is the new journalist for the local morgue column. Her job entails daily visits to the morgue to deliver the news on the latest passings of life. But on one strange visit while studying the body of a young girl close to her own age, she just happens to touch the glass only to be trapped in a vision through the eyes of the murderer. From that point on Nathalie must decide if this strange new power is real, or if she is losing her mind like her poor aunt Brigitte. And is she willing to accept the consequences of using such power? Is finding the murderer of these girls worth possibly becoming insane?
I really liked the bond of friends and the focus on family and the relationships between them and the main character Nathalie. It all seemed real and honest, there were hardships yes, and regret, but it also showed the real range of emotions one might go through if stuck in a tough position like Nathalie was. She experienced so much death and fear at the hands of this psycho killer and no one person would ever come out of something like that unchanged. It was also refreshing that while there were hints of romance and flirtation, it wasn’t the main focus of the book. While this is normally what I live off of in books that I read, it was nice to know that even though there wasn’t a romance per say, it was still an engaging and interesting read.
My main complaint would be the ending. I don’t want to give away too much as to spoil anyone, but I don’t think its even fair to call it a cliffhanger. The ending was more like missing the top step while climbing the stairs in the dark. One minute you’re trekking along thinking everything is fine and normal, and then whoof, no step. No more stairs to climb. Totally unexpected. Just like the ending to this book. It just hits you out of nowhere, almost feeling like its right in the middle of a sentence. I kept flipping pages thinking, there’s no way that’s how this ends. It feels completely unfinished and that is the worst feeling in the world at the end of a book. I’m not sure if there is another book in the future to continue on with this story, and if there isn’t then I would say don’t even bother reading this because you will never have closure in your life again. Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but still. YOU CAN’T JUST END A BOOK LIKE THAT! In the meantime I am going to believe that there will be a Spectacle #2 otherwise this will just make me even more angry.
In summary, this was a really interesting and captivating read. I was extremely interested in finding the killer and found it to be a really well written book. Although I didn’t care much for the ending, IÌýwould continue reading this if it ever becomes a series. I’m starting to like more of the historical fiction genre here lately, its fun branching out to find that you do actually enjoy some different styles of writing than what you might be used to reading. Because isn’t that what reading is supposed to do, take us out of our norm, break us out of our shells to experience what we normally wouldn’t? I’d like to think so.
You can also find this review and others on the blog here:
Another historical fiction! I never seemed to enjoy this genre much before because I felt that they were either too dense or too slow. And while this book was a tad on the slow side, it was also really interesting and quite an adventure! After falling in love with the Stalking Jack the Ripper series last year I’ve been dying for another gory old timey mystery and when I read the blurb for this one I was so hopeful that I had found just the right book to bring my search to an end. While I thoroughly enjoyed reading Spectacle, there was also something that kept me from truly loving it.
Spectacle is also one of the many books set in France that I have read here lately. I seem to have a theme I am chasing in my book selections lately. Or maybe its the authors that have been on a theme to their writing lately. Did the chicken or the egg come first? The world may never know.. But I digress, the setting, while familiar also took a peak at the darker more dangerous side of Paris. It wasn’t all cafe life and trips to the Eiffel Tower. This book was filled with murder, serial killers, and danger. This was a side of France that didn’t thrive in romance and wealth.
This book is about a girl named Nathalie who after her mother is injured and her dad leaves on business, she must find a job through her fathers connection at the local newspaper to help provide for her family. Missing out on a summer away with her best school friend, Nathalie is the new journalist for the local morgue column. Her job entails daily visits to the morgue to deliver the news on the latest passings of life. But on one strange visit while studying the body of a young girl close to her own age, she just happens to touch the glass only to be trapped in a vision through the eyes of the murderer. From that point on Nathalie must decide if this strange new power is real, or if she is losing her mind like her poor aunt Brigitte. And is she willing to accept the consequences of using such power? Is finding the murderer of these girls worth possibly becoming insane?
I really liked the bond of friends and the focus on family and the relationships between them and the main character Nathalie. It all seemed real and honest, there were hardships yes, and regret, but it also showed the real range of emotions one might go through if stuck in a tough position like Nathalie was. She experienced so much death and fear at the hands of this psycho killer and no one person would ever come out of something like that unchanged. It was also refreshing that while there were hints of romance and flirtation, it wasn’t the main focus of the book. While this is normally what I live off of in books that I read, it was nice to know that even though there wasn’t a romance per say, it was still an engaging and interesting read.
My main complaint would be the ending. I don’t want to give away too much as to spoil anyone, but I don’t think its even fair to call it a cliffhanger. The ending was more like missing the top step while climbing the stairs in the dark. One minute you’re trekking along thinking everything is fine and normal, and then whoof, no step. No more stairs to climb. Totally unexpected. Just like the ending to this book. It just hits you out of nowhere, almost feeling like its right in the middle of a sentence. I kept flipping pages thinking, there’s no way that’s how this ends. It feels completely unfinished and that is the worst feeling in the world at the end of a book. I’m not sure if there is another book in the future to continue on with this story, and if there isn’t then I would say don’t even bother reading this because you will never have closure in your life again. Okay, maybe that was a little dramatic, but still. YOU CAN’T JUST END A BOOK LIKE THAT! In the meantime I am going to believe that there will be a Spectacle #2 otherwise this will just make me even more angry.
In summary, this was a really interesting and captivating read. I was extremely interested in finding the killer and found it to be a really well written book. Although I didn’t care much for the ending, IÌýwould continue reading this if it ever becomes a series. I’m starting to like more of the historical fiction genre here lately, its fun branching out to find that you do actually enjoy some different styles of writing than what you might be used to reading. Because isn’t that what reading is supposed to do, take us out of our norm, break us out of our shells to experience what we normally wouldn’t? I’d like to think so.
August 11, 2019
Two and a half stars rounded up to be kind because I had A Week and perhaps I took it out a biitttt on this book.
Where to start? I think this is the umpteenth book this year with a really good idea and poor execution.
Fair warning in advance, I’m probably going to tear this apart, and I don’t think it’s only the bad week I had talking here. It was a debut, so perhaps some things can be forgiven � but honestly, I was finding editor and copy editor issues throughout this edition too, so�
A female-led slightly-supernatural take on a French Jack the Ripper? Sounds good, right? But from the start with the audiobook, wherein the narrator uses a wonky French accent for any dialogue, I was off-put. So, I switched to the Kindle edition, and nothing improved. In fact, the bad metaphors, implausible dialogue/character reactions to things, and generally poor writing just became more noticeable. I’m not sure why I kept going � maybe I thought there’d be more romance, or the killer would get someone we cared about?
The bad, admittedly the majority of the book for me:
Main character is 16, a minor therefore, and is in instant puppy love with this older police officer, who meets her one-on-one for coffee around Paris. Even -if- she’s dressed as a boy (there is no mention made of her deepening her voice or otherwise doing anything that would actually protect herself, but she is tall so the charade must be perfect right?), this sort of behavior in Victorian-era France just doesn’t seem right. It looks like contemporary standards (and even then it’s weird) transported in time which for me, a history buff, doesn’t fly well. We don’t understand why she even likes this guy � something about his calm, reassuring demeanor, which put me in mind of a grandfather or something to be honest � and then the romance fizzles out as a fiancée of his is pulled out of the woodwork.
In fact, another big, bad issue is that plot developments were treated like rabbits pulled out of a hat the entire time. Need a convenient explanation for something? Her boss or one of her parents will pull out one suitable to keep the plot going. And Nathalie was a very passive heroine it felt like - yes, she’d wander the city in boy clothes and started having visions when she touched the glass in the morgue viewing room and sought to figure them out � but people tell her things, or things happen around her, and then the plot moves forward. For a while she refuses to use the gift or whatever it is, and girls keep dying. She’s so passive it hurts.
The victim the killer gets who I think we were supposed to feel distraught about? She's the protag's cousin, a girl out of town for 60% of the book and for whom I didn't feel any attachment. The best friend, a cabaret performer, would have been a much better narrative choice. The book was already really grim though, so...
The ‘magic� in the world is ridiculous and goes unexplained. Some mad doctor experimented with fusing “magic and science� together and giving blood transfusions to people, making them X-men � I mean, “Insightfuls� with psychic communication, healing, or clairvoyant powers. There is no mention of where this magic came from, and frankly it’s a major head-scratching point. Very shaky ground for a plot base. There’s also a debate over whether or not there can be ‘natural-born� Insightfuls, and I’m thinking okay but a woman with it in her blood who has a child? Seems natural it’d pass on but the book is like Nah bro. Okay then. I think in the end they concede our protag is a natural born one, but I didn’t care by then.
Also, as much as everyone loves Paris, it felt like a namedropping game. Has she been to the Louvre? Oh, she’s gone down the Champs-Élysées and to Père Lachaise Cemetery? Her friend works at Le Chat Noir? The only cool part was mention of the Catacombs tbh.
ALSO. As someone who studied French for years but is a bit rusty admittedly, even I noticed the flaws in the French sprinkled through the English dialogue. Maybe the Kindle edition suffered from a different editor, but there’s a part where a character says “absolutement� when they certainly meant “absolument�, and it’s like…simple checking would have prevented this?
The small amount of good: Lead character has a white cat named Stanley who does very catlike adorable things throughout the plot. Some female characters had interesting lots in life � her mother is a renowned seamstress and dressmaker, and a villain was female and very interested/schooled in science, so that was cool. The main character admits a taste for the macabre and carries around a vial of dirt from the Catacombs, which is extremely On My Level.
That’s…it. I don’t think I’ll stick around for the sequel the strange ending definitely set up for.
Where to start? I think this is the umpteenth book this year with a really good idea and poor execution.
Fair warning in advance, I’m probably going to tear this apart, and I don’t think it’s only the bad week I had talking here. It was a debut, so perhaps some things can be forgiven � but honestly, I was finding editor and copy editor issues throughout this edition too, so�
A female-led slightly-supernatural take on a French Jack the Ripper? Sounds good, right? But from the start with the audiobook, wherein the narrator uses a wonky French accent for any dialogue, I was off-put. So, I switched to the Kindle edition, and nothing improved. In fact, the bad metaphors, implausible dialogue/character reactions to things, and generally poor writing just became more noticeable. I’m not sure why I kept going � maybe I thought there’d be more romance, or the killer would get someone we cared about?
The bad, admittedly the majority of the book for me:
Main character is 16, a minor therefore, and is in instant puppy love with this older police officer, who meets her one-on-one for coffee around Paris. Even -if- she’s dressed as a boy (there is no mention made of her deepening her voice or otherwise doing anything that would actually protect herself, but she is tall so the charade must be perfect right?), this sort of behavior in Victorian-era France just doesn’t seem right. It looks like contemporary standards (and even then it’s weird) transported in time which for me, a history buff, doesn’t fly well. We don’t understand why she even likes this guy � something about his calm, reassuring demeanor, which put me in mind of a grandfather or something to be honest � and then the romance fizzles out as a fiancée of his is pulled out of the woodwork.
In fact, another big, bad issue is that plot developments were treated like rabbits pulled out of a hat the entire time. Need a convenient explanation for something? Her boss or one of her parents will pull out one suitable to keep the plot going. And Nathalie was a very passive heroine it felt like - yes, she’d wander the city in boy clothes and started having visions when she touched the glass in the morgue viewing room and sought to figure them out � but people tell her things, or things happen around her, and then the plot moves forward. For a while she refuses to use the gift or whatever it is, and girls keep dying. She’s so passive it hurts.
The victim the killer gets who I think we were supposed to feel distraught about? She's the protag's cousin, a girl out of town for 60% of the book and for whom I didn't feel any attachment. The best friend, a cabaret performer, would have been a much better narrative choice. The book was already really grim though, so...
The ‘magic� in the world is ridiculous and goes unexplained. Some mad doctor experimented with fusing “magic and science� together and giving blood transfusions to people, making them X-men � I mean, “Insightfuls� with psychic communication, healing, or clairvoyant powers. There is no mention of where this magic came from, and frankly it’s a major head-scratching point. Very shaky ground for a plot base. There’s also a debate over whether or not there can be ‘natural-born� Insightfuls, and I’m thinking okay but a woman with it in her blood who has a child? Seems natural it’d pass on but the book is like Nah bro. Okay then. I think in the end they concede our protag is a natural born one, but I didn’t care by then.
Also, as much as everyone loves Paris, it felt like a namedropping game. Has she been to the Louvre? Oh, she’s gone down the Champs-Élysées and to Père Lachaise Cemetery? Her friend works at Le Chat Noir? The only cool part was mention of the Catacombs tbh.
ALSO. As someone who studied French for years but is a bit rusty admittedly, even I noticed the flaws in the French sprinkled through the English dialogue. Maybe the Kindle edition suffered from a different editor, but there’s a part where a character says “absolutement� when they certainly meant “absolument�, and it’s like…simple checking would have prevented this?
The small amount of good: Lead character has a white cat named Stanley who does very catlike adorable things throughout the plot. Some female characters had interesting lots in life � her mother is a renowned seamstress and dressmaker, and a villain was female and very interested/schooled in science, so that was cool. The main character admits a taste for the macabre and carries around a vial of dirt from the Catacombs, which is extremely On My Level.
That’s…it. I don’t think I’ll stick around for the sequel the strange ending definitely set up for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2019
Do you ever read a book that just makes you appreciate another book so much more? Me right now thinking that huh, was actually really damn good, at least compared to this one.
Spectacle is about a teenage girl who writes a daily morgue column for a popular journal. Her job puts her in the way of dead bodies that Nathalie finds both fascinating and routine. Until while visiting the newest dead body, a young girl, Nathalie gets a vision of her death that could only have been from the murderer's point of view. When yet another young girl ends up dead, the city of Paris fears that she wasn't his last victim and more will be on the way. As Nathalie gets to the bottom of her newfound power, she gets closer to the murderer and puts herself and those she loves in danger.
Oh dear god this book was all over the place. There is all this talk of people getting experimented on so they have powers and talk of that happened so much. Nathalie kept referring to her visions as "magic" and I don't know, I just didn't like calling it that. It wasn't really magic, in a magical sense, it was just some random ass ability that came from blood transfusions or something. Her power seemed interesting at first but it didn't really make sense, and it never even really helps?? Nathalie does not get anywhere close to solving this mystery herself.
Also Nathalie is selfish as hell. After using her power twice (by accident), she nopes out and refuses as more girls get killed and she even tells a dead body "sorry lol just worrying about myself here!". The only thing that gets her ass in gear is her friend getting murdered. This friend by the way is only seen via letters they are sending back and forth (just filled with exposition) until she shows up for a couple pages, only to get killed after. And yet this murder is supposed to be oh so important and the turning point for Nathalie. Yeah, okay.
This book truly was a discount version of but instead of being fun and cute with a mystery that ends pretty neat, we have Nathalie just being really dense and fighting with her family and friends. And of course all the time that was spent of her complaining about having to wear pants at her job. Which was a super weird job to give her but okay.
The endless boring mystery all about the people with random powers that show up randomly in different people after certain experimentation was SO much and I just wasn't interested. The powers and how they got them barely made any sense. Even the damn murder mystery was hilariously bad. The actual murderer gets killed at 80% and then the rest of the book is pretty much: uhhhh now what? The resolution was not satisfying or exciting, and the book was so annoyingly slow. It sets up for a sequel but I'm good.
Also this audiobook annoyed me SO much. When Nathalie and everyone else would talk, they would have a French accent but then everything else from the third person POV was an American accent. Either have the entire audiobook have a French accent or no French accent but the half and half got on my nerves.
Just a hugely disappointing book.
Spectacle is about a teenage girl who writes a daily morgue column for a popular journal. Her job puts her in the way of dead bodies that Nathalie finds both fascinating and routine. Until while visiting the newest dead body, a young girl, Nathalie gets a vision of her death that could only have been from the murderer's point of view. When yet another young girl ends up dead, the city of Paris fears that she wasn't his last victim and more will be on the way. As Nathalie gets to the bottom of her newfound power, she gets closer to the murderer and puts herself and those she loves in danger.
Oh dear god this book was all over the place. There is all this talk of people getting experimented on so they have powers and talk of that happened so much. Nathalie kept referring to her visions as "magic" and I don't know, I just didn't like calling it that. It wasn't really magic, in a magical sense, it was just some random ass ability that came from blood transfusions or something. Her power seemed interesting at first but it didn't really make sense, and it never even really helps?? Nathalie does not get anywhere close to solving this mystery herself.
Also Nathalie is selfish as hell. After using her power twice (by accident), she nopes out and refuses as more girls get killed and she even tells a dead body "sorry lol just worrying about myself here!". The only thing that gets her ass in gear is her friend getting murdered. This friend by the way is only seen via letters they are sending back and forth (just filled with exposition) until she shows up for a couple pages, only to get killed after. And yet this murder is supposed to be oh so important and the turning point for Nathalie. Yeah, okay.
This book truly was a discount version of but instead of being fun and cute with a mystery that ends pretty neat, we have Nathalie just being really dense and fighting with her family and friends. And of course all the time that was spent of her complaining about having to wear pants at her job. Which was a super weird job to give her but okay.
The endless boring mystery all about the people with random powers that show up randomly in different people after certain experimentation was SO much and I just wasn't interested. The powers and how they got them barely made any sense. Even the damn murder mystery was hilariously bad. The actual murderer gets killed at 80% and then the rest of the book is pretty much: uhhhh now what? The resolution was not satisfying or exciting, and the book was so annoyingly slow. It sets up for a sequel but I'm good.
Also this audiobook annoyed me SO much. When Nathalie and everyone else would talk, they would have a French accent but then everything else from the third person POV was an American accent. Either have the entire audiobook have a French accent or no French accent but the half and half got on my nerves.
Just a hugely disappointing book.
January 14, 2019
I come away from this book with a sense of frustration; I’d like to be rating it higher. There was a lot of glimmers here and there of strong writing, a dark and tense atmosphere, and an intriguing, shadowy alternate version Paris, yet so much of this book was bogged down by things that could have been fixed easily with a stronger edit.
The story follows sixteen year old Nathalie, who writes a column for the newspaper on the bodies in the Paris morgue. Things change when Nathalie has a vision of the last moments of a girl in the morgue’s grisly murder, prompting Nathalie to go on a journey to discover the killer’s identity and source of her own newfound power.
With vibes similar to and , I really do think this book could have been phenomenal if it had committed to its darkness and abandoned some the YA tropes and tendencies, such as the “girl disguises herself as a boy� trope that adds nothing to the story.
The examination of death and the terrifying nature of the serial killer known as The Dark Artist was my favorite part:
A few other things that worked well was the usage of a female friend group and the Paris setting, though the usage of French lingo and dialect was inconsistent enough to be a bit questionable for me.
By far the biggest fault of this book is the pacing. It’s one of those books that feels like it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. Though the beginning is exciting, what ensues is essentially 200 pages of the main character whining and questioning her powers rather than embracing it. The book as a whole just ends up being way too long, especially with the ending being as lackluster as it is .
Though I can’t say I would recommend at this moment, I actually think Jodie Lynn Zdrok is a talented writer who could become a much loved author in the future. I look forward to following her writing career!
The story follows sixteen year old Nathalie, who writes a column for the newspaper on the bodies in the Paris morgue. Things change when Nathalie has a vision of the last moments of a girl in the morgue’s grisly murder, prompting Nathalie to go on a journey to discover the killer’s identity and source of her own newfound power.
With vibes similar to and , I really do think this book could have been phenomenal if it had committed to its darkness and abandoned some the YA tropes and tendencies, such as the “girl disguises herself as a boy� trope that adds nothing to the story.
The examination of death and the terrifying nature of the serial killer known as The Dark Artist was my favorite part:
To go to the morgue was to poke the grim reaper in the ribs, to tell him he was riveting. Because if he was riveting, he wasn’t scary. Death was for other people.
...
The anonymity added to the callousness of it. The girl with the blood-stained dress, the victim; that’s all she was to anyone right now.
...
Nathalie was never afraid of the dark, even as a child.
If anything, she wanted to know what was in it.
A few other things that worked well was the usage of a female friend group and the Paris setting, though the usage of French lingo and dialect was inconsistent enough to be a bit questionable for me.
By far the biggest fault of this book is the pacing. It’s one of those books that feels like it didn’t quite know what it wanted to be. Though the beginning is exciting, what ensues is essentially 200 pages of the main character whining and questioning her powers rather than embracing it. The book as a whole just ends up being way too long, especially with the ending being as lackluster as it is .
Though I can’t say I would recommend at this moment, I actually think Jodie Lynn Zdrok is a talented writer who could become a much loved author in the future. I look forward to following her writing career!
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May 24, 2020I'M GETTING SJTR VIBES AND I NEED THIS. RIGHT. FREAKING. NOW.
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July 16, 2019
love the narrator's voice, the kind of story telling I like the most!
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February 27, 2019For fans who loved Stalking Jack the Ripper for the mystery and thrill...and also love a little of the spectacular.
December 21, 2018
Thank you NetGalley and Tor Teen for the opportunity to review Spectacle!
Spectacle was quite different then what I was expecting. Though I did have my issues with Spectacle, I was nonetheless blown away by Jodie's writing style and the dark themes she wrote about in her debut novel. Spectacle was a page turner with characters that were easily likable and a series of grisly murders that you couldn't help but want to know more about.
My biggest issue with this book that by the way it is described I was expecting a blood soaked murder mystery that was going to send chills down my spine. Though it do that at many points, the murders and who the murderer is seemed to be a sub plot rather then the main plot. A big part of Spectacle was Nathalie trying to piece together where she got her ability to see the murders from and uncovering secrets from her parents and aunt's past.
Spectacle had a lot of potential and at certain points it felt like it just fell short of it. Important parts of the story were brushed past and I wish Jodie had taken more time to describe the experiments that gave people their magical abilities and a deeper view into the things that led Tante down the road to an asylum. I knew enough that everything made sense, but not enough to be emotionally invested.
I really enjoyed Nathalie's growth from the start of Spectacle and to the end of it. The story takes place over a few weeks worth of time and you can gradually to see the change in how Nathalie begins to act and think towards certain things. The friendship between Nathalie and Simone warmed my heart and I found it very similar to some of my actual relationships with friends, so I was able to feel her pain when her Simone would have disagreements. I don't thing Spectacle needed a romance aspect, it worked pretty well with out it. But Jodie did tease us with Christophe and Nathalie's interactions and by the end of the novel their relationship was very up in the air.
Spectacle did end very open ended and I can see the potential for another novel about Nathalie and her adventures since not everything was clarified by the end of Spectacle. Though I didn't love Spectacle, it was an enjoyable read and I am eager to see what is in store for these characters next.
May 24, 2019
I remember the day I started that book I was like "Let's read a few chapters there and there to at least actually be reading something". When I finished chapter one I was hooked.
It really only took me one chapter to be hooked. I needed to know more, I wanted to know more. I was in the old Paris, very dirty and kinda dark. The smelly Paris where murders were not an unusual thing, where watching bodies was normal. I loved the atmosphere so much! I love the writing style and the main character! Nathalie was a strong female character. I loved how she handled things and how she acted.
The only thing that bothered me is the use of French. I mean I understood everything, I speak perfectly French, but I found it useless and even more as some parts where not even translated. But let's be honest, that didn't stop me from devouring that book, I adored it!
The pacing was perfect for me. Not slow but not fast at all. It gave us the opportunity to really understand what was going on and to connect things at the same time than the main character. We were investigating with Nathalie. And the twists? Didn't see them coming haha I thought it would be "oh boring I expected that to happen" but not at all...
It really only took me one chapter to be hooked. I needed to know more, I wanted to know more. I was in the old Paris, very dirty and kinda dark. The smelly Paris where murders were not an unusual thing, where watching bodies was normal. I loved the atmosphere so much! I love the writing style and the main character! Nathalie was a strong female character. I loved how she handled things and how she acted.
The only thing that bothered me is the use of French. I mean I understood everything, I speak perfectly French, but I found it useless and even more as some parts where not even translated. But let's be honest, that didn't stop me from devouring that book, I adored it!
The pacing was perfect for me. Not slow but not fast at all. It gave us the opportunity to really understand what was going on and to connect things at the same time than the main character. We were investigating with Nathalie. And the twists? Didn't see them coming haha I thought it would be "oh boring I expected that to happen" but not at all...
August 10, 2018
Fans of fantasy, thrillers, and historical fantasy are going to absolutely love SPECTACLE by Jodie Lynn Zdrok. I was astounded by the turn of events 75% of the way through. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. I thought I had the whole thing figured out, but Zdrok proved to be a masterful storyteller. She got me!!! Her writing is dark--the detail of the bodies in the morgue is haunting--and the descriptions of Paris in 1887 made me feel like I was right there with Nathalie running through the Catacombs or enjoying a pain au chocolat in a cafe. Highly recommend!
February 25, 2019
I had the extreme pleasure of reading an ARC of SPECTACLE and I can’t wait for it to be out in the world so I have more people to squeal about it with! I loved the historical details, the pseudo science, and all rollercoaster of plot twists! Such a fun book to curl up with!
June 5, 2019
*3.5 stars!
I really enjoyed it but it wasn’t mindblowing! It was fun, but I felt like it was missing something? I don’t know 😂 THE ENDING THOUGH, how can you leave it like that damn it 🙈🙈
I really enjoyed it but it wasn’t mindblowing! It was fun, but I felt like it was missing something? I don’t know 😂 THE ENDING THOUGH, how can you leave it like that damn it 🙈🙈
January 11, 2021
Spectacle is really an interesting book and concept. Set in 1887 in Paris, France, Nathalie Baudin is a young girl who is given an unheard of position for women at that time: writer for the daily morgue report in prestigious newspaper, Le Petit Journal. Not only that, but she is the very first woman to ever write for the newspaper. But, in doing so, she has to make certain accommodations which I'll leave up to readers to discover.
Viewing bodies was popular at the time and because of Nathalie's job, she goes to view a body and either hallucinates or she has a vision/gift and sees the murder take place of the female victim. There continues to be a number of female victims murdered and eventually Nathalie fears her own demise.
I thought there was good suspense and mystery, and Nathalie has an aunt Brigitte who adds to the mystery and suspense. Her character is important in moving forward the plot. She is in an asylum for the insane, so that brings into question whether or not Nathalie might herself be insane.
All in all I thought this was very well-written, there was a lot of suspense and the mystery kept me wondering. I recommend this book, especially if you like historical fiction and late 1800's settings in Europe.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a free e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest opinion. Personally, I am excited to read book 2!
#Spectacle #NetGalley
Viewing bodies was popular at the time and because of Nathalie's job, she goes to view a body and either hallucinates or she has a vision/gift and sees the murder take place of the female victim. There continues to be a number of female victims murdered and eventually Nathalie fears her own demise.
I thought there was good suspense and mystery, and Nathalie has an aunt Brigitte who adds to the mystery and suspense. Her character is important in moving forward the plot. She is in an asylum for the insane, so that brings into question whether or not Nathalie might herself be insane.
All in all I thought this was very well-written, there was a lot of suspense and the mystery kept me wondering. I recommend this book, especially if you like historical fiction and late 1800's settings in Europe.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for a free e-ARC of the book in exchange for an honest opinion. Personally, I am excited to read book 2!
#Spectacle #NetGalley
Want to read
January 8, 2019ohh this is giving me stalking jack the ripper vibes
August 6, 2019
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(3.5) I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form. Also found at Booked J.
In simple terms? Spectacle was breathtaking and intriguing.
If you are a fan of main characters with strong and individual voices and questions for days, this is the book for you. Further, if you like the above to be mingling with historical settings and supernatural vibes, this is bound to be your cup of tea.
What I liked most about this book, aside from its characters and delectable prose, was the fact that Jodie Lynn Zdrok throws readers straight into the thick of it quite quickly. A lot of authors struggle with the build of the first quarter but this is not one of those books--it is vivid and fast, drawing us into the atmospheric prose instantly and holding us in place. Sometimes, the plot slows down as it continues but it does pick itself back up.
Which feels very intentional and almost like the calm before the story.
Not only are her characters beautifully crafted, so is her setting and mystery.
This isn't to say that there aren't weak spots (there were some questionable choices re: history, in my opinion, but this doesn't take you out of the story), or that Spectacle will be for every reader, but it is damn enjoyable and kept me on the edge of my seat for the evening. Which goes without really saying: this was compulsively readable and is the type of story that demands your devotion. Once you pick it up, you are locked in place for the day.
Spectacle takes familiar story elements, such as mystery and paranormal traits, and twists the plotlines to tangle together uniquely. A good story teller takes the familiar and makes it their own, and this is what Jodie Lynn Zdrok accomplishes with Spectacle. I was really quite impressed with Spectacle and while it wasn't what I expected when picking it up, it was a thrill ride that I'd highly recommend.
Pro tip: read this book on a rainy night in. It amplifies the experience all the more!
(3.5) I was sent an eARC of this novel from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. This does not change my view in any shape or form. Also found at Booked J.
In simple terms? Spectacle was breathtaking and intriguing.
If you are a fan of main characters with strong and individual voices and questions for days, this is the book for you. Further, if you like the above to be mingling with historical settings and supernatural vibes, this is bound to be your cup of tea.
What I liked most about this book, aside from its characters and delectable prose, was the fact that Jodie Lynn Zdrok throws readers straight into the thick of it quite quickly. A lot of authors struggle with the build of the first quarter but this is not one of those books--it is vivid and fast, drawing us into the atmospheric prose instantly and holding us in place. Sometimes, the plot slows down as it continues but it does pick itself back up.
Which feels very intentional and almost like the calm before the story.
Not only are her characters beautifully crafted, so is her setting and mystery.
This isn't to say that there aren't weak spots (there were some questionable choices re: history, in my opinion, but this doesn't take you out of the story), or that Spectacle will be for every reader, but it is damn enjoyable and kept me on the edge of my seat for the evening. Which goes without really saying: this was compulsively readable and is the type of story that demands your devotion. Once you pick it up, you are locked in place for the day.
Spectacle takes familiar story elements, such as mystery and paranormal traits, and twists the plotlines to tangle together uniquely. A good story teller takes the familiar and makes it their own, and this is what Jodie Lynn Zdrok accomplishes with Spectacle. I was really quite impressed with Spectacle and while it wasn't what I expected when picking it up, it was a thrill ride that I'd highly recommend.
Pro tip: read this book on a rainy night in. It amplifies the experience all the more!
December 16, 2018
Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that Parisian Fantasy/Historical Fiction just isn't my jam.
After the disappointment that was Grim Lovelies (a slow-paced, trope-filled book that came out last August) I was reluctant to give this genre another chance... But, I thought that perhaps Spectacle would be all the things Grim Lovelies wasn't: Engaging, interesting, and well-written.
Alas, it was not.
I have two primary issues with this book.
For starters, the characters. Nathalie, our protagonist, had absolutely no depth or complexity to make her stand out amongst other fictional characters. She lacked any personality whatsoever and had no interesting qualities about her. And, as you might already know, dry and bland characters lead to a dry and bland book... Which, sadly, was exactly what Spectacle was.
My other problem with this book was the pacing. Seriously, it was SO. TEDIOUSLY. SLOW. Sometimes I found myself unknowingly skimming through pages due to the book's boring and action-less content. Oops.
Overall, Spectacle was a huge disappointment for me. With one-dimensional characters and pacing slower than that of a turtle, it was, to say the least, not a five-star read.
.
.
.
Thank you to Tor Teen Publishers and Jodie Lynn Zdrock for giving me the opportunity to read this novel! Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
After the disappointment that was Grim Lovelies (a slow-paced, trope-filled book that came out last August) I was reluctant to give this genre another chance... But, I thought that perhaps Spectacle would be all the things Grim Lovelies wasn't: Engaging, interesting, and well-written.
Alas, it was not.
I have two primary issues with this book.
For starters, the characters. Nathalie, our protagonist, had absolutely no depth or complexity to make her stand out amongst other fictional characters. She lacked any personality whatsoever and had no interesting qualities about her. And, as you might already know, dry and bland characters lead to a dry and bland book... Which, sadly, was exactly what Spectacle was.
My other problem with this book was the pacing. Seriously, it was SO. TEDIOUSLY. SLOW. Sometimes I found myself unknowingly skimming through pages due to the book's boring and action-less content. Oops.
Overall, Spectacle was a huge disappointment for me. With one-dimensional characters and pacing slower than that of a turtle, it was, to say the least, not a five-star read.
.
.
.
Thank you to Tor Teen Publishers and Jodie Lynn Zdrock for giving me the opportunity to read this novel! Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
March 11, 2019
Wow! This is a fun, fast-paced page-turner that will keep you up long after you should be asleep. Then again, you won't WANT to sleep because: a) you will want to keep reading; and b) you may have nightmares. Warning: there IS a sequel. Second warning: it's not out yet so you'll have to wait!
February 24, 2019
Spectacle is simply mesmerizing.
February 21, 2019
Well well well that didn't go like I expected. This was very creative even though some of the middle was a bit stretched out. But man I need book two badly! Review is now up on the blog:
August 9, 2020
Spectacle is set in 1800s Paris and stars a teenage journalist who uses her psychic powers to track down a serial killer. I love the setting, and I love that the main character is interested in morbid stuff. (I am too!) There are two major storylines happening in the book. One of them is about finding the serial killer. The other is about the main character learning to accept her psychic abilities. I was way more interested in the serial killer plotline. I understand that learning to be psychic is (probably) difficult, but I was impatient for the character to embrace her powers and concentrate on the killer. Overall, I had fun reading Spectacle. I’ll probably pick up the sequel if I come across it in my bookish wanderings.
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense?
Do you like opinions, giveaways, and bookish nonsense?
June 6, 2019
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed reading this one, though to say I loved it and that this is highly recommended from me would be a stretch.
Nathalie is 16 and she writes the daily morgue column for Le Petit Journal and I find that really fascinating. Our MC is really badass and I enjoyed being in her mind. I also love the friendships she has throughout the book. But I must admit sometimes I find her voice so mature. She's only 16 but that's not a major complain of mine. I just think it would be better if I experienced her as a teenager because she's really young. But then again, she's already writing a column about deads and the plot of this story is not really for the young at heart, Nathalie gotta have mature thinking.
Speaking of the plot, it was fine. I think the blend of suspense, mystery, paranormal and the characters' charm and wit are the right blend for this book. But still, it's not enough to make me engrossed in the story. It's either it's lacking something or there are so much going on. I can't really pinpoint where this book goes meh. The setting, Paris in the 1800s, was amazing though. The author has a talent for making the setting alive.
Overall, this is an okay read and will not be the last book I'll read from the author.
I was provided a copy by the publisher/author via Netgalley. Thank you.
I enjoyed reading this one, though to say I loved it and that this is highly recommended from me would be a stretch.
Nathalie is 16 and she writes the daily morgue column for Le Petit Journal and I find that really fascinating. Our MC is really badass and I enjoyed being in her mind. I also love the friendships she has throughout the book. But I must admit sometimes I find her voice so mature. She's only 16 but that's not a major complain of mine. I just think it would be better if I experienced her as a teenager because she's really young. But then again, she's already writing a column about deads and the plot of this story is not really for the young at heart, Nathalie gotta have mature thinking.
Speaking of the plot, it was fine. I think the blend of suspense, mystery, paranormal and the characters' charm and wit are the right blend for this book. But still, it's not enough to make me engrossed in the story. It's either it's lacking something or there are so much going on. I can't really pinpoint where this book goes meh. The setting, Paris in the 1800s, was amazing though. The author has a talent for making the setting alive.
Overall, this is an okay read and will not be the last book I'll read from the author.
I was provided a copy by the publisher/author via Netgalley. Thank you.
January 26, 2019
Spectacle is a young adult murder mystery that takes place in 1800's Paris. Beautiful young women are being brutally murdered by a serial killer who believes the way he mutilates the bodies are a work of art. Nathalie writes a morgue column for a newspaper and when the first victim is brought to the morgue and displayed, Nathalie accidentally touches the pane of the viewing area and receives a vision of how the victim was murdered. She thinks it must have been a hallucination or some type of fluke. However, when the next victim is brought in, she touches the glass again and once again receives a vision of the woman being murdered from the murderers perspective. Why is she receiving these visions and how did she receive these powers? Do other have powers or is she just an anomaly? Could these visions help solve the mystery of who is murdering these young women?
The writing in this novel is fast paced and beautiful. It left me wanting more. The world building and character development was done well. The visions were really unique to this novel, which made me love it anymore. Now, what I really want to know is if there will be a sequel due to how Spectacle ended.
The writing in this novel is fast paced and beautiful. It left me wanting more. The world building and character development was done well. The visions were really unique to this novel, which made me love it anymore. Now, what I really want to know is if there will be a sequel due to how Spectacle ended.
February 1, 2020
Spectacle is a unique blend of paranormal hero tale and historic murder mystery. The women are front and center in this tale and the historic setting is filled with thoughtfully researched detail. I enjoyed the thematic exploration into what "spectacle" means and how society is so often drawn to the macabre--viewing executions and dead bodies, touring tomb-like catacombs, etc. At one point in the story, the heroine states that she can't resist her impulse to speak as a reporter, and that seems to inform the tone of the piece. When the murderer begs the heroine to get more descriptive or more "sensational" she refuses almost as though the author is making the same argument. It's a cerebral voice more than an emotional or visceral one, and it challenges the reader to engage in an intellectual way. In other words, it read more like a procedural than a thriller to me, and as if it was intentionally written that way. It keeps its romance and scares at arm's distance, laying out facts over feels, asking us to question how we engage with spectacle. Readers who enjoy genre blending, detailed historic settings, twisty plots, and x-men type hero arcs should thoroughly enjoy this!
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