Celeste struggles with finding her way from a dark past until she gets a summer volunteer gig at the local historical fair. Enter outrageous actors, dominating psychics, and ghosts stirred by a medium’s presence.
With the help of the psychic’s son, who isn’t at all what her dream date would look like but rather endearing all the same, Celeste uncovers secrets about the village left hidden amongst the dilapidated buildings. Searching deeper will mean opening her heart, a part of her she’s locked up tight and been petrified of freeing.
I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review. Everything here is my opinion. There was no compensation aside from the enjoyment of reading.
I’ve read quite a few of Jordan Elizabeth’s books and this one reminds me of Escape From Witchwood Hollow. The similarities are the emotional trauma of the leads and the supernatural/paranormal element that ties in and helps the characters through their trauma. Though those are big similarities, the two books are still very different.
Victorian deals with the emotional trauma of two teenage girls. The book is separated by their personal views. The reader joins in their lives and witnesses their transformation. Their voices are very different. Celeste is quiet and unsure of herself whereas Weronika is loud and irrational. Though it is the same author, the way the book is written you can see their individual voices.
I would say the main character is Celeste, only because she has more chapters than Weronika. However, both girls go through a change because of their friendship and the Victorian Fair they both work at. Celeste’s change has to deal with the ghosts at the fair than Weronika, but they both still go through a change.
I have to say, I prefer Jordan Elizabeth’s books that deal with heavy subjects and how the teens grow from them. I have read some of her steampunk and though it’s enjoyable, I gain a stronger emotion from books like Victorian.
The Victorian fair is more of a backdrop, a tool for the characters to use to find themselves. The title of the book may confuse the reader, but I think it fits this book very well. Celeste uses the fair to hide herself. No, the fair isn’t very Victorian and it does have a few anachronisms, but it’s a fair.
In all, I enjoyed this book very much. It doesn’t have an antagonist character, but I believe the emotional trauma is the antagonist. The inner turmoil and the physical acts of finding oneself is the focus of the book. It is well written and I would recommend it.
Casia's Corner 