Death & Mirrors (All Things Dark & Deadly Book 1) by SF Benson – Review by Helen Dawkins

Death & Mirrors: All Things Dark & Deadly, Book One by S.F. Benson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is my first book that was written by the author S.F. Benson, and I cannot wait to read more of her writing! The book is definitely a unique and peculiar twist/retelling of Alice in Wonderland, just with witches, magic, and necromancy with hint of Sherlock Holmes! Who would not love fantasy, magic and detective work all in one book?! Death & Mirrors is a fascinating story with paranormal elements, magic, family issues, mysteries that need a detective, and also some romance. Setting takes place in the late 1800s in London, as well as the corresponding mirror world Londinium (which is also known as ancient London roughly 40AD). The main character Evaline is a necromancer and an aspired detective who wishes to apprentice under the great Sherlock Holmes. She is whisked away to help solve a mystery about a creature/person who was given the name Doctor Death as well as the task of finding a myth of a gem called the Firestone, which she will need in order to defeat this monster. I love the litter easter eggs from Alice in Wonderland, for example, Evaline falls through to a mirror world that is very different but also very much alike her world, just like Alice fell down a rabbit hole to Wonderland. I thoroughly enjoyed Evaline’s character dynamics as she is headstrong, outspoken and very curious. The book does end on a cliffhanger, so I cannot wait until book two is released!

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