Esprit de Corpse by Ef Deal – Review by Ayla Phipps

Esprit de Corpse by Ef Deal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First off, the author EF Deal is amazing. This is my first book in this genre and the first book I have read by this author. Esprit de Corpse is the epitome of the mystery driving you to test your reading speed just so you can discover everything faster. Jacqueline and her twin sister Angelique incapsulate both sides of the spectrum of personalities.
Jacqueline is very intelligent with four doctoral degrees by the time she was fifteen, her life revolves around science and her forge. Angelique thrives in the arts and socializing. The book starts off in the mist of Jacky having to save her sister for the fourth time so far that year from her own indiscretions. Ange is also a she-wolf, something that her sister mentions early in the book, but the mystery is that she is that way not of her own doing so why? The first chapter introduces so many mysterious things that continue to flesh out through the rest of the book with twists and turns to keep you glued to the pages. A mechanical man running next to the locomotive they are traveling home on from Paris before he throws himself in front of it. Jacqueline, determined as ever with her intrigue, discovers a soul trapped in the furnace and frees it only the sound and the feeling leaves her with more questions than answers. Taking the intricate machine home with her she begins her investigation into who made it and how it works.
Where did the mysterious machine come from and why did it try to destroy itself? Will Jacqueline be able to protect her sister from her the prince she stole from? Can Jacqueline learn to see the signs of things outside of science to have a more fulfilling life? The world is breathtaking not only the historical aspect but the characters that fill it. They are not just the cliché roles they are meant to follow but they march to their own drums. Jacky is a role model for breaking the norm, following her dreams, and not apologizing for her intelligence or skills. I so hope to read more of this world soon.

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