Something Strange and Deadly

Something Strange and Deadly (Something Strange and Deadly #1)

Susan Dennard

Pages: 388
Publisher: HarperTeen

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Age Group: Young Adult

Date Published: July 24, 2012

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.

OH MY GOSH. This book was AMAZING!!! I've been in such a reading slump, and I picked this one up and could. not. put. it. down. Just, wow. I love steampunk, and I haven't gotten into the current zombie craze, but, after Something Strange and Deadly, I totally get it. It was so awesome. With a pretty cover, no less. I'm so in love with Daniel, and THAT ENDING. oh my gosh. I just need the next one now!

But, before that, let's talk plot. So, Eleanor's brother is MIA, and she gets a note from him- via zombie. And yes it is just as creeptastic as it sounds. Her mother is totally controlling, they're pretty broke and she wants to be re-accepted into the social circles, so she puts all that on poor Eleanor. Momma Fitt throws a seance (it was supposed to be a party for the brother's return... but yeah) and Eleanor catches the attention of the hottest guy in Philadelphia (also, most likely, the richest). After that she goes to ask the Spirit-Hunters for help with her brother. Daniel (totally swoon worthy, BTW) is kind of a jerk, she meets Joseph (very classy) and asks for some help. But they are too busy to really help her. Most of the book is spent with Eleanor balancing trying to help the Spirit-Hunters with trying to get with Hot Guy (Clarence, actually) to make her mom happy. Yeah. Zombies are in there too.

Yay, character time! So, Eleanor made a pretty great heroine. I loved how she developed throughout the book, and became stronger and braver. She was completely different at the end than at the beginning, though I loved her throughout the whole book. She's a pretty great character. She's very loyal and smart, and super duper witty. I love it! And then there was Clarence, who wasn't a totally bad guy, but not so great as a love interest. Kind of possessive, if you ask me. Daniel was my very favorite. He's quirky and kind of a jerk, but I adore it. He's protective of Eleanor, but she still does what she wants (also adding to her greatness). There's this one point in the book where he's gonna say something and she shuts him up AND I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HE WAS GONNA SAY. you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it. It better be revealed in the next book. I want lotsa Daniel in the next one. LOTSA (it is a word now). I just can't even describe his awesomeness. And he's blonde! I've gotten a little tired of the dark-haired-blue-eyed book boys. All the characters are just so different, and I love that about this book!

Need I tell you how GORGEOUS this cover is?! Yes? Okay, so I just love her dress and the gloves and that necklace. It's so perfect and the cover model looks like how I'd picture Eleanor. I love it. And then the font is so pretty and I love the blue with the purple under the "and." And the whole color scheme is so gorgeous. I love the gears in the very background, too. Basically I love every single thing about this cover. And the next one is totally perfect, too. So in love.

So, to sum that word vomit up, I adored this book and you need to read it. Now. Definitely for fans of Clockwork Angel and The Girl in the Steel Corset. This book is literary perfection, if you ask me. That might be the coffee talking, but I really do love it. Definitely a 5 'stache book!!!

But, seriously, I need A Darkness Strange and Lovely. I just, I need it. So bad. (It's pretty too!)