From the bestselling author of A Beautiful Poison comes another spellbinding historical novel full of intrigue, occult mystery, and unexpected twists.New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is … the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?
A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.
Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.
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I’m picky about historicals and this one fits the bill. Well researched, but she didn’t feel the need to show me everything she knows. Also the voice is wonderful s many times hf authors get a strange, strained “ye old days” voice. I loved everything about this book. Well done!
The characters of this book hooked me right away, particularly Tillie, Ian, and Dorothy. I also loved to hate Grandmama and another character who shall remain nameless for spoiler reasons. And I may or may not have squealed out loud at the frequent mentions of Nellie Bly.
There were quite a lot of lengthy descriptions, which isn’t my preference, hence I docked one star. However, that’s obviously a subjective criticism, and it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book. This is probably my favorite traditionally published fiction novel I’ve read this year thus far.
Having been a horror fan since I was a kid and having read an annotated version of Dracula when I was a teen, I’ve always been drawn to books about Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory. So when I came across Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang, I was intrigued.
While the novel does weave in quotes from Dracula and the victims do have bite marks on their necks and all of their blood is missing, that’s where most of the on the surface similarities end. But the main themes in Dracula (besides good vs. evil) are addiction, dependency, and loss of control which are also the themes in Opium and Absinthe. From reading the synopsis I thought the novel was going to lean more towards the supernatural, but this was actually a pretty heavy read at times and definitely a slow burn.
Kang delves into addiction during the turn of the century and how it was another way to control women who were starting to question their places in society in a much more outspoken way than previous decades. Tillie starts taking opium for her riding injury, but begins taking more to deaden not only the physical pain, but the emotional pain of losing her sister. And then there are other people in her circle who want to keep her addicted for reasons of their own too.
There are times when the book didn’t exactly drag on, but with Tillie so out of it or sleeping because of the drugs, the story wasn’t as fast paced as some mysteries. At first I was going to skim to get to the mystery, but Kang entwines all of the aspects so well that I found myself wanting to read even the slower parts because they really were essential to the story. Besides a great portrayal of addiction, Lang also incorporates historical events and places during the turn of the century. And I did not see the final reveal coming which turned out to be a bit twisted.
Looking over the other titles that Kang has written it appears that a strong female protagonist is what she writes about, and if they are as good as Opium and Absinthe I will be super happy. A couple of the titles that I’m going to read (eventually!) are The Impossible Girl and A Beautiful Poison.
How good and thoughtful he is; the world seems full of good men—even if there are monsters in it. —Mina Harker
A couple of weeks ago Amazon had this book in their first looks section and I was drawn right away to the cover and title! In the blurb it mentioned vampire murders and if you follow my reviews you know I’m a vampire junkie! I was pleasantly surprised with how well written this book was,it had mystery and suspense and a cast of unusual characters that brought this story to life. This read is set in the Victorian era,which is one of my favorite times. Tille is a smart and well read young lady who has always been curious about how things work and is forever asking questions,but on the day she breaks her collar bone on a horse while taking riding lessons her beautiful sister Lucy is murdered by what the papers are calling a vampire killer. Tille won’t stop til she finds out who or what killed her sister. With a list of suspects and Bram stokers book Dracula and help from Ian and his band of newsies the only thing standing in tille’s way from finding the monster that killed her sister and two others is her opiate addiction,what started out as relief for her broken collar bone has become also a way of dealing with the loss of the one person who loved and cared about her.But as she needs more and more she goes from opium to shots of morphine to heroin and plays right into the killers hands. With twists and turns and a fabulous storyline this book will keep you guessing to the very end,because just about the time you think you figured it out it throws you for a loop again. Lydia kang is a fabulous storyteller and I can’t recommend this book enough!!! Ty! Amazon for putting this book on my radar!!! Until next time Luv’s
You’ll learn how to survive this, Mathilda. No woman lives a life unscathed. It’s what makes us strong. We are broken and mended, remade every time. We must, or it destroys us.”
A sumptuous Gilded Age mystery about a young woman whose older sister is found dead on a New York street, drained of blood. The papers are crying “vampire!” But even as the killer claims more victims, Tillie is determined to discover the truth about her sister’s death, no matter the risks—supernatural or not.
I loved the Gothic atmosphere in this novel and Tillie is a lovably imperfect heroine who will absolutely steal your heart.
I hated this book, but not because it wasn’t a great story.
Opium and Absinthe is thoughtfully written. The story has depth all be it is a bit predictable. It is in its essence a fan girl’s love letter to Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
The book is filled with nuances between the characters and the characters in Dracula.
The problem is that I was not the right audience for this writer since I am not of fan of anything Victorian.
I hate the Victorian belief that a woman has to be “proper.” A lady can’t do “this or that” because it isn’t proper. The lady of the house can’t speak her mind because it isn’t proper. The protagonist can’t get a damn thing done because it isn’t proper.
Proper, Proper, Proper.
I was so frustrated with the Victorian decorum BS all through the book that I skipped to the end halfway through. An end I saw coming, BTW.
Like I said, I was not the right reader for this book.
A hidden gem. I think this book will enchant people of all ages, with its plucky main character, interesting historical references, and the suspenseful but steady pacing.
Fabulous book. Great characters coupled with concise, skilled prose makes this book a winner.
The story is a great description of someone’s decent into opium addiction. Because the heroine took such reckless chances and lapses in judgement I just didn’t care what happened to her.
Author Kang makes a lot of references to Dracula in this late 19c tale. However, instead of the supernatural, Kang weaves a entertaining mystery complete with her phenomenal attention to getting historical details right.
I am still not sure what to think about this book. Many times I thought to just remove it from my library. But for some reason I kept reading. Maybe it’s that I don’t like to give up on any book thinking it might get better if I just stick with it. OR maybe it’s because the characters really did begin to intrigue me. The main character Tillie was really flawed, in a dark and disturbing way. I tried to remember the historical setting, before the suffergettes and women were still just an extension of their husbands. But it was really hard to like Tillie. She was so swallowed up in her unhappiness, and only in the end did she find the strength to seize her life and use her intelligence and wealth to right the wrongs around her. However, I did find the story plot fascinating. Who could be doing these horrendous killings? And how did the men in the book fit into all that was happening. I think in the end, though I disliked the main character and found the story dark and gloomy, the mystery held enough allure to keep me involved to the end. It is not a favorite but I would have you read it yourself and see what you think. In fact, I think this book would stir some lively discussions in book clubs. For that alone I would keep it on my shelves. In the end, I was most fascinated by the authors notes on what prompted her to write such a novel. Her words below are the best way to describe how this book affected me:
“I found there was much to be learned about human nature, inhuman nature, and all the facets of humanity itself, both beautiful and terrible. We all have the capacity for much love in the face of cruelty.”
So the jury is still out on this one. And you my fellow bookworms are the jury!
While this book had every opportunity to be amazing, it just didn’t come together for me. I am rating it at 2.5 stars for me but for younger readers I think this would be a 3.5 or 4 star story.
I enjoyed the main character, her quirkiness and her incessant need to ask questions and discover life for herself. The secondary characters were great too, well most of them; and I really liked the mixture of Sherlock Homes, Dracula and 1880’s Victorian life. The way the author set the world and scene I really felt like I was living in New York at the end of the century, I thought the research she must have done made this book really accurate and it really popped for a history lover such as myself.
Now what didn’t work for me was One: the pace of the story, It starts out great but kind of flattens out and becomes repetitive and dull for a few chapters then finds itself again. Two: the author chose to make the main character addicted to Opium and while I think she did an amazing job at portraying addiction and the way to addiction in this time period, it kind of took over the first half of the book. I felt that was the spotlight of the story when it should have been the mystery of Lucy’s death. Three: there were too few characters so the mystery wasn’t as shocking as it could be. When you only have a handful or two of characters that could be suspects it really limits the story and the possible outcomes, making the reveal a bit of a let down (thought the reasoning was an interesting one, the murder was not). and Four: this is more of a lower end YA and I might even say middle grade read. The story was simple, easy, fast, and without many complications. It read more to m e like an outline of a more advanced story that was edited down to a younger level.
Now having stated all of my reasons I think that in summery, I wanted just a bit more: more details, more suspense, more mystery, more vampires’, more grit (and less Opium). Fun story for younger readers I would recommend this for them but not so much for those readers who can handle and desire more intricacies.
Fell in love with the characters, especially protagonist Tillie and her (terrifying!) Grandmama. Sucks you into the gritty world of opium and heroin addiction in Victorian New York, so realistic you want to wash your hands when you set the book down. Problem is, you can’t set the book down! A must read for those who love atmospheric historical mysteries.
Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for providing me the book in exchange for a honest review.
Most of this story was an eye opening and trippy as the characters themselves. We watch the main character, Tillie, spiral out of control with grief and drugs, dealing with the loss of her sister and her uncontrollable addiction. Her inner monologue during these drug induced haze are brillant and insane at times. Almost everyone around is a horrible shallow human being that should really look at themselves closely and stop telling her how to live her life. I really enjoyed when the charactered rebelled against her family and went out on her own to solve the mystery and live her own life her own way. My only gripe is :
This story’s description of Gothic Victorian era portrayed it as having a high level of grandeur, but Opium and Absinthe missed the mark towards the end.
Opium and Absinthe
By Lydia Kang
Lydia Kang is an exceptional storyteller. A murder mystery involving a vampire, with some opium and heroin in the mix and this made this read superb! This was an amazing story set in 1899 NYC in the midst of a Bram Stoker’s Dracula being released and her sister ends up dead with two puncture marks and drained of blood. Tillie Pembroke plays the amateur sleuth trying to solve the mystery behind her sister’s death. With the help of Ian, she venture in a quest to the dark side. Masking her pain from her injury and later on from her sister’s death, she battles a horrid addiction from opium, heroin and morphine. This was a fascinating read with amazing research on the medical treatments during the Victorian period. The writing was fully immersive with the rich details of this historical fiction thriller. I highly recommend this book!
I can’t resist a good murder mystery and I absolutely devoured this. 🙂
Treachery, Addiction, and, What? A Vampire?
Mature readers
No memorable strong language
Some violence
Limited sexual content (nothing lurid)
Setting: New York, 1899
Plot no spoilers:
Tillie, the main character whose family is quite well-to-do, has broken her collar bone. Meanwhile, her sister Lucy has been found murdered, drained of blood, and with two suspicious punctures in her neck. Because of the pain of her broken bone, Tillie has been given opium. As she recovers, she has been reading Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” In spite of the drug’s effects, she is determined to discover the murderer, whether human or undead.
With the help of a some acquaintances of the lower classes, including a few street children, she pursues the case in spite of the disapproval of her family and friends.
Noteworthy is that in 1899, opium was an over-the-counter drug, and other stronger medications were easily obtainable.
The story is be well-written and entirely believable. The characters are also well-developed.
Absolutely recommended.
”I don’t drink……. Wine.”
Brooklyn 1899. Bookworm Lady Matilda (Tillie) Pembroke breaks her clavicle and dislocates her arm when’s he falls off her horse at a hunting event. The remedy is a lot of bed rest and opium for the pain. Tillie abides by the rules and little by little; soon grows dependent on the opium without realizing it. Her grandmother tries to take it away, however, Tillie hides the rest. The opium puts Tillie in a constant dream state where we follow her stream of consciousness for a while until the horrible death of her sister. Lucy. She is found dead with two holes on the side of her neck and no blood. In her body. The wounds instantly remind Tillie of the book Bram Stokers Dracula. A new ”Trash” novel has been released and that is becoming popular. Tillie sets off to find the book and ends up having to share with a newspaper boy from the poor side of Brooklyn., named Ian Metzger. Together they look into the mystery of her dead sister and the two holes left on the side of the neck. I love this book. It was so original and well-written. It was slow at times where I had to skim through a lot of detailed descriptions however, I didn’t mind. I still loved it. Being from Brooklyn; I loved how the author puts you right smack in the middle of 1899 Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can see, feel and smell Brooklyn in 1899. The gore and violence in this novel are reminiscent of the novel ”Dracula.” written in 1899. It is definitely not the ”Goreogrophy” novels we read today. Lol.
The characters were interesting and fun. I love how the different personalities and social status working together. to solve the problem. This is the first novel I’ve read by this author and will not be my last. I look forward to going on Amazon to look for more books by this author If there are more books. Lol. I received a complimentary copy of this book by Netgalley.com and the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is both an historical fiction as well as a mystery. The characters were relatable…and even pretty likable. You actually get to care, which causes you some heartache as the main character gets more and more addicted to opium. There are also some fun elements as the story collides with “Newsies” (the Disney musical) which are worked into the story big time.
No sex and no swearing…which I really appreciate!
Overall…I found this to be a very good story with good writing. I highly recommend.
Oh, my, what an unusual book. Set in gothic Victorian times in New York City 1899, it focuses on eighteen-year-old Tillie Pembroke whose older sister Lucy has been killed, drained of blood, and left with two puncture wounds on her neck. Tillie immediately is sure her sister has been murdered by a vampire and sets out to prove it. Before her sister’s death she is injured in a riding accident and is given laudanum and opium for the pain. This was common for the times for wealthy women to receive drugs for various ailments and in the process of the book the drug use increases. For some strange reason I kept having the recurring thought that I was glad I came from poor, hardworking people who just worked through their issues by forging ahead sans drugs.
There are so many characters in this book that I didn’t know who to suspect. Several new people come into her life to assist her on her quest for justice which made me immediately suspicious. The story became tedious at times especially around her escalating drug use, but I was impressed with her tenacity and dedication to the truth. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. I gave this it 2 ½ stars rounded up to 3.