Meet Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead. Dr. Greta Helsing has inherited the family’s highly specialized, and highly peculiar, medical practice. She treats the undead for a host of ills – vocal strain in banshees, arthritis in barrow-wights, and entropy in mummies. It’s a quiet, supernatural-adjacent life, until a sect of murderous monks emerges, killing human and undead Londoners alike. As … Londoners alike. As terror takes hold of the city, Greta must use her unusual skills to stop the cult if she hopes to save her practice, and her life.more
Strange Practice
By vivianshaw
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“His mind felt full of shattered ice and quicksand, all sharp edges and dull helpless sliding at once, poisoned with blue, drunk with it.”
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This was a cool find, and not quite what I expected.
Dr. Greta Helsing (the family dropped the “van”) is in the family business. She serves as the go-to medical practitioner for the Things That Go Bump In The Night – she takes care of them and they, in turn, as we learn as the story develops, more than take care of her in return… When a new, unidentified, source starts attacking London’s TTGBITN, Dr. Helsing quickly steps in, hunting the hunters who are hunting her and her friends… Sound confusing? It’s really not – and the story development and cast of characters are more than original enough to keep you entertained, curious, and in suspense throughout the book.
Both Greta and her “monsters” are more human than you might expect in a book about supernatural characters. Their foibles and quirks are endearing and make them eminently relatable. From the blurb and the opening pages, I rather expected Greta to be much more stiff-upper-lipped than she turned out to be. I was pleased to be surprised in this regard; I often think that protagonists are a little too perfectly prepared for what comes their way in supernatural stories – or at least too perfectly, unflappably, adaptable. Real life is messy and off-kilter and throws even the most stoic for a loop now and then – it was a refreshing delight to see protagonists be similarly situated, especially because they persevered nevertheless. It made the story more interesting and the characters much more believable.
Add on to that a delightful story-telling style and original voice, and you have a recipe for success in my book! There were teasers in the text suggesting more adventures for the indomitable Dr. Greta, and a preview of the next installment was provided – I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what she and her fascinating team of compatriots stumble up against next…
My review copy was provided by NetGalley.
Oh my gosh, i have a new obsession. I got book 3 in this series on some kind of audio special and decided to listen, not realizing i was plunging into a wildly complex world. But i adored it and have now gone back to book 1, which Strange Practice is. These wildly intense urban fantasies should be much too scary for me (i can’t listen to them right before bed! LOL) but their imaginative world-building and fabulous characters get me past the frightening parts. Packed with every kind of supernatural creature from vampires to ghouls to angels, the stories are grounded by the most wonderful central character, Dr. Greta Helsing. Compassionate, curious, and utterly practical, she’s the perfect counterpoint to all the wildness. Hey, there’s even a romance. Right now, there are only 3 books in the series. I wish there were 20.
I’ve just finished all three in these series… one right after the other! Creative, fun, an engaging voice and above all unique. I love it when a book makes me look forward to free time so I can fall back into the story.
If you are a fan of fantasy that is less grim dark and more nice people getting things done, then this is one for you. Greta van Helsing is a supernatural doctor and there are wonderful vampires and other critters and some scary villains but it’s overall hopeful and nice and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve read the second book and eagerly await the third!
As a self-confessed paranormal fiction addict, I was delighted to find a new author (to me). What a joy this book was to read and what a disappointment when I had to turn the final page (not disappointed about the plot, but the fact I’d finished the book. I wanted it to continue forever). The author’s witty prose is second to none and lies perfectly alongside technical and somewhat gruesome (not too much) details.
At last a novel packed with vampires and vampyres (don’t ask) who aren’t bodice ripping, six-pack stomached hunks who turn to dust in daylight. It is true, though, that they don’t like garlic. Demons appear as relatable characters and the Devil’s not such a bad chap either.
A joyously exciting read, thoroughly recommend it, and Ms Shaw has found herself another fan.
Vivian Shaw makes interestingly into fascinatingly weird…!!! In Strange Practice (Dr. Greta Helsing, #1) her storytelling and creative wording develop into rich scenes the reader is able to visualize. It’s original. A dark, chilling, UNPREDICTABLE read. Lots of action-packed thrills and destruction. With some silliness and a few tears added in. The characters are ones the reader can bond and build an ongoing relationships with. Join for more adventures. Again and again. Gretalina (Greta) Helsing, a young doctor, has continued her father’s clinic. Her personal life consists of making house calls. She is a Supernatural physician, her patient base does not technically exist. Edmund Ruthven, an extremely bored vampire whose mansion has many empty guest rooms. Both his existence and home are about to become full. With an expanding cast of supernaturals and humans they are up against homicidal monks in brown hooded robes and…blue glowing eyes ?? VS has created a world where… London’s rivers…flowing on and on…endless darkness…It’s November rain…type… goes down collars, under hoods, up sleeves… And chilling moments/creatures have both book character and reader discover that the little hairs on the back of the arm are standing straight. I received an ARC of Strange Practice from Orbit publishing, through NetGalley, for an honest review. My further description of Strange Practice cheats future reader from time which could be spent actually reading this great book !! Please hurry with the sequel, Bad Company !!!
What a delight! I was pulled into the story, enjoyed the many characters, and am looking forward to the next installment! Greta Helsing is a wonderful heroine. Her job, as doctor to the undead and unreal, is fascinating. There needs to be some fleshing out for the other female characters, (they tend to be cardboard cutouts, especially the other doctors in her clinic). But the vampires and Greta are fantastic characters – I really can’t wait to see where this series is leading!
The book has a great premise: a doctor whose practice is devoted to “other beings” such as vampires, zombies, demons, banshees, etc. However, the particular tale is not that original nor engaging. While entertaining it also leans more towards a younger reading public.
Absolutely enjoyed this van helsingesk tale of the paranormal and strange. Greta is such a great character and absolutely love Varney. I looked forward to seeing what comes of Greta’s little family of friends and loved ones.
The first book in a trilogy; I loved all three. Our heroine, Dr. Helsing, is a physician to the undead, supernatural, and other creatures unknown to the general populace of London. With her best friend, a charming vampire, and assistance from a vampyre (note the specific spelling) who develops feelings for her, Greta saves the world in each book. There’s light humor and deep emotion.
It really was the characters and the comfortable way they were written that made me love this book. Definitely going to continue the series.
This book really held my attention. It was very gripping, with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. Loved it.
A sweet story about a human doctor who cares for supernatural patients in modern London. Together, the good doctor and some of her more powerful patients face down an extremely old and extremely evil being. They find strength together where they thought they were weak, and companionship when they thought they were alone.