Review: The Strange Case of The Alchemist’s Daughter
Rating: 3.5 Stars
This book is another good book from 2017. I find that it is not given the credit it deserves. Reading it was so much fun, something that we forget that we need in our lives. Ever wonder why all the famous monsters in fiction are male? Whatever happened to their female counterparts? Or what if they had female versions, only no one knew about them? This book takes some of the strangest creatures from literary fiction, and makes them into someone you would want to go on an adventure with. Even while facing the horrible villains, you want to stay with this gang of girls and see how they get out of each scrape.
When Dr. Jekyll’s daughter, Mary, is left penniless after her mother’s death, she decides to find her father’s former colleague, Edward Hyde, who is wanted for murder even after so many years. The reason for her interest is of course the reward that still exists on his capture. Mary asks for help from Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson who only agree to humour her.
When she insists on accompanying Dr. Watson to an orphanage, she has no idea that she is about to meet Mr. Hyde’s daughter, Diana, who declares herself Mary’s sister! Diana is an uncouth, untidy, feral child who has no use for rules and etiquette. She tries Mary’s patience, antagonizes Mary’s housekeeper and is a thorn in everyone’s side. But she is more than willing to go along with Mary to search for the elusive Mr. Hyde.
As they set off on an adventure, they gather with them a motley crew consisting of Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherine Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein, all considered monsters and misfits in a society obsessed with perfection. In the course of their crazy enterprise, they discover a secret society of mad scientists and gradually realize that some of these scientists are up to no good.
As the author takes them through London, get ready for an insane and funny ride with female monsters who have been ignored by authors over the centuries. A thoroughly engaging and entertaining read.