Review: Something Strange & Deadly by Susan Dennard

I'm so excited to be a part of the Something Strange and Deadly ARC tour*! Haven't heard of this book yet? Read the blurb below.

Goodreads blurb:

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.

What I Liked About It: There are a lot of things I like about this book: the amazing detail from the Victorian era Philly to the tightness of the prose. Eleanor is a strong female character who doesn't seem out of place in the time period like what happens with a lot of heroines in historicals.

What You Should Know: I hate historicals because of the stilted language that usually comes with it. Something Strange & Deadly doesn't have this problem. Dennard's ability to "modernize" the narration while not at the same time is fantastic.

Click here to go to the ARC tour page!

* Thanks to Holly Dodson for arranging this!