How are you all today? I hope you’re well!
I’ve just finished reading A Curious Beginning, #1 in the Veronica Speedwell series by Deanna Raybourn and I really enjoyed it!
4 stars!
In A Curious Beginning, set in 1887, we start with Veronica, our FMC who is presiding over the death of her guardian Aunt Nell. She was brought up by two women, Aunt Nell and Aunt Lucy but neither of those women were family…who is her family? I’ll let you determine for yourself but that’s just the start of Veronica’s story! She’s a 24 year old, lepidopterist. She often refers to butterflies, she sees. After the funeral of Aunt Nell, Veronica is met by a mysterious character in that of Baron Maximilian von Stauffenbach or just Max. Max takes Veronica to Stoker, a recluse of a man, more intent on his discoveries and fantasies than any real world involvement. He is trying to put an elephant back together again, when they first meet for example. She is under Max’s and Stoker’s protection. That is until Max is killed in suspicious circumstances. Then it’s ultimately up to Stoker to look after her. Veronica and Stoker find themselves at a circus before heading to London in search of answers! What troubles do they find themselves in? And what, ultimately is the goal of the elusive assailant in finding out who Veronica truly is? We don’t know this in this novel, but the series has several novels (at least 10) so I’m really excited to go on this adventure with Veronica and Stoker to find the answers!
I read “A Curious Beginning” for a few readathons. They were:
Genre Highlight - Mystery - A key theme of “A Curious Beginning” is mystery. The main mystery is focused around Max and why he’s murdered, but I believe the series builds on that mystery as it goes on…
Always Fully Booked - “Read Through the Ages” Challenge - 1870’s-1880’s. A Curious Beginning is a historical mystery.
Spoilers Below…
“Stoker is a complex fellow, but I have never known a man more honorable. He owes me a debt of gratitude, and his own conscience will not permit him to fail me if I call upon his aid. I would trust Stoker with the thing I hold most dear in the whole of the world,” the baron said.
“You would trust him with your life?” I challenged.
“No, child. I would trust him with yours.”
This is after Veronica meets Baron Maximilian von Stauffenbach, at the beginning of the novel. He insists that she goes to a man called Stoker but tells her he’s a complex fellow. He is this and then some, as Veronica learns to accept. That’s what I loved most about Stoker, in “A Curious Beginning,” I think. That he was different. All male leads now are good looking without necessarily being smart too. However, Stoker is both handsome as well as intellectual. I love these sorts of men in books! I believe there are more things we will uncover about Stoker as the series goes on, too.
What I loved the most about “A Curious Beginning” was that it was like a character story on both Veronica and Stoker and I love when this happens in books! I hate a purely plot driven book! You need the characters first. The plot comes after that in importance for me. I loved how Veronica actually asks the Baron, whom she’s only just met if he trusts Stoker with his life and I loved the Baron’s response even more…this sets up the plot for the rest of the book and series, I believe. I can’t wait to read/see what happens between Veronica and Stoker relationship wise as well as plot wise…
The Baron is killed just after this part of the story, off page. The mystery is what happened to him as well as who Veronica truly is! I won’t spoil that here because it’s the crux of the plot but it surprised me.
Veronica and Stoker become a circus knife throwing act, as they hide Veronica away from a stranger following her. Why is this stranger following her? What does he know of her past, again, I’ll remain quiet about this here but it’s a good plot that kept me guessing throughout.
Overall then, I loved “A Curious Beginning!” I’m giving the story 4 stars just because the romance hasn’t really developed yet, but I found it hilarious and very cute all the same.
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