#lady sherlock

[alrightsnaps]

young sherlock this enola holmes that IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE LADY SHERLOCK SERIES

[deliciousdetectivestranger]

Charlotte understood the charges of profligacy and shallowness pelted at the Upper Ten Thousand, at those whose entire lives revolved around endless arrays of entertainment. But she also knew that for those on the inside, it was the only way they had been taught to live. Few, in the end, ever truly defied the way they were taught to live.

To be thought of as the perfect woman for a man isn’t a compliment to a woman, it’s more about how a man sees himself—and what he needs.

“For a woman raised to be purely ornamental, marriage is her livelihood. If Lady Ingram hadn’t married for money she would have been a fool.” “So you truly don’t despise Lady Ingram?” “For making rational choices for herself? No, I do not despise her. I do not applaud her, but I do not find her decision to marry the richest man interested in her reprehensible.”

A Conspiracy in Belgravia by Sherry Thomas

Mrs. Watson had once relayed to Charlotte an opinion on an adolescent Lady Ingram, by a woman who had worked for the Grevilles. Her main impression of Lady Ingram at that age was one of frustration. A frustration that approached rage, at times. Lady Ingram hadn’t been angry because she’d wished to marry a different man, as Mrs. Watson had thought at the time, but because her life hadn’t been her own. Charlotte did not pity Lady Ingram—the woman played no small role in her own fate. But she sometimes thought of the former Miss Alexandra Greville, brought to London and told to smile, told to be happy that an eligible man loved her, told that upon marriage she would have everything a woman could desire. When it should have been obvious to all who knew her that such a life would unravel her. Yet they’d pushed it on her with all their might—and made it plain that for her to do anything else would be a gross betrayal to her family. Perhaps she had always been a monster, but even the lady monsters of the world couldn’t escape the expectations that came of being women.

Hollow of Fear by Sherry Thomas

I love Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas. It's genderbent version of the OG Sherlock Holmes. The characters are intriguing, the plot is engaging and the romance while minimal leaves one yearning for more. There is friendship, sisterhood, mentorship, queer as well as autisitc and anxiety ridden characters, different perspectives from people who have lived varied lives, the feminism isn't too on nose. It's really good.

Though the one character I can't get out of my head is Alexandra Greville or as she is more commonly know Lady Ingram. Though unlike with Mrs. Watson who is bisexual, it's never specified that Charlotte is demisexual or that Former Lady Ingram she is aro-ace but it's the conclusion I've come to.

I truly love Lord Ingram or Ash as his friends call him, he is a good father, friend, person; in fact a literal green forest. But my heart breaks for this woman and all others in the past and present who are tied to the marriage yoke because it's the norm and good for them.

This doesn't mean I support her actions of being a spy for Moriarty, plotting her husband's murder, and even unknowingly giving up her sister's life to save her own but I can't ignore the fact that she did this to escape a life that was thrust upon her.

She could've done better, her actions are inexcusable but it's just not fair that women are confined to a certain life no matter the era.

And a standing ovation to Sherry Thomas for creating such compelling characters.

[princeturveydrop]

Charlotte Holmes: calm in a crisis, able to mask her feelings, tells people only what they need to know

Also Charlotte Holmes: (swinging a pointed stick) GOT ANY DEAD BODIES IN THIS GARDEN?!

[readatrix]

"Remind yourself that you're far more likely to undercharge than overcharge, my dear, because you don't yet understand your value, and you've never been taught to demand your full worth." ~Sherry Thomas, A Study in Scarlet Women.

[enigma731]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

I suppose if I'm gonna reblog stuff about giving me fic motivation, I should post this here even if I know most of you don't Go Here. If you end up reading it, please comment?

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Relationships: Ingram Ashburton/Charlotte Holmes

Characters: Charlotte Holmes (Lady Sherlock), Ingram Ashburton, Joanna Watson (Lady Sherlock), Penelope Redmayne

Additional Tags: Fake Character Death, Trauma, Injury Recovery, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Developing Relationship

Summary:

“She might have had no choice," said Mrs. Watson. "She might have been abducted, or held prisoner. Oh god, what if he’s had her this entire time and we simply believed --”

“No,” Lord Ingram cut in. He knew Holmes. She would not have remained a prisoner for two years without finding a way to send so much as a coded message. But choosing to take matters into her own hands, and damn the feelings of those who loved her?

Well, therein lay the rub, didn’t it? That was something she absolutely would do.

(A multi-chapter AU where the ending of book 6 was a lot meaner.)

[readersguidetotheuniverse]

Enola Holmes and other mysteries

With the new Netflix series “Enola Holmes” coming out this week, the platform has turned a page in the representation of the well-known (and loved) character of Sherlock Holmes. The fact that it is now a female that “leads” the adventure, and in the midst of the Me Too movement, it is a huge change in the industry. Yes, we’ve seen other female-led mystery or thriller movies/shows but none like the emblematic figure of Sherlock.

That being said, the book industry has been re-writing the history of the famous detective over and over again, so here are some examples and other recommendations from the same genre by yours truly.

The Case of the Missing Marquess (Enola Holmes #1), by Nancy Springer

This is the first of 6 books in which the movie is based. As I haven’t watched it yet (on writing date, it hasn’t come out) I can’t really say if it changes much from the book or if it says true to the character. The only thing I can say is that I really hope they do because the cast is amazing and from what is shown on the trailer it seems that the main plot stays the same.

Enola is a fresh take on who is supposed to be the “hidden” sister of the infamous Sherlock Holmes. He is known in this universe, but she was born later on and as the youngest of the Holmes siblings is sheltered and lives with her mother until she is sent to school.

A Study in Scarlet Women (Lady Sherlock, #1), by Sherry Thomas

The main twist in this version of Conan Doyle’s story is that the main character, Charlotte Holmes, simply acts in the shadows. Charlotte stays very much true to what Sherlock embodies in the original novels: she is an outcast from society, she wants more from life, in this case, than what her parents are willing to give or provide for her; and she is cunning and intelligent to the point of arrogance at times.

Still set in Victorian times, Charlotte faces the difficulties of being a woman in the 19th century. She cannot work without permission, be it from her father or her husband; she will not be seen as a serious detective because, at the time, no one took women for intelligent  creatures to say the least. So she “gives away” her virtue to a man she deems suitable and off she goes into the world, solving cases. She finds accomodation with Mrs Watson (yes, there’s also a female Watson) who also provides the cover for Charlotte to get more cases: she is living with her sick brother, Sherlock, who cannot even get out of bed. 

What grabbed me from this (ongoing) series is the way the author captured the struggles Charlotte had to face but still made her an independent woman, giving her traits from the original character but bringing new and modern views to the story. Be sure to grab a copy of this book if you enjoy historical mysteries with female protagonists. Take into account that this is also a romance novel and there are some steamy scenes throughout the series.

Oh and there’s a new one coming out in October so you can bet your cute little asses that I’ll be grabbing a copy as soon as I can!

A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1), by Brittany Cavallaro

A Study in Charlotte also focuses on a female Holmes but set in Modern times. In a world where Sherlock Holmes was an actual detective that lived in Victorian Times and James Watson the one who wrote about his cases, Charlotte Holmes is a direct descendant from the famous detective. The Watsons and the Holmes have had a difficult history throughout time, but there’s pressure for Charlotte and the young Watson boy to (at the very least) get along. Jamie is pretty much in love with her from the get go and, as this is a YA/mystery/romance novel it’s apparent that they will get together in later books. The cases are not so interesting as the more “adult” novels or the original ones but they would be appealing to a younger audience and that’s what it did to me, as I was younger when I read it and their problems seemed “closer” to me. 

I will ignore the fact that both these novels take their (might I say unoriginal) titles from the first Sherlock Holmes book written by Doyle: A Study in Scarlet. And also, I get that Sherlock and Charlotte sound the same, but come on, there could be other names in this case.

A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell), by Deanna Raybourn

If you enjoyed the previously cited A Study in Scarlet Women, you will also enjoy the adventures of Veronica Speedwell. Our young heroine also lives in the Victorian era and is also shunned by her peers. After being orphaned by both her aunts (who raised her from birth), she is free to roam the world in search of exotic butterflies and the occasional romance, for she will not bed an Enlishman (her words, not mine). But her plans are set asunder when someone tries to murder her. She will have to solve that mystery (and many more) with the help of the ruggish Stoker.

I fell in love with Veronica when I first read this book because she is an awesome explorer that needs no man and makes her own way in life by doing what she loves. She is not a Sherlock Holmes by any means but she does love a mystery and she is pretty capable of solving one. This is also a historical/mystery/romance novel and, of course, the scene is set for a romance to bloom between Veronica and Stoker. 

Deanna Raybourn also has another series called Lady Julia Gray that also has a female mystery-solving lead set in Victorian times if you want to keep on reading more of that. I’ve recently started it and I’m enjoying it a lot ;)

[firebunny3000]

I am adventurous on the Library App, trying books I know nothing about. One of my favorite discoveries is The Lady Sherlock Series by Sherry Thomas. I’m on book three now and just gobbling it up

[amandaklwrites]

Top Ten Favorite Book Series

And here’s another Top Ten in my series! This one is about book series that I have read in the past, or have been reading over time. Of course, these can change over time, but I know all of these will be very important to me. So, here they are, in no particular order! 

1. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

I loved this series since I first discovered them. I know not a lot of people like them, or at least aspects of them, and I do understand some problems with them. But I had found the first two books when I had moved in with my boyfriend at the time, and I fell absolutely in love with them. The last book came out when during my last year in college and I didn’t complete any homework for like a week. I love these books because of the important themes she had written, and there were a few scenes that made me cry, especially in the last book. I loved the friendships and complicated characters she created.

2. Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Again, I found this series around the time I had discovered Throne of Glass. But they were all out already, and I actually met Leigh at a book event for the last book. I loved this series more so for the darkness of its tone, and the Darkling is my favorite fictional villain, hands down. But I remember being so amazed while reading this trilogy because I had discovered I could write dark, dark stuff if I wanted, and it fed that part of me.

3. Gemma Doyle Trilogy by Libba Bray

I read this trilogy in high school, and I remember loving it so much. So I recently did a reread and I loved it just as much. I liked the tone, the characters, the settings and the magic. It has always been that stuck out to me, and I’m so glad I had found it when I did.

4. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

This series had changed my life, honest to god. Surprising to most, I hadn’t been a big reader growing up. I read some stuff (most Narnia, Spiderwick, Alice in Wonderland, etc), and I could never find the kinds of books I had always wanted to read. I was a sophomore in high school when I was looking through my local small bookstore, and I saw the cover of a young man in Victorian attire (my favorite time period forever!), and I remember reading the back and I was instantly intrigued. And I fell in love with it. Not only did it spark my reading as a teenager, helping me find the genres and stories I liked, but it had been with me through important times. When I had been through an awful depression that led to an attempted suicide my junior year, I was reading this series. I remember reading the second book that year in my yearbook class, and I read through class, which annoyed one of my guy friends that I sat with. When I finished the last book in the hidden classroom behind a class I was a tutor for, I cried. I sobbed as I read the epilogue, and I remember just staring at the wall for the rest of that time. This series broke and remade me, and I think it has huge influence on me personally.

5. Sands of Arawiya duology by Hafsah Faizal

I just read this series a couple of months ago, and my god, did I love it. I loved the world, the characters, the deep, meaningful friendships. This one surprised me in so many ways, and I didn’t want to stop reading it. I loved it so, so much and it’s important to my heart.

6. Red Queen series by Victoria Aveyard

I see mix reviews on this series, especially the later books. But I personally loved them. I loved the adventure and magic system and my god did I love the twists. Maven Calore is probably one of the most interesting characters I have ever read. I loved how complicated and destructive it was, and the war tactics and plots were great.

7. An Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir

My god, Sabaa knows how to make really, really complicated situations for characters. Talk about torturing your own characters. And I think that was what I learned from these books, as a writer myself. She made strong, powerful characters and threw them through hell, to see where they came out. But I loved the way they wrapped up, the arcs of the characters, the beauty of their closeness. It’s just a beautiful series.

8. Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas

This is just a fun series. It combines some of my favorite things—women detectives, Victorian England, mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes. But I love that Sherlock Holmes is actually a woman. They’re great books that put twists on the original books and I adore so much about them.

9. Stalking Jack the Ripper series by Kerri Maniscalco

What a great series! I loved these more with each book. I love Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell, as lovers and as partners, so much. But they are both intriguing in their own ways. And I adored how Kerri used different historical/pop culture aspects in her books—Jack the Ripper, Dracula, Houdini, and the Devil in the White City. They are great mysteries with loveable characters and I love it so much.

10. Well Met series by Jen DeLuca

Now, I love this series for just dumb (but personal) reasons. First of all, I haven’t found many romance books that I like. I find most of them too silly and cheesy. But I didn’t have that case with these. I found them hilarious and fun and heartwarming. But second of all, they’re set a Renaissance Faire! We have a Renaissance Faire that comes every year about thirty-forty minutes away from where I live, and I have been going every year (you know, except for last year and probably this year) for thirteen or fourteen years. It’s important to me, and it marks time for me. So, that’s why I love these.

Runner Up: Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters

This is a wonderful series. It spoke to my love of mysteries, but also Egyptology (I almost went to school for archaeology/Egyptology!). I love that Elizabeth Peters was an archaeologist, that gives a real-life feel to these as well. Plus, like you know me, Victorian period! I think Amelia Peabody is one of the greatest female leads, and I think the romance/love between her and Emerson. It totally reminds me of Evie and Rick in The Mummy, so if you love those movies, check out these books. I haven’t finished the series yet, but I think I’ve gotten halfway through, and I love them so much.

I love all these books, way too much probably. They all have a special place in my heart and yeah... I love them. I’ve said that so much haven’t I?