#mina holmes

[coppermate]

Just finished watching Enola Holmes on Netflix with Millie Bobby Brown, and all I can think about is a movie version of Stoker & Holmes!!

Like she would be PERFECT to play either Evaline or Mina! And the guy who played Lord Tewksbury needs to be Pix. Like he looks almost exactly how I imaged Pix!

I mean, look at them! Such adorable chemistry! They would make a perfect pair of casting for Evaline and Pix.

[thetolkiengeek]

Does anybody else read the Stoker and Holmes series? Because I just finished the last book, and I have FEELINGS

[libamericaorg]

Charlotte About To Be Invaded By Orange Calf Worshipers (VIDEO)

Charlotte About To Be Invaded By Orange Calf Worshipers (VIDEO)

By reality-based standards, Donald Trump’s presidency is very close to the rocks. According to Nate Silver’s model of approval poll averages, Trump only has an approval rating of 42.4 percent as of Wednesday night. Even at this early stage, this would be code-calling territory for any politician. But those approval ratings would be even lower than that if not for the large number of white…

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[sherlockholmesbracket]

Mina Holmes from the "Stoker & Holmes" book series

Niece of Sherlock Holmes, reluctantly involved in the family business, Mina Holmes!

[ramblingypsy]

A posting of ramblings and reading notes.

Starting off with a personal entry because I feel like I need to post something about *this.* I could have finished the book sooner but had a medical emergency that left me quite a bit anti-social. I tried not to be but there are times when you just feel like keeping to yourself for a while. It's not anxiety or depression. I just needed a break. Anyway, I am slowly moving on although I am enjoying the me-time. I was able to catch up on my shows. Sadly, most of them just had their season finales too.

Now, my reading notes...I finished reading The Chess Queen Enigma, the third book of the Stoker & Holmes series by Colleen Gleason in the weekend. Overall, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next volume.

From the author's website:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood, so to speak.

In this third installment of the Stoker and Holmes series, Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes have reluctantly agreed to act as social chaperones and undercover bodyguards for Princess Lurelia of Betrovia, who has arrived in London to deliver a letter that details the secret location of an ancient chess queen that’s been missing for centuries. But when the letter—which will heal a centuries-old rift between England and the Betrovians—is stolen out from under Evaline and Mina’s watchful eyes, the two girls are forced into a high-stakes race to ensure they find the chess queen before anyone else does.

My Notes:

The series focuses on the missing chess pieces that lead to a treasure supposedly shared by England and Betrovia. The chess queen had been hidden for centuries, until a letter from Queen Elizabeth was found containing clues that may reveal its true location. The letter was found by Princess Lurelia (probably the most deliberately boring character ever known) of Betrovia and was delivered to the British Empire upon their visit.

In this visit, Evaline and Mina are tasked to "protect" and chaperone the Princess during her stay. Mentioned in the story was another incident between the two countries -- that of which they are also trying to avoid from recurring.

And, as mysteries go, events do not necessarily go as planned which takes Evaline and Mina deep into the treasure hunt and a close encounter with the Ankh. Yes, the Ankh is back. In full force. Woot.

As for the main & secondary characters, the irritated exchange between them is quite funny. The plot was exciting (but not in a hold-your-breath kind of way). The story was suspenseful and the interactions were witty, if not intriguing. The story ends with a semi-cliffhanger. And this time, not all heroes were victorious.

There was one part that I thought was done sooner than expected. Spoilers. But I did think that *it* was a little out of place anyway.

The alter-England is set in Victorian times with a few wonderful twists. I love the multi-level walkways and high-rises that remind me of the movie High Rise. Sort of.

If there's one thing I love about this series, it's seeing the world and situation in two different perspectives. One chapter may be written in Miss Stoker's voice, the next in Miss Holmes.'

When you get a chance to read the series, drop me a note. I'd love to hear what you think about the story and characters.

Reading next: back on the Thursday Next series.

[kk-donna]

Just in case you missed it!

[ramblingypsy]

Stoker and Holmes, a series by Colleen Gleason

Clockwork Scarab, was a wonderful Christmas treat from S. It was Christmas Eve when I attempted to read the paperback version, simply forgetting that these things do not come with a backlight or nightlight. Needless to say, I had to dig through my drawers for my dusty old booklight. A task proven to be worth the rummage.

Clockwork Scarab, from the author's website:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business. But when you’re the sister of Bram and the niece of Sherlock, vampire hunting and mystery solving are in your blood, so to speak.

And when two young society girls disappear—one dead, one missing—there’s no one more qualified to investigate.

Now fierce Evaline and logical Mina must resolve their rivalry, navigate the advances of not one but three mysterious gentlemen, and solve a murder with only one clue: a strange Egyptian scarab.

The pressure is on, and the stakes are high—if Stoker and Holmes don’t figure out why London’s finest sixteen-year-old women are in danger, they’ll become the next victims.

My Notes:

Mina Holmes tells us, "There are a limited number of excuses for a young, intelligent woman of seventeen to be traversing the fog-shrouded streets of London at midnight."

It may sound a bit sinister, but overall, this was a really, really fun read. It falls under the steam punk category, but I would say that it is a "lighter" version. Steampunk-inspired? Cogs, and all.

This is a YA book.

Our two heroines, Alvermina "Mina" Holmes and Evaline Stoker are polar opposites. They begin with no or awkward chemistry. But I think that was the intention. They are of the same age. Probably the only thing they have -- or had -- in common.

Mina, as she prefers to be called, is Sherlock Holmes' niece (daughter of Mycroft). She has the same deductive ability common to the Holmes family. And the "nose" that goes with it. She is very logical, book-smart, analytical, opinionated, and thinks very highly of herself despite completely lacking in social graces.

Evaline Stoker, the sister of Bram Stoker, is the next venator in the family. Given that her ancestor (grandma, I think) Victoria has killed most of the vampires in London, she feels restless and anxious about being able to prove herself worthy of the title. Her mentor is mentioned and referred to as Siri. [Insert Joke Here. Ha. Ha.] Other than that, she is described as being beautiful and socially active.

In the beginning, these two are very judgemental about each other. Again, intentionally I think. Despite their differences, they are both brilliant. They compliment each other.

They are brought together by their "handler", Ms. Irene Adler from the Sherlock mysteries. Their employer is the Princess of Wales.

As with most YA books, the heroines are impulsive and make wrong decisions. One would commit the mistake, while one rescues the other. They take turns doing so. Then, there are boys. Boys from different backgrounds...and time. These "man child"(s? man-children? lol) show interest but you're not quite so sure if they know what they want. Yet.

Plotwise, it is very similar to the Sherlock Holmes stories. If only, lighter. Thus, being in the YA genre. The flow and reveal were well-executed. There is a good blend of mystery, suspense, and action. Just remember the genre it belongs to. Overall, I enjoyed the book that I grabbed the next in the series.

My favorite part? The dual perspective. The book is written in both Miss Holmes and Miss Stoker's "voices."

Spiritglass Charade, from the author's website:

Evaline Stoker and Mina Holmes never meant to get into the family business, but after the Affair of the Clockwork Scarab, they are eager to help Princess Alix with a new case close to her heart. Seventeen-year-old Willa Ashton is obsessed with spiritual mediums, convinced she is speaking with her mother from beyond.

While Mina is determined to prove Miss Ashton is the hapless victim of fraud, Evaline senses there is something more sinister—or otherworldly—at work. The list of clues piles up—an unexpected murder, the return of vampires to London, and a mysterious spiritglass—but are these things connected?

As Uncle Sherlock would say, “There are no coincidences.” It will take all of Mina’s wit and Evaline’s muscle to keep London’s sinister underground at bay.

My Notes:

The adventure continues as both girls are asked to serve Her Majesty in another endeavor.

I have to admit. The mystery surrounding Ms. Ashton's cray-ness was interesting. We do see, just like Mina, that the seances are fraudulent. But, you start to wonder as to what's causing her irrational behavior.

Then, you start a list of suspects. Eliminate some. Bring them back. Take them out again. And eventually prove yourself right for guessing who was behind all that. But HOW. So, you backtrack. You keep saying, Oh! Oh! Oh! at some point. But you're still missing details. Important details.

If there's one thing that annoyed me, it was all the whining. Then...I slapped and reminded myself that they're teenagers. Moving on...

There is one character who I thought was ok at first but now think that he is not only an opportunist, but a certified arse as well. And yes, it was a man-child. The other two, I look forward in finding out how they truly fit in the series.

I enjoyed the villains in this book as much as the first one. I do wish she would add more surrounding stories about the villains. The first one's resolve was left hanging, which I presume will be addressed in a later volume. But this one, however brilliant the idea may be...it would be nice to have gotten more insight about them.

I thought that the "world-building" got even better in this book. The names for places are quite inventive. So is the idea of having flavored pickles in your drinks. Slurp. Would you like a candied carrot?

In this volume, both heroines remain dynamic and take turns being the main character and the influence character. Character growth was definitely visible as well. Learning more about yourself can be done through how you perceive other people.

Lastly, Siri is mentioned again in this book. With a curious reveal.

Those of you who have read the first two...

Is it much better to trust your instincts than listen to those around you? And, is it completely acceptable to keep secrets from those closest to you if it protects them?

For those who haven't read, don't forget to grab a copy!

The third book in the series is underway.