Science Fiction
About 16% into Mistress of the Underground and the hook is clear enough: Doctor Benjamin Davison can heal supernatural beings, and that’s doing the heavy lifting so far.
What I’m still waiting on is the mood to settle properly. The premise is interesting, but it’s the atmosphere that will tell me if this is my sort of book or just a clever idea with a gothic coat on. Right now it feels like one for readers who want the paranormal angle first and the romance or tension to build from there.
What I’m still waiting on is the mood to settle properly. The premise is interesting, but it’s the atmosphere that will tell me if this is my sort of book or just a clever idea with a gothic coat on. Right now it feels like one for readers who want the paranormal angle first and the romance or tension to build from there.
The premise does feel like it’s doing the heavy lifting, which can be fine if the book leans into it properly. I’m usually more interested in whether a paranormal romance has a distinct voice than whether the setup is clever. If the atmosphere is thin, I start noticing every familiar beat. That’s when it becomes very easy to put down without guilt.
That premise does more for me than a plain paranormal romance setup, but I’d still want the book to know what kind of tension it’s building. Healing supernatural beings can go either way: rich and eerie, or just functional worldbuilding. If the atmosphere is thin, I’m out. If it leans into unease and character pressure, I’d be much more interested.