The Fascination by Essie Fox

Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly Lovell are identical in every way, except that Tilly hasn't grown a single inch since she was five. Coerced into promoting their father's quack elixir as they tour the country fairgrounds, at the age of fifteen the girls are sold to a mysterious Italian known as ‘Captain’.

Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has a dark interest in anatomical freaks and other curiosities ... particularly the human kind. Resenting his grandson for his mother’s death in childbirth, when Seabrook remarries and a new heir is produced, Theo is forced to leave home without a penny to his name.

Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London, and here he meets Captain and his theatrical ‘family’ of performers, freaks and outcasts.

But it is Theo’s fascination with Tilly and Keziah that will lead all of them into a dark web of deceits, exposing unthinkable secrets and threatening everything they know...

About the author

Essie Fox was born and raised in rural Herefordshire, which inspires much of her writing.

After studying English Literature at Sheffield University, she moved to London where she worked for the Telegraph Sunday Magazine, and then book publishers George Allen & Unwin, before becoming self-employed in the world of art and design. Essie now spends her time writing historical gothic novels. Her debut, The Somnambulist, was shortlisted for the National Book Awards, and featured on Channel 4’s TV Book Club. The Last Days of Leda Grey, set in the early years of silent film, was selected as The Times Historical Book of the Month. Essie is also the creator of the popular blog: The Virtual Victorian. She has lectured on this era at the V&A, and the National Gallery in London.

Review

I love gothic historical fiction so I knew this would appeal to me and boy I wasn't wrong! This is a book that is packed with tension, dark storylines, brilliant characters and an overriding sense of hope.

Twin sisters Keziah and Tilly are identical in every way apart from that Tilly stopped growing when she was 5. They are forced to parade around fairs in southern England, whilst promoting their fathers quack elixir. Then when they are aged 15 they are sold to a mysterious Italian known as the ‘Captain’. Theo is an orphan, raised by his grandfather, Lord Seabrook, a man who has an obsession with anatomical freaks and other curiosities. When he remarries and produces a new heir he throws Theo out of his home without a penny to his name. Theo finds employment in Dr Summerwell’s Museum of Anatomy in London. It is here that he is introduced to the Captain and his performers. Theo’s fascinated by the twins and this starts off a deadly chain of events…

I loved Theo as a character, there was an air of innocence and goodness that radiates from him right from the start to the end. I was so pleased that this didn’t change dispute the events which took place. Basically, an orphan but under the care of his grandfather, he grew up with a lack of compassion and love apart from those employed to look after him. He grows up to be a steady young man but with a fascination of what is different and imagines what could be through inspiration from the classics and myths he learnt as a schoolboy.

We also learn about the lives of the twins Keziah and Tilly Lovell. They like Theo are brought up in a less than loving household after their mother died when they were young. They have a father who would rather exploit their differences for material gain by making them tour local fairs and selling an expensive tonic that apparently allowed Tilly to grow strong whilst Keziah stopped growing at the age of 5. Tilly is shown as the girl who never grew up, but is blessed with talents that Keziah wished she had. Keziah is fiercely protective of Tilly though and will do anything for her.

Essie Fox has a way of creating characters that will stay in your heart for years to come. For me in this book it was Theo and Keziah who were the stars but even the supporting characters were fully drawn and vibrant. Each had a ‘difference’ or a traumatic backstory. The way Essie created villains though was outstanding. The writing manages to express the creepiness and downright evilness of some, where you can feel the hair on your arm definitely not liking what you are reading!

This book isn’t just about the suspense and mystery aspects it also tacked the theme of injustices of society, how one cope with being labelled as ‘different’ and how people have an inner strength to them.

This is the first book which I have read by this author but it is certainly not going to be the last. I’m excited to see what they do next!

Let me know if you pick this book up!