Publisher's Synopsis
"Way will open." She is Artifice. A resurrected criminal and agent of HRH Prince Albert's Secret Commission. An artificial ghost. A Quaker. He is Jim Dastard. The oldest surviving agent of the Secret Commission. An animated skull. A mentor to newly resurrected agents. It is 1880 in a mechanical and supernatural London. Agents of Prince Albert's Secret Commission, their criminal pasts wiped from their memories, are resurrected to fight the eldritch evils that threaten England. Jim Dastard and his new partner Artifice must stop a re-animationist raising murderous dead children. But while Art and Jim pursue him, Art discovers clues about her past, and through meeting various intriguing women-a journalist, a medium, a prostitute, and a woman in black-where her heart lies. A new beginning and new dangers await Art as she fights for the Secret Commission and for her second life. F/F historical fantasy and Gothic mystery set in the steampunk world of the Dark Victorian series. "Thoroughly enjoyable...delightfully disturbing." -Trina Robbins Writer, Herstorian, author of The Chicagoland detective Agency series and Lily Renee, Escape Artist "Read if you: Delight in a heady, deeply satisfying blend of Victorian, Gothic and Romantic impulses." -Worth Reading? Experience paranormal detective mysteries with a Victorian female sleuth: A historical fantasy in a mechanical and supernatural London, follow the adventures of an uncanny female sleuth and her senior skull partner set in the same alternate world as Elizabeth Watasin's Victorian supernatural mystery series, The Elle Black Penny Dreads. Learn more about this intriguing, steampunk lesbian series: It is 1880; black arts sorcery had its time to grow in England and to battle the eldritch evils threatening, HRH Prince Albert's Secret Commission is born. Executed criminals are brought back to life without memories and to fight as agents. Among those resurrected is Artifice, a six foot two tall strongwoman, Quaker, and artificial ghost, guided by her senior partner, Jim Dastard, the animated skull. And she soon discovers-from her encounters with a madwoman journalist, a mysterious woman in black, and a French prostitute-where her heart lies . . . Dark Victorian: Risen is the debut steampunk novel from storyteller Elizabeth Watasin, who delights in bringing you shilling shockers immersed in Gothic Victorian mystery, women detectives, and the paranormal vestiges of an otherworldly London. Read more in Dark Victorian: Bones, Ice Demon: A Dark Victorian Penny Dread Vol 1, Medusa: A Dark Victorian Penny Dread Vol 2, and Sundark: An Elle Black Penny Dread. Enjoy a bonus Art Gallery: The paperback version of Dark Victorian: Risen contains a small gallery of illustrations by Elizabeth Watasin.
