Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep is a brilliantly written work of historical fiction. I have to admit that I have read so much historical fiction that I have grown a bit tired of it. However, this author’s historical fiction never fails to grip me. She brings history to life and never feels like the same repetitive historical story. Her characters have great depth and dialogue. Great read overall. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Lost in Darkness was an interesting read, and I loved the connections to Frankenstein it makes, especially with Mary Godwin Shelley being a character that Amelia befriends. I also enjoyed learning more about what the medical field would’ve have been like in 1815. 

I enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the book, except I disliked Dr. Peckwood a lot, especially with how he talks down to Amelia because she is a woman. However, I wish we could have explored more of his nefarious dealings. I felt like it was only touched on what he was doing, but I’d kind of would have liked some more explanation. 

While I enjoyed Lost in Darkness, my only complaint is that it took a while to get to the plot that is described in the synopsis, and it only lasts for the last 50 pages, I would have liked to see more of what Colin was like after his surgery. However, I could also see why the author chose not to do so, and it gave him a lot more dignity too. 

Overall, I really liked Lost in Darkness and the elements it has in it from Frankenstein. I highly recommend this for fans of Gothic literature and Frankenstein, as well as novels set in the Regency era. 3.5/5 Stars

*I received a copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit in exchange for my honest review.

Amelia Balfour is a travel writer who's called home upon the death of her father. She only returns home because of her brother Colin, where the pair find out their father has found a doctor with a revolutionary surgery that can help Colin with his deformity. Graham Lambert's reputation is tarnished since being dismissed from the Royal Navy. He joins the practice of surgeon Mr. Peckwood who is to treat Colin Balfour.

This was definitely an interesting read. I've never read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein but knew it was the inspiration for this story. Between the descriptions of the pre-surgery treatments for Colin, which sounded quite awful, and then the aftermath of the surgery I found this to be quite the suspenseful read. I felt so bad for Colin who just wanted to be accepted but scared everyone because of his deformity and scars. I wanted so badly for the surgery to help him and wasn't prepared for what happened after the surgery.

This is different than the previous books I've read by this author but as always, it was well written with characters that are multi-layered. I received a complimentary copy from Balbour Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Michelle Griep has written a good book with Lost in Darkness. It was a very interesting book, especially because it is influenced by Frankenstein. The book takes place in the Regency era and has a gothic twist.

The book was easy to follow and the characters were well described. The relationship between Graham and Amelia was also well written. It was also very interesting to read about Amelia's brother, Colin, who had to spend his whole life inside because people were disgusted with him.

If you like historical romance with some heavy topics, then this is definitely a book for you.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This book was really good! It definitely gave off some Gothic vibes. I've never read Frankenstein, but I could see the inspiration the author drew from it. I really enjoyed how Amelia and Graham's relationship grew and my heart broke for Colin and his struggles.

Amelia has a brother born with deformities. Their father is trying to ensure he changes and has invested in a surgeon who promises to do so. After his death It’s takes to Amelia to see it through and she encourages her brother. Graham has signed in with the surgeon in hopes of advancing his career as a doctor. He learns something isn’t right. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated are my own.

This was a great Halloween read. I love how it has the Frankenstein feel to it. I love the love store between Graham and Amelia. I also love how she was doing everything she could to help her brother. Such a great story very intriguing! Highly recommend l!

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way
Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

My review: I found this book to be slow moving and dark. I've read other books by Ms. Griep and enjoyed them. This one not so much.

Amelia wants to travel Egypt but there's a new procedure her late father had discovered that might help him be able to live a normal life. Graham wants to be part of a practice by he has reservations about the dr he's in practice with.

I was given this book by Barbour Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I was very interested in a book that aimed to build on the legacy of Frankenstein and featured a few guest appearances of Mary Shelly. I adore gothic novels and love a good historical piece, so I thought this was for me. But there is quite a heavy dose of romance and faith in this book, which is not my thing in general. The novel felt oddly dated in its mentality and moral focus. I guess when I read a historical book written today, I expect a certain dose of today's attitudes and visions of the world to be transposed back.
I also had a problem with the main character I did not find very likable. The hero, who is supposed to be a smart travelled woman, lets herself be completely hoodwinked in a way I found particularly unrealistic and annoying. I did not understand the choice of making her a journalist if she didn't question things more, and I had trouble believing her love for her brother, the way she rushes him into a dangerous operation because it comes at an inconvenient time (even just 100 years ago medical operations were terrifying and people expected death more often than recovery - people rarely went into them willingly).
Many little details kept pulling me out and I wasn't very excited with the whole read. The themes are dark, but the style is light, fast paced and breezy, focusing on the the clean romance.
Not a book for me, but if you like historical romance set in 1800s England I guess this will be perfect for you.

Having read other books by Michelle Griep, I wasn't certain what to expect from this book. It definitely was different than I was expecting. It felt a bit dark as the characters were faced with heavy decisions of putting others before their own. The struggle was very difficult between many of the characters as they faced an unusual situation. I found myself cheering for what I thought was the best decision and hoping it would play out the way I imagined. It was very thought provoking as I thought about what I would do in the shoes of the characters.

I would recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not required to leave a positive review.

Michelle Griep always delivers! She is one of the most capable writers I know of - to be able to continue writing in the same genre but keep each story unique. Her stories are always fresh and exciting.
I loved the tie in of pre-Frankenstein Mary Shelley!
Amelia & Graham are wonderful characters. Their struggles are relatable, and their relationship sweet.
With themes of forgiveness, overcoming the past, and learning to rely on God, this is a fabulous, fast-paced read.

I charge you with the guardianship of your brother, leastwise until the revolutionary surgery I have scheduled for him can be carried out. . . for at last Colin will be able to face the world as his own man. I have arranged for him to arrive in Bristol by dark of night."

Lost In Darkness (2021, Barbour Fiction) by Michelle Griep is a standalone "Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley Frankenstein," set in 1815's Bristol, England. It was more "Enthralling" than "Enchanting." But it's definitely Regency, definitely Gothic, definitely a romance, and yes, there's definitely a Frankenstein-esque character.

Rating: 4 stars

The heroine: Amelia Balfour has just been given the opportunity to go to Cairo to write a travel journal. But it's time to fulfill her father's dying wish - to see her brother through a life-changing surgery by renowned surgeon Mr. Peckwood.

The heroine's brother: Grace's brother, Colin Balfour, is a giant of a man, extremely tall, with a condition that causes a disfigured face. Mr. Peckwood promised Colin's father that he would transform Colin Balfour's appearance.

The hero: Graham Lambert is a doctor without enough resources to set up his own practice, so he seeks out Mr. Peckwood to propose a partnership.

Is it clean/chaste? Yes. But I would say that this book is for maybe ages 15 and up. Two scenes were on the sensual side. To calm a mentally ill patient, a doctor uses "animal magnetism." In the historical context, the phrase apparently means hypnotism. But the way it's written in the story, it's conducted in a sensual way, which lent credence to my initial assumption that the doctor was trying to be seductive. (From today's Collins dictionary, "Someone or something that has magnetism has unusual, powerful, and exciting qualities which attract people to them.")

Other content issues:

*Some violence - The doctor's treatment to Colin is, I believe, what amounts to electrocuting him. It's shown once, briefly, written in a way that would not be overly distressing to most adults. There are a couple of other events within the book that are somewhat violent and/or disturbing, which again, causes me to limit my recommendation for this book for ages 15+.

*The heroine, a Christian, and yet superstitious, always carries her lucky feather around. This issue is addressed at the end of the story.

*There were many exclamations of frustration and surprise, and in the words of Goodreads reviewer Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls), "in today’s society, minor cursing or cussing would take its place." For example, Thunderation! and other exclamations like it occur, especially throughout the second half of the book.

Christian elements: This book is Christian fiction, with trust in God and some discussion about the nature of God woven throughout the story. The main characters are very upright, morally. "He could jump off and embrace a free-falling lie. . . but the cost to his conscience would open a vein."

What I liked: There were some very apt quotations from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein at the beginning of each chapter!

What I disliked: The exclamations and two sensual scenes (see above)

Other Recommendation(s): The Captive Heart, a standalone by Ms. Griep based on Beauty and the Beast.

The bottom line: This book is darker than the author's usual stories but I think it's still accessible for most people. Just be prepared! As always, I will be reading more of Ms. Griep's works.

Fans of classical literature and current fiction alike will love this retelling of "Frankenstein" by Michelle Griep. The story was woven so expertly to bring the story of Mary Shelley into the novel to establish a believable catalyst for her famous work that the reader almost believes the story of the Balfour siblings really existed. As a reader, you are delighted in the strong heroine, her gentle-souled giant of a brother, and the reluctant hero who all play against a dastardly villain hiding under the mask of progress to serve his own twisted needs.

In a work that is equal parts romantic and tragic one can examine deeper into the question posed by Shelley in her original work, 'who was really the monster in the story?' This is definitely a must read and earns every single one of the five stars from this reader's rating!

These characters are so well written that even the morally gray ones keep your attention.
This is the second book I have read by Michelle Griep and once again I really like her character creation and world building. I find that she has a knack for revealing enough information at the get go to pique your interest in learning more about brand new characters and locations without feeling like you are reading and essay on a particular era’s fashion, architecture, or food. This makes for very interested reading and eagerness to learn more about the tidbits that are dropped along the way.

Wonderfully woven nods to classic horror and gothic romance without creating a retelling.
I found this book to deliver on what it claimed – a regency-era gothic romance intertwined with inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. With tones from all the wonderful classic horror books – Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Dracula, and the like – and a touch of the gothic romance novels – Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, etc. – this book weaves them all together nicely with nods to the genres without being a retelling of any.

I recommend this book for anyone who loves gothic romance novels.
Stars 3.5
Would I Recommend? Yes

Overall, a strongly gothic novel with a strong dash of horror.

I enjoy Gothic but I dislike horror and for me personally, it trended too much toward horror and tragedy. It’s a very heavy, intense read, and there is quite a bit of surgical gore involved with Graham’s doctoring career.

One thing I did appreciate was the message about superstition and I did like the very appropriate Christian message. I also liked both lead characters and found Colin to be a real heartbreaker with his health conditions and issues.

Overall, a promising novel that was disappointing to me simply because it’s not my favorite type of story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required.

Okay, not going to lie, that ending was depressing and I may or may not have sobbed. Why??? I won't say more for spoilers, but just . . . watch out. However, the premise of this book was absolutely fascinating! Its regency era and gothic and dark and full of mystery. And that cover is giving me serious Poldark vibes. This book is just . . . vibey in the best way. Definitely recommend if you're looking to break out of more traditional reading trends! THis one will fit the bill. Also, the romance was so sweet and I loved Amelia's protectiveness and love towards her brother. And Graham is just about the swooniest surgeon to ever grace the pages of a book. Add this to your must-read list, but watch out for that ending.

Amelia Balfour has traversed the globe as a travel writer, an unusual position for a woman in Regency England. Now duty calls her home, as her younger brother Colin faces a life-altering surgery for his birth defects. The siblings, who were once close, have a touching reunion as they prepare for Colin's procedure.

Graham Lambert's desperation lands him a partnership with an unusual doctor. As the man prepares to operate on Colin, Graham balks at the man's techniques. Though his hands are largely tied, Graham attempts to oversee Colin's treatments in order to lessen the severity of the methods. His time with the Balfour siblings draws him close to each of them in their own way.

You know those books where you know more as a reader than the characters do? This was one of those for me. You watch from the perspective of knowing things have to turn out a certain way based on history and science, yet the exact way it will play out is a mystery. I came to care for Amelia, Colin, and Graham, and believe that you will, too.

This was my first Michelle Griep novel, but I can't wait to read more! I loved her use of language and the way she wrote this story with its Gothic style while also packing it with hope and light. My only small complaint was that the ending had a small deus ex machina aspect. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

I can definitely tell you that Lost In Darkness is by far one of Michelle Griep's best books to date. I enjoyed it and could hardly put it down. I had an almost morbid fascination to find out what would happen and whether the seemingly inevitable end would come about as I expected it to...I won't tell you if it did, you'll just have to read this book and find out for yourself...

4.5*
Wow! Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has long since been a favorite book of mine. I studied it pretty in depth years and years ago. It captivated me. My peers were about 50/50 for those who liked it and those who just thought it was so-so. Me, on the other hand, I couldn't get enough. I read it, then read it again. And again. Then in school we tore it apart and dove into so many different aspects of it. Wonderful book.

When I saw that Michelle Griep was writing a book inspired by Frankenstein I was pretty excited! Combine a favorite author with a favorite book feels like a win-win to me. And it's a Gothicesque novel. Even better!!! I was very captivated. I actually started it late one night when I couldn't sleep. I didn't want to set it down. The characters were wonderful and I was watching for so many different signs of how the author tied it into Shelley's book. Amelia's character and the little tidbits we get at first were very fascinating. Her reticence to see her brother and her father's behavior from her childhood and present, all building nicely and pulling me deeper and deeper into the book.

Graham was just as interesting. His back story was vague, but just enough to sprinkle questions throughout my thoughts as the story unfolded. Then his path crossed with Amelia and her brother's.

Very well written. All the questions and doubts over the surgeon and surgery as well as his methods. I wanted to reach through the book and ask them if they just didn't see all the signs. Why are they trusting him? But then the brother would have his scenes and his point of view was so intriguing that I was hoping for him and the surgery to be successful. So many emotions written into these characters and their sorrows and hopes and dreams. Then the surgery and afterwards. Wow! I'm not going to say anything else about it.

Then we have the tie-ins for Mary Shelley. I loved learning more about her life. I know I studied it somewhat all those many years ago but it's been so long with so many other things going into my brain that I didn't remember them all. Loved it!

Content: This is a Gothicesque novel so it has some darker themes and tone. But it is written clean. It is also a Christian Fiction book so the characters reference church and God but was written in a way that reflects well for these characters and this time period.

I received a copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

This book was a different experience for me than other books I've read by Michelle Griep. It reminded me a lot of Charles Dickens, in the sense that it was in England and highlighted the darker aspects of the times: poverty, mistreatment of those who are vulnerable, and had an overall gothic feel. Griep did a good job creating the tone and atmosphere of the era and setting up the plot to include a connection to Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein."
I took a chance on this story because I love the author, and I was intrigued by how she might craft the plot. It was well done. However, the timing just wasn't right for me to fully appreciate it. It's not really a happily ever after story, but one that left me feeling grieved. Grief for the injustice of evildoers wreaking havoc on the vulnerable, of a family torn apart by said evildoer, of loss of loved ones, and even the loss of a way of life. There's more, which made the book feel heavy for me. The romantic aspect of the plot was nice but brief, and when I finished the last page I wasn't left feeling that this was about the love for a man and woman, but the familial love between a brother and sister. A faith element was also included in this novel, which I appreciated, and it fit in very well with what was going on in the story.
If you're a fan of gothic regency era novels, you will appreciate this book. Michelle Griep is a wonderful author and I'll probably read more of her work, just not this particular genre.