"Slashed Beauties" is. a dual-timeline horror switching between the perspectives of an eighteenth century down-on-her-luck woman in London, and a modern woman trying to destroy cursed wax figurines. It starts off so strong - I read the first 40% in one sitting, really enjoying the story. Unfortunately, the former story was so much stronger than the modern one - the modern one felt very aimless at times, with very little happening, as the main character dithered about how to destroy the figurines. The one in the past was a fascinating story of abuse and seduction, and I was invested in it enough that I felt resentful about having to return to modern times. Unfortunately, when the two stories finally started merging, the plot fell apart completely - a twist that didn't entirely pay off, and some action that just didn't feel entirely baked.

What a beautiful, but gut-wrenching story. Having this story listed under the horror category, while correct in some ways, does a great disservice to the overall experience that this book gives. It is so much more than a horror story about killer wax models. It explores themes of love, loss, regret, and suffering in a way that is both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.

Having the two different timelines in the book added another level of interest to the overall story. It was fascinating to see the past and the present come together to eventually present the whole picture. I definitely loved the dual timeline format and think it was done very well.

The author has a beautiful prose and very engaging way of storytelling that made it hard to put the book down at times.

I will say though, on a technical note, having my kindle tell me that some of the chapters were 45-50 minutes long was very intimidating. I don’t mind long chapters, but I often struggled with finding the time to sit down and read the very long ones because I don’t like stopping mid chapter. I feel like I lose the inform I retained when I have to do that, but with how bulky some of the chapters were I didn’t have a choice. Making them tad more digestible would be my only note.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There were so many different themes and elements to it that made it a fantastic read and I can’t wait for other people to read it as well so I can praise it to whoever will listen.


I will be making an instagram post/review for this book as well a little closer to the release date!

I can honestly say this is unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

I need to sit down and process everything that happened. The horror in this book was unexpected, while there was gore and typical body horror. It was the oppressive claustrophobia that made me the most uncomfortable. Uneasiness will always be a mark of a successful horror for me. If I’m not uncomfortable then it didn’t serve its purpose.

Slashed Beauties is gothic feminist horror at its peak and the betrayal and tragedy in this story was truly enthralling to watch unfold. The legend of the venuses; Emily, Elizabeth and Eleanor was so well framed and the dual timeline just worked so well with the narrative. The relationships between the women and the complicated web they all found themselves in, by the end of it all was fascinating.


While this book at its core to me is about disgusting and evil men and how their hate can warp women into something equally as monstrous. I love a story that leaves me thinking and asking question, even when I’ve finished it. If you like unique magic, history, gothic horror and a truly unique premise- I urge you to read Slashed Beauties!

This was such an interesting read that’s going to stick with me for awhile. The cover is what immediately piqued my interest in this book and the cover really reflects the story pretty well. This is a fictional story but the Anatomical Venuses- or Slashed Beauties are wax figures of women that were used for medical education throughout history.

The story is a dual POV which I really enjoyed. We have Eleanor’s perspective from 1769 and then we have Alys’s story from present day. Eleanor is a sex worker taken in by Emily and Elizabeth in hopes to join their lifestyle in its entirety. Alys is an antique dealer who has been offered a high sum of money to move one of the anatomical venuses to London. She knows of their cursed history of coming to life at night and unaliving men who have wronged them and plans to destroy all three of the figures.

Slashes Beauties is a gothic feminist horror that portrays both sisterhood and betrayal. The plot twist was 🤌

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. Slashed Beauties releases on September 23rd, 2025.

Slashed Beauties is a book that IMMEDIATELY caught my attention, between the cover and the title, then later the description. I mean, LOOK at her- she is STUNNING! But, underneath all of that, what awaits you? Revenge, devastation, violence, strength, and a bit of chaos- just the way I like it!

In the spirit of full transparency, I did struggle with the pacing of this book. While the dual timelines were cohesive and interesting enough, it felt like I spent a large part of the first half of the book waiting for things to happen. Now, once they DID, the rest of the book played out like a whirlwind, so there is a payout for patience. The ending was a bit anti-climactic for my tastes, and there were a few points I'd have loved more elaboration on, which also hindered my enjoyment a bit.

The characters in this book definitely deserve some conversation about them, because they are honestly fascinating. They're well-written and unique, and are fleshed out well in terms of who they are- both individually and as a group- with strong emphasis on what motives them, what they value, etc. It's easy to fall into their story, especially knowing how real (for the most part) the circumstances they were subject to really were during that time frame.

This book also sent me into such a research spiral, looking into more historical detail about anatomical Venuses. The fact that I found my way out of that rabbit hole in order to write this review is nothing sort of a miracle. ((And, honestly, I'd really encourage you to read into the topic for yourself, as well.))

While I do recommend this book, one expectation I want to adjust a bit here is around the vengeance addressed in this book. Without giving things away, I'd encourage readers to keep in mind that revenge may look different to different people, and if you're coming to Slashed Beauties looking for a "good for her" story, I'd encourage you to dig into more reviews to make sure youre getting what you want.

All in all, Slashed Beauties is an intriguing book and one I'm interested in hearing more opinions on. If you pick it up for yourself as an ARC or at release, be sure to share!

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group, & A. Rushby for this complimentary copy.))

I have to admit I initially wanted to read this book because the cover was cool and I was looking for a taste breaker.

I typically stray away from books that jump between timelines but Slashed Beauties is a masterclass in full circle endings. Some of the writing can be a bit repetitive and the pace was a little slow for my tastes. I feel like I was 75% of the way through the book before it really took off.

That being said, if you enjoyed The Lost Apothecary or similar books, this is a fun read. The theming, descriptions, and characters are complicated, fascinating, and it’s an easy world to get wrapped up in. I do wish the story went a bit quicker and had more urgency throughout. There are some plot points I want more development on but overall it was a fun read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free E-ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review

Overall, I thought it was a really interesting read. It started off slow for me, but I became more invested as the story went on. I do feel like it takes a while to ramp up to the action, though it is foreshadowed early on, and when you do get there a lot of it is rushed. The ending was a little unsatisfying for me because of this.

Slashed Beauties is a dark and magical story of the Venuses, three beautiful anatomical wax figures utilized for anatomical study.

In present day we follow Alys, a tattooed enigma and antiques dealer, on the hunt to track down the Venuses. Alys has a mysterious connection to the Venuses and we want to know how and why. Especially when a rich widow presents one of these Venuses to her, giving her a large sum of money to destroy her in the next two weeks.

We weave between Alys’s POV and Eleanor’s, whose story is set in the 1700s as she navigates life after running away from home to marry the love of her life and live in London with him. Her husband disappears after an argument and Eleanor waits in the pleasure gardens, hoping for his return. Instead, Eleanor meets Elizabeth and Emily, who change her life forever.

You’ll love this book if you love:
-Multiple POVs
-Memento Mori & cursed objects
-gothic historical fiction with a bit of fantasy
-Beautiful women doing bad things
-feminist horror
-body horror

I am ready to learn everything I can about the Anatomical Venus! I had no idea it existed. Thank you, A. Rushby for introducing me to this macabre and fascinating topic. I loved this book. So many of my reading wheel house boxes were checked and I devoured this book in a couple sittings. I loved the complexity of Emily’s character, Eleanor’s love, and Elizabeth’s relentlessness (for better or worse). An excellent read and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Rushby.


Thank you to Berkeley Publishing for this ARC via NetGalley.

Thank you A. Rushby & Berkley Publishing!!!! I will reread this book for YEARS to come. my only qualm with being given this truly magnificent eARC is that I can’t place this on display on my bookshelf…much like a Venus funny enough 😂

This entire novel is SO compelling. I read it truly within about a full day, and I never tired I just kept turning the pages and couldn’t stop.

The plot so perfectly encapsulates putrid terrible men, and the beasts women can become in an unfair world and how those two things combined create the most deadly circumstances that push you to do unspeakable things in search of justice.

Slashed Beauties is probably one of my favorite novels I’ve ever read now. 10/10 will recommend this to everyone, and will eventually have it on display as par for the course 😌

A bewitching tale revolving around three 18th century anatomical Venuses (absolutely fascinating); with a pinch of fantasy, a generous serving of the macabre and a dual POV, it felt like this book was made for me. Honestly, I think I just like books about 18th century sex workers lol.

And while it took me like 75 pages to get into this, I then proceeded to finish it in 2 sittings. Though the present day timeline complimented well with the 1700s timeline, I much preferred the latter...the atmosphere is just SO good.

Lastly: the UK cover is infinitely better and I actually really like the US cover. Also, you bet I snatched up a copy of Harris's List immediately after I finished this.


I am so pleased I got the opportunity to read an advanced copy. Thank you to the publisher, I can't wait to recommend when it's out in September!

This was incredible from start to finish. In a dual timeline story, we meet Alys an art dealer in present day who has just secured the final in a trio of anatomical women (Venuses), and Eleanor a young woman in 1763 who is housed by the beautiful and enchanting Elizabeth, a woman who is just as much her savior as her ruler.

There is a dark story behind these Venuses. Created in the 18th century, these anatomical figures were modeled after sex workers. The story goes, they come to life at night and kill bad men. Now that Alys has the final, Elizabeth, she knows what she has to do. Her family has had a connection to these Venuses and destroying them will sever the link… but as we learn more about them; about Eleanor, her friend Emily, and Elizabeth, the more connections we see between past and present.

Ultimately, this book is about the strength of women. The ways in which they rise up in the face of mistreatment from men and the ways in which they protect themselves when they can take no more. This was a bloody, messy, visceral book and I loved every single moment of it! I couldn’t recommend this book more.

This is one of those books where you can’t look away. The gothic-theme compelled me at first and then couldn’t stop reading. Disconcerting to be sure, but still a ghastly tale.

Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby is a darkly imaginative blend of gothic horror, feminist revenge fantasy, and historical intrigue. With vivid dual timelines and eerie atmosphere, it explores themes of power, exploitation, and legacy through the haunting presence of anatomical wax figures. Inventive, unsettling, and fiercely original.

Wow! What a captivating and emotional ride. The two POVs of Alys and Eleanor blended the story together seamlessly. I especially enjoyed reading through Eleanor’s POV. The author was able to bring the past to life (the good and the bad) and make the reader care deeply for these characters. I was also truly kept guessing just what the outcome would be until the very end and I feel like while this story has its heartbreaks that the overall end is very satisfying.

I really liked the concept of this novel, but it didn’t deliver quite what I was expecting from the description. I found the Eleanor narrative very engaging, but the Alys narrative dragged a bit for me. Overall, it was a good read, but not exactly what I was expecting.

5/5: Slashed Beauties

A Gothic, feminist horror tale of two timelines:

Timeline 1: It's the eighteenth-century in London, and Eleanor is taken under the wing by Elizabeth, a beautiful (and powerful) courtesan. But all that glitters isn't gold; the life Eleanor was promised isn't what she received.

and

Timeline 2: It's the modern day and antiques dealer Alys hunts down the Anatomical Venus' (wax figures used by medical professionals at the time) modeled after the infamous courtesans of old.

....but as their timelines merge, these wax figures might have another secret or two up their sleeves...

My thoughts: hot dam y'all, is this my first 5 star review of the year?! This book is REMARKABLE.

It's a beautiful mix of:
--Historical fiction (incredibly well researched, I might add - I learned a shit ton of actual historical info from this book),
--Feminist fiction (a story of sisterhood, including queer representation),
-- Body Horror (syphilis was terrifying and makes me shudder btw).
--and a dash of Supernatural vibes thrown in to tie it all together

It's not especially scary or creepy, but haunting in its own way.

I couldn't put it down, and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

Slashed Beauties
Genre: General fiction
Rating: 4/5

Thank for to Berkeley pub for an ARC of Slashed Beauties courtesy of NetGalley! What a story!! I can’t remember the last story I read that made me truly despair for just about every character involved.

CW: sex work, sexual violence (not graphic), body horror

Slashed Beauties follows a dual timeline through two women connected to the Venuses, famous anatomical wax models that may or may not be coming to life and murdering people: Alys, an antiques dealer connected to one of the Venuses; and Eleanor, an 18th century sex worker on whom one of the Venuses was modeled.

Alys is a bit of a mystery throughout the book — why is she so dedicated to the Venuses? how is she truly connected to them? why is now the time to destroy them? The reveals felt a bit heavy handed in places but the mysteries kept me turning those pages!

Eleanor finds herself abandoned by a lover in a new city and finds refuge with an up and coming madame, and everything goes downhill from there. Her naivety wore a bit on me at the beginning, but her innocence felt right in the end and gave her timeline much needed heart.

Pros:
- I literally couldn’t stop reading — I had to know how everything went down and how everyone ended up where they were.
- Female companionship and friendship — I won’t get into specifics for spoilers, but I really enjoyed reading stories about women’s relationships and not the men that have interjected themselves into their lives.

Cons:
- A bit too much telling vs showing than I really prefer. I do so hate having to take an author’s word for something.
- The magic is pretty hand-wavey there at the end. Not a con for everyone but a bummer for me as someone who typically reads harder magic systems.
- I really wanted to know more about the coven!!

Alright this one was SO COOL! I don’t normally go for horror/body horror genres but this one sounded so interesting and it was incredible! Such a unique idea, executed perfectly. I loved every minute.

This story is giving "Harlots" vibes (TV series), but with a dark, magical twist! I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down!

This was one of the most interesting ideas for a book that I have ever read! Along with that, it was one of the most well-executed interesting idea books I have read in a long time. What I have found recently is that when books have interesting ideas, the author cannot tend to pull through on the fun idea that they've built. However Rushby does an AMAZING job with this title. I would absolutely love to read anything more that this author puts out in the future.