Actual Rating 2.5

This work is told using dual timelines, one in the present day and one in the 1760s. Both timelines were promising but had too much unnecessary background that ended up drowning the plot. This felt especially true in the past timeline. Things came together a bit better in the last quarter of the book at least although the ending felt like a bit of mess.

Part of what I didn't love about this work is just how exposition heavy it was. It detracted from what could have been a strong gothic atmosphere and from the horror elements, leaving things feeling somewhat flat.

If you're looking for a historical fiction with a hint of gothic horror, you may enjoy this one. My thanks to NetGalley and Berkely Publishing Group for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Unfortunately Slashed Beauties was a struggle to get through. Despite the solid writing, the story itself felt flat, it was lacking action, drama, or real horror. The pacing was sluggish, especially through the first three-quarters, and the heavy focus on background building made it feel monotonous. I wanted to connect with the characters, and while their concepts were fantastic, the execution just didn’t land for me. The idea of the Venuses was fascinating, but it wasn’t enough to redeem the overall experience.

“That gaunt, skeletal hand of Death slips its cold fingers into mine night after night, and leads me to a new haunt.”

First off, thank you @berkleypub for the gifted/free copy of Slashed Beauties! #berkleypartner

This book is a serious contender for my favourite read of the year and it’s guaranteed to land in my top five because I loved every second of it.

1. This novel blends all of my favourite genres in one swoop: Horror, Historical Fiction, and a dash of Fantasy.

2. It also features some of my favourite tropes: female rage, women’s empowerment, and even a hint of found family… although in some cases, you definitely wouldn’t want to find these family members 😅

3. The gorgeous, yet grotesque prose, exudes that gothic atmosphere I love. Rushby’s writing had me captivated from beginning to end.

4. Did you know that the Anatomical Venuses are real?! These life-like wax figures were created in 18th-century Italy to represent the female anatomy for medical studies. The research Rushby did on the subject is woven throughout the book and had me completely enthralled!

5. The character development was also well executed, the author remained dedicated and consistent to the narrative voice throughout. Because of this, it’s important to keep in mind that the knowledge of the two POVs is purposefully limited, giving the story a vague sense of unreliability. This means readers are also left in the dark about certain happenings, which could be frustrating for some, but thankfully not for me!

Slashed Beauties is the perfect fall read for anyone who loves gothic horror as much as I do! I do recommend reviewing the CWs before diving in, though, as it deals with some triggering themes.

Slashed Beauties hits bookstore shelves on September 23, 2025 so mark your calendars, because you won’t want to sleep on this one!

#berkleypub #slashedbeauties

I DNF'd this at 25% and here's why:

I loved the story of the Vensuses in the past. I didn't want Eleanor to join Elizabeth and Emily and was screaming at her to run away, while also wanting to see what would happen if she joined them. I found this part of the story wildly fascinating and I was so intrigued. Elizabeth seemed so calculated and I knew she was hiding darkness that I wanted to uncover.

However my issue was when it came to the present day part of the story. I couldn't stand Alys. She was one of the worst caricature's of a damaged woman. She's damaged, did you know that? Oh wait, one more reminder for good measure, ALYS IS DAMAGED. Yes, we got it. It was her entire personality and character. She had absolutely no nuance and behaved in a way you'd expect a caricature of a damaged woman to act, and not at all how a real life breathing person would act. Even in 25%, I struggled with her lackluster personality and how one dimensional she felt.

I thought I could still push through for the sake of the past story, but alas, I couldn't. My friend reminded me that books that started off poorly, very seldom ever became a 5 star read. I didn't want to waste my time raging at how poorly her character was constructed.

Loved this! Perfect for spooky season, even if it’s not all that scary or horrifying. The bulk of the horror happens to the characters. It reminds me a lot of the TV show Harlots that was on, I think, HBO. Like other readers I would have liked a lot more time with our characters once they’re stabby stabby wax figures, it would have been a lot of fun to see them in the modern world for more time than we did, and lord knows there’s enough men out there that need a little visit from karma. A minor complaint though, as I was very happy to just follow the story wherever it was going. Extra love for that gorgeous, perfect cover.

Sadly, I was a bit disappointed by this book. I really wanted to love it. The concept was so incredibly fascinating and it truly had so much promise. I just felt like the author didn't stick the landing on this one.

Though there were some parts in the book (the beginning and middle specifically) where the writing really added to the story, I personally felt that the book was hindered by the writing itself. The dialogue felt wooden, stiff, and unrealistic, and it didn't feel like it suited the time period in which it was taking place. It was not the word choice that was the problem but the delivery of the dialogue that was the issue for me. I oftentimes felt myself being pulled out of the story by the uncanny dialogue.

As for the characters, again, I really wanted to love them. Their concepts were fantastic but their execution missed the mark for me. Even though I wasn't impressed by the way they were written the concept of the Venuses was still so incredibly fascinating that I could look past a lot of my gripes. However, Briar and the Anatomist (whose name we never learn) were just awful. They were such poorly written characters it was almost painful to read about them. Their motivations were weak and once they were paired with Elizabeth they felt like 3 mustache twirling super villains. A few times I caught myself laughing at the absurdity.

And that really gets to the worst part of this book for me which was the ending. It felt rushed and underdeveloped which is a huge shame. There really was a gem of a story here but it felt like it needed some more time to cook.

I am giving this book a 3 star rating which may seem high considering my tough review but I was genuinely impressed with the brilliant concept for this book. I truly believe that if it had undergone a bit more work and been given more time to cook that this book could have been a 5 star read for me. It's worth reading and I would recommend it but with caveats.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author A. Rushby, and the Publisher for allowing me to read this eArc and give my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley & Berkley, for the eARC of Slashed Beauties! 🔪⚰️📜🩸⏳

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ . 5 / 5 (rounded up)

The cover of this book is hauntingly lovely so of course, I was intrigued! I loved the premise of this story. It started out strong and ended with a bang. But it’s the middle that had me feeling hot and cold. At some points, it was written beautifully but other times, I felt like it was written so dull, as if it was trying to rush through the sentences. There were quite a few times where I felt like there were so many unnecessary details in one sitting, that it just got boring.

I absolutely love the romance aspect of this novel, even if it was subtle and somewhat elusive, it was beautifully executed. My favorite POV was Eleanor’s, it was so well put together.

I feel like this was more of a slow-paced thriller with horror elements entwined into it. I was pretty confused about how some of the points in the story played out and honestly, I’m still a little confused. Wax models? Okay, yes! Witches? Ghosts? Possession? Spells? Wait, are any of those actually in this story? No? Yes? I suppose it’s interesting to leave some level of mystery in a book but in this case, I’m still trying to piece together how some of the stuff worked. Although I will say, the turn of events later in the book was unanticipated and I really enjoyed it!

Altogether, I enjoyed the majority of this novel, whether it was the mystery of it all, the subtle yet tragic love story, or the spooky wax models.. but I felt like there were so many unnecessary details and not enough details pertaining to how some of the circumstances played out.

The magic in Slashed Beauties is intriguing and unique. Although it becomes a subplot, I find it to be the richest part of the world Rushby creates. The ending has a pronounced tonal shift. I would have preferred a darker and deeper conclusion but it is consistent with the story arc and most of the character development.

3.5 stars rounded to 4

2.75/5
Good storytelling just falsely advertised.

Thank you, NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group, for the arc!

This story is set in two timelines following three Anatomical Venuses. One timeline set in 1763 in London follows Eleanor. Elizabeth takes her under her wing when she runs away from home and has nowhere to go. Elizabeth plans on opening up a serail, but it does not exactly go her way. The current say timeline follows Alys as she tries to get rid of these "murderous" Venuses. She is somehow tied to these wax figures, and only witchcraft can stop them.

I was a bit disappointed in this book due to the advertising and description not being accurate. This came off more as a historical thriller than a gothic horror. This story, although it is well written, doesn't take off until 75% of the way through the book. That is when the "horror" starts, if you can even call it that.

I enjoyed Eleanor's story and could feel for her and Emily, although by the time the ending came around, I just did not care anymore. I spent the whole book wondering how these Venuses came to be, but when it finally happened, it was sort of a letdown. It does not go into detail on how it happened, nor is it truly explained because none of the characters are in the know.

Alys' timeline seemed to drag on to me. It was nice to see her piece stuff together, and every clue kind of helped Eleanor's timeline move along. The plot twist that occurs is somewhat predictable, but the way it is played out is confusing. I feel like the perspective writing gets a little jumbled after the twist is revealed.

It is a nice story, and I would read it just for Eleanor's story, but the horror aspect is not there. This does have murder, body horror, animal cruelty, sexual assault, and loss of pregnancy, so read at your own risk.

Slashed Beauties by A. Rushby was a wild, thrilling ride. The story is dark, twisted, and full of suspense, which kept me on the edge of my seat. I loved how the characters are both flawed and fascinating, making every twist feel even more intense. It’s the kind of book that had me hooked from start to finish and stayed in my mind long after I closed it.

✨ Initial Vibes

From the first page, I was hooked by the dark elegance of this story. Part dual-timeline mystery, part feminist gothic horror, Slashed Beauties moves fast but lingers in the mind—raising questions about bodies, autonomy, and who gets to look (and be looked at).

📖 What It’s About

As the dust jacket says: Alys, a young woman in modern-day Seoul, comes into possession of a rare wax anatomical model—one of a rumored set of three. The model is crafted to resemble an alluring courtesan, complete with removable panels that reveal her internal organs. When the dolls were first made in the 18th century, an assistant claimed one came to life and tried to kill him. Now, strange things begin happening in Alys’s world too.

We follow two interwoven narratives, Alys in the present and Eleanor in 18th-century London, as their stories converge across time, obsession, and the uncanny.

❤️ What I Loved
• The dual timelines. I was equally invested in Alys and Eleanor, which is rare for split narratives. The transitions are seamless, and the payoff is worth it.
• Thematic richness. This book has layers—desire, objectification, women’s friendship, grief, scientific inquiry, and the grotesque beauty of bodies.
• The feminist thread. Rushby explores how women’s bodies have long been dissected, studied, sexualized, and displayed under the guise of art, science, or curiosity. And it shows just how much (and how little) has changed.
• The atmosphere. Gothic but not gloomy. Chilling but not overwrought. It’s elegant, unsettling, and oddly intimate.
• The pacing. It flies. Every time I sat down to read, I found myself drawn further in.

🩸 A Note on Content

The book includes references to violence, medical imagery, and trauma related to bodily autonomy but it’s handled thoughtfully and in service of the story’s emotional and thematic arc.

💭 Final Thoughts

Slashed Beauties is eerie, intelligent, and quietly furious in the best way. It’s a story about what it means to be seen, to be studied, to be loved, and what it might mean to reclaim yourself. If you’re interested in dark academia, feminist horror, or books that slip into your bloodstream and stay there, this is one to read and recommend.

🧠 Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
(5 stars for atmosphere, insight, and the rare feeling of finishing a book and wanting to talk about everything it was really saying.)

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing G for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The description of this book had me immediately excited, but I don’t feel like the book was exactly as described.

The story bounces between two alternating timelines, Eleanor and Alys. Eleanor storyline is set in 1763 at tells the story of how she became one of the mysterious Venuses. Eleanor has a difficult life and is a Victorian sex worker.
Alys is a modern-day antiquities dealer but her role appears to be to destroy the Venuses.

The writing was good. The premise sounded promising. It could be that I am not exactly one to choose gothic fiction. I did like the feminist themes and the prospect of the story was a good one. Just not the book for me.

3 stars.

Wax figures? Unmatched beauty? Vicious murders? Can these things have anything in common? In this novel, they all come together to tell a gothicesque story inspired by the real Anatomical Venus-a mix of beauty and science.

Our story is told from the point of view of two FMC’s. Alys is in the present and is finally going to break the curse of the Anatomical Venuses. All she has to do is get them all together and burn them. But she knows that’s much easier sad than done-for Elizabeth will not go down without a fight.

Eleanor, on the other hand, lives in 18th century London, and has been abandoned by her boyfriend, after the promise of love and a life together. But she is “rescue” by Elizabeth, and taken under her wing. Naivety wins the day, as despite being warned to run, she remains faithful to Elizabeth-to her detriment.

Rushby does a splendid job of blending past and present together to create a suspenseful tale of power, greed, corruption, and magic. The anatagoniat, Elizabeth, is formidable, and refuses to let anything get in her way of success. She is a master of using her beauty to get what she wants, but even she has limits. Eleanor and Emily are sex workers in her employ, and become pawns in Elizabeth’s game of winner-takes-all.

Rushby also shows the brutal side of prostitution, as sickness ravages Emily, and for a time, Elizabeth. Eleanor can’t see past her fear, and allows herself to be taken advantage of-while also clinging to the love she has for Emily. And as Elizabeth does a sleight of hand, and betrays both her “sisters” in an unforgivable way, Eleanor shows that she isn’t engine fighting-giving Elizabeth a run for her money.

Vivid imagery, exposing blatant chauvinism, and a twisty ending all make this novel a great read. Gothic horror lovers will enjoy this one. 4.25 stars.

This book dragged me in--a truly "can't put it down" experience. I enjoyed that suspense that came with the two timelines.
I only took off a star because I have zero idea what was actually going on with the venuses. There are vague mentions of "going back into the wax figure"--but what is moving? The soul? If yes, then nothing in the ending makes sense. If no, what is it? It's an interesting concept, but too vague for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I feel like the description of this book is a bit misleading. Wax figures coming to life to unalive men who have wronged them... This is mentioned briefly throughout the book but solely focuses on the POVs of the women and their terrible backgrounds. It was a bit slow for me and lead to more struggles in getting into the book... I'm just posting my review on NetGalley and not on Goodreads or anywhere else as I feel that this just wasn't the book for me and feel that it isn't right to degrade the author's rating for public viewing.

This was such a struggle for me to read. The description of the book does more work than what we actually get from the author. I was not thrilled. I was never horrified. I was just waiting for the good part to happen, and it never did. It felt like the author did 60% of the work and expected the reader to take on the other 40%. There is so much left unexplained or not tied up at all that it was an incredibly frustrating read by the end--random witchcraft, random romance, random medical issues with peculiar cures. Is there any actual footwork done to help the reader understand the odd magical realism? No. You have to figure it out yourself. This book is quickly summed up as: random people generated murder dolls to wreak havoc on men. Because why? Because men suck and we're all in agreement there.

I feel like the dual POV is something that completely ruined any potential build-up of suspense the author could have generated. There would be a minor amount of buildup generated by the end of a chapter, and then you'd have to slog through the time-jump. All steam was lost by switching. I feel the historical chapters were unnecessary; they didn't add much, while a lot of legwork could have been done through flashbacks (but that would defeat a bit of the purpose, I suppose). Additionally, the dialogue felt choppy and almost juvenile at times (see the quote akin to "No, don't worry about me, I'm a good witch. Those women? They're bad witches). I never once believed these women were set in 1769, and I also never really believed their motivations.

One of my biggest nitpicks is the treatment of the POC character Emily. The author seemingly chose not to do any historical research into the implications of being mixed-race in 1769 London, other than to draw parallels to an actual historical figure: Dido Elizabeth Belle. None of the documented hardships that a woman like Dido went through-- a father removing her from her enslaved mother, paperwork needed that explicitly stated she was a free woman, never truly being a part of her white family--were ever brought to Emily's character. She's just the token black girl at that point. By the end of the book, I realized that if Emily were written as a white woman (a low effort feat, seeing as her race has no impact), her storyline would be basically unchanged.

Ultimately, I was annoyed and bored with the story. The twist left a lot to be desired. The magic needed explaining, and the characters needed growth and development. I struggle to find any positive here for readers who may be interested in this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Slashed Beauties is told through a dual POV across two different timelines. While I usually enjoy shifting perspectives, this book almost felt like two entirely separate stories until the very end when the pieces finally connected. I especially loved Eleanor’s chapters set in the past—the writing captured the atmosphere and style of that era beautifully. In contrast, Alys’s present-day storyline felt more contemporary in tone, which worked stylistically, but I didn’t find her sections quite as engaging.

The concept itself is unique and definitely caught my interest. Rushby does an excellent job of building atmosphere, with settings that really immerse you in the world she’s creating. That said, I think readers should know going in that this leans much more toward fantasy and magical realism than horror, despite how it’s marketed. Personally, I enjoyed those elements, so this shift in tone worked for me.

While Eleanor’s arc felt rich and well developed, Alys’s character came across as less fleshed out, and I didn’t fully understand why until the ending revealed the connection between their stories. Still, I found this to be an imaginative, atmospheric novel, and I’d happily pick up more from Rushby—especially if she leans into the historical style that really shone here. A cool, intriguing read overall.

Feminine rage & gothic horror? Sign me up! I knew this would be a book that I would love. Normally I am not a fan of dual timelines, but when it’s done right, I can’t help, but love it. And this was done right. I was invested in both timelines which normally doesn’t happen for me — usually I can take one & leave one. Sisterhood. Betrayal. Mystery. Slashed Beauties had it all; it’s definitely one I’ll be thinking about for a while.

I liked this, but I found myself struggling to get into the story. I really didn’t feel invested until about the halfway point.

I think the book’s main problem was that it was unbalanced. Nothing much really happens in the first half and then everything comes tumbling out in the second. I would have liked to have learned Alys’ secret earlier and the final battle with Elizabeth way too fast - it was almost too easy.

I enjoyed learning about the anatomical Venuses and the descriptions of the Pleasure Gardens were lovely, but there were some things that could have been better.

This is such a unique story that mixes horror with history in a fantastic way. It’s a gothic feminist horror, that focuses on the misogyny and violence that women faced in history.

Synopsis: “Seoul, present day. Antiques dealer Alys’s task is nearly complete. She has at last secured Elizabeth, the final anatomical Venus in a dangerously intertwined trio. Crafted in eighteenth-century London and modeled after real-life sex workers to entice male medical students to study female anatomy, these eerie wax figures, known as slashed beauties, carry unsavory lore. Legend has it that the figures are bewitched, and come to life at night to murder men who have wronged them. Now Alys embarks for England, where she knows what she must do: sever her cursed connection to the Venuses once and for all.”

I loved the dual timelines. Getting to see the lives of the women that the models were based on and how what happens shapes the present day. I loved that there is a bit of a twist that caught me off guard. I enjoy being surprised.

This is an incredibly unique story. I’ve not really read anything too similar to this before, which was so nice. I had almost zero knowledge on what an anatomical Venus was and I loved that this story really leaned into them.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eArc! This book hits the shelves on September 23, 2025!