Ah, the joy of a budding novelist who has gained favor from the world's most renown writer! Giovanni Calina, cobbler's son one day and author's apprentice the next, is about to change his life forever.

A DROP OF INK by Megan Chance is no "lazy day Sunday in the park" read—it is deep with plot and personality, layered with intricate characters, and its conflict is massive. Set in May 1874, this story reflects on an experience famed author Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein, had in 1816 while visiting Switzerland and Lord Byron, "We will each write a ghost story . . . " Ms. Chance has creatively taken this scenario and turned it into a novel of unforgettable proportions.

The European setting is described magnificently and includes a tempting villa, a charming countryside, romances, intimacies, and rivalries. Along with Giovanni (Vanni) Calina are four other major players: Famed author Bayard Sonnier, Poet-extraordinaire Julian Estes, and two American sisters, Louisa and Adelaide Wentworth. This story is told from the perspectives of both Vanni and Adelaide.

When the five of them decide to write their own ghost stories, mimicking Mary Shelley and Lord Byron fifty-plus years earlier, the allure to "writers who are readers" will perk up some ears. Who wouldn't want to be among these five? Unfortunately, the five people who have come together in this novel are truly flawed people—untrustworthy, underhanded, conniving, and deceitful. Oh, each of them shows a flash of humanity at times, but overall, I did not like a single character out of the whole bunch. The story itself, however, is wholly rich, and its complexity will keep the reader deeply entrenched, especially the last few chapters, which were pure magnificence, in my opinion.

Although I found the writing superb, I feel compelled to mention one major exception: How many names can a character have before the reader gets lost? Giovanni Calina, Vanni, Gio-Gio, Mr. Calina; Bayard Sonnier, Bayard, Bay, Mr. Sonnier; Louisa Wentworth, Louisa, Miss Wentworth, LouLou, sister; Adelaide Wentworth, Adelaide, Miss Wentworth, Addie, sister; Julian Estes, Julian, Mr. Estes, Jules, the poet; and others. The names, especially with the sisters, became confusing. It was an unnecessary distraction.

Initially, I picked up this book because of its fantastic cover, which I think is unbeatable, but I read it because of its interesting storyline and remarkable writing. This is the first novel I've read by Megan Chance. If you are looking for a novel with substance, A DROP OF INK may very well be the book for you.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bayard Sonnier begins the novel is a pompous, drunk, egomaniac with a narcissistic streak a mile long. He has no growth or changes into any kind of person that has the slightest redeeming quality.

Giovanni Calina has his head so far up his own ass that he refuses to see what is going on in the world around him. He actually believes that beautiful women want him around for himself when all that is discussed is Bayard Sonnier. When he finally does see the reality of the world, he becomes a disgusting leech who finally dies in his own filth.

Adelaide Wentworth is pathetic. She trails after her lover, Julian Estes, and younger sister, Louisa Wentworth, doing absolutely nothing for herself. She is a mindless, shell of a human being. When it is finally revealed how Julian abandoned her in Venice while pregnant to run around Paris with Louisa, and Adelaide was not only accused of murdering Julian's wife but experienced a miscarriage from the stress, I did understand why Adelaide was so numb to the world and allowed herself to be led around. She had no one left to turn to but those people who had utterly betrayed her.

Julian Estes is a hypocritical asshole. He proclaims free love for all, abandoning his wife (who was pregnant with his child) to run around with Adelaide. Than he abandons Adelaide who was pregnant with his child to run off with Louisa. But he throws an absolute shit fit when he discovers Louisa is having an affair with Bayard Sonnier. He is so upset that "his" women are "disloyal" he goes out and kills himself.

Louisa Wentworth is a spoiled, petulant brat who needed to be turned over a knee as a child and spanked until she learned some proper manners. Sadly, she only learns how to use her pretty looks, dramatic flair, and sexuality to get what she wants when she wants it. She is an utter disgrace in all ways.

For most of this book the characters do nothing except drink and fuck. It is an utter waste of time and when the subject of mental illness and mental health is bandied about in such a horrible fashion I am appalled!

lovely written and beyond what I expected - found myself unable to put it down
Mystery, love , intrigue - this book has it all

I’ve never read this author before but I really got intrigued by the book blurb, so I thought to try it and was so glad I did.

This was not one of those cookie cutter romances that I love and am used to, yet it was a story that delivered on so many fronts. It was a story that went into deeper and more complex telling of so many of our human emotions, from love to madness and back to love again. I loved the imperfections of the characters and their humanity was on full display.

I hope you give Megan Chance a chance, pun intended, and get this well written and complex story.

“A fatal muse. A man who’d betrayed his wife and child because he told himself he was building a more perfect world, a man who believed art should obey few limits, and that love should obey none.”

Melanie for b2b

This is good old fashioned story telling! The characters- especially Adelaide- are terrific but more importantly, the plot twists and turns and keeps you reading. Think of this as historical fiction, partly because of the time frame but also because of the writers you'll meet, I really enjoyed this; it's a captivating book that's well written and entertaining. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Try this if you like lush gothic fiction.

A historical fiction novel which is set at the end of the 1800's and pays homage to some of the great writers of the day - Lord Byron, Percy and Mary Shelley.

I did like the romantic setting and the gothic atmosphere of the story.

Adelaide Wentworth with her sister, Louisa, go to Lake Geneva with Adelaide’s lover, the poet Julian Estes. Louisa hopes to convince Bayard Sonnier her former lover and a famous writer to help Julian’s career. Giovanni Calina, Bayard’s assistant also accompanies the group.

The 5 people gather at the Villa Dodati on Lake Geneva 60 years after the famous Shelley writers
have gathered there.

There are secrets, intrigue and romance making this book a great read. Lots of great character development and lots of plot twists and turns.

I hadn't read any novels by Megan Chance but I did like her style of writing and will definitely read more of her books.

Thanks Lake Union Publishing and netgalley for this ARC.

megan Chance can always be relied upon for a great reading experience. This book contiguous my choice to read her upcoming books in the future.

Absolutely amazing book. It drawers the reader in from the very first page until the very last I was bereft when it finished it was like I had lost a friend
The Wentworth sisters Adelaide and Louisa flee to Lake Geneva penniless to escape from events that have occurred in London
Adelaide has with her her lover and erstwhile poet Julian Estes whilst Louisa is hoping to rekindle her romance with Bayard Sonnier a prominent author who has retreated to Lake Geneva to avoid his adoring public whilst writing his next book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Megan Chance for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. It is 1876 Switzerland, where 5 people have gathered at the Villa Diodati on Lake Geneva some 60 years after poets Lord Byron, Percy Shelley, alongside his writer wife, Mary Godwin Shelly, gathered one summer; the year in which Mary wrote Frankenstein. The two others that accompanied them were Claire Clairmont, Mary's stepsister and former lover of both Bryon and Shelly, as well as Bryon's physician, Dr. John Polidori, who wrote "The Vampyre" that summer. The villa's past inspired the two women and three men to conduct a contest to see who can write the best ghost story. Romance, rage, and revenge haunted the halls of this famous home and challenged it's occupants. Not a bad tale, but a bit slow at the beginning.