The Shape of Darkness: 'A future gothic classic' Martyn Waites

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Included below are the official powers described in supplements for Vampire: The Masquerade and Dark Ages: Vampire. It ticks all of the boxes for me it’s sinister, atmospheric, dark, gothic historical fiction at its best! I think it would have been more interesting to have a visually impaired character with spiritual gifts, what she lacks in the physical world is made up for in the spiritual.

The Shape of Darkness (review) – Horrified The Shape of Darkness (review) – Horrified

Agnes hopes that if Pearl can contact her deceased clients, they might be able to reveal who killed them and why.

The novel is also set firmly in the sensation-seeking late Victorian age, in which Myrtle rightly observes that “people want a show”, and Agnes’s business gains a dark notoriety amongst society members who wish for the thrill of a silhouette from “the parlour of death”. The plot is most engaging and intriguing, and the climax as unpredicatble as may be expected in a novel by Ms Purcell. Set in the Victorian era, with strong female roles and dark, gothic scenes, The Shape Of Darkness is sure to please. You might begin to believe that a killer is targeting Agnes’ business, which is exactly what’s happening.

The Shape of Darkness - Bloomsbury Publishing

Taking place in the atmospheric setting of Victorian Bath we are introduced to the impoverished world of Agnes Darken, silhouette artist, and watch as she is drawn in to the world of mesmerism and spiritualism whilst attempting to uncover a mystery.In ill-health since a bout of pneumonia four year’s prior, she is counselled by her brother-in-law (her deceased twin sister’s husband) to leave well enough alone. Both the women at the heart of the novel are concerned with creating something out of darkness, and they act knowingly or unknowingly to shape the form which that creation takes: Agnes, the silhouette cutter, and Pearl, the child spirit-medium. It’s hardly surprising, then, that the figure of the spirit medium, as portrayed in literature and film, should prove no exception to this rule. It’s a shame this wasn’t published for Halloween as it’s the perfect book for the time of year when the nights start drawing in. Weight of the Feather: The vampire can reduce their effective mass and density, making themselves almost weightless.