Nicky Farahvar

This book hooked me right away. I love the references to so many aspects of London, including how she develops the very tertiary side-character, Charles Dickens. The main character, Eliza, is so real that you feel as if she exists within you, though you have nothing in common with her. She seamlessly intertwines so many story lines that seem as random and natural as life itself. Her talent is unparalleled. My favorite part of this writing is that she believes in my ability as a reader to catch all the references and allusions and doesn’t talk down to you or explain anything. Be prepared, though, to jot notes as you read because you will want to research what she’s written—historically, but it’s also impossible to stop reading so the best you can do is just take notes for future research.