* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

It’s 1899 and Tillie Pembroke’s life is about to get turned upside down. Born into the New York wealthy upper class, Tillie has had a pretty sheltered life. It all changes the day she falls from her horse and breaks her collarbone - the same day her older sister goes missing. When she’s found, she’s been killed with the only marks on her body look to be a vampire bite. When the investigation seems to be going no where, Tillie makes an unlikely friend and accomplice to solve the mystery of who, or what, killer her sister.

This book pulled me in and kept moving. I thought I had gotten it figured out but kept me guessing.

Opium and Absinthe was the perfect summer, beach-side novel for me! I was already lured by the beautiful book cover even before I begun reading. The story was well paced and had the right amount of suspense and misleads to keep you guessing, but not overly so. I loved how detailed and insightful Lydia Kang was about Tillie's addiction. All the characters were well developed and none of them were annoying (even the bad ones!). I look forward to reading more novels by Lydia Kang!


Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of an honest review.

OPIUM AND ABSINTHE blends Gilded Age New York with vampires, family secrets, and a touch of romance in this fantastic murder mystery.

Our main character is Tillie, a young woman reeling after the death of her sister and breaking her collarbone in a horseback riding accident. As she tries to solve her sister's murder, she becomes more and more dependant on opium. Tillie was fantastic as the protagonist—curious and smart and quirky in a way I haven't seen before in a historical mystery. Her journey with addiction was also incredibly well done, without sensationalism or judgment from the author. I was rooting for her to solve the murder (is it vampires, or someone hoping to pass the blame to a vampire?) and to find romance with the love interest, an easy-going newsie named Ian whom I also loved. Another fun bit is the incorporation of pop culture from the time—Bram Stoker's Dracula and the journalist Nellie Bly both make an appearance.

The pacing did slow a bit in the third act, and there were many suspects and plot threads to keep track of by the time you reach the book's climax. But everything is resolved in a very satisfying way that didn't leave me with any questions or feeling like any of the plot threads were dropped. I highly recommend this one if you like historical mysteries with fun pop culture references!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing Via NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3442593572

This was one of the most intoxicating reads I have picked up this year.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book did not initially come off as a mystery; when I began it, I thought it was going to be a commentary about mental health before it was labeled as such or on women succumbing to marriage as the only accomplishment they should have in their life. Since I did not expect a mystery, this book wrapped me in from the first mention of a vampire. It comments on drug abuse, toxic families, marriage, and love. This novel had more depth and intrigue than I could have ever imagined. I highly recommend this book to anyone who will read it.

Thank you for my copy of Opium and Absinthe.

First off the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful. I enjoy most books about vampires and this gothic mystery caught my attention from the beginning. I did find myself getting frustrated with the story line at times and felt it was drawn out. The ending was unexpected and keeps you guessing until the end.

Lydia Kang's historic mystery novel is so readable that I devoured it in a few days. The combination of narcotics, a mysterious Dracula-esque serial killer making headlines in New York City in 1899 is compelling. Top this off with how well-researched this novel was, making it so atmospheric that you feel like you have fallen into 1899 New York City.

The protagonist Tillie is a strong character who fights historic gender and class norms, whilst suffering with crippling grief and struggling with addiction.

I must say the first chapter didn't initially grab my attention and I was hoping it would get more interesting, and it definitely didn't disappoint. There were also so many unexpected twists, it kept me gripped until the very end.

Lydia tackles some important topics in this novel, from addiction and grief to poverty and societal issues like class, gender norms and much more.

I would recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries, combined with a strong female protagonist.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC of Opium and Absinthe!

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the ARC!

First of all, I must say that this cover is absolutely beautiful! I just couldn't ignore it. As soon as I saw it, I felt the urge to read the synopsis. I was very intrigued by the plot, wondering how it could be possible to find a connection between the events of the classic Dracula and these new characters.

Tillie Pembroke lost her older sister, Lucy. She was found dead, in a very peculiar way. There was no sign of blood, although she was clearly murdered.

The book "Dracula", by Bram Stoker, was published in that same year and introduced the universe of vampires to people's minds. After reading the story, Tillie identified some similarities between what had happened to her sister, and wondered, "What if vampires really exist? Who's this author? Where did he get this idea from?"

The Pembrokes are a rich family. It was always expected that the girls would marry and have children, but that was all. That was their fate. They weren't expected to be smart. The family members don't take anything Tillie says seriously. Even though she says she wants to continue investigating what happened to her sister, she often hears that "she needs to be strong and move on, because that's what women do".

Her great ally in this investigation is Ian Metzger, a young man who sells papers, who really likes her for her personality, and not for being a Pembroke.

I really enjoyed this reading! The author got my full attention. Although I was frustrated at times, I always thought, "I won't give up. I want to know how this is going to end. I need to know what happened to Lucy and the other victims too!". And the ending made sense to me, so... good book!

OPIUM AND ABSINTHE by Lydia Kang is a gothic novel set in the 1890’s around the time Bram Stoker’s Dracula was released. When her sister is found dead, drained of blood with two holes in her neck, Tillie is determined to find who killed her. Was it a vampire? With her own issues to deal with, plus the discouragement of her family and those surrounding her, Tillie faces an uphill battle. Luckily, she finds a friend and ally in Ian, a newsie and would-be journalist, who likes Tillie for herself and not who her family thinks she should be.
I enjoyed the plotline but had a bit of a difficult time with the writing and the characters. It was a harder for me to connect with Tillie, I wasn’t sure I liked her and her actions frustrated me at times. This one was good, but not necessarily for me, as I struggle with gothic novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
#OpiumandAbsinthe #LydiaKang #LakeUnionPublishing

Synopsis: New York City, 1899. Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, Dracula, has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?

A ravenous reader and researcher, Tillie has something of an addiction to truth, and she won’t rest until she unravels the mystery of her sister’s death. Unfortunately, Tillie’s addicted to more than just truth; to ease the pain from a recent injury, she’s taking more and more laudanum…and some in her immediate circle are happy to keep her well supplied.

Tillie can’t bring herself to believe vampires exist. But with the hysteria surrounding her sister’s death, the continued vampiric slayings, and the opium swirling through her body, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for a girl who relies on facts and figures to know what’s real—or whether she can trust those closest to her.

As a lover of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, I was drawn in and addicted (pun very much intended) to the storyline. I found myself immersed in the mystery surrounding Lucy’s death, the time period and how Tillie works to stop a killer that is on the loose in Manhattan.

I’m a huge fan of historical details and descriptive writing, and Kang did an amazing job. I was swept back in time through the dialogue, setting and culture of Manhattan. There were many truly fascinating historical details that dove into the disparity between the rich and the poor during the late 19th century Manhattan, and I found myself swept up in the time period. The reader gets to dive into the life of a “newsie” (the poor) and the lives of those on “Millionaire Row” (richest of the rich). Kang brought these two different worlds together in a superb and entertaining fashion that helped the heroine, Tillie, solve a very unusual murder. I swear I was swept up visually into Tillie’s world as she traveled from the slums to the glittery lives of the rich.

The plotline and development of Tillie’s opium addiction follows with how so many women and men became addicted to the poppy after having a doctor subscribe it for medicinal purposes. I felt like I really knew all the characters in the story as I held my breath for them, cheered for them, or criticized their mistakes. Each character was very real and believable…Especially Tillie. Her character is flawed, but she doesn’t allow this to hinder her curiosity or drive to find the truth about her sister’s murder.

Overall, I truly enjoyed this story. As a teacher and librarian, I always have my nose in a book. Therefore, it takes a well-researched book full of captivating details to hold my attention so much so that I stay up late reading, and cannot wait to wake-up and dive back in, and Lang’s book did just that!

If you are looking into an epic historical fiction book with a hint of mystery, you will enjoy this well written book. You will get a glimpse into the lives and times of late 19th century Manhattan, the troubling diaspora (that are still troubling today), the role of women, opioids, and medicine.

As much as I wanted to like this book, it was just not for me. The story rambled and there were occurrences where it just really stretched one's ability to believe to the ultimate. I do like a good vampire story, but unfortunately, this was just not a very good one. Although, that cover is just stunning, too bad what was contained inside it just missed the mark.

So sad to say, no recommendation for this one.

I really enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down, I love a both where you just have to keep on reading

How topical is this! Is there really a vampire out there or is Tilly so addled by her opiate addiction that she's unable to form a coherent thought about her sister's death. Her sister was definitely killed but by who, or what? Kang has used Dracula to good advantage here. I wasn't sure when I started this that I would finish it but it hooked me in with the atmospherics of 1899 New York and a likable protagonist in Tilly, Good storytelling carried it though. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I requested this book through NetGalley based on the beautiful cover and title. Considering my huge TBR pile and limited time to read, this was a gamble, but it turned out to be a very entertaining summer read.

I loved the setting--NYC in 1899--and I liked how the author tied in the Newsies and vampire themes. I'm not sure how accurately she captured the characters of the time, but I'll take it at face value. However, it's apparent that the author being a medical doctor allowed her to incorporate a lot of technical details, and that enriched the story and made it feel believable. Because I have a biomedical background, I was able to figure out what was going on pretty early in the story--but not WHO did it! She kept me guessing on that one til the end! So I'd say this was a very good mystery.

A big theme was that of addiction. It is crazy how easily people seemed to be able to get their hands on opium and heroin, even a young girl like Tillie (again, I'm not fact-checking). Although I do not doubt the cravings and withdrawals were well researched medically, the overwhelming amount of time spent describing Tillie's drug use was a bit of negative for me (but given the title of the book, maybe I should've expected that...)

Overall, a good read that I would not hesitate to recommend to mystery fans.

A gothic mystery with a heroine who manages to fight the strictures of her class and time.

The author interweaves Stoker 's Dracula which adds to the gothic overtones.

Additionally, she tackles the topic of addiction and various narcotic tinctures were used to keep women in their place.

I found the main character, Tillie, quite empathetic as she fights to stop acquiescing to familial and societal demands and find her own footing.

I am appreciative of the free ARC copy. I am leaving my honest review and recommend this book as a well written read.

Rated 3.5 stars*

I enjoyed Opium and Absinthe by Lydia Kang. At first I wasn’t very invested in the story or sure where it was going, but for some reason I had trouble putting the book down. Tillie is a very determined and inquisitive protagonist. While I never could quite decide how I felt about her it was hard not to root for Tillie on her quest for answers and justice for her sister.

Intertwining Dracula’s publication with the story was a fun and interesting addition. The mystery is well constructed and while I wasn’t sure how some plot aspects had a purpose at the time, it all tied together.

I will be picking up more of Lydia Kang’s books in the future.

This book may be a great choice for fans of The Stalking Jack the Ripper series as well as The Alienist TV series (I can’t speak to the books as I have yet to read them.)

*My rating was rounded up because I had a hard time putting the book down.

The first few pages of this novel drew me in and wouldn't let go. I liked Tillie, she lives in a world where women are meant to go to parties, socialise and marry. But she spends the party in the host's library. She has a passion for knowledge and enjoys reading the dictionary.

I had a brilliant first impression of this book, I loved the unique similes that the author used "her heart was quivering like a cold chicken jelly" and I was intrigued by the mystery. Tillie's sister is murdered by what looks like a vampire and she's determined to find out what happened, since nobody else seems to be bothered. Oddly.

Tillie's  grandmother is a formidable lady, she is very harsh on Tillie and at one point refuses her to leave the house for her safety. Tillie feels trapped but not just in the house, in this life all planned out for her. Since her sister's death they want her to  fit neatly into her sisters role. She tries to figure out what happened to her sister, meeting people who can help along the way.

The authors love of Dracula is shown by the quotes at the beginning of each chapter and the novel features in the story. So if you haven't read it, expect spoilers. This was perfect: Tillie is reading the novel and asking questions, she researches the science behind vampires and tries to figure out if the killer is really a vampire. I don't think I've ever read a vampire book or seen a film/series that looks at the science, that looks at how their teeth would have to be or how they could drink blood from two tiny holes, leaving only small puncture wounds. Very interesting and a refreshing change. 

All the while I wonder if it's really a vampire, or if someone she knows is to blame. I couldn't figure it out, as the story progresses and Tillie tries to unravel the mystery, putting herself in danger and risking the anger of her family, I was riveted. And I didn't guess the culprit in the end. But I enjoyed every moment of it. 

 It was interesting to read Tillie's story, showing the attitudes to women during this time. And how she easily became addicted to opiates after an injury. Also her enthusiasm for writing made me remember myself when I getting into writing for the first time.

There is one glaring error in this book where the author keeps referring to the millennium being in 1900. Strange how this wasn't corrected, not sure if it has been in the final proof as I read an ARC. But it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story.

I loved everything about this book: the facts, the story, the characters. It's a riveting, historical mystery that you won't be able to put down.

This was a fantastic read! I've always been a fan of the gothic genre, and vampire novels in particular, which made this an enticing read from beginning to end. Gripping and exciting from start to finish, I found myself eagerly turning the pages and devoured the entire book in less than two days. I can't wait to see what else this author comes up with in the future.

I was very pleasantly surprised by Lydia Kang’s new novel. Everything about it was fresh. Tillie Penbroke is the average awkward younger sister of a beautiful paragon of NY society, but Tillie loves her and is loved by her. They don’t have contempt, but they do have secrets. The real story begins when Lily is found bruised, drugged, and exsanguinated after being missing for three days. Two of which, Tillie is in a state of laudanum induced unconsciousness.

Paranoia, misinformation, pseudoscience, addiction and plain-old feminine doubt propel the young lady into an ill-advised investigation into the murder of her sister and those who died under similar conditions and were left with similar vampire-like wounds. Tillie uses everyone and anyone as a source of information. She pays some, threatens others and even steals a bit. She is desperate from the moment she wakes to find her sister missing and travels under some degree of fog throughout.

What I enjoy most is how the atmosphere or local color of NY is amplified by Tillie’s drug use. So, I read her in two landscapes. Similarly, she is presented to us as a scientific mind, a woman of letters, an etymology nerd. And yet, she uses specious information from novels, quack doctors, hearsay, and the like. She jumps to conclusions based on no amount of logic. Worst of all, she lies. She lies to herself, friends, doctors, anyone. She is clearly unreliable as a narrator because she under the influence, but she’s so pathological she convinces herself of untruths.

It is the slippery slope on which Tillie rides that makes the true intent intractable. The novel is psychological. It’s suspenseful. It requires contemplation and demands irreverence.

There’s a moment where Tillie is upset by the waspish way her family is responding to grief. Her grandmother tells her that “no woman lives a life unscathed. We are broken and mended. Remade every time. We must. Or it destroys us.” While true and commendable, the assertion is as cold as Lily’s body. Tillie notes all of theses sensations around her not dispassionately before she realizes she hasn’t cried either. It’s bizarre. It’s also compelling. My overall enjoyment was not in the mystery or some great reveal. I enjoyed the precarious position of the truth-seeking, modernist individual who blazes her own path with the tension, chaos and desolation of the postmodern. It was like Prufrock smoked-out with Ginsberg while he wrote Howl before taking a cab to West Egg for a weekend with Jay Gatsby or maybe singing Puff the Magic Dragon in the choir at church on Easter Sunday. It’s all sacred and profane, innocent and vulgar, a veritable smorgasbord of oxymoronic imagery that I happened to find delicious.

This was beautifully written. It is a loose retelling/comparison of "Dracula." I found the pace to very simpler to the classic. I do think you can read this without reading "Dracula" yet part of the fun of this book is all the clues that refer to it. Lydia Kang did a lot of research about the time period, (1899) and how things were developing, such as medicine and the work forces. This was a consuming mystery and concern building for the characters as the story continues. It slowly grows on you and for me this will be memorable just like the classic.

Tillie Pembroke’s sister lies dead, her body drained of blood and with two puncture wounds on her neck. Bram Stoker’s new novel, "Dracula", has just been published, and Tillie’s imagination leaps to the impossible: the murderer is a vampire. But it can’t be—can it?

I think if I was in the right mood I would give this a higher star. I do plan to re-read this in the future. I am thinking of doing a combine re-reading of "Dracula" and a few other novels. Reading "Opium and Absinthe" with the classic would be a very interesting experience.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨Opium and Absinthe is utterly evocative. It only takes a few paragraphs of Lydia Kang's lush prose (and spot-on diction; anachronisms, whomst?) before you find yourself immersed in a city that is a character in its own right—

New York City, 1899: It's the turn of the century! High society is booming, even as the immigrants and working class struggle. Paperboys hawk wares, Italian men bang pianos on street corners. Horse-drawn carriages fill streets that've just begun to glow with electricity. Speakeasies and saloons belch opium smoke. Meanwhile, the moneyed elite luxuriate in Fifth Avenue mansions, tended to by French servants.

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Tillie's meek and clumsy, nothing like her beautiful and charming sister, Lucy. But when Lucy is murdered and all clues point to a vampire killer, Tillie's life shifts irrevocably. She throws herself into breaking free of her stifling birthright as a New York heiress. She chases leads and becomes an investigative journalist, addicted to knowing and learning everything about the world around her.

All the while, she discovers the only thing that dulls her pain, awkwardness, and grief is opium. And as she hunts her sister's killer, Tillie is consumed by an equally insatiable addiction—to morphine.

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My biggest issue with this book was that I couldn't connect with the characters. I didn't find any of them particularly likeable, which is fine, but the grievous sin was that I didn't find them compelling, either.

Tillie was spoiled and selfish and acted like SUCH a brat sometimes that I wanted to throttle her. The love interest was nice but kinda forgettable imo. Tillie's mom is a wet rag. Her grandmama piqued my interest (the old lady's a VIPER) but her backstory is never examined.

I also struggled to engage with the mystery—the hunch I had by page 20 was pretty much proven correct by the end, while the bulk of the story just felt like a series of red herrings that came outta left field and felt totally unnecessary and unconvincing? When we finally received explanations for why xyz occurred, it was PALTRY.

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CONCLUSION: Opium and Absinthe's mystery and characters weren't altogether convincing for me—but it IS redeemed by its beautifully vivid depictions of New York City's Gilded Age.