The Resurrectionist: A Tale of Gothic Horror
Seventeen-year-old Odile “Dilly” Rothbart is on a personal crusade to become a surgeon just like her father. However, she is pitted against Victorian-era societal pressures, expectations for a woman of her age and status, her twin sister’s physical disability, and the recent death of her famous father. Dilly finds herself in the company of the charming and persuasive Ben Sinclair, who helps her break into the Academy so that she can begin her learning, and break into graves so she can begin her training. It isn’t until Dilly finds herself in the bowels of betrayal that she learns about herself, her family, and who she can really trust, or love.
This book is filled with rich and visceral scenes that graphically illustrate Victorian-era surgery, death, and an obsession with resurrection. Each chapter is accompanied with a quote from classic Gothic literature and Dilly narrating from the future, which sets the tone and provides a nice recall to works that inspired this story. This reviewer recognized and appreciated the parallels.
Lies, betrayal, and moral corruption spill from this story as plentifully as blood from a severed artery. Secrets, blackmail, and unexpected plot twists stack as high as the body (and body part) count in this book. Trigger warnings and sensitivity towards blood, death, and bodily harm should be considered for this young adult novel, before readers join Dilly on her quest to find out who she really is, and what she is meant to be: a respected surgeon, or a monster.
