A zombie-creating fog spreads across England in this Georgian style post apocalypse. Having been passed over as heir to her father’s Manor, Merrick Darling has one priority: find a rich husband. When her father dies suddenly, Merrick rushes home to find her sister living in fear and the Manor shrouded in mystery. The mist is more unstable than ever, but there is another enemy hiding in the shadows. Struggling to know who to trust, Merrick must find out what is really happing at Darling Manor before it is too late.
The setting of this book is wonderfully unique, combining historical fiction with the usually future-focussed apocalyptic fiction. The mist creates a suitable gothic atmosphere that fits really well with the almost-haunted manor house full of secrets. The Manor-born immunity to the mist solidly re-enforces the hierarchy of the upper and lower classes and adds an interesting depth to Lydia Gregovic’s world building.
I particularly like how the people are fighting back against the mist, whilst at the same time just getting on with life; especially as it is made clear that the mist will eventually overtake the whole of the country. Yet this ever-present danger doesn’t stop them hosting balls, sharing gossip, and relishing in scandal. This attitude is particularly apparent in Merrick’s cousins who seem to want to host balls and pretend nothing is wrong despite there clearly being a lot wrong. What is clever is how this creates suspicion around these characters, leaving the reader constantly questioning their motives and loyalties. It can also be seen in Merrick’s hunt for a husband.
There is only a hint of romance in this book; just enough to distract Merrick and add a tangled layer to the plot. For Merrick, love seems only to open the door for betrayal. The Georgian marriage mart and society politics do not leave much room for trust and getting to know one another. Yet Merrick must find somebody to trust as she can’t solve the mysteries of Darling Manor alone. The question is, will she choose the right person?
Escape to the Bookshelf 