Once again, Amanda DeWees knocks it out of the park. We pick up right where we left off in the epilogue of With This Curse, less than a year after the wedding, the happy couple setting up homes for unwed mothers and Clara just aware of her own impending bundle of joy. Can I briefly mention my disgust for books (and films) that think that a series featuring the same couple means you have to keep breaking them up for stupid reasons to keep up the “tension”? It’s like they look at something that is working great, and ask, “How can we ruin this?” (Stephenie Meyer, Jerry Bruckheimer, I’m looking at you.) Fortunately, Amanda DeWees is not one of those authors. The relationship between Atticus and Clara is as adorable and endearing and sweet and the highlight of the story. I so loved the strength and support they got from one another. All of the characters were excellent, realistic human beings (the realism perhaps highlighted in the number of times I wanted to punch a character or two in the nose—but we all know people like that too). Our villain was thrillingly creepy and shudder-inducing. I enjoyed the introduction this gives to Eastern European folklore; it added some great flavor to the story. The atmosphere was great—I’ve never had the opportunity to visit England, but Ms. DeWees’s descriptions conveyed the loneliness and isolation in the misty bogs and moors. I also appreciated the little touches of modern morality/ethics that Atticus and Clara offered. Sometimes the Victorians really were confused about how the world should work. This was a great read, and—once again—I can’t wait for the next one. She can’t put them out fast enough. I should probably go reread it now while I wait.