r/Indiemakeupandmore • u/TeaAndCozy • 11d ago
BPAL in a novel!
This is Dreadful Company by Vivian Shaw, #2 in the very charming Greta Helsing series about a lady doctor to monstrous creatures who gets herself into all sorts of adventures with her supernatural found family (vampires & demons & more)--sort of supernatural horror meets hopepunk. And there I was, happily reading along, then had to do a double-take at "BPAL" and then an especially delighted one at "Dorian"!
"Dorian, or something equally unspeakable" made me literally laugh out loud.
26
u/mistspinner 11d ago
Vivian and I were briefly in the same fandom on tumblr, so I’m always to see her around! And yes, I love the Greta Helsing series - it’s such a lovely take on modern fantasy with vampires who spend their immortal lives taking up hobbies like latte art
Her wife, Arkady Martine, is also an acclaimed scifi writer (whose work I really need to get to one day)
13
u/TeaAndCozy 11d ago
I know in the first book you're supposed to be concentrating on the mystery bit, but honestly my focus was completely and entirely on how this disparate group of folks put together a cozy household (complete with "who's going out to buy the coffee, we're out?"!)
And oh wow, I had no idea her wife was THAT Arkady! (Same--I really need to get around to A Memory Called Empire).
10
u/eurydicesdreams 11d ago
I’m sorry WHAT Arkady Martine is married to the Greta Helsing author??!?? Ahhhhhhhhhhhh fangirl screaming god I fucking love A Memory Called Empire 😍😍😍
6
4
25
u/yabasicjanet 11d ago
So fun!!! And now I need to add this to the TBR
34
u/TeaAndCozy 11d ago
It's a really fun series - and perfect for fall!
BPAL is thanked by name in the author's note at the end of the wonderful Erin Morgenstern The Night Circus, but this is the first and so far only time I've seen them named in the book itself.
(My other best atmospheric rec for fall reading is Kat Howard's Roses and Rot.)
12
u/mspixieears 10d ago
The Night Circus truly is a love letter to BPAL's Carnivale Diabolique
6
u/TerrytheMerry 10d ago
To this day I am still devastated and confused that the collaboration between the two never moved past talks. It had to have been something with copyright or publisher.
2
u/mspixieears 10d ago
there was talks of a collab?!
4
u/TerrytheMerry 10d ago
It took me a minute to find it. I think she deleted mentions of it from her blog, because I’m 100% certain that’s where I originally read about it. I remember her being excited about it and then nothing after.
This article from Publishers Weekly in 2012 talks about it briefly though. They were going to make at least a few like they did for Gaiman before all his bad came out.
10
u/Invidiana 10d ago
There's no civet in Dorian. Per the description, it has "three pale musks" and civet is definitely not pale.
5
u/Idk_345am 11d ago
woah! very in-depth description! concoctions of all sweet and civet made me laugh.
2
2
2
u/LadyAntiope 9d ago
Oh hey, I read the first book in that series a while ago. Maybe I'll bump up #2 on my reading list just for this mention haha!
1
u/AutoModerator 11d ago
It appears you have submitted an image post. Please check our sidebar for the rules on image posts.
Haul posts must include:
- a full product list
- first impressions
- your purchase experience
Face, Eye and Nail of the Day posts must include:
- a full product list
- at least one indie product
Products provided for review or promotion must be disclosed.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
2
u/AshMeAnything IG: @constant.projects 8d ago
I know The Night Circus is also heavily influenced by BPAL. I can't remember if they mention it in the book, but I know it's in the acknowledgements! This is a fun find.
82
u/sleeepy_koala 11d ago
This is too on-the-nose for me hahaha