Vanished – by Nicole McKeon

Kidnapped children in an alternative Victorian London with magic, elves and dwarves:

”Vanished” by Nicole McKeon is an amazing story that feels like a modern fantasy equivalent of Sherlock Holmes. 

The protagonist, Lady Gwen St. James, is a witty, fast-thinking and brave young woman navigating a life as an outcast of New London’s upper class. She’s fascinated by magic, helps people and stresses out the people  tasked with taking care of her by her wealthy aristocratic mother. 

What I particularly love is that the characters are complex, as are their relationships. The story between Gwen and her mother alone is so full of nuances and important backstory elements you only find out bit by bit, it’s a joy to explore. The author manages over and over again to tell the story just that little bit different than expected that keeps it interesting. 

Lady Gwen is a character I truly adore. She’s fierce without being really powerful. She’s smart, but not unrealistically so. And she’s vulnerable and very human. Honestly, she’s a character I’d love to be friends with if she were real! 

As if that wasn’t enough for an amazing story, there’s a whole layer of social commentary, intelligently woven into the worldbuilding. 

Nicole McKeon succeeds in telling a story that feels light-hearted despite the sometimes grim topics, and I’ve fallen in love with the world, the characters and the writing. I chose the audiobook version for this book, narrated by Teralyn Davis. This narrator is a perfect match – if someone told me that Lady Gwen herself narrated the audiobook, I’d believe it in an instant. 

I love this book and look forward to the next part!