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Strange Practice
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
139 posts | 128 read | 199 to read
Meet Greta Helsing, fast-talking doctor to the undead. Keeping the supernatural community not-alive and well in London has been her family's specialty for generations. Greta Helsing inherited the family's highly specialized, and highly peculiar, medical practice. In her consulting rooms, Dr. Helsing treats the undead for a host of ills - vocal strain in banshees, arthritis in barrow-wights, and entropy in mummies. Although barely making ends meet, this is just the quiet, supernatural-adjacent life Greta's been groomed for since childhood. Until a sect of murderous monks emerges, killing human and undead Londoners alike. As terror takes hold of the city, Greta must use her unusual skills to stop the cult if she hopes to save her practice, and her life.
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review
Blh87
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

I think I liked the idea of this book more than I liked the actual book. The pace was a bit too slow for me.

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Blh87
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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My last book attempt was a dud, so I guess I‘ll try this one instead!

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ReadingOver50
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

I loved this book. I love the world Greta lives in. She is a doctor to the local monster population. She takes care of the local vampires, demons, mummys and ghouls. A group of murderous monks begins killing both the living and the dead. Greta and her friends need to stop the monks from killing anyone else. This is more difficult because the monks don‘t appear to be fully human.

mommyincolortv I like the way this book sounds! 2y
ReadingOver50 @mommyincolortv it was great! Such a fun book. 2y
Garabrandtreviews @The_Elite_Bookaholic have you heard about this? 2y
84 likes4 stack adds3 comments
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ReadingOver50
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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My reading wrap up for the month of June. Strange Practice, Endurance and The Nightmare Man were my favorite. 6 horror, 1 romance and 1 nonfiction.

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ReadingOver50
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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My favorite read for the month of June is Strange Practice. This is a fun monster story wrapped up in a murder mystery. Great characters. Loved it.

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Andrea4
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Started on the 24th and just finished so pretty engaging, I'd say! I thought I wasn't in the mood for this story and then boom! I was hooked and just wanted to know more about the vamps, witches, ghouls, etc!
I am really glad that it is in fact a series. Can't wait for more!
Also, I quite enjoyed the narration.
Oh and usually I never do this, but I thought if this were turned into a movie Kate Winslet should play Greta.
And gratuitous pup shot🐕🐾

BookDragonNotWorm Gorgeous! 😍 Border Collie? 2y
Andrea4 @BookDragonNotWorm with Aussie Shepherd. He is gorgeous and a handful! So much energy and so curious and smart! 2y
28 likes2 comments
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Maria514626
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Weird! And I couldn‘t put it down. I loved all the characters, their personalities and quirks. (Not the baddies, though.) It was fun to think of this whole other world alongside and unknown to 99% of Londoners.

I didn‘t expect this to be thought-provoking and applicable to real life. Note! I could be reading a lot into this—I often do. The story IS a story. It‘s not a trick to make you think a certain thing or way. 😁

16 likes1 stack add
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Maria514626
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Strange is right! The main character is a doctor for the undead. There‘s a killer on the loose who is going after the living and undead. 😳

This isn‘t my usual fare, but I can‘t put this one down. There‘s both enough story and enough space—leaving you with enough room to draw your own conclusions and feel your own feels.

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shanaqui
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

This reread was like a warm comforting bath for me; it's getting a little over-familiar (I probably shouldn't reread it again too soon), but I'm not constituentially capable of skipping it and skipping straight to the second and third, which I've read less often. I adore Ruthven and Fass.

And here we go, 5th line of the #BookSpinBingo.

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jen_the_scribe
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Dr. Greta Helsing, her unique patients, and friends kept me company during my mini road trip this weekend. I really enjoyed it. I love the narrator‘s voice, and I found all of the characters extremely likable. I was invested and even had moments of grief for these characters. It‘s such an interesting premise, even with a few slow moments when mundane things are described in detail. I added the next two in the series to my wish list.

shanaqui I love this series so much! Love the way Greta freely gives her skills -- even to people who've harmed her. (In that sense she's basically the doctor that my mother, a doctor, always felt she should be and tried to be, so I guess it pushes my buttons!) 2y
jen_the_scribe @shanaqui I also loved that about Greta! And her self-doubt made me empathize with her quite a bit. 2y
Andrea4 Oh I was hoping this was a series!!! Just finished and loved it! 2y
17 likes3 comments
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jen_the_scribe
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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I think this will be my next listen. I‘m taking a short road trip to my hometown for my best friend‘s baby shower this weekend (about 3.5 hours one way), so I need an interesting listen with an entertaining narrator.

19 likes1 stack add
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wanderinglynn
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

While the synopsis was intriguing, the execution fell flat for me. One of main aspects that drew me to this book was the fact that Greta is a physician for the underworld. Some of the scenes I liked best were when she cares for Varney, sees to the ghoullet, & discusses an upcoming foot-bone replacement surgery for a mummy. Those were the parts I wanted more of & yet her practice (despite the title) is not even a subplot.

👇🏻

wanderinglynn My other big disappointment was the antagonist. Dealing with that just didn't really fit for me within the set-up for this world. A slower build up over 3 or 4 books to this kind of antagonist would have worked better. But diving right into this kind of story before even really fleshing out the world made me lose interest. There are some other issues, but this is the biggest one. 2y
Andrew65 Doing great 👏👏👏 2y
See All 7 Comments
wanderinglynn Oh I almost forgot! This was my October #bookspin. @TheAromaofBooks 2y
bio_chem06 That book sleeve is 🔥 2y
wanderinglynn @bio_chem06 Thanks! I love it. It was part of my #HauntedHollowSwap box from @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego 😀 2y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!!! 2y
84 likes7 comments
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wanderinglynn
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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#thoughtfulthursday

📖 tagged, A Good Day for Chardonnay, & The Archive of the Forgotten

🍁 getting caught in the rain & that NaNoWriMo is going really well

📚 books with basic spelling errors and misprints

Thanks for the tag Danielle! Have you played? @TheSpineView @Crazeedi @AlaMich @persephone1408 @wideeyedreader @Twainy

TheSpineView Thanks for the tag! 💙🏷 2y
MoonWitch94 You are very welcome! Thanks for playing 🍂📖✨ 2y
55 likes2 comments
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Laughterhp
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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This book came to mind for today‘s #LittensDressedinBlood September prompt - Monster Mash

Greta is a monster doctor. She treats vampires, mummies, banshees, etc.

This series is pretty good, though I never read the 3rd book.

MidnightBookGirl I almost picked this one too! 3y
43 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lizpixie
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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#LittensDressedInBlood #Day5 #DeadMansParty I have many books on my shelves that would fit this prompt, both well known & niche books about all sorts of dead men from vampires to zombies to ghosts. I chose this book, the 1st in a series, because it encompasses all of those types of dead men & more, including ghouls, demons & gargoyles. It‘s a fun series with a great female MC, a doctor who works with the supernatural sick.

BarbaraTheBibliophage Such a great series!! 3y
MidnightBookGirl I love this book! 3y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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MommyWantsToReadHerBook
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

This was a little different from my usual fare, but I was just really intrigued by the recommendation by @Barbara the Bibliophage and it was fairly inexpensive. It was mostly fun, she writes well and is funny, but there were some heavier parts too. For the most part, I enjoyed it thoroughly!

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Littlewolf1
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

4.3⭐️ “Whatever you‘re into is some fascinatingly weird shit.” Dr. Helsing is a private medical doctor that treats London‘s undead from vampires, ghouls, mummies and so many others. But things get a little crazy when an old friend calls her for an emergency. There is one aspect I could‘ve lived without, but the book itself was pretty awesome. I‘m looking forward to continuing the series. This is also my #doublespin for #bookspinbingo

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
Maria514626 @Littlewolf1 I ❤️❤️❤️ that quote! 2y
12 likes2 comments
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LostInSpace
Unnatural Remedy | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

A fun and easy going read. Very monster-rific.

Greta Helsing is a doctor to the undead, a ancient evil is brewing in the sewers of London causing problems for her patients.

Greta and her little squad of undead friends (I enjoyed the banter immensely!) are the only ones who can end the trouble that is hot on their heels.

33 likes5 stack adds
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Lucy_Anywhere
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

Monsters need doctors as well - and Dr Greta Helsing‘s practice is full of the things that go bump in the night. With nods to Victorian gothic tales, this was a fun read and full of imagination, but the ending fell a little bit flat for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ and a bit

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starlight97
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Greta Helsing, doctor to the undead, whose job is to treat the different ailments of vampires, ghouls, banshees, mummies etc. now has to fight a group of murderous monks who try their best to harm her and her patients.
Wonderfully written, creative and unique, a delight to read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

31 likes1 stack add
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Twainy
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

🎧 Meh another tough review. You‘d either love or hate the narration. It‘s almost monotone & doesn‘t differentiate between characters. Gretta Hellsing is a Doctor to supernatural beings in London. The story brings up obscure happenings in London history. Interesting idea. I feel the treeware is probably better. ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/3

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ShyBookOwl
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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I'm always down for a quirky monster book 🧛‍♀️🧟‍♀️

BookmarkTavern I really liked this one! I hope you enjoy it! 4y
ShyBookOwl @ozma.of.oz thx! I'm excited for it 4y
63 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BrieHive
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
Pickpick

Greta Helsing is a doctor for supernatural beings, or differently alive as she puts it. This is the first book in the series and the characters you meet are awesome and written beautifully. Frankly some of the best moments are when the main characters are in a group just talking. The story itself is a bit predictable but still a good time. I highly recommend if for no other reason than hanging out with Vivian Shaw‘s characters.

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Rissa1
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Underworld meets the Da Vinci Code.

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Rissa1
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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February TBR List finished. The only carry over from last months list is Good Omens. Strange Practice should be finished today.

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Timidmagick
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Dr. Helsing is a doctor to the supernatural and gets involved in a situation where someone is targeting them and there is a serial killer loose in London killing the human population too

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BridgetteM
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Your package should be delivered to you by no later than Friday, @HerDarkHuntress1 :) Sorry for the delayed post. I was in a rural area for Thanksgiving and my Internet access was more limited than I expected. #lmpbc @Pogue @MeganAnn

HerDarkHuntress1 Woot!!! Looking forward to it!!! 4y
HerDarkHuntress1 @BridgetteM I got it! It looks interesting... and I‘m realizing I may have over marked my book! Sorry @MeganAnn! 4y
MeganAnn @HerDarkHuntress1 definitely not a problem! I paged through it briefly and I love all your annotations! I usually get so wrapped up in the story I sometimes forget I‘m supposed to be marking it up and have to go back later. Also, thank you so much for all the extras!! You at so very sweet and I loved them (and Axton loves the book you sent him too!) 😘 4y
BridgetteM @HerDarkHuntress1 Hope you enjoy the book! :) 4y
35 likes4 comments
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ralexist
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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1) Doctor to the things that go bump in the night. Fun read!
2) Teleportation or the ability to communicate in every language
3) Scorpio
4) Getting holiday cards ready for the mail
5) ❤️🧡💛💙💙💜🖤🤍🤎

#friyayintro @howjessreads

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HoneyBeeLee
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

After loosing my headphones for a week and finally finding them this passed weekend I can finally finish up with book! Have to admit this was a really good book. Had me hooked at the start. Can‘t wait to start the next book in the series.

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MidnightBookGirl
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Loved this supernatural tale! Very Halloween-ish, and now I need to track down the other books in the series! #TeamSlaughter #scarathalon @Clwojick

kyraleseberg This is next on my list for the month! 4y
BookmarkTavern This one is so good! The third in the series just came out last month! 4y
Laura317 This sounds awesome! 4y
Eyelit Just started listening to this. Very intrigued 4y
44 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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pyjamaviking
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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jen_hayes7
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Read this on our flight home from London (we scored an economy plus which made the long flight 500% more comfortable). I enjoyed it very much. Greta and her cast of characters were very likable. I wish there had been a little more of an intro to Greta before the mayhem struck, but other than that I thought it was a great story and am interested to see where the series goes next. Also,these HP Daily Prophet Vans might be the most comfy shoes I own.

Reviewsbylola You look super comfy for a long flight! 4y
18 likes1 comment
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PickwickPlockPlock
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Dr Greta Helsing has more than one #vampire patient.

#chillingphotochallenge
@Clwojick
@TheReadingMermaid

Clwojick 🖤🖤 4y
46 likes1 comment
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MidnightBookGirl
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Vampires, Ghouls, Demons, Mummies, and Unholy Monks, oh, my! Really digging this book about a monster doctor and murder and stolen books. #TeamSlaughter #scarathalon @Clwojick

53 likes2 stack adds
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RainyDayReading
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Had a hard time figuring something out for today‘s #chillingphotochallenge because surprisingly despite my love for all things spooky I find myself short on anything #coffin like. Then I remembered this book which is still on my TBR. Forgive the unmade bed in the background. If you spy Daisy, you‘ll also figure out why despite my best efforts it remains unmade 😅 #teamslaughter #scarathlon @Clwojick

Clwojick Gorgeous!! 4y
38 likes1 comment
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Squidapus
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Squidapus found this an enjoyable read. He likes stories where the supernatural or fantastic are brought down or interacted with in very real world ways. There were some stumbles here and there were either stuff happened to move the plot instead of being organic or where a solution was something that wasn't foreshadowed but everyone said was obvious (multiple times actually). Even then they didn't detract from wanting to keep reading til the end

TalecArashi Ooh, have you read this? ➡️ 4y
Squidapus @TalecArashi We have not actually! 4y
TalecArashi "stories where the supernatural or fantastic are brought down or interacted with in very real world ways" it's all over this! I love it so much (was surprised to see the only review on here panning it, although I suppose it is kinda densely written, ha) 4y
14 likes3 comments
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Michollio
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

An interesting take on the "monsters" that I haven't encountered before. Moving on to the second, which I didn't realize was the second until a week ago, several months after adding it to my list.

BookmarkTavern The third one just came out a couple days ago! So you‘ve got another one to look forward to! 5y
23 likes1 comment
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Squidapus
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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From sci fi to sci...fantasy? Who knows! But he's been interested in this one a long time!

21 likes1 stack add
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shanaqui
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Pickpick

Finished up my reread in the best company, today. 💙 #BunniesofLitsy Love this book so much -- it's so *nice*, even amidst horrifying things. Greta's calling as a doctor is the best.

#SummersEndReadathon @Clwojick

Squidapus Awesome, Squidapus picked this up last week...month? Whenever. Glad to hear it's so good! 5y
shanaqui @Squidapus I love it dearly, at least! I'm so excited and impatient for the third book, too. 5y
19 likes1 stack add2 comments
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shanaqui
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw

Rereading again, partly just for joy and partly because book 3 is out in September! Had a good long cuddle with Biscuit while I was reading, too, but my phone was dead so no pic.

Love the details of the stuff Ruthven has been doing to keep eternal life interesting. Latte art!

#SummersEndReadathon @Clwojick

Clwojick Is Biscuit a 🐰🐶🐱? 5y
shanaqui @Clwojick Biscuit's a bunny! :) We have three buns: Hulk, Biscuit and Eclair. 💙 5y
Clwojick 💘 💖 💓 5y
12 likes3 comments
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sidherinn
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
Pickpick

I thought this was charming. Its fun & clever & witty. The audio book is good, too. I found myself looking up various historical novels as reference points for some of the characters. That was nice; Ms. Shaw could have gone the easy route & used Dracula. It would be a perfect beach read, if you're near a beach. It's the 1st in a series, the 2nd is already out, & the 3rd is being released in October. I already have it reserved at my library.😎

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Victoriahoperose
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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Mehso-so

This was an interesting supernatural book. I liked the setting and the time of the book. I felt like it was a bit dry in parts and it didn‘t stand out among other books in this genre. It was okay, but I‘ve liked other books better that had similar themes.

IndyHannaJones I loved this book, but I'm intrigued about the other books with similar themes... 5y
Victoriahoperose @IndyHannaJones I felt like A Discovery of Witches had a similar vibe. I have to look through my TBR and let you know a few others. 5y
33 likes1 stack add2 comments
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ElectricKatyLand
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
Pickpick

Dr. Greta Helsing is a physician to non-human Londoners. Fun, campy thriller as Greta and her friends seek to save London's undead and human populations from zealous killer zombie monks.

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Hufflepuffle
Strange Practice | Vivian Shaw
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1. My Friend Georgia who I met in sixth form
2. Best sunset was probably early this year up a hill not far from my house
3. A lavender and oat cleanser which I first used when I went to Barbados and always takes me
back!
4. Last book I read was Strange Practice by Vivian Shaw
5. I tag anyone who wants to play!
#wonderouswednesday @Eggs
Thank you for the tag @wanderinglynn 😊

Eggs Old friends are the best💗 5y
Hufflepuffle @Eggs They are 😊 5y
22 likes2 comments