Dearly, Departed

Dearly, Departed takes place in 2195 in New Victoria, a neo-Victorian society that has emerged after catastrophic climate change. The story follows Nora Dearly, a teenage girl living in this world of Victorian values merged with futuristic technology and scientific advances. When Nora encounters an army of zombies - both hostile and friendly varieties - she discovers her world is more complex than she imagined. The presence of these reanimated humans forces both Nora and her society to question their assumptions about life, death, and what makes someone human. This young adult novel combines elements of steampunk, romance, and zombie fiction while exploring societal tensions. The collision between Victorian propriety and modern scientific progress creates a backdrop for examining prejudice, social change, and the true nature of humanity.

Readers found the book's Victorian-zombie romance premise unique, though execution split opinions. Many praised the alternating POV chapters between Nora and Bram, with reviewers noting strong character development and witty dialogue. Likes: - Fresh take on both zombie and steampunk genres - Strong world-building details - Humor balances darker elements - Romance develops at believable pace Dislikes: - Slow start through first 100 pages - Too much exposition/world explanation - Some found Nora's character unlikeable - Romance feels cliché to some readers Ratings: Goodreads: 3.82/5 (8,400+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (120+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Complex world-building but takes time to get into" - Goodreads reviewer "Fun mashup of genres that shouldn't work but does" - Amazon review "Needed better editing/pacing" - Multiple reviewers note The book found stronger reception among YA steampunk fans than traditional zombie horror readers.

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🦾 The book blends multiple genres including steampunk, Victorian romance, and zombie fiction - creating a unique "neo-Victorian" world where the dead have been reanimated through technology. 💀 Author Lia Habel wrote the first draft of Dearly, Departed during National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), completing it in just 30 days. 🎭 The story was partially inspired by the author's love of Victorian mourning customs and death culture, which she extensively researched while writing. 🌍 The novel is set in year 2195, in a society that has chosen to recreate Victorian culture and values after surviving a catastrophic event called "The Icebox." 👰 The protagonist's name, Nora Dearly, is a play on words referencing both Victorian mourning traditions ("dearly departed") and the practice of addressing formal correspondence with "My Dear" or "Dearly Beloved."