Pandora

London, 1799. Dora Blake, an aspiring jewelry artist, lives with her odious uncle atop her late parents' once-famed shop of antiquities. After a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, her uncle begins to act suspiciously, keeping the vase locked in the store's basement, away from prying eyes--including Dora's. Intrigued by her uncle's peculiar behavior, Dora turns to young, ambitious antiquarian scholar Edward Lawrence who eagerly agrees to help. Edward believes the ancient vase is the key that will unlock his academic future; Dora sees it as a chance to establish her own name.

But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has believed about her life, her family, and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth, she comes to understand that some doors are locked and some mysteries are buried for a reason, while others are closer to the surface than they appear.

Audiobook Review
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman
Out now from Harper Audio

This one took a little while to find its feet, but once the plot started to take shape, I was all in. Georgian London is the setting for this historical gem, and the best word I can find to describe the vibe of the story is “atmospheric.” As a long-time fan of Greek mythology, I did enjoy this take on the story of Pandora’s box, and our heroine, Dora, is an orphan, a jewelry designer, and a spitfire of a woman who can hold her own even under the restrictive culture of the time.

This tale is told through three points of view. Dora, of course, but also her uncle Hezekiah, who is her corrupt and frankly awful guardian, as well as Edward, a lovely young bookbinder seeking acceptance into to an exclusive antiquarian society. The supporting cast includes housekeeper-with-benefits Lottie, whose redemption arc unfortunately felt a little bit forced and contrived, as well as Edward’s friend, benefactor, and ardent admirer Cornelius. And let us not forget Hermes, Dora’s faithful and feisty magpie companion.

If you are interested in this title, I highly recommend the audiobook. Narration by Olivia Vinall was delightful and brought some real depth to the characters. I would definitely seek out more of her work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Harper Audio for providing an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.