Graphic Novel: The Lost Boys of West Abbey #MondayBlogs

by MK French

In The Lost Boys of West Abbey (Lady Mechanika Volume 3), Lady Mechanika is back in London with Winifred Thomsen and Archie Lewis and hears about mechanical experiments and murder in West Abbey. Of course, she takes in interest in the case and assists Inspector Singh in the investigations. Orphan boys have gone missing, and five bodies were found in an abandoned location along with mechanical toys. It seems to bring up memories for Lady Mechanika, who still doesn't know anything about her origins. It soon becomes evident that someone is experimenting with creating a golem, and Mechanika and Singh have to stop it.
Amazon affiliate links are used in this post. A free ARC was provided for an honest review.

May 2017; Benitez Productions; 9780996603041
print (64 pages); fantasy graphic novel 

As always, the art is gorgeous.

It's the same Victorian era steampunk world, with a blink-and-you'll-miss-it reference to Volume 2. (A helpful asterisk on the page mentions it's from that volume). No one seems to remark on Lady Mechanika's odd dress, or that Inspector Singh openly carries a gun strapped to his thigh. This is also a world where those with Jewish heritage aren't immediately blamed, and that Inspector Singh's half Indian ancestry isn't a barrier to his advancement in police work. I like that touch, because using a golem occurs in many stories, often because the Jewish people are being mistreated in some way. Instead, the creation of a golem here is part of a wealthy man's attempt at sidestepping death.

This is a miniseries, so there are only three parts to the story arc. This would be a good entry point to the Lady Mechanika series, especially since Volume 1 is fairly dense and Mechanika is hard to get to know. There isn't much opportunity for character growth here either, but she is far more approachable in this volume than in Volume 1.

Buy The Lost Boys of West Abbey at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and golden retriever.

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