Slashed Beauties

Name: Slashed Beauties
Price: 30.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9780593954645

✍️ A Rushby

Reader Score

4.4

(1 review)

$30.00

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A dual-timeline horror novel about cursed wax figures from eighteenth-century London.

The narrative connects two distinct eras through the figure of Elizabeth. In the present, Alys seeks to break a supernatural bond with the artifact she purchased. Her journey leads her back to the source of the curse in 1763. There, Eleanor’s life intersects with Elizabeth’s world of high society and danger. The story explores the dark history behind the Anatomical Venus statues. These figures were created to deceive medical students using the likenesses of sex workers. The text suggests these objects hold a malevolent spirit that targets men. Rushby weaves together historical fiction elements with supernatural horror tropes. The plot relies on the tension between the past sins and present consequences.

Key Themes

Anatomical Venus figures eighteenth-century London courtesans cursed wax statues

Literary Context

The story bridges present-day Seoul and 1763 Covent Garden. It draws on the history of Anatomical Venuses, wax models made for medical students in eighteenth-century London. The narrative uses these specific artifacts to explore themes of exploitation and supernatural retribution.

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Mary Shelley · Shirley Jackson · Thomas Ligotti

🏚️

Gothic

🏛 Berkley Books 📅 2025 📖 400 pages 🌐 English 📔 Hardcover ISBN: 9780593954645

📝 Description: Slashed Beauties

A Rushby presents a dual-timeline narrative set in Seoul and eighteenth-century London. The story follows Alys, an antiques dealer who has acquired Elizabeth, one of three Anatomical Venus figures. These wax statues were modeled after real sex workers to attract medical students in London during the 1700s. Alys travels to England to sever her cursed link to these bewitched figures, which are said to come alive at night to kill men who wronged them. The past timeline begins in 1763 Covent Garden with Eleanor and Emily. They are taken in by Elizabeth, a sought-after courtesan. As Eleanor becomes entangled in a web of money and male attention, the true nature of her benefactor comes into question. The novel draws on gothic traditions and supernatural lore surrounding these specific historical artifacts. It suits readers who enjoy atmospheric horror rooted in historical settings and cursed objects. Those seeking fast-paced action or contemporary romance will likely find the slow-burn tension unsatisfying. Rushby constructs a tale where history bleeds into the present through physical relics. The narrative shifts between the modern acquisition of the figure and its original creation. This structure highlights the enduring power of the figures' legend. The book examines how materialism and exploitation create lasting curses. It is a study of women trapped by their own allure and the men who seek to control it.

💎 Our verdict on Slashed Beauties

“

🩸

Horror Reads editorial team

Horror desk

Rushby effectively weaves historical fiction with supernatural horror tropes to create a chilling narrative about cursed wax figures. The dual-timeline approach highlights the enduring power of these relics, connecting past sins in 1763 London to present-day consequences for an antiques dealer. The tone is appropriately gloomy and atmospheric, focusing on the malevolent spirit targeting men who wronged the women depicted in the statues. While the slow-burn pacing may not satisfy those seeking contemporary romance or rapid action, it perfectly suits fans of gothic dread. The exploration of exploitation and trapped allure provides a thoughtful layer beneath the horror elements.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate atmospheric horror rooted in historical settings will find this novel compelling. It explores the dark legacy of Anatomical Venus statues, examining how materialism and exploitation create lasting curses that span centuries. The dual-timeline structure allows for a deep dive into eighteenth-century high society and danger, contrasting with modern supernatural consequences. This book is ideal for those interested in the intersection of true historical artifacts and gothic fiction. It offers a slow-burn tension rather than fast-paced action, making it suitable for patients who enjoy psychological depth and the study of women trapped by their own allure in dangerous environments.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Horror Reads editorial team

Rushby effectively weaves historical fiction with supernatural horror tropes to create a chilling narrative about cursed wax figures. The dual-timeline approach highlights the enduring power of these relics, connecting past sins in 1763 London to present-day consequences for an antiques dealer. The tone is appropriately gloomy and atmospheric, focusing on the malevolent spirit targeting men who wronged the women depicted in the statues. While the slow-burn pacing may not satisfy those seeking contemporary romance or rapid action, it perfectly suits fans of gothic dread. The exploration of exploitation and trapped allure provides a thoughtful layer beneath the horror elements.