Set in Georgian London, Dora Blake lives and works in her parents’ antiquities shop with her uncle. Her parents died when she was younger when they were travelling and excavating a burial site when there was an accident and they parents died. But her relationship with her uncle is a strained one. There is no love between them.
Dora is an inspiring jewellery artist. So, when a mysterious Greek vase turns up at the shop and her uncle acting strangely. Dora wants to find out what’s going on. She manages to break into the cellar where the vase is kept, and she decides to sketch the patterns on vase so she can make them into Jewellery designs. But also, the vase seems similar to her from years ago when she was with her parents. Not only that since the vase arrived strange things start to happen.
Thank you, Random House Vintage UK, for a copy of Pandora by Susan Stoke-Chapman. This has been quite a while on my NetGalley shelf and apologies it took me long to read it.
This is a well-crafted historical tale set In London 1799. Dealing with the sale of Antiquities and Greek Mythology. It at first started rather slow but as I read on it has me engrossed in the story. I did enjoy this story, but I thought it was going to have a more supernatural element to it, as Dora and her friend Edward discovered that the vase may be Pandora’s box. 4 stars from me.

I really enjoyed this one! I have to admit that it's quite slow-going at the start for maybe the first quarter. I feel like a flashback prologue really would have elevated the story. However, once it really started getting into the nitty gritty, I found it so interesting. I love Dora as a main character, enjoyed seeing things from her perspective. The whole concept of historical curses coming to life was great and really gave me Lara Croft x The Mummy vibes, which I am absolutely here for. The second half of this book was perhaps the best part for me, it just got a lot more fast-paced and didn't leave any room to take a breather. I will say that Edward leaves something to be desired in a love interest, but he wasn't awful -- I think I would have liked more from his perspective rather than seeing him just through everyone else's eyes.

On the whole, I honestly loved this and would absolutely read more by this author!

3.5 ⭐️

I was so looking forward to reading this book, I mean a combination of Georgian period and Greek mythology, what’s not to like? Unfortunately, for me it just didn’t quite live up to its premise.

Part of the problem is that it attempts to be both an historical novel and a thriller and, for me, ends up doing neither that well. Although there are lots of references to sounds, smells and dress, the feel of the novel is somehow more of a Victorian melodrama than Regency. The same is true of the villainous uncle - surely second only to wicked stepmothers in the canon.

Similarly I didn’t find the pay-off, either with the pithos or with Edward, to be surprising or truly satisfying.

There were also some strange anomalies. For example, why are we to accept that Edward is too innocent to recognise Cornelius’s inclinations but Dora isn’t?

Not a bad book, it just didn’t grab me.

Firstly, thanks to Netgalley, Susan and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I liked this book. It was an easy read, though slightly predictable. The story was well written and the characters were "likeable" in their own ways.

I wasn't overwhelmed by it, I didn't love it, but I did read it and enjoyed it.

3.5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyable story that ticks a lot of boxes.
We have poor orphan girl,wicked uncle, wicked housekeeper,secrets, young hero... more secrets.

It was all done very well,and Dora was a character that is going to charm most readers.
A little easy to see where some of the plot lines were going,but it doesn't make the story less enjoyable.

Loved, loved, loved it! Pandora is one of those rare stories that draws you in with beguiling imagery, the promise of magic and mystery - Bridgerton meets Greek mythology. Pandora Blake whose heart's desire is to become a designer of jewellery and Edward Lawrence, a bookbinder in Georgian London both have dark and tragic secrets, and a passion for antiquities that draws them slowly into a tangle of conspiracy., theft, murder and ambition. At the centre of the story is a Greek jar, older than history. that whispers and torments those who seek to misuse it.
A really intriguing plot that brings you along its twisting paths, and you never know until the end who is friend and who is foe.

Pandora is set in the lovely Georgian era, with a jewellery-making heroine, and a lot
of Ancient Greek pottery! It was an eclectic mix but somehow it worked by having an intriguing storyline, and characters that were immensely followable. Dora Blake is only eight years old when she is orphaned and left in the care of an uncle who deprives her of every love and comfort. In the rambling ruin of her parents antiquities shop she has to put up with the degradations of selling her uncle’s forgeries instead of real antiques. That is, until a strange vase arrives in the basement and her uncle seems intent on hiding it from her…
Dora is very unconventional for the period, but somehow she really works- she’s a lady who is determined to make her own way in a man’s world because it’s her only option given her lack of family - this makes her into a very modern, independent character who we can’t help but root for. Then there is Edward, a man with his own unusual background who is determined to try and make it into the society of antiquities: he just needs to make a good study of something new and worthwhile to be accepted. When Dora and Edward meet, the chain of events begins which will hurtle them both towards danger but also dreams.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

An interesting read for fans of magical realism and authors like Madeleine Miller. I enjoyed the style of writing and the storyline kept me intrigued until the end!

Historical mystery set in Georgian London. Dora is an orphan, lives with villainous uncle in her family’s antiques shop and aspires to be a jewellery designer. The arrival of a Greek pythos leads to mysterious events unraveling.

I enjoyed this and it was an easy read, yet predictable. The characters are likeable but typical, except for the pet magpie that I adored. I thought the book focused on the mystery itself and whilst touched upon issues such as colonialism, these were more world building in passing mentions. I’d have liked a little more historical accuracy but it doesn’t distract much from the story.

Absolutely loved it. A beautifully crafted tale set in the Georgian era with a dash of intrigue involving a greek urn. The leading lady, Pandora Blake, is a budding jewelllry designer and totally reliant on her uncle, her guardian and her only living relative. But Mr Blake is a shady character with even shadier friends and some possible dodgy dealings in the blackmarket of antiquities.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, they say don't judge a book by its cover, but this book is as beautiful as its cover, so I am mentioning it. This story is beautifully written, the language evoking the sights and stench of Georgian London while still being accessible and exciting. Pandora and Edward are wonderfully intriguing characters, as are many of the other characters. It's obvious the author has not just done their research, but immersed themselves in this world - you cannot help but be drawn in too.

If you like literary, historical mysteries with a little romance thrown in then you will find this book as much of a jewel as I did.

Really stunning book, beautifully written and enchanting. Latter half really picks up the pace, stunning characters and a story that reads like a myth of its own.

Evocative of the Georgian era, Pandora follows the stories of Dora and Edward, both ambitious to make their mark on their respective trades of jewelery and antiquities. The first half of the book feels like it is taken up with setting the scene, and the second half delves into the mystery of Dora's parents and the nefarious dealings of pantomime villain uncld Hezekiah.

The link to Greek myth was quite nice although I thought maybe not as explored as it could have been (plus, on a jar so old it 'predates history' surely this would predate writing as well?), and I thought the author perhaps missed an opportunity to discuss the ethics of Dora's family making a fortune by pillaging ancient vases etc from another country - I understand this was not an issue at the time but the book does have quite a modern viewpoint on various other aspects of characters' lives.

Dora's character in particular was a good, typically fiesty lead female role, with Edward taking a more supportive role and generally having a very 21st century attitude towards women. It was nice to see some character development from a minor character like Lottie. A very readable Greek-inspired historical novel.

My thanks to Susan Stokes-Chapman, Random House and Net Galley for the ARC of PANDORA.
Loved it. A truly immersive read. Beautifully thought out and well-written. Set in the 1790s it's story begins in an era I love. A debut I understand. I definitely would love to read the author's next book. Brilliant!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. Set in 18th Century Georgian London, it is a story of mystery and secrets, myths and legends. Centre stage is a vase, or pithos, that arrives in an antiquities shop owned by Hezekiah Blake. His niece, Dora, who has had to watch as her Uncle makes a mockery of her parents once renowned and beautiful shop, is intrigued by this pithos and why her Uncle is keeping it hidden. What secrets does it hold?
And so Dora, namesake of the Greek legend Pandora, sets in motion an intriguing chain of events.

The book was well-written and descriptive, with enjoyable characters, and I really enjoyed reading it. The promise of mystery and intrigue with the history and myth drew me in and didn’t disappoint. Would definitely recommend this book, and will be looking out for future works by the author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

I adored this debut novel, which is a reinterpretation of the Greek myth of Pandora's box, set in Georgian London. Stokes-Chapman is superb at scene-setting and exploring the question of how far someone will go for wealth. Sure to be a big hit.

Pandora was for sure a great book to read. As soon as I read the synopsis I was truly intrigued to find a story that is connected to this myth, as usually it's quite overlooked.
Strokes Chapman has an amazing way with her wording and totally got me in the story since the first chapter. I won't go into detail for fear of spoiling when I don't want to.
I would say that overall enjoying the novel, I was expecting something more from it. The end seemed abrupt and rushed in the last few chapters and calls for more. A lot of questions were left unanswered, so hoping they might be answered later.

Dora lives with her uncle in the antiquarian shop that used to belong to her parents, who died when she was a child. Her uncle uses the shop to sell fake antiquities, until one day he has a mysterious artefact delivered that he's convinced will make his fortune. Dora wants to use it to inspire her jewelry designs to make a living for herself away from him. Edward wants to gain admission to the Royal Society of Antiquaries and escape his life as a bookbinder, but with little success until a mysterious stranger recommends he meet Dora and everything starts to change.

It's less fantasy than it sounded, and the fantasy/mystery parts aren't quite resolved. I liked the Georgian London setting, and the recognition of how difficult it was for women to find their own paths at that time. The early part of the book was a little slow for me, but it did draw me in. As a book for eg a book club, it would be ideal as there's lots of aspects to discuss and think about.

A nicely-written Georgian mystery that's grounded in historical fact as well as being afloat a current of mythology.
I immediately warmed to the main characters. Dora and Edward both have such believable and endearing qualities, intriguing and heartbreaking pasts and are underdogs of a sort that are easy to root for. I found the rest of the characters well-drawn and enjoyed their individual roles in the plot.
My only disappointment was how quickly the end came and the story was done. I would happily have read another 100 pages if it meant backstories and consequences were more fleshed out. I would even read another couple of novels featuring these characters investigating other myths and mysteries as a result of their line of work. It felt like they had more to give, and I mean that is the best sense- they were interesting and never cliche.
Overall a well-balanced tale written in a breezy but accomplished style that was easy to dive into and kept up the pace throughout. Would read more by this author!

With a lovely cover and an intriguing premise, this book called out to me! Billed as historical fiction with a supernatural twist, Pandora was a good read - more historical and not much of the supernatural though. The characters are well developed , there is a love interest and it is all tied up neatly at the end. A wee bit contrived in places, but overall a decent debut.