Review: Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson

Wicked as They Come
Author: Delilah S. Dawson
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Pocket
Blud Book #1
ISBN:   1451657889
ISBN13: 9781451657883
Genre: Steampunk/Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: Publisher

Have you ever heard of a Bludman? They’re rather like you and me—only more fabulous, immortal, and mostly indestructible. (They’re also very good kissers.)

Delilah S. Dawson’s darkly tempting debut drops her unsuspecting heroine into a strange faraway land for a romantic adventure that’s part paranormal, part steampunk . . . and completely irresistible.

When Tish Everett forces open the ruby locket she finds at an estate sale, she has no idea that a deliciously rakish Bludman has cast a spell just for her. She wakes up in a surreal world, where Criminy Stain, the dashing proprietor of a magical traveling circus, curiously awaits. At Criminy’s electric touch, Tish glimpses a tantalizing future, but she also foresees her ultimate doom. Before she can decide whether to risk her fate with the charming daredevil, the locket disappears, and with it, her only chance to return home. Tish and Criminy battle roaring sea monsters and thundering bludmares, vengeful ghosts and crooked Coppers in a treacherous race to recover the necklace from the evil Blud-hating Magistrate. But if they succeed, will Tish forsake her fanged suitor and return to her normal life, or will she take a chance on an unpredictable but dangerous destiny with the Bludman she’s coming to love?

Tish falls in love with a locket at an estate sale and ends up taking it home. She gets it open, goes to bed and finds herself dreaming of a man and a world not like her own. 


Tish is a bit broken when it comes to relationships. She previously escaped from an abusive relationship and is content to be on her own taking care of her elderly patients and grandmother. From the start she is attracted to Criminy but refuses to let him close for fear that she will lose herself again. Criminy was a fun character to get to know. He is a gypsy musician and he claims Tish is his soul mate from the start. There relationship slowly builds and Tish finds herself torn between worlds. Sang ended up being one of the more original worlds I have read lately. Everything was well described from the landscape to the different people to the unique and deadly wildlife. We meet a wide array of characters that were well developed and brought their own something to the story. I very much hope that even though each book in the series will revolve around a different budding relationship, that we will be able to follow Tish and Criminy a bit more so that we know what their future holds.

I found WICKED AS THEY COME to be superbly unique and fun to read. The characters were all full of spunk, the plot was nicely paced, and the world was original and easy to fall into. I will definitely be looking for more from debut author Delilah Dawson. 


I gave it 4/5 stars