Note: Since this is a pretty short novella, I won’t be following my typical reviewing format. If you want to know my thoughts specifically on the characters/setting/writing/plot of this series, I have full reviews of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Escaping From Houdini)
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: Becoming the Dark Prince reminded me of every single reason why I love Thomas Cresswell (and there are many).
“I will follow you beyond death and drag you back if I must.”
[ Related: Stalking Jack the Ripper (Stalking Jack the Ripper #1) by Kerri Maniscalco (Review) ]
// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Murder, Gore //
“The price of love doesn’t come cheaply, but the cost is worth it.”
Release Date: 7/15/2019
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Page Count: 64
Premise:
Becoming The Dark Prince is a Stalking Jack the Ripper series novella, told from Thomas Cresswells POV. It picks up at the end of Escaping From Houdini and continues a little bit beyond where that book left off. And while technically I don’t know if you absolutely need to read it before reading Capturing the Devil, I can say with confidence that you really, really should.
Read more for all of my thoughts!
“I want to be the sort of man who earns her trust and love and then works to keep it by growing into an even better person.”
So, first things first- I love Thomas Cresswell with all of my heart and he can do no wrong. So naturally, when I found out about this novella, I was so excited. By the time it came out, I was a little worried that my expectations were too high, but turns out, they weren’t high enough!
This novella takes a look at a few scenes from Escaping From Houdini, and show’s Thomas’ POV of them. I really think each scene that was included was important to giving more insight into his character and helped explain the reasons for his decisions, so nothing here was unnecessary. Plus one specific scene became a million times more painful when told from his perspective (you can probably guess which scene it is).
Then there were some new scenes. These were adorable and fun scenes to read, but they also added touched on some aspects of Escaping From Houdini that I wasn’t a fan of. I was really glad to see it addressed, but a part of me is still a little bitter about it. However, that is more of a problem I have with that book than this novella.
[ Related: Escaping From Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3) by Kerri Maniscalco (Review) ]
“Dreams. I would always choose dreams over nightmares. Light over darkness, and love over hate. And I would continue to make that choice forever. Each of us held the power to decide our own destiny.”
Conclusion
Pros- More Thomas!! Plus this adds some insights into the previous book
Cons- That one thing from Escaping From Houdini bothers me more and more the more I’m reminded of it
Overall- 5/5 stars.
Becoming the Dark Prince is a must read for any Stalking Jack the Ripper fan, and is sure to get you excited for the conclusion to the series!!
(Can Capturing the Devil just be released already!?!?)
Who is your favorite YA love interest? Also, have you read Becoming the Dark Prince? What did you think?
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Cait Jacobs 
6 responses to “Becoming the Dark Prince (Stalking Jack the Ripper #3.5) by Kerri Maniscalco – Everything I Hoped and More (Review)”
oh my god, same. I actually re-experienced my rage from EFH while reading this. I absolutely LOVED this novella, and would undoubtedly read the whole series from his point of view, because I love Thomas, but how he was treated in EFH…it had me raging. If the epilogue didn’t exist…
Loved the review though, makes me excited to post mine! Though, mine might just be screaming. Lol
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I’m still so bitter about EFH. Thomas deserved so much better!!! I really would love to see the entire series from his POV, but especially EFH (except that would probably just kill me inside).
I’m excited to see your review!! Especially if it’s just screaming (those are the most fun reviews tbh)
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He really did!
Like, I *kind of* get where Audrey was coming from, but she just assumed Thomas would pick up on her plot and then act accordingly.
AUDREY DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND THAT HE’S UTTERLY IN LOVE WITH YOU and therefore completely blind about your plan?
I just. It enraged me. She enraged me.
EFH from Thomas’s POV would probs kill me too, but at the same time, being inside his head, and seeing that world from his POV…I’d die.
Aw, thanks! Yeah, sometimes reviews just have to be screaming (or ranting ones – my EFH review was a rant-y one).
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Yeah I can kinda get Audreys perspective, but at the same time, I wish she let Thomas in on it from the start. Thomas may be smart, but when it comes to her he’s so OBLIVIOUS (but this is why I love him). I also just couldn’t stand the love triangle in general. Like, Mephisto was a cool guy and I liked him as a character, but no. Just no. Thomas deserved so much more!!!
I definitely need more Thomas POV in my life. I think I might get the mass market paperback edition of SJTR just for “Meeting Thomas Cresswell”.
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Yeah, Audrey was just kind of a mess in EFH. Can you imagine if Thomas had been in on it? He would have sold it so well, and they probably could have solved the case sooner, and Audrey may have not been injured. Instead Thomas was too busy being rightfully jealous of Mephisto, who probably really liked Audrey and probably thought his charm was actually wooing her.
I just. They’re all a mess, but Thomas suffered.
And you should! I got it as a preorder perk back in the day and I loved it!
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