The Black Orchid - The Viper and the Urchin #2

Rory and Longinus are relegated to working under Cruikshank's thumb in the workshop. Having nothing to do as of late, they are bored out of their minds. When they sneak out and Longinus finds out there is o black silk in Damsport (gasp) he decides he must solve this case. The next day, the Marchioness assigns Rory to investigate a body, who turns out to be her friend from the Rookery. After some investigating, it starts to look like their cases may be related and there is more going on than they could have imagined. Now Rory and Longinus must keep a visiting dignitary safe while trying to stay one step ahead of the most likely suspect, Myran.
Longinus was definitely more of a MC in this book for me. Rory was definitely still up front and center, but it was Longinus who really connected with the reader in this book. He starts to have old feelings of abandonment from his childhood resurface and he has a difficult time splitting up from Rory in this book. He shows more than just his haughty attitude, and it really made him more relatable. Rory does the bulk of the more difficult investigating, and we get see some of her insecurities as well. She realizes a certain character may be interested in her, but she doesn't know how to handle it. I'm hoping that her reaction at the end of the book isn't the way she leaves things.
This was another fun book to try to solve along with Rory and Longinus. There are so many clues but you never know who to trust with everything going on. While some of it was slightly more obvious there are definitely subtle clues hidden in that when you find out the entire conspiracy you kind of slap your forehead. There was more of the mystery that I loved from the first book as well. We are taken to different areas of the city than the previous book and really get a feel for the "seedy underworld" in that section as well. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to venture outside of Damsport for the next book.

This series just keeps getting better and better! The Black Orchid is a wonderful second book in The Viper and the Urchin series.
When one of Rory's old friends turns up dead mysteriously, she vows to figure out who killed him. There are so many suspects and loads of suspicious activity to keep Rory and Longinus on their toes, not to mention Longinus' having to settle for off the rack clothes or Gods forbid, grey silk, since not being able to find his treasured black silk anywhere. What is a respectable assassin to do?
This book had me alternating between nail biting and laughter and I couldn't put it down for a minute!

Who could take the Viper seriously if he was willing to resort to wearing dark grey? Impossible. How this crisis of dress results in the facing of terrible villains and nefarious friends is both complex and delightful. We also have the great pleasure of getting to know better mechanics, smugglers, and very handsome guards. Be careful what you drink around Longinus and Rory. It could be to your detriment.

I loved The Bloodless Assassin, so was excited to know there was a second in the series, and The Black Orchid didn't disappoint. Another gripping caper full of amusing banter and exciting exploits. It was great to have some more characters fleshed out and new ones introduced. Cruikshank and Adelma make a colourful addition to the team! More swashbuckling, steampunking fantasy adventure from this ecclectic band of misfits please! And more Two Planks too :(

Another great read from Celine JeanJean
I loved the-bloodless-assassin, so was excited to know there was a second in the series, and the-black-orchid didn't disappoint. Another gripping caper full of amusing banter and exciting exploits. It was great to have some more characters fleshed out and new ones introduced. Cruikshank and Adelma make a colourful addition to the team! More swashbuckling, steampunking fantasy adventure from this ecclectic band of misfits please! And more Two Planks too :(

I loved the-bloodless-assassin, so was excited to know there was a second in the series, and the-black-orchid didn't disappoint. Another gripping caper full of amusing banter and exciting exploits. It was great to have some more characters fleshed out and new ones introduced. Cruikshank and Adelma make a colourful addition to the team! More swashbuckling, steampunking fantasy adventure from this ecclectic band of misfits please! And more Two Planks too :(

After having such a bad experience with the last book I read, I was so glad that I had a copy of the Black Orchid on my Kindle that I could move straight onto. I knew that being back with Rory and Longinus would bring a smile to my face, and I was not disappointed.

This book picks up a couple of months after the first book. Rory and Longinus are now in the Marchioness’ employ, though so far, she hasn’t had them do anything. When she asks them to investigate the death of man in the Rookery, found exsanguinated, their digging leads them a new brothel, The Black Orchid, and a smuggling ring whose existence makes no sense. When they are framed for the death of an important diplomat’s bodyguard, the race is on to find out exactly who is behind the mysterious disappearances and deaths, before they both end up in prison.

Once again, I can’t decide whether it’s the characters or the world-building that are the highlight. Both are so well-drawn. . Longinus needs all the hugs; while is coping with his most recent confrontation with his sister, Myran, his issues aren’t entirely gone, and there are times in this book when Rory unintentionally exacerbates them (hence him needing the hugs). I really loved the little detail of him saying Myran’s name a few times every day, to ensure his stutter is kept in check. Rory is torn between wanting to make something of herself and leaving behind her urchin identity, which is the only identity she’s ever known. This is partially due to Rafe, who also makes some more appearances in this one, and is now firmly established as Rory’s love interest. We learned a few things about him in this book, too, and I look forward to that being explored further.

And I have to say, I love Damsport. We got to see a few more of the districts within this thriving city, and learned more about how it operates. Jeanjean’s descriptions are wonderful; I want to run along the rooftops with Rory or drink butterscotch coffee in Susie’s Coffeehouse with Longinus. Even though I’m a complete klutz who would slip on the first uneven tile and I generally don’t drink coffee at all, I still want to. The whole place is just cozy and comforting to read about, even with the rough around the edges aspects. In the next book, our favourite characters are going to be traveling out of Damsport, and I can’t wait to see what locations they visit and how those are brought to life.

Overall, I honestly can’t recommend this series enough! Get to it!

(Thank you to Celine Jeanjean for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a re...
After having such a bad experience with the last book I read, I was so glad that I had a copy of the-black-orchid on my Kindle that I could move straight onto. I knew that being back with Rory and Longinus would bring a smile to my face, and I was not disappointed.

This book picks up a couple of months after the first book. Rory and Longinus are now in the Marchioness� employ, though so far, she hasn�t had them do anything. When she asks them to investigate the death of man in the Rookery, found exsanguinated, their digging leads them a new brothel, the-black-orchid, and a smuggling ring whose existence makes no sense. When they are framed for the death of an important diplomat�s bodyguard, the race is on to find out exactly who is behind the mysterious disappearances and deaths, before they both end up in prison.

Once again, I can�t decide whether it�s the characters or the world-building that are the highlight. Both are so well-drawn. . Longinus needs all the hugs; while is coping with his most recent confrontation with his sister, Myran, his issues aren�t entirely gone, and there are times in this book when Rory unintentionally exacerbates them (hence him needing the hugs). I really loved the little detail of him saying Myran�s name a few times every day, to ensure his stutter is kept in check. Rory is torn between wanting to make something of herself and leaving behind her urchin identity, which is the only identity she�s ever known. This is partially due to Rafe, who also makes some more appearances in this one, and is now firmly established as Rory�s love interest. We learned a few things about him in this book, too, and I look forward to that being explored further.

And I have to say, I love Damsport. We got to see a few more of the districts within this thriving city, and learned more about how it operates. Jeanjean�s descriptions are wonderful; I want to run along the rooftops with Rory or drink butterscotch coffee in Susie�s Coffeehouse with Longinus. Even though I�m a complete klutz who would slip on the first uneven tile and I generally don�t drink coffee at all, I still want to. The whole place is just cozy and comforting to read about, even with the rough around the edges aspects. In the next book, our favourite characters are going to be traveling out of Damsport, and I can�t wait to see what locations they visit and how those are brought to life.

Overall, I honestly can�t recommend this series enough! Get to it!

After having such a bad experience with the last book I read, I was so glad that I had a copy of the-black-orchid on my Kindle that I could move straight onto. I knew that being back with Rory and Longinus would bring a smile to my face, and I was not disappointed.

This book picks up a couple of months after the first book. Rory and Longinus are now in the Marchioness� employ, though so far, she hasn�t had them do anything. When she asks them to investigate the death of man in the Rookery, found exsanguinated, their digging leads them a new brothel, the-black-orchid, and a smuggling ring whose existence makes no sense. When they are framed for the death of an important diplomat�s bodyguard, the race is on to find out exactly who is behind the mysterious disappearances and deaths, before they both end up in prison.

Once again, I can�t decide whether it�s the characters or the world-building that are the highlight. Both are so well-drawn. . Longinus needs all the hugs; while is coping with his most recent confrontation with his sister, Myran, his issues aren�t entirely gone, and there are times in this book when Rory unintentionally exacerbates them (hence him needing the hugs). I really loved the little detail of him saying Myran�s name a few times every day, to ensure his stutter is kept in check. Rory is torn between wanting to make something of herself and leaving behind her urchin identity, which is the only identity she�s ever known. This is partially due to Rafe, who also makes some more appearances in this one, and is now firmly established as Rory�s love interest. We learned a few things about him in this book, too, and I look forward to that being explored further.

And I have to say, I love Damsport. We got to see a few more of the districts within this thriving city, and learned more about how it operates. Jeanjean�s descriptions are wonderful; I want to run along the rooftops with Rory or drink butterscotch coffee in Susie�s Coffeehouse with Longinus. Even though I�m a complete klutz who would slip on the first uneven tile and I generally don�t drink coffee at all, I still want to. The whole place is just cozy and comforting to read about, even with the rough around the edges aspects. In the next book, our favourite characters are going to be traveling out of Damsport, and I can�t wait to see what locations they visit and how those are brought to life.

Overall, I honestly can�t recommend this series enough! Get to it!

Murder, intrigue, action, humour, friendships - Loved it all
I loved the first 2 books, and the only disappointing thing about the-black-orchid is it's the last in the series for now, which means I need to wait for the next book - sigh... I love how Rory's and Longinus' friendship grows, and how they're making each other better. Very strong female characters (both heroines and villians). Longinus has a lot of hang-ups, but it's so great to see him improving and growing as a character. Hope that continues. Now... the wait for the next book in the series... sigh...

I loved the first 2 books, and the only disappointing thing about the-black-orchid is it's the last in the series for now, which means I need to wait for the next book - sigh... I love how Rory's and Longinus' friendship grows, and how they're making each other better. Very strong female characters (both heroines and villians). Longinus has a lot of hang-ups, but it's so great to see him improving and growing as a character. Hope that continues. Now... the wait for the next book in the series... sigh...

Well plotted, great descriptions that let you see the background and action. The twists and turns keep you reading.

This is a sequel that I had been eagerly anticipating and I was definitely not disappointed! This is a suspenseful romp through the city of Damsport, which the author introduced in her first novel, "The Bloodless Assassin" (formerly "The Viper and the Urchin.") What to do if you are a bored assassin or rough-around-the-edges swordswoman-in-training? After their last adventure, Longinus and Rory find themselves "honestly employed" with nothing to occupy themselves...which could be dangerous in itself, but then they finally receive a call from the Marchioness. She needs their help to solve a series of mysterious murders and uncover a conspiracy involving her former consort, some smugglers, and a malevolent alchemist! No further ingredients are necessary for a good adventure!
I really enjoyed getting to know these characters better. I would say that the characters are my favorite part of the story and I'm glad to see a lot of my favorites back from the first book, as well as some new ones that I'm hoping to see more of in future installments!
Although both the main characters are uniquely self-confident, we get to see some of their inner struggles in this book. Rory is growing up, but has her own particularly "Rory-like" way of navigating the "typical" teen struggles. I was happy to get to know more about her childhood and the inhabitants of the Rookery. I really love that Ms. JeanJean has created some wonderfully atypical strong female characters, like Adelma.
Longinus, too, has his "growing pains" in this book, and I thought it was fascinating to be privy to his thoughts as he reveals some of his insecurities to the reader while showing quite a different facade to the world. The ending was a bit shocking, but satisfying, and left me wanting to go on another adventure with Rory, Longinus, and all the fascinating people they seem to meet in their adventures.

I fell in love with Rory and Longinus and the city of Damsport when I read The Bloodless Assassin last fall. So, when I learned the book I read was only the first book of a steampunk series, book 2 (which did not yet have a name) became one of the most anticipated new books of 2016 for me. From the first word on page one to the last word on the final page, The Black Orchid met all of my expectations!
The continuing adventures of the assassin that cannot stand the sight of blood and the grammatically incorrect urchin who insists she is nobody’s assistant are highly entertaining. Like the first book, this sequel has engaging characters and an intriguing plot. It all happens in a city that is vividly detailed, Crayola-box-64-colorful and full of possibilities!
In The Black Orchid, urchin Rory becomes a little less urchin-like. Much to her insistence to the contrary. The question of her age was answered – sort of . She may pretend to be 16, but she is not that young. She suspects she is 18, but may be even older. Rory is no longer a child and in her position working for the Marchioness of Damsport, away from her childhood home in the Rookery, Rory is maturing faster than she would like. Rory’s struggle to hold on to her heritage and maintain her urchin life-style is poignant, commendable and entertaining. I love the scenes where, in the course of her grownup job working for the Marchioness, urchin Rory is tearing through Damsport either on the back of a powerful mechanical spider or on her feet. Running and jumping across rooftops and scampering up and down gutters, Rory needs no steam coaches or steam rickshaws to get herself from place to place.
Longinus is the assassin who cannot abide the sight or smell of blood. It would seem a serious handicap for an assassin, but he has other talents that aid him in his profession. In The Black Orchid, his ability with a sword, skill as an alchemist and his heightened sense of fashion are critical to Longinus’ work for The Old Girl (the Marchioness). Longinus’ quirks have endeared him to me despite the fact that he is vain, arrogant and often totally clueless when it comes to understanding Rory.
One of the things I admire about Longinus is his direct mode of conversation. In the Rookery, it turns out to be surprisingly effective. I love this example:
“Why’s he staring at me like that?” asked Adelma.
“Longinus,” hissed Rory, elbowing him.
“Forgive me,” replied Longinus with an apologetic incline of the head. “I was just absolutely mesmerised by the brutishness of your features.” At his side, Rory squeaked.
“Well, course you was,” said Adelma. “And normally I’d buy you a pint for that, but today I’m in no mood for compliments.”

Rory is scampering across rooftops and Longinus is hanging out in the Rookery because there is a mystery to solve. A mystery that started with the mysterious death of Rory’s friend and may have far reaching consequences. Because the Old Girl’s dear friend and former lover Mizria is visiting Damsport, the Marchioness wants the murder solved soon to keep everyone safe and the political situation status quo. Since the body was found in the Rookery, she calls on Rory to visit the old neighborhood and dig into the mystery. It is going to get a lot more complicated than the death of one Rookery citizen and Rory and Longinus will be in the thick of it. There are plots and there are plots within plots. The mystery is complex and dark with more than enough intrigue. The intrigue was doled out in small bites throughout the book, so don’t think you are going to figure this one out very fast. Just the way I like it!
Ms. Jeanjean’s imagination set to words has made her a favorite author for me. I love her descriptions of, well, everything. From Longinus apparel to the automated library book retrieval system, I am able to form very vivid pictures in my own mind about what the city of Damsport and her people look, feel, hear and smell like. In one passage in particular, I was mesmerized by the description of the Damsport docks, the people and all the activity occurring there.
The Black Orchid is steampunk with only the slightest bit of romance. Book one had only a hint. In book 2, the hint grew two a realization. My hope is that as the as the adventures continue, so will the romance.
That bit of romance is happening between Rory and Rafe. Rafe is one of the Varanguard – the Old Girl’s personal bodyguards – and he is often assigned to duties that involve Rory. He pretends that he is only doing his job. She pretends to detest him. It doesn’t help that Rafe is of the nobility. When Rory insists she is nobody, Rafe response is sweet and very romantic. “You’re somebody to me”. Witty banter between Rory and Rafe is as entertaining as it is enlightening. They have the same number of letters in their names – does that mean they are meant for each other? The Urchin and the Lord. Hmm, maybe that could be a future title. I can tell you that it looks like boo...

Reviewing a sequel is always a little bit challenging. I’ve begun to think of it as advice on if it’s worth it to start reading the first book of the series.
In this case the answer is yes.
You’ve got to start with The Bloodless Assassin (previously title The Viper and the Urchin) where you will meet the assassin that reminds me of Eyore and the street urchin who teams up with him.
And then, for sure, you’ve got to continue on to The Black Orchid.
Hands down my favorite part of these books is the characters. In the first book it was the witty dialogue between the two. In this sequel the focus shifted away from the dialogue (don’t worry it was all still fun and fantastic) and onto some major character development. I won’t spoil anything with details but let’s just say things have changed quite a bit and watching the two main characters adjust to their new position in life is to watch some great writing at work!
Would I recommend it?
Yup. Yup. Yup! Just don’t forget you need to start with The Bloodless Assassin to make the story even more enjoyable! And then please keep reading because I think this one might be even better than the first!

The second adventure of the Viper and the Urchin finds these two disparate characters relocated to the warehouse of Cruikshank, engineer to the Marchioness, no longer an assassin and a pickpocket, but officially employed by the Old Girl, as the Marchioness is affectionately called. But their services have not been required and they are feeling aimless and redundant when at last they are summoned to investigate a mysterious death by exsanguination in the insalubrious Bayog district of the city of Damsport.
Rory’s knowledge of the criminal underworld of the Rookery make her indispensable but Longinus occupies his time investigating the unexplained shortage of the black silk he needs urgently for his new elegant suit. A link between these two events is discovered in The Black Orchid, a newly popular brothel. Rory and Longinus find themselves in great danger again, not just from their enemy but also from threats to their relationship. As they become estranged, the future looks grim.
Like the first book, The Black Orchid engages readers by the strong, vibrant women who never give up against all odds. An old relationship between the Marchioness and stunningly beautiful Mizria may be reawakened, Rory seems to becoming closer to Varanguard, Rafe and Longinus continues to send anonymous poems to Lady Martha, daughter of the Old Girl.
Celine Jeanjean has written another thrilling adventure which is hard to put down. The grubby streets of the city come alive in the fast moving plot and each character has substance and complication. Alchemy and steam driven vehicles play their part but heroism shines. In conclusion the scene is set for further adventure involving characters who have come to mean a great deal to their readers.

Action and adventure with a heroine who is a tough cookie.
The second adventure of the Viper and the Urchin finds these two disparate characters relocated to the warehouse of Cruikshank, engineer to the Marchioness, no longer an assassin and a pickpocket, but officially employed by the Old Girl, as the Marchioness is affectionately called. But their services have not been required and they are feeling aimless and redundant when at last they are summoned to investigate a mysterious death by exsanguination in the insalubrious Bayog district of the city of Damsport.
Rory�s knowledge of the criminal underworld of the Rookery make her indispensable but Longinus occupies his time investigating the unexplained shortage of the black silk he needs urgently for his new elegant suit. A link between these two events is discovered in the-black-orchid, a newly popular brothel. Rory and Longinus find themselves in great danger again, not just from their enemy but also from threats to their relationship. As they become estranged, the future looks grim.
Like the first book, the-black-orchid engages readers by the strong, vibrant women who never give up against all odds. An old relationship between the Marchioness and stunningly beautiful Mizria may be reawakened, Rory seems to becoming closer to Varanguard, Rafe and Longinus continues to send anonymous poems to Lady Martha, daughter of the Old Girl.
Celine Jeanjean has written another thrilling adventure which is hard to put down. The grubby streets of the city come alive in the fast moving plot and each character has substance and complication. Alchemy and steam driven vehicles play their part but heroism shines. In conclusion the scene is set for further adventure involving characters who have come to mean a great deal to their readers.

The second adventure of the Viper and the Urchin finds these two disparate characters relocated to the warehouse of Cruikshank, engineer to the Marchioness, no longer an assassin and a pickpocket, but officially employed by the Old Girl, as the Marchioness is affectionately called. But their services have not been required and they are feeling aimless and redundant when at last they are summoned to investigate a mysterious death by exsanguination in the insalubrious Bayog district of the city of Damsport.
Rory�s knowledge of the criminal underworld of the Rookery make her indispensable but Longinus occupies his time investigating the unexplained shortage of the black silk he needs urgently for his new elegant suit. A link between these two events is discovered in the-black-orchid, a newly popular brothel. Rory and Longinus find themselves in great danger again, not just from their enemy but also from threats to their relationship. As they become estranged, the future looks grim.
Like the first book, the-black-orchid engages readers by the strong, vibrant women who never give up against all odds. An old relationship between the Marchioness and stunningly beautiful Mizria may be reawakened, Rory seems to becoming closer to Varanguard, Rafe and Longinus continues to send anonymous poems to Lady Martha, daughter of the Old Girl.
Celine Jeanjean has written another thrilling adventure which is hard to put down. The grubby streets of the city come alive in the fast moving plot and each character has substance and complication. Alchemy and steam driven vehicles play their part but heroism shines. In conclusion the scene is set for further adventure involving characters who have come to mean a great deal to their readers.

Satisfying Steampunk sequel (alliteration unintended!) to The Viper and the Urchin." I enjoy Jeanjean's flowing easy writing style, refreshing. And I continue to be amused by an assassin who grows faint at the sight of blood!
This tale has some great twists, and has some of the unexpected thrown in. The Viper himself does some solid maturing, as of course does the much younger Urchin. At times they seem in over their heads, will they win through to the truth? And who is true anyway? Martha? The Marchioness? Worth reading to find out.