What readers think of The Original, plus links to write your own review.

A fascinating story about hidden realities- whether an heir to a fortune is an imposter, which is woven with a story of a young woman who forges paintings for a living. This novel is set in England at the end of the 1800’s. The writing is lush and evocative, and Steven’s keeps you guessing the outcome until the end. I had previously read two books by Nell Steven’s, and The Original seals her as a must- read for me.

I'm struggling to articulate why I liked this book so much--but sections of it are really staying with me which is a good sign. I particularly liked how the book began; with a resonant story that became a major plot point. I also appreciated the voice of the main character and how true to the character it was--highly descriptive, perceptive, but distant; removed from the action even as she was participating in it. It seemed that she engaged with the world through thinking about paintings, and the deep and nuanced descriptions of artworks were really great--in fact, I thought they were the most "alive" characters in the novel. None of the characters were likable, and I didn't exactly root for them, but I was invested in the trajectory of the story. Even though I figured out some major plot points before they happened, it didn't really matter--the characters themselves were not predictable which made it exciting.

In “The Original,” Nell Stevens transports you back to 1899 to meet a forger named Grace and a cousin, Charles, or at least a replica of him, giving the title a quirky double meaning. You will spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is going on, who is who, and what is what, but it is fun.

Charles, whoever he is, is a mysterious character, and Grace cares about him but worries about what he will do next. This takes the reader along for the extended ride. Stevens teaches us about art, portraiture, and sexual identity as Grace processes these ageless topics as well. How difficult was it to be yourself in the late 19th-century Great Britain?

I went for long periods without knowing what was going on, then found one part very interesting. The overarching story about Charles’s identity remained at the forefront of my mind. A major shift in the narrative occurs near the halfway point of the story, revitalizing it and marking a significant departure from what the flap describes as the main plot.

The true sign of a great, multi-story book is when you start worrying about the other when reading about the first. Without revealing anything, I will say that you need both for it all to make sense. Without limiting Stevens to a genre, it works best as a character study of Grace as we try to live as a copyist.

I will recommend the book for its beautiful imagery and interesting take on the LGBTQ community at the time, despite its lengthy stretches of inactivity testing my patience and interest. Not everyone will be patient enough to learn, but its ending is a doozy that brings the whole story together in a way that helps you appreciate each individual character.

While this was not the type of book I would generally be interested in, I found this was a solid read. This was definitely a slow burn and read like a true gothic novel. Borrowing from another reviewer, the main character never seemed like they were in immediate danger but it was imminent. I did suspect how the twist turned out, but I doubted myself many times throughout the book.

I'm glad I had the opportunity to read and review The Original because it aligns with my strong interest in Art, Psychology and Mystery. I enjoyed the characters because they are both non-predictable and intriguing. This is the first book I read by Nell Stevens and hope to read more of her books. The story is set in England, 1899 when science and medicine did not have the understanding of DNA as we do today. Had it been available at that time the question of Grace and Charles family relationship could have been determined more easily. Were they cousins or was Charles an imposter? What do you, the reader think?

In the interest of full disclosure, I must admit that I waited to read other reviews of The Original before attempting my own. One reviewer wrote, "I'm struggling to articulate why I liked this book so much…" I relate to that statement because I'm struggling to articulate why I did not particularly like it.

When an author reaches this level in the publishing world, I think it is a given that he or she can write. That is certainly the case with this author; the writing is engaging and evocative. The plot holds the reader's attention as subtle clues lead to the resolution of the mystery: is the son returning from the sea himself or an imposter? The surrounding characters, even minor ones, are well drawn. On a personal level I am interested in art history, and I dabble in watercolor painting. So, what was missing in my satisfaction with this book?

First, I found too much of the story beyond believability: the family relationships, the contrived coincidence of Grace meeting Ruby, the ease with which a young single girl settled herself in London in 1900, the fact of being able to paint and secretly transport large oil canvases without being detected, the likelihood of pampered Charles doing hard physical labor on a boat. Maybe more important, when I read, I want to like or care about or at least understand some of the characters. This book left me missing that element of enjoyment.

THE ORIGINAL, a novel by Nell Stevens, is a lively spiraling investigation into truth using memorable characters who are or or not what they seem. Ruby, Charles and especially the narrator are finding their way from the outside in as each makes their presence known.

Historic stately home, mischievous orphan on a quest, charming rascals-who could ask for anything more? Well, you can throw in a counterfeit relative lately in from the Antipodes. Who is the imposter? Anna Anderson, Martin Guerre, Frank Abagnale-Who is the. imposter? And does it make a difference? The "IT" is the truth

I have always had a soft spot for forgers- Thomas Wise, Hans van Meegren, Mary Butterworth, Thomas Chatterton. They have a touchingly cynical reach for the ineffable. Along the way you just have to live your life and pay the bills. Grace, our narrator, does just that., gradually scratching throught the pentimento to the truth. Or does she?
A lovely book.

I would describe this book as a gay/historical/psychological mystery. In the hands of a less accomplished writer this would be hard to pull off, but Stevens manages to pull it all together quite well. The plot moves along at a quick pace and the characters have a depth that made me want to get to know them, even if I did not particularly like any of them. The art elements were well researched. All in all a good read and I suspect there will be big demand when the book is released.