Picture an Australian-born storyteller who wandered into foggy London and spun electrifying Victorian steampunk tales—meet Viola Carr! With her gripping Electric Empire series, Carr blends forensic science, magic, and romance, reimagining classic horror with a feminist twist. Her heroine, Dr. Eliza Jekyll, navigates a shadowy, electrified London, unraveling mysteries while hiding a thrilling secret.
Carr’s unique voice, steeped in history and modern flair, has captivated readers who crave dark, adventurous fantasies. From her middle-class roots to her gaslit writing desk, let’s dive into the world of this genre-bending author!
The Making of Viola Carr
Born in Australia, Viola Carr grew up in a white, middle-class neighborhood, an upbringing she credits for shaping her nuanced take on societal issues in her novels. Her love for history and fantasy blossomed early, fueled by countless historical novels and speculative fiction. After moving to London, Carr found herself enchanted by its gritty, Victorian charm—a perfect muse for her steampunk worlds. By gaslight, with classical music and her cat’s snores as her soundtrack, she began crafting stories that merge the past with futuristic flair.
Carr’s journey to authorship wasn’t a straight path, but her passion for reimagining classic tales like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde set her apart. Her background in history informs her vivid world-building, while her knack for complex characters draws readers into her electrified London.
Viola Carr’s Unforgettable Stories
Carr’s Electric Empire trilogy is her crowning achievement, a dazzling blend of steampunk, mystery, and fantasy. The series kicks off with The Diabolical Miss Hyde (2015), where Dr. Eliza Jekyll, daughter of the infamous Henry Jekyll, hunts a serial killer known as the “Slicer.” Using cutting-edge gadgets, Eliza battles misogyny and her impulsive alter ego, Lizzie Hyde, in a thrilling Victorian chase. Critics praised its “electrifying” debut, with Beth Cato calling it “dark, intense, and awesome.”
The saga continues in The Devious Dr. Jekyll (2015), where Eliza tackles the Pentacle Killer amid alchemy and espionage, complicated by the mercurial Royal Society agent Remy Lafayette. The trilogy wraps with The Dastardly Miss Lizzie (2017), a “fantastic adventure” per Culturess, as Eliza confronts a madman’s terrifying invention. Carr’s style weaves clockwork automatons, magical elixirs, and feminist themes, creating a Dickensian world with a luminous, mad-science glow.
Her writing stands out for its rich historical detail, vibrant characters, and genre mashup—part horror, part romance, part thriller. Carr’s ability to address modern issues like gender roles within a quasi-Victorian setting makes her work resonate with today’s readers.
Why Viola Carr Matters
Viola Carr’s impact lies in her fearless reinvention of steampunk and classic literature. By placing a strong, flawed female protagonist at the heart of her stories, she challenges the male-dominated tropes of Victorian fiction. Her Electric Empire series, shortlisted for the 2018 Sara Douglass Book Series Award, has earned a loyal following among steampunk and fantasy fans for its blend of grit, wit, and wonder.
Carr’s work inspires readers to explore the intersections of history, science, and magic, proving that even lesser-known authors can leave a lasting mark. Her vivid worlds invite us to question societal norms while getting lost in a thrilling mystery.
- Born: Australia
- Key Works: The Diabolical Miss Hyde, The Devious Dr. Jekyll, The Dastardly Miss Lizzie
- Genre: Victorian Steampunk, Fantasy, Mystery
- Award: Shortlisted for 2018 Sara Douglass Book Series Award
Snag The Diabolical Miss Hyde and dive into Viola Carr’s electrifying steampunk universe—where secrets, science, and sorcery collide!