Lydia Joyce uses intelligent characters and insightful prose to make even a take on the familiar Pygmalion story feel new again. There is nothing charming about the gutter from which the heroine is plucked, but seeing how her depth of character rescues a cynical aristocrat makes for an unexpectedly touching story.

Maggie King has caught the eye of a dangerous crime boss and has nowhere to go. She fears for the safety of her rag tag family and, knowing that she needs work if they are to have any chance at survival, she attends an opera audition. There she catches the eye of Charles Crossham, Lord Edgington who, in order to win a wager, must transform a street girl into a lady. Maggie, out of desperation, accepts his offer and sets off to begin her lessons.

Ensconced in the former home of various Crossham mistresses, Maggie is not sure what to make of her patron. While she needs to escape from her old life, she wonders whether the time she spends with Charles will save her or destroy her in the end. In addition to the attraction, almost obsession, that Maggie and Charles have for each other, Maggie finds herself starting to actually like Charles. Since Maggie is only with him temporarily to help him win a bet, she knows that nothing between them will ever last. The gulf between her world and his is insurmountable and both of them are intelligent enough to see this.

The son of a privileged and notoriously debauched family, Charles is immediately struck by Maggie when he sees her audition and is deeply attracted to her, but does not entertain the idea of any lasting attachment. However, the longer Charles spends with Maggie, the more depth he sees in her. As in any good tale of this type, the teacher has much to learn from his pupil.

Maggie and Charles are both complicated characters and well-matched. Both are intelligent and they are good for each other. Charles is tortured by the legacy of his family’s past and his time with Maggie teaches him much and changes him greatly for the better. Charles offers Maggie not just a slapped-together lady’s education, but a chance at a future for her adopted family. While the characters’ relationship seemed rushed at times (including at least one sex scene that jumps out of nowhere), it is still compelling. Seeing attraction turn to obsession turn to love is quite a journey.

The author’s vision of Victorian London is by turns romantic and tragic. She summons up the dire poverty of the streets, as well as the privileges enjoyed by the wealthy. Brutish gangs and drawing room snobbery all find voice here and the multi-layered creation is breath-taking. Victorian England almost seems to come to life here and I found the mood of the book quite addictive.

The rushing of the plot was my major quibble with this book, but I also think the author could have benefited from a higher word count. What we have here is quite good, but there needs to be more. Too many loose ends are left dangling and the hero and heroine needed even more time than they got together. Even so, this book stands above most of the Victorians I have read lately. Joyce’s voice is unique and I cannot wait to read the next one.