Do exceptionally well in cutting a Victorian adventure novel (5)
I believe the answer is:
shine
'do exceptionally well' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'in cutting a victorian adventure novel' is the wordplay.
'cutting' indicates putting letters inside (some letters cut their way into a word).
'a victorian adventure novel' becomes 'she' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'in' inserted within 'she' is 'SHINE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shine that I've seen before include "Dazzle" , "Give out light; polish" , "Give out or reflect light" , "Beam" , "Gleam, glisten" .)