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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The copy I owned of this book was only 280 pages or so, but it felt so. incredibly. long. The pacing is just far too slow for my liking. I read The King In His Castle by the same author when I was teenager and really enjoyed the story, but this one was a bit of a miss. My main motivation to finish this story was just being able to see the various strings of information be neatly tied up and explained. Most of the novel consisted of so much happening and yet nothing happening. Every time there was a story beat or a plot point, I absolute ate up the story. But soon, the excitement of that story beat faded away into the obscurity of vaguely entertaining dialogue that would go on for another 50+ pages. When everything was wrapped up and explained at the end, it was satisfying enough; however, I wish there had been more suspense interwoven into the story in general. It was there, to be sure, but I would have liked more of it. Again, this story suffers because the suspense and major plot points are wedged between endless pages of exposition and mediocre dialogue. I wish I had had a better time reading this book, but I stopped being able to connect with the main character about mid-way through the novel. If you like gothic romance, mystery, suspense, and thrillers, I suggest you choose a different book. I can truly only see other Victoria Holt readers enjoying this to the fullest extent. Even then, it may fall short of her other works; it’s hard for me to say, since I have only read one of her other novels. As a stand-alone novel, though, this wasn’t exemplary. Perhaps I am being uncharitable since I generally despised the main love interest. I’m not convinced he is the martyr he is seen to be by the main protagonist, and their dynamic is questionable at best and manipulative at worst.
As romantic suspense novels go, this is a good one. Victoria Holt is nearly the best at this genre, though the time period seems a bit murky (Edwardian? Late Victorian?). The heroine is perhaps too modern for anything other than late Regency or being part of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood, but no matter. She is smart, likeable, and the setting and plot points--the east Sussex coast, ancient Roman archeological sites, a beautiful but strange house looking out upon the masts of sunken ships--is just what I was hoping for.
Very enjoyable read, and delivered exactly what I expected it to. It's the kind of book you read when you want a "familiar" story and have expectations about how you want the book to make you feel and the experience you will have as you read it.
It's a gothic romance, so of course there will be a lot of similarities to books like Jane Eyre. Even so, I was surprised just how many similarities there were to Jane Eyre. In fact, the girls in the story read said classic.
Good characters, though lacking somewhat in the sort of depth I usually like. The plot however, was very twisty and complex. I would never have imagined the ending despite having given it a good effort!
It's a gothic romance, so of course there will be a lot of similarities to books like Jane Eyre. Even so, I was surprised just how many similarities there were to Jane Eyre. In fact, the girls in the story read said classic.
Good characters, though lacking somewhat in the sort of depth I usually like. The plot however, was very twisty and complex. I would never have imagined the ending despite having given it a good effort!
I do love this. Creepy, great descriptions. A broody love interest that actually does grow on you....instead of just being a giant asshole the whole time. I think my main issue with it would be the narrator. She takes her sweet time looking for her sister. Months go by. For God's sakes be a little more inquisitive.
Still, very thrilling. Surprising ending.
Still, very thrilling. Surprising ending.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
More reviews available at my blog, Beauty and the Bookworm.
A Gothic romance was my last category to read for my 2017 romance challenge with the Unapologetic Romance Readers group. I'd had The Shivering Sands picked out for quite a while, and saved it for the end of the challenge so I'd at least have one good category to look forward to after drudging through a bunch that I really didn't like. Someone once told me that Victoria Holt was the queen of Gothic romances, and so it seemed like a good choice--especially because I've already read the most iconic of Gothic romances, Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
In the wake of the disappearance of her archaeologist sister Roma, Caroline takes on the position of music teacher for the manor in the town in which Roma disappeared. Going incognito, she hopes to make a living, distance herself from the death of her famous pianist husband, and possibly solve her sister's disappearance, as well. At Lovat Stacy, she becomes entwined with the three young women who live there, the returned prodigal son Napier who was responsible for his older brother's death, and the other strange and curious residents of both the manor and the surrounding area. When a second disappearance occurs and Caroline continues to investigate, she finds that she might be the next on the list of those to disappear. The title refers to the quicksands that lurk off the coast of Lovat Stacy, which have devoured ships whole, leaving only their masts to haunt the inhabits of the manor and town on the shore.
This was definitely a Gothic. It has a mystery, it has a gloomy atmosphere--the manor by the cold and stormy sea, the burned-out chapel in the copse. It has the characters who may or may not be guilty of terrible things on pretty much every front. It has a mad relative lurking in the wings to shake things up and make strangely insightful statements. It has a heroine with a boring and yet tragic past who pokes her nose into something larger than she, and who ends up deeper than she ever intended to be. Gothics are not fast-paced action novels and they don't tend to be steamy romances, either. Consequently, the pacing can be a bit slow, the heroines more introspective than in some other genres. That was certainly the case here. The romance is mild, with two love interests representing polar opposite futures vying for Caroline's hand--but it's clear that her mind is made up from the start, even as she fights against it in the name of logic. There's not a lot of wooing, or embraces, or anything like that. Instead, the romance is more the "drawn to you and I don't know why" type, but I think it works because it suits the atmosphere of the book. Caroline is, after all, drawn to Lovat Stacy and its inhabitants and she doesn't quite know why, being as she has already accepted that her sister is dead before she arrives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's slower, quieter, but the atmosphere was spot-on, the air of menace lurked over the whole thing, and I didn't manage to figure out who the individual behind the disappearances was. Of course I knew that quicksand was going to have to be involved in at least one case--the title of the book points that out on its own--but I didn't guess in what way, and the way Holt wrapped it all up was beautifully done as well. I would definitely read more by this author.
5 stars out of 5.
A Gothic romance was my last category to read for my 2017 romance challenge with the Unapologetic Romance Readers group. I'd had The Shivering Sands picked out for quite a while, and saved it for the end of the challenge so I'd at least have one good category to look forward to after drudging through a bunch that I really didn't like. Someone once told me that Victoria Holt was the queen of Gothic romances, and so it seemed like a good choice--especially because I've already read the most iconic of Gothic romances, Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca, Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.
In the wake of the disappearance of her archaeologist sister Roma, Caroline takes on the position of music teacher for the manor in the town in which Roma disappeared. Going incognito, she hopes to make a living, distance herself from the death of her famous pianist husband, and possibly solve her sister's disappearance, as well. At Lovat Stacy, she becomes entwined with the three young women who live there, the returned prodigal son Napier who was responsible for his older brother's death, and the other strange and curious residents of both the manor and the surrounding area. When a second disappearance occurs and Caroline continues to investigate, she finds that she might be the next on the list of those to disappear. The title refers to the quicksands that lurk off the coast of Lovat Stacy, which have devoured ships whole, leaving only their masts to haunt the inhabits of the manor and town on the shore.
This was definitely a Gothic. It has a mystery, it has a gloomy atmosphere--the manor by the cold and stormy sea, the burned-out chapel in the copse. It has the characters who may or may not be guilty of terrible things on pretty much every front. It has a mad relative lurking in the wings to shake things up and make strangely insightful statements. It has a heroine with a boring and yet tragic past who pokes her nose into something larger than she, and who ends up deeper than she ever intended to be. Gothics are not fast-paced action novels and they don't tend to be steamy romances, either. Consequently, the pacing can be a bit slow, the heroines more introspective than in some other genres. That was certainly the case here. The romance is mild, with two love interests representing polar opposite futures vying for Caroline's hand--but it's clear that her mind is made up from the start, even as she fights against it in the name of logic. There's not a lot of wooing, or embraces, or anything like that. Instead, the romance is more the "drawn to you and I don't know why" type, but I think it works because it suits the atmosphere of the book. Caroline is, after all, drawn to Lovat Stacy and its inhabitants and she doesn't quite know why, being as she has already accepted that her sister is dead before she arrives.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's slower, quieter, but the atmosphere was spot-on, the air of menace lurked over the whole thing, and I didn't manage to figure out who the individual behind the disappearances was. Of course I knew that quicksand was going to have to be involved in at least one case--the title of the book points that out on its own--but I didn't guess in what way, and the way Holt wrapped it all up was beautifully done as well. I would definitely read more by this author.
5 stars out of 5.
The Shivering Sands finds Caroline Verlaine, young widow of the musical genius Pietro Verlaine, looking for a means of support. Pietro may have been magical with the piano, but he was no financial wizard and Caroline's small income needs a bit of bolstering. She was once a promising young pianist as well, but gave up her ambition in her love for Pietro. Now she teaches piano. Her sister Roma, an archaeologist following in their parents' footsteps, disappeared while on a dig for Roman remains on the Stacy estate along the coast of Kent. When the opportunity opens up for Caroline to teach piano to four girls connected with the estate, she grabs it--both for the needed income and for the chance to investigate her sister's disappearance.
Of course, Roma's disappearance isn't the only mystery surrounding the Stacy home. Years ago, Napier Stacy killed his handsome and popular brother Beaumont in what has been called an "accident." But there are those who think Napier was too envious of the near-perfect Beau and may have wanted him out of the way. His father did want Napier out of the way--to the extent of sending him away because he didn't want to be reminded of the tragedy. That is...until Sir William wants Napier to come home, marry his ward Edith, and produce an heir. Then lights are seen flitting about in the memorial built for Beau and there are those who say that Beau has come back to haunt the brother who murdered him. There's also Sir William's sister Sybil who pops in and out unexpectedly and says the most unnerving things to Caroline and others. Sybil also seems to be far more informed about Caroline's movements than anyone ought to be.
Suspense builds as Edith also disappears--shortly after announcing that the long-awaited heir is on its way--and Caroline is nearly killed in a fire. She doesn't know who to trust--the girls she has been teaching all seem to be keeping secrets and, though Caroline finds herself intrigued by and attracted to Napier, he is after all the black sheep of the family. What if he really is destroying his family one by one? And what if Roma stumbled onto a secret that made her death a necessity as well? It looks like Caroline might be next if she continues to ask too many questions.
It is interesting that this appears to be a historical novel, set at a guess during the late Victorian period when travel is by train and horse and trap and the girls talk of wearing their hair up when they reach a certain age. There is also a lot made of Caroline and Roma's education--being more like that of boys than is normal for their sex. But there are no overt references to time period and it doesn't seem that Holt spent a great deal of time researching the period. Much more is made of the setting and descriptions of the estate than of the time in which this all takes place.
It is easy to see why this appealed to my pre-teen self. Lots of atmosphere and Gothic elements to investigate with hints of romance that are quite as heavily infused as some mystery/romantic suspense novels. Caroline isn't quite the investigator that she imagines herself--stumbling on things rather more than deducing (and playing the Gothic suspense heroine who keeps going about alone and getting herself into trouble way more than necessary). Still, a great deal of fun and the culprit proves to be unexpected.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
Of course, Roma's disappearance isn't the only mystery surrounding the Stacy home. Years ago, Napier Stacy killed his handsome and popular brother Beaumont in what has been called an "accident." But there are those who think Napier was too envious of the near-perfect Beau and may have wanted him out of the way. His father did want Napier out of the way--to the extent of sending him away because he didn't want to be reminded of the tragedy. That is...until Sir William wants Napier to come home, marry his ward Edith, and produce an heir. Then lights are seen flitting about in the memorial built for Beau and there are those who say that Beau has come back to haunt the brother who murdered him. There's also Sir William's sister Sybil who pops in and out unexpectedly and says the most unnerving things to Caroline and others. Sybil also seems to be far more informed about Caroline's movements than anyone ought to be.
Suspense builds as Edith also disappears--shortly after announcing that the long-awaited heir is on its way--and Caroline is nearly killed in a fire. She doesn't know who to trust--the girls she has been teaching all seem to be keeping secrets and, though Caroline finds herself intrigued by and attracted to Napier, he is after all the black sheep of the family. What if he really is destroying his family one by one? And what if Roma stumbled onto a secret that made her death a necessity as well? It looks like Caroline might be next if she continues to ask too many questions.
It is interesting that this appears to be a historical novel, set at a guess during the late Victorian period when travel is by train and horse and trap and the girls talk of wearing their hair up when they reach a certain age. There is also a lot made of Caroline and Roma's education--being more like that of boys than is normal for their sex. But there are no overt references to time period and it doesn't seem that Holt spent a great deal of time researching the period. Much more is made of the setting and descriptions of the estate than of the time in which this all takes place.
It is easy to see why this appealed to my pre-teen self. Lots of atmosphere and Gothic elements to investigate with hints of romance that are quite as heavily infused as some mystery/romantic suspense novels. Caroline isn't quite the investigator that she imagines herself--stumbling on things rather more than deducing (and playing the Gothic suspense heroine who keeps going about alone and getting herself into trouble way more than necessary). Still, a great deal of fun and the culprit proves to be unexpected.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nothing in this book was surprising except for the sheer number of contrived Gothic tropes included.