Scan barcode
jessthebookslover's review
3.0
Review of Blakefields Mansion - A Victorian Romance by Jen Smith.
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
I'm grateful that I was stubborn enough (I'm grateful to be stubborn in any case, actually) to continue reading this book even if I didn't want to.
I didn't have any will to go on because the initial part of this book is just SO BORING.
But thank God it "only" lasts 90-100 pages.
After an uneventful beginning, we finally see something interesting going on when our two girls, Abigail and Isabelle, arrive at Blakefields Mansion, where nothing is as it seems.
Of course, I can't say much about the intrigues and so on, so I'll leave you a shortened version of the synopsis on Goodreads:
Summer of 1856 - Abigail and Isabelle are eagerly anticipating a stay at the imposing Blakefields Mansion in the West Riding of Yorkshire. They dream of grand balls, dashing young men, and mysterious, elegant ladies. But the reality will prove very different.
Intrigue upon intrigue builds to an unexpected and dramatic climax.
As they come to know the various gentlemen – the Lord of Blakefields; his cheerful friend and confidant; the ambitious but seemingly honest guest; the enigmatic neighbour with a dark past - it becomes less and less clear who will turn out to be the champion of decency and integrity.
What did I like about this book?
Well, I liked the idea of how it was written: our main character, Isabelle recalls her memories from her experience at Blakefields Mansion and she tells us everything in details, with an amazing lady-like style, also made more credible thanks to French sentences and the use of local dialects (thank God I study English Literature at university and I know how to read these sentences!).
I liked the intrigues, and how they were handled and developped, and most of all, I liked how bold, corageous, and intelligent Isabelle was, still remaining a perfect "lady", even if she's not one.
What did I dislike about this book?
The beginning, if that wasn't clear enough, and the fact that romance (as love stories) is a mirage. Yes, we do read of two of the characters that are in love but... It doesn't feel real, and the other "romances" are somehow fake, and that's a no for me.
I heard there's a sequel coming out soon, and that makes me happy cause there was this ONE character that was really interesting and intriguing, Mr Parker to be clear, and I think there's more under his façade than meets the eye!
Actual Rating: 3.5/5 stars.
I'm grateful that I was stubborn enough (I'm grateful to be stubborn in any case, actually) to continue reading this book even if I didn't want to.
I didn't have any will to go on because the initial part of this book is just SO BORING.
But thank God it "only" lasts 90-100 pages.
After an uneventful beginning, we finally see something interesting going on when our two girls, Abigail and Isabelle, arrive at Blakefields Mansion, where nothing is as it seems.
Of course, I can't say much about the intrigues and so on, so I'll leave you a shortened version of the synopsis on Goodreads:
Summer of 1856 - Abigail and Isabelle are eagerly anticipating a stay at the imposing Blakefields Mansion in the West Riding of Yorkshire. They dream of grand balls, dashing young men, and mysterious, elegant ladies. But the reality will prove very different.
Intrigue upon intrigue builds to an unexpected and dramatic climax.
As they come to know the various gentlemen – the Lord of Blakefields; his cheerful friend and confidant; the ambitious but seemingly honest guest; the enigmatic neighbour with a dark past - it becomes less and less clear who will turn out to be the champion of decency and integrity.
What did I like about this book?
Well, I liked the idea of how it was written: our main character, Isabelle recalls her memories from her experience at Blakefields Mansion and she tells us everything in details, with an amazing lady-like style, also made more credible thanks to French sentences and the use of local dialects (thank God I study English Literature at university and I know how to read these sentences!).
I liked the intrigues, and how they were handled and developped, and most of all, I liked how bold, corageous, and intelligent Isabelle was, still remaining a perfect "lady", even if she's not one.
What did I dislike about this book?
The beginning, if that wasn't clear enough, and the fact that romance (as love stories) is a mirage. Yes, we do read of two of the characters that are in love but... It doesn't feel real, and the other "romances" are somehow fake, and that's a no for me.
I heard there's a sequel coming out soon, and that makes me happy cause there was this ONE character that was really interesting and intriguing, Mr Parker to be clear, and I think there's more under his façade than meets the eye!
More...