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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Could’ve been 5 stars BUT the conclusion was too neatly wrapped up and too much of a HEA for me.
emotional
mysterious
sad
Loveable characters:
No
Liked the premise, but 1960s parts seemed really forced. Not sure who I was supposed to like either. Meh.
Honestly, this is another incredible work of historical fiction by Davis. She clearly goes above and beyond in her research and the characters just fly off the page. I was OBSESSED with the Lions of Fifth Avenue. I mean come one I run a book blog and it’s about a family that gets to live in one of the best libraries!
Magnolia Palace focuses on two key characters in two different times. Lillian in 1916 and Veronica in 1966 how these two are related is the mystery throughout and their similarities are beautifully shown throughout. Bringing in the infamous Frick family has enough mystery to keep the story interesting but allow for strong character development and even some romance.
Magnolia Palace focuses on two key characters in two different times. Lillian in 1916 and Veronica in 1966 how these two are related is the mystery throughout and their similarities are beautifully shown throughout. Bringing in the infamous Frick family has enough mystery to keep the story interesting but allow for strong character development and even some romance.
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Title: The Magnolia Palace
Author: Fiona Davis
Publisher: Dutton Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Thank you to @duttonbooks for honoring my request to read and review this title via @netgalley.
Normally, I absolutely, love, love, love a dual timeline in a historical fiction novel. And author Fiona Davis is masterful in this technique; however in this case the second timeline in the 1960s felt unnecessary and very gimmicky. Its only purpose it seems was to solve the minor subplot of the the mystery in the story. I think I would’ve enjoyed the story more if the author would’ve stuck with the beginning in 1919; where she wrote about the main character Lillian aka Angelica struggling as an art model after her mother dies from the Spanish flu. With maybe just some more flashbacks to her teen years when she began modeling.
Lillian is forced to flee her apartment when the apartment manager makes advances at her, murders his wife, and the police somehow think she is a suspect! After sleeping and wondering around on the streets, Lillian accidentally stumbles into the job of being Henry Clay Frick’s headstrong daughter, Helen’s, head secretary.
Lillian decided to take the job to save money for a train ticket out to California to act. Ultimately she seems to be just running through the motions on things because she is still devastated from losing her mother. Her employer, Helen, seems to idolize her father and is always seeking his attention. Attention that is missing because she had a younger sister that passed away. Family is a central theme in this story. In comes into play in the 1960s timeline as well when model Veronica takes a model job for a Vogue shoot at the Frick Mansion. She needs money for her twin sisters medical care.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Fiona Davis
Publisher: Dutton Books
Genre: Historical Fiction
Thank you to @duttonbooks for honoring my request to read and review this title via @netgalley.
Normally, I absolutely, love, love, love a dual timeline in a historical fiction novel. And author Fiona Davis is masterful in this technique; however in this case the second timeline in the 1960s felt unnecessary and very gimmicky. Its only purpose it seems was to solve the minor subplot of the the mystery in the story. I think I would’ve enjoyed the story more if the author would’ve stuck with the beginning in 1919; where she wrote about the main character Lillian aka Angelica struggling as an art model after her mother dies from the Spanish flu. With maybe just some more flashbacks to her teen years when she began modeling.
Lillian is forced to flee her apartment when the apartment manager makes advances at her, murders his wife, and the police somehow think she is a suspect! After sleeping and wondering around on the streets, Lillian accidentally stumbles into the job of being Henry Clay Frick’s headstrong daughter, Helen’s, head secretary.
Lillian decided to take the job to save money for a train ticket out to California to act. Ultimately she seems to be just running through the motions on things because she is still devastated from losing her mother. Her employer, Helen, seems to idolize her father and is always seeking his attention. Attention that is missing because she had a younger sister that passed away. Family is a central theme in this story. In comes into play in the 1960s timeline as well when model Veronica takes a model job for a Vogue shoot at the Frick Mansion. She needs money for her twin sisters medical care.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death