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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Have you ever wondered if art could tell you the story of its creation? The Estate by Sarah Jost explores this captivating premise, taking readers on a journey into the process of artistic creation and the opulent, high-stakes world of art collectors, where fame and reputation are everything.
Camille, a renowned art historian, has a rare gift: the ability to enter the dimension of art itself. However, one fateful night, she misuses her powers and loses everything. In her search for meaning—and a specific artist’s elusive work—she accepts a position with a distinguished family whose estate holds ties to this artist. But is this opportunity as perfect as it seems, or is there more lurking beneath the surface?
This story unfolds as a slow burn, gradually building its world and characters. The fantasy elements, particularly Camille’s abilities, were intriguing, and I found myself eagerly anticipating the unraveling of the artist’s story. However, the narrative’s complexity occasionally made it difficult to follow, and a more straightforward approach could have enhanced the experience.
Lila, a standout character, was my personal favorite, adding depth and intrigue to the story. While some aspects were challenging to grasp, the unique concept and richly imagined world kept me engaged.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with this book.
Camille, a renowned art historian, has a rare gift: the ability to enter the dimension of art itself. However, one fateful night, she misuses her powers and loses everything. In her search for meaning—and a specific artist’s elusive work—she accepts a position with a distinguished family whose estate holds ties to this artist. But is this opportunity as perfect as it seems, or is there more lurking beneath the surface?
This story unfolds as a slow burn, gradually building its world and characters. The fantasy elements, particularly Camille’s abilities, were intriguing, and I found myself eagerly anticipating the unraveling of the artist’s story. However, the narrative’s complexity occasionally made it difficult to follow, and a more straightforward approach could have enhanced the experience.
Lila, a standout character, was my personal favorite, adding depth and intrigue to the story. While some aspects were challenging to grasp, the unique concept and richly imagined world kept me engaged.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with this book.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The title, “The Estate” gives nothing away. It’s pretty broad and could mean anything. I’d like to say that it’s one of those art-fiction niche books that some will completely love while others will say: “meh.” Why? Because of the far-fetched world in the story that isn’t real.
Yet, readers that are working in the art field will no doubt get it. It’s a perception of how the wealthy buys high-end art pieces not because they like it but, because it gives them the sense of power to have it -- like a commodity. For the rest of us, we look for affordable art that “speaks to us.”
The main character, Camille Leray, has a gift. She is able to transport herself inside a painting or sculpture where she can feel impressions made by the artist. It’s definitely a place where readers need to believe in some type of fantasy. This special gift has made her successful in the field of auctioning high-end pieces. Yet, when there’s a sale for a million-dollar sculpture with a group of buyers, something terribly goes wrong. She is not able to vouch for its authenticity. Her boss is angry and lets her go even though she has worked with him for a long time.
Now what? She has a mortgage in London and suddenly her life feels like she’s headed for a dead end. After a week of not eating much and feeling distressed, she wakes up with a surprise call. The next phase of her life is full of suspense when she goes to France. The characters she meets have deep secrets and it keeps me turning the pages.
I’ve never read a plot like this that zeros in closely on how wealthy people can treat artists that are desperately trying to make it in competitive markets. It shows the contrast between those who buy million-dollar pieces and those who go to museums. It’s thought provoking. However, the story could have been a bit shorter without losing its meaning. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and won’t be the last.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of November 19, 2024.
Yet, readers that are working in the art field will no doubt get it. It’s a perception of how the wealthy buys high-end art pieces not because they like it but, because it gives them the sense of power to have it -- like a commodity. For the rest of us, we look for affordable art that “speaks to us.”
The main character, Camille Leray, has a gift. She is able to transport herself inside a painting or sculpture where she can feel impressions made by the artist. It’s definitely a place where readers need to believe in some type of fantasy. This special gift has made her successful in the field of auctioning high-end pieces. Yet, when there’s a sale for a million-dollar sculpture with a group of buyers, something terribly goes wrong. She is not able to vouch for its authenticity. Her boss is angry and lets her go even though she has worked with him for a long time.
Now what? She has a mortgage in London and suddenly her life feels like she’s headed for a dead end. After a week of not eating much and feeling distressed, she wakes up with a surprise call. The next phase of her life is full of suspense when she goes to France. The characters she meets have deep secrets and it keeps me turning the pages.
I’ve never read a plot like this that zeros in closely on how wealthy people can treat artists that are desperately trying to make it in competitive markets. It shows the contrast between those who buy million-dollar pieces and those who go to museums. It’s thought provoking. However, the story could have been a bit shorter without losing its meaning. It’s the first book I’ve read by this author and won’t be the last.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of November 19, 2024.
adventurous
mysterious
sad
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This was a serviceable mystery with an art world twist. I wanted to keep reading until the end, but the characters’ motives and choices (especially Camille’s) were confusing until the end, and not in a compelling way. Meh.