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2.99 AVERAGE
2.99 AVERAGE
This isn't a fictionalized biography like I'm used to reading from Philippa Gregory, but I enjoyed the YA historical fiction more than I anticipated. Good start to a series - if only they could get some better cover art than that sexualized pair of teens. Yikes.
Read 2013, Reread 2016
Seriously like this series, but the fourth book is a LONG time coming!!! Having to reread to remember
Seriously like this series, but the fourth book is a LONG time coming!!! Having to reread to remember
Oof. This was not great. First of all, I should acknowledge that I'm not the target audience, but having said that, I can still appreciate a book for what it is even if I'm not its typical reader.
The book was just plain boring. It was so predictable, the characters were not well developed and were just caricatures of their roles. The writing is also really awkward. Two thirds of the book is set in a nunnery and then, when the mystery there is resolved and the book reaches a natural conclusion, a werewolf storyline suddenly appears which just doesn't fit with the story arc and is really jarring. It's effectively a new book. On the whole, it reads more as a 'movie made into a book' rather than a novel in its own right.
There are some great YA books out there, but this is not one of them and I would go as far as to say it is actually insulting to the intelligence of its target audience who deserve a better novel than this.
The book was just plain boring. It was so predictable, the characters were not well developed and were just caricatures of their roles. The writing is also really awkward. Two thirds of the book is set in a nunnery and then, when the mystery there is resolved and the book reaches a natural conclusion, a werewolf storyline suddenly appears which just doesn't fit with the story arc and is really jarring. It's effectively a new book. On the whole, it reads more as a 'movie made into a book' rather than a novel in its own right.
There are some great YA books out there, but this is not one of them and I would go as far as to say it is actually insulting to the intelligence of its target audience who deserve a better novel than this.
This is the first book I’ve read from Gregory and I thought it was good. Nothing amazing, but just good and I will tell you why in this review.
I’ve never read a historical YA book before so it was odd to read a book set in the 1400s but I enjoyed it. The writing is amazing and kept me interested in the events taking place. There was everything I like in a book, which includes danger, adventure and a bit of romance, but I never connected with the characters and I have no idea why. Maybe it was the religion that came with them and considering I don’t believe in that stuff it bored me a little. Although I did enjoy the bit about the crazy nuns (you’ll know it when you read it).
It was nice to learn about a different era but it was a little short. I felt that the interesting bit was near the end and I just wish it had been a little longer. Maybe then I could have connected with the characters. I liked Luca and wanted to know more about him. I guess I’ll just have to wait until the next one though. Especially about the whole Changeling thing. I also like his servant/friend Frieze, who often made me smile and laugh and who had his moments in this novel that made him stand out.
I loved the descriptive writing, really made me visualize the settings so that was good but one thing that got to me was how the men treated the women. I really wanted to grab them, pull them out of the book and slap them silly for being so sexist. Especially Isolde’s brother, he got under my skin a bit.
In a way I liked that there wasn’t a lot of romance in the book, like a typical YA novel. Towards the end they were hinting at it which made it realistic because people don’t really fall in love quickly in real life. It takes time. I think Luca and Isolde would be good for each other and Luca disobeying his vows for her would be kinda cute as it would show his strong feelings which I’m sure he will get.
But I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. Overall it was a good book and I will read the next just to see what happens to them all.
I’ve never read a historical YA book before so it was odd to read a book set in the 1400s but I enjoyed it. The writing is amazing and kept me interested in the events taking place. There was everything I like in a book, which includes danger, adventure and a bit of romance, but I never connected with the characters and I have no idea why. Maybe it was the religion that came with them and considering I don’t believe in that stuff it bored me a little. Although I did enjoy the bit about the crazy nuns (you’ll know it when you read it).
It was nice to learn about a different era but it was a little short. I felt that the interesting bit was near the end and I just wish it had been a little longer. Maybe then I could have connected with the characters. I liked Luca and wanted to know more about him. I guess I’ll just have to wait until the next one though. Especially about the whole Changeling thing. I also like his servant/friend Frieze, who often made me smile and laugh and who had his moments in this novel that made him stand out.
I loved the descriptive writing, really made me visualize the settings so that was good but one thing that got to me was how the men treated the women. I really wanted to grab them, pull them out of the book and slap them silly for being so sexist. Especially Isolde’s brother, he got under my skin a bit.
In a way I liked that there wasn’t a lot of romance in the book, like a typical YA novel. Towards the end they were hinting at it which made it realistic because people don’t really fall in love quickly in real life. It takes time. I think Luca and Isolde would be good for each other and Luca disobeying his vows for her would be kinda cute as it would show his strong feelings which I’m sure he will get.
But I guess I’ll just have to wait and see. Overall it was a good book and I will read the next just to see what happens to them all.
This book had so much potential and it failed to deliver. I found this book dull and boring. The only reason I continued to read it is that I was over half way through the book when I decided I wanted to give up on it. For such a short book, it took me forever to read it. I doubt I'll be reading the rest of the series
This was a great first book in the series. I quite like some of Philippa Gregory's other historical series but this one was a lot more fantasy mixed with mystery.
The main character in this book is Luca, a young man who has been chucked out of the religious order he grew up in for heresy. He is targeted by the leader of another religious order that encourages free thinking and he is dispatched as an inquisitor to look into crimes by religious groups. He ends up in a nunnery where mysterious happenings are going on.
The secondary characters are Freize, Isolde and Ishraq. Freize is Luca's man servant who he grew up with, he's outspoken and doesn't know his place and is very good with animals. Isolde is a Lady who somehow grew up not knowing that her gender would mean she had less say on her own life as her brother rules her after the death of her father. Ishraq is Isolde's friend / lady servant, she grew up with Isolde but was taught in different things to Isolde.
The storyline is very good and gripping. The pacing was excellent and I look forward to reading the other books in the series shortly.
4.5 stars
The main character in this book is Luca, a young man who has been chucked out of the religious order he grew up in for heresy. He is targeted by the leader of another religious order that encourages free thinking and he is dispatched as an inquisitor to look into crimes by religious groups. He ends up in a nunnery where mysterious happenings are going on.
The secondary characters are Freize, Isolde and Ishraq. Freize is Luca's man servant who he grew up with, he's outspoken and doesn't know his place and is very good with animals. Isolde is a Lady who somehow grew up not knowing that her gender would mean she had less say on her own life as her brother rules her after the death of her father. Ishraq is Isolde's friend / lady servant, she grew up with Isolde but was taught in different things to Isolde.
The storyline is very good and gripping. The pacing was excellent and I look forward to reading the other books in the series shortly.
4.5 stars
So I requested a copy from the library while they were on order. I got an email from my library saying my request is it. Which means I'll get the first read of this copy!!!! *squeals*
June 12: I managed to get my copy from the library yesterday. Its sooooooo pretty *swoon*. Pretty new book. I'll start reading it today at work!
Finished it at lunch today. It was AMAZING!!! Better review after work!
June 12: I managed to get my copy from the library yesterday. Its sooooooo pretty *swoon*. Pretty new book. I'll start reading it today at work!
Finished it at lunch today. It was AMAZING!!! Better review after work!
Very intriguing historical fiction, made to seem like a fantasy. I'm a big fan of stories that take place in Italy!
Definitely disappointed. I had high hopes because my sister LOVES Philippa Gregory's books, and when I saw she wrote a YA book, I was excited.
But I was sorely mistaken. I'm sorry but the plot was slow and not very riveting.
But I was sorely mistaken. I'm sorry but the plot was slow and not very riveting.
Not as enjoyable as other Phillippa Gregory series, but still enjoyable