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2.99 AVERAGE
2.99 AVERAGE
As you may be aware i mainly stick to crime and historical fiction in my old age apart from my small obsession with the Morganville books. However when i saw this young adult book by Ms. Gregory I gave into the urge to buy and read it.
I have read it and now cannot wait for the second in the series.
Luca is placed into the position of inquirer and Isolade is placed as head honcho in the nunnery. Through this book they come to terms to their current life statuses and meet many colourful charcters.
The story flows well the characters compliment each other and there is possible chances for at least two romances.
A must read!
I have read it and now cannot wait for the second in the series.
Luca is placed into the position of inquirer and Isolade is placed as head honcho in the nunnery. Through this book they come to terms to their current life statuses and meet many colourful charcters.
The story flows well the characters compliment each other and there is possible chances for at least two romances.
A must read!
This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes
Cover Impressions: The cover is pretty, but expected. It makes it appear that Isolde is the main character when, in actuality, the plot follows Luca for a majority of the time. I was glad to see the omission of the "heaving bosoms" that normally accompanies this type of cover
The Gist: Seventeen year old Luca is accused of heresy and thrown out of his religious order for using math to prove that it is impossible for all of the relics from the true cross to be real. He is quickly recruited by a secret order and sent on a mission to hold an inquiry into strange occurrences. Isolde has been cast out from her home upon the death of her father and forced to vows at a nunnery and serve as their lady superior. When the sisters began acting strangely and complaining of strange dreams and stigmata, Luca is sent to investigate.
Review: I was pretty disappointed by this one. I have read a lot of Philippa Gregory's books (though I haven't really enjoyed the latest ones) and was hoping for the same sense of excitement that I got while reading The Other Boleyn Girl. Instead, I got a watered down romance, predictable storyline and characters who were barely tolerable.
When we meet Luca, we are told that he has a remarkable head for numbers and that these skills led to him being called a Changeling (my definition: a child that is left behind by the faerie folk to be raised in a human household). Take note of this BECAUSE IT NEVER COMES UP AGAIN! Seriously. He never uses these mysterious mathematical skills and, despite the title of the book, we never find out anything about whether or not he is a changeling. As a character, he is boring as heck. He never does anything exciting or unexpected, his manner of speaking is flat and unaffected and he switches between allowing others to take charge and pompously reminding them that he is supposed to be leading this investigation.
Isolde has been promised by her father that, upon his death, all the lands and the kingdom would be hers. She has been raised to be the lady of the house and taught how to maintain her lands and keep her people fed and safe. Yet, on his deathbed he supposedly recounts all of this and gives her the choice between marrying a particularly disgusting man or joining the nunnery. Isolde is told all of this by her brother (her father apparently refused to see her at the end) and never questions the authenticity of his claims. When she asks to see the will, he gives her a COPY instead of the original and then sends her would-be husband to rape her. That's right folks, her brother tells his buddy that he can exercise his matrimonial rights before she has even accepted and (I think) within 24 hours of her father's death. And STILL Isolde doesn't think he is lying about her inheritance. FFS! How dense can you get? For the rest of the book, Isolde continues to be boring and is in constant need of rescuing. The only characters that show any type of promise are the servants Ishraq and Freize and even they are not nearly as interesting as they could be.
This book holds an odd place in the genre spectrum. It is not quite realistic enough to be true historical fiction nor is it strange enough to be paranormal fiction. The blurb promises werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers but doesn't actually deliver on either werewolves or witches and I can only assume the alchemists and death-dancers will be featured in the next book. The plot is sloooooowwwwww and concentrates far too much on traveling and interviewing people. It really feels like two separate stories; one that features the nunnery and one a village with a werewolf. The stories felt disconnected, almost like two novellas that were strung together in an attempt to make a full book, and no progress is made on any of the over-arching issues (Luca's mysterious new order and his heritage or Isolde's disinheritance).
For most of this book I found myself waiting for it to be over and wishing that I had chosen to read something else instead. I do not think I will be sticking around for the next in this series.
Teaching/Parental Notes:
Age: 13 and up
Gender: Female
Sex: None
Violence: Death by Poison, Death by Fire
Inappropriate Language: None
Substance Use/Abuse: Drinking Wine/Ale
As a reader who enjoys historical fiction and Philippa Gregory's novels, I was anxious to read her first fictional young adult novel. Keeping in mind that the target audience for this book is young adults-or teenagers-, this book is a departure in style from Ms.Gregory's previous books. The characters were not as well developed and the plot not as detailed as in her other works. I didn't feel as involved with the chacters and their quest. While I did enjoy reading it, I felt that it was only an introduction into other books. That being said, I still would probably continue reading the series.
Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect: The Order of the Dragon, commissioned by Pope Nicholas V to investigate evil and danger in its many forms, and strange occurrences across Europe, in this year—the end of days.
Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.
Very predictable but fairly enjoyable.
Isolde is a seventeen-year-old girl shut up in a nunnery so she can’t inherit any of her father’s estate. As the nuns walk in their sleep and see strange visions, Isolde is accused of witchcraft—and Luca is sent to investigate her, but finds himself plotting her escape.
Very predictable but fairly enjoyable.
For as long as I can remember, Phillipa Gregory has been one of my favourite authors of historical fiction. When I heard she had written Changeling, her first ever book aimed at young adults, I was itching to get my hands on a copy. However I must admit, I think I placed my expectations a little high as, while the story was interesting and most certainly enjoyable - It wasn’t the amazing, gripping read that I thought it would be.
The story is told from a dual perspective and begins with seventeen year old Luca. A priest in training, he suddenly finds himself cast out from his monastery on a charge of heresy. Yet while many of his fellow priests view his analytical mind as a sin, there is one branch of the Catholic Church who sees his ability for the gift it is. And so rather than the burning death he expected, Luca finds himself named as the Churches newest inquisitor. Responsible for uncovering evil in whatever form it may take, Luca now wields the power to save lives… or end them.
Yet in another part of Italy, the Lady Isolde has just lost everything she knows and loves. Beautiful and intelligent, she was raised as her father’s heir; to one day preside over his lands and castle. Yet somehow, her scheming brother has managed to take it all leaving Isolde destitute. Now, faced with the choice to either marry a repugnant Prince or join a nunnery, Isolde chooses the church and a vow of celibacy. Knowing either way, she will be condemned to a life of misery.
A few months later, these two people find their fates crossing. When Luca is sent to investigate a nunnery, whose occupants are said to be plagued with possession and mad visions, it is there he meets Isolde who quickly becomes his lead suspect. Yet as their lives become more and more entangled in a web of sorcery, intrigue and politics, they begin to realise that the fate of their lives may just be in the others hand…
I did enjoy this book but I think part of my disappoint lay in that for a YA book, it was rather short and I seemed to finish it all too quickly. Yet the book did move at a good pace and the story has a unique concept. I also loved that it was set in 14th century Italy as one thing Phillipa Gregory does very well is description, and with her words she truly brought the time period to life.
The mysteries within the story were also interesting to read as they played upon the fears of the time. And I liked how Luca’s eventually revealed what was behind the smoke and mirrors of these ‘supernatural’ occurrences.
Yet it was the characters of this book that really made the story for me, and surprisingly, not the main ones. While both Lucas and Isolde where unique characters, I felt like with the book being so short there wasn’t much in regards to their development, and they didn’t change much over the course of the story.
However it was the supporting characters such as Frieze and Ishraq who I loved the most. Both with distinct personalities, they created conflict and humour throughout the novel and towards the end, there were hints of a possible romance that was just too sweet. It was them that really made this book for me.
Overall though, while it wasn’t my idea of a perfect read this book still has much to offer and I think the younger market of YA would really enjoy the story. Fans of authors such as Mary Hooper and Mary Hoffman will definitely want to check it out. Mysterious, intriguing and all set within the beautiful world of medieval Italy, Changeling is sweet read with which to idle away an afternoon. 3 ½ stars!
The story is told from a dual perspective and begins with seventeen year old Luca. A priest in training, he suddenly finds himself cast out from his monastery on a charge of heresy. Yet while many of his fellow priests view his analytical mind as a sin, there is one branch of the Catholic Church who sees his ability for the gift it is. And so rather than the burning death he expected, Luca finds himself named as the Churches newest inquisitor. Responsible for uncovering evil in whatever form it may take, Luca now wields the power to save lives… or end them.
Yet in another part of Italy, the Lady Isolde has just lost everything she knows and loves. Beautiful and intelligent, she was raised as her father’s heir; to one day preside over his lands and castle. Yet somehow, her scheming brother has managed to take it all leaving Isolde destitute. Now, faced with the choice to either marry a repugnant Prince or join a nunnery, Isolde chooses the church and a vow of celibacy. Knowing either way, she will be condemned to a life of misery.
A few months later, these two people find their fates crossing. When Luca is sent to investigate a nunnery, whose occupants are said to be plagued with possession and mad visions, it is there he meets Isolde who quickly becomes his lead suspect. Yet as their lives become more and more entangled in a web of sorcery, intrigue and politics, they begin to realise that the fate of their lives may just be in the others hand…
I did enjoy this book but I think part of my disappoint lay in that for a YA book, it was rather short and I seemed to finish it all too quickly. Yet the book did move at a good pace and the story has a unique concept. I also loved that it was set in 14th century Italy as one thing Phillipa Gregory does very well is description, and with her words she truly brought the time period to life.
The mysteries within the story were also interesting to read as they played upon the fears of the time. And I liked how Luca’s eventually revealed what was behind the smoke and mirrors of these ‘supernatural’ occurrences.
Yet it was the characters of this book that really made the story for me, and surprisingly, not the main ones. While both Lucas and Isolde where unique characters, I felt like with the book being so short there wasn’t much in regards to their development, and they didn’t change much over the course of the story.
However it was the supporting characters such as Frieze and Ishraq who I loved the most. Both with distinct personalities, they created conflict and humour throughout the novel and towards the end, there were hints of a possible romance that was just too sweet. It was them that really made this book for me.
Overall though, while it wasn’t my idea of a perfect read this book still has much to offer and I think the younger market of YA would really enjoy the story. Fans of authors such as Mary Hooper and Mary Hoffman will definitely want to check it out. Mysterious, intriguing and all set within the beautiful world of medieval Italy, Changeling is sweet read with which to idle away an afternoon. 3 ½ stars!
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This book was so bad I didn't even finish it and I was halfway through. Ugh.
Not impressed. I don't think it would hold any teen's interest for long.
This was a good read, a bit shorter than her other books and not from one characters point of view like her other books. Preferred her other books but this was a nice quick read.
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No