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3.14 AVERAGE
3.14 AVERAGE
I normally enjoy this author and liked the previous books in this series but this one felt preachy and read more like a history book which is not what I look for in my historical fiction per se.
I liked this and thought it was historically interesting. The inclusion of slavery and the abolitionist movement was compelling and accurate but the romance lacked something. The ah-ha moment (that moment when you "see" the characters fall for each other) wasn't there for me. I liked the two preceding books much better.
What an interesting and ambitious novel.
Mixing historical romance with magical fantasy, time travel with the story of the abolition of the slave trade, it's a complex tale that ignores genre boundaries and brings together the stories of two couples, African and European who use magic to support the growth of the abolition movement. The historical elements are handled well and most readers will learn something about the history of slavery - thankfully the subject is handled seriously and with respect. The magic is also well-depicted with the contrasts between European and African systems. And the story is a page-turner.
It's not entirely successful - the chopping around of the narrative between the different participants gets annoying at times. In true romance series fashion, many of the secondary characters are HEA couples from previous novels - at best this leads to bland, skippable passages - at worst so much perfection can make a person puke. And at times the language is awkward - I don't care for business talk in the mouths of fantasy characters so, for instance, I wince when a bunch of mages "schedule a meeting" and then there are cliches - could it be arranged for any author typing the term "Scottish Witch" to receive a little electric shock?
These are minor points. It was an intelligent gripping read and it has its heart in the right place.
Mixing historical romance with magical fantasy, time travel with the story of the abolition of the slave trade, it's a complex tale that ignores genre boundaries and brings together the stories of two couples, African and European who use magic to support the growth of the abolition movement. The historical elements are handled well and most readers will learn something about the history of slavery - thankfully the subject is handled seriously and with respect. The magic is also well-depicted with the contrasts between European and African systems. And the story is a page-turner.
It's not entirely successful - the chopping around of the narrative between the different participants gets annoying at times. In true romance series fashion, many of the secondary characters are HEA couples from previous novels - at best this leads to bland, skippable passages - at worst so much perfection can make a person puke. And at times the language is awkward - I don't care for business talk in the mouths of fantasy characters so, for instance, I wince when a bunch of mages "schedule a meeting" and then there are cliches - could it be arranged for any author typing the term "Scottish Witch" to receive a little electric shock?
These are minor points. It was an intelligent gripping read and it has its heart in the right place.
Surprisingly delightful. Fantasy time travel historical fiction with a splash of romance. I picked it up at a used bookstore, not realizing it was in a series. My biggest complaint is that it spent too much time referring back to books I haven't read. It was distracting and didn't really add anything for me.
I especially like the author's note where she kind of explained the historical notes and books for further reading.
I especially like the author's note where she kind of explained the historical notes and books for further reading.
While the issue of slavery is huge and serious (still) this book was such a thematic or stylistic departure from the first two that I just couldn't get into it. I don't typically like magic in books but I tried this series because I really love a lot of MJP's work. I kinda sorta liked the first two and was becoming accustomed to the magic crap. Then she threw in a heavy, serious slavery story and combined it with time travel. I know some people must luuuuuuvvvv time travel stories but I can't like them. Brain hurt. So this book was just ugh for me all the way through. Add in the rather vague relationship of the main characters (there was too much history lecture going on for the author to have time to develop the possibilities of the romantic story) and this book was just a "no" for me.
I appreciated the information about the early days of the British abolitionist movement but as a romance and an engaging novel, this book fell splat.
I appreciated the information about the early days of the British abolitionist movement but as a romance and an engaging novel, this book fell splat.
Lots of information regarding the horrors of slavery. The romance played second fiddle in this story. By the end I was kind of ready for it to be over.
Mary Jo Putney is one of my favorite romance novelists, and this is the 3rd book in her Guardians series, which puts a magical spin on historical events, although the 2nd book is more magical romance than history. Still, I picked this book up expecting a romance novel and was surprised to discover it's really more about the history of the abolitionist movement in Britain. The romance is a distant second to the main plot about traveling through time to safeguard key abolitionists & their growing support amongst regular Brits. I had not actually realized that Britain convinced escaped slaves to fight with them in our Revolutionary War by promising them freedom, and then when the British lost, they kept their promise as best they could by evacuating as many former slaves as possible from the newly minted U.S. It was a really interesting read. Putney wove her story of European & African magics around actual historical events and people. So I'm kinda sorta categorizing this book as alternative history.
adventurous
informative
fast-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:
No
adventurous
challenging
reflective
tense
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
As a book I really liked this. As a romance and a part of the Guardians series, not so much.
The first half of the book is really good and then it goes off into a abolitionist history lesson. And I'm all for that, but I'm against ruining a great beginning which this book had, with such tension between Nikolai and Jean. I thought the subplot with Adia was great also, especially since she had a happy ending.
There was a great set up with Jean having magic she couldn't reach and Nikolai not knowing how to use his magic. And Nikolai's anger with Jean's father and Jean's anger with Nikolai for kidnapping her. But everyone got over it all real quick in order to have the time-travel.
The first half of the book is really good and then it goes off into a abolitionist history lesson. And I'm all for that, but I'm against ruining a great beginning which this book had, with such tension between Nikolai and Jean. I thought the subplot with Adia was great also, especially since she had a happy ending.
There was a great set up with Jean having magic she couldn't reach and Nikolai not knowing how to use his magic. And Nikolai's anger with Jean's father and Jean's anger with Nikolai for kidnapping her. But everyone got over it all real quick in order to have the time-travel.