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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
What would you give for inspiration and fame?
This story revolves around this question. Joseph and Sophie Hannigan, damaged and desperate twins, are in Venice to try to find a patron for the creative genius Joseph.
Odile Leon, immortal muse, is in the city looking for the next great talent to inspire to a timeless work.
Nicholas Dane has followed Odile, unable to put his encounter with her 7 years ago aside.
I'm not going to spoil anything, even some things that are revealed fairly early in the book. Suffice it to say that no one's plans are going to go smoothly, or without cost.
The language is lovely and evocative. The fantastic/horror elements are pretty unique, and the ending surprised me.
Definitely a good read. 4.5 stars
This story revolves around this question. Joseph and Sophie Hannigan, damaged and desperate twins, are in Venice to try to find a patron for the creative genius Joseph.
Odile Leon, immortal muse, is in the city looking for the next great talent to inspire to a timeless work.
Nicholas Dane has followed Odile, unable to put his encounter with her 7 years ago aside.
I'm not going to spoil anything, even some things that are revealed fairly early in the book. Suffice it to say that no one's plans are going to go smoothly, or without cost.
The language is lovely and evocative. The fantastic/horror elements are pretty unique, and the ending surprised me.
Definitely a good read. 4.5 stars
I kind of loved this book. I mean it's not a work of literary fiction that will change the art form, but damn it was fun! I love Venice, and artists, intrigue and supernatural twists at the edge of reality. I struggled over what rating to give this, because it's a totally different category than a true 5 star that my man Haruki Murakami gets. But for the genre, I dug it. Checking out Bone River now, and not loving it nearly as much.
Inamorata had me enamored. A beautifully told and unique story that combined historical fiction, the paranormal and romance. Set in enchanting 1800's Venice, I was taken into the story through the points of view of four wholly intriguing and different characters. Odilé, a muse who's inspiration will cost an artist dearly; Nicholas, who has already felt the impact of Odilé's affection and is on quest to stop other men from falling under her spell; and twins, Joseph and Sophie a talented painter and storyteller with an inexplicable bond.
I really can't say enough good things about this book, it is alluring, with marvelous writing and characterization. The setting completely drew me in, the glamour, the mystery, the salons and the artistry created a world that I was completely immersed with. The changing point of view between the four characters gave me a sense of a fast-pace and a view into each of their points-of-view and their motives. Each of the characters was well developed and special. I loved learning about what exactly Odilé was and her history. Sophie and Joseph were an enigma, their relationship was obviously special, but it also had a a very dark component, but it is what ended up helping them the most in the end.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I really can't say enough good things about this book, it is alluring, with marvelous writing and characterization. The setting completely drew me in, the glamour, the mystery, the salons and the artistry created a world that I was completely immersed with. The changing point of view between the four characters gave me a sense of a fast-pace and a view into each of their points-of-view and their motives. Each of the characters was well developed and special. I loved learning about what exactly Odilé was and her history. Sophie and Joseph were an enigma, their relationship was obviously special, but it also had a a very dark component, but it is what ended up helping them the most in the end.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I listened to this one and I really enjoyed the narrator. Highly recommend the audio version
I started this on the plane and got sucked in! Mainly since some of the relationships are odd and the secrets seem to never get revealed. I was disappointed in the ending though
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The story was interesting, but the incestuous undertones were too much for me.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Books Without Any Pictures:
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/08/25/inamorata-megan-chance/
Inamorata by Megan Chance is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy set in 19th century Venice. Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister Sophie come to Venice to escape scandal in New York. Joseph is an artist, and he hopes to find a wealthy patron so that he can pursue his passion. Sophie is Joseph’s muse and has dedicated her life to helping him succeed, but she also wants someone to see her as an individual and not as an extension of her brother’s company. Enter Nicholas Dane, an attractive former poet who becomes captivated by Sophie. Dane is in a perfect position to help Joseph meet prominent intellectuals and artists in Venice’s Bohemian circles.
And then there’s Odile, who throws a wrench into everyone’s plans. Odile is a succubus who feeds on artistic talent, leaving a string of bodies in her wake. She has inspired great artists throughout the ages, including figures such as Byron and Keats, but then destroyed them. You see, before her lovers are destroyed, her power allows them to create their greatest masterpieces. Odile is dangerous, seductive, and completely irresistible to men, and she means to make Joseph Hannigan into her next victim.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the four main characters. This includes Odile. Even though she’s the major antagonist of the story, she has her own reasons for why she is the way she is. We see her as a flawed yet understandable character who wants to make a mark on the world and be remembered for it. Time and time again, she is immortalized through art, but she remains the nameless muse. Her role in making those artists great is never acknowledged, and so Odile remains frustrated and unsatisfied. It’s rare to see a story told in part through the eyes of the villain, and seeing Odile as a complex character rather than just an adversary was wonderfully intriguing.
The plot of Inamorata progresses slowly, but that’s because Megan Chance fills her pages with breathtaking descriptions of Venice that perfectly encapsulate the story’s mood. She builds an atmosphere of both possibility and despair as each character strives to accomplish his goals and ambitions.
If a book filled with European cities, seductive immortals, and Lannister-style relationships appeals to you, then Inamorata will be right up your alley.
http://bookswithoutanypictures.com/2014/08/25/inamorata-megan-chance/
Inamorata by Megan Chance is a blend of historical fiction and fantasy set in 19th century Venice. Joseph Hannigan and his alluring sister Sophie come to Venice to escape scandal in New York. Joseph is an artist, and he hopes to find a wealthy patron so that he can pursue his passion. Sophie is Joseph’s muse and has dedicated her life to helping him succeed, but she also wants someone to see her as an individual and not as an extension of her brother’s company. Enter Nicholas Dane, an attractive former poet who becomes captivated by Sophie. Dane is in a perfect position to help Joseph meet prominent intellectuals and artists in Venice’s Bohemian circles.
And then there’s Odile, who throws a wrench into everyone’s plans. Odile is a succubus who feeds on artistic talent, leaving a string of bodies in her wake. She has inspired great artists throughout the ages, including figures such as Byron and Keats, but then destroyed them. You see, before her lovers are destroyed, her power allows them to create their greatest masterpieces. Odile is dangerous, seductive, and completely irresistible to men, and she means to make Joseph Hannigan into her next victim.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the four main characters. This includes Odile. Even though she’s the major antagonist of the story, she has her own reasons for why she is the way she is. We see her as a flawed yet understandable character who wants to make a mark on the world and be remembered for it. Time and time again, she is immortalized through art, but she remains the nameless muse. Her role in making those artists great is never acknowledged, and so Odile remains frustrated and unsatisfied. It’s rare to see a story told in part through the eyes of the villain, and seeing Odile as a complex character rather than just an adversary was wonderfully intriguing.
The plot of Inamorata progresses slowly, but that’s because Megan Chance fills her pages with breathtaking descriptions of Venice that perfectly encapsulate the story’s mood. She builds an atmosphere of both possibility and despair as each character strives to accomplish his goals and ambitions.
If a book filled with European cities, seductive immortals, and Lannister-style relationships appeals to you, then Inamorata will be right up your alley.
Inamorata is one of those magical books that I really enjoy reading! I couldn't put down. Megan Chance takes us to Venice in the late 1800s. Sofie and her brother Joseph are running away from their past and go to Venice. Soon after their arrival, they are unknowingly emerged into a battle between good and evil.
Something that is great about the book is that the clues to the truth are laid our for you to place together, but she lets you hang on to every word on how or why. Her language did not strike a cord for me, but her storytelling was impressive!
Something that is great about the book is that the clues to the truth are laid our for you to place together, but she lets you hang on to every word on how or why. Her language did not strike a cord for me, but her storytelling was impressive!
I received a physical copy from the author in exchange for an honest review and participation in a blog tour.
I must admit I had grown predictable in my reading choices. It was normally paranormal romance or contemporary romance and I never deviated. When I was approached to read Inamorata, I pondered the discomfort of branching out of my normal genres. Finally, I threw caution to the wind and decided a historical read, with just a dash of fantasy so I didn't venture too far away from my zone, was going to be my guinea pig. I had never read anything by Megan Chance so it was also a way to test a new writer (for me at least).
Joseph and Sophie Hannigan are two twins with an odd connection. They are incredibly close and Sophie has learned to take a backseat to Joseph's work. It was no surprise that they ended up in Venice in hopes of expanding on her brother's talent and finding a rich benefactor to make him rich and famous. Sophie, Joseph's docile muse, is willing to do whatever it takes to make her brother a star. Even seduce and manipulate a man by the name of Nicholas Dane.
The Hannigans do not have to work very hard to dazzle anyone they come into contact with. They seem to fuel compliment each other to such an extent that men and women alike can't help but be captivated by them. But their abilities to draw people in could also be their downfall when a seductive succubus catches wind of the handsome artist sibling, Joseph. Sophie has a strong aversion to Odile from the beginning and makes every attempt to keep her brother away from the temptation that is the famous courtesan. But Joseph seems under a spell that no one can break. Not even the sister he loves more than anything in the world.
Sophie finds help from the most unlikely of people. Nicholas Dane who she was meant simply to seduce into introducing her brother to a well known patron of the arts has a secret past with Odile. He has been following her for years trying to thwart her attempts at destroying young artists' lives and leaving them in talentless ruin. Can Sophie and Nicholas stop Odile from claiming Joseph's soul before it's too late?
This book was incredibly odd to me. When I finished it, I closed the book, stared at the cover, and muttered a 'Huh. That happened.' The incestuous undertones between the twins coupled with Sophie's potential romance with Nicholas confused me. I didn't know who I was rooting for. And if I rooted for the siblings to become romantically involved, how screwed up was I? I really liked Joseph. I saw how pained he was to know his sister was hurt by the scandal they left in New York and how much he wanted to be famous, not just for himself but for his sister. He wanted to take care of her. I loved him as a character. I growled and bared my teeth when he became involved with Odile though. No likey the succubus. Sophie seemed a little too submissive and docile for my liking, but thinking back, women were taught to be that way in the 19th century. Is it really a surprise that at least one of the characters had that sort of personality?
I found the book to be okay. There was no part of it that resonated in my brain really. It kept me reading but with a bit of a lackluster attitude. I liked the different landmarks in the book, but being as I know nothing about Venice or it's popular places, I had a hard time picturing the scenes. That was a bit frustrating for me personally. Other people may not have the same issue. If you are a history buff who also likes a dash of otherworldliness in your reading, Inamorata is for you.
Review Posted on: http://www.ladybugliterature.blogspot.com