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A review by mrsbooknerd
Fortune by Erica Spindler
3.0
Fortune
I have read many an Erica Spindler novel, though usually her more recent crime/thriller novels. While I enjoy them, they are somewhat formulaic and fairly indistinguishable from others in the genre. I noticed the difference in both tone and style within the first chapter of 'Fortune'. It was instantly engaging and I loved that we were involved in the story from start to finish. There were no teasing prologues and slow release of information through memories, as so many novels now do, this was us, in at the deep end and in the race until it finished.
The benefit of being involved in Madeline/Grace/Chance's stories from start to finish gave the book a wonderful emotion edge that usual romantic/suspense novels can lack. These were real and well-developed characters with depth of emotion and history. I loved that we got to see how Chance bonded with both Claire and Skye. I loved that nothing was spared from those months at the carnival or after they'd left. It was often bleak, but it gave foundation to the later impacts of the plot.
It showed us how much Claire loved Skye, how only the most horrific of events would tear them apart, how Chance stepped up without any need, throwing away his own life to protect a girl that he had known a short space of time. It gave everything so much more gravity.
After this gushing, it may be difficult to see why my rating isn’t 4/5 star. Mainly because the second half of the novel really dropped the ball. Gone were these street-wise, loyal and hard-done by kids, and in their place were these arrogant, oblivious and naïve characters with the same names. I hated that with the introduction of Griffin, Chance and Skye became blind to any animosity or possible danger. They both knew that Skye had a dangerous past, they both had these unexplained reactions to Griffin at times, and yet neither ever once questioned him. Chance was constantly referred to as this smart, intelligent business man with an ability to read people, and yet he was oblivious, even when faced with obvious evidence.
Terri, ballsy lady that she is, comes right on out and says, I think Griffin is threatening me and my family to get you alone. Skye is like, 'pfft don't be ridic love'.
Even knowing that Madeline was running from someone. Even knowing that Griffin has two 'dead' sisters. Even Chance, who should have been intelligent enough just to do a bit of research before setting up with Griffin, didn't and so knew nothing of his personal past to possibly give a 'Hmm, his missing sister would be the same age as Skye…' moment. Even when they were both thought that he was acting creepy… not a single question.
I was just smacking my own head because I didn't know where the genuinely smart and resourceful kids had gone and who these idiot imposters were. Griffin was not a master manipulator, he was an average guy surrounded by morons.
It felt like I'd stopped reading the first book and started another, completely unrelated book. The first book had characters to champion who were deep and well-developed, the second had morons who couldn't see beyond their own noses.
In the beginning there was a five star rating on the horizon. By the end, there was a reader with a sore head and a cloud of disappointment over her, because it had slipped to a three star average.
I have read many an Erica Spindler novel, though usually her more recent crime/thriller novels. While I enjoy them, they are somewhat formulaic and fairly indistinguishable from others in the genre. I noticed the difference in both tone and style within the first chapter of 'Fortune'. It was instantly engaging and I loved that we were involved in the story from start to finish. There were no teasing prologues and slow release of information through memories, as so many novels now do, this was us, in at the deep end and in the race until it finished.
The benefit of being involved in Madeline/Grace/Chance's stories from start to finish gave the book a wonderful emotion edge that usual romantic/suspense novels can lack. These were real and well-developed characters with depth of emotion and history. I loved that we got to see how Chance bonded with both Claire and Skye. I loved that nothing was spared from those months at the carnival or after they'd left. It was often bleak, but it gave foundation to the later impacts of the plot.
It showed us how much Claire loved Skye, how only the most horrific of events would tear them apart, how Chance stepped up without any need, throwing away his own life to protect a girl that he had known a short space of time. It gave everything so much more gravity.
After this gushing, it may be difficult to see why my rating isn’t 4/5 star. Mainly because the second half of the novel really dropped the ball. Gone were these street-wise, loyal and hard-done by kids, and in their place were these arrogant, oblivious and naïve characters with the same names. I hated that with the introduction of Griffin, Chance and Skye became blind to any animosity or possible danger. They both knew that Skye had a dangerous past, they both had these unexplained reactions to Griffin at times, and yet neither ever once questioned him. Chance was constantly referred to as this smart, intelligent business man with an ability to read people, and yet he was oblivious, even when faced with obvious evidence.
Spoiler
When Moo has been poisoned, Chance and Skye literally say, this must have happened between Skye and Griffin arriving, and Chance arriving. Skye didn't do it. Chance didn't do it. Yet not once, even as a passing thought, do they consider Griffin.Terri, ballsy lady that she is, comes right on out and says, I think Griffin is threatening me and my family to get you alone. Skye is like, 'pfft don't be ridic love'.
Even knowing that Madeline was running from someone. Even knowing that Griffin has two 'dead' sisters. Even Chance, who should have been intelligent enough just to do a bit of research before setting up with Griffin, didn't and so knew nothing of his personal past to possibly give a 'Hmm, his missing sister would be the same age as Skye…' moment. Even when they were both thought that he was acting creepy… not a single question.
I was just smacking my own head because I didn't know where the genuinely smart and resourceful kids had gone and who these idiot imposters were. Griffin was not a master manipulator, he was an average guy surrounded by morons.
It felt like I'd stopped reading the first book and started another, completely unrelated book. The first book had characters to champion who were deep and well-developed, the second had morons who couldn't see beyond their own noses.
In the beginning there was a five star rating on the horizon. By the end, there was a reader with a sore head and a cloud of disappointment over her, because it had slipped to a three star average.