A review by epellicci
Cecily by Annie Garthwaite

adventurous dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

While I can appreciate the fact that Cecily is incredibly well written - a gripping retelling of British history led by the voice of an unbreakable woman - I found it exhausting to read.  This is not the fault of the book itself, I can't fault the pacing, the detail, the strength of characters. But for me, the content was difficult to be immersed in. Garthwaite holds nothing back in her recount of the web-like dance of politics and stately drama. Almost every page is a fight for the next inch of leverage, or the reckoning of betrayal. It was simply not the story for me, which is not to say it isn't a brilliant book. 
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