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A review by lostinfantasy
The Architect of Song by A.G. Howard
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars. (Rounded to three Goodreads stars even though I might change to four later - undecided)
Okay, so this book pretty much consumed me for the past couple of days. I could not put it down until I got all the answers to this captivating and romantic ghostly mystery.
The story revolves around three characters who are closely connected in a pretty complicated way that reveals itself as the story goes on. Our main character Juliet Emerline, is a girl who's just lost her mother when we meet her; and she's also a girl who's lost her hearing at a young age but is talented at lip-reading.
At her mother's cemetery, she comes across another grief stricken man at an enclosed grave with only the word "Hawk" on the headstone. Once alone, she steals a flower from that grave - one that surprisngly allows a ghost to start appearing to her. A ghost that she can hear talk and sing, and who she forms a tight bond with (and falls in love with).
The ghost, who she calls Hawk, doesn't remember his life or how he died. But he and Juliet know the answers are somehow connected to the man who was at his grave, Viscount Thorton; the same man who is trying to buy her childhood home and wants to marry her. And he offers her a job selling hats at his estate. So, for the sake of her ghost, she sets out to Thornton's estate to solve the mystery of his death and past life, and how it relates to the viscount and an old gypsy lady who watches over his grave.
I really liked the setting being nineteenth century England, which gives the perfect atmosphere for a gothic romance. It vaguely reminded me of Jane Eyre during Juliet's time in Thornton's manor, where she and her ghost "Hawk" keep growing wary because of the disturbing rumors surrounding the enigmatic viscount and the sounds that Hawk hears and warns Juliet about coming from above her room.
Also because of the time period, Juliet has always felt like she might not be accepted or comfortable socially because of her disability. But this challenge to step out adds to her character growth and how she gains confidence and self-acceptance through her journey in the book.
There is a triangle in this book and as much as I tried to focus on the mystery and ignore it - it really took priority. But while it did not endear me to triangles in stories, it wasn't the regular kind, and both sides of the romance here each have their share of beautiful moments. The three characters are connected in a complicated and interesting way (especially the two men) that is revealed through the book - it's a part of the mystery I can't spoil.
Triangles usually make all the characters involved look bad, no exceptions here, but I think I understood Juliet's feelings for both men and the conflict that presents, especially since one of them is a ghost (who she can't touch without sad consequences).
There's an intriguing secrecy and unpredictability about the two male characters, as different as they are from on another, which had me at times questioning how trustful one is over the other -- which is a good thing in a mystery novel. (And it's always a great thing when characters are complex.)
Still, the book managed to make me feel for all three characters.
The mystery is what really captivated me in the novel. It kept unfolding bit by bit in a way that had me dying to skip to the end at times, because of all the theories it built up in my head. There are enough clues that made me guess a couple of things ahead of the characters (which was exciting to wait to be sure, but then one might argue these parts are made a bit predictable).
But, new questions and surprises kept popping up that kept me constantly wondering, and the bonds between the characters made me care more to know every detail.
And I was afraid this would have slow pacing but I was surprised that I was never bored.
My complaint, and unfortunately it made me take down stars from my rating, is that I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It did not leave any loose ends, nor was I upset by anything in particular, and I liked how the 'mystery' concluded (what we learn happened), but I was not really satisfied by how it was presented to us.
There was so much built up, to the point of suspense, that I expected more from the ending. Some important information and events I was waiting for were "told" to Juliet rather than "shown". Maybe it's just me having let my expectations grow too high. But the ending did feel a bit too convenient, and too neatly and quickly settled.
The ending as it is in the book should have gotten more of an emotional response from me, but I just felt like something was missing. And yet nothing was notably missing and everything was indeed concluded by the end. Oh, well.
That being said, overall this was just the kind of book I've been wanting to read. A romantic mystery with a ghost (yes, I've been looking for this actually - not weird!), interesting characters, some diversity, painful backstories, and a beautiful setting. Yes, it could have been a bit better at the end, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the whole book and how for the most part, it was an enthralling and enjoyable experience that I would want repeated in a heart beat through the upcoming novels in this series. I don't think the rest of the books continue this story (this one looks to be concluded), but they will probably have the same romantic and haunting atmosphere which I really liked in this book!
Also, I wish that more books in this genre (New Adult) tried something new like this, instead of the usual contemporary. This genre needs more of the historical, the paranormal, the fantastical... There is a readership for this type of novel, I'm sure of it as I'm definitely one of them.
Okay, so this book pretty much consumed me for the past couple of days. I could not put it down until I got all the answers to this captivating and romantic ghostly mystery.
The story revolves around three characters who are closely connected in a pretty complicated way that reveals itself as the story goes on. Our main character Juliet Emerline, is a girl who's just lost her mother when we meet her; and she's also a girl who's lost her hearing at a young age but is talented at lip-reading.
At her mother's cemetery, she comes across another grief stricken man at an enclosed grave with only the word "Hawk" on the headstone. Once alone, she steals a flower from that grave - one that surprisngly allows a ghost to start appearing to her. A ghost that she can hear talk and sing, and who she forms a tight bond with (and falls in love with).
The ghost, who she calls Hawk, doesn't remember his life or how he died. But he and Juliet know the answers are somehow connected to the man who was at his grave, Viscount Thorton; the same man who is trying to buy her childhood home and wants to marry her. And he offers her a job selling hats at his estate. So, for the sake of her ghost, she sets out to Thornton's estate to solve the mystery of his death and past life, and how it relates to the viscount and an old gypsy lady who watches over his grave.
I really liked the setting being nineteenth century England, which gives the perfect atmosphere for a gothic romance. It vaguely reminded me of Jane Eyre during Juliet's time in Thornton's manor, where she and her ghost "Hawk" keep growing wary because of the disturbing rumors surrounding the enigmatic viscount and the sounds that Hawk hears and warns Juliet about coming from above her room.
Also because of the time period, Juliet has always felt like she might not be accepted or comfortable socially because of her disability. But this challenge to step out adds to her character growth and how she gains confidence and self-acceptance through her journey in the book.
There is a triangle in this book and as much as I tried to focus on the mystery and ignore it - it really took priority. But while it did not endear me to triangles in stories, it wasn't the regular kind, and both sides of the romance here each have their share of beautiful moments. The three characters are connected in a complicated and interesting way (especially the two men) that is revealed through the book - it's a part of the mystery I can't spoil.
Triangles usually make all the characters involved look bad, no exceptions here, but I think I understood Juliet's feelings for both men and the conflict that presents, especially since one of them is a ghost (who she can't touch without sad consequences).
There's an intriguing secrecy and unpredictability about the two male characters, as different as they are from on another, which had me at times questioning how trustful one is over the other -- which is a good thing in a mystery novel. (And it's always a great thing when characters are complex.)
Still, the book managed to make me feel for all three characters.
The mystery is what really captivated me in the novel. It kept unfolding bit by bit in a way that had me dying to skip to the end at times, because of all the theories it built up in my head. There are enough clues that made me guess a couple of things ahead of the characters (which was exciting to wait to be sure, but then one might argue these parts are made a bit predictable).
But, new questions and surprises kept popping up that kept me constantly wondering, and the bonds between the characters made me care more to know every detail.
And I was afraid this would have slow pacing but I was surprised that I was never bored.
My complaint, and unfortunately it made me take down stars from my rating, is that I was a bit disappointed by the ending. It did not leave any loose ends, nor was I upset by anything in particular, and I liked how the 'mystery' concluded (what we learn happened), but I was not really satisfied by how it was presented to us.
There was so much built up, to the point of suspense, that I expected more from the ending. Some important information and events I was waiting for were "told" to Juliet rather than "shown". Maybe it's just me having let my expectations grow too high. But the ending did feel a bit too convenient, and too neatly and quickly settled.
The ending as it is in the book should have gotten more of an emotional response from me, but I just felt like something was missing. And yet nothing was notably missing and everything was indeed concluded by the end. Oh, well.
That being said, overall this was just the kind of book I've been wanting to read. A romantic mystery with a ghost (yes, I've been looking for this actually - not weird!), interesting characters, some diversity, painful backstories, and a beautiful setting. Yes, it could have been a bit better at the end, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the whole book and how for the most part, it was an enthralling and enjoyable experience that I would want repeated in a heart beat through the upcoming novels in this series. I don't think the rest of the books continue this story (this one looks to be concluded), but they will probably have the same romantic and haunting atmosphere which I really liked in this book!
Also, I wish that more books in this genre (New Adult) tried something new like this, instead of the usual contemporary. This genre needs more of the historical, the paranormal, the fantastical... There is a readership for this type of novel, I'm sure of it as I'm definitely one of them.