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A review by thefussyreader
Sacrilege by S.J. Parris
5.0
I'm going to try and make this a shorter review. Being the third book in a series, there isn't too much I can say without spoilers.
But it was a damn enjoyable read and I'm excited to continue.
Characters
What I love most about Giordano Bruno is just how Charismatic he is. He can literally talk his way out of so many situations and charm any information out of people. In fact, he's so charismatic, he doesn't even know it, and that's what makes him so likeable.
EquaIly, I think what makes him such an endearing character is that fact that he's on no side but his own. A faithless man caught in the middle of religious war, he'll take his refuge from anyone who doesn't immediately brand him a heretic and try to set him on fire.
There's just something warming about this series, and something about being in adventures again with Bruno that feels like going home.
Plot
Although after three books, I do somewhat feel like the plots are a little formulaic in terms of obstacles thrown in Bruno's way, I can't be mad about it, because these books are so compulsively readable that I don't even care if I can guess the plot beats.
All that matters is that I never guess the murderer. And I haven't gotten it right so far.
Much like the other books, Bruno gets involved investigating a murder, and ends up uncovering a treasonous plot against the queen.
And also much like the other books, it was bloody brilliant. The best word for this series is fun. These books are just such fun to read and I never tire of them.
Writing Style
I love that these books are written by a woman, so they can accurately depict how women were treated in these times without being accused of sexism. Sadly I feel like men are given a harder time when trying to portray this, in the PC world we live in. But as a woman, reading a story about a man written by another woman, it's refreshing how she doesn't hold back on the accuracy of the female role within Elizabethan society.
I want historical accuracy, whomever the author. It's far preferable to pretending women had rights and were treated equally for the sake of the sensibilities of a few angry feminists. I'm not that sensitive about the subject.
Brava, Parris, brava.
Final Impression
If you want accurate historical fiction with the delicious mystery element, and a charismatic character at the reigns, look no further than this series.
But it was a damn enjoyable read and I'm excited to continue.
Characters
What I love most about Giordano Bruno is just how Charismatic he is. He can literally talk his way out of so many situations and charm any information out of people. In fact, he's so charismatic, he doesn't even know it, and that's what makes him so likeable.
EquaIly, I think what makes him such an endearing character is that fact that he's on no side but his own. A faithless man caught in the middle of religious war, he'll take his refuge from anyone who doesn't immediately brand him a heretic and try to set him on fire.
There's just something warming about this series, and something about being in adventures again with Bruno that feels like going home.
Plot
Although after three books, I do somewhat feel like the plots are a little formulaic in terms of obstacles thrown in Bruno's way, I can't be mad about it, because these books are so compulsively readable that I don't even care if I can guess the plot beats.
All that matters is that I never guess the murderer. And I haven't gotten it right so far.
Much like the other books, Bruno gets involved investigating a murder, and ends up uncovering a treasonous plot against the queen.
And also much like the other books, it was bloody brilliant. The best word for this series is fun. These books are just such fun to read and I never tire of them.
Writing Style
I love that these books are written by a woman, so they can accurately depict how women were treated in these times without being accused of sexism. Sadly I feel like men are given a harder time when trying to portray this, in the PC world we live in. But as a woman, reading a story about a man written by another woman, it's refreshing how she doesn't hold back on the accuracy of the female role within Elizabethan society.
I want historical accuracy, whomever the author. It's far preferable to pretending women had rights and were treated equally for the sake of the sensibilities of a few angry feminists. I'm not that sensitive about the subject.
Brava, Parris, brava.
Final Impression
If you want accurate historical fiction with the delicious mystery element, and a charismatic character at the reigns, look no further than this series.