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Changeling (Order of Darkness #1)

by Philippa Gregory (Goodreads Author)

3.14 of 5 stars 3.14 · rating details · 2,544 ratings · 591 reviews

Dark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of the first-ever teen series from #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.

Italy, 1453. Seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is brilliant, gorgeous—and accused of heresy. Cast out of his religious order for using the new science to question old superstitious beliefs, Luca is recruited into a secret sect:...more

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published May 24th 2012 by Simon Pulse

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YA Historical Fiction 2012

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Sep 08, 2012 Karla (Mossy Love Grotto) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, historical-romance, paranormal, ebook, buddy-readz-r-social, 3-stars

Luca Vero is a young monk with a head for numbers and a driving need for knowledge. When squirrely doings are reported in a nunnery, Vero is sent by his superior to determine if it's the Devil at work. When he arrives, he discovers that blame is being pinned on the Abbess Isolde, an aristocratic girl who chose the nun's life over being forced into marriage with a lecher. She's the object of jealousy and suspicion among the other nuns, but Vero is intent on determining things through facts and do...more Luca Vero is a young monk with a head for numbers and a driving need for knowledge. When squirrely doings are reported in a nunnery, Vero is sent by his superior to determine if it's the Devil at work. When he arrives, he discovers that blame is being pinned on the Abbess Isolde, an aristocratic girl who chose the nun's life over being forced into marriage with a lecher. She's the object of jealousy and suspicion among the other nuns, but Vero is intent on determining things through facts and dogged inquiry.

Things come to a head at the nunnery, and Vero and his crew (including the two girls) hits the road, only to be faced with other superstitious suspicions, this time involving a local werewolf.

Granted I'm a newb to the YA genre and couldn't tell you how this one succeeds or fails on that count, but for what it was, Changeling was a quick, entertaining read. The first half, in the nunnery, read like a teen version of The Name of the Rose (film version), only with Christian Slater doing the investigating instead of Sean Connery.

The second story was like a standard tale of drifters who enter a town ablaze in hysteria and setting things right.

I think what the book suffers from most is a lack of expansion. It's quite short, and both stories could have benefitted from more detail and atmosphere. The doings in the nunnery were creepy and grisly enough, but there was too much dialogue compared to what was surrounding the action (even though it had some sparkle and bite in Vero's interrogations). That said, the pace didn't sag at all because it was all forward movement and the language quite stripped and spare in comparison with what's found in most historicals. But I did feel that Gregory simplified it too much for a teen audience. Given that she usually writes adult novels, the uneven transition between the two genres is no surprise.

My favorite parts were with Vero's manservant Frieze. He was a saucy and snarky bastard with a heart of gold. I loved him and his cheeky commentary on everything going on around them.

I'm looking forward to the next installment because I love actiony road trip stories, and the format seems to be Vero & Co. wandering throughout southern and southeastern Europe, encountering all kinds of people and situations, righting wrongs and getting in and out of trouble. Meanwhile Vero has a birth secret and the Moorish girl seems to know more than she's telling. I'll keep reading to find out how it's all resolved.

Solid 3 stars.

(Very quick Buddy Read with Sarah. Her review here.)(less)

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Feb 08, 2013 Misfit marked it as no-thank-you

Shelves: all-aboard-the-twilight-train, do-i-really-want-to-go-there, young-adult

No. Just no.

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Sep 22, 2012 Sarah (saz101) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicals, young-adult, 2012-releases

Philippa Gregory's first venture into the Young Adult market was sure to garner attention. And surely enough, here we have Changeling, her first fully speculative novel, and her first aimed at Young Adults. Is it everything one would hope for and expect? Well, that depends on your expectations...

The Story
Seventeen year old Luca has been cast out of his monastary, accused of heresy. Alone in a cell, he awaits what he believes is his death. Instead, he is offered a second chance: use his brilliant...more

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Jul 15, 2012 ☆Jessie☆ (Ageless Pages Reviews) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, pre-review, arc, fantasy, hf-italy, 2012-reviews, 2012-reads, reviewed, utterly-underwhelming, what-is-this-nonsense, great-potential-awful-execution, bring-on-the-cliche-parade

Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

This is a mess. I've long since grown out of most of my misguided, uneducated affection for Philippa Gregory novels, but any lingering chances I will read her subsequent novels were firmly ended by this read. From beginning to end, this is a dull, vapid and uninvolving novel. Full of undeveloped, one-dimensional and just plain boring characters, with little to no plot to speak of, there's nothing to recommend about Changeling. It's a sloppy and anac...more Read This Review & More Like It On My Blog!

This is a mess. I've long since grown out of most of my misguided, uneducated affection for Philippa Gregory novels, but any lingering chances I will read her subsequent novels were firmly ended by this read. From beginning to end, this is a dull, vapid and uninvolving novel. Full of undeveloped, one-dimensional and just plain boring characters, with little to no plot to speak of, there's nothing to recommend about Changeling. It's a sloppy and anachronistic mess of a book, and one that doesn't leave much hope for the rest of this series. Simply and best put: Changeling is a disappointing mess, even for those who have grown inured to Gregory's ham-handed attempts to write historical fiction.

Changeling is supposedly the tale of two (very dry, very flat) protagonists, Luca Vero and his female counterpart of Isolde of Lucretili. It's hard to connect with these cardboard cutouts masquerading as characters, and even more difficult with their cliched background characters of Freize and Ishraq. I don't have anything to say about either protagonist; both Luca and Isolde failed to come to life as people, nor gave me cause to invest in their respective stories. There's no real "mystery" to anything that Luca investigates, nor is the "changeling" label ever fully explored by the author. It's mentioned maybe twice, and then... just dropped in favor of a ill-fated (and inauthentic) romantic plotline between two sets of characters.

With no plot to speak of and with the adventures the group encounters coming across as sporadic, unrelated vignettes, it's hard to get a clear picture of the world that Gregory is attempting to create here. Is the supernatural real? Where are my alchemists and death dancers I was promised? This is an "Order of Darkness" novel, the first in an expected series, but bare lip service is paid to the idea of an overarching theme or message. This is Gregory's weakest effort on many fronts, and it shows throughout the dialogue-heavy novel, and badly. Events and reveals, plot twists are all predictable - from the twist about Isolde's fortunes to the "mystery" of the stigmata and poisoned nuns - each new revelation failed to achieve the any impact author was going for.

Changeling is affected, obvious and anachronistic. This review is unexpectedly hard to write because I cared so little about anything that was going on, nor about the main characters. Gregory's earlier novels aren't "good" per se, but they at least managed to entertain the reader, instead of bore them to tears, as this one does. You would think a novel with a trail about possessed and poisoned nuns would be a little more riveting. You'd be so so wrong. Lacking any significant character development, with a staid and predictable plot, Gregory is better suited to staying in the genre she's come to dominate. Stick with her fluffy, bodice-heaving novels and stay far, far away from Changeling.(less)

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Oct 14, 2012 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, fantasy, historical-fiction, audio, for-review

Confession: I learned more about the Tudors from Philippa Gregory’s The Boleyn Inheritance than I did from 10th grade global studies and AP Euro in high school. Gregory has this talent for bringing history to life and infusing it with a hefty dose of drama. When the rumor started that she would be writing a YA series, I got super excited especially because Changeling, the first of the Order Of Darkness series takes place in Europe in 1453 and I always brake for medieval times.
Read the rest of my ...more

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Jun 24, 2012 Zabet The Dark Empress of Dark Chocolate rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, historical-fiction, slit-wrists-before-reading-sequel

This and other reviews can be found on Reading Between Classes

Cover Impressions: The cover is pretty, but expected. It makes it appear that Isolde is the main character when, in actuality, the plot follows Luca for a majority of the time. I was glad to see the omission of the "heaving bosoms" that normally accompanies this type of cover

The Gist: Seventeen year old Luca is accused of heresy and thrown out of his religious order for using math to prove that it is impossible for all of the relics f...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Maree rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-historical-fiction, 2012-read

This is a four star book for me, but it’s a low four stars and totally not in the same league as something like Jasper Jones which I also rated four stars. However I rate books (partly) on my enjoyment while reading them and I have to admit that I did enjoy reading this.

Firstly, I need to say that the blurb of this book is kind of misleading. I feel like this has been sold as a supernatural book to suit a YA audience when really it’s not. Yeah, if you read this you should really get rid of any...more This is a four star book for me, but it’s a low four stars and totally not in the same league as something like Jasper Jones which I also rated four stars. However I rate books (partly) on my enjoyment while reading them and I have to admit that I did enjoy reading this.

Firstly, I need to say that the blurb of this book is kind of misleading. I feel like this has been sold as a supernatural book to suit a YA audience when really it’s not. Yeah, if you read this you should really get rid of any and all assumptions you have about what might happen. Also the Goodreads synopsis provided is a summery of the series (I think) because most of it doesn’t happen in this book. I enjoyed it because I am a total history geek and don’t mind indulging in an easy-to-read YA historical fiction.

This is a short book with just 260 pages and is unlike any of the hefty historical fictions I have seen lining the shelves which are aimed at adult readers. Perhaps this was one of the things which sold it to me; it’s a fast read, but it allows me to indulge in historical fiction over a weekend rather than over two months. Unfortunately, the character development seems to suffer most from the brevity, but I am sensing (and to be honest really hoping) this improves in future instalments.

It was Ishraq’s character who interested me the most, despite only being a secondary character she had one of the most fascinaing and inspirational stories.

“…Because we are like the beast: outsiders that other people dread. People don’t understand women who are neither wives nor mothers, daughters nor confined. People fear women of passion, women of education. I am a young woman of education, of colour, of unknown religion and my own faith, and I am as strange to the people of this little village as the beast. Should I stand by and see them kill it because they don’t understand what it is? If I let them kill it without a word of protest, what would stop them coming for me?”

Overall this was, for me, a really enjoyable read with engaging mysteries, a richly created world, and interesting, albeit underdeveloped, characters. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book; however, I will be hoping for more – especially where the four protagonists are concerned.

This review and many more can be found at Maree's Musings.(less)

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Feb 09, 2013 Sofia Teixeira rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Philippa Gregory é conhecida por ser uma das mais conceituadas escritoras do romance histórico. Até me deparar com Predestinado na mão, nunca tinha lido nenhuma obra sua. Mesmo estando num registo virado para o público jovem/adulto, confesso que fiquei muito agradavelmente surpreendida com a escrita desprendida e cativante da autora.

Luca Vero é um jovem que vê a sua vida a mudar quando de um condenado se torna num inquiridor ao serviço da Ordem das Trevas. A sua primeira missão é identificar o q...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Petty Witter rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know, I know, I promised myself that I wouldn't begin any books that formed a series BUT this is Philippa Gregory.

Different from most of her novels, for one thing Changeling, the first in the Order Of Darkness series, is aimed at the Young Adult (YA) market, a first for Gregory, and for another it isn't based on any individual(s). And therein may lie the problem as it seems to me this is one author who is at her very best when writing about well-known historical characters.

Hardly off to a goo...more

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Aug 10, 2012 Sara Nia (Tea and Parchment) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction-or-time-travel, books-i-own, supernatural-paranormal, ya-fiction

I am in shock. I bought this book with an open-mind, and I don't mind admitting, a slight sense of (misguided) anticipation for what Philippa Gregory might have to offer a younger audience. What this YA readership got was...utter tripe. This book is just plain terrible. Horrendous. Boring. Just...awful. Here's why.

The novel was an abominable mess.

Let's start with the characters. I didn't care or even like a single one of them. They were either one-dimensional, boring, unlikable, ridiculous, or a...more I am in shock. I bought this book with an open-mind, and I don't mind admitting, a slight sense of (misguided) anticipation for what Philippa Gregory might have to offer a younger audience. What this YA readership got was...utter tripe. This book is just plain terrible. Horrendous. Boring. Just...awful. Here's why.

The novel was an abominable mess.

Let's start with the characters. I didn't care or even like a single one of them. They were either one-dimensional, boring, unlikable, ridiculous, or all of the above. There was zero characterization. Zero character development. Zero development of character relationships. There wasn't even any interesting dialogue. Gregory created two protagonists with absolutely zero appeal, substance, or real interaction, for that matter. Wasn't this supposed to be a romance? A supernatural romance? If not the former, then certainly the latter. Their relationship couldn't have been further from romantic. There wasn't even a relationship, to speak of. They barely interacted at all. There wasn't anything supernatural about this book either for that matter, but I'll get to that later.

The protagonist Luca - a dried up, cardboard, quotidian character, monotonously described as a "beautiful" 17 year old man,(Gregory apparently felt the need to remind us of Luca's 'beauty' on a continual basis throughout the novel, as if this insignificant detail was the cardinal requirement to the books YA genre status) but in all honesty, I couldn't care less about what the guy looked like. He had the personality of a knat. Same goes for Isolde, the female protagonist (if one could even call her that - what exactly was it about her that was 'central' to anything?). Nothing about her endears the reader. She is beautiful (there's the prerequisite "b" word again!)...and completely vapid. Gregory paints a colorless picture. Luca and Isolde's interactions are tedious, trite, and clumsy. There is no potential (in my view) for the reader to fall in love with any of the characters here. They were all as insipid as the plot.

And on that note: the plot. The first 150 pages of the book was a thin and flimsy mystery, with glaringly obvious clues and plot details that left me in total disbelief that Gregory expected anyone to buy into the mystery - did she honestly think she was enthralling her readers with her blundering red herrings? Seriously, It was just plain weak. And then the plot seemed to resolve itself and come to some closure (or so I was hoping). I feel the entire Abbey-mystery concluded by page 180'something, with no real reason to continue reading. But then the story takes an ungainly turn into Gregory's ham-handed attempt at a heightened element to the plot - something supernatural. A werewolf (I can almost picture Gregory's smug expression of self-satisfied accomplishment) - that's what the kids want these days, Right? Wrong. Not like this. I skipped ahead so often in the remaining 75 pages, I can't count. And, guess what? I'm fairly certain I missed...nothing. Because nothing happened. Not even the supernatural twist the book promised. Turns out it wasn't a werewolf after-all. Oh well.

A part of me feels like I should have seen it coming - so then why do I feel so disappointed? I don't really know what I was expecting (I enjoyed reading Philippa Gregory's Tudor series many years ago, but had not read anything by her in years), but it certainly wasn't something this poor. For a best-selling author (whether you enjoy her writing or not), I was expecting so much more respect for her readership. I can't tell if she sold her readership VERY short, or just couldn't be bothered to make the effort. If I imagined I might be reading more Philippa Gregory in the future, then "Changeling" firmly banished the thought forever.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

The superstitions that thrived in the medieval world of Italy in the 1600s is presented in a readable style by Philippa Gregory in this YA historical fiction novel. Luca and Isolde are two teens from different social classes in this society that meet when Luca is selected as an inquirer for the pope and Isolde is forced into a nunnery by her greedy brother after her father’s death. This is a gold star read for teens for not only presenting a view into this world but only as a means to open their...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Vera rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: na-estante

Quando comecei a ler este livro ia com as expectativas muito altas, Philippa Gregory é uma referência em romances históricos e apesar de não ter lido nada dela antes já me tinha sido recomendada várias vezes. As expectativas que tinha criado não saíram defraudadas. Recriando na perfeição a época medieval somos arrastados para uma fascinante aula de história. Recordei mais que uma vez o que estudei, chocando-me com as verdades nele contido. O facto de nessa altura haver um caminho tão grande a p...more

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Jun 11, 2012 Shaheen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: s-saust, favorites

Having loved Philippa Gregory’s adult works, especially her Tudor Court novels, I have been anticipating her first YA novel for a long time. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from the publisher, and I dove into it at first opportunity. Changeling exhibits all the traits I have come to love about Gregory’s writing – it vividly evokes the time it is set in, incorporates luscious descriptions of the gowns, castles and countryside and follows quirky and interesting characters with dark bac...more Having loved Philippa Gregory’s adult works, especially her Tudor Court novels, I have been anticipating her first YA novel for a long time. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy from the publisher, and I dove into it at first opportunity. Changeling exhibits all the traits I have come to love about Gregory’s writing – it vividly evokes the time it is set in, incorporates luscious descriptions of the gowns, castles and countryside and follows quirky and interesting characters with dark backgrounds.

As much as I love historical fantasy the treatment of women always manages to grate on me, and this book is no exception. However, I usually find the line between good and great historical fantasy lies in the way these women deal with their circumstances. Isolde, bound by her father’s will to live in a nunnery while her brother inherits, is not only strong and wildly independent, she is quiet about it, as one expects a women in her time to be. With an inquisitor around, I feel that laying low is her only option, and was glad to see her exercise common sense.

On the other hand, Luca strikes me as very typical for men with his position and upbringing. Although he never gives weight to the notions of abbey priests that the nunnery should be under their command, neither does he know how to handle a large group of women on the brink of madness. While his confusion is endearing, it just goes to show how men at that time expected to live out their days without ever having to even attempt to understand women, and his frustration that the nuns do not conform to his ideas is both worrying and hilarious at once.

I found the Young Adult aspect of the book to be overshadowed by its themes as a historical novel. Although it does follow teenaged characters who are both trying, desperately, to find their calling, and features a sweet romance, it lacks the rapid character development that appears in most YA novels. I don’t imply that this is a negative, however, this is definitely a positive aspect to the novel. For once, the girl is not immediately overwhelmed by the gorgeous boy, and neither is the boy struck dumb at her beauty. Yes, they find one another attractive, and towards the end of the novel they are playing with fire and trying to hide their regard for each other, but over all this aspect is played down in favour of chronicling the dark and mysterious things taking place around them.

Overall I really enjoyed Changeling immensely, after waiting for it for so long, and would recommend it to readers who enjoy both historical fiction or YA fantasy. I think the Order of Darkness series will have something for everyone, and I personally, am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

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May 07, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-debut-author, books-i-own-print, for-review-read, read-in-2012, british-author

I'll admit it's been quite a while since I read one of Philippa Gregory's adult titles but as soon as I heard about Changeling I knew I wanted to read it. I've been really enjoying historical fiction recently and as I have a love of anything paranormal I couldn't wait to find out more about these nuns who are being accused of witchcraft! Set in 1453 Changeling gives readers a great feel for the era and makes for fascinating reading.

Luca is extremely intelligent and has an aptitude for science (a...more I'll admit it's been quite a while since I read one of Philippa Gregory's adult titles but as soon as I heard about Changeling I knew I wanted to read it. I've been really enjoying historical fiction recently and as I have a love of anything paranormal I couldn't wait to find out more about these nuns who are being accused of witchcraft! Set in 1453 Changeling gives readers a great feel for the era and makes for fascinating reading.

Luca is extremely intelligent and has an aptitude for science (as much as was known at that time) and mathematics, he loves to learn and soaks up any new information that he can. Growing up in a monastery his abilities quickly get him into trouble and he is accused of heresy. Luckily rather than earning him a death sentence this gets the attention of the leader of The Order of the Dragon who knows that Luca's intelligence will be useful investigating a range of paranormal occurrences across Europe. Along with the clerk Brother Peter and Luca's close friend Freize who will act as their servant Luca sets out to investigate the events that people think herald the end of the world. Can he explain the unexplainable?

Isolde's father was obviously very forward thinking for the time period and he raised her as a leader, training her to take over his holdings and run things after his death. However, he changed his mind at the last minute and instead left everything to her brother. Isolde is shocked by what she considers his betrayal and when she refuses to marry the man he chose for her she has no other option than to join the nunnery. Although that is the last thing she wants she feels it is preferable to a forced marriage to someone that she detests and decides to make the best of things. Her faithful friend Ishraq accompanies her but is mistrusted by the other nuns because of the colour of her skin and her faith. When strange things start happening at the nunnery they blame Isolde and Ishraq and accuse them of witchcraft. Luca is sent to investigate and must try to uncover exactly what is happening, is someone really practising witchcraft and if so can he stop them?

I loved both Luca and Isolde and it was great to see things from each of their points of view as this really allowed us to get to know them both. They have good friends in Freize and Ishraq who were some of the best secondary characters I've come across in a long time - the banter between them all was fantastic. I enjoyed the dynamic between the whole group, particularly after they leave the convent so I'm looking forward to seeing more of that in the sequel. It was interesting to discover more about life during this period of history and see just how people could be made to think something supernatural was happening. It was easy to see how people could be fooled into believing things when they didn't have our knowledge of science to explain them. My one minor complaint was that it was made a little too obvious who was behind the events at the convent, I hadn't quite figured out the whole reason why they were doing it though so there was some surprise at the final reveal.

Changeling is a fantastic start to Philippa Gregory's new Order of Darkness series and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book. I'm excited about the potential for romance between Luca and Isolde but glad that this has been left for future books rather than rushed into too quickly. I also can't wait to see more of Freize and Ishraq who I think are going to have major roles to play as the series continues. I'll be recommending this series to any fan of historical fiction.(less)

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Jun 03, 2013 Alyssa rated it 3 of 5 stars

After seeing Philippa Gregory on the shelves so much, I wanted to give her a go and figured a YA book would speak to my interests. The book was entertaining and went fast. The "mysteries" were a bit over-easy (I had both figured within the first few pages of scene-setting), but maybe she is targeting a very young YA crowd. The main character and his love interest couldn't be flatter (and their main conflict seems to be, "I would like to do it with that person but alas I am in the church," though...more

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Jun 03, 2013 Elaine Hillson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Changeling is the first book I've read by Philippa Gregory, but since I was looking for a YA historical novel, and I was advised in the book store that YA's are not that keen on the genre, I thought I would give it a go.

Having read it over the weekend I can firmly state that I am underwhelmed. Just getting past the first two badly written pages was an effort. From an author who is an established historian and a successful writer I expected more. I expected a well-written, well-woven tale, but t...more

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Jun 02, 2013 Jules Goud rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was interesting. I've never really read anything like this.

The plot was interesting and kept you intrigued. With all the books out there about vampires, and werewolves, this was a nice break.

It had a little bit of supernatural in there, but because it was based in 1453, the tales had the superstitions of that era.

The one thing that I didn't really like was that it didn't explain the Order of Darkness to us. Yes, we do learn a little bit about the Order, but it would've been nicer to k...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Jackie Podolski rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is not like any other Philippa Gregory book I have read. It is not a story of royal (or would be royal) women, nor is it a historical romance/thriller like the Meridiam or Wildacre series. I cannot determine the type of book The Changeling is.

The story follows Luca, a young inquisitor from Rome, his friend/servant Freize, a young heiress turned nun turned escpaed convicted witch Isolde, and her friend Ishraq as they journey across Italy (and likely beyond) to explore mysteries in Christend...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Aaron rated it 4 of 5 stars

Like so many adult writers in this day and age, historical fiction writer Pihilippa Gregory jumps into creating tales for young adults with this first book in athe "Order of Darkness" series. Unlike her books for adults, the focus is less on major historical figures and instead on four teenaged fictional characters with ties to the Church in Italy not far north of Rome. The story starts in 1453.

Luca Vero is 17 years old and has been accused of blasphemy for questioning the reliability of certain...more Like so many adult writers in this day and age, historical fiction writer Pihilippa Gregory jumps into creating tales for young adults with this first book in athe "Order of Darkness" series. Unlike her books for adults, the focus is less on major historical figures and instead on four teenaged fictional characters with ties to the Church in Italy not far north of Rome. The story starts in 1453.

Luca Vero is 17 years old and has been accused of blasphemy for questioning the reliability of certain relics (basically, because how many true nails of the crucifix could there be?). Rather than finding himself in trouble, he is appointed as an Inquisitor to go around, investigating things of a questionable nature so the church can make an official ruling on things like blasphemy, witchcraft, werewolves etc.

He is joined by Freize, who takes on the role of a servant. Freize previously worked in the kitchen at the abbey where Luca lived. Freize sort of adopted Luca and took him under his wing. While a layman, Freize can provide a nice honest and realistic look at some of the things they must deal with. They also are attended by Brother Peter, who serves as their clerk.

Their first big assignment brings them to a nunnery at the Abbey at Lucretili. The nuns there are being confronted with odd dreams, nightwalking, and even a few instances of stigmata. It all begin with the arrival of the new Lady Abbess, one Isolde Lucretili. Isolde was forced into the nunnery upon the death of her beloved father. According to his will, she was going to have to marry a man she did not love or leave to join a nunnery the family had founded and sponsored for generations. She chose the latter.

She did not go into the nunnery alone, though. When she was a girl, Isolde's father brought Ishraq into the family. The same age as Isolde, Ishraq seems to be part servant/part companion/part guardian. Trained in the native medical and fighting arts of her Muslim homeland, Ishraq brings a unique perspective on things.

These four characters (as well as the reader) find themselves at the center of a mystery that could destroy the nunnery and leave some of them on the pyre burned as witches unless they can get to the bottom of what is happening.

The book (and following series) does a great job of capturing the feel of the mid-to-late Middle Ages. The characters, plot, and feel really is what Gregory is a master at. The book runs a bit long as it segues from the main storyline to a new storyline that is a little interesting, but seems more there to set up the next books and the rest of the series.

A number of clues have been dropped that indicate what major historical (and paranormal) figure is going to become important as the series progresses, but he doesn't make an appearance. He is a good choice for a teen series with the recent focus on all things paranormal.

Gregory has done a better job than most at transitioning from an adult to teen audience. There is not talking down or juvenilization of the piece, which can sometimes happen. With that said, I am not 100% sure this will have a huge draw. I do think the kids who pick it up will really end up liking it. I know I did, and I am definitely looking forward to a sequel. In some ways, the book felt like a junior version of "The Crown" by Nancy Billyeau.(less)

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Apr 01, 2013 Meg Brejwo rated it 2 of 5 stars

I have been a long time lover of Philippa Gregory's historical fictions - so much so that it is difficult for me to read historical fiction from the same eras Philippa brings to life without comparing. Philippa always brings historical figures, both prominent and not, to life for me.

This is the first book I read by her that was not based in historical fact; and the first book I've read by her that I didn't really enjoy. It seemed very simplistic, and for me the characters fell flat and were not...more

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Feb 17, 2013 Encruzilhadas Literárias rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: civilização-editora, cláudia

Para muitos autores, torna-se difícil reinventarem-se e saírem do seu registo habitual. Seja porque procuram um novo género ou um público-alvo diferente. Philippa Gregory consegue trazer originalidade através deste volume da trilogia "Ordem das Trevas", direccionada para jovens adultos.
Não deixando a sua marca, referente ao romance histórico, e à qual a autora já nos habituou com grande mestria, Philippa traz-nos um aspecto mais ficcional em pleno século XV. A primeira demonstração da preocupaç...more Para muitos autores, torna-se difícil reinventarem-se e saírem do seu registo habitual. Seja porque procuram um novo género ou um público-alvo diferente. Philippa Gregory consegue trazer originalidade através deste volume da trilogia "Ordem das Trevas", direccionada para jovens adultos.
Não deixando a sua marca, referente ao romance histórico, e à qual a autora já nos habituou com grande mestria, Philippa traz-nos um aspecto mais ficcional em pleno século XV. A primeira demonstração da preocupação com o público-alvo prende-se com a linguagem, que achei mais directa e desprovida de mecanismos linguísticos, como em obras anteriores. Foi um acto inteligente, que permite a alguém que já a conheça sentir a familiaridade da sua escrita, mas inovadora ao ponto e cativar novos leitores. Garantindo a estruturação e contextualização de uma época sem se tornar muito complexa ou notoriamente densa, cria a estrutura perfeita para que possamos encaixar as personagens no enredo e desta forma cativa-nos desde o início. De facto, foram as personagens que me agarraram logo nas primeiras páginas. Todas têm um perfil demarcado, ainda que ao longo da história não sejam fornecidos muitos pormenores sobre a maior parte delas, o que espero que venha a ser colmatado nos próximos volumes. De qualquer forma, Luca e os seus dois auxiliares (o escrivão Peter e o ajudante Freize), e Isolde e a sua amiga Ishraq criam um puzzle de situações que se irão conectar no decorrer da estória, tornando as suas interacções o enfoque do enredo.
Luca é um rapaz jovem que mantém um espírito sagaz e perspicaz, o que lhe valeu o novo cargo de inquiridor que agora assume, ainda a medo e com receio de errar. Contrariamente a outras personagens deste estilo, não é arrogante ou corrompido por um sistema que sente o pecado em tudo o que é desconhecido, demonstrando ser o jovem que efectivamente é. Isolde, por sua vez, é uma rapariga educada para se tornar em algo que com a morte o pai parece fora do seu alcance. Tenho algumas dúvidas referentes a esta personagem, supostamente incutida com valores de independência e confiança desde nova, mas que não chegam até nós. Senti-a sempre muito fraca e as suas demonstrações de valentia algo forçadas. No entanto, trata-se de um dilema que a própria personagem se encontra a viver, pois o contacto com o mundo real não é o que ela julgava e como tal terá de aprender a reinventar-se nestes próximos volumes. A personagem de quem mais gostei foi Freize: leal, divertido e com um toque de humor certeiro, acaba muitas vezes por ser inconveniente, mas também a real consciência de Luca, abrindo-lhe os olhos e ajudando-o a discernir sobre as situações âmbiguas com que se irão deparar. Estou à espera que esta personagem ganhe ainda maior destaque no futuro, embora ache que é pouco provável que isso aconteça logo de início, já que Luca e Isolde, após os impasses iniciais, precisam de crescer e desenvolver-se.
No geral, tive algum receio ao início que a temática da religião e o pretenso oculto fossem criar um dinamismo muito pesado a uma estória direccionada a um público-alvo supostamente mais jovem. No entanto, a autora soube inverter a tendência e deu-nos 300 páginas cheias de acção, companheirismo e aventura. Esperarei pelo próximo livro com expectativa!(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Lucinda rated it 4 of 5 stars

A sweeping historical masterpiece for the Younger reader, which is a thoroughly enjoyable read!

As not only an avid reader of historical fiction but also an aficionado of Philippa Gregory, I was thrilled when this new book came out recently in bookshops. Met with high praise by adoring fans this epic historical tale is targeted towards the younger reader, hence it reaches out to a wider-readership than ever before! Philippa Gregory can now be enjoyed by those who read Young Adult fiction and so...more A sweeping historical masterpiece for the Younger reader, which is a thoroughly enjoyable read!

As not only an avid reader of historical fiction but also an aficionado of Philippa Gregory, I was thrilled when this new book came out recently in bookshops. Met with high praise by adoring fans this epic historical tale is targeted towards the younger reader, hence it reaches out to a wider-readership than ever before! Philippa Gregory can now be enjoyed by those who read Young Adult fiction and so this markedly brilliant, bold step is another praiseworthy attribute of this author – her work appeals to ALL! Exciting, interesting and full of non-stop, fast-paced drama this thrilling read grabs you and doesn’t let go. With a teenage protagonist, the author ‘gets under the skin’ of the younger adult and projects her creative vision through the eyes of someone whom age-wise her readers can relate to easily. I am SO impressed by this delightful book that had me glued to the pages for hours, and so I would highly recommend this to all that love historical YA fiction!

It is the year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old, Luca Vero, is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom, and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolde's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft...

Luca Vero and Isolde are such attractive, distinctive characters who drive this story forwards at tremendous speed with their individualistic flair and singular traits. Both seventeen years-old, I found myself lost within their story being transported back in time to a world of bitter conflict, danger and Witchcraft. Atmospheric, authentic and totally realistic the author really does bring the age to ‘life’ with such beautiful detailed descriptions and exquisite imagery. Just as Luca and Isolde are meant to be together their fate is entwined within a cleverly complex, interwoven narrative that is truly breathtaking and keeps you guessing right until the very end.

So many questions form in your mind as you travel on the most exciting journey, from the vast limitless oceans of Europe to the nun’s monastery. Rumors and heresy, fact and fable, deception, lies and intrigue…this fascinating tale of unraveling the truth that is buried deep within reads like a mystery and keeps you thinking. Order of Darkness, book 1 is just spectacular and so I am really looking forward to the next in this eagerly anticipated trilogy by bestselling, renowned author who has set the standards very high for this genre!

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Nov 12, 2012 CAT rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story set in the middle ages is about a young man, Luca, whose intelligence sets him off on an adventure of inquisition, and a young woman, Isolde, whose independence sets her apart from her family and inheritance.

I've read Philippa Gregory's historical fiction and have loved most of them. I was very curious to learn she had written a book for the younger set of historical fiction fans. Unlike most of her books which I've read and are based on real historical figures, this book is about two...more This story set in the middle ages is about a young man, Luca, whose intelligence sets him off on an adventure of inquisition, and a young woman, Isolde, whose independence sets her apart from her family and inheritance.

I've read Philippa Gregory's historical fiction and have loved most of them. I was very curious to learn she had written a book for the younger set of historical fiction fans. Unlike most of her books which I've read and are based on real historical figures, this book is about two young people living in a time of religious fervor and deep-seated ignorance.

I enjoyed this book very much. I would compare it to Libba Bray's 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' insofar as it has sexual tension and mature ideas very sensitively done for a teenage audience, but not too sugar-coated to make it seem childish to older readers.

I found Luca and Isolde to be very interesting characters. They are clearly products of their time, yet stand out from their contemporaries in their skepticism and rationality(Luca) and independence (Isolde). It was interesting to read about how those in the Dark Ages knew how to manipulate the ignorance of the general populace to advantage. It was exciting to see how strange phenomena, though understood now in science, terrified people back then just as, in truth, they would terrify people now.

What also stood out for me in this book was the character of Isolde's maid and childhood friend, the Moor, Ishraq. It's admirable to show (and remind us) how the Moors were renowned for knowledge in the arts, sciences and healing during a period when the Catholic Church was neck-deep in institutionalized ignorance. I found it very surprising that Ishraq was educated because the Moors (according to Ms Gregory) valued educating girls as well as boys. I was reading this book when the news of Malala, the young Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for her education activism, was hot in the media. It highlighted to me how the modern Arab world with its fundamentalist elements (who do not represent the majority of the modern Arab world, I certainly hope) contrasts dramatically to the Moorish world of the Middle Ages, when Arabs were known for their cultural and religious intolerance (e.g. in Moorish Spain) and the high value they placed on education. While I'm unaware whether it's true Moorish girls were educated as well as boys back then, I wouldn't be surprised if it is true.

This book is unashamedly the start of a series. The latter part of the novel has a new plot from the first and is clearly setting the reader up for the next book. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I knew the book could stand alone (like 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' which began a series but could be read by itself), rather than knowing that I will be forced to read the next book. However, I confess I do want to follow Luca and discover more about the Order of Darkness and their crusade against dark ignorance.

Overall a good read and, like all of Philippa Gregory's historical fiction, 'Changeling' is highly educational and eye-opening.(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Eustacia Tan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I'm actually wondering why it took me so long to pick up this book. I mean, I have read Phillipa Gregory before (Ok, so I only read The Other Boleyn Girl) and I like her writing, so why would I feel hesitation for a YA book?

In Changeling, young (younger than me) Lucas is sent to record the ending of the world, as he investigates if certain miraculous happenings truly are miraculous. On this first assignment, he has to investigate the miraculous happenings at an abbey, which seems to accuse the n...more I'm actually wondering why it took me so long to pick up this book. I mean, I have read Phillipa Gregory before (Ok, so I only read The Other Boleyn Girl) and I like her writing, so why would I feel hesitation for a YA book?

In Changeling, young (younger than me) Lucas is sent to record the ending of the world, as he investigates if certain miraculous happenings truly are miraculous. On this first assignment, he has to investigate the miraculous happenings at an abbey, which seems to accuse the new and reluctant Abbess Isolde as the instigator of all the strange happenings. On Isolde's side, she's trapped in the abbey after she doesn't gain the inheritance her father promised her. Personally, I think her brother lied about what she got, or he tricked his father into depriving Isolde of her inheritance.

What shone for me, was the characters. The plot was a little.... strange. It's supposed to be a mystery, but the deduction took place too fast, and there was no way for the reader to guess how everything took place. Guessing the person responsible was easy, because it was quite obvious (in terms of character motivations and such). Plus, I don't understand why there was a second plot after the first one. It didn't seem to have any connection to the story. Well, it was a sweet plot.

That being said, the characters more than made up for it. Apart from Peter, the grumpy scribe, there are four main characters - Lucas and his manservant Frieze, Isolde and her maidservant Ishraq. I love the loving-but-disrespectful way Frieze treats Lucas, and the sisterly relationship between Isolde and Ishraq was touching. And as the group know each other more, the Lucas-Isolde and Frieze-Ishraq interactions are amusing. And the fact that after a book there aren't any couples makes me root for the (obvious) pairings.

I really hope that there's a second book. I want to see if Isolde can regain her inheritance, more about the Order for which Lucas works and of course, to see what happens between the characters.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile (less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review can be found at: http://simple-books.blogspot.com

This book was okay! It was kinda fast though, and went everywhere! I'm glad it wasn't like the author's other books, with all the....inappropriateness.

Let me just start out with this. The word Changeling. What is it. The author never went into it. She had just about one sentence saying how Luca was a changeling and that was it. So what exactly is a changeling? We don't know because the author was too preoccupied with all the useless as...more

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Sep 25, 2012 Becky rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: witches, religion-and-philosophy, vampires-and-werewolves, love-and-romance

I enjoyed this book. In fact it was a delight to read. I am a newly converted catholic and the superstitions of the early church interest me very much.

The secret order that Luca belongs too investigates the occult and devious phenomenons.

Isolde is a wealthy and powerful lady betrayed by her brother upon their fathers death. She is disinherited and forced into a nunnery along with her only companion and friend in the world Ishraq, an outsider.

Luca is sent to inquire for the church about the nunn...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Carla Coulston rated it 2 of 5 stars

I stumbled across this in Kmart, and was curious... I've read everything Philippa Gregory has written, why hadn't I heard of this novel? But apon reading it all became clear. This little stand-alone story hasn't had any publicity because frankly, it's not very good.
I don't know if Gregory was having an off moment - I'm willing to forgive her, given her enormous body of otherwise excellent work - but this book was nowhere near her usual standard.
A skinny book, characterisation was also on the ana...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Dani rated it 1 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Phillipas Other Bolyn Girl series, so when I saw this YP book I thought I would give it a go. A very easy read and somewhat lacking the depth of her adult series I did enjoy it but am wondering if teens will. It features in the time of religious orders and Luca is an enquirer for the church sent to investigate the Fears Of the People..... Isolde has grown up with a loving father in a castle,but when her father dies her brother explains a change of her fathers will and offers her a marr...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed, zz-2012, buddy-reads-r-smrt

A quick, enjoyable book, but nothing earth-shattering.

The premise: Luca is a monk-in-training (who may or may not be a Changeling) that's been recruited by a shadowy Order & set on missions to catalogue The End of Days -- that is, paranormal happenings across Europe. The entourage includes his buddy Freize & straight-laced scribe Brother Peter, & their first assignment is to solve the mystery of terrorized nuns at a local abbey. The abbess is a teenage girl named Isolde, who's been...more A quick, enjoyable book, but nothing earth-shattering.

The premise: Luca is a monk-in-training (who may or may not be a Changeling) that's been recruited by a shadowy Order & set on missions to catalogue The End of Days -- that is, paranormal happenings across Europe. The entourage includes his buddy Freize & straight-laced scribe Brother Peter, & their first assignment is to solve the mystery of terrorized nuns at a local abbey. The abbess is a teenage girl named Isolde, who's been shoveled into the cloistered lifestyle by a greedy older brother, & Luca isn't sure whether or not she's involved. Eventually the true culprit comes to light, while Isolde & her servant Ishraq narrowly escape death by fire...but the ladies must beg Luca's protection as they travel to find Isolde's godfather. Both parties resume journeying together (there's safety in numbers, after all) until they're confronted with a superstitious village & a mysterious werewolf creature. Is it an instance of evil or a blessed miracle?

This book has a cool premise & nice grisly details, but I saw room for improvement in other installments. The characters were a bit flat; they had good details in their personalities, but the page count didn't allow for much development. I also think P.G. fell into a common trap & overly "YA-ized" the style from her adult fiction. Some dialogues were snappy & taut, but others were obvious First Book Backgrounding. Hopefully she makes the next books a bit longer, as that might cut down the rush-rush-rush atmosphere; some scenes are good (in particular, Luca's questioning of the nuns & the climax at the abbey) while others are wham-bam-crammed with talking heads.

Solid 3 stars. I didn't like the first line, oddly enough...but overall the writing was okay (though a bit shallow), & I'll be reading #2 to see where she takes things. Wouldn't recommend buying the dead tree edition, though, unless you preview via library or digital copy & fall in love.

[N.B.: this was a Buddy Read with Karla. Her review is here. I daresay it sounds very similar to mine, heh.](less)

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Sep 01, 2012 Once Upon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Changeling is my first book on historical fantasy and also my first book from Philippa Gregory. Although I have seen one of her movies, The Other Bolen Girl" – which I loved, Changeling didn’t really capture me like that story. Changeling, was a little predictable and slow at times, but it did have enough mystery to capture my attention and continue reading. Philippa takes us back to Italy during the 1400's. A time where kings and queens ruled the world. Also a time when people didn’t know what...more Changeling is my first book on historical fantasy and also my first book from Philippa Gregory. Although I have seen one of her movies, The Other Bolen Girl" – which I loved, Changeling didn’t really capture me like that story. Changeling, was a little predictable and slow at times, but it did have enough mystery to capture my attention and continue reading. Philippa takes us back to Italy during the 1400's. A time where kings and queens ruled the world. Also a time when people didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t and people believed in witches, vampires and werewolves.

Luca, has been recruited by the Pope to investigate paranormal occurrences. For his first quest, he is, a priest and his servant, Frieze are sent to a nunnery to investigate why some of the nuns there are all showing signs of being possessed. Some of the nuns have been seen running out in the middle of the night and screaming and later not remembering any of it. I have to admit that there were times when I was a little spooked. Don’t get me wrong, the story isn't scary at all, but there were parts where I was like "oh creepy!" I am not going to say more because I don’t want to spoil it.

Isolde was forced into that position by her brother. Her father raised her to be strong but still a lady and was under the impression that he would leave everything to her after his passing, but that wasn’t the case. Well, at least that was what her brother told her. Her brother is now the king and ruler of Lucretili and has left his sister, Isolde, penniless. I don’t understand why she believed him when she was clearly their father's favorite. The characters were well developed and of course I had my favorite, Frieze. He was hilarious! I love characters with a little spunk and a smart mouth. LOL The love story to me fell short. I could tell that there was something between Isolde and Luca, but nothing that was heartfelt or amazing. I would have liked to have seen more between them. The one thing that confused me a little is that Philippa didn’t get into changelings much. She mentions who might be one, but that was it. Maybe Philippa will develop that character more in her next book. I just wish she would have elaborated more on it. It was brought up once and never picked up again. Even though Changeling left me a little empty, I would still like to know where Philippa takes the story.

Here are some more favorable reviews from Goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

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About Philippa Gregory

Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the novel The Other Boleyn Girl, which was made into a TV drama and a major film. Published in 2009, the bestselling The White Queen, the story of Elizabeth Woodville, ushered in a new series involving The Cousins’ War (now known as The War of the Roses) and a new era for the acc...more

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Books by Philippa Gregory

The Other Boleyn Girl (The Tudor Court, #2)

The Constant Princess (The Tudor Court, #1)

The Boleyn Inheritance (The Tudor Court, #3)

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Quotes from Changeling

“Luca saw her bloodstained hands as the clerk bound them with a rope, and Luca realized that she was a thing of horror, a beautiful thing of horror, the worst thing between heaven and hell: a fallen angel.” — 3 people liked it

“I told you, I don't want you riding with me."
"Which is why I waited," Frieze explained patiently. "To see what direction you were going in, so that I could make sure I took the opposite one. but of course, there may be wolves, or thieves, highwaymen or brigands, so I don't mind your company for the first hour or so.” — 2 people liked it

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Changeling (Order of Darkness #1)

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