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175th out of 271 books
—
1,241 voters
The Legend of the Seventh Virgin
According to the legend, six novices living in a Cornish convent strayed from their vows and were turned to stone. The seventh faced quite a different fate. Years later when the convent became the family mansion of the St. Larnston family, fate beckoned to another young virgin.
Kerensa Carlee was only a cottage girl, but she possessed great ambition and greater beauty -- an...more
Kerensa Carlee was only a cottage girl, but she possessed great ambition and greater beauty -- an...more
Mass Market Paperback, 288 pages
Published
July 12th 1983
by Ivy Books
(first published 1964)
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Okay, so this book was really hard to get into and didn't really pick up until almost half way through, the characters in it were pretty much despicable (including the heroine who as far as I can tell had NO redeeming qualities whatsoever), and it ended oddly and dissatisfying. That all being said, I actually really kind of liked it. It would have been better if the heroine had redeemed herself and become someone I could root for, or even like, or if there had been a better climax at the end. Bu...more
I grew up reading my mom's Victoria Holt novels, and I am still a sucker for historical romances, although I know I'm supposed to be too sophisticated and well-educated to like pulp fiction like this. ;) However, this book was far below Holt's usual quality. Extraordinarily melodramatic, with a very unlikable heroine, and a Cornwall dialect that seemed tortured and unnatural -- I can't say I'll ever read this one again. It was remarkable only in that *SPOILER* it had an unhappy ending -- the onl...more
Dec 09, 2011
Kelley Ross
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-romance,
mysteries-and-thrillers
This book reminded me a lot of Jane Eyre, which probably explains why I liked it so much. At first the setting was hard to get used to because it was so foreign, but as the book went on Cornwall grew to seem more and more like England. I never quite got used to Mellyora's name, which sounds strange every time I pronounce it in my head. Kerensa is a very strong character and I really enjoyed the fact that her Spanish looks were dramatized throughout the novel. The ending was a surprise and didn't...more
Oddly enough, this is actually one of my favorite books. There were many times throughout reading it when I wanted to slap one or more of the characters... But let's face it, not every book should be about some incredibly wonderful person that triumphs over character faults to move on and live happily ever after. It is a great book and does an amazing job of pointing out that having what you wish for is not necessarily a dream come true.
Jun 20, 2009
Shannon
added it
Recommends it for:
People who love V.H. and everyone else
Recommended to Shannon by:
My mum
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Aug 01, 2011
Karen
added it
Recommends it for:
Anyone who loves Gothic
Recommended to Karen by:
My mother
This is the first book I ever read by Victoria Holt. My mother leant it to me. It was amazing as I was still in school at the time. After almost 35 years I still remember the story. I think of all the books I've read and am still reading by Victoria Holt, Phillippa Carr, and of course Jean Pilady; it is my favorite.
I wish I had a copy. I'd love to re-read it.
I wish I had a copy. I'd love to re-read it.
Esta novela es diferente de las que le leido de esta autora bajo este seudonimo pero me parecio una version un poco light de una que escribio bajo el seudonimo de Jean Plaidy "Lilith".
Me gusto pero no me encanto. La protagonista es ambiciosa pero, paga las maldades que hace para lograr sus caprichos. Y al final aprende la lección.
Me gusto pero no me encanto. La protagonista es ambiciosa pero, paga las maldades que hace para lograr sus caprichos. Y al final aprende la lección.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I picked a pretty decent Holt to start with. I had been interested in reading the author since Lauren Willig (whose Pink Carnation books I adore) mentioned that a Holt book was an influence on her Night Jasmine installment in the Pink series. The Legend of the Seventh Virgin is always engaging and has a nice tone of melodrama throughout. The lead character is a bit problematic, though she has a great name: Kerensa Carlee. Appropriately soap opera-ish, no? She is complex but not likeable enough i...more
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This is one of my favorite books of all-time. It's not a sappy romance novel at all and like Gone with the Wind, the heroine is strong and couldn't care less about getting a man, until later when she's met the rest of her goals. Just a really interesting story set back-when.
Guilty Pleasure - I don't go much for romances, but this isn't a 'bodice-ripper'. It's actually an engaging story about how a young girl uses her opportunities to educate herself and move up in the world, although there is a cost to her family relationships (and, one could argue, her soul).
I guess I'm just not a Victoria Holt fan...I wanted to jump onto the pages and say "Okay...so get going with this story!!" It drug for me... snooze... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...but I had to finish as I'd paid 50 cents for the book at the library!!
First read this in seventh or eighth grade. Really liked it, though it doesn't have a conventionally happy ending. Protagonist is a very strong, independent, and flawed young woman. Lots of atmosphere. Still a good read 40 plus years later.
I ready many of Vicoria Holt's novel in high school and always liked them. She is a good writer. This story is full of intrigue, love, loss, friendship and she ties them altogether beautifully.
Was a pretty good book. Had a morale lesson that if your wishes came true you may not like the outcome. Was a good story of life and love and growing up in a kind of puritan setting.
Victoria Holt was one of my favorite authors when I was a young woman, and I still enjoy re-reading these occasionally. Victoria Holt did a great job with characterization.
I read all of Victoria Holt's novels when I was a teenager, along with all the other women who wrote gothic/romance type books Loved them all. This one was a favorite.
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10290839
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/10290839
I was a little disappointed at the end, but the writing was unique and charming which I liked, and I liked how the main character was not perfect.
This was my first Victoria Holt book. And I learned that you can be anything you want to be as long as you're willing to take the consequences
Hab die deutsche Version zu Hause und schon einige Male gelesen. Es ist echt ein super schönes Buch!!
Re-read this after 30 years.
My least favorite Holt because the narrator Kerensa is actually the villainess.
My least favorite Holt because the narrator Kerensa is actually the villainess.
Jan 07, 2009
Anna Marie Brittain
added it
This one was very interesting! The first book I read where the main character was an anti-hero.
This was the first Victoria Holt book I read as a teenager. I loved it even more this time around!
I am in love with this book. Everything was so exciting and intriguing. I couldn't stop reading :))
Jul 19, 2012
Sudharshie
added it
very very nice my favorite
Læste den på dansk
See Mistress of Mellyn.
Maybe not Ms. Holt's best one as I could guess the ending from miles away, but still a very good story!
Gothic romance.
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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
More about Victoria Holt...
Eleanor Alice Burford, Mrs. George Percival Hibbert was a British author of about 200 historical novels, most of them under the pen name Jean Plaidy which had sold 14 million copies by the time of her death. She chose to use various names because of the differences in subjec...more
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