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Votive (Curse of the Bond Riders #2)

by Karen Brooks (Goodreads Author)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 117 ratings · 20 reviews

Return to the beautiful, deadly world of The Curse of the Bond Riders, where the stakes are ever higher as Tallow morphs from talented boy apprentice to unwilling female courtesan and assassin

The stakes are higher than ever when the Maleovellis inform Tallow they are now her patrons. Realizing she is a girl, they clean her, dress her in gorgeous robes, change her name to T...more

Paperback, 628 pages

Published June 1st 2011 by Random House

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Jul 02, 2011 Sheryl Gwyther rated it 5 of 5 stars

I adored this story - it's part 2 of the series, 'The Curse of the Bond Riders', following the first book, TALLOW.
I was lucky to get hold of a copy before its release (thanks, Leonie Tyle!) and after having read 'Tallow' and enjoying every word of it, I had high hopes for 'Votive'.
The book lived up to my high hopes.
You do need to read Tallow before you read Votive though – well worth it as the world where Tallow lives is complicated and fascinating and her quest, intricate.
Karen Brooks is a b...more

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Jul 30, 2012 Malcolm rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-contemporary

I was reminded while I was reading this, the second in ‘The Curse of the Bond Riders’ series, that a trilogy needs to manage two, contradictory, demands – that each novel needs to be self contained but also needs to be part of a developing problem and narrative; my concern that the final chapter of Tallow (the first in the series) was more about setting up the sequel than resolving the narrative was borne out, but I am reminded was an insoluble problem. This kicks of right where Tallow off, and...more I was reminded while I was reading this, the second in ‘The Curse of the Bond Riders’ series, that a trilogy needs to manage two, contradictory, demands – that each novel needs to be self contained but also needs to be part of a developing problem and narrative; my concern that the final chapter of Tallow (the first in the series) was more about setting up the sequel than resolving the narrative was borne out, but I am reminded was an insoluble problem. This kicks of right where Tallow off, and in doing so does two important things – it provides us with a useful reminder of exactly where we were in Tallow’s life, and allows this to work as a self contained beginning even though having read the first I suspect makes the story much more compelling, and it is compelling. I was hooked in ways I didn't quite expect as I was drawn into Tallow's new life as she struggled with the demands and costs of her unexpected move from candlemaking to nobility.

I need to confess, again, at this point – Karen Brooks is a dear friend of many years standing so venturing into print is, as is always the case with author-pals, risky. I feel less concern with Votive than I did with Tallow partly because I enjoyed the first book. In this, we are taken back to the rich and complex world of La Serenissima, the series’ version of Venice (a city that keeps peeking through the fictional space, only to be snatched away by the world-in-creation) with all its political demands, moral quandaries and the ethical demands placed on the characters as a consequence. Tallow is no longer the boy-making-candles of the first, but becomes Tarlo, the city’s most desired courtesan wrenched from her life in the Candlemakers Quartiere only to become tangled in the lust for power of the old-but-fallen-from-grace-and-power family Maleovelli as they set out to restore their place among the city’s nobility and power structure. Being in this position means that Tallow/Tarlo struggles with being alone, with having to make problematic alliances to survive in a hostile environment and with having to manage her position in society, the family, the household and to an extent the cosmos in ways that challenge her integrity, trust and well-being.

All the while there are global struggles going on as the Queen of Farrowfare (an unsettlingly Elizabethan – as in Tudor – Zaralina) uses her alliances with both supernatural forces and the material, temporal regimes of other states around the Marinquian Seas to unsettle La Serenissima from it dominant place of trade and commerce. As an aside, in doing so this geo-political narrative parallels the shifts in European economic and political power from the late 14th to late 15th centuries as Venetian and Genoan power abated as British and Dutch power grew, but that is my inner historian-geek appearing. These alliances rely cynically on a hunger of temporal power that is greater than religious differences, yet it is these religious differences that provide much of the underlying tension of the novel – between the monotheistic church of the Great Patriarch in Rome versus the old Serenissian polytheistic ways that Tallow/Tarlo represents, although Farrowfare seems polytheistic, not that that prevents an alliance the Ottomans, or the attempts of other forces whose role is supposed to be the protect the old ways to overcome them in the interests of their own material and temporal power.

It is a real strength of the series thus far (I am awaiting resolution in the recently published but not-yet-available-in-the-UK-as-far-as-I-can-see Illumination) is that these diverse plot forces and factors are woven together in a compelling manner where only we, the readers, seem to be aware of all but various of them intersect in ways that nudge the plot along while allowing it to seem to develop in its own way, just as the prophecy that all the big picture players seem concerned with should, according to some (who seem allied with Tallow’s best interests), be allowed to do. The really impressive thing though is that amid all the big picture politics of the story, the central characters keep our attention and it is their interests, desires, wishes and individual choices that provide the narrative drive. This is not my sub-genre of ‘alt-hist’ fiction (I’m much happier with the absurdities of steam-punk than the fantasy this is closer to) but this is really working for me and deserves a wide readership. (less)

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Oct 15, 2012 Rosemarie Herbert rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Tarlo has given up candle-making in favour of being a courtesan. She's a courtesan with a difference though, and her candles still have a role to play. Masked, she is able to travel the high society of Serenissima without fear - but also without feeling. Why oh why had she ever gotten herself into this mess? Tarlo can trust even fewer people than...more This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.

Tarlo has given up candle-making in favour of being a courtesan. She's a courtesan with a difference though, and her candles still have a role to play. Masked, she is able to travel the high society of Serenissima without fear - but also without feeling. Why oh why had she ever gotten herself into this mess? Tarlo can trust even fewer people than before.

Most of this novel feels like the focus is actually away from Tarlo as she shuts herself off from the world after her brutal induction into the practices of a courtesan. Dante, Katina, Santo, the ambassator and others get a chance to speak up, and I think it adds depth to the novel that perhaps was more understated in the first book.

This novel could almost stand-alone from Tallow, although of course I would recommend reading both of them and in order. There is plenty of background information fed to the reader in a convincing way.

One of the few things that irked me about this novel was the front cover (see left). Tarlo's eyes are what distinguish her from ordinary people, and presumably that is her on the cover - but her eyes aren't silver pools! Also from the description after she alters her eyes, I still felt like they were a little more noticeable than they appear to be in this novel.

Compared to Tallow, this novel is filled with 'authentic' language. I didn't feel the need to consult the glossary at any point (although one is handily put in at the end of the novel) to decipher what the characters were saying, because the context almost always made it clear.

Having read a couple of shocking novels lately, and wondering why I didn't enjoy them, I tried to be really constructive and critical in the way I read this book. I think a distinguishing feature is that the descriptions of thigns don't seem forced - they are natural in the way that Tarlo and the other characters speek.

This novel is surprisingly depressing. I found myself very sad about what Tarlo found herself doing, and also the horrible things that happen to Dante and Katina. The injustices done to the housemaid also are quite horrifying. Don't let that put you off though, because there is always someone watching who might be able to make a difference in lives when you least expect it.

I sped my way through this novel, despite knowing that I couldn't read the last book until I went home for the weekend. The ending was really compelling, and I stayed up way past my bedtime to read it. It was utterly satisfying, and I even felt as if the ending was a good conclusion that wasn't too much of a cliffhanger (so waiting until the weekend to read Illumination wasn't complete torture!).

I'd recommend this novel for adults and teens. It's a fantastic, relatively easy read that any fantasy lover will enjoy. I think it is also a good novel for history lovers, and could appeal to a really wide range of readers (perhaps even romance readers??).(less)

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Nov 11, 2012 Sabina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, ya

This is the second book in the Curse of the Bond Riders series and it jumps straight in where Tallow left off. Once again, the setting for the most part is a fictional but very recognizable version of Venice, Serinissima. In the first book, Tallow was a young girl, who, disguised as a boy, is hidden by a family of candle makers. Tallow is an Estrattore, someone who can extract emotions from people, the reason why they are outlawed and despised. In the second installment, Tallow had been betrayed...more

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Jul 18, 2011 Christine Bongers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya

Compulsively readable second installment in Karen Brooks's Curse of the Bond Riders trilogy. The gentle candlemaker Tallow has been suborned by the corrupt Maleovellis and transformed into courtesan and assassin Tarlo. The machiavellian intrigues of this beautifully realised world have me on tenderhooks for the final installment. Bring on Illumination!

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Oct 12, 2011 Jacinda Brown rated it 5 of 5 stars

A fantastic book! What I expected after I finished Tallow. Althought it makes me sad to see what Tallow has become, I'm also humbled when she finds Dante again. Thank god Dante survived!!! I'm soo happy and can't wait for the the third one. Bit of a dense read, but in a way thats good!

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May 26, 2012 Kay Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Am really loving this series. I can almost smell the dirtier canals! Am finding the character's development across both books to be seamless and well written. Am holding off on starting the third book until I am on holidays and have nothing else to distract me!

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Jan 26, 2013 Skyemberr rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was an excellent follow up to Tallow and you could see the talent this author has begin to really come to nfruition in this book. The world of the nobiles in a fantastical Venice, renamed to Serinissima is fascinating. The political maneuvers and scheming were all consuming. The complex plot and the originality of the Estrattore and the Limen were fabulous. I recommend this book wholeheartedly!

As soon as I finished this book I downloaded Illumination. I have not been able to put that down...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Joan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I purchased this book because I won the third book in this trilogy from goodreads. If you want to enjoy a science fiction journey with both characters and a world which keeps you entranced, then you have found it here. The second book in the Trilogy introduces you to a formerly high class family which has fallen on very hard times and uses the main character to retrieve their former status and work toward even more. It continues to expose more of the outside forces in the world trying to get the...more

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May 15, 2011 Nicole marked it as to-read

Shelves: wish-to-read-badly, fantasy

Nooo! What about Tallow and Dante! Karen you better bring him back from the dead or else I will scream!

Eagerly awaiting for this second book!

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Aug 12, 2012 Betty rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once I started it I could hardly put it down. Find it difficult to wait for the next book.

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Jun 18, 2011 Faybear rated it 5 of 5 stars

if you have not heard of or read these books you should!!! wonderful World she has created with Characters to fall in love with and share emotions with.... i totally loved it!!!

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Jul 10, 2011 Sean Perez rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing read! Got hooked right from the start and picked up exactly the moment from where "Tallow" left us readers at.
The story arc continues and twists and turns dramatically! The same world with more added to it, the same writing style and the same, if not, better imagery which really inspires the senses. parts of the story not as predictable as parts of Tallow where you could see things happening later on and I liked that about this.
Can't wait for the third instalment!! It just see...more

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Sep 11, 2011 Amanda Hislop rated it 5 of 5 stars

on par with the first!

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Sep 13, 2012 Kagama-the Literaturevixen marked it as to-read

love the cover

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Feb 28, 2012 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Votive is a fine accomplishment by Karen Brooks. The protagonist (Tallow from the first book) was such a meek character I had difficulties in picturing how Brooks would convert her into a brazen courtesan. Brooks achieves this feat (and more!) with a deft and convincing touch, which left me eagerly anticipating the final instalment. The darker elements that are beginning to emerge in the story are well handed as well.

Recommended for those who like both 'high' fantasy and historically based novel...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Margot rated it 4 of 5 stars

Took me a while to get into (long gap between reading Tallow and this one) but once in, I was hooked again. I'm looking forward to #3 already. Brooks has created a believable parallel world, with most of the action centred on her Venice-like Serenissima. Love and politics too - my favourite sort of fantasy.

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Jul 21, 2012 Joy Rockey rated it 5 of 5 stars

More wow. I am looking forward to continuing this series

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Jan 08, 2013 Bridget rated it 5 of 5 stars

omg. GREAT READ!! :D

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Jul 08, 2012 Lisa rated it 5 of 5 stars

So much love for this series. Addicted from page 1!

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May 14, 2013 Holly rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 11, 2013 Kyra Thompson rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 10, 2013 Rochelle marked it as to-read

May 06, 2013 Shane Lewis rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 03, 2013 Shay marked it as to-read

Apr 26, 2013 Alexia marked it as want-to-read

Apr 25, 2013 Anne rated it 4 of 5 stars

May 09, 2013 Zahro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 23, 2013 Bkepub added it

Shelves: fantasy, young, adult

Apr 23, 2013 Andri marked it as to-read

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Votive (Curse of the Bond Riders #2)

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