A beguiling and mesmerizing story, full of mystery and song. I was enchanted by its unique twist on English history and by the compelling, magical, an...moreA beguiling and mesmerizing story, full of mystery and song. I was enchanted by its unique twist on English history and by the compelling, magical, and loveable heroine, Lucy.(less)
People are looking at Peeta v. Gale all wrong! You need to think about Casablanca! With four days left to go before Mockingjay is out, I explain my lo...morePeople are looking at Peeta v. Gale all wrong! You need to think about Casablanca! With four days left to go before Mockingjay is out, I explain my love triangle theory on Libba Bray's blog: http://libba-bray.livejournal.com/579...(less)
Thoroughly enjoyable; filled with turns of phrase and insights and laugh-out-loud and shocking moments that you just have to read out loud to whatever...moreThoroughly enjoyable; filled with turns of phrase and insights and laugh-out-loud and shocking moments that you just have to read out loud to whatever hapless person happens to be in the room with you. It was also deeply moving, with a protagonist I really loved. (less)
Such a terrific, compassionate, involving book. I was riveted the whole way. It was the most enjoyable read I've had in ages.
One tiny problem: for so...moreSuch a terrific, compassionate, involving book. I was riveted the whole way. It was the most enjoyable read I've had in ages.
One tiny problem: for some reason Mantel often chose to use the pronoun "he" for Cromwell, rather than his name, even in cases where the reference was ambiguous. This was a stylistic choice, not a mistake, but I don't think the effect she got was worth it. Clarity above all, for me. (less)
SCRAWL is a fabulous, riveting read. Tod is probably the most interesting bad boy I've ever met in YA fiction, and Mark Shulman is certainly one of th...moreSCRAWL is a fabulous, riveting read. Tod is probably the most interesting bad boy I've ever met in YA fiction, and Mark Shulman is certainly one of the best new voices.(less)
**spoiler alert** Previously: I just won an early ARC of this book (hooray!) and am waiting for it to arrive. Can't wait. The previous LR King Mary Ru...more**spoiler alert** Previously: I just won an early ARC of this book (hooray!) and am waiting for it to arrive. Can't wait. The previous LR King Mary Russell novel left us hanging (in a good way) and I'm dying to find out what happens next.
Having finished: I've given this book five stars, because it's so well written -- I don't think LRK could write a bad book if she tried. But I have to confess disappointment as well. The previous book introduced Holmes's son, Damian, and I expected Damian to be a major character in this book too... and for Russell and Holmes (and us) to get to know him. But Damian was offstage or unconscious for the entire book. Obviously this was a decision that LRK made; not something she did wrong. This book answered the question: "Who murdered Damian's wife and why?" As a suspense thriller/mystery, it worked well... the thread involving Mycroft was particularly good. But it wasn't the book I wanted on an emotional level (the introduction of the enigmatic Robert Goodman didn't really work for me). I'll hold out hope that LRK addresses the Damian issue in another book to come. All series fans, nonetheless, will have to read this one. (less)
Deeply moving, and I can't help hoping to see more of Bennett Gray. LR King's "standalone" novels are only a hair less urgent reading for me than her...moreDeeply moving, and I can't help hoping to see more of Bennett Gray. LR King's "standalone" novels are only a hair less urgent reading for me than her Mary Russell books, and I think this one is, for me, the best of the standalones. (less)
Entry #9 in the series is just as much of a favorite with me as #1 and #2, and that's saying something. It nearly killed me to wait for the sequel. Se...moreEntry #9 in the series is just as much of a favorite with me as #1 and #2, and that's saying something. It nearly killed me to wait for the sequel. Seeing Russell try to navigate the sensitive emotional territory of discovering Holmes had a son -- meeting that son -- the whole plot packs a wallop psychologically that matches the sheer adventure (loved the whole piloting sequence) of the novel. Fabulous. (less)
I wouldn't have thought that this book would work. It's pivotal to the Mary Russell series, because here LR King must convince the reader that this re...moreI wouldn't have thought that this book would work. It's pivotal to the Mary Russell series, because here LR King must convince the reader that this relationship, previously set up as mentor-apprentice, would indeed naturally turn into one of equals -- let alone romantic equals. We also labor under the problem of the age difference between Russell and Holmes. What can I say? For me, the whole thing works beautifully, and I was also riveted by the mystery itself and the poignant situation of the mystic at its center. This novel, too, stands up to multiple rereads. (less)
LR King's Mary Russell books are among the very few that I buy immediately upon publication in hardcover (and I don't even need to glance at the flap...moreLR King's Mary Russell books are among the very few that I buy immediately upon publication in hardcover (and I don't even need to glance at the flap copy). This initial book in the series remains a favorite; it's also one of the few "novels in stories" that really does work as a novel, cemented by the overall arc of Russell's growing relationship to Holmes and the subtle underlying mystery involving ... well, that would be telling. (less)
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