Joyce's review
Mistress of the Art of Death
by Ariana Franklin
Joyce's review
Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin
Joyce's review
It's always a pleasure to see a writer find his or her groove, a concept so strong and suited to a particular skillset that you are confident it will be a massive success. It's also cool when the historical mystery -- particularly the medieval, which is prone to mealy-mouthed flabbiness -- gets a jolt of energy. Characterizations are brilliant, esp Henry Plantagenet who practically jumps off the page. Due to the historical setting though, there is hardly any psychological explanation of the crimes... the 12th century dealt in evil or madness, not "borderline personality syndrome".
