Starling (Secrets of the Eternal Rose, #3) by Fiona Paul

Jan 31, 2016 Katerina Kondrenko rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 10-out-of-10, relatable-heroines, all-time-favorite-male-leads, bearable-love-geometry, best-heroines-you-go-girls, book-boyfriends, my-ship-is-burning-slow, character-and-action-driven-plot, historical-and-retro, charming-fox

10 out of 10

Ревью в моем блоге/This review on my blog Living A Thousand Lives (please use Chrome/Yandex browser or Android/IOS to see the page; otherwise, spoiler-tags I use to make my post compact may not work)

Short-Soundtrack:
Fous De La Mer feat. Clair Dietrich – All These Years
Birdy - Let Her Go
James Blunt – Goodbye my lover

Genre: historical fantasy, YA, mystery
Stuff: Renaissance Venice, secret society
WOW: twists, the ending... everything?
POV: 3rd-person, female
Love-Geometry: fading medium ...more

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Feb 14, 2016 Nastassja rated it liked it

Recommends it for: fans of Venom

Shelves: excellent-writing, buddy-reads, young-adult, 2016, mystery, historical-fiction, love-triangle, eye-rolling, trilogy

Final installment's buddy read with The Grinch (Julia) and Katerina. Reading sessions with you, girls, are always a pleasure.

Warning! This review contains spoilers regarding the ending of the trilogy.

My rating is for the whole trilogy. If I am to rate Starling, I'd give it three stars, but in this case I think it is relevant to include the events of the previous parts and rate them all in one. I'll list below some of my thoughts about what I liked and did not like about the transformation of th

Final installment's buddy read with The Grinch (Julia) and Katerina. Reading sessions with you, girls, are always a pleasure.

Warning! This review contains spoilers regarding the ending of the trilogy.

My rating is for the whole trilogy. If I am to rate Starling, I'd give it three stars, but in this case I think it is relevant to include the events of the previous parts and rate them all in one. I'll list below some of my thoughts about what I liked and did not like about the transformation of this series from the first book till the final one.

* I wasn't satisfied with the ending: it was too sugary-coated. I liked that Cass chose Luca (I'll elaborate on this topic later), but I didn't like how their wedding was displayed and some too predictable cliche scenes were involved. Maybe it's just me, because I really dislike melodramatic happy endings: sometimes laconic finale is enough.

**Cass annoyed me occasionally. I didn't hate her and I've seen worse (hello, Mare), but sometimes her indecision was childish (she is 15 (?) after all), and in spite of her growth during the trilogy, in the end it wasn't enough for me to label her as one of my favorite heroines.

***Love triangle. It was there and at the same time it wasn't. From one side Cass knew who she wanted, but from the other side she continued to juggle with boys, making them believe she wanted them both. Just one little frank talk with Luca or Falco could've saved a lot of drama time and eye rolls for us. I was always team Luca and am glad that Cass chose him, but closer to the end I was thinking, maybe, it could've been better if boys just dumped Cass (from the precipice *wink to Julia*) and went on with their lives; sometimes it felt like she didn't deserve any of them.

****The mystery was solved naively. I honestly expected more from the whole secret society concept. I did not get what I expected and at one point the whole mystery part turned into a diversion from the romance, which was the main reason for this book or even for the whole trilogy.

*****Villains turned out to be a part of a crazy circus. They were just entertaining us and turning into crazy clowns - barking but not really biting. What was done to Christian is ridiculous. He was a real maniac in Venom, now he just turned into a cliched villain with catchphrases like: Cassandra I came to kill you, mwahahahaahhaha! Pleeeease, am I suppose to be scared?

******I liked the darker side of Venice. It was preserved throughout the trilogy and helped to magnify the creepy moments. I'd say, the atmosphere is one of my favorite parts about these books.

All in all, it was a really nice historical fiction/romance young adult series with mostly likable characters and solid mystery (till the last book). I don't think I would've liked it that much if I read it alone: a very large part of my liking depended on fun reading/discussion sessions with my friends. I was sad that this journey had come to an end, and partly I will miss Cassandra's adventures as much as scolding her. Secrets of the Eternal Rose made me feel different emotions and in the end of the day it matters the most.

P.S. Oh, I totally forgot to mention Slipper (Cass' cat):

But then Slipper bounded through the doorway, and Cass’s heart threatened to burst out of her chest with joy. She forgot all about sleeping as she scooped up the squirmy gray-and-white cat and started covering him with kisses.

This is what I call true love.

...more

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Feb 12, 2013 Alyssa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-releases

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Starling by Fiona Paul
Book Three of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series
Publisher: Philomel
Publication Date: March 20, 2014
Rating: 5 stars
Source: ARC sent by the author

Summary (from Goodreads):

To come.

What I Liked:

SPOILER FREE REVIEW! Unless you haven't read Venom. But if you have read both Venom and Belladonna, there are zero spoilers in this review!

Also, I feel like I'm not going to do this book justice with my review.

I don't even know where to ...more

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Jul 10, 2013 Natalia rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-in-2014, historical, young-adult, 3rd-person-pov, love-triangle, published-in-2014

Okay, so here is the thing: I gave this book two stars for the same reason I gave two stars to Siege and Storm. It is a good book, the writing is excellent, the suspense abounds, BUT some parts pissed me off and I didn't like the ending. Yes, I'm a selfish person who rates books not based on the quality of writing and realism of the plot, but rather on the way the story makes me feel, if it ends the way I wanted and if the guy I was rooting for gets the girl. So this rating is deeply personal an ...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Hannah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: need-this-book-now, books-to-be-released, arcs-i-own, official-wishlist

Before I begin I just want to say, that I am disappointed my vote didn't win and this book wasn't called Falco instead, but I think that we can all agree once reading this book that Starling was in actuality the perfect name for this book. And this book, this trilogy is not going to be one I forget for a long time.

Venom set the stage with a bang, a chilling and dark mystery in a very real historical time period. Belladonna got better and continued the mystery with a smart and fast ride that hoo Before I begin I just want to say, that I am disappointed my vote didn't win and this book wasn't called Falco instead, but I think that we can all agree once reading this book that Starling was in actuality the perfect name for this book. And this book, this trilogy is not going to be one I forget for a long time.

Venom set the stage with a bang, a chilling and dark mystery in a very real historical time period. Belladonna got better and continued the mystery with a smart and fast ride that hooked you in and left you gasping in shock with the revelations and the surprises loaded in the book. And Starling, the end has finally come and it could not have ended better. This book hit me in the feels, it hit me in the everywhere else as well.

It’s hard to know what I can say about this book without spoiling anything in the first two. So many feelings are present in this book, and from page one I was hooked in their grasp, racing along to the finish line with these characters that I had grown to love. I was so very curious, no I was DESPERATE to see how it ended for them all.

Espescially in regards to that quite distinct love triangle. Falco versus Luca. The dark and wild artist against the strong and steady friend. We’ve all seen if before in books, but this triangle is different. It’s set up in a way that by the end of Belladonna I was questioning the feels of my feels. I had no idea what to expect and I was just desperate for the end. I’m not going to imply or suggest anything that would spoil the ending to such a wildly discussed and intricate romance. But I will say that what did happen was something so right for this book, and this story and these characters, that I wouldn’t have changed it.

That’s a good story.

What makes these books stand out from other historical fiction is the dark mystery aspects that are prevalent. They are not supernatural, but they are mysterious and quite often creepy. Half of the time I found myself immersed and confused at the same time. But it’s so interesting and well told that you just can’t stop, even if it makes no sense at parts. It’s a very unique aspect and in a way I really liked that dark element.
I literally have nothing else to say. With Starling, Fiona has delivered and spell-binding conclusion that will keep you glued to your chair until the last page when all you have left to do is cry and laugh and feel a LOT of feels.

Thumbs up Fiona. You’ve done yourself proud. Cass, Falco and Luca have forever earned a spot in my heart, and I’ll probably never thing of Italy in the same way again. So by all means, hop on this bandwagon (er, gondola) if you haven’t yet! There’s a steady current ready to take you downriver to Venice.

**For more reviews, visit Book Haven Extraordinaire** ...more

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Aug 12, 2013 Paula Stokes added it

Shelves: i-can-t-believe-it-s-really-over

Hi GR :) Author-person here. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who hung in for all 3 books of the trilogy. I am not a fan of open endings, so rest assured that STARLING resolves both the romance and the mystery, as well as ties up several loose ends.

Working on a project of this magnitude with Paper Lantern Lit has been exciting and educational, but I am super-excited to now be writing solo projects under my real name. My first book, THE ART OF LAINEY (HarperTeen), comes out just a couple o ...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Christina (Ensconced in Lit) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-request

Disclaimers include that Fiona gave me her personal copy of this book to borrow to read and review (and it'll be soooo hard to give it back!) and that we are good personal friends. Also, she was kind enough to add me to the acknowledgments for me being a supportive blogger. That said, she'll be the first to tell you that I'm really honest about reviews, and either I'll review it honestly, or not review it at all.

Now on to the good stuff. Starling is the final installment of the Secrets of the Et Disclaimers include that Fiona gave me her personal copy of this book to borrow to read and review (and it'll be soooo hard to give it back!) and that we are good personal friends. Also, she was kind enough to add me to the acknowledgments for me being a supportive blogger. That said, she'll be the first to tell you that I'm really honest about reviews, and either I'll review it honestly, or not review it at all.

Now on to the good stuff. Starling is the final installment of the Secrets of the Eternal Rose trilogy, which has been ramping up in Venom and Belladonna, its predecessors. If you have seen my previous reviews, you'll remember that I thought Belladonna was a vast improvement in both plot and writing from Venom, and Starling just shows more growth from there. Cass, our main character, continues to evade death at every turn, but at the same time, we see her growth and her final steps towards adulthood. We continue to also track down evildoers and swoon over both Falco and Luca (OK there's only one that I personally swoon over but I digress). Will Cass be able to track down the Book of the Eternal Rose without losing more loved ones?

I want to start the rest of this review by talking a bit about third and final books in trilogies. These books may be the hardest books to write. By this time, the author is exhausted and may never want to see the characters again. Also, there are the expectations of all the fans who have loved the first two books-- will the third book tie everything together in a satisfactory way? There's a ton of pressure. Since the craze of YA, we are finally getting the ends to several trilogies that were written after Hunger Games. I can count on one hand the number of trilogies that ended well from my perspective. But I can now happily add Starling to the stack.

Why do I say that? We've seen Cass grow from book to book, until in this book, she really matures and grows into a woman that we can all love and admire. So many trilogies fail to see this overarching growth of their characters through three books. Second, even though I had a good sense of where the plot would go, I was still surprised with what some of the characters ended up doing-- which is something I always look for in a good book. Third, the love triangle resolved in a very satisfactory way. Cass can't choose both boys, but the way it was dealt with makes a whole lot of sense.

Overall, a triumphant, and yes, swoon and drool worthy completion of this trilogy. I rarely purchase all three books in a trilogy-- this will be one of the exceptions. ...more

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Jan 01, 2013 Teresa Mary Rose rated it it was amazing

Shelves: re-readable-books, 2014, favorites, historical-fiction, ya

More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

Love love love love love love love. That is what I want to say about this book, but since that isn’t really helpful, I’ll expand. Starling was everything I hoped for in the conclusion and so much more. It was another fantastic addition to the series and honestly pulled me in from beginning to end.

Cass is such a wonderful heroine and I love the woman she grew into over the course of the series. The girl we met in Venom is so different from the woman More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives

Love love love love love love love. That is what I want to say about this book, but since that isn’t really helpful, I’ll expand. Starling was everything I hoped for in the conclusion and so much more. It was another fantastic addition to the series and honestly pulled me in from beginning to end.

Cass is such a wonderful heroine and I love the woman she grew into over the course of the series. The girl we met in Venom is so different from the woman we end up with in Starling. I loved watching her grow and bloom into such a wonderful, strong, courageous, and deadly smart woman; especially considering her time period. She goes to incredible lengths for those she loves and even in the face of death and seemingly insurmountable circumstances she stays strong and uses her brains to get out of those situations.

Then we have Falco and Luca and this is seriously one of the best love triangles I have ever read. I started out all about Falco, but then somewhere along the lines I fell hard for Luca and it snuck up on me. Something happens to threaten Luca and Cass, and when it did, it broke me. That is when I realized how much I had come to love Luca and it was weird because I NEVER change my mind when it comes to book boyfriends. So this was a first. And well, I can’t truly say I changed my mind because I still adore Falco, more I wanted everyone to be happy because I had come to love them both so much. Unfortunately, one of them had to be left behind and while it BROKE me to read that scene, I was also happy with the choice Cass made because it was the right choice for her.

What I love most about this series is that the heroine takes care of herself. She doesn’t need to rely on a guy and a guy does not need to be present to help drive the story. Cass drives the story all by herself. I also love the mystery and surprises along the way. I love how slowly the story unravels and that I piece everything together a little at a time. The author did such a wonderful job bringing all the pieces together and wrapping each and every one of them up at the end. It was a beautiful conclusion.

Starling was the perfect ending to this beautiful series. I am so sad to see it end, but I look forward to visiting Renaissance Italy with Cass, Falco, and Luca again. ...more

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Jul 28, 2013 Kassidy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-release, books-i-own

*4.5*

Amazing conclusion!!!
It was so easy getting back into this world and story. I love the setting so much, it's so realistic and captivating. I also love how dark these books are! My heart was racing at times and some things were downright scary. The mystery is fantastic and I loved the inclusion of some action scenes. There was never a dull moment in this book.
It was a wonderful journey seeing Cass grow throughout these books. I also love what happened in the romance story line.
However, I c ...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Nara rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical, reviewed, for-review, paranormal

With all the major conflicts being resolved and the love triangle wrapped up nicely, Starling is quite a solid conclusion to the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series. Although there were perhaps one or two minor flaws, overall, this book was definitely a most satisfying end to a great series.

The pace is just ridiculously fast in this book. There's most definitely no lack of action, and it's really the sort of book you want to get read in one sitting. You're completely hooked, wanting to find out w With all the major conflicts being resolved and the love triangle wrapped up nicely, Starling is quite a solid conclusion to the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series. Although there were perhaps one or two minor flaws, overall, this book was definitely a most satisfying end to a great series.

The pace is just ridiculously fast in this book. There's most definitely no lack of action, and it's really the sort of book you want to get read in one sitting. You're completely hooked, wanting to find out what happens next- how Cass gets out of conflict after conflict. However, because there are so many things are happening, I do also feel that you hardly get any time to dwell on one event before BAM something else equally shocking happens. I feel like the individual events weren't really developed enough. It was just a series of somewhat disconnected events: this happened. That happened. Also, this happened.

Surprisingly, the love triangle actually didn't go the way I expected it to go. I suppose now that I think about it, I actually didn't mind who Cass ended up with. While in Venom, I was definitely shipping Falco x Cass, by Belladonna, both love interests seem equally suitable for her. I won't say who she ends up with in this non-spoiler section, but I do feel like, by the time the end of Starling comes around, you do actually understand why she would have ended up with that person.

Some further spoilery thoughts on the love triangle. Warning: MAJOR spoilers
(view spoiler)

I did enjoy Starling overall, but not quite as much as Belladonna or Venom. Still, this series as a whole is definitely one I'd recommend to anyone looking for an excellent YA historical with a twist of paranormal fantasy. ...more

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Apr 24, 2017 Sarah (thegirltheycalljones) rated it it was ok

Okay. I have to start by saying that - for me - the romance corrupted the plot. I really enjoyed it in book 1 and less and less after that, not only because it's a love triangle and that love triangles makes my eyes bleed. I probably missed a lot on the story itself because of this exhausting and finally irritating back and forth between the two guys.

SPOILERS BELOW

Did I mention SPOILERS?

Well, SPOILERS.

And meaningless rant. This is not a review. Just rant.

So, remember what I said in my review of ...more

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Sep 29, 2016 Jennifer added it

Read to 80% Kept meaning to finish but just never did. I LOVED the first book but the next two just didn't hold my attention. I was a huge fan of Falco and he was pushed to the side after the first book.

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Dec 22, 2012 Stacee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2013

This was my favorite of the series. Loved the action and the kissing and the everything about it. I didn't want it to end, but I loved how it did.

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May 22, 2013 Katherine rated it really liked it

Shelves: mystery-thriller, young-adult, historical-fiction, owned, love-triangle, romance

"When we strike, it must be as rapid as the wind, as silent as stars."

Setting:Venice, Italy; the Renaissance

Coverly Love?:No! I loved the original covers with the girl wearing the mask. These new covers look cheesy.

Plot:After their deadly encounter with the sinister Belladonna, Cassandra and Luca are running for their lives. Targeted as fugitives by the government and hunted by the Order of the Eternal Rose, Cass and Luca must work together to find the book that contains the secrets of the or ...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Jess rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014-books, arc, top-reads

This is a series that I have adored from the very beginning, so to say I had high hopes going into Starling would be extremely accurate. However, I don't think I could have asked for a better ending to this trilogy. I really don't. Starling was everything I wanted for Cass and for this story and I am left feeling so satisfied with this final installment.

The plot of Starling was an excellent balance of wrapping up the mystery and exciting storyline that has run through the series as well as bring This is a series that I have adored from the very beginning, so to say I had high hopes going into Starling would be extremely accurate. However, I don't think I could have asked for a better ending to this trilogy. I really don't. Starling was everything I wanted for Cass and for this story and I am left feeling so satisfied with this final installment.

The plot of Starling was an excellent balance of wrapping up the mystery and exciting storyline that has run through the series as well as bringing the love triangle to a believable and well-executed conclusion. The early parts of the novel recap from Belladonna well without being a long, drawn out bore of an infodump. There are tidbits thrown in to help readers remember what happened but not so much that it became tired. Of course, the central plot line surrounding the secret society of sorts and the mystery of the Eternal Rose is brought to its ultimate climax here and I very much enjoyed it. There were elements I was hoping for that panned out and there was much I didn't expect that made this an exciting and often tense and somewhat nerve wracking finale. It fit very well with the events and the atmosphere that the series has established thus far and was, ultimately, a wonderful ending.

As much as I love the boys of the series, Falco and Luca, this book was about Cass and I was so appreciative of that. Cass has been on such a wild ride throughout this series but she never once gives up. Her determination and her bravery are as evident and admirable as ever. It's not as though she has been through a complete transformation - she is still the Cass I enjoyed reading about from the beginning. She is still very smart. She is also still very impulsive and brave to the point of recklessness. But she has shown a wonderful emotional growth over the course of the series - especially in growing more confident in herself, what she can accomplish, and what she wants - and I adore the arc her character has taken.

Another thing I absolutely LOVED about Starling is the way the love triangle was resolved. This was a very well done triangle from the beginning: the boys were drastically different people but they both offered something to Cass that made them a worthy choice. Both offer romance and the chance for real love (by the end of Belladonna, at least), but Luca offers her stability and a quiet life while Falco offers a more exciting but dangerous one. They are both viable choices for Cass but Paul has made it how I truly hoped it would be: the resolution to the triangle is truly about what Cass wants and needs for her life. It is about what it best for her and for the kind of person she has grown to become by the end of the series. That, in my opinion, is exactly how the series should have ended. It also does both boys justice, which I was very appreciative of. There are so many ways to cop out of a triangle. Paul proves that there's also a way to resolve them completely in a way that is true to the characters.

Overall, I am leaving this series with nothing but a happy heart and having had a great experience with the books. Thank you, Fiona Paul, for such an exciting and interesting story, characters that I feel I know and love, and an ending that left me with nothing but adoration.

*I received an ARC from Paper Lantern Lit in exchange for a fair and honest review* ...more

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Dec 29, 2018 Heather rated it it was ok

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. When I finally went to check this out at my library, I saw they didn't have it, and couldn't purchase it. So I ended up doing my first inter library loan to get this, and was able to squeeze it in before the new year, so I read the whole series in 2018.

It had been long enough since I read book 2 that I forgot some things. I refreshed myself with my review of book 2. I had forgotten someone stole the book from Belladonna.

Cass showed less emotion for her aunt dying than her maid. She didn't even ...more

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Nov 17, 2014 Nika rated it liked it

What do have Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man and Harry Potter in common? What do they need to succeed, save the world, catch the villain? Sidekicks. Harry wouldnt have gotten past the first challenge in the Sorcerers stone. Holmes probably wouldve died from his eccentricity and narcissism and I so, so want Jarvis. So bad. Hed make life much easier.
Historical novels have one thing in common: the perfect sidekick. In this case, Cass has a house full of them. Im talking about the courtesans in Palazzo D What do have Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man and Harry Potter in common? What do they need to succeed, save the world, catch the villain? Sidekicks. Harry wouldn´t have gotten past the first challenge in the Sorcerer´s stone. Holmes probably would´ve died from his eccentricity and narcissism and I so, so want Jarvis. So bad. He´d make life much easier.
Historical novels have one thing in common: the perfect sidekick. In this case, Cass has a house full of them. I´m talking about the courtesans in Palazzo Dolce. Courtesans all share the same traits, which make them so likeable. Whenever I´ve come across a book with courtesans in it, they were my favourite characters. Intelligence, loyalty, beauty, kindness, understanding (everything you need a best friend to be), all that combined in girls who are basically social outcasts. Also, they are much smarter than all the nobles who think earth rotates around them. They are the most honest persons and the ones the heroine always could count on and for that I think they deserve to be mentioned first, as the best characters in this book.

The final instalment was (surprise, surprise) really good, everything clarifies quite fine. It didn´t loose its thrill and action and the final encounter with Belladonna was pretty epic. I can´t help but think Cristian´s end was rather uncreative. It somehow seemed like he was necessary for the first book and for some tasks in the 3rd book, but the author didn´t know what to do with him afterwards. His presence felt as forced as his end.
What I really didn´t like was the way the love triangle was resolved. First, Cass suddenly speaks of love where doubts have been all the time before. Again, Luca isn´t present most of the time and I couldn´t make any connection to him because of that. But what I got mad at wasn´t Cass´ choice in the end at all, but the way everything went down. So unbelievably happy. It was cheap. It isn´t like Falco and it isn´t like Cass to act as they did. I know it sounds harsh, but one of them dead would´ve been better than this cheesy ending. Nothing in the story was like that before, it didn´t fit the rest.

I loved the story; I really loved it as much as the first and second book. It was wonderful and exciting and had everything a good story needs. Except for a suitable ending.
...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Sara (sarabara081) rated it it was amazing

You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.

4.5 stars!

Starling is the highly anticipated finale of one of my most beloved series, Secrets of the Eternal Rose. The books have been filled with beautiful and captivating writing, a mystery that kept me on my toes and a cast of characters I fell in love with. I was so anxious to see how it would all end and Fiona Paul did not disappoint! I will keep this review extremely brief as to not spoil anything on the conclusion.

The hunt for answers ab You can find more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books.

4.5 stars!

Starling is the highly anticipated finale of one of my most beloved series, Secrets of the Eternal Rose. The books have been filled with beautiful and captivating writing, a mystery that kept me on my toes and a cast of characters I fell in love with. I was so anxious to see how it would all end and Fiona Paul did not disappoint! I will keep this review extremely brief as to not spoil anything on the conclusion.

The hunt for answers about the Order of the Eternal Rose group continues in this installment and of course is filled with the danger and intrigue we saw in the previous books. Every last piece of the puzzle was wrapped up in an exciting and heart-pounding way. There were nail-biting moments and those that creeped me out but it made for one incredible read.

The characters have all shown so much growth and development since Venom but none as much as our main character, Cass. Cass has developed into such a strong and determined woman who knows what she wants. That is miles above where she was when we first met her. This also relates directly to the conclusion on the love triangle between Cass, Luca, and Falco. I will not spoil what happens but I honestly and truly feel like all parties will be satisfied with the resolution. Of course I did find myself emotional at times since I did develop an attachment to Cass’s relationships with both men, but Fiona Paul handles this dilemma beautifully and respectfully.

I can’t say enough wonderful things about the writing in this series. I am not a huge historical fiction reader, but the writing had the ability to transfer me to Renaissance Italy and all its beauty. The research of the time and the locations is extremely apparent throughout all three novels and plays a huge part of why I enjoyed these books so immensely. Everything is so detailed and I found myself learning things I knew nothing about!

To wrap things up, fans of this series will not be disappointed in the conclusion. And if you are someone who has yet to start these books, I cannot recommend it enough. I am left feeling bittersweet – sad that the story had to come to an end, but satisfied it did in just the right way. Now I move on to what the author has to come under her author name, Paula Stokes! ...more

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Oct 24, 2013 Melissa rated it really liked it

Love love love!!! Another great ending to a great series.

The twists and turns continue in this book. The choices, actions, betrayals will keep you reading to figure out the ending to this mystery. Cass is still not giving up, she wants answers and to bring down Secrets of the Eternal Rose but she might not have to look too far since they are also looking for Cass. She is scared, confused and a little out of her element, but is going to do that ever it takes to make sure they don't hurt anyone e ...more

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Dec 22, 2013 Leah (Jane Speare) rated it it was amazing

Well that's it. Starling is just as exciting as the first two, if not more. There was a good-but-not-too-perfect ending that I admired even though everything didn't turn out as awesomesocks as I had hoped. Fiona has a strong voice and I hope she keeps on writing, especially historical stories.

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Dec 02, 2014 Victoria rated it really liked it

Minus one star, because I can't shake off the feeling that the writing was a little off. But otherwise a perfect conclusion to the series. Thank you, Miss Paul, for this awesome journey into Renaissance Italy with Cass, Falco and Luca.

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Jun 09, 2013 Nicole Wang rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

Oh my fucking God. FIONA PAUL. I CAN'T.

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Oct 06, 2017 Onka rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-novels, sk-cz, series, own

Not as good as Belladonna but still kept me awake at night. After all those things that happened in the second book I expected better thought-out story with more epic finale. This felt a little bit rushed but in the end I'm ok with the way it ended so I can't really complain.
Overall I think this is a decent trilogy and it deserves more recognition as it's quite different from what we see in our usual YA. Besides, you know it's good when the setting plays character on it's own. Even if I hated ev ...more

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Aug 24, 2012 Isalys rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Fans of historical fiction and mystery/drama

Shelves: for-review, arc, ya-historical, paperback, owned, ya

Starling is the exciting conclusion in the Secrets of The Eternal Rose trilogy by Fiona Paul. In this series, we are transported to Renaissance Venice where we follow our young heroine Cassandra (known as Cass) as she tries to understand and fight her feelings for Falco and save her fiancé Luca from the gallows, all the while trying to take down the nefarious Order of The Eternal Rose and those behind it.

WARNING: This is a spoiler free review for those who have read Venom and Belladonna. However Starling is the exciting conclusion in the Secrets of The Eternal Rose trilogy by Fiona Paul. In this series, we are transported to Renaissance Venice where we follow our young heroine Cassandra (known as Cass) as she tries to understand and fight her feelings for Falco and save her fiancé Luca from the gallows, all the while trying to take down the nefarious Order of The Eternal Rose and those behind it.

WARNING: This is a spoiler free review for those who have read Venom and Belladonna. However, if you have not yet read the first two books then proceed with caution.

In Venom, we meet the key players and the stage is set for this daring trilogy filled with mystery, romance, betrayal, and even cults posed as monsters. In Belladonna, we meet new characters including the ring leader of Order of The Eternal Rose and begin to understand what they are truly up to and who is behind their evil schemes. Starling picks up right where Belladonna left off, when Cass is forced to leave Falco behind in order to get to Luca in time to save him and take down The Order before they can do any more harm.

I loved Cass' growth over the course of this series. When we first meet her, she's a sheltered, pampered young noblewoman with no idea of the sins that lurk in her hometown of Venice. It is a horrifying discovery and a chance encounter with a peasant artist (Falco) that turn her life upside down. By the time we get to Starling, Cass is no longer that sheltered girl. Instead, she's transformed into an incredibly independent, brave, and determined woman. She also knows that she cannot love two men and she needs to make a decision. Love isn't easy to figure out and she understands that her time with Falco is life-changing and precious, yet she is starting to see Luca through different eyes. Falco is wild, passionate, and volatile. He is a whirlwind! Luca is the antithesis of Falco. He's well-mannered and civilized, he's strong and steady and loving. Falco and Luca are so very different and they each spoke to a different part of her heart.

By the conclusion of Starling, I was very pleased with the way the love triangle was handled. Cass made the decision that truly was best for her (and for him) knowing that her time with the other would never be forgotten. It ended quite beautifully!

The world building is one of my favorite qualities about this series. Fiona Paul did an incredible job taking us to a place and time that is romantic, mysterious, haunting, and sometimes terrifying. Daytime Venice is colorful and bustling, full of interesting and diverse characters. Nighttime Venice is dark and dangerous, full of shady and dishonest characters. I love the way she set the scene with her descriptions of the character's clothing and their activities. I was very impressed with her level of research to ensure that this story is told as accurately as possible.

While the love triangle and Cass' relationships are a big part of the story, ultimately, they are not what this tale is about. Venom has no shortage of adventure, but it really only hints to the Order of The Eternal Rose. It isn't until books 2 and 3 that we begin to understand how big of a role this group plays. In Starling, Cass' primary objective is to clear Luca's name and find the book that will incriminate the real villains as evil, murderous heretics. We have to consider the relevance and power of the Catholic church in this time and I thought that Fiona did a fantastic job of blending religion with politics, science, and sociology. Fear not for there is no shortage of adventure and conflict, though. Cass dares to do what most others wouldn't even consider, but at a price. She lands herself in impossible situations and still manages to find it within herself to conquer her fear.

Overall, this is my favorite of the three books and a perfect ending to the series. I highly recommend these books, especially if you're a fan of historical fiction and mystery/drama. ...more

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Jul 26, 2013 Hannah (The Curiouser & Curiouser) rated it it was ok

Shelves: annoying-bad-boy, historical-fiction, annoying-guy, love-triangle, so-so, vampires

What the synopsis leaves out is something crucial. What it leaves out can change your decision on whether to pick up this book or not. What it leaves out can be found on the inside of the cover jacket at the very bottom.

 “Who will fly besides her when she finally finds her wings?”

Think bird-girl.

Yes, everyone. This is really there.

What? You say you didn’t realize that finding true love meant growing wings and flying sky-high? Well, aren’t you a silly, naïve little wingless bird!

I died when read What the synopsis leaves out is something crucial. What it leaves out can change your decision on whether to pick up this book or not. What it leaves out can be found on the inside of the cover jacket at the very bottom.

  “Who will fly besides her when she finally finds her wings?”

Think bird-girl.

Yes, everyone. This is really there.

What? You say you didn’t realize that finding true love meant growing wings and flying sky-high? Well, aren’t you a silly, naïve little wingless bird!

I died when reading that. I really did.

I have the same problems with this book as I do with it’s predecessors. Cass is freakin’ stupid. I’ve seen some stupid heroines in my day, and while she is nowhere near the worst (*cough*The Selection*cough*), she gets on my nerves.

Honestly, the girl would probably be a decent heroine if not for the love triangle. She’s not particularly whiny or annoying besides the fact that she just can’t seem to choose between Falco and Luca. The bad-boy and the good-boy. The annoying, prejudiced one or the kind, understand one.

Which one do you think she’s been drooling over for the last two books?

Effing Falco.

Even though it’s quite obvious who she should end up with. But nope. Cass is too bloody difficult and stubborn to see that the boy she’s been engaged to since she was born, the one who doesn’t ask anything of her, the one who’s not continuously trying to get into her pants, is actually a decent guy. But nooooo. The girl has to be forever indecisive of who she wants. When she’s with one boy, she wants him; when she’s with the other, she wants him.

It’s so annoying. Not to mention selfish.

Now, I want to make it clear that not all the blame lays on Cass. The boys are also pretty stupid – and by boys, I actually just mean Falco. Because Lord knows poor Luca has been pushed to the side throughout the whole series.

Seriously. Compare the time spent with Falco compared with Luca. It’s a landslide.

But Cass . . . Cass. Pick a boy already.

  “You are so much more than I deserve.”

I agree.

The girl needs to get her priorities straight. Does she want a boy who loves her endlessly and is simple to be with, one who she knows she can always trust or does she want a flightily, reckless boy that she can’t talk to without arguing with (but who happens to give smothering kisses that take up countless page space).

What is so unappealing about ending up with the good guy? I mean, really?

If it was me, I would have punched Falco a long time ago (possibly in a certain region) and run far, far away. He’s a douche, simple as that.

Now, what saved this book for me was the ending. One, because it was . . . well . . . the ending. And two, because it has a different outcome than I was expecting. One that I’m still upset with for different reasons, but one that did, indeed, surprise me, and I have to give it credit for that.

I felt like the author simply wanted the book to be done with, and she changed her mind at the last minute on some very important parts of the story. It didn’t fit quite right, and while I do think Cass finally grew a brain in this book, it was almost too late to redeem her in my eyes.

She should have figured out which boy she loved a long time ago, and to suddenly choose at the very end just felt . . . uneventful. Any joy I could have gotten out from it was blemished by the fact that it literally happens during the last, like, twenty pages. And it’s too late by then for me to even care.

No hoots were given over this ending.

Check out my blog, where I also review YA books: http://obsessivereads.wordpress.com/ ...more

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Apr 13, 2014 Christie rated it really liked it

Shelves: italy, mysteries, romance, 16th-century, historical-fiction, kick-ass-heroines, young-adult

No spoilers for Starling, but proceed with caution if you have not read Venom or Belladonna.

When the last drop of light drained from the sky, Cass and Luca crept out of the shed where they had been hiding.

This installment begins immediately after the end Belladonna. Luca and Cass are still on the run after breaking out of the Doge's prison. Hoping to find the Book of the Eternal Rose and clear Luca's name they begin a search across Venice fraught with danger and betrayal. Will they be able to ...more

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Sep 04, 2014 Annia Lennox (DaydreamingThroughBooks) rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2014-reads, reviewed, young-adult

I basically had to force myself to read this. I really enjoyed Venom, the first book, but after the series went downhill. The romance has been bothering me since book two, but in this book the mystery plot was also weak and Cass started to get annoying.

I’m still completely uninterested in the romance/love triangle. Belladonna clearly showed that Ms. Paul though Luca was end game and then had to take back everything she built in the first book. Honestly, there’s just no chemistry between Luca a ...more

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Jan 26, 2014 Lily rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: EVERYONE

Starling is the third and final installment in the Secrets of the Eternal Rose series by Fiona Paul. These books are a hybrid of mystery, historical fiction, romance and YA. They couldn't be more perfect.
Taking place back during the Italian renaissance, the books follow 17-year-old noblewoman Cassandra Caravello. Cassandra is torn from her sheltered life of grand villas and lavish parties after her friends death when she discoveries the body of a murdered courtesan. And then she meets Falco, w ...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Ashley rated it did not like it

Oh stupid series, how happy I am you're over.

Things I didn't like:
Siena's sister is upset her sister is dead. Rather than just tell her Siena gave her life to save the man she loved, Cass says she doesn't want to say because she doesn't want to speak ill of the dead. How exactly is that speaking ill of the dead? She loved Luca. She never, ever acted on that love. She sacrificed her life to save his. She's a hero. Ill of the dead. Shesh.

Cass finds out Christian had been sending pages of her diar ...more

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May 31, 2014 Elaine Ruth Boe rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Props to Paul for making this series more than just another bad boy romance. It was very mature of Cass to choose Luca over Falco, and I for one am glad that she did. Falco's character was rather flat; there was much more depth to Luca's love and pain than Falco's desire to sleep with Cass. I'm glad Cass figured that out, even if it took two and a half books to get there. I also admire Paul for not just killing one of the boys off to make Cass's choice simple and inevitable. Cass made her decisi ...more

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