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The Rose Master #1
The Rose Master
"Cano does a fine job of setting mood and atmosphere, and her characters dance around one another with relentless industry and brooding allure, fighting their inevitable attraction." — Publishers Weekly
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The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.
Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.
---
The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that's hardly the most upsetting news. She's being dismissed from the home she's served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she's never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:
There's something wrong with Rosewood Manor.
Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.
As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them--some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.
When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn't prepared for. The creature is very real, and she's the only one who can help him stop it.
Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she's grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.
200 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2014
3 people are currently reading
1522 people want to read
About the author
Valentina Cano
36 books176 followersValentina Cano is a student of classical singing who spends whatever free time she has either reading or writing. She also watches over a veritable army of pets. Her work has appeared in numerous publications and her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best Of the Web.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 14, 2017
Some people are haunted by ghosts. Many more people are haunted by themselves...
For the first sixteen years of her life, Anne led a fairly unremarkable life. That's not to say it was an unsatisfying one...there certainly are worse ways to earn a living than as a scullery maid or as a housekeeper, and she did meet Elsie, whose friendship she has come to cherish. But on the day Anne turned seventeen, her unremarkable life is ripped away from her. Birds fall from the sky like some kind of macabre omen. She is forced to say goodbye to her closest friend and accept a new job at Rosewood Manor. And once she arrives at the manor, things get very remarkable indeed. The staff members are all marred by unexplained marks and bruises. An unseen predator whispers in Anne's ear by day and scratches at her door by night. And soon Anne learns that nothing in the manor is what it seems...including Anne herself! Anne's life is about to get far more remarkable...and far more dangerous!
Typically, when I review a book, I begin with what I liked most about the story. However, since this novel is anything but typical, instead of talking about the story (which is certainly compelling), first I want to talk about the book's prose. Valentina Cano's biography states that she is trained in classical singing, and that she has had poetry published, neither of which surprises me, because her poetic writing plays like beautiful music in your mind when you read it. I knew I was in for a magical read by the very first two lines of the book...
"The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky. A flock of them seemed to cross an invisible line, a boundary of packed winter breezes that wrapped them up in a coat of ice, freezing whatever kernel of magic allowed them power over the air."
WOW! That's so much more captivating and original than "It was a dark and stormy night", isn't it?!?
That type of vivid writing is maintained all throughout the novel. Valentina's words paint lush descriptions of the sights, sounds, and even the scents of her Gothic setting. Never content to simply describe a night as "cold" or a hallway as "dark", Valentina's rich detailing completely immerses the reader into the story, to the point where you can practically smell the roses and feel the chills that permeate Rosewood Manor. Valentina is a true master of a storytelling technique that eludes so many authors, that of "show, don't tell". Valentina's writing is so colorful, every word seems like a rainbow...
It...it sounds so much prettier in text, doesn't it?!?"
Now, prose alone can't make a book five-star worthy. It doesn't matter how graphic the descriptions are if the characters or story is bland. But not to worry, Valentina is masterful at building these as well. Anne is a brilliantly alluring lead heroine. She exhibits strength even when she feels powerless. There is sweetness in her caring heart and some spice in her razor-sharp wit. Plus, Anne's character progression feels completely natural. Having read many fantasy novels, I've grown numb to characters who are automatically great at what they do or stumble upon some magical device that gives them an advantage. But with Anne, she truly evolves as a character, organically developing the skills she'll need to fight the evil that haunts Rosewood Manor.
Characters work best when they have someone equally interesting to collaborate with, and Anne finds a perfect sparring partner in the lord of Rosewood Manor. Lord Grey (not to be confused with that "other" Grey from the 50 Shades books) is mysterious and moody, yet also exhibits an air of nobility and compassion about him. The story is quite dark at times, but fortunately Lord Grey's snark often meshes with Anne's feistiness to provide some much-needed humor. In a book filled with mystery, horror, and suspense, Anne and Lord Grey still manage to be the most interesting parts of the story.
The story itself is also most satisfying. I won't give too many details, since it's much better to explore a mystery of this caliber firsthand. I will say that Valentina draws from many genres and is equally adept in all of them. At one level, this book reads as a horror story. The encounters with the evil in Rosewood Manor (and those encounters are many) are both terrifying and disturbing. I literally gasped out loud many times while reading this book, as Valentina's talent with words evoke more jump-out-of-your-seat moments than almost any horror movie can accomplish...
Although, to be fair, horror movies are often marred by low budgets...
But if the horror doesn't cause the reader any sleepless nights, the mystery and suspense certainly will. The secrets of Rosewood Manor are so gripping, you will gladly sacrifice many hours of sleep just to keep reading. And the growing bond between Anne and Lord Grey adds much charm to an often-dark book. The book is perfectly paced as well, with mysteries being built and secrets being revealed to complete satisfaction. If I had to pick out any weakness in the book, it would be that the supporting cast isn't nearly as fleshed out as the two leads. Still, this turns out to be a very minor grievance as Anne and Lord Grey (as well as the events around them) are more than capable of filling an entire book...or even 10 entire books!
Dave's Final Judgement -
THE DEFENSE
- Artistically written with beautiful prose
- Intriguing lead characters
- Balances both darkness and light, filling the story with horror as well as humor
- Genuinely chilling and suspenseful
- The mystery is so enticing, it practically dares the reader to put the book down
THE PROSECUTION
- Supporting cast members take a back seat for much of the story
- Disturbing and terrifying moments may not be for everybody
- Will enrage you that more people have read about Christian Grey than Lord Grey!
THE VERDICT
An absolute masterpiece! Any fans of mystery or horror (or simply fantastic writing) will find much enjoyment within the halls of Rosewood Manor! This would be a perfect read for Halloween time!
10/13/17 EDIT
This Friday the 13th is my lucky day, the sequel I've been eagerly awaiting comes out on 11/28/17 and the cover has just been revealed! Between this and "Oathbringer", Christmas falls in November for me this year!
Of Bells and Thorns
For the first sixteen years of her life, Anne led a fairly unremarkable life. That's not to say it was an unsatisfying one...there certainly are worse ways to earn a living than as a scullery maid or as a housekeeper, and she did meet Elsie, whose friendship she has come to cherish. But on the day Anne turned seventeen, her unremarkable life is ripped away from her. Birds fall from the sky like some kind of macabre omen. She is forced to say goodbye to her closest friend and accept a new job at Rosewood Manor. And once she arrives at the manor, things get very remarkable indeed. The staff members are all marred by unexplained marks and bruises. An unseen predator whispers in Anne's ear by day and scratches at her door by night. And soon Anne learns that nothing in the manor is what it seems...including Anne herself! Anne's life is about to get far more remarkable...and far more dangerous!
Typically, when I review a book, I begin with what I liked most about the story. However, since this novel is anything but typical, instead of talking about the story (which is certainly compelling), first I want to talk about the book's prose. Valentina Cano's biography states that she is trained in classical singing, and that she has had poetry published, neither of which surprises me, because her poetic writing plays like beautiful music in your mind when you read it. I knew I was in for a magical read by the very first two lines of the book...
"The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky. A flock of them seemed to cross an invisible line, a boundary of packed winter breezes that wrapped them up in a coat of ice, freezing whatever kernel of magic allowed them power over the air."
WOW! That's so much more captivating and original than "It was a dark and stormy night", isn't it?!?
That type of vivid writing is maintained all throughout the novel. Valentina's words paint lush descriptions of the sights, sounds, and even the scents of her Gothic setting. Never content to simply describe a night as "cold" or a hallway as "dark", Valentina's rich detailing completely immerses the reader into the story, to the point where you can practically smell the roses and feel the chills that permeate Rosewood Manor. Valentina is a true master of a storytelling technique that eludes so many authors, that of "show, don't tell". Valentina's writing is so colorful, every word seems like a rainbow...
It...it sounds so much prettier in text, doesn't it?!?"
Now, prose alone can't make a book five-star worthy. It doesn't matter how graphic the descriptions are if the characters or story is bland. But not to worry, Valentina is masterful at building these as well. Anne is a brilliantly alluring lead heroine. She exhibits strength even when she feels powerless. There is sweetness in her caring heart and some spice in her razor-sharp wit. Plus, Anne's character progression feels completely natural. Having read many fantasy novels, I've grown numb to characters who are automatically great at what they do or stumble upon some magical device that gives them an advantage. But with Anne, she truly evolves as a character, organically developing the skills she'll need to fight the evil that haunts Rosewood Manor.
Characters work best when they have someone equally interesting to collaborate with, and Anne finds a perfect sparring partner in the lord of Rosewood Manor. Lord Grey (not to be confused with that "other" Grey from the 50 Shades books) is mysterious and moody, yet also exhibits an air of nobility and compassion about him. The story is quite dark at times, but fortunately Lord Grey's snark often meshes with Anne's feistiness to provide some much-needed humor. In a book filled with mystery, horror, and suspense, Anne and Lord Grey still manage to be the most interesting parts of the story.
The story itself is also most satisfying. I won't give too many details, since it's much better to explore a mystery of this caliber firsthand. I will say that Valentina draws from many genres and is equally adept in all of them. At one level, this book reads as a horror story. The encounters with the evil in Rosewood Manor (and those encounters are many) are both terrifying and disturbing. I literally gasped out loud many times while reading this book, as Valentina's talent with words evoke more jump-out-of-your-seat moments than almost any horror movie can accomplish...
Although, to be fair, horror movies are often marred by low budgets...
But if the horror doesn't cause the reader any sleepless nights, the mystery and suspense certainly will. The secrets of Rosewood Manor are so gripping, you will gladly sacrifice many hours of sleep just to keep reading. And the growing bond between Anne and Lord Grey adds much charm to an often-dark book. The book is perfectly paced as well, with mysteries being built and secrets being revealed to complete satisfaction. If I had to pick out any weakness in the book, it would be that the supporting cast isn't nearly as fleshed out as the two leads. Still, this turns out to be a very minor grievance as Anne and Lord Grey (as well as the events around them) are more than capable of filling an entire book...or even 10 entire books!
Dave's Final Judgement -
THE DEFENSE
- Artistically written with beautiful prose
- Intriguing lead characters
- Balances both darkness and light, filling the story with horror as well as humor
- Genuinely chilling and suspenseful
- The mystery is so enticing, it practically dares the reader to put the book down
THE PROSECUTION
- Supporting cast members take a back seat for much of the story
- Disturbing and terrifying moments may not be for everybody
- Will enrage you that more people have read about Christian Grey than Lord Grey!
THE VERDICT
An absolute masterpiece! Any fans of mystery or horror (or simply fantastic writing) will find much enjoyment within the halls of Rosewood Manor! This would be a perfect read for Halloween time!
10/13/17 EDIT
This Friday the 13th is my lucky day, the sequel I've been eagerly awaiting comes out on 11/28/17 and the cover has just been revealed! Between this and "Oathbringer", Christmas falls in November for me this year!
Of Bells and Thorns
October 29, 2017
I just wrote a crazy long review for this book and then GoodReads deleted the entire thing. I'm so sad now.
The Rose Master is a lush and dark reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. Anne is removed from the only family and home that she has ever known and sent into a dark and creepy mansion to act as the new servant. The house is occupied by three other servants and the lord of the castle, Lord Grey. He is mysterious, aloof, and unapproachable. He prefers it this way. He wallows in solitude and loneliness. Wears it like a heavy cloak.
Anne is no better. She has been alone for so long that she no longer looks for people in the world. When she is sent to a new home, she feels like she has been traded like a horse. Her life does not mean much to the rich.
The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky. A flock of them seemed to cross an invisible line, a boundary of packed winter breezes that wrapped them up in a coat of ice, freezing whatever kernel of magic allowed them power over the air. In great, like collapsing hair, they let out feathery sighs and gave in the fall.
This new home is just another place to her but when scary things start happening, Anne realizes that there is something horrible and dark lurking in the shadows. There is something there that does not want happiness or hope in the home and is more than willing to snuff it out.
Without going too deeply into the book, I just want to say a few things.
While this is a fairy tale reimagining and there are heavy elements of magic in the story, there is also a very strong sense of "God this thing could be real" running through it. The prose is lyrical and lush. It evokes the feeling of dark shadows and something malevolent hiding in them. The characters are perfectly flawed and are always looking over their shoulders.
Have you ever read a book where the main character's nerves trigger your own? You can feel their fear and anxiety? It was done perfectly in this book.
Also, it did not rely heavily on the original fairy tale. There are some books that you read and you probably could have just watched the Disney version and gotten the same story out of it. This was not like that. Sure, you could tell what the influence was but it deviated enough where it still felt original. There was still tension, despite knowing the whole story.
This book really was masterful. It is spooky and a true horror novel. The characters are lifelike and very human in their actions. The prose is smooth and lyrical.
I cannot say enough about The Rose Master. My first review was easily twice as long but I have run out of steam and I feel like I could just gush over this and not really convince anybody of its virtues and further. This would be amazing as a long campfire style story and the perfect book for cold winter months.
The Rose Master is a lush and dark reimagining of Beauty and the Beast. Anne is removed from the only family and home that she has ever known and sent into a dark and creepy mansion to act as the new servant. The house is occupied by three other servants and the lord of the castle, Lord Grey. He is mysterious, aloof, and unapproachable. He prefers it this way. He wallows in solitude and loneliness. Wears it like a heavy cloak.
Anne is no better. She has been alone for so long that she no longer looks for people in the world. When she is sent to a new home, she feels like she has been traded like a horse. Her life does not mean much to the rich.
The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky. A flock of them seemed to cross an invisible line, a boundary of packed winter breezes that wrapped them up in a coat of ice, freezing whatever kernel of magic allowed them power over the air. In great, like collapsing hair, they let out feathery sighs and gave in the fall.
This new home is just another place to her but when scary things start happening, Anne realizes that there is something horrible and dark lurking in the shadows. There is something there that does not want happiness or hope in the home and is more than willing to snuff it out.
Without going too deeply into the book, I just want to say a few things.
While this is a fairy tale reimagining and there are heavy elements of magic in the story, there is also a very strong sense of "God this thing could be real" running through it. The prose is lyrical and lush. It evokes the feeling of dark shadows and something malevolent hiding in them. The characters are perfectly flawed and are always looking over their shoulders.
Have you ever read a book where the main character's nerves trigger your own? You can feel their fear and anxiety? It was done perfectly in this book.
Also, it did not rely heavily on the original fairy tale. There are some books that you read and you probably could have just watched the Disney version and gotten the same story out of it. This was not like that. Sure, you could tell what the influence was but it deviated enough where it still felt original. There was still tension, despite knowing the whole story.
This book really was masterful. It is spooky and a true horror novel. The characters are lifelike and very human in their actions. The prose is smooth and lyrical.
I cannot say enough about The Rose Master. My first review was easily twice as long but I have run out of steam and I feel like I could just gush over this and not really convince anybody of its virtues and further. This would be amazing as a long campfire style story and the perfect book for cold winter months.
December 18, 2015
Where do I start? This book is amazing! A blend of Gothic literature and fairy tale with a splash of horror, it can best be described as Beauty and the Beast meets Jane Eyre. And since those are two of my all-time most beloved stories, it's no surprise that I fell hard for this one.
The Rose Master starts with Anne, a parlor maid in a prominent London estate, being surrounded by falling birds. But that's only the beginning of the strange events that mark her seventeenth birthday. She's soon summoned by Lady Caldwell and informed that she's being shipped off to one of Lady Caldwell's distant relations in the middle of nowhere. Dismissed from the home she's grown up in and torn away from the servants she views as family, Anne has no choice but to embark on the journey to Rosewood Manor.
She can tell instantly that there's something wrong with the place. Silence cloaks its run-down exterior, and a profusion of roses covers everything, stifling the winter air with their pungent scent. The staff is small -- only three others -- and covered in suspicious bruises and scratches, the manor is colder inside than the frigid air without, and the Lord of the manor is nowhere to be seen. Confused, Anne tries to settle into the house's routine, which can only be described as unconventional. She knows there's something her fellow servants aren't telling her, but she has no idea what.
When strange noises start following her around and eerie scratching haunts her door at night, she begins to realize that the manor is haunted. But it's not until she finally meets Lord Grey and demands answers that she learns the truth -- she's the only one who can help save the manor from the creature roaming its halls.
The description sounds fairly benign, but don't let that fool you. The Rose Master is definitely a horror; it will leave you creeped out and questioning what the heck is going on as surely as Anne herself does. Written in a style reminiscent of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, it's lyrical prose is well-crafted, with some of the most beautiful analogies I've ever come across. A modern fairy tale, set against a Victorian backdrop, it's sure to become a classic and would be perfect for adaptation to the silver screen (Disney, if you're out there, this one has you written all over it!). Whether you're a fan of the romantic, Gothic stylings of the Bronte sisters, or are simply looking for a creepy take on the fairy tale genre, I can't recommend this one enough.
The Rose Master starts with Anne, a parlor maid in a prominent London estate, being surrounded by falling birds. But that's only the beginning of the strange events that mark her seventeenth birthday. She's soon summoned by Lady Caldwell and informed that she's being shipped off to one of Lady Caldwell's distant relations in the middle of nowhere. Dismissed from the home she's grown up in and torn away from the servants she views as family, Anne has no choice but to embark on the journey to Rosewood Manor.
She can tell instantly that there's something wrong with the place. Silence cloaks its run-down exterior, and a profusion of roses covers everything, stifling the winter air with their pungent scent. The staff is small -- only three others -- and covered in suspicious bruises and scratches, the manor is colder inside than the frigid air without, and the Lord of the manor is nowhere to be seen. Confused, Anne tries to settle into the house's routine, which can only be described as unconventional. She knows there's something her fellow servants aren't telling her, but she has no idea what.
When strange noises start following her around and eerie scratching haunts her door at night, she begins to realize that the manor is haunted. But it's not until she finally meets Lord Grey and demands answers that she learns the truth -- she's the only one who can help save the manor from the creature roaming its halls.
The description sounds fairly benign, but don't let that fool you. The Rose Master is definitely a horror; it will leave you creeped out and questioning what the heck is going on as surely as Anne herself does. Written in a style reminiscent of the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen, it's lyrical prose is well-crafted, with some of the most beautiful analogies I've ever come across. A modern fairy tale, set against a Victorian backdrop, it's sure to become a classic and would be perfect for adaptation to the silver screen (Disney, if you're out there, this one has you written all over it!). Whether you're a fan of the romantic, Gothic stylings of the Bronte sisters, or are simply looking for a creepy take on the fairy tale genre, I can't recommend this one enough.
June 25, 2014
Recieved an ARC in exchange for an honest review
See my blog post and my stop on the blog tour here: http://alexperc92.blogspot.gr/2014/06...
Gothic novels always held a mysterious part on my selves. The "Rose Master" was my first book of the genre and I was not disappointed. Emotional, deep in Victorian style as also the mystery of both the Lord and the manor, the author manages to capture both the sense of the era and the characters' struggles.
We have Anne. She is a young servant who is sent to work at Roesewood Manor. Despite the secrets which lurk, literally on every corner, she is strong, confident on her work as also shy. I liked her witty attitude and the way her feelings envolved during the passing of the plot.
Then, it's Lord Grey. His name matches the mood, since he is a fine example of a tortured soul, who struggles with the choices he made and the past which haunts him. I will not say anything about *ahem* his... skills but despite his appearance he is determinated.
The setting fits the cover and the feeling Valentina tries to pass on the reader and the ending is truly satisfying, with the fleeting feeling of a new book and more adventures for Anne and August. I will be waiting eagerly for more from Valentina since her writting is really promising. :D
See my blog post and my stop on the blog tour here: http://alexperc92.blogspot.gr/2014/06...
Gothic novels always held a mysterious part on my selves. The "Rose Master" was my first book of the genre and I was not disappointed. Emotional, deep in Victorian style as also the mystery of both the Lord and the manor, the author manages to capture both the sense of the era and the characters' struggles.
We have Anne. She is a young servant who is sent to work at Roesewood Manor. Despite the secrets which lurk, literally on every corner, she is strong, confident on her work as also shy. I liked her witty attitude and the way her feelings envolved during the passing of the plot.
Then, it's Lord Grey. His name matches the mood, since he is a fine example of a tortured soul, who struggles with the choices he made and the past which haunts him. I will not say anything about *ahem* his... skills but despite his appearance he is determinated.
The setting fits the cover and the feeling Valentina tries to pass on the reader and the ending is truly satisfying, with the fleeting feeling of a new book and more adventures for Anne and August. I will be waiting eagerly for more from Valentina since her writting is really promising. :D
January 29, 2015
I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
When author Valentina Cano asked for reviews on her debut novel The Rose Master at one of the goodreads book review goodreads groups I was in, I told her that I would be happy to read and review this book for her as it looked to be an interesting read so we got in contact and she sent it to me.
Here is what The Rose Master is about:
On Anne Tinning's 17th birthday weird and mysterious things begin to happen: moths and crows die at her feet. Her employer then informs her that her services at Caldwell House are at an end and she will be transferring to become a parlor maid at a distant relative of hers at Rosewood manor. Leaving behind her friend Elsie, Anne packs her things and travels to the mysterious and haunted estate that is Rosewood manor. Can Anne survive at Rosewood Manor with her life and stop whatever plagues the haunted house with its rose master? read the book and find out for yourself.
I enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of the book The Poisoned House: A Ghost Story as both books were set in the Victorian era in a haunted house with a young maid as the heroine and its filled with mystery and horror. If you like these types of stories with mystery, horror, haunted houses and Victorian gothics, you'll enjoy The Rose Master. Look for it on amazon and wherever books are sold.
When author Valentina Cano asked for reviews on her debut novel The Rose Master at one of the goodreads book review goodreads groups I was in, I told her that I would be happy to read and review this book for her as it looked to be an interesting read so we got in contact and she sent it to me.
Here is what The Rose Master is about:
On Anne Tinning's 17th birthday weird and mysterious things begin to happen: moths and crows die at her feet. Her employer then informs her that her services at Caldwell House are at an end and she will be transferring to become a parlor maid at a distant relative of hers at Rosewood manor. Leaving behind her friend Elsie, Anne packs her things and travels to the mysterious and haunted estate that is Rosewood manor. Can Anne survive at Rosewood Manor with her life and stop whatever plagues the haunted house with its rose master? read the book and find out for yourself.
I enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of the book The Poisoned House: A Ghost Story as both books were set in the Victorian era in a haunted house with a young maid as the heroine and its filled with mystery and horror. If you like these types of stories with mystery, horror, haunted houses and Victorian gothics, you'll enjoy The Rose Master. Look for it on amazon and wherever books are sold.
Read
May 30, 2014Jane Eyre meets Beauty and the Beast with a horrifying, supernatural twist in the YA Historical Fiction / Horror novel THE ROSE MASTER. We urge you to read TRM with the lights on— night OR day. A little bit of romance with a lot of spooky. . . can you handle it?
December 13, 2021
Lovely prose, and an intriguing storyline that mixes Gothic with Horror and Suspense, all deftly handled. At least until the ending, which shouldn't have been so underdeveloped and abrupt. The story would do better as a single book as well instead of stretching it out.
The premise doesn't follow the traditional B&B plot, but the curse placed on Lord Grey does adhere in general to the spirit of the curse in the fairy tale, which I appreciate because there's many retellings that adhere to the plot but not to the metaphors contained in the curse and redemption. Also, Anne is a very well-done character that will likely remind you a bit of Jane Eyre; and the romance is very understated and slow-moving, more credible to the setting and situations she and Lord Grey are in.
The premise doesn't follow the traditional B&B plot, but the curse placed on Lord Grey does adhere in general to the spirit of the curse in the fairy tale, which I appreciate because there's many retellings that adhere to the plot but not to the metaphors contained in the curse and redemption. Also, Anne is a very well-done character that will likely remind you a bit of Jane Eyre; and the romance is very understated and slow-moving, more credible to the setting and situations she and Lord Grey are in.
December 31, 2014
4.5/5 stars
“On the half-frozen pane were dozens of moths, their muslin wings extended in paused flight, their impassive faces staring at me. I’d never seen so many before, their spun sugar bodies covering every inch of the glass.”
My review:
This was such a deliciously creepy little story. At 200 pages, I flew through the entire book in the matter of a day. At the end I was definitely left wanting more; not because the story came to a poor conclusion, but because I wanted to read more about the characters and plot that had so intrigued me.
The reason I enjoyed this book the most was the writing; it was absolutely lyrical. There were many times that I stopped to reread a description so that I could hang onto the beautiful words for just a moment longer.
“And then, there were the roses. There’s never been a more appropriate name for a place than the name which crowned that manor. On either side, almost leading us, were rose bushes, their red flowers pooling petals on the snow like drops of blood.”
The poetic writing drew me. I believed the creepiness of the story, the fantastical elements, and the characters’ struggles all because of the writing. I feel that if another person had wrote this novel, that my buy-in would not have been as great. Something that could have easily gone in the wrong direction was steered down an utterly perfect course because of the author. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read a ‘spooky’ book that wasn’t spooky. UGH.
Another reason I really enjoyed this book was the time period in which it took place. I have this ‘thing’ for books that have to do with maids, old houses, etc. This book took those things and combined it with a creepy plot. I was basically on cloud nine.
This book was reminiscent of several others I’ve read, but in the best possible way. Lord Grey, a main character in the story, reminds me of Anluan from Heart’s Blood. They both share the same sort of mysterious brooding characteristics that I happen to love. The relationship reminds me faintly of that in The Paper Magician . Lastly, there was the creepy old home element that is present in so many amazing stories I’ve read. It was enjoyable to see so many different elements I’ve liked in other books come together as one.
Overall: This was a thoroughly enjoyable and quick read. I feel as if there is still more of this story to be told . I would definitely be interested in reading a second book with the same characters.
P.S. I could absolutely see this book as a movie. I would be first in line to see it, so make way folks.
On the opposite side, next to a grouping of yet more skeletal trees, was the outline of a man. He turned in my direction and held my gaze through the dimming, bland light. I blinked, and he was gone.
“On the half-frozen pane were dozens of moths, their muslin wings extended in paused flight, their impassive faces staring at me. I’d never seen so many before, their spun sugar bodies covering every inch of the glass.”
My review:
This was such a deliciously creepy little story. At 200 pages, I flew through the entire book in the matter of a day. At the end I was definitely left wanting more; not because the story came to a poor conclusion, but because I wanted to read more about the characters and plot that had so intrigued me.
The reason I enjoyed this book the most was the writing; it was absolutely lyrical. There were many times that I stopped to reread a description so that I could hang onto the beautiful words for just a moment longer.
“And then, there were the roses. There’s never been a more appropriate name for a place than the name which crowned that manor. On either side, almost leading us, were rose bushes, their red flowers pooling petals on the snow like drops of blood.”
The poetic writing drew me. I believed the creepiness of the story, the fantastical elements, and the characters’ struggles all because of the writing. I feel that if another person had wrote this novel, that my buy-in would not have been as great. Something that could have easily gone in the wrong direction was steered down an utterly perfect course because of the author. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read a ‘spooky’ book that wasn’t spooky. UGH.
Another reason I really enjoyed this book was the time period in which it took place. I have this ‘thing’ for books that have to do with maids, old houses, etc. This book took those things and combined it with a creepy plot. I was basically on cloud nine.
This book was reminiscent of several others I’ve read, but in the best possible way. Lord Grey, a main character in the story, reminds me of Anluan from Heart’s Blood. They both share the same sort of mysterious brooding characteristics that I happen to love. The relationship reminds me faintly of that in The Paper Magician . Lastly, there was the creepy old home element that is present in so many amazing stories I’ve read. It was enjoyable to see so many different elements I’ve liked in other books come together as one.
Overall: This was a thoroughly enjoyable and quick read. I feel as if there is still more of this story to be told . I would definitely be interested in reading a second book with the same characters.
P.S. I could absolutely see this book as a movie. I would be first in line to see it, so make way folks.
On the opposite side, next to a grouping of yet more skeletal trees, was the outline of a man. He turned in my direction and held my gaze through the dimming, bland light. I blinked, and he was gone.
July 15, 2014
Where to begin? Firstly, the cover--beautiful, yet scary.
Secondly, or should this be my first point, the writing. Amazing.
I loved The Rose Master--every single word.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is my favourite read so far this year. Cano created characters that not only sprung to life but danced continually before my eyes. I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers, but Cano managed to scare me with the scenes she wrote, as well as entrance me with the beauty of her words. She has a clear concise way of writing that provokes intense emotion, and a complete understanding of what she wants the reader to experience.
I am confident that this book will remain one of my all-time favourites and I’ll read it several times. The only thing I have to complain about . . . I didn’t want it to end, and whereas it had a defined ending, I want more!
If I could give this book 6 stars I would!
Secondly, or should this be my first point, the writing. Amazing.
I loved The Rose Master--every single word.
There is no doubt in my mind that this is my favourite read so far this year. Cano created characters that not only sprung to life but danced continually before my eyes. I can’t say too much without giving away spoilers, but Cano managed to scare me with the scenes she wrote, as well as entrance me with the beauty of her words. She has a clear concise way of writing that provokes intense emotion, and a complete understanding of what she wants the reader to experience.
I am confident that this book will remain one of my all-time favourites and I’ll read it several times. The only thing I have to complain about . . . I didn’t want it to end, and whereas it had a defined ending, I want more!
If I could give this book 6 stars I would!
August 14, 2014
What more can I say than I absolutely adore this book! The voice and descriptions are so perfect to the period, bringing this story to life! Cano's writing is simply gorgeous. I could read her descriptions over and over again, and never tire of them! The slow blooming and reluctant love story is so refreshing, and the tension practically drips from pages. Rose Master is one of my favorite reads this year, and I eagerly await Cano's next book, whatever it may be!
January 4, 2015
**Thank you Netgalley and REUTS Publications for providing this in exchange for an honest review**
A Victorian Gothic, retelling of Beauty and the Beast? How could I not love it?
Anne has been a parlor maid at Caldwell House since she was a little girl. On her 17th Birthday, she finds out she is being let go from the only home she has ever own. She is now going to be employed by a distant relative of her current employer. She will have to leave the busy hustle and bustle of London for an isolated Manor in the country, Rosewood Manor. Anne can tell right away that there is something wrong with Rosewood, and it doesn't take her long to realize her life could be in danger.
This book was absolutely delightful. The characters smart, witty, and refreshingly proactive. The world building was wonderful. I felt like I had actually seen the grounds of Rosewood, rather then just read about them. The romance was allowed to gradually grow over time. It felt very natural, not forced or rushed, and there wasn't a love triangle. I knocked one star off the rating because the end didn't feel complete. If it turns out there is going to be a sequel, I will change my rating to 5 stars
A Victorian Gothic, retelling of Beauty and the Beast? How could I not love it?
Anne has been a parlor maid at Caldwell House since she was a little girl. On her 17th Birthday, she finds out she is being let go from the only home she has ever own. She is now going to be employed by a distant relative of her current employer. She will have to leave the busy hustle and bustle of London for an isolated Manor in the country, Rosewood Manor. Anne can tell right away that there is something wrong with Rosewood, and it doesn't take her long to realize her life could be in danger.
This book was absolutely delightful. The characters smart, witty, and refreshingly proactive. The world building was wonderful. I felt like I had actually seen the grounds of Rosewood, rather then just read about them. The romance was allowed to gradually grow over time. It felt very natural, not forced or rushed, and there wasn't a love triangle. I knocked one star off the rating because the end didn't feel complete. If it turns out there is going to be a sequel, I will change my rating to 5 stars
August 3, 2014
When I began reading my first impression was that this author has a lovely way with words and conjuring imagery. I was quickly wrapped up in the story and although horror is not my first choice in genres, this story is wonderfully set in a historical manor with a romantic, gothic feeling that completely won me over. A creepy and thrilling feeling lingers closely throughout. Both Anne and August are intriguing characters. August is rather mysterious and Anne proving herself a worthy heroine. I am thrilled to have discovered a wonderful new author. 5 stars
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2017
This book has everything I've been hungry for in a read lately: gothic setting, dark magic, a well-written heroine, and a subtle but genuine romance. I'm a huge fan of Austen and the Brontes, and THE ROSE MASTER has the same feel, plus all of the supernatural elements I could hope for. The mystery kept me guessing all the way up til the end; I finished the last half of the book all in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
I look forward to reading more from Cano, hopefully continuing the adventures of Anne and Lord Grey!
I look forward to reading more from Cano, hopefully continuing the adventures of Anne and Lord Grey!
November 24, 2016
3.5 Stars
Beautiful writing in a story that I ended up finding sufficiently original not to call it a retelling.
The Gothic environment allied with the exquisite writing made the first part of the story go by in a dash. Unfortunately real life got in the way of my enjoyment of the story.
Maybe on a future re-read I'll be able to better appreciate it.
Beautiful writing in a story that I ended up finding sufficiently original not to call it a retelling.
The Gothic environment allied with the exquisite writing made the first part of the story go by in a dash. Unfortunately real life got in the way of my enjoyment of the story.
Maybe on a future re-read I'll be able to better appreciate it.
July 12, 2014
This review first appeared on my blog: What Happened to the Wallflower?
Cover-I was a part of the cover reveal for this book, and how I feel about the cover can be summed up in my reaction to seeing it in an email. I freaked. Like, "oh my god," freaked. The whole thing is: it's not beautiful, persey, but what people forget is that something doesn't have to be flashy to be absolutely gorgeous.
The frame, the roses, the skull, the bird . . . I don't know. For some reason I just love it. The title was placed really well, too, right over the top of everything so it's all broken yet mingles well with the image.
I think the author's name could have done just as well without the red ribbon at the bottom (which sort of claims a lot of the attention, particularly stealing it away from the roses), but hey, I'm just picky.
Ultimately, a fantastic cover
★★★★☆
Narrative-This book is told in the first person POV of Anne Tinning. I'll admit that I was slightly thrown off in the beginning; for some reason my mind wasn't grasping at the language used, since I felt like it was a strange mix of language from Victorian London and the language we use in the present-day. There was also a bit of telling, when for some reason the reader had to learn about the entire history of Anne's family in one go, which I felt was a bit much and weighed down the story.
Then we got really into the plot, and I kind of liked it. A lot. Mainly my choice, here, is based in the way Cano was able to describe things, such as winter "tapping" at the windows. It was extremely poetic, without being considered too heavy to be in a work of fiction.
What also stuck out to me where the way the scenes were arranged. As I got further into the novel, the scenes became shorter, separated more and more by line breaks (with a gorgeous rose image) instead of writing in a time lapse. This style felt especially familiar to read, probably because it's the way I, myself, tend to write. Based on that fact, I might be a bit biased, but I felt it was a wonderful way to quicken the pace as the novel led up to its conclusion.
★★★★☆
Plot-Two words: "ghost" story. Sort of. It was the only thing I thought of while reading, even after the discovery of what the "thing" inside Rosewood Manor (and no, I'm not telling you what it is). The mystery was played out very well, especially when the other servants in the house all try to act as normal as possible, even with their injuries that they try to hide. It was all really mysterious, and I actually thought it was played out really well; even the scene where everything was explained to Anne wasn't half bad.
Which, for me to say that, is pretty big.
I will say that I expected more, especially toward the ending. I felt like the plot was simply too short, that there could have been some added conflict between Anne and the antagonist (and I'm not going to tell ya'll who that is, either).
But in terms of this book kind of just giving me chills, it was awesome. Like I said: "ghost" story. It was set in a haunted house, and everything, and I was ecstatic to realize this was a book who pulled that aspect off extremely well.
★★★★☆
Characters-There's really only two characters that I can talk about here, since they were the ones that showed up the most often (don't worry, I'll talk about a few others just as a side note).
Anne Tilling, our magic-wielding Victorian heroine. Poor girl had no clue what shew as getting herself into when she was transferred to Rosewood; then again, she really didn't have a choice, since her employer was the one who set it up (a common thing to happen with servants in that time period). What I appreciated with Anne was the cross that Cano used between headstrong teenager and respectable woman who knew her place. Ultimately, she was a maid; she was proper and respected her superiors, and it was only when she began to know Grey on a more personal level that the line between servant and friend was blurred enough for her to be comfortable calling him by his first name (like he asked her to), and even then it was only towards the very end of the book. She was also extremely determined to find out what was happening within the manor upon falling victim to many of the haunts, and didn't let her coworkers walk all over her.
Grey was kind of awesome, and I especially liked him in the beginning because his cryptic and strange way of speaking that would often confuse Anne. Even in the beginning, when I'd only get little glimpses of him, he seemed really intriguing, not horrific, and once he begins explaining things and giving the reader more information I found his situation rather interesting. He slowly became warmer, and developed a sense of humor, and the fact that he cared for Anne's safety made him all the more fantastic.
All I'm going to say about the "thing" that was haunting the house: I loved how sassy and snarky it was. And the fact that it was a brutal, violent little thing.
Last two: Ms. Simple, the housekeeper, and Dora, the cook (who really couldn't cook that well). Ultimately, I liked them both. However, something that I noticed about halfway through was that they both fell into simple stereotypes: Simple was the caring and mother-like older woman, and Dora was a girl about Anne's age who quickly became spiteful and jealous toward Anne. beyond that, there wasn't exactly much else that I could place with their characters, but they at least didn't have as big a role in the book as Anne and Grey did.
★★★★☆
Final Answer: 4 / 5
Special thanks to Tiffany Rose, a member of the REUTS team, who provided me with a copy of The Rose Master to read and review.
Cover-I was a part of the cover reveal for this book, and how I feel about the cover can be summed up in my reaction to seeing it in an email. I freaked. Like, "oh my god," freaked. The whole thing is: it's not beautiful, persey, but what people forget is that something doesn't have to be flashy to be absolutely gorgeous.
The frame, the roses, the skull, the bird . . . I don't know. For some reason I just love it. The title was placed really well, too, right over the top of everything so it's all broken yet mingles well with the image.
I think the author's name could have done just as well without the red ribbon at the bottom (which sort of claims a lot of the attention, particularly stealing it away from the roses), but hey, I'm just picky.
Ultimately, a fantastic cover
★★★★☆
Narrative-This book is told in the first person POV of Anne Tinning. I'll admit that I was slightly thrown off in the beginning; for some reason my mind wasn't grasping at the language used, since I felt like it was a strange mix of language from Victorian London and the language we use in the present-day. There was also a bit of telling, when for some reason the reader had to learn about the entire history of Anne's family in one go, which I felt was a bit much and weighed down the story.
Then we got really into the plot, and I kind of liked it. A lot. Mainly my choice, here, is based in the way Cano was able to describe things, such as winter "tapping" at the windows. It was extremely poetic, without being considered too heavy to be in a work of fiction.
What also stuck out to me where the way the scenes were arranged. As I got further into the novel, the scenes became shorter, separated more and more by line breaks (with a gorgeous rose image) instead of writing in a time lapse. This style felt especially familiar to read, probably because it's the way I, myself, tend to write. Based on that fact, I might be a bit biased, but I felt it was a wonderful way to quicken the pace as the novel led up to its conclusion.
★★★★☆
Plot-Two words: "ghost" story. Sort of. It was the only thing I thought of while reading, even after the discovery of what the "thing" inside Rosewood Manor (and no, I'm not telling you what it is). The mystery was played out very well, especially when the other servants in the house all try to act as normal as possible, even with their injuries that they try to hide. It was all really mysterious, and I actually thought it was played out really well; even the scene where everything was explained to Anne wasn't half bad.
Which, for me to say that, is pretty big.
I will say that I expected more, especially toward the ending. I felt like the plot was simply too short, that there could have been some added conflict between Anne and the antagonist (and I'm not going to tell ya'll who that is, either).
But in terms of this book kind of just giving me chills, it was awesome. Like I said: "ghost" story. It was set in a haunted house, and everything, and I was ecstatic to realize this was a book who pulled that aspect off extremely well.
★★★★☆
Characters-There's really only two characters that I can talk about here, since they were the ones that showed up the most often (don't worry, I'll talk about a few others just as a side note).
Anne Tilling, our magic-wielding Victorian heroine. Poor girl had no clue what shew as getting herself into when she was transferred to Rosewood; then again, she really didn't have a choice, since her employer was the one who set it up (a common thing to happen with servants in that time period). What I appreciated with Anne was the cross that Cano used between headstrong teenager and respectable woman who knew her place. Ultimately, she was a maid; she was proper and respected her superiors, and it was only when she began to know Grey on a more personal level that the line between servant and friend was blurred enough for her to be comfortable calling him by his first name (like he asked her to), and even then it was only towards the very end of the book. She was also extremely determined to find out what was happening within the manor upon falling victim to many of the haunts, and didn't let her coworkers walk all over her.
Grey was kind of awesome, and I especially liked him in the beginning because his cryptic and strange way of speaking that would often confuse Anne. Even in the beginning, when I'd only get little glimpses of him, he seemed really intriguing, not horrific, and once he begins explaining things and giving the reader more information I found his situation rather interesting. He slowly became warmer, and developed a sense of humor, and the fact that he cared for Anne's safety made him all the more fantastic.
All I'm going to say about the "thing" that was haunting the house: I loved how sassy and snarky it was. And the fact that it was a brutal, violent little thing.
Last two: Ms. Simple, the housekeeper, and Dora, the cook (who really couldn't cook that well). Ultimately, I liked them both. However, something that I noticed about halfway through was that they both fell into simple stereotypes: Simple was the caring and mother-like older woman, and Dora was a girl about Anne's age who quickly became spiteful and jealous toward Anne. beyond that, there wasn't exactly much else that I could place with their characters, but they at least didn't have as big a role in the book as Anne and Grey did.
★★★★☆
Final Answer: 4 / 5
Special thanks to Tiffany Rose, a member of the REUTS team, who provided me with a copy of The Rose Master to read and review.
October 28, 2014
I received a review copy of this book for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
The Rose Master is a dark and creepy story with ever increasing tension. You know something isn't right with Rose Manor, that something dangerous is residing there. But you aren't sure exactly what it is at first, and your imagination then goes into overdrive, setting the right mood for diving into Anne's story.
After serving at the same house for most of her life, Anne is sent by her employer to become a parlor maid at Rose Manor. The roses were crazy! It's extremely cold and snowy outside, yet red roses are blooming as though it's summer, and their perfume permeates the air. Soon after Anne arrives, other strange things begin happening - she hears scratches at her bedroom door at night, she has the feeling she's being watched, and the other maids are acting strange around her. They won't answer her questions directly and won't look her in the eyes when they do answer.
The pacing is perfect. Slowly the tension and horror begins to build, and I love it when an author can achieve that. When an author takes the time to slowly allow the horror to unfold, that's when I'm afraid the most, and I love being scared!
The writing is spectacular. I can't emphasize that enough. I was drawn in to the story right away, and any time I had to put it down, all I could think about was when I could get back to reading. Cano's writing is poetic, and every interaction between the characters, every scene that unfolds drives the story forward.
While reading The Rose Master, I had the eerie feeling someone was watching me the same way Anne felt. She sparkles in this story, and I love her character. I couldn't have asked for more from this book - it delivers the creep factor the synopsis promises. I highly recommend this book - you'll love it as much as I do.
The Rose Master is a dark and creepy story with ever increasing tension. You know something isn't right with Rose Manor, that something dangerous is residing there. But you aren't sure exactly what it is at first, and your imagination then goes into overdrive, setting the right mood for diving into Anne's story.
After serving at the same house for most of her life, Anne is sent by her employer to become a parlor maid at Rose Manor. The roses were crazy! It's extremely cold and snowy outside, yet red roses are blooming as though it's summer, and their perfume permeates the air. Soon after Anne arrives, other strange things begin happening - she hears scratches at her bedroom door at night, she has the feeling she's being watched, and the other maids are acting strange around her. They won't answer her questions directly and won't look her in the eyes when they do answer.
The pacing is perfect. Slowly the tension and horror begins to build, and I love it when an author can achieve that. When an author takes the time to slowly allow the horror to unfold, that's when I'm afraid the most, and I love being scared!
The writing is spectacular. I can't emphasize that enough. I was drawn in to the story right away, and any time I had to put it down, all I could think about was when I could get back to reading. Cano's writing is poetic, and every interaction between the characters, every scene that unfolds drives the story forward.
While reading The Rose Master, I had the eerie feeling someone was watching me the same way Anne felt. She sparkles in this story, and I love her character. I couldn't have asked for more from this book - it delivers the creep factor the synopsis promises. I highly recommend this book - you'll love it as much as I do.
December 13, 2016
¡Me encantó!
Todo el misterio ese misterio que rodea la mansión y la vida de sus ocupantes me mantuvo pegada a las páginas del libro.
Los personajes principales me gustaron. Annie es mucho más madura de lo que su edad deja ver, en realidad me olvidé por completo de que solo tiene 17 años. Lord Grey fue más dificil de leer que ella pero no tanto, es un buen personaje. Me encantó su oscuro sentido del humor que tanto descolocaba a Annie.
Algunas cosas me resultaron predecibles, pero en teoría la historia no fue para nada lo que esperaba. Amo cuando las historias me sorprenden
¿Lo mejor?
No tenemos insta-love. No señor, de romance vemos poco (muy, muy poco) y lo que hay nace del contacto y las interacciones diarios.
En final ha sido lo que menos me ha gustado, esperaba que los malos dieran más peleas. Ademas de que el libro ha quedado con un final abierto. Odio los finales abiertos...
P.D: Sorry, Ana. No pude evitarlo.
Todo el misterio ese misterio que rodea la mansión y la vida de sus ocupantes me mantuvo pegada a las páginas del libro.
Los personajes principales me gustaron. Annie es mucho más madura de lo que su edad deja ver, en realidad me olvidé por completo de que solo tiene 17 años. Lord Grey fue más dificil de leer que ella pero no tanto, es un buen personaje. Me encantó su oscuro sentido del humor que tanto descolocaba a Annie.
Algunas cosas me resultaron predecibles, pero en teoría la historia no fue para nada lo que esperaba. Amo cuando las historias me sorprenden
¿Lo mejor?
No tenemos insta-love. No señor, de romance vemos poco (muy, muy poco) y lo que hay nace del contacto y las interacciones diarios.
En final ha sido lo que menos me ha gustado, esperaba que los malos dieran más peleas. Ademas de que el libro ha quedado con un final abierto. Odio los finales abiertos...
P.D: Sorry, Ana. No pude evitarlo.
December 29, 2014
The setting, the idea, and the magic of this story had me involved from the beginning. I love evil lurking in the shadows!
I didn't connect deeply with the characters, but I did really enjoy the dark, creepy feel that stroked the pages. So many times I wanted to roll around in the beautifully written words.
I hear there might be a second book... bring it on!
I didn't connect deeply with the characters, but I did really enjoy the dark, creepy feel that stroked the pages. So many times I wanted to roll around in the beautifully written words.
I hear there might be a second book... bring it on!
July 3, 2014
SOURCE: ARC
The writings below are my opinions, you may let it influence you or you may not.
THE THREE R'S
REVIEW
Upon seeing the cover (doesn't it just have that creepy Poe feeling?) I knew I would either love this book or hate it. I had such high expectation that if it disappointed I would be so pissed and overwhelmed with negative feelings.
Good news: this book was fantastic.
Bad news: After I finished reading, I kept hoping some news of a sequel (hint, hint) would pop up and it made me tear up that there wasn't. I want more!
Three things I'll touch on: characters, plot; and romance.
Conclusion:
What do I have to do to get a sequel?
Organize a protest? Get signatures? Make a life-size model of August? One of Anne?
Because I will!
RATING
4.5
RECOMMEND?
yes. Why aren't you reading yet?
The writings below are my opinions, you may let it influence you or you may not.
THE THREE R'S
REVIEW
Upon seeing the cover (doesn't it just have that creepy Poe feeling?) I knew I would either love this book or hate it. I had such high expectation that if it disappointed I would be so pissed and overwhelmed with negative feelings.
Good news: this book was fantastic.
Bad news: After I finished reading, I kept hoping some news of a sequel (hint, hint) would pop up and it made me tear up that there wasn't. I want more!
Three things I'll touch on: characters, plot; and romance.
Conclusion:
What do I have to do to get a sequel?
Organize a protest? Get signatures? Make a life-size model of August? One of Anne?
Because I will!
RATING
4.5
RECOMMEND?
yes. Why aren't you reading yet?
December 1, 2014
This review and others are also available to read on my blog Diary of a Teen Writer Diary of a Teen Writer.
Ever since I read Echoes of Balance, also published by REUTS Publications, I’ve had my eye on this publisher. They release fresh, new, and intriguing ideas into the YA paranormal market . . . and The Rose Master was no exception. Despite the fact that I’ve classified this as Historical Fiction, I wouldn’t let non-historical fiction fans to drive you away — no, the historical setting was merely a backdrop, a setting, for the greater story.
Also? Kudos to the cover artists and designers over at REUTS Publications. Seriously. I don’t think there’s one cover of theirs I don’t like.
I did have a few issues with the story itself, but overall, it was a solid read.
What I loved so much about the story is the way it was written. Valentina Cano’s writing style is brilliant — and I would easily read another novel of hers again. Descriptive, elegant writing, combined with the first person prose gave the story and old-fashioned, poetic ring to it. And I loved it. The writing and storyline held my interest from beginning to end, though the ending itself does leave room for a sequel. Because of this I felt the story to be slightly “unfinished” and as I’m not sure whether this is a standalone or a series, I’m not sure I can criticise that part of the novel.
In saying that though, I wish the ending had been fleshed out some more. More detail and explanation would been good. The ending whizzed past, and I felt it to be rushed and not completely finished.
This leads me to my next point. For me, the story took quite a while for things to properly get started. Anne is a maid, so naturally, a lot of her job includes cleaning. And, well, while the writing style was beautiful, there is only so much dusting I can read about before beginning to tire of it. So I felt those parts dragged, whereas the ending could have been lengthened and expanded upon some more.
The romance, in The Rose Master, does not play a central role, for which I was grateful. It developed slowly throughout the story, but I still wish I knew the characters better. Augustus and Anne, out two main characters, felt slightly . . . pale, to me. Especially Lord Grey. Though I do believe that both of their characters could have been shown more.
Despite all this, though, it was a very enjoyable read.
If you’re looking for a good YA Paranormal with light historical undertones, a dash of magic, and a touch of romance, then The Rose Master is for you.
Thank you to REUTS Publications and Netgalley for this review copy.
Ever since I read Echoes of Balance, also published by REUTS Publications, I’ve had my eye on this publisher. They release fresh, new, and intriguing ideas into the YA paranormal market . . . and The Rose Master was no exception. Despite the fact that I’ve classified this as Historical Fiction, I wouldn’t let non-historical fiction fans to drive you away — no, the historical setting was merely a backdrop, a setting, for the greater story.
Also? Kudos to the cover artists and designers over at REUTS Publications. Seriously. I don’t think there’s one cover of theirs I don’t like.
I did have a few issues with the story itself, but overall, it was a solid read.
What I loved so much about the story is the way it was written. Valentina Cano’s writing style is brilliant — and I would easily read another novel of hers again. Descriptive, elegant writing, combined with the first person prose gave the story and old-fashioned, poetic ring to it. And I loved it. The writing and storyline held my interest from beginning to end, though the ending itself does leave room for a sequel. Because of this I felt the story to be slightly “unfinished” and as I’m not sure whether this is a standalone or a series, I’m not sure I can criticise that part of the novel.
In saying that though, I wish the ending had been fleshed out some more. More detail and explanation would been good. The ending whizzed past, and I felt it to be rushed and not completely finished.
This leads me to my next point. For me, the story took quite a while for things to properly get started. Anne is a maid, so naturally, a lot of her job includes cleaning. And, well, while the writing style was beautiful, there is only so much dusting I can read about before beginning to tire of it. So I felt those parts dragged, whereas the ending could have been lengthened and expanded upon some more.
The romance, in The Rose Master, does not play a central role, for which I was grateful. It developed slowly throughout the story, but I still wish I knew the characters better. Augustus and Anne, out two main characters, felt slightly . . . pale, to me. Especially Lord Grey. Though I do believe that both of their characters could have been shown more.
Despite all this, though, it was a very enjoyable read.
If you’re looking for a good YA Paranormal with light historical undertones, a dash of magic, and a touch of romance, then The Rose Master is for you.
Thank you to REUTS Publications and Netgalley for this review copy.
September 4, 2015
Strange things begin to happen to Anne on the day of her 17th birthday. Birds fall from the sky and that's just the beginning. Anne has spent most of her life in Caldwell house and that is her home. Within its walls she has found a stand-in for the mother she lost at a young age, as well as a sister in one of the other maids of the house. Unfortunately for Anne, she is dismissed from her post at Lady Caldwell's house and will be sent to Rosewood Manor to work for a distant relative of Lady Caldwell's.
I think we all--including Anne--begin to realize Rosewood Manor might be a bit peculiar early on, even before Anne arrives. However, Anne is a reasonably intelligent young woman and keeps her wits about her through some interesting occurrences, before she finally learns the sinister secrets of the grounds and manor she now calls home.
This book was a wonderfully creepy read, and I relished the gothic feel of it. Anne was a great character with a special talent, yet she didn't seem to suffer from "special snowflake syndrome," which was quite a relief. Lord Grey was interesting and mysterious. While arrogant and a bit of a sarcastic ass, I still enjoyed him as a character. The minor characters in this story were fleshed out enough for me to care about them and their fates, and I wish we learned more of what happened to some of them.
I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it, so I definitely recommend it if you enjoy paranormal, gothic stories. The prose was almost lyrical, but still articulate and efficient. The book has just about 200 pages and the pace is perfect, so there are no points of the story that drag on or move too quickly.
Final rating: 4.5 stars
**I received a free copy for review from Net Galley**
I think we all--including Anne--begin to realize Rosewood Manor might be a bit peculiar early on, even before Anne arrives. However, Anne is a reasonably intelligent young woman and keeps her wits about her through some interesting occurrences, before she finally learns the sinister secrets of the grounds and manor she now calls home.
This book was a wonderfully creepy read, and I relished the gothic feel of it. Anne was a great character with a special talent, yet she didn't seem to suffer from "special snowflake syndrome," which was quite a relief. Lord Grey was interesting and mysterious. While arrogant and a bit of a sarcastic ass, I still enjoyed him as a character. The minor characters in this story were fleshed out enough for me to care about them and their fates, and I wish we learned more of what happened to some of them.
I had a hard time putting this book down once I started it, so I definitely recommend it if you enjoy paranormal, gothic stories. The prose was almost lyrical, but still articulate and efficient. The book has just about 200 pages and the pace is perfect, so there are no points of the story that drag on or move too quickly.
Final rating: 4.5 stars
**I received a free copy for review from Net Galley**
August 28, 2014
*I received this Master-piece (get it? ha) free from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
"The cold slithered in and refused to leave, and on its tail, an even colder fear."
The Rose Master by Valentina Cano is the story of...
Oh, screw it. There was a point in this book--about 85% through to be exact--that I said to myself, "This had better not be a cliffhanger. No 'watch for part two for mental stability.'" Then it was me thinking loudly, "No. No! No, no, no! I don't want it to end! Please don't end. Please?" Can you say, "book hangover"? I am reliving the last scene and wondering how they're... nevermind, don't wanna be a spoiler.
Here's the "If you don't normally read this type of book..." portion of the review. It's a thriller, near-to-ghost-story. Turns out this book is just thrilling. Doesn't matter what you normally read.
I also don't normally write reviews with so many quotation marks. Besides the point. That being said, let me give you an example of Valentina's prose.
"But it was a different version of cold, one that felt heavy in the air, like an endless shriek."
Then...
"...and the table was strange, its legs bent at all kinds of angles, as if getting ready to smash through the doors at any moment."
And...
"...a set of voices--one high and resonant like sun glinting off a key..."
She made me feel these words. Mind you, all those are merely in the first 28% of the book.
Truly, I could not get enough. It was bloody brilliant (is what I would say if I were British or in a Harry Potter book...). If you want to give it a go (staying in the English accent), you can get yourself a copy of The Rose Master. Which you so should.
"The cold slithered in and refused to leave, and on its tail, an even colder fear."
The Rose Master by Valentina Cano is the story of...
Oh, screw it. There was a point in this book--about 85% through to be exact--that I said to myself, "This had better not be a cliffhanger. No 'watch for part two for mental stability.'" Then it was me thinking loudly, "No. No! No, no, no! I don't want it to end! Please don't end. Please?" Can you say, "book hangover"? I am reliving the last scene and wondering how they're... nevermind, don't wanna be a spoiler.
Here's the "If you don't normally read this type of book..." portion of the review. It's a thriller, near-to-ghost-story. Turns out this book is just thrilling. Doesn't matter what you normally read.
I also don't normally write reviews with so many quotation marks. Besides the point. That being said, let me give you an example of Valentina's prose.
"But it was a different version of cold, one that felt heavy in the air, like an endless shriek."
Then...
"...and the table was strange, its legs bent at all kinds of angles, as if getting ready to smash through the doors at any moment."
And...
"...a set of voices--one high and resonant like sun glinting off a key..."
She made me feel these words. Mind you, all those are merely in the first 28% of the book.
Truly, I could not get enough. It was bloody brilliant (is what I would say if I were British or in a Harry Potter book...). If you want to give it a go (staying in the English accent), you can get yourself a copy of The Rose Master. Which you so should.
January 5, 2015
Opening line: "The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky."
Summary: This is a new twist on the story of Beauty and the Beast. It stars Anne as a maid working for a family when suddenly she gets shipped off to a relatives house that is in need of her. She travels to this grand house in the middle of nowhere and has only 3 servants living there. This was not what Anne had in mind. She is curious about its master and tries to do her duty by cleaning and trying to find answers. The house feels alive and only when she meets its master, August that she begins to unravel the truth about what lurks in the dark but also her own special powers.
My Take: I love anything to do with Beauty and the Beast. It's my favorite Disney princess and I love reading retellings so when this popped up I had to read it! It's unique...a new twist that was needed in the retelling. Anne is a brave but sometimes annoying young girl but she fights for the ones she cares about. August is aloof but is likeable. He is witty and made me laugh a couple of times throughout the book. The magic in the book can be a little confusing, I had to reread some sections to fully understand. I also thought the ending was a little too quick. It had built up all of this tension only for it to go "poof" instead of a "BANG".
Highs: Anne was a great heroine though sometimes a little dimwitted but you could relate to her really well.
Lows: The magic could be explained a little more and the ending.
Closing line: "For a new beginning. For a new life."
Summary: This is a new twist on the story of Beauty and the Beast. It stars Anne as a maid working for a family when suddenly she gets shipped off to a relatives house that is in need of her. She travels to this grand house in the middle of nowhere and has only 3 servants living there. This was not what Anne had in mind. She is curious about its master and tries to do her duty by cleaning and trying to find answers. The house feels alive and only when she meets its master, August that she begins to unravel the truth about what lurks in the dark but also her own special powers.
My Take: I love anything to do with Beauty and the Beast. It's my favorite Disney princess and I love reading retellings so when this popped up I had to read it! It's unique...a new twist that was needed in the retelling. Anne is a brave but sometimes annoying young girl but she fights for the ones she cares about. August is aloof but is likeable. He is witty and made me laugh a couple of times throughout the book. The magic in the book can be a little confusing, I had to reread some sections to fully understand. I also thought the ending was a little too quick. It had built up all of this tension only for it to go "poof" instead of a "BANG".
Highs: Anne was a great heroine though sometimes a little dimwitted but you could relate to her really well.
Lows: The magic could be explained a little more and the ending.
Closing line: "For a new beginning. For a new life."
December 1, 2018
*Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Anne is a housemaid who is forced to take a new job at Rosewood Manor. Once there, she notices that all is not as it should be. Only three other people work at Rosewood, they are all mysteriously bruised and scratched and something is scratching at her door at night. The master, Lord Grey, is battling a supernatural evil, one that is now targeting Anne and means to end them both.
This was an okay read, I think the author was going for a gothic feel but there was no tension in the story telling. Any build up of Anne's first couple of days at Rosewood Manor was ruined by two characters telling her everything about the supernatural elements, there was no mystery to it and the big reveal wasn't a surprise.
I also found the language and tone a bit off, it felt too modern at times and pulled me out of the story to question whether someone from that period (victorian or earlier?) would say that. I also found the speech flowery and there were too many boring scenes where Ann is cleaning.
I didn't hate it but it's just an average story that could have been a lot more.
There's another book in the series but based on this I'll be giving it a miss.
Anne is a housemaid who is forced to take a new job at Rosewood Manor. Once there, she notices that all is not as it should be. Only three other people work at Rosewood, they are all mysteriously bruised and scratched and something is scratching at her door at night. The master, Lord Grey, is battling a supernatural evil, one that is now targeting Anne and means to end them both.
This was an okay read, I think the author was going for a gothic feel but there was no tension in the story telling. Any build up of Anne's first couple of days at Rosewood Manor was ruined by two characters telling her everything about the supernatural elements, there was no mystery to it and the big reveal wasn't a surprise.
I also found the language and tone a bit off, it felt too modern at times and pulled me out of the story to question whether someone from that period (victorian or earlier?) would say that. I also found the speech flowery and there were too many boring scenes where Ann is cleaning.
I didn't hate it but it's just an average story that could have been a lot more.
There's another book in the series but based on this I'll be giving it a miss.
December 10, 2014
This was great fun and beautifully written. The prose is clean and pure. Cano is a poet and it is evident in her language and imagery.
It started out slow and I put it down for a day. There was a lot of Anne cleaning and dusting and sweeping and scrubbing. But it called to me and I quickly picked it back up. I'm glad I did. Once Master Grey appeared it started to take off and then pulled me into a mysterious world of magic that built in intensity until the end.
This is Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast! Cano interweaves elements of both stories beautifully. Her descriptions of power and magic are surprising and adept. She describes emotion expertly but hasn't yet mastered the skill of evoking it. This is her first novel though and I have great confidence in her talent and future progress as a writer. I will definitely read the next book she writes.
It started out slow and I put it down for a day. There was a lot of Anne cleaning and dusting and sweeping and scrubbing. But it called to me and I quickly picked it back up. I'm glad I did. Once Master Grey appeared it started to take off and then pulled me into a mysterious world of magic that built in intensity until the end.
This is Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast! Cano interweaves elements of both stories beautifully. Her descriptions of power and magic are surprising and adept. She describes emotion expertly but hasn't yet mastered the skill of evoking it. This is her first novel though and I have great confidence in her talent and future progress as a writer. I will definitely read the next book she writes.
November 26, 2014
Before I read the book, I thought it was retelling of Beauty and the Beast. With the garden of roses and the thing that roamed in the castle. But it was more like a retelling of Jane Eyre. And a good one at that. I liked it.
December 24, 2014
I have such high expectations for this book however it did not reach it. :(( the story was great in general but I did not enjoy the writing style :////
February 16, 2016
Thoughts:
There have been a handful of books that I have read throughout my life, that have left a profound impression; stories that I cannot help but to become deeply absorbed in. No seriously, I become delicately obsessed in it all: the plot, the setting of the make-believe world, its villains, the protagonist, the lingo, the characters; admittedly so, I even go as far as to occasionally take on the persona of the protagonist; I'm young at heart, what can I say?
Not to mention, there are even times, while I am washing my dishes, mopping my floors, changing a dirty diaper, deciding what to wear for the day, conversing with my kids, discussing bible verses with Ben, or putting on make-up, where I cannot help but wonder how Katniss Everdeen & Peeta are maintaining their sanity after all the events that took place in Panem; especially now that they have kids! I begin to wonder if Winston Smith ever gained back his senses and if his undeniable love drew him back to Julia, or if Four ever managed to move on and find a new love; was it perhaps Christina? Do I have a condition I should be worried about? Nah, I'm sure I am not alone in this.
The Rose Master certainly left its impression on my feeble heart. Was it because the story struck terror in my inner being? Maybe. Was it because I suddenly became morbidly obsessed with an early Victorian setting? (Chuckles) alright I admit it, yes. Or was it because, day after day, during my mundane life, all I could ever think about was how Anne Tinning found the strength and courage to stand in the face of fear and not let it dictate her life. How the coy and lovely Ms. Anne Tinning, fought for a love her heart felt was worth fighting for. How the humble and brave Anne Tinning released light into the darkest areas of the extravagant Rosewood Manor. I could go on, but then I would have to go deep into the fine points that make up this elegant, dark, lovely, thrilling story.
I will say this, by the end of the story, I was left yearning for more, and I do hope that the brilliant Valentina Cano continues to enamor us with the bewitching story of Anne Tinning and Lord Grey aka August.
In a nutshell:
» Have you ever seen the movie The Prestige? The one with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman? Yeah, The Rose Master definitely has a touch of that story in the mix.
» I love Beauty and The Beast as well as The Phantom of the Opera and for obvious reasons, I pictured Anne to be a blend of Belle and Christine Daaé. Anne Tinning plainly maintains Belle and Christine's strengths exquisitely.
» There is plenty of gossip and ruckus to keep your gigglemug looking happy :)
» Valentina Cano's writing is clean, concise and absorbing; it entertained and mesmerized on so many levels, I finished the book in 3 days!
» The story in its entirety certainly left a memorable and yearning aftertaste. Can we please get a sequel!? A series!? Please!?
» I'm not one for horror books or anything paranormal/ghostly, however this book was delicate enough to keep me reading; nevertheless, it is not for the faint of heart ;)
» The story was fascinating! I genuinely (and with some restriction) enjoyed this book. I thought the premise of the story was great. There were some concerns in a couple of areas of the story that did force me draw back a little; again, it has to do with how I filter what I read. With that aside however, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone!
Read full review here
There have been a handful of books that I have read throughout my life, that have left a profound impression; stories that I cannot help but to become deeply absorbed in. No seriously, I become delicately obsessed in it all: the plot, the setting of the make-believe world, its villains, the protagonist, the lingo, the characters; admittedly so, I even go as far as to occasionally take on the persona of the protagonist; I'm young at heart, what can I say?
Not to mention, there are even times, while I am washing my dishes, mopping my floors, changing a dirty diaper, deciding what to wear for the day, conversing with my kids, discussing bible verses with Ben, or putting on make-up, where I cannot help but wonder how Katniss Everdeen & Peeta are maintaining their sanity after all the events that took place in Panem; especially now that they have kids! I begin to wonder if Winston Smith ever gained back his senses and if his undeniable love drew him back to Julia, or if Four ever managed to move on and find a new love; was it perhaps Christina? Do I have a condition I should be worried about? Nah, I'm sure I am not alone in this.
The Rose Master certainly left its impression on my feeble heart. Was it because the story struck terror in my inner being? Maybe. Was it because I suddenly became morbidly obsessed with an early Victorian setting? (Chuckles) alright I admit it, yes. Or was it because, day after day, during my mundane life, all I could ever think about was how Anne Tinning found the strength and courage to stand in the face of fear and not let it dictate her life. How the coy and lovely Ms. Anne Tinning, fought for a love her heart felt was worth fighting for. How the humble and brave Anne Tinning released light into the darkest areas of the extravagant Rosewood Manor. I could go on, but then I would have to go deep into the fine points that make up this elegant, dark, lovely, thrilling story.
I will say this, by the end of the story, I was left yearning for more, and I do hope that the brilliant Valentina Cano continues to enamor us with the bewitching story of Anne Tinning and Lord Grey aka August.
In a nutshell:
» Have you ever seen the movie The Prestige? The one with Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman? Yeah, The Rose Master definitely has a touch of that story in the mix.
» I love Beauty and The Beast as well as The Phantom of the Opera and for obvious reasons, I pictured Anne to be a blend of Belle and Christine Daaé. Anne Tinning plainly maintains Belle and Christine's strengths exquisitely.
» There is plenty of gossip and ruckus to keep your gigglemug looking happy :)
» Valentina Cano's writing is clean, concise and absorbing; it entertained and mesmerized on so many levels, I finished the book in 3 days!
» The story in its entirety certainly left a memorable and yearning aftertaste. Can we please get a sequel!? A series!? Please!?
» I'm not one for horror books or anything paranormal/ghostly, however this book was delicate enough to keep me reading; nevertheless, it is not for the faint of heart ;)
» The story was fascinating! I genuinely (and with some restriction) enjoyed this book. I thought the premise of the story was great. There were some concerns in a couple of areas of the story that did force me draw back a little; again, it has to do with how I filter what I read. With that aside however, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book to anyone!
Read full review here
July 27, 2014
This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction
The Rose Master was kind of an interesting mix of Downton Abbey meets Supernatural. Anne is a servant at a large manor - the manor is the only home she's ever known, since her mother was a servant there before she died when Anne was only seven. But when the lady of the house informs Anne that she's being sent off to live in a strange new place with a new master, she has no say in the matter. She is forced to leave everything she knows. She soon finds that her new home is more than a little strange. Not only do very few servants work there, allowing the manor to fall into disrepair, but she discovers that something else is in the manor - something that means her and the others living there harm. When she grows closer to Lord Grey, she learns that the thing in the manor is very real - and very dangerous.
What I loved:
The creepiness.
There were lots of scary elements to this story - things that go bump in the night, birds that fall out of the sky, things scratching at the door, unseen violence that happens in the night - I could go on and on. I don't get terribly scared when reading books for some reason, so I wasn't as freaked out as I could have been, but when I think about this book as a horror movie, it makes me shudder!
Anne and Lord Grey.
I loved the slow-burning relationship that developed between Anne and Lord Grey. At first, Lord Grey is just a sort of creepy presence on the estate (to go along with other even creepier things), but Anne eventually starts to get to know him and we see an interesting, tentative relationship form between these two. There are plenty of barriers between them, though. The romance element of the book was actually relatively minor compared to the supernatural storyline, but I really enjoyed it.
The paranormal storyline.
Once we find out what is really going on in the manor, things really start to heat up! I loved the paranormal aspect of the book!
The negatives:
Slightly slow in middle.
While I did really enjoy this book, there was a portion in the middle - after Anne had started discovering the creepy stuff about the manor and before she started really interacting with Lord
Grey - that felt a little bit slow to me. I liked the scary elements, but horror isn't my favorite genre (I like it, but don't love it), so I was a little anxious to get to the meat of the story. That's just me, though.
Overall, I thought that The Rose Master was a great mix of YA historical, paranormal and horror. The ending gave us closure, but certainly left room for future installments of a series (Goodreads doesn't show this as being part of the series, but I assume that there will be more books). I give this book 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
The Rose Master was kind of an interesting mix of Downton Abbey meets Supernatural. Anne is a servant at a large manor - the manor is the only home she's ever known, since her mother was a servant there before she died when Anne was only seven. But when the lady of the house informs Anne that she's being sent off to live in a strange new place with a new master, she has no say in the matter. She is forced to leave everything she knows. She soon finds that her new home is more than a little strange. Not only do very few servants work there, allowing the manor to fall into disrepair, but she discovers that something else is in the manor - something that means her and the others living there harm. When she grows closer to Lord Grey, she learns that the thing in the manor is very real - and very dangerous.
What I loved:
The creepiness.
There were lots of scary elements to this story - things that go bump in the night, birds that fall out of the sky, things scratching at the door, unseen violence that happens in the night - I could go on and on. I don't get terribly scared when reading books for some reason, so I wasn't as freaked out as I could have been, but when I think about this book as a horror movie, it makes me shudder!
Anne and Lord Grey.
I loved the slow-burning relationship that developed between Anne and Lord Grey. At first, Lord Grey is just a sort of creepy presence on the estate (to go along with other even creepier things), but Anne eventually starts to get to know him and we see an interesting, tentative relationship form between these two. There are plenty of barriers between them, though. The romance element of the book was actually relatively minor compared to the supernatural storyline, but I really enjoyed it.
The paranormal storyline.
Once we find out what is really going on in the manor, things really start to heat up! I loved the paranormal aspect of the book!
The negatives:
Slightly slow in middle.
While I did really enjoy this book, there was a portion in the middle - after Anne had started discovering the creepy stuff about the manor and before she started really interacting with Lord
Grey - that felt a little bit slow to me. I liked the scary elements, but horror isn't my favorite genre (I like it, but don't love it), so I was a little anxious to get to the meat of the story. That's just me, though.
Overall, I thought that The Rose Master was a great mix of YA historical, paranormal and horror. The ending gave us closure, but certainly left room for future installments of a series (Goodreads doesn't show this as being part of the series, but I assume that there will be more books). I give this book 4/5 stars.
***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***
January 13, 2015
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
One of the things that stood out for me from the beginning in The Rose Master was the writing. Valentina Cano has a beautiful descriptive writing style that just sucks you into the world of her story. Of course it’s not as verbose as the writing style of the time, but it is different enough from most styles that you get a sort of authentic “gothic mystery novel” feel. Which is probably what she was going for, considering the plot and the subject matter.
The characters ring true both to the modern reader as well as to the times they live in. Anne is a servant at the age of seventeen and when she’s sent away to Rosewood Manor she’s on her own for the first time in her life. So you can imagine her terror when it seems like there’s something funny going on at the manor, what with the odd noises, mysterious bruises on the staff members and an absentee Lord. One of the things that I admired so much about the book is that Anne is brave and resourceful without resulting to the modern ‘kick-butt action girl’ trope that would ruin the authentic Gothic feel. She’s not helpless, but she is bound by her upbringing and the expectations of the times. I don’t want to give much away but when she finally does meet our mysterious Lord Grey, she definitely does grow out of that enforced timidity.
The plot is not fast by most modern standards but it is fascinating. Valentina Cano sucks you into her world with her writing and she is a master of suspense. Even if you’re like me and could pretty much predict the next events, you just had to keep reading to see how they would unfold. She creates an air of mystery, suspense and more than a little horror throughout the novel that I really admire her for sustaining. Sure, there are some happy parts between characters, but there’s always that ominous other lurking about on the sidelines.
Even if you’re not a huge Gothic novel fan, I can’t recommend The Rose Master enough. It is just so beautifully written and Valentina Cano does a wonderful job keeping her readers in suspense. The characters are so well fleshed out, both major and minor, that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I particularly liked Anne; she’s a very memorable main character. Basically? Just go and buy this book. I think you’ll love it as much as I did.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
One of the things that stood out for me from the beginning in The Rose Master was the writing. Valentina Cano has a beautiful descriptive writing style that just sucks you into the world of her story. Of course it’s not as verbose as the writing style of the time, but it is different enough from most styles that you get a sort of authentic “gothic mystery novel” feel. Which is probably what she was going for, considering the plot and the subject matter.
The characters ring true both to the modern reader as well as to the times they live in. Anne is a servant at the age of seventeen and when she’s sent away to Rosewood Manor she’s on her own for the first time in her life. So you can imagine her terror when it seems like there’s something funny going on at the manor, what with the odd noises, mysterious bruises on the staff members and an absentee Lord. One of the things that I admired so much about the book is that Anne is brave and resourceful without resulting to the modern ‘kick-butt action girl’ trope that would ruin the authentic Gothic feel. She’s not helpless, but she is bound by her upbringing and the expectations of the times. I don’t want to give much away but when she finally does meet our mysterious Lord Grey, she definitely does grow out of that enforced timidity.
The plot is not fast by most modern standards but it is fascinating. Valentina Cano sucks you into her world with her writing and she is a master of suspense. Even if you’re like me and could pretty much predict the next events, you just had to keep reading to see how they would unfold. She creates an air of mystery, suspense and more than a little horror throughout the novel that I really admire her for sustaining. Sure, there are some happy parts between characters, but there’s always that ominous other lurking about on the sidelines.
Even if you’re not a huge Gothic novel fan, I can’t recommend The Rose Master enough. It is just so beautifully written and Valentina Cano does a wonderful job keeping her readers in suspense. The characters are so well fleshed out, both major and minor, that you can’t help but fall in love with them. I particularly liked Anne; she’s a very memorable main character. Basically? Just go and buy this book. I think you’ll love it as much as I did.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
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