From the Bookshelf of The Gothic Trim…

Camberleigh

Evelyn Grey

Why we're reading this: Gothic. Bodice Ripper.
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Apr 17, 2018 Mermarie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gothic, kindle-or-ebook, on-paperback, gothic-bodiceripper, series

I can really appreciate the long scheme of a well-told story; even if the story is simplistic and hasn't a grandiose plot to it. But, don't get me wrong, I like plotted-to-death stories too, it's just that I can appreciate both spectrums & that a story told with a long-winded, reminiscent feel, has my heart as as equally as a complex entanglement.

Grey really earned those chops on the Gothic bit of Camberleigh. She sort of mastered the subtly told story that I crave nowadays. Overt, picture-slid I can really appreciate the long scheme of a well-told story; even if the story is simplistic and hasn't a grandiose plot to it. But, don't get me wrong, I like plotted-to-death stories too, it's just that I can appreciate both spectrums & that a story told with a long-winded, reminiscent feel, has my heart as as equally as a complex entanglement.

Grey really earned those chops on the Gothic bit of Camberleigh. She sort of mastered the subtly told story that I crave nowadays. Overt, picture-slide sort of tellings don't really appeal to me, and I'm glad Grey veered from that. Sometimes I feel like we've heard every story, it's just not how it's been told, or who by, rather. Well, in this case, you've heard the story, you know who is likely the culprit, but there are so many characters capable of the wrong-doing, you're left guessing nearly close to the end.

As for the heroine, Serena, she's a no-nonsense, stout bearings, to the hilt, kinda woman, and even at 18 it's surprising, but it didn't stall her potential arcs, or make her character seem premature. Those came, and it was a difficult climb, but she arced in a way that most BRers just gloss right over, so that was a piece of BR makeup most don't set-out for: forgiveness. Blatantly seeking forgiveness from one or more characters. Serena's firm resolve was so believable. There were no 180s, or schizo-leaping to keep us entertained, because I feel that her imminent arc was far more important than to sacrifice the integrity of her. To have resolved her beef with everyone immediately, or overriding of said integrity, would have simply devolved her as a whole, and I'm thankful for the mountain scale of a task she underwent. With that being said, her stubborn resolve is what I admired most, and it didn't seem to create any suffering on any account. At times, her never seemed most definitely forever, but a character aching to forgive, for the sake of it, just pisses me off; the overly compliant fluffbaggage who want all right and good in the world, regardless of how life shits on them. Nope. Not here. Everyone, mostly male side-characters, constantly threw themselves head-long into Serena's will, but she kept to her guns, regardless of how appealing or safe the supplication would have been. Admirable. For one so young, her stupid mistake quota didn't leave me reeling. Nevertheless, how she dealt with the BR Trope Master Theater really classified it as a BR genre even so. There's something tangibly gritty about heroines who channel whimsical vulnerability, but show de résistance to abuse; on every level.

Grey resounds a message in this book, that says: Hey, just because you're a good person, doesn't mean the world is going to treat you good or doesn't mean you aren't due your own sort of machinations, honey. Buckle up, buttercup!

So, instead of recycling an old crusty review on the life & times of Terrorized Heroine, I always go straight for the creation. Hahaha. Hell, I appreciate the good when it's good, because that's rare to me, and that's all there is to it. Sorry there's no TLDR retelling of the story in the review. ...more

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