The year is 1453 and all signs point to it being the end of the world.
Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolade's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft.
Forced to face the greatest fears of the medieval world - dark magic, werewolves, madness - Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
..... inner front cover.
FIRST SENTENCE (Castle Sant' Angelo, Rome, June 1453): The hammering on the door shot him into wakefullness like a handgun going off in his face.
MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 254): There is nothing that brings more people to the church than a witch-burning or an execution.
MY THOUGHTS: I know, I know, I promised myself that I wouldn't begin any books that formed a series BUT this is Philippa Gregory.
Different from most of her novels, for one thing Changeling, the first in the Order Of Darkness series, is aimed at the Young Adult (YA) market, a first for Gregory, and for another it isn't based on any individual(s). And therein may lie the problem as it seems to me this is one author who is at her very best when writing about well-known historical characters.
Hardly off to a good start, the very mention of a handgun in the first sentence kid of made me query the historical accuracy.
Combining the historical and the mysterious with a hint towards the supernatural and reading more like two short stories with the same main characters and a connecting theme as opposed to a novel Changeling just didn't flow for me and, though it pains me to say it, felt quite inferior to Gregory's past endeavours.
As for the characters. Well, lets just leave it that whilst there is potential there is a great deal of room for improvement.
Perhaps a novel I might have been more impressed with if it had been written by another author, its just that this isn't what I've come to expect from this much acclaimed writer who, as most of you know, is one of my all time favourites.
...... Then again, it could just be that I'm not exactly of the age to which the book is aimed.
KEEP IT OR NOT?: Bought with vouchers received at Christmas, this a somewhat reluctant yes in that I have every other book written by this author.
12 comments:
LOL, I would go with the age it is aimed at. Sometimes you have to sit back and realise it isn't aimed at you. I have to do that all the time.
I'm way past the intended demographic so I'd be hard pressed to review it from the intended perspective. I can see why you read it though - PG being a fav author and all. I'd keep it too :)
It's been ages since I've read anything by this author and even though this sounds good, there are so many others of hers I'd rather read.
good post..thanks for sharing boss
This is one of my favorite authors as well. As you say, maybe this is just aimed at another audience. I do enjoy YA but sometimes it goes right past me due to the age group it's intended for. At least you gave it a try.
Oh yay! A review on this newbie title...I was wondering about it. Oh...*reads review*...not so pleasant, huh? You may be right though...it could simply be that since it's so different from her usual endeavors, this just didn't hit the mark for you. Cie la vie...better luck next read!
Hm... maybe the sequel will improve. It often happens that way when a author tries a new genre (YA). Maybe it just will take her a moment to get back in the swing of great writing. Sorry this one didn't work for you.
I haven't read anything by this author yet (I may need to start a challenge in order to do so), but now I know to start with a different book. As usual, I appreciate your way with words and your honest review.
I have a few of hers on my tbr list but not this one, I actually like the sound of it, thanks for reviewing.
Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net
For some reason, I feel like I've read this.
oh, sorry this one didn't work for you..loved the memorable moment though, so very true!
I am a big fan of her work and am curious about this new YA book. I will probably read it- but maybe I will need to remind myself that I am not the intended audience. A very honest reviw!
~Jess
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