A modern Cyrano de Bergerac but way more fun to read
351411
This YA book is a surprising indulgence and an easy read. You have to be in the know of some pop culture to get some of the references but other than that the narration flows pretty simple and smooth. The book has a vibe that reminded me a bit of "Youth in Revolt" and the characters are developed enough that we care for them as they fumble along the story. The main character is a teen boy whose nickname is Sway and the book is sort of a Cyrano de Bergerac story where the main character woos a woman on behalf of another person. The story unfolds in high school, complete with the jocks, the insecurities, the struggles and the expectations we all had at one point of what our life is, or rather isn't. I'd say this book is for young adults and adults that want to enjoy a little bit of fluff reading. There are some hilarious occurrences and outright unbelievable situations, but hey, it's high school, everything goes.
3867188
The beautiful prose in MARINA is enough to suck any lover of words into Carlos Ruiz Zafn's latest. The setting of Barcelona in the 80s is another great hook. And then there's the surrealism, the almost magically-real mystery. And the love story somewhat reminiscent of Alessandro D'Avenia's WHITE LIKE MILK, RED LIKE BLOOD, or Rainbow Rowell's ELEANOR & PARK. But, mostly, I think what makes MARINA a must-read (aside from, well, everything!) is the beautiful creep factor.

Oscar is pretty much an average dude at a boarding school in Barcelona. But he's also a loner. And he mostly likes it that way. He's taken to sneaking out, spending weekends exploring the city. And on one such exploration he inadvertently a) experiences something that his rational brain can't explain and b) breaks into an old mansion that turns out to not be as abandoned as he thought.  When he goes back to return the watch that he accidentally stole in a rush of panic, he meets Marina. And, together, Oscar and Marina begin to unravel the mystery that began with Oscar's encounter in her courtyard. And it's a mystery that gets weirder and weirder -- and, at the same time, lovelier and more grotesque.

Part Mary Shelley and part Maureen Johnson, MARINA is definitely a must-read for this summer...and fall. Fans of the classic Gothic will eat this novel up, and those looking to dip their toes into the genre won't be disappointed, either. Carlos Ruiz Zafn knows how to spin a tale, and MARINA is a tale well-spun.
1750422
I think what makes this story such a classic is the cast of well drawn characters. Even in their most desperate moments, the reader can recognize or relate to something themselves in one or maybe many of the characters.

I think any reader will perk up and take notice when there is a new edition of their favorite classic. I know whenever I see a new Wuthering Heights edition I swoon. Les Miserables is no different. When I heard about the new edition, I was thrilled to have something updated and more modern to sink my teeth into.

The authors writing style is typical of the period, a little dense and wordy but what I liked about this translation was that the translator really tried to make it read more easily and fast without compromising the content or original writing style. The translation is very modern which made this novel much easier to read but yet not so modern that the original intent is lost.

I was aggressively reading it so I got through 1400+ pages within about 3 weeks. I did take breaks in between to read other things so I probably could have read it much faster because the translation was so smooth, but it did take a while to digest the content, but not the presentation.

Now lets talk about the cover of this new edition. Some people have criticized the cover art for being too comical or elementary. I have to disagree, I think it invites new audiences to discover a classic that they might have been intimidated to pick up.

I might not be scared by the length of the book but many other readers might. I think the eye catching art work on the cover makes it seem approachable and definitely readable. So basically I love the new cover design and my review copy has earned a place of honor on my bookshelf where the cover can be displayed for all to enjoy.

This is truly a wonderful story and it resonates across the ages. I think most readers will find something to love and identify with throughout the story. The new translation will help attract a more modern audience and the cover will appeal to new and old classic readers alike!
4910396
"When I was a child I spake as a child. I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I become a man I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face"

Through a Glass Darkly is the second in a three book series set in Georgian England. Barbara is the granddaughter of the Duke and Duchess of Tamworth and she and her younger siblings were raised by their grandparents instead of their parents Kit and Diana Alderley. Kit is an exiled Jacobite involved in the plots to put James III on the throne and Diana is a scheming slut desperate to wed Diana off to a wealthy man to save her from her creditors. Diana is negotiating with the much older but very wealthy Roger Montgeoffry, Earl Devane, and Barbara is thrilled as she'd always loved Roger from afar - although Diana's insatiable greed might bring those talks to a screeching halt.

The path to true love and married bliss is never easy, especially when you have a family as complicated and double dealing as the Barbara's, and it is way too complex to try and explain - just sit back and enjoy the fun. Roger eventually takes his new wife and business to Paris and an innocent Barbara soon gets quite an education in the debauched lifestyle of the French court and its courtiers. Eventually someone from Roger's past returns that thoroughly upsets Barbara's marital applecart and sends her life spinning out of control, and only Grandmamma can set it to rights. Or can she?

And that's all I'm going to tell you - I don't write book reports. This is the second time I've read the book and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. While I enjoyed all of the family's antics, I most especially adored Grandmamma and her cats, as well as Barbara's very smutty mother who steals every scene she's in. I loved watching Barbara mature from a young innocent (you will want to slap her a few times) to a mature woman who could take just about anything life threw her way - and life throws her a lot of heartache. It broke my heart watching Tony's unrequited love for Barbara, and as for Philippe? Grrrrrr.

This is a book to be savored, like a box of fine chocolate or a rich red wine. Highly recommended, and one I will read again and again and again.  The first book in the series is&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Dark-Angels/dp/0307339920/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Dark Angels</a>&nbsp;and the last is&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Now-Face-to-Face/dp/0307406083/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Now Face to Face</a>. I recommend reading Dark Angels last after you have come to know and love the old Duchess, then go back and read Alice and Richard's story.
596917
Such a fun and creative idea for a story. I have read many modern adaptations of the classics but never one where the narrator was so aware that she was smack in middle of it. I thought it was fun,quirky and charming. I'm excited to read more by this author.
1200627
Welcome back to the bizarre world of John Loveheart Esq. in The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl by Ishbelle Bee - the sequel to The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath.  This is Victorian England as youve never seen it  unless of course youve read Bees first novel.  Although this second book in the series offers a few new very interesting twists to her world.

Early on in this book we are introduced to a character who is described as a demonic multi-tasker. (I laughed out loud when I read this scene; youll love it). We meet him as he is blissfully perusing dungeon equipment and lauding the fact that people invented it, not demons and he says you make me smile.  Here is our heros nemesis in all his deranged, pure evil, glory.

Our hero?  Well, Mr Loveheart is back!  He is still a wonderfully psychotic hero with a penchant for drama and an obsessive sweet tooth for pastries, sponges and custard tarts. Our dear deranged Mr Loveheart is lonely - he seeks a queen with a good sense of humour. Fond of cakes. Mad as a kilt.  When he finds his dream girl, he must not only win her, but save her.  He parades through the novel displaying his outrageous fashion sense and wielding a sword trying to defeat our mega multi-tasking demon.  He is aided in his mission by the return of Detective White and Constable Walnut of Scotland Yard.  These two are essentially the straight men to Loveheart and they really do help make this a fun book.

Structurally, I found The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl more fragmented than the The Singular and Extraordinary Tale of Mirror and Goliath. I found the multiple story threads were not quite as seamlessly integrated  although there was no problem with keeping track of the different POVs. It was merely that occasionally my reading experience was jarred by the transitions.  There was a battle in a church seemed a little too contrived  almost like Bee waved her wand to get out of a literary corner.  Although in a world so heavily laced with magic and with these characters perhaps they took control in their own inimitable fashion. These tiny issues were something I didn't notice with the first book. However despite this The Contrary Tale of the Butterfly Girl is an action packed, hilariously horrific, engrossing story that I could not put down  I loved it!

Bees brilliance in lies in, not only her bizarre world vision, but in the wonderfully deranged stream of consciousness that she writes for her hero and his nemesis.  Her style in these passages, complete with varying font sizes and placement, make for hilarious reading that I  found myself reading aloud with delight - again.  Keep watch for the incident with the cursed sapphire and Wales  another laugh out loud moment. (Oh who am I kidding? There were lots of laugh out loud moments!)

The ending resolves the main plot arcs here nicely,  but leaves things open nicely for a new adventure  I cant wait!
3279923
Mary Gentle has created an alternate 19th Century Naples afrenzy with the power of Bel Canto opera and the debate between natural philosophy and religion.

We have the King of the Two Sicilies, King Ferdinand facing French and Italian intrigues; the inquisition, Darwin's theories, and of course the magical melodies of Rossini, Donizetti, and Bellini slowly giving way to Wagner and Verdi.

In the midst of this hot mess we meet Conrad Scalese, atheist librettist celebrating his first (he's not popular being an atheist during the inquisition) Operatic success. But then lightning strikes his opera house causing it to burn down, he wakes up with a migraine headache that gives him visions of fiery eruptions, and the inquisition arrives at his rooms to drag him to the dungeon.

He ends up with King Ferdinand, instead, who charges him with a vital project. A conspiracy in Naples is attempting to put on a "black opera", using the power of musicodramma to tap into the galvanic power of human brains/emotions to raise a powerful entity. The King desperately needs to stage another opera as an antidote to this opera and he wants Scalese to write and produce it.

Scalese, along with his trusted servant Tullio, his transvestite sister, a cast of amazingly varied operatic singers with fiery personalities, and the King's soldiers will brave sabotage and murder to see that the antidote opera is sung.

This is an alternate history with fantastic elements. The emphasis here is on HISTORY. Gentle takes us deep into the heart of the creation and staging of a bel canto opera.

For opera fans, or European history/philosophy buffs, this is a terrific book. The extended dialogues about the nature of god, creation, music, and the soul is definitely an intellectual delight.

If you're looking for action/adventure, there's a bit of that, too, but its completely overshadowed by the slow unfolding of the opera amongst political intrigue.

As I'm an opera fan, you can guess how much I enjoyed going along with Scalese for his opera ride. I did have a little problem following the flow of action sometimes as the characters have the habit of starting to think or say something, get cut off, and then say something else. I had to go back and reread bits of dialogue sometimes to follow thoughts, but it didn't hurt my enjoyment that much.

This Book's Snack Rating: Buffalo Blue Cheese Kettle Chips for the heavy, distinctive flavor of bel canto and philosophy on the backs of truly crunchy/delicious characters
2369240
The Ships of Air is the second book in the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy, which starts with The Wizard Hunters. I suggest reading them in order, but I actually enjoyed The Ships of Air more than the first installment.

Ile-Rien has been overrun by the Gardier, the mysterious enemies whove been attacking them from another world. Everyone who can has evacuated, and the front of the war has moved on to a neighboring country. Our protagonists are aboard the Queen Ravenna, a luxury liner which has been converted for the war effort and given the ability to travel between worlds with the aid of a sorcerer. The goal is to avoid the Gardier patrols and get the refugees to safety. But the ship itself is not entirely safe, for a malevolent and shadowy force stalks it.

Im hard pressed to say why I liked The Ships of Air better than The Wizard Hunters. One explanation may be that Im simply in a better mental place now. However, I think I was a lot more attached to the central characters here. Tremaine in particular grew on me. She has that fierceness that I find so appealing, and she can be rather ruthless as well. Plus she can be hilarious at times, and I love it when other characters are taken aback by her. I think Gerald actually did a facepalm at one point  it was delightful. While I wouldnt call The Ships of Air a comedic book, there were moments when I laughed. Theres a marriage subplot that for once might be one of the highlights of the book and which lends itself to some unexpected humor.

I felt like the setting was a lot stronger in this book as well. I really liked the luxurious setting of the Queen Ravenna and how it contrasted with the current circumstances. Apparently it is based on an actual ship, the Queen Mary, which I really need to look up. The subplot on the alliance between the Syprians and the Riens was something else I really enjoyed, particularly the culture clash between the two groups. Theres some new (and characteristically inventive) settings off the boat too. We get a bit more of a glimpse into the Gardier, and its fascinating. I cant wait to find out more in book three.

By the last hundred pages, I wasn't able to put The Ships of Air down. Martha Wells was already one of my favorite fantasy authors, and this book has cemented her in that position.
2547457
Giordano Bruno is an excommunicated Catholic monk now living with the French ambassador to Queen Elizabeth's court.  When one of Elizabeth's maids is found murdered, Giordano becomes involved in the investigation, although he'd much rather be working on his writing and philosophy.

The time of Elizabeth was a time of portents, omens, predictions, and astrological signs that some people appear to be using to their own ends - that end being the ouster of Elizabeth to be replaced by Mary Stuart.  Giordano is an utterly likeable character as well, very smart and moral.  I like the fact that he feels a bit of remorse for not being able to tell some of the people he considers friends the truth about his alliances, since quite a few of them would like to see Mary Stuart put on the throne and the return of Catholicism as THE religion of the English.

I have a soft spot for historical fiction, but an even softer one for well-researched historical fiction, and Prophecy definitely qualifies.  The fact that it is a mystery as well makes it even better.  Although it is the second in a series (the first is Heresy), I think that this sequel does a wonderful job as a stand-alone (but it still really makes me want to get Heresy on my shelf as well).  There are some references to events that happened in the first novel, but they work well as background filler without making the reader feel as though they don't have a good understanding of what is going on.

I've seen a couple of reviews where the reader says they knew who the "bad guy" was almost as soon as they "met" him/her in the pages - well, I didn't.  I had some suspicions .. and I was totally surprised by a turn near the end - and in the meantime, I enjoyed the twists, turns, intrigue and suspense.  This was a very enjoyable read for me, and if you like good historical fiction combined with intrigue and mystery, it will be a very enjoyable read for you too!

QUOTES
"You had better take care, Bruno," he says eventually, when it becomes clear that I am not going to respond.  "The reputation you enjoyed in Paris as a black magician already begins to spread in whispers through the English court." He gestures at the people around us.

For a moment I consider the path set out for a young woman of noble birth:  how briefly she is allowed to shine, to be publicly paraded and admired among her own kind, for precisely as long as it takes to find her a suitable husband.  Her wedding day is the zenith of her short flowering; after that she is expected to fade again into the background, to cover her hair and content herself with the reflected glory of her husband and children.

Writing:  4 out of 5 stars
Plot:  4 out of 5 stars
Characters:  3.5 out of 5 stars
Reading Immersion:  4 out 5 stars

BOOK RATING:  3.8 out of 5 stars
739563
The greatest work of the Spanish literary canon is set anew in 1922 New Mexico. As Don Quixote rotted his brain with chivalric tales, so dime novels of the Old West cause Don Valiente to imagine himself a heroic gunfighter. Intent on bringing new life to the fabled "Code of the Caballeros" the misguided but noble would-be gunslinger embarks on a modern quixotic quest.

Convinced that Rosalind is a young man, rather than the Lesbian stable hand caught in the act with a married woman that she is, Don Valiente saves her from lynching and in the process finds a sidekick for "The Knight of the Woeful Countenance." Rescued by the old vaquero, Roz sees him as her savior and so makes his day dreams her own. She imagines that defeating outlaws will earn enough bounty for her to fund her beloved Nanette's divorce from an abusive husband.

Having read Cervantes' two-volume work alongside this New World reimagining, I can appreciate the care the authors took in crafting a faithful "cover" of a well known (if seldom actually read) classic. In fact, Aragon and Walters give a far better story arc to their Sancho Panza than Cervantes' original. An instant classic? Not exactly. But a fun reimagining of an important work of literature remade into an enjoyable story. I recommend it.
2954206
Christopher DiGrazia does a wonderful job of recreating a bygone era that has always held a great fascination for me. You can tell the author loves the silent film era and Theda Bara in particular. His research and attention to detail from clothing to vintage champagne is evident from start to finish. I love the early days of film making and reading this book put me right in the thick of it.

DiGrazia's interweaving of characters and events, both real and fictitious, keeps the story interesting and makes for a fun read. Theda Bara as an early 20th century Miss Marple really works. You'll be rooting for her and her group of cinematic outcasts to flesh out the bad guys and save Fox Studios from a fate worse then foreclosure.

So like Miss Bara's partner in crime solving, Toby, pour yourself "three thick fingers of scotch", light up a good cigar and enjoy this thoroughly entertaining book.
4521613
This just might be the most fun Ive had reading a book in a while. Its pure escapism, done really well.

Ellie Hudson, an Olympic-class archer, is in Nottingham, England, for a high-level competition. She follows a man strangely dressed in a friars robe into the tunnels below Nottinghams castle and finds herself mysterious transported back in time to the late 1100s. Ellie has to figure out how to stay safe, avoid doing anything to change history, and find a way back to her own time. But all of that is easier said than done, especially since she begins her adventures by almost getting arrested by the shire reeve of Nottingham just for being at the wrong place at the wrong time. In fact, the shire reeve is an all-around bad guy, oppressing the good people of the area with high taxes and harsh punishments. In an era rife with that kind of injustice, whats a twenty-first century archer to do?

Ellie is, without a doubt, the perfect person to time travel back to twelfth-century England. As an archer, she can defend herself. Ellies father is a theoretical physicist, her mother a professor of medieval historyso she can accept the idea of time travel and knows a lot about the period she winds up in. Ellie conveniently speaks both English and French. (All she would need is to know Latin, and she would have the medieval trifecta.) Shes slender enough to pass as a boy, so shes able to disguise herself when needed. All of this is so perfect that it would strain belief if the reader let it.

But this reader didnt, because Ellies adventures are just so terrifically fun to follow that its easy to ignore the unlikely elements of the story. Ellie is brave and quick-witted, and many of her reactions flow naturally from those qualities. (Jump off a bridge? Sure, why not, if its the best avenue of escape?) She maybe doesnt always make the best choices, but she owns up to her mistakes and works to correct them. Ellie is also sarcastic and funny, which makes her even more likeable. It does take her a little too long to twig onto the fact that SHE is Robin Hood, though. Its more than halfway through the book before she realizes, as she puts it, I had become a fictional character.

The author does a couple of things with the story that I especially appreciated. First, she acknowledges that its hard for Ellie and the people she meets to understand each other, which is something time travel books don't always get right. For a speaker of modern English to try to understand Middle English would be something like listening to someone speak English with a heavy foreign accent, completely mangling some words, and randomly inserting unfamiliar words from their own language. (For example, the word is would have been pronounced more like ees, so even simple words would sound different.) She still makes it a lot easier for the characters to translate back and forth than it would be, but at least she doesnt completely gloss over the problem.

The author also avoids the problem of romantic entanglements. Theres attraction, sure. But Ellie knows that it would be a bad idea to get involved, and the men she meets have their own issues to deal with. It was really refreshing to read a young adult novel where the focus remains firmly on the action rather than having the main characters get distracted by going googly-eyed over each other.

Id highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a thoroughly fun, relatively quick read.

An eARC of this novel was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3658332
Dressed like a vagrant musician, the old campaigner approaches the castle of Don Isidor de Haro for a free meal. Or so it seems. What he's actually in search of is a missing nephew, daughter and grandson - and his long lost honors and distinctions. At the very least, he seeks revenge for the wrongs done him and his family.

He's the Baron de Rayo, not dead as everyone thought. Luckily don Isidor is alive as well - his long lost other nephew. The Baron, his nephew, his nephew's son and the good father Thomas will form a congenial medieval investigative team to uncover the secrets behind the mysterious downfall of the house of Rayo.

Are there women in the tale? Yes, but mostly locked up. Other Gothic elements include murder, incest, intrigue, dire prophesies, hidden stairways, subterranean passageways, lustful nobles, false friends and a purposeful ghost.

The Haunted Priory appeared in 1794, scorned by the critics but devoured by the reading public - and in for a long run at the circulating libraries.

I'm afraid I enjoyed the book as much as any late eighteenth-century reader in search of thrills and chills. Stephen Cullin makes good use of tried and true Gothic themes and devices. His characters are appealing, his writing style clear and engaging - and events move right along. The setting is quite original. According to the introduction, this may be the first Gothic novel set in Spain.

The excellent introduction, which I read last, beautifully justified my enjoyment of The Haunted Priory. So what if the author makes use of recycled Gothic paraphernalia! As the editor points out, imitative activity of this sort kept the genre alive - and gave the literary marketplace what it craved.

I had fun reading The Haunted Priority and recommend it to fans and students of the Gothic.
993986
The odd computer-generated cover caused me pause when I saw it on Blogging For Books, but Im a fan of some historical fiction, so I decided to give it a shot. Mary Handley would fit in just fine in todays society, but in the 19th century, she wouldve been considered brash, abrupt, and definitely not lady-like.

The merging of the fictional character, Mary, and many real period-specific people was smooth and the interactions were believable. I was a little confused at first with the sequence of events in the first two chapters, but once I figured it all out I was all-in. Smart and clever women are a rarity in literature, so I was pleased to read the exploits of Mary Handley, and I look forward to the next book due out in January 2016.

There were a scene or two that failed the suspension of disbelief, namely ricocheting bullets and wardrobe sequences, but they were a minor affront. The best thing that Mary Handley has over Sherlock Holmes is that shes tougher, more fun, and less cerebral.

Awarding four out of five stars is easy and I hope to read more from this author.
1822326
I read his Gentleman in Moscow and I enjoyed it so much I elected to take the Kindle recommendation to read his prior book, Rules of Civility. This book was totally different from Gentleman and delicious nonetheless. This story moves through various social circles and neighborhoods of pre WWII NYC in a spirited, fast moving, and personal way. Honestly, it's a delightful story and I really enjoyed it. I will not bore you with my retelling of it. Rather I will report that if you want a really enjoyable book to read this summer, you should add this one to the list. I couldn't put it down. I loved it and I'm sure you will too!
4799409
Cimorene isn't your everyday fairytale princess and Dealing with Dragons isn't your everyday fairytale, although you will recognize many allusions to them.  Patricia Wrede tweaks the old-fashioned, well-known stories without getting embroiled in a politically correct mood-killer.  The traditional characters retain their charm beginning with this first book of the Enchanted Forest Chronicles.  With her trademark light touch, Wrede creates a charming world with wizards and dragons and knights, giving you details to make your imagination take flight.
And the places she takes your imagination!  It all begins with a talking frog and an exasperated princess of Linderwall.  Ever practical, Cimorene, plans her escape and decides she will be a dragon's princess.  Adopted by Kazul as her Chief Cook and Librarian, Cimorene starts a whole new life filled with cherries jubilee, Latin, fire-proofing spells, challenging would-be rescuers, and intrigues for the dragon throne.
Cimorene is joined by other delicious characters, like the cool witch Morwen, allergy-prone Roxim, fellow dragon princess Alianora, and the pretentious Society of Wizards.  The action is fast-paced and exciting, but what really makes these Chronicles memorable is Wrede's witty, smooth humor.  She slips in tongue-in-cheek references to conventional fairy tales everywhere, from chapter headings to bit characters without drawing unnecessary attention to it.  The plot also doesn't leave things unexplained.  Wrede is a tight writer, accounting for all her details in the end.  Dealing with Dragons is thoroughly satisfying, completely engrossing, and totally fun, as are the sequels.  A must read, at any age, especially if you like whimsical fantasy with a touch of humor and a dose of common sense!
1896779
In Denise Rossetti's THE DARK ROSE, Noblelady Rosarina of Caracole, also known as the Dark Rose of Caracole, is known for her astonishing beauty and social grace. She used to be one of the most sought after courtesans in the land and now runs a school instructing others in the fine art. But she's much more than a pretty face. Rose is a woman with deep secrets and an agenda as one of the queen's top spies. She's on a mission to take down the Technomage Quintus, a man immersed in science, and one who might be a real danger to the planet. Problem is, he intrigues her, attracts her, and irritates her in equal measure. She knows she can't afford to want him, yet she does. And that's a tough pill to swallow considering she's supposed to kill him.

THE DARK ROSE is Rossetti's stunning conclusion to her Four-Sided Pentacle series. The book is best enjoyed after reading the previous novels to fully appreciate the complexity of world building, but you can also read the book as a stand-alone for enjoyment. There's magic, technology, and a generous blending of the two that's at once mesmerizing. I'm not sure how Rossetti does it, but her descriptions are so vivid and her characters so alive, I didn't want to leave that world. I've never read a book so in depth and creative, yet one that adhered to a deep and fulfilling romance as well.

Rose is a complex heroine. Strong and vulnerable, beautiful and with the same wants and needs to be loved that we all have. Quintus, the hero, is a mix of human and machine, yet it's his humanity that makes him so rich. The machine in him ties him to a world he feels responsible for, and it's that machine that can save everyone...or kill them all. Only Quin can make that decision, and at great cost to himself.

Older characters from the previous Pentacles books return, but not to overtake the central plot or steal the show from Rose and Quin. The villains are dastardly, the stakes high, and the love and growth between the protagonists enthralling.

I'm only sorry this book ends the series. But it did make me go back and reread the others on my keeper shelf, starting with THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW, THE THIEF OF LIGHT, and then THE LONE WARRIOR before this one. I can't wait to see what Rossetti comes up with for her next series. She's definitely an auto-buy for me.

If you want a story with rich characters, incredibly believable world-building, and a blend of magic and realism that will manage to knock you off your feet so that you can't put the book down until it's done, don't miss THE DARK ROSE and the rest of the Four-Sided Pentacle series. Your only regret will be that you didn't read this sooner.

A recommended read and a 5++ star rating.

SJ
Romance Junkies Reviews