cmdc325's review against another edition
4.0
*4.5 stars*
*GoodReads Giveaway Book*
I got this book from a giveaway in like October. I never got a chance to read it. I started this book in January and got about half way through the book, but the beginning is sort of slow so I decided to put it down and pick up something out. Now that I finished it I realize that the beginning was slow because it was world building and giving background info. This story was so interesting because it is historical fantasy set in Portugal and there was Portuguese through out the novel, which is a nice touch. I found out that she is writing a second book and it is supposed to come out this year. I look forward to reading it. I would recommend this for anyone who like fantasy or historical fiction with a twist.
*GoodReads Giveaway Book*
I got this book from a giveaway in like October. I never got a chance to read it. I started this book in January and got about half way through the book, but the beginning is sort of slow so I decided to put it down and pick up something out. Now that I finished it I realize that the beginning was slow because it was world building and giving background info. This story was so interesting because it is historical fantasy set in Portugal and there was Portuguese through out the novel, which is a nice touch. I found out that she is writing a second book and it is supposed to come out this year. I look forward to reading it. I would recommend this for anyone who like fantasy or historical fiction with a twist.
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
This book is set in an alternate Portugal of 1902. Oriana is a mermaid living as a spy in the capital of Southern Portugal, when someone attempts to murder her and her noble mistress. She is able to escape, but her friend isn't. She then decides (because of painful back history never clearly explained) that she will find the person responsible and make him/her/them pay. On her journey, she encounters Duilio Ferreira, a noble half-blood who is also hunting for the killer. They are brought together by fate and inclination to solve this mystery.
***Spoilers after this point***
It was interesting, mostly well-written, and perhaps a little longer than it really needed to be, with multiple conspiracies and side stories being woven in with varying degrees of success. She seems to have been influenced by Regency romance novels (Georgette Heyer style), for while she does describe feelings of arousal, neither of the main characters even kiss by the end of the book. She's set herself up for a sequel, and I'm interested enough in the story and what happens next to be annoyed that I'm going to have to wait for her to write it before I can read it.
***Spoilers after this point***
It was interesting, mostly well-written, and perhaps a little longer than it really needed to be, with multiple conspiracies and side stories being woven in with varying degrees of success. She seems to have been influenced by Regency romance novels (Georgette Heyer style), for while she does describe feelings of arousal, neither of the main characters even kiss by the end of the book. She's set herself up for a sequel, and I'm interested enough in the story and what happens next to be annoyed that I'm going to have to wait for her to write it before I can read it.
lbrick363's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed emotions about this book. I guess I was expecting more dynamics between the main characters. I am not sure if I'll read book 2 yet.
bookstuff's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I got this as a free book from Goodreads giveaways. I wasn't sure what to expect, having never read any of Cheney's work before.
This is a alternate-history mystery fantasy set in 1905 Portugal which has been split into two principalities. The main character, Oriana Paredes, is a siren passing as a human in the The Golden City, which is closed to sirens because the ruling Prince believes in a prophecy that he would one day be killed by one. She is a low-level spy gathering any information that comes her way as a paid companion to a socialite debutante. The story opens with her helping her employer elope when they are abducted, which plunges Oriana into the middle of a mysterious conspiracy involving magic and politics.
The worldbuilding in this book is original and well-crafted. The story centers around the mystery, which is paced to keep you turning the pages. I was slow to warm to Oriana as a character, but her male counterpart Duilo very likable. There is a slow-burn romance subplot between the two, which I assume is set to continue in the sequel(s).
I enjoyed reading this, am really intrigued by the setting and supporting characters, and will definitely be looking for the next book.
This is a alternate-history mystery fantasy set in 1905 Portugal which has been split into two principalities. The main character, Oriana Paredes, is a siren passing as a human in the The Golden City, which is closed to sirens because the ruling Prince believes in a prophecy that he would one day be killed by one. She is a low-level spy gathering any information that comes her way as a paid companion to a socialite debutante. The story opens with her helping her employer elope when they are abducted, which plunges Oriana into the middle of a mysterious conspiracy involving magic and politics.
The worldbuilding in this book is original and well-crafted. The story centers around the mystery, which is paced to keep you turning the pages. I was slow to warm to Oriana as a character, but her male counterpart Duilo very likable. There is a slow-burn romance subplot between the two, which I assume is set to continue in the sequel(s).
I enjoyed reading this, am really intrigued by the setting and supporting characters, and will definitely be looking for the next book.
mtk_reads's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a while to get into, but once it hooked me I really enjoyed it. Fun, fast-paced, with a reasonably engaging mystery and characters who legitimately seemed attracted to each other. Onward to the sequel, where maybe they'll actually kiss!
wordnerdy's review against another edition
4.0
http://wordnerdy.blogspot.com/2014/02/2014-book-43.html
emilybruce's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
slc333's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. It is very slow paced and it took a long time for not much to happen, but I was interested enough to keep reading (although I did skim through a few bits)I kept waiting for particular things to happen such as progression of the romance, a meeting between Oriana and her father, some more explanation of the mysteries hinted at - in fact that is probably what kept me reading. Unfortunately very little was delivered on. It would have been much improved by a faster pace and more development of the romance. I expect a second book in which these things will happen, in fact without one the rating would be much lower. However this would have been improved by actually addressing some of these things in this book.
cupiscent's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this a great deal. Set in a highly mannered alterni-Portugal of the very early twentieth century, it has all sorts of wonderful elements: mermaids (well, sirens and selkies and even a rusalka who I liked the most) and dastardly plots that need foiling (like being trapped in the library with an unmarried gentleman!) and an absolutely smashing romance between the two leads, wherein they form a solid bond of mutual respect that's just dripping with UST, but impeded by constraints that are genuinely part of who they are.
There were times when there seemed to be rather too much inconsequential detail cluttering up the page, but in general, I enjoyed the ride a lot, and I'm looking forward to more.
There were times when there seemed to be rather too much inconsequential detail cluttering up the page, but in general, I enjoyed the ride a lot, and I'm looking forward to more.
see_sadie_read's review against another edition
4.0
I won a copy of this book in a GR giveaway.
3.5. This is one of those circumstances in which I really wish GR actually allowed half stars. I have to decide if I'm gonna round up or down. The book is better than others I've given 3 stars to, but I didn't like it 4 stars worth...
Anyhow, I'm pretty 'meh' about The Golden City. I liked the writing. The editing was fine. Finding it set in Portugal was a change from the regular US/UK based fiction one normally finds (though I've seen others comment it wasn't accurate, I don't know one way or another) and Selkie, Otterfolk and Seria were outside the norm magical creatures.
I even liked Oriana and Duilio. But I found them dull. Really, they seemed to exist in parallel plots that they then occasionally talked about. And they were so bound by social convention that there seemed to be no passion in them at all. And Oriana has to be the worst spy in history.
The mystery seemed shaky. Almost 50 people disappear and no one notices? I mean sure, employers might be oblivious, but did none of these people have families or friends that might report them missing? The great magic that was supposed to happen seemed questionable at best, though even the book admits that. And it all seemed to fall apart for no real reason at all. Oriana was still walking around as if no one was after her, and it didn't seem anyone was despite claims to the contrary. Sure, Duilio dodged assassination attempts, but it's Oriana that's supposed to be in danger, but I never once felt that.
And I was distinctly dissatisfied with the ending. It's not a solid HEA, which I don't always have to have, but it felt like something had been left incomplete. In fact, what it felt very much like was an obvious tie-in for a sequel, which irks me.
All in all, I would call this OK, not great but not wholly bad either. I'd read a sequel if I came across it for free or could borrow it. But I doubt I'd spend money on it.
3.5. This is one of those circumstances in which I really wish GR actually allowed half stars. I have to decide if I'm gonna round up or down. The book is better than others I've given 3 stars to, but I didn't like it 4 stars worth...
Anyhow, I'm pretty 'meh' about The Golden City. I liked the writing. The editing was fine. Finding it set in Portugal was a change from the regular US/UK based fiction one normally finds (though I've seen others comment it wasn't accurate, I don't know one way or another) and Selkie, Otterfolk and Seria were outside the norm magical creatures.
I even liked Oriana and Duilio. But I found them dull. Really, they seemed to exist in parallel plots that they then occasionally talked about. And they were so bound by social convention that there seemed to be no passion in them at all. And Oriana has to be the worst spy in history.
The mystery seemed shaky. Almost 50 people disappear and no one notices? I mean sure, employers might be oblivious, but did none of these people have families or friends that might report them missing? The great magic that was supposed to happen seemed questionable at best, though even the book admits that. And it all seemed to fall apart for no real reason at all. Oriana was still walking around as if no one was after her, and it didn't seem anyone was despite claims to the contrary. Sure, Duilio dodged assassination attempts, but it's Oriana that's supposed to be in danger, but I never once felt that.
And I was distinctly dissatisfied with the ending. It's not a solid HEA, which I don't always have to have, but it felt like something had been left incomplete. In fact, what it felt very much like was an obvious tie-in for a sequel, which irks me.
All in all, I would call this OK, not great but not wholly bad either. I'd read a sequel if I came across it for free or could borrow it. But I doubt I'd spend money on it.