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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.
a_l_deleon's review against another edition
4.0
I’m not usually interested in reading ‘mermaid’ tales, but I went ahead and gave this a try anyway. Set in 1900’s Portugal, It ended up being much better than I anticipated. A slight twist of fantasy, magic, and espionage- The Golden City was enjoyable to read. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
jaclynder's review against another edition
2.0
The Golden City is fantasy-historical-romance-mystery novel that had so much potential, but ultimately fell flat for me. I loved the concept of selkie's and sereia's living hidden amongst the human population of early 20th century Portugal, but I found myself plodding through this read.
Oriana Paredes is a spy for her people, the sereia (think mermaid, but with legs), and in doing her job, she has taken a position as a lady's companion to Lady Isabel. By rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy, Oriana hopes to learn insider information that may help the ostracized sereia and keep them protected from any incursions by the humans. On top of her spying duties, Oriana still has to play the real ladies' companion, which is why she finds herself helping Isabel execute an elopement. Unfortunately, this elopement ends in Isabel's death in a strange water art installation, which seems to have a much more sinister purpose than grotesque art.
Investigating the disappearance of a number of servants from notable homes, Duilio Ferreira, police consultant, gentleman, and half-selkie, crosses paths with Oriana. Duilio has noticed Oriana at several society functions and has wondered about her, but only after their investigations come together does he get his suspicions about her race confirmed. Rather than turning the sereia in, as is demanded by the Special Police, Duilio offers her a position as his mother's companion so that they can work together to bring justice to Isabel's killer.
The Golden City wasn't a bad novel. At first I thought I would love it since it started out so much like a historical romance. We had the ladies companion in the fringes of upper society and a potential romantic interest with the gentleman, plus an engaging mystery. What could go wrong? Well, I think there was just too many plot lines emerging that none were truly resolved or fully explored.
See my full review at The Book Adventures.
Oriana Paredes is a spy for her people, the sereia (think mermaid, but with legs), and in doing her job, she has taken a position as a lady's companion to Lady Isabel. By rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy, Oriana hopes to learn insider information that may help the ostracized sereia and keep them protected from any incursions by the humans. On top of her spying duties, Oriana still has to play the real ladies' companion, which is why she finds herself helping Isabel execute an elopement. Unfortunately, this elopement ends in Isabel's death in a strange water art installation, which seems to have a much more sinister purpose than grotesque art.
Investigating the disappearance of a number of servants from notable homes, Duilio Ferreira, police consultant, gentleman, and half-selkie, crosses paths with Oriana. Duilio has noticed Oriana at several society functions and has wondered about her, but only after their investigations come together does he get his suspicions about her race confirmed. Rather than turning the sereia in, as is demanded by the Special Police, Duilio offers her a position as his mother's companion so that they can work together to bring justice to Isabel's killer.
The Golden City wasn't a bad novel. At first I thought I would love it since it started out so much like a historical romance. We had the ladies companion in the fringes of upper society and a potential romantic interest with the gentleman, plus an engaging mystery. What could go wrong? Well, I think there was just too many plot lines emerging that none were truly resolved or fully explored.
See my full review at The Book Adventures.
tashspice's review against another edition
3.0
Rating of 2.5 stars
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I wasn't enthralled; it was a book I was able to put down, multiple times. I think I only finished it because I have nothing else to do.
The story focuses on Oriana, a "spy" for her people, the sereia, which are like Greek Sirens. I put spy in quotes because her only evidences of being a spy is overhearing two pieces of information during the year she worked for Isabel as a companion. She's not that great of spy. As a sereia, she has gills and webbed fingers, which she hides with gloves and high collared dresses, as the book is set in an alternate 1902 Portugal where magic exists, but magical creatures are put to death by order of the prince. I honestly don't know what about this book is supposed to convey that it's based in Portugal, other than the fact the book says Portugal, but it could have been written about any alternate country, and still made sense.
Anyway, Oriana and her aristocratic friend/boss, Isabel are sneaking out of the house dressed as servants, so Isabel can run away and elope. Sadly, the girls are taken and drowned, except Oriana has gills and cannot be drowned. She escapes and eventually teams up with Duilio Ferreira, who is half selkie, and an aristocrat who consults for the police, because he really just wants to be a policeman. The plot centers around their investigation of who is killing servants and why.
I honestly don't know how I feel about this book. I wasn't enthralled; it was a book I was able to put down, multiple times. I think I only finished it because I have nothing else to do.
The story focuses on Oriana, a "spy" for her people, the sereia, which are like Greek Sirens. I put spy in quotes because her only evidences of being a spy is overhearing two pieces of information during the year she worked for Isabel as a companion. She's not that great of spy. As a sereia, she has gills and webbed fingers, which she hides with gloves and high collared dresses, as the book is set in an alternate 1902 Portugal where magic exists, but magical creatures are put to death by order of the prince. I honestly don't know what about this book is supposed to convey that it's based in Portugal, other than the fact the book says Portugal, but it could have been written about any alternate country, and still made sense.
Anyway, Oriana and her aristocratic friend/boss, Isabel are sneaking out of the house dressed as servants, so Isabel can run away and elope. Sadly, the girls are taken and drowned, except Oriana has gills and cannot be drowned. She escapes and eventually teams up with Duilio Ferreira, who is half selkie, and an aristocrat who consults for the police, because he really just wants to be a policeman. The plot centers around their investigation of who is killing servants and why.
cgirl98's review against another edition
3.0
I saw this book in the bookstore and the cover drew my eyes, then the blurb convinced me to give it a shot. My track record for these types of purchases if pretty good so far. I thought this was a solid read.
I saw a review for this where someone said it was "barely fantasy" And I wondered...what exactly was this persons definition of "Fantasy" because if it wasn't fantasy, what was fantasy? Perhaps it needed more elves? And a medieval setting? Who knows? I actually liked that it was a bit different from the usual pattern.
This was set in an Alternate fantasy based Portugal at the turn of the century in 1902, where there was magic and magical creatures....that is if you consider selkies, vampires and mermaid magical creatures. If not then..well...enjoy that reality...and it had a mystery, and a nice little romance. The main mystery of the book was the search to figure out the mystery of the City Below the Sea, the disappearance of servants of the city's wealthiest home that coincided with the creation of new home of this underground city..... and why this city was being created at all. And it did a good job keep you interested in that to the end.
But this book if anything I would say suffered from trying to do too much, rather than having to little of something. It was a fantasy with plenty of magic and creatures to keep you interested, and a romance, and a mystery, detective novel all rolled into one. The world created was very rich, with plenty of elements to explore for many books, and I thought the author tried to pack a bit too much into the first book at once...some of the information could have been teased a bit more. The main story line of the mystery of the City Under The Sea was more than enough to hold me, along with the underlying romantic tension between the characters. Some of the extra side stories were too much...like getting an overflowing plate. Food is great...but maybe save some of leftovers and a doggy bag.
Other than that, I thought the main story line was nicely teased and resolved. From the first chapter it was plain to see that this was going somewhere, and that there was a plan. The loose ends were all tied in the end. The dynamic between Oriana and Duilio was just the right pace for me. I like when I see characters develop gradually through the story and see their relationship change....it makes the eventual payoff at the end more believable and make you more invested in the outcome. The last chapter and Oriana's decision to leave...after all the buildup...was just the right amount of bittersweet and regretful.
I might actually pick up the next in the series since it was interesting enough to make me curious how it goes on....but...I do have like 60 books on my to be read list...so someday....maybe......sigh...
All in all...pretty good, and I'm happy with my $5 purchase.
I saw a review for this where someone said it was "barely fantasy" And I wondered...what exactly was this persons definition of "Fantasy" because if it wasn't fantasy, what was fantasy? Perhaps it needed more elves? And a medieval setting? Who knows? I actually liked that it was a bit different from the usual pattern.
This was set in an Alternate fantasy based Portugal at the turn of the century in 1902, where there was magic and magical creatures....that is if you consider selkies, vampires and mermaid magical creatures. If not then..well...enjoy that reality...and it had a mystery, and a nice little romance. The main mystery of the book was the search to figure out the mystery of the City Below the Sea, the disappearance of servants of the city's wealthiest home that coincided with the creation of new home of this underground city..... and why this city was being created at all. And it did a good job keep you interested in that to the end.
But this book if anything I would say suffered from trying to do too much, rather than having to little of something. It was a fantasy with plenty of magic and creatures to keep you interested, and a romance, and a mystery, detective novel all rolled into one. The world created was very rich, with plenty of elements to explore for many books, and I thought the author tried to pack a bit too much into the first book at once...some of the information could have been teased a bit more. The main story line of the mystery of the City Under The Sea was more than enough to hold me, along with the underlying romantic tension between the characters. Some of the extra side stories were too much...like getting an overflowing plate. Food is great...but maybe save some of leftovers and a doggy bag.
Other than that, I thought the main story line was nicely teased and resolved. From the first chapter it was plain to see that this was going somewhere, and that there was a plan. The loose ends were all tied in the end. The dynamic between Oriana and Duilio was just the right pace for me. I like when I see characters develop gradually through the story and see their relationship change....it makes the eventual payoff at the end more believable and make you more invested in the outcome. The last chapter and Oriana's decision to leave...after all the buildup...was just the right amount of bittersweet and regretful.
I might actually pick up the next in the series since it was interesting enough to make me curious how it goes on....but...I do have like 60 books on my to be read list...so someday....maybe......sigh...
All in all...pretty good, and I'm happy with my $5 purchase.
kiraly's review against another edition
4.0
I picked this up at the library on a whim. I thought, "Hmm, alternate-history Portugal? With magic and murder and secrets? All right, I'll give it a try." Then I let it sit for a while as I worked my way through the other books on my to-read list. When I picked it up again, my eye caught the word "selkies" in a review on the cover...and I knew I had made the right choice. I read half of it in one night because I couldn't stop reading and finished it the next day.
I can't decide what I most adore about this book. The world? It's such a well-crafted blend of history and magic. To be fair, I know nothing about Portuguese history, but the descriptions of society living and politics make sense together. The magic system (and roles of non-humans) blend in seamlessly. And the more I read about the non-human societies (the selkies and sereia) the more I want to know about them.
Then, of course, we have the characters. Oriana and Duilio read like real, flawed people with only so much in the way of magical gifts. Their lives are made more complicated by the fact that neither of them are precisely "people", or at least not human. They both hide layers of secrets and spend much of the book carefully deciding how much they can trust those secrets to each other.
My only complaint about this otherwise well-crafted story is the presence of several loose ends still dangling when the book is over. I was relieved to see that, firstly, there is a sequel, and secondly, the library has a copy. I look forward to reading more.
I can't decide what I most adore about this book. The world? It's such a well-crafted blend of history and magic. To be fair, I know nothing about Portuguese history, but the descriptions of society living and politics make sense together. The magic system (and roles of non-humans) blend in seamlessly. And the more I read about the non-human societies (the selkies and sereia) the more I want to know about them.
Then, of course, we have the characters. Oriana and Duilio read like real, flawed people with only so much in the way of magical gifts. Their lives are made more complicated by the fact that neither of them are precisely "people", or at least not human. They both hide layers of secrets and spend much of the book carefully deciding how much they can trust those secrets to each other.
My only complaint about this otherwise well-crafted story is the presence of several loose ends still dangling when the book is over. I was relieved to see that, firstly, there is a sequel, and secondly, the library has a copy. I look forward to reading more.
amym84's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted at Vampire Book Club
Oriana Paredea is a seria (think a siren or mermaid). She’s been in The Golden City for two years spying on the aristocracy for her people, trying to root out non-human sympathizers. Years ago the sea folk (seria, selkies, and otterfolk) were cast out of Portugal due to the Prince’s conviction that his death would be brought about by one of their people. Oriana finally landed in the perfect position as a lady’s companion.
Besides having access to a wealth of information to pass along, Oriana forms a friendship with her charge, Isabel Amaral. When Isabel decides to elope, Oriana chooses to accompany her to Paris. The girls barely make it out of the house before they are attacked and Oriana has to watch her only friend die. Was the attack as random as ‘wrong place, wrong time’? Or were Oriana and Isabel targeted specifically?
Oriana is only concerned with one thing, finding justice for her friend. Unbeknownst to Oriana, she’ll find an ally in Duilio Ferreira, a police consultant who has been investigating a series of unsolved disappearances. Oriana’s attack and attempted murder is not the first The Golden City has seen in the last few months, nor is it believed to be the last. However, there have been roadblocks in the investigation leading him to suspect someone in the higher echelons of power is pulling the strings. Duilio believes Oriana may be the key to finally solving this mystery. Duilio is not without his own hidden agenda in this case, but with their loyalties lying in different directions, will Oriana and Duilio be able to work together?
The Golden City is a mystery first and foremost. The inclusion of magic and sea folk was just icing on the cake for me. As I’ve found with many mysteries, the pacing can be slow going at times, with moments of intrigue added in to more than likely make sure you’re paying attention to the story. The twists and turns are numerous and frequent. Cheney introduces a lot of secondary characters that I desperately want to know more about.
But it’s Oriana and Duilio that make the story. The pair work great together, their chemistry is apparent from the beginning, and I found myself wishing they had more page time together. For all that The Golden City takes place in 1902 I found myself yelling “F— Propriety!”to my Kindle multiple times because that seemed to be a hindrance on furthering their relationship. They are both unassuming and not your typical alpha male or fierce heroine, although they are both very determined and capable. I like the direction Cheney takes with Oriana and Duilio (however frustrating) and I can’t wait to see if/when they’ll get a Happily Ever After.
The mythology concerning the sea folk was probably my second favorite thing about this book. They are definitely an intrinsic part of this world created but since the action of the story takes place in Portugal and away from the seria island, focus is taken away slightly. With the turn of events in The Golden City I’m hoping we’ll get a better look in the next book. If you enjoy a good traditional mystery with the inclusion of the supernatural, The Golden City is for you.
Oriana Paredea is a seria (think a siren or mermaid). She’s been in The Golden City for two years spying on the aristocracy for her people, trying to root out non-human sympathizers. Years ago the sea folk (seria, selkies, and otterfolk) were cast out of Portugal due to the Prince’s conviction that his death would be brought about by one of their people. Oriana finally landed in the perfect position as a lady’s companion.
Besides having access to a wealth of information to pass along, Oriana forms a friendship with her charge, Isabel Amaral. When Isabel decides to elope, Oriana chooses to accompany her to Paris. The girls barely make it out of the house before they are attacked and Oriana has to watch her only friend die. Was the attack as random as ‘wrong place, wrong time’? Or were Oriana and Isabel targeted specifically?
Oriana is only concerned with one thing, finding justice for her friend. Unbeknownst to Oriana, she’ll find an ally in Duilio Ferreira, a police consultant who has been investigating a series of unsolved disappearances. Oriana’s attack and attempted murder is not the first The Golden City has seen in the last few months, nor is it believed to be the last. However, there have been roadblocks in the investigation leading him to suspect someone in the higher echelons of power is pulling the strings. Duilio believes Oriana may be the key to finally solving this mystery. Duilio is not without his own hidden agenda in this case, but with their loyalties lying in different directions, will Oriana and Duilio be able to work together?
The Golden City is a mystery first and foremost. The inclusion of magic and sea folk was just icing on the cake for me. As I’ve found with many mysteries, the pacing can be slow going at times, with moments of intrigue added in to more than likely make sure you’re paying attention to the story. The twists and turns are numerous and frequent. Cheney introduces a lot of secondary characters that I desperately want to know more about.
But it’s Oriana and Duilio that make the story. The pair work great together, their chemistry is apparent from the beginning, and I found myself wishing they had more page time together. For all that The Golden City takes place in 1902 I found myself yelling “F— Propriety!”to my Kindle multiple times because that seemed to be a hindrance on furthering their relationship. They are both unassuming and not your typical alpha male or fierce heroine, although they are both very determined and capable. I like the direction Cheney takes with Oriana and Duilio (however frustrating) and I can’t wait to see if/when they’ll get a Happily Ever After.
The mythology concerning the sea folk was probably my second favorite thing about this book. They are definitely an intrinsic part of this world created but since the action of the story takes place in Portugal and away from the seria island, focus is taken away slightly. With the turn of events in The Golden City I’m hoping we’ll get a better look in the next book. If you enjoy a good traditional mystery with the inclusion of the supernatural, The Golden City is for you.
snixo048's review against another edition
3.0
A decent fantasy set in Portugal. You don't seen enough Mermaid and Selkie fantasy books, this fills that gap.