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kblincoln's review against another edition
4.0
If you've read Cheney's other work (Iron Shoes, notably) then you might be surprised by the super-ultra-fantasy book cover since her other work tends to be historically precise, realistic fiction surrounding common human issues that just happen to feature people who aren't quite all the way human.
Or if you're looking for super-ultra-fantasy, you might be disappointed.
This is more of a murder mystery and political intrigue story set in an alternate turn-of-the-century Portugal....with sea creatures. And policemen gifted with "hunches" and an evil necromancer.
So there's magic, but really the story is about a spy from the sereia (aforementioned sea creatures) who someone is trying to kill. She wants to find out who and why, and a nobleman who also moonlights as an investigator, also wants to know why. In a way, they reminded me of CS Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr novels-- only with Portuguese names and magic.
The hero and heroine are suitably attracted to each other, but its more fun reading the bits about the nobleman breaking into rooms, getting shot at, and jumping from windows. The romance itself is tantalizing, but unsatisfying(for romance junkies like me) at the end of the novel-- I'm hoping Cheney has at least one more planned to resolve some issues. Loved the details of the city, the clothing down to worn, black velvet slippers with gold embroidery for the nobleman, and the sense of political rivalry between the two Portuguese princes and Spain.
One interesting feature of the book is the font is very unique-- distracting at first, but then I felt it added to the Portuguesey feel (can I use portuguese as an adjective?) of the story. The prose itself has that formal, almost dry tone I associate with more classical English literature.
So if alternate historical mysteries are your thing (with a soupçon of magical creature) pick up this somewhat genre-spanning novel, and find yourself struggling to put the pieces together along with Oriana and Duilio before her time runs out.
Or if you're looking for super-ultra-fantasy, you might be disappointed.
This is more of a murder mystery and political intrigue story set in an alternate turn-of-the-century Portugal....with sea creatures. And policemen gifted with "hunches" and an evil necromancer.
So there's magic, but really the story is about a spy from the sereia (aforementioned sea creatures) who someone is trying to kill. She wants to find out who and why, and a nobleman who also moonlights as an investigator, also wants to know why. In a way, they reminded me of CS Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr novels-- only with Portuguese names and magic.
The hero and heroine are suitably attracted to each other, but its more fun reading the bits about the nobleman breaking into rooms, getting shot at, and jumping from windows. The romance itself is tantalizing, but unsatisfying(for romance junkies like me) at the end of the novel-- I'm hoping Cheney has at least one more planned to resolve some issues. Loved the details of the city, the clothing down to worn, black velvet slippers with gold embroidery for the nobleman, and the sense of political rivalry between the two Portuguese princes and Spain.
One interesting feature of the book is the font is very unique-- distracting at first, but then I felt it added to the Portuguesey feel (can I use portuguese as an adjective?) of the story. The prose itself has that formal, almost dry tone I associate with more classical English literature.
So if alternate historical mysteries are your thing (with a soupçon of magical creature) pick up this somewhat genre-spanning novel, and find yourself struggling to put the pieces together along with Oriana and Duilio before her time runs out.
hrjones's review against another edition
3.0
Imagine, if you will, a vaguely 19th century alternate Portugal inhabited not only by humans, but by sireia (sirens), selkies, and other non-human races, and swirling with magic. What starts as an ordinary social drama quickly turns tragic and laced through with crime and politics, both internal and external. The book is part romance, part police procedural, part political thriller. Both protagonists are complex, relatable characters with realistic motivations and reactions. The listings in amazon.com suggest that this is not Cheney’s debut novel, but possibly the first book of hers not self-published? It reads somewhat like a debut work. The world-building and fantastic elements are solid, well worked out, and very appealing, though introduced in somewhat larger informative chunks than is my preference. I have a strong preference for learning about a world simply by encountering it. I felt that the first few chapters would have moved more quickly and smoothly by simply describing the events and having confidence that the reader could work out the rest. (But maybe that’s just me.) I liked the way the romantic tension between the two protagonists developed slowly (given that they were distracted by, you know, people trying to kill them) though again I sometimes felt a lighter touch would have worked more effectively in telling the reader about their emotions and reactions. But the romantic thread is only one small part of the story. I came into this series knowing there are two more books after this, which helped in accepting the particular place the story ended. Definitely a “first book of a trilogy” feel. I have a few personal ticky-boxes that I keep track of for fantasy worlds, and one got checked off by reference to named characters who were not strictly heterosexual. Not quite a requirement for me, but an index that's always part of my evaluation.
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