druv's review against another edition
5.0
Like the first book, this book follows a set of protagonists whose point of view we get to follow. This book expands the cast and from the eyes of others we get to see other sides and weaknesses of the characters of the first book. Antuniet, the main character, was ill-served by events in the first installment, and her struggles gives a welcome perspective on the social structure in Alpennia.
Much like the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters are all very likeable despite their flaws and its a pleasure (though sometimes a heartwrenching pleasure) to follow their adventures. Also like the first book, I found the side characters somewhat underdeveloped. Through the point-of-view structure we go deep on several of the characters, but it feels like it would be helpful if more of the characters whose points of view we don't get would wear their hearts on their sleeves a bit more. The princesses you got a good insight to, but the others felt a bit soulless at times. Which is a pity, because there are some I'd really like to see more animated, such as Anna.
Looking forward to future sequels!
Much like the first book, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the characters are all very likeable despite their flaws and its a pleasure (though sometimes a heartwrenching pleasure) to follow their adventures. Also like the first book, I found the side characters somewhat underdeveloped. Through the point-of-view structure we go deep on several of the characters, but it feels like it would be helpful if more of the characters whose points of view we don't get would wear their hearts on their sleeves a bit more. The princesses you got a good insight to, but the others felt a bit soulless at times. Which is a pity, because there are some I'd really like to see more animated, such as Anna.
Looking forward to future sequels!
storytimed's review against another edition
5.0
Didn't really buy Jeanne and Antuniet together that much, but the alchemy and ANNA who is a cutie pie and Jeanne's Lesbian Picnic makes me round up from 4.5 to a 5.
activehearts's review against another edition
4.0
Super satisfying follow-up to Daughter of Mystery. The plot unfolds slowly, but I love the characters and how their relationships progress. If you're into scholars, scientists, some court intrigue and f/f romance, do read Heather Rose Jone's Alpennia books. I'm happily awaiting for the next installment.
kaa's review against another edition
5.0
Another really lovely book. I adore the focus in this series on chosen and created family. The romance was again slow-paced and sweet, with great attention given to developing the characters and relationship. I think the author does a really good job of writing characters with distinct personalities, world-views, and values in a way that makes me emotionally invested in all of them (although I admit I was a less than thrilled with the way that Jeanne's previous flirtations were addressed). I really like the balance of romance and mystery/action in these books. The world-building is gorgeously detailed, and I think the way magic and religion have been combined is fascinating.
hildea's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
hfnuala's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
I didn't enjoy it as much as the first book but it was fun.
torkin's review against another edition
5.0
Thus is a lovely, creative fantasy novel set in well-realized alternate Europe, with a compelling f/f romance to boot. This book has a full cast of four interesting, dynamic women to lead it. The magic system is interesting, and the plot is too. Read it! Read the whole series; I certainly will.
jesshale's review against another edition
2.0
A less engaging read than book one. I kept going because I did want to find out what happened, but it left me wanting.
I think the major problem in this book is a lack of focus. I enjoyed seeing Margerit and Barbara again, and if the story had focussed on them and resolving the political intrigue, that might have worked.
I was also charmed by Jeanne - the social butterfly who is, perhaps, starting to age a tad (I think she's just over forty), and Antuniet, the proud young alchemist who opens herself to friendship, family and love. But, I felt some of this story was told not shown, their conflict not as well resolved as the one in Book 1, and it was overall done a disservice by not being the focus of its own book.
There were a lot of threads picked up but not put down, and I honestly couldn't tell if they were plot holes or being left for book three:
- the Arpik title that Barbara purchases
- Iuli's stories - there was one bit with a big deal made of her running out to give a forgotten one to Margerit who tucket it under a carriage seat, and I really thought it would be discovered and proven to reveal...something
- Efrederik's marriage - potential brides are mentioned a few times
- how Jeanne is going to regain her social capital
- why the Emperor of Austria thinks the de Boot book was his, and how Antuniet came to be pursued
- Tio's fate
- what is going to become of Anna
- Barbara's family, including her cousin and new armin
- Antuniet's place in the alchemist/scholar community, especially since she has developed a new method
Plus more that I can't remember because this was a VERY LONG book. A lot of these may be done in Book 3, but it didn't feel finished, if that makes sense - not like little seeds of plot I'm eager to see develop, but more like things that might be resolved if the author remembers.
Things were mentioned, felt important, then were resolved off the page. Overall just quite uneven, and a disappointment after how enthralling book one was.
I think the major problem in this book is a lack of focus. I enjoyed seeing Margerit and Barbara again, and if the story had focussed on them and resolving the political intrigue, that might have worked.
I was also charmed by Jeanne - the social butterfly who is, perhaps, starting to age a tad (I think she's just over forty), and Antuniet, the proud young alchemist who opens herself to friendship, family and love. But, I felt some of this story was told not shown, their conflict not as well resolved as the one in Book 1, and it was overall done a disservice by not being the focus of its own book.
There were a lot of threads picked up but not put down, and I honestly couldn't tell if they were plot holes or being left for book three:
- the Arpik title that Barbara purchases
- Iuli's stories - there was one bit with a big deal made of her running out to give a forgotten one to Margerit who tucket it under a carriage seat, and I really thought it would be discovered and proven to reveal...something
- Efrederik's marriage - potential brides are mentioned a few times
- how Jeanne is going to regain her social capital
- why the Emperor of Austria thinks the de Boot book was his, and how Antuniet came to be pursued
- Tio's fate
- what is going to become of Anna
- Barbara's family, including her cousin and new armin
- Antuniet's place in the alchemist/scholar community, especially since she has developed a new method
Plus more that I can't remember because this was a VERY LONG book. A lot of these may be done in Book 3, but it didn't feel finished, if that makes sense - not like little seeds of plot I'm eager to see develop, but more like things that might be resolved if the author remembers.
Things were mentioned, felt important, then were resolved off the page. Overall just quite uneven, and a disappointment after how enthralling book one was.
coolcurrybooks's review
4.0
Are you interested in a historical fantasy lesbian romance? Then you should read Heather Rose Jone’s Alpennia series, which starts with Daughter of Mystery. The Mystic Marriage is the second installment in the series and introduces two new women as a new romantic plotline. I suggest reading Daughter of Mystery first, as both The Mystic Marriage and this review will contain spoilers for the first book.
After the events of Daughter of Mystery, Antuniet Chazillen lost everything when her brother’s treachery was exposed. Determined to restore her family’s honor (even if there’s nothing of her family left), she turns to alchemy with the help of a long-hidden book of alchemical secrets. But she’s not alone in desiring the book, and her enemies have hounded her across Europe for it. Running out of options, Antuniet returns to Alpennia. Disgraced and out of friends, she turns to Jeanne, Vicomtesse de Cherdillac, a bored socialite who’s momentarily between lovers. Jeanne first sees Antuniet and her alchemy as a simple amusement, but her feelings soon deepen.
I enjoyed The Mystic Marriage. I really did! But I feel like I have so little to say about it. That’s partly my own fault — I waited over half a month to write this review, and I didn’t even take notes when I was reading. It may partly be because The Mystic Marriage is a sequel. Those are always hard to review, beyond “if you like the first one, you’ll probably like this one too.” Which is exactly the camp The Mystic Marriage falls into. If you found yourself charmed by Daughter of Mystery, then you should obviously read The Mystic Marriage!
So what’s different about this book? It does add two new POV characters, of course, Antuniet and Jeanne. I like how Antuniet is so dedicated to her alchemy that everything else sort of falls into shadow, and how Jeanne realizes that she’ll need to share Antuniet with her obsession for alchemy. I also haven’t seen Jeanne’s character type — a middle-aged, female socialite — as a love interest or romantic lead before.
Barbara and Margerit both still have POV sections in The Mystic Marriage, which surprised me at first. I’d assumed that the story would be told entirely from Antuniet and Jeanne’s perspectives. I wonder if this format will hold with the next book, giving us six POVs total? I think four worked okay here, but any more would risk overburdening the narrative.
I enjoyed how The Mystic Marriage expanded upon the magical elements with the addition of alchemy. I love how magic in this series is so scientific! It’s a beautiful piece of world building.
The Mystic Marriage is also more proof towards what I’m beginning to suspect: I like romance a lot better when it is f/f and low on sex. This might be obvious, but I’ve spent most of my life thinking I hated romance! I’m still not a huge romance person, but I love the Alpennia books and they’re essentially romances. Fantasy romances, but still romances. I guess this is less a commentary on The Mystic Marriage and more commentary on what insight this series has been giving me on myself.
The Mystic Marriage is also a tad more diverse than the first book. There’s now a black woman in the supporting cast (and I think she’s the protagonist of the third book), and there were some Jewish characters too. In terms of queer identities, I’d call this book lesbian and not LGBT. I’m pretty sure the only orientations you see are straight or lesbian? I guess Jeanne could be bi, since she had a husband in the distant past… but you never hear anything about him and you only see her interested in women. This isn’t a criticism of the series — I just want to note it, since this series gets labeled LGBT and people looking for a wide variety of queer identities would likely be disappointed.
All in all, I found The Mystic Marriage a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I plan to read the third novel in the series. Also, I heard we’re getting the fourth book sometime soon? Guess I better catch up!
Review from The Illustrated Page.
After the events of Daughter of Mystery, Antuniet Chazillen lost everything when her brother’s treachery was exposed. Determined to restore her family’s honor (even if there’s nothing of her family left), she turns to alchemy with the help of a long-hidden book of alchemical secrets. But she’s not alone in desiring the book, and her enemies have hounded her across Europe for it. Running out of options, Antuniet returns to Alpennia. Disgraced and out of friends, she turns to Jeanne, Vicomtesse de Cherdillac, a bored socialite who’s momentarily between lovers. Jeanne first sees Antuniet and her alchemy as a simple amusement, but her feelings soon deepen.
I enjoyed The Mystic Marriage. I really did! But I feel like I have so little to say about it. That’s partly my own fault — I waited over half a month to write this review, and I didn’t even take notes when I was reading. It may partly be because The Mystic Marriage is a sequel. Those are always hard to review, beyond “if you like the first one, you’ll probably like this one too.” Which is exactly the camp The Mystic Marriage falls into. If you found yourself charmed by Daughter of Mystery, then you should obviously read The Mystic Marriage!
So what’s different about this book? It does add two new POV characters, of course, Antuniet and Jeanne. I like how Antuniet is so dedicated to her alchemy that everything else sort of falls into shadow, and how Jeanne realizes that she’ll need to share Antuniet with her obsession for alchemy. I also haven’t seen Jeanne’s character type — a middle-aged, female socialite — as a love interest or romantic lead before.
Barbara and Margerit both still have POV sections in The Mystic Marriage, which surprised me at first. I’d assumed that the story would be told entirely from Antuniet and Jeanne’s perspectives. I wonder if this format will hold with the next book, giving us six POVs total? I think four worked okay here, but any more would risk overburdening the narrative.
I enjoyed how The Mystic Marriage expanded upon the magical elements with the addition of alchemy. I love how magic in this series is so scientific! It’s a beautiful piece of world building.
The Mystic Marriage is also more proof towards what I’m beginning to suspect: I like romance a lot better when it is f/f and low on sex. This might be obvious, but I’ve spent most of my life thinking I hated romance! I’m still not a huge romance person, but I love the Alpennia books and they’re essentially romances. Fantasy romances, but still romances. I guess this is less a commentary on The Mystic Marriage and more commentary on what insight this series has been giving me on myself.
The Mystic Marriage is also a tad more diverse than the first book. There’s now a black woman in the supporting cast (and I think she’s the protagonist of the third book), and there were some Jewish characters too. In terms of queer identities, I’d call this book lesbian and not LGBT. I’m pretty sure the only orientations you see are straight or lesbian? I guess Jeanne could be bi, since she had a husband in the distant past… but you never hear anything about him and you only see her interested in women. This isn’t a criticism of the series — I just want to note it, since this series gets labeled LGBT and people looking for a wide variety of queer identities would likely be disappointed.
All in all, I found The Mystic Marriage a thoroughly enjoyable book, and I plan to read the third novel in the series. Also, I heard we’re getting the fourth book sometime soon? Guess I better catch up!
Review from The Illustrated Page.
gayancalime's review against another edition
's you complained so much about hte first one' listen im still really mad about it and she's still not doing right by barbara but i got to see lesbian domesticity and i loved it so thats $10 wellspent