elentarien's review
1.0
I really can't say I liked this one much. It just. . .seemed to lack. It started out strong, kept me interested until it changed point of view, but then it sort of lost momentum. The story started to drag.
It also lacked the 'suspense' I was hoping for in this style of novel. The romance was. . .pretty absent. Hinted at, but you don't get to follow it.
I also found the main character (Megan) a bit empty-headed. She wasn't *bad*, just. . .seemed kind of shallow. Particularly after the change in POV. Jane was better but her parts dragged far more.
I found the plot was also stretched over too much time. There was too much 'summary' of things developing over several years, which did not help with the suspense.
The end. . .well, what can I say? It worked. The innocent characters are left to go on. But there was no 'satisfaction' really for the reader. It was not a 'happily ever after', it was not a 'it all works out'. It was more. . .twisted, really.
All in all. . .I did NOT care for this one
It also lacked the 'suspense' I was hoping for in this style of novel. The romance was. . .pretty absent. Hinted at, but you don't get to follow it.
I also found the main character (Megan) a bit empty-headed. She wasn't *bad*, just. . .seemed kind of shallow. Particularly after the change in POV. Jane was better but her parts dragged far more.
I found the plot was also stretched over too much time. There was too much 'summary' of things developing over several years, which did not help with the suspense.
The end. . .well, what can I say? It worked. The innocent characters are left to go on. But there was no 'satisfaction' really for the reader. It was not a 'happily ever after', it was not a 'it all works out'. It was more. . .twisted, really.
All in all. . .I did NOT care for this one
trixie_reads's review
2.0
The story dragged a bit and Megan was a twit. However, the end was unexpected and kind of awesome!
melissasbookshelf's review
2.0
This book was a mess! All the good stuff happens off page and then later the reader is let in on it. Half the time things just came out of the blue and I was left feeling dumbfounded as to why the author would do this. I only gave it two stars instead of one because I enjoyed the narrator. However, even she couldn't save this farce of a gothic mystery.
quietjenn's review
3.0
Extremely slow at times and it will never rank as one of my favorites by Michaels, but I did end up liking it well enough - and certainly more so than lots here on goodreads seem to have.
lberestecki's review
3.0
2.5 Stars.
Jane was pretty much the only character in this book that wasn't completely infuriating. It also was so extremely similar to the last Barbara Michaels book that I read that it almost felt like she just changed some names and a few minor plot points :/
Jane was pretty much the only character in this book that wasn't completely infuriating. It also was so extremely similar to the last Barbara Michaels book that I read that it almost felt like she just changed some names and a few minor plot points :/
crownoflaurel's review
1.0
This kinda has me regretting trying to read all of Barbara Michaels' back catalog. The characters were tiresome & predictable, and while there were a few hints towards evil (spirits? a presence? the house? I couldn't even tell), it wasn't enough to explain away the villain's behavior, or the sense of "doom" that hung over Megan.
I would say at best, this could have been the secondary ghost story, like in [b:Ammie, Come Home|140403|Ammie, Come Home (Georgetown, #1)|Barbara Michaels|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348289627s/140403.jpg|2629158]. Maybe that's what [b:Someone In The House|1450937|Someone In The House|Barbara Michaels|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|135320] is about?
I would say at best, this could have been the secondary ghost story, like in [b:Ammie, Come Home|140403|Ammie, Come Home (Georgetown, #1)|Barbara Michaels|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1348289627s/140403.jpg|2629158]. Maybe that's what [b:Someone In The House|1450937|Someone In The House|Barbara Michaels|/assets/nocover/60x80.png|135320] is about?
duffgt06's review
2.0
Not her best. Her characters are usually so compelling and I couldn't bring myself to care much about any of them.
pussreboots's review
2.0
A black rainbow is a moon rainbow. It is the also the opening scene for Black Rainbow by Barbara Michaels. In this gothic romance Megan O'Neill, governess falls in love with the handsome but dangerous Edmund Mandeville while sister Jane looks on helpless.
Black Rainbow is the prequel to Someone in the House (1981). As it's basically the back story for a much better sounding (and more typical) Barbara Michaels horror novel, the story reads like a forced march. I haven't read Someone in the House (but want to).
The novel has moments of dark and atmospheric tension reminiscent of better novels. Edmund's past hints at Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Megan's role as an outsider and governess, at Jane Eyre.
Unfortunately these scenes are weakened by bland characterization and gender stereotyping. Megan's attraction to Edmund or his interest in her are never fully explained to any satisfaction. If the novel were more clearly a retelling of Jane Eyre or more clearly a bodice ripper, I would let their flimsy relationship slide.
Typically the heroines in Michaels's books are strong, smart and stubborn. Megan is certainly stubborn but she is neither strong nor smart. If Jane is the heroine (and she narrates the second half of the novel), then more time should be spent on her background and her rivalry with her brother. Yes, they have their fights and yes, Edmund does try to get her out of the picture but all this comes so late in the novel that it felt like it was added at the last minute.
Black Rainbow is the prequel to Someone in the House (1981). As it's basically the back story for a much better sounding (and more typical) Barbara Michaels horror novel, the story reads like a forced march. I haven't read Someone in the House (but want to).
The novel has moments of dark and atmospheric tension reminiscent of better novels. Edmund's past hints at Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca and Megan's role as an outsider and governess, at Jane Eyre.
Unfortunately these scenes are weakened by bland characterization and gender stereotyping. Megan's attraction to Edmund or his interest in her are never fully explained to any satisfaction. If the novel were more clearly a retelling of Jane Eyre or more clearly a bodice ripper, I would let their flimsy relationship slide.
Typically the heroines in Michaels's books are strong, smart and stubborn. Megan is certainly stubborn but she is neither strong nor smart. If Jane is the heroine (and she narrates the second half of the novel), then more time should be spent on her background and her rivalry with her brother. Yes, they have their fights and yes, Edmund does try to get her out of the picture but all this comes so late in the novel that it felt like it was added at the last minute.
donnaj71's review
3.0
This book seemed interesting in the beginning but then it seemed to drag on and on. I'm glad I finally read this so I can move it out of the house and make room for better books.
tyrshand's review
2.0
This is the first Barbara Michaels novel I haven't enjoyed. It wasn't at all like her others -- the characters had no spark and for the most part felt very weak. The most prevalent protagonist was quite insipid and I had a hard time liking her at all.