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sherwoodreads's review
Another thoroughly enjoyable entry in this series. The heroine gets to be an action hero though she is short-sighted, which would have appealed so strongly to young me, the short-sighted spindleshanks bumbling through the world. (Sometimes switchblade in hand.)
Bess, finding herself shipwrecked and thrown onto her own resources in the land of the Inca, becomes quite intrepid. Although she is not quite alone; her talent enables her to hear her reticulum, her circle of other minds able to reach across space.
The reticulum is quite fun--not always helpful, but always there . . . until they aren't. One of the things the history geek in me appreciated was how the talents have played out in causing our timeline to diverge to this one. And how differently they developed in the various cultures.
As for Bess's talent, and her unseen contacts, I really enjoyed the overlay of their interactions on Bess's adventures. And then there's that one, with whom Bess begins a wary truce, then friendship, and then a bond. I am a sucker for this kind of courtship, and McShane handles it delightfully--leaving me guessing the actual identity of the man until the very end.
In fact that was one of the highlights of this book, the alliances and friendships Bess makes along the way, within her familiar cultural milieu and outside of it. The depiction of the Inda was vivid and absorbing, the adventures exciting, the romance a delight.
Especially these days, with so much anxiety in the world, reading about a young woman gaining agency and becoming a heroine was just so satisfying.
Copy provided by author
narteest's review
4.0
I am in a few minds with Whispering Twilight. On the one hand I really, really enjoyed it, on the other, I'm a little half-half on some aspects of the relationship - but I need to point out that McShane did it well, it's just a personal thing I've never really gelled to (and I've noted it several times when I coincidentally picked up several books containing relationships with one similar aspect to the one in Whispering Twilight, but more on that later).
First and foremost, I was absolutely dying to pick up Whispering Twilight, after I sped through the three books before this one. I remember, I picked up Burning Bright simply because it was set in the Regency Era. The added superpower aspect was an added bonus since I'm not adverse to a fusion of these two genres. I remember telling myself, the fourth book, the one in Peru could hardly interest me, but the first two, and probably the third one would. To my own surprise, I have come to really love and enjoy these Extraordinaries books, to the point that even though I had my indifference to Bess Hanley (who we see in Abounding Might), there was no doubt that I would pick up Whispering Twilight, and find out if McShane could prove me wrong.
She did.
I will admit that it was a lucky thing that I tend to sleep late, and because of that I was awake in time for my kindle order of Whispering Twilight to appear in my Kindle. Can I tell you, I was EXCITED. I managed to read the first few chapters before I conked out for the night, but I was already intrigued. In a few pages, McShane made Bess Hanley into a character I found myself interested in knowing about. This matters because while she was fairly nice in Abounding Might, next to the vivacious Lady Daphne St Clair, she was a mere shade. However, in her own book, Bess Hanley becomes alive. She's a very reasonable young woman, however in Whispering Twilight, it's clear she's more than reasonable. Her time with the War Office has given her an unfortunate compass for an Extraordinary Adventure (pun totally intended).
I won't regurgitate the blurb here, but I will point out that although it states a predominantly Peruvian adventure, the setting of the main story happens in both Peru and London - as you would know by now, with Bounders available, circumventing the long travel by sea in this alternate history of McShane's world, this makes it very plausible to go between both London and Peru in the space of a few days and weeks. It also makes her adventure more exciting because McShane was thus required to test the limits of her world and flex around it, which as always with a well built world is quite a challenge! From what I can see however, McShane has done an excellent job. Fantastic.
Which brings me to the world, again. It's alternate history in which due to a plague which resulted in people developed powers. It's a familiar premise that's reminiscent of Push (2009 film), X-men, and other series out there day involves the development of powers etc. McShane fuses this with the genre of historical regency romance. In McShane's world, there are those with one of the eight talents, and those who are Extraordinaries of one of these talents. Those who are Extraordinary can do many more things than those who are talents within the same category. McShane has set rules that are treated with respect by the author. She keeps to her rules and stretches them to their limits - each book so far has focussed on a young woman, usually between 21 and 25, who has served or is serving with the War Office or the Navy as due to them as Extraordinary Talents. What I love about the world is that even after four books, it never feels under or over-discussed. McShane has clearly thought about her world enough that every sentence she writes makes the world feel so natural - all the bounding, the shaping, the speaking. It never feels forced, never feels like "the fae looked like human but for their ears" kind of thing. The development in the world is there, and we see it through the main character's experience and development of their own abilities.
As for the romance. Yes, a main aspect of all four books is the romance, mainly because these books are romance. Now, I have enjoyed each romance so far, McShane has a way of really matching up her pairings in a way that I respect. In this one, it's between Bess Hanley and the mysterious Speaker Mr Quinn, whom she has never spoken to before, yet from where they were, knew she must have spoken to in person before. It's established early on that this will be a kind of love before first sight thing, which is amusing because Bess herself is nearly blind with terrible vision and must wear spectacles, which often got lost in the chaotic adventure she experiences in Peru. Nonetheless, if you've followed my reviews at the end of 2020, I read a large number, coincidentally, of books with a similar theme, where the romance occurs through an exchange of letters, emails, messages, or other forms of anonymous writing (there was also song lyrics turned letters). Sometimes, those involved knew each other already in person, other times, they became acquainted. In short, these remind of me You've Got Mail, the film. Whispering Twilight is similar, though rather than letters, it's a spoken exchange, done through Bess and Mr Quinn's Extraordinary Speaker abilities.
Now, I want to say first and foremost, I am usually not a fan of this trope unless there's a strong component of the main characters already or becoming acquainted in person, resulting in falling in love with both personalities, resulting in conflict of whether or not they had found the right person, hoping that they were the same. It's a little more miraculous, but I particularly like the part that the female or male already knows the person in person and learns to like them (for example they might have disliked them earlier, but then for some reason, need to learn about them or get to know them etc). For example, you see this in You've Got Mail, and just off the top of my head, literarily, one of the last ones I read that falls into my favourite version of this trope is [b:Tweet Cute|45045129|Tweet Cute|Emma Lord|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558456354l/45045129._SY75_.jpg|66924806] (I'm sure there are others).
The romance between Bess and Mr Quinn falls partly into my ideal version of this trope. In the sense that during one of the times when Bess is returned safely to London, she sets out to find the mysterious Mr Quinn's identity. As she had already surmised the possible options earlier in the book, it was only a matter of eliminating the possibilities. So we do see Bess looking. And Bess getting to know the possible Mr Quinns. But I wished it was just a little bit more. I wished there were more scenes with the real Mr Quinn! Because they were quite intense when they happened. Magnetic perhaps is a way to describe it. But the rest of the novel and romance occurs through their speech, which I have read is what McShane intended. And I'll admit, for someone who doesn't usually enjoy the whole falling only for a voice/letter thing, I was quite swayed, because Mr Quinn was quite lovely, even more so when one learns the identity of the real one. I think McShane's diversion with the possible Mr Quinns was cute, but if one paid attention to the dialogue of the man Bess thought most likely to be Mr Quinn, it would have already been quite clear that he could not be, especially when one thinks of the conversations that Bess and Mr Quinn had before when she was in Peru. So in the end, I was quite swayed by Bess and Mr Quinn! I don't know what it is, but it was like Sophia and Mr Rutledge in [b:Wondering Sight|32978677|Wondering Sight (The Extraordinaries, #2)|Melissa McShane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1479173292l/32978677._SY75_.jpg|53173495], I couldn't be helped that the pairing was one to die for. Even more so when the romances are clean and based on mutual respect and understand of each person involved - in this sense, it feels very Heyeresque, which is just my style! And I hope it stays that way for the remaining books.
Now, even though it is a romance, like the other three books, the action is rarely overshadowed by the romance. There's a lot of action, and a political and colonial plot that occurs in the Peru segments, to some extent spills over to the London points, and carries much of Bess's experiences in Whispering Twilight. Now like with the previous three books, I love how much action goes into these books, since I've always been more engaged with the doing rather than the romancing (even though a touch of romance also makes a story even more interesting, though I am usually perfectly happy with a plot that moves). Thus, the action combined with the clean romances of the Extraordinaries so far appeals highly to my tastes.
Overall, while I might have one or two gripes (such as some parts of the romances, which I would have loved even more if there were more face to face, though I still love it enough as it is), Whispering Twilight is another fantastic book for this series, and I am absolutely dying to read the rest! I hope the pub date for Liberating Fight is released soon. Until then, I must return to the read-as-it-catches-my-fancy style that I had been engaging in prior to stumbling on Burning Bright.
First and foremost, I was absolutely dying to pick up Whispering Twilight, after I sped through the three books before this one. I remember, I picked up Burning Bright simply because it was set in the Regency Era. The added superpower aspect was an added bonus since I'm not adverse to a fusion of these two genres. I remember telling myself, the fourth book, the one in Peru could hardly interest me, but the first two, and probably the third one would. To my own surprise, I have come to really love and enjoy these Extraordinaries books, to the point that even though I had my indifference to Bess Hanley (who we see in Abounding Might), there was no doubt that I would pick up Whispering Twilight, and find out if McShane could prove me wrong.
She did.
I will admit that it was a lucky thing that I tend to sleep late, and because of that I was awake in time for my kindle order of Whispering Twilight to appear in my Kindle. Can I tell you, I was EXCITED. I managed to read the first few chapters before I conked out for the night, but I was already intrigued. In a few pages, McShane made Bess Hanley into a character I found myself interested in knowing about. This matters because while she was fairly nice in Abounding Might, next to the vivacious Lady Daphne St Clair, she was a mere shade. However, in her own book, Bess Hanley becomes alive. She's a very reasonable young woman, however in Whispering Twilight, it's clear she's more than reasonable. Her time with the War Office has given her an unfortunate compass for an Extraordinary Adventure (pun totally intended).
I won't regurgitate the blurb here, but I will point out that although it states a predominantly Peruvian adventure, the setting of the main story happens in both Peru and London - as you would know by now, with Bounders available, circumventing the long travel by sea in this alternate history of McShane's world, this makes it very plausible to go between both London and Peru in the space of a few days and weeks. It also makes her adventure more exciting because McShane was thus required to test the limits of her world and flex around it, which as always with a well built world is quite a challenge! From what I can see however, McShane has done an excellent job. Fantastic.
Which brings me to the world, again. It's alternate history in which due to a plague which resulted in people developed powers. It's a familiar premise that's reminiscent of Push (2009 film), X-men, and other series out there day involves the development of powers etc. McShane fuses this with the genre of historical regency romance. In McShane's world, there are those with one of the eight talents, and those who are Extraordinaries of one of these talents. Those who are Extraordinary can do many more things than those who are talents within the same category. McShane has set rules that are treated with respect by the author. She keeps to her rules and stretches them to their limits - each book so far has focussed on a young woman, usually between 21 and 25, who has served or is serving with the War Office or the Navy as due to them as Extraordinary Talents. What I love about the world is that even after four books, it never feels under or over-discussed. McShane has clearly thought about her world enough that every sentence she writes makes the world feel so natural - all the bounding, the shaping, the speaking. It never feels forced, never feels like "the fae looked like human but for their ears" kind of thing. The development in the world is there, and we see it through the main character's experience and development of their own abilities.
As for the romance. Yes, a main aspect of all four books is the romance, mainly because these books are romance. Now, I have enjoyed each romance so far, McShane has a way of really matching up her pairings in a way that I respect. In this one, it's between Bess Hanley and the mysterious Speaker Mr Quinn, whom she has never spoken to before, yet from where they were, knew she must have spoken to in person before. It's established early on that this will be a kind of love before first sight thing, which is amusing because Bess herself is nearly blind with terrible vision and must wear spectacles, which often got lost in the chaotic adventure she experiences in Peru. Nonetheless, if you've followed my reviews at the end of 2020, I read a large number, coincidentally, of books with a similar theme, where the romance occurs through an exchange of letters, emails, messages, or other forms of anonymous writing (there was also song lyrics turned letters). Sometimes, those involved knew each other already in person, other times, they became acquainted. In short, these remind of me You've Got Mail, the film. Whispering Twilight is similar, though rather than letters, it's a spoken exchange, done through Bess and Mr Quinn's Extraordinary Speaker abilities.
Now, I want to say first and foremost, I am usually not a fan of this trope unless there's a strong component of the main characters already or becoming acquainted in person, resulting in falling in love with both personalities, resulting in conflict of whether or not they had found the right person, hoping that they were the same. It's a little more miraculous, but I particularly like the part that the female or male already knows the person in person and learns to like them (for example they might have disliked them earlier, but then for some reason, need to learn about them or get to know them etc). For example, you see this in You've Got Mail, and just off the top of my head, literarily, one of the last ones I read that falls into my favourite version of this trope is [b:Tweet Cute|45045129|Tweet Cute|Emma Lord|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1558456354l/45045129._SY75_.jpg|66924806] (I'm sure there are others).
The romance between Bess and Mr Quinn falls partly into my ideal version of this trope. In the sense that during one of the times when Bess is returned safely to London, she sets out to find the mysterious Mr Quinn's identity. As she had already surmised the possible options earlier in the book, it was only a matter of eliminating the possibilities. So we do see Bess looking. And Bess getting to know the possible Mr Quinns. But I wished it was just a little bit more. I wished there were more scenes with the real Mr Quinn! Because they were quite intense when they happened. Magnetic perhaps is a way to describe it. But the rest of the novel and romance occurs through their speech, which I have read is what McShane intended. And I'll admit, for someone who doesn't usually enjoy the whole falling only for a voice/letter thing, I was quite swayed, because Mr Quinn was quite lovely, even more so when one learns the identity of the real one. I think McShane's diversion with the possible Mr Quinns was cute, but if one paid attention to the dialogue of the man Bess thought most likely to be Mr Quinn, it would have already been quite clear that he could not be, especially when one thinks of the conversations that Bess and Mr Quinn had before when she was in Peru. So in the end, I was quite swayed by Bess and Mr Quinn! I don't know what it is, but it was like Sophia and Mr Rutledge in [b:Wondering Sight|32978677|Wondering Sight (The Extraordinaries, #2)|Melissa McShane|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1479173292l/32978677._SY75_.jpg|53173495], I couldn't be helped that the pairing was one to die for. Even more so when the romances are clean and based on mutual respect and understand of each person involved - in this sense, it feels very Heyeresque, which is just my style! And I hope it stays that way for the remaining books.
Now, even though it is a romance, like the other three books, the action is rarely overshadowed by the romance. There's a lot of action, and a political and colonial plot that occurs in the Peru segments, to some extent spills over to the London points, and carries much of Bess's experiences in Whispering Twilight. Now like with the previous three books, I love how much action goes into these books, since I've always been more engaged with the doing rather than the romancing (even though a touch of romance also makes a story even more interesting, though I am usually perfectly happy with a plot that moves). Thus, the action combined with the clean romances of the Extraordinaries so far appeals highly to my tastes.
Overall, while I might have one or two gripes (such as some parts of the romances, which I would have loved even more if there were more face to face, though I still love it enough as it is), Whispering Twilight is another fantastic book for this series, and I am absolutely dying to read the rest! I hope the pub date for Liberating Fight is released soon. Until then, I must return to the read-as-it-catches-my-fancy style that I had been engaging in prior to stumbling on Burning Bright.
sashapasha's review
2.0
2.5 stars
Honestly I picked this up because I really like the trope of a romance conducted with a mystery person through letters or other anonymous modes of communication. My favorite instance of this trope is probably in [b:Crown Duel|21060|Crown Duel (Crown & Court #1-2)|Sherwood Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360507771l/21060._SY75_.jpg|4398231], but the movie You’ve Got Mail is a more well-known example. There's something so fun and exciting and deliciously angsty about hidden identities, when they're done right.
I'm afraid Whispering Twilight didn't quite meet my expectations though. To start, I was a little uncomfortable by the realization that the English Colonialists are the good guys in this series -- I read the first one a while ago and didn't remember it being particularly related to Colonialism, but it seems that successive books have been based in India and other places that the English colonized.
Bess, for her part, steps into a conflict between the Incas and the Spanish who conquered Peru. There was some sensitivity and discussion related to preserving the culture and civilization of the Incas, but not really much acknowledgement that it was their land to begin with. I don't know, overall the book didn't do too bad a job with a sensitive topic, but there were definitely moments where I thought it could've been handled better.
Besides my discomfort with the setting, I felt that Bess as a character left something to be desired. She seemed to overstate her danger on a number of occasions and was always making dramatic statements to her reticulum (the group of people she could communicate with in her mind) and Mr. Quinn, the mystery man. And they were constantly telling her how great she was, which felt very unnecessarily congratulatory. She just seemed to take herself way too seriously. Her perilous situation was somewhat mitigated by the fact that she could talk to her friends at any time. It's the difference between being stranded in the wilderness with nothing and being stranded in the wilderness with a working cell phone and the ability to call your friends and family at will. One of those situations has a much larger emotional and mental impact, though both are problematic, certainly. I couldn't help but compare it to the first book in one of my favorite series, [b:Stray|10837174|Stray (Touchstone, #1)|Andrea K. Höst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335183787l/10837174._SX50_.jpg|15399425] by Andrea K Höst. In Stray, the main character Cass walks into a much more dire survival situation (with absolutely no support or hope of rescue), but pities herself a lot less.
My other qualm was with the romance, which progressed too quickly and inexplicably for my taste. Bess had a few rather lack luster conversations with Mr. Quinn in which she would assume an attitude of noble perseverance in the face of adversity and he would applaud her and tell her how much he respected her (more than any other woman in his acquaintance(!), which seemed to say more about his opinion of women in general than his regard for Bess to me -- why, for example, couldn't he have respected her more than any other person in his acquaintance, rather than any other woman? Was he acquainted with so many incredible men that Bess's adventures were run of the mill in their company?) And after these conversations, Bess suddenly felt a deep and abiding connection with him. It just didn't have enough of a foundation for me to truly buy it. And later, when the romantic tensions came to a head, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Very cheesy, with very little subtlety or delicacy.
I think overall this book will probably appeal to a lot of people but isn't quite my cup of tea.
Honestly I picked this up because I really like the trope of a romance conducted with a mystery person through letters or other anonymous modes of communication. My favorite instance of this trope is probably in [b:Crown Duel|21060|Crown Duel (Crown & Court #1-2)|Sherwood Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1360507771l/21060._SY75_.jpg|4398231], but the movie You’ve Got Mail is a more well-known example. There's something so fun and exciting and deliciously angsty about hidden identities, when they're done right.
I'm afraid Whispering Twilight didn't quite meet my expectations though. To start, I was a little uncomfortable by the realization that the English Colonialists are the good guys in this series -- I read the first one a while ago and didn't remember it being particularly related to Colonialism, but it seems that successive books have been based in India and other places that the English colonized.
Bess, for her part, steps into a conflict between the Incas and the Spanish who conquered Peru. There was some sensitivity and discussion related to preserving the culture and civilization of the Incas, but not really much acknowledgement that it was their land to begin with. I don't know, overall the book didn't do too bad a job with a sensitive topic, but there were definitely moments where I thought it could've been handled better.
Spoiler
For example, when the English handily stole most of the Incan gold at the end and gave some of it to Bess as a bribe and she had no problem with that whatsoever.Besides my discomfort with the setting, I felt that Bess as a character left something to be desired. She seemed to overstate her danger on a number of occasions and was always making dramatic statements to her reticulum (the group of people she could communicate with in her mind) and Mr. Quinn, the mystery man. And they were constantly telling her how great she was, which felt very unnecessarily congratulatory. She just seemed to take herself way too seriously. Her perilous situation was somewhat mitigated by the fact that she could talk to her friends at any time. It's the difference between being stranded in the wilderness with nothing and being stranded in the wilderness with a working cell phone and the ability to call your friends and family at will. One of those situations has a much larger emotional and mental impact, though both are problematic, certainly. I couldn't help but compare it to the first book in one of my favorite series, [b:Stray|10837174|Stray (Touchstone, #1)|Andrea K. Höst|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1335183787l/10837174._SX50_.jpg|15399425] by Andrea K Höst. In Stray, the main character Cass walks into a much more dire survival situation (with absolutely no support or hope of rescue), but pities herself a lot less.
My other qualm was with the romance, which progressed too quickly and inexplicably for my taste. Bess had a few rather lack luster conversations with Mr. Quinn in which she would assume an attitude of noble perseverance in the face of adversity and he would applaud her and tell her how much he respected her (more than any other woman in his acquaintance(!), which seemed to say more about his opinion of women in general than his regard for Bess to me -- why, for example, couldn't he have respected her more than any other person in his acquaintance, rather than any other woman? Was he acquainted with so many incredible men that Bess's adventures were run of the mill in their company?) And after these conversations, Bess suddenly felt a deep and abiding connection with him. It just didn't have enough of a foundation for me to truly buy it. And later, when the romantic tensions came to a head, I couldn't stop rolling my eyes. Very cheesy, with very little subtlety or delicacy.
I think overall this book will probably appeal to a lot of people but isn't quite my cup of tea.
annmaries's review
4.0
A worthy entry in one of my favorite series
I've enjoyed the other books in this series, and this one is a very fine addition to it. The adventure was top notch, though I wish the romance had been a little more developed -- but then again, given the constraints, it was quite well done. All in all, definitely worth the read!
I've enjoyed the other books in this series, and this one is a very fine addition to it. The adventure was top notch, though I wish the romance had been a little more developed -- but then again, given the constraints, it was quite well done. All in all, definitely worth the read!
katleap's review
4.0
4 stars
I liked this book, Bess is an interesting character. I like how her eyesight is part of her and something that she deals with as opposed to overcomes. The Speaking was interesting and I loved Mr. Quinn. The mystery of who he is is half the fun.
My one quibble with this book
I am curious about Amaya and if we will get to see her again.
I liked this book, Bess is an interesting character. I like how her eyesight is part of her and something that she deals with as opposed to overcomes. The Speaking was interesting and I loved Mr. Quinn. The mystery of who he is is half the fun.
My one quibble with this book
Spoiler
was at the end where she was talking to the Mendoza and I just wanted her to stop giving things away. Bess kept telling him things she didn't have too.I am curious about Amaya and if we will get to see her again.
juliavdelft's review
5.0
I loved being back in the world of the Extraordinaries. Napoleonic wars, Regency England, all mixed with magic, my favourite stuff!
The setting was so odd, jumping from England to Peru to England to Peru but I enjoyed the plot and had a hard time putting the book down. Bess is a likeable main character, and the Talent of Speaking is probably my favourite so far. It wasn't till I was quite far in the book that I realised it's just like texting, though! And I have to say that this has got to be one of the only times I have read a book where I didn't flip to the end to see what happened, and I kept myself in suspense, which was super hard. So I actually was surprised when Bess found out who Mr. Quinn was. The romance was the only thing that was a little flat in this book, but I was still satisfied at the end.
Thanks, Melissa McShane, for continuing this series and please keep on writing in this world!
The setting was so odd, jumping from England to Peru to England to Peru but I enjoyed the plot and had a hard time putting the book down. Bess is a likeable main character, and the Talent of Speaking is probably my favourite so far. It wasn't till I was quite far in the book that I realised it's just like texting, though! And I have to say that this has got to be one of the only times I have read a book where I didn't flip to the end to see what happened, and I kept myself in suspense, which was super hard. So I actually was surprised when Bess found out who Mr. Quinn was. The romance was the only thing that was a little flat in this book, but I was still satisfied at the end.
Thanks, Melissa McShane, for continuing this series and please keep on writing in this world!
krisrid's review
4.0
I really enjoy Melissa McShane's books, and her Extraordinaries series is one of my favourites. I very much enjoyed this installment.
I love the world of the Extraordinary talents, and the juxtaposition of that with the 18th Century Britain we all know. It works surprisingly well and allows for the clash of magic and manners.
McShane also has a wonderful way of writing strong female characters who also have flaws, doubts and who make bad decisions on their way to the requisite happily-ever-after. I always connect easily to her characters, and like them immensely, and Bess was no different. Her disability doesn't stop her from being intelligent, resourceful and strong.
The plots McShane comes up with are always clever, creative and suspensful, with plenty of obstacles for her characters to overcome and this book didn't deviate from that.
My one quibble with this - and it is a minor one - is that sections of the book were in Spanish, and I disliked not understanding what was going on. I wish that all the sections with foreign languages were explained to the reader, but as I say a minor objection.
Overall, I love the Extraordinary books and will continue reading them as long as McShane writes them!
I love the world of the Extraordinary talents, and the juxtaposition of that with the 18th Century Britain we all know. It works surprisingly well and allows for the clash of magic and manners.
McShane also has a wonderful way of writing strong female characters who also have flaws, doubts and who make bad decisions on their way to the requisite happily-ever-after. I always connect easily to her characters, and like them immensely, and Bess was no different. Her disability doesn't stop her from being intelligent, resourceful and strong.
The plots McShane comes up with are always clever, creative and suspensful, with plenty of obstacles for her characters to overcome and this book didn't deviate from that.
My one quibble with this - and it is a minor one - is that sections of the book were in Spanish, and I disliked not understanding what was going on. I wish that all the sections with foreign languages were explained to the reader, but as I say a minor objection.
Overall, I love the Extraordinary books and will continue reading them as long as McShane writes them!
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