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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
Good story, but I noticed numerous spelling and grammatical errors. It also got hard to follow towards the end, when Susanna is in Paris, as are Hadriel, Belphagor, and Crouch. I think the story could have done without the angels and demons.
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This poor book has been sitting on the shelf for years. I decided to change its fate.
The words charming don't usually come to mind when I read a book, but there was something charming, strange and giddy about this story detailing the trials and tribulations of a clever, talented 16th century widow who turns to miniature portrait painting to make her way in life after her despicable painter husband is murdered.
The writing style demands attention. At times the third-person narrative breaks in mid-paragraph. The POV shifts from first person to third-person omniscient narrative in the same chapter. Consumers with limited attention span should back away from this book. Readers who like something to chew on will enjoy the story.
The book mixes in happy angels, demons, cherubs, scheming nobles, murders and above all the intrepid paintrix Susanna and her unlikely hero.
Quite a fun read. I was quite upset to learn the author died after writing a mere six books. I will seek out her five other works.
Recommended.
The words charming don't usually come to mind when I read a book, but there was something charming, strange and giddy about this story detailing the trials and tribulations of a clever, talented 16th century widow who turns to miniature portrait painting to make her way in life after her despicable painter husband is murdered.
The writing style demands attention. At times the third-person narrative breaks in mid-paragraph. The POV shifts from first person to third-person omniscient narrative in the same chapter. Consumers with limited attention span should back away from this book. Readers who like something to chew on will enjoy the story.
The book mixes in happy angels, demons, cherubs, scheming nobles, murders and above all the intrepid paintrix Susanna and her unlikely hero.
Quite a fun read. I was quite upset to learn the author died after writing a mere six books. I will seek out her five other works.
Recommended.
"Adam betrayed, after the apple. Blaming the snake, blaming the apple, blaming Eve, but never blaming himself."
I really REALLY want to give this 3.5 stars, mostly because I have been in a reading fever the last few days not wanting to put this book down. However, there were too many things about the book that annoyed me to really give it the 4, especially considering how I've been rating GGK and such lately. I absolutely LOVE historical romance, and the setting of this was fascinating--painters, courtiers, and priests in and on the fringes of Henry VIII-era Tudor England and France. I liked the main character Susanna well enough, but her love interest was both dreamy and annoyingly dimwitted and whiny, and the subplot with the real live angels and demons was... trying my patience. She should stayed with the secret societies and gone no further. This is not to say that I didn't thoroughly enjoy reading the book--and I'm willing to give this author another try. Interesting if you're curious about painting and art from that era, it looks like the author has done her research.
Read this back in the day and loved JMR. She brings a richness to the setting, and I still remember it pretty well 8+ years later.
I still love and savor the moment Wosley figures out the identity of her model.
I still love and savor the moment Wosley figures out the identity of her model.
French & English reviews
Un livre que je ne pensais pas aimer pourtant et que j'ai pourtant dévoré avec grand plaisir =D
Pour être honnête, je m'attendais à une romance médiévale et en réalité c'est plutôt un roman historique avec une touche de romance et un petit-arrière goût de Good Omens, Bad Omens =D
Le livre était très bien écrit, j'ai adoré les multiples points de vue qui apportaient une touche de comique à l'histoire, j'ai trouvé le contexte historique et les explications sur la peinture passionnants (l'arrivée au pouvoir de François Ier est rarement abordé dans des livres de fiction et là <3 Et puis toutes les descriptions de peinture et de technique ... <3), j'ai beaucoup aimé les touches de fantasy (Hadriel et les anges étaient hilarants =D) et surtout j'ai ADORE Susanna (elle est tellement pragmatique et en même temps, artistique et romantique et un peu folle =D J'ai beaucoup aimé sa façon de mentir sans sourciller pour s'en sortir et pour tirer profit des plus mauvaises situations =D) !!
Un seul regret peut-être, la romance n'était pas folle mais les deux amoureux étaient mignons donc ...
Bref, un roman historique que je conseille chaleureusement aux fans d'histoire, de Neil Gaiman et de Terry Pratchett =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A book that I didn't think I would like and yet I devoured it with great pleasure =D
To be honest, I was expecting a medieval romance and in reality it is more of a historical novel with a touch of romance and a little aftertaste of Good Omens, Bad Omens =D
The book was very well written, I loved the multiple points of view that brought a touch of humor to the story, I found the historical context and the explanations on painting fascinating (the beginning of the reign of François Ier is rarely discussed in fiction books and there <3 And then all the descriptions of painting and technique ... <3), I really liked the touch of fantasy (Hadriel and the angels were hilarious =D) and especially I LOVE Susanna (she is so pragmatic and at the same time, artistic and romantic and a little crazy D I really liked the way she lied without blinking to get by and to take advantage of worst situations =D) !!
One regret perhaps, the romance was not awesome but the two lovers were cute so ...
In short, a historical novel that I warmly recommend to fans of history, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett =D
Un livre que je ne pensais pas aimer pourtant et que j'ai pourtant dévoré avec grand plaisir =D
Pour être honnête, je m'attendais à une romance médiévale et en réalité c'est plutôt un roman historique avec une touche de romance et un petit-arrière goût de Good Omens, Bad Omens =D
Le livre était très bien écrit, j'ai adoré les multiples points de vue qui apportaient une touche de comique à l'histoire, j'ai trouvé le contexte historique et les explications sur la peinture passionnants (l'arrivée au pouvoir de François Ier est rarement abordé dans des livres de fiction et là <3 Et puis toutes les descriptions de peinture et de technique ... <3), j'ai beaucoup aimé les touches de fantasy (Hadriel et les anges étaient hilarants =D) et surtout j'ai ADORE Susanna (elle est tellement pragmatique et en même temps, artistique et romantique et un peu folle =D J'ai beaucoup aimé sa façon de mentir sans sourciller pour s'en sortir et pour tirer profit des plus mauvaises situations =D) !!
Un seul regret peut-être, la romance n'était pas folle mais les deux amoureux étaient mignons donc ...
Bref, un roman historique que je conseille chaleureusement aux fans d'histoire, de Neil Gaiman et de Terry Pratchett =D
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A book that I didn't think I would like and yet I devoured it with great pleasure =D
To be honest, I was expecting a medieval romance and in reality it is more of a historical novel with a touch of romance and a little aftertaste of Good Omens, Bad Omens =D
The book was very well written, I loved the multiple points of view that brought a touch of humor to the story, I found the historical context and the explanations on painting fascinating (the beginning of the reign of François Ier is rarely discussed in fiction books and there <3 And then all the descriptions of painting and technique ... <3), I really liked the touch of fantasy (Hadriel and the angels were hilarious =D) and especially I LOVE Susanna (she is so pragmatic and at the same time, artistic and romantic and a little crazy D I really liked the way she lied without blinking to get by and to take advantage of worst situations =D) !!
One regret perhaps, the romance was not awesome but the two lovers were cute so ...
In short, a historical novel that I warmly recommend to fans of history, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett =D
This book was OK. It had an odd story and dizzying plot. I wouldn't recommend it. I would classify it as historical paranormal fiction - not romance like it was touted.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There are some very good bits in this book, I got quite engaged in it at the beginning, but some subplots are confusing or outright bad. I ended up wondering how this book found its way in my list. A pity, there was a lot of promise here. I'll probably still read another book by the same author.