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A review by kblincoln
The Golden City by J. Kathleen Cheney
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.