The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman - A Novel Adventures Book Club June Review

Overview:

London, April 1812. Lady Helen Wrexhall is set to make her curtsy to Queen Charlotte and step into polite Regency Society and the marriage mart. Little does Helen know, that step will take her from the glittering ballroom of Almacks and the bright lights of Vauxhall Gardens into a shadowy world of demonic creatures, missing housemaids and deadly power.

Standing between those two worlds is Lord Carlston, a man of dubious reputation and infuriating manners. He believes Helen is destined to protect humanity from an unearthly truth, but all he can offer is danger, savagery and the possibility of madness. Not the kind of destiny suitable for a young lady in her first London Season.

Against a backdrop of whispered secrets in St. James’s Palace, soirees with Lord Byron and morning calls from Beau Brummell, The Dark Days Club is a delightfully dangerous adventure of self- discovery and the dark choices of new found adulthood.

My Review:

This is the first book in the Lady Helen Trilogy and I absolutely loved it!  Set against the backdrop of Regency England, this book combines history, romance, fantasy, and mystery in an exciting and enthralling story.  None of those genres are easy to write individually- much less combining them all together - but Goodman is able to do it seamlessly and in a way that makes perfect sense.

In this book, we are introduced to Lady Helen Wrexhall who is preparing for her presentation to the Queen as part of her London Society debut.  She and her older brother Andrew lost their parents when they were very young and have been raised by their aunt and uncle.  Lady Helen has always known she was a little different but her aunt and uncle made sure she never stepped one toe out of line.  When one of the household maids goes missing, however, Lady Helen vows to find out what happened and in the process meets Lord Carlston and learns she is a Reclaimer who must fight demonic forces and save the world.

All the characters are very well developed - even secondary ones - and I found myself caring immensely about what happened to them.  I was more than willing to follow along in their journey, get caught up in the action, and believe everything happening was possible in the real world.

The plot moves a tad slowly at first as we learn about the characters but I didn't find that to be a problem and it only took a few chapters to really ramp up the action and excitement and I found myself turning each page more quickly than the last.

There is plenty of historical detail to keep fans of that genre happy without going overboard, along with adding layers of mystery, fantasy, and light romance (no sex scenes!) into one all-consuming story that reaches audiences across all genres.  That alone makes this book worth the price of admission.  I've been having a really hard time lately with several book series that seem to have lost their way and/or have become static and boring so it was really refreshing to find something that kept me reading long past my bedtime.

This isn't my typical genre and in fact, I wouldn't even know how to classify it.  Barnes and Noble has it in the Teen Fantasy section but it is so much more than that so don't let that label turn you off.  This book doesn't come across as a teen or YA novel (thankfully) and I think fans of multiple genres will enjoy it because none of the elements are too over-the-top or far-fetched.  Every thing is perfectly balanced and well executed.

I can't recommend this book highly enough.  In fact, I loved it so much I finished it only a day or two and went straight out and bought the second one, which I promptly finished the same day.  Book 3 comes out in November. 

Have you read this book?  What are your thoughts?  Did you enjoy the mixing of genres?  Join the discussion below!

July book pick:  The Fairfax Incident by Terrence McCauley

A Magical Match by Juliet Blackwell

Overview:

Witch and vintage store owner Lily Ivory faces her most difficult mystery to date with a case of mistaken identity that hits close to home...

Lily Ivory and her friends are planning a 1950s-themed brunch to benefit the local women's shelter. When a figure from her past shows up unannounced, threatening her unless she returns something that belonged to him, Lily's fiancé, Sailor, steps in to defend her. After the same man is found dead later that day, Sailor is the primary suspect. He swears he's innocent, but multiple witnesses ID him as the perpetrator of the assault. Lily vows to clear his name...only she's not sure where to start with the mounting evidence against him. 

When she sees Sailor in the neighborhood despite knowing he's in jail, Lily starts to wonder if there could be a doppelganger in San Francisco. When she's not busy helping customers find matching outfits for the upcoming event, searching for a vintage wedding dress for her own nuptials, and dealing with an ill-timed magical cold, Lily begins to suspect one of her magical foes is targeting her loved ones in an attempt to weaken her.

My Review:

This is the 9th book in the Witchcraft Mystery series.  In this episode, Lily is trying to prepare for her wedding to Sailor but those preparations are put on hold when he is arrested for murder.  Her grandmother's coven are also on their way (along with Lily's mother) to the wedding but keep getting sidetracked and delayed.  In addition, Lily has come down with a cold (which she keeps swearing she can't get) and her magical powers seem to be weakening.

For the most part, I really like this series but Lily is really starting to annoy.  Nine books in and there is not much character development.  For example, she still refuses to have a cell phone and it takes hours to reach her when Sailor is arrested.  I know it's because she is afraid of the scattered energy but give me a break.  She keeps using everyone else's cell phone without issue so why not just get her own?  Even Maya points out that since Lily is constantly running all over town, she needs to have a cell so that people can reach her in the event of an emergency.  It is beyond annoying at this point.

Also, She still refuses to continue her witchy education, even though she knows she can't take on the coming powerful forces that are trying to take over San Francisco without it.  She's supposedly one of the most powerful witches ever but can't do much beyond advanced brewing and a little spell casting.  

Among the other ridiculous elements is Oscar, her supposed familiar.  He is less than helpful and usually causes more trouble and I would rather he be dropped from the series.  

The good points about this book is that the plot moves at a pretty good pace - even though it's pretty obvious early on who the culprit is and we learn a little more about Aiden.  Sailor is still a complete enigma which is concerning but the rest of the characters are engaging and I would like to see them play larger roles in the stories.

I really like the premise of this series and will continue to stick with it but I need more character development of Lily.   

New Release Tuesday - June 19

Here are a few thrillers released today (and some released earlier this month) that really caught my attention. 

Are any of these on your list?

An Old Betrayal by Charles Finch

Overview:

On a spring morning in London, 1875, Charles Lenox agrees to take time away from his busy schedule as a Member of Parliament to meet an old protégé's client at Charing Cross. But when their cryptic encounter seems to lead, days later, to the murder of an innocuous country squire, this fast favor draws Lenox inexorably back into his old profession.

Soon he realizes that, far from concluding the murderer's business, this body is only the first step in a cruel plan, many years in the plotting. Where will he strike next? The answer, Lenox learns with slowly dawning horror, may be at the very heart of England's monarchy.

Ranging from the slums of London to the city's corridors of power, the newest Charles Lenox novel bears all of this series' customary wit, charm, and trickery—a compulsive escape to a different time.

My Review:

This is the 7th book in the Charles Lenox series and if you read my review on the 6th book, you'll know that I was quite unhappy with the direction the series was going.  I also said that because I had already purchased the rest of the series, I would continue to read them, but they weren't a priority.  Well, I already finished the June pick of the Novel Adventures Book Club (review at the end of the month) so I figured I would give this series another try and I am glad I did.

This book finally gets back (almost) to why I enjoyed this series so much in the first place.  It was a good mystery and Charles spent way more time on it than he did his parliamentary duties.  There was also a significant drop off in his and Jane's ridiculous infatuation with their daughter.  She was more of a very-in-the-background character and I liked that.  She's there but not intrusive which is how it should be at this point.  

Anyway, as far as the story goes, I enjoyed that Dallington played a much bigger role and another character was added that I like very much and hope to see more of in future books.  The plot was interesting but could have been just a bit tighter and the pacing was just a tad too slow, with too much unnecessary detail in some places but overall, it was intriguing.  

The ending happened way sooner than it should have, as there were several chapters afterwards that just went through explaining things.  It would have been much better to have them as part of the action instead.  I understand why it had to be done the way it was, because it was Dallington who had to take care of that particular part but the series isn't written in first person so I don't see why we couldn't have followed him along during that journey but that is really a minor gripe.

Overall, I enjoyed this book much better and if the ending of this one is any indication, I think I will enjoy diving back into this series but I will keep you updated.

And Baby Makes 3

                                                                                 *photo courtesy: www.openclipart.org*

The eldest daughter and I have similar tastes when it comes to books, especially historical murder mysteries.  There are several series that we have read and enjoyed until a baby enters the picture.

The reason we get irritated is because it completely changes the dynamic of the story and yes, I understand in real life the same thing happens but when it comes to historical murder mysteries, the reader is already being asked to suspend belief and go along with a woman (usually of the upper class) completely breaching the rules of society by getting involved with solving murders.  On top of that, we are asked to believe that in the area of getting married and having babies, she will happily go along with said rules. 

I am fine with the marriage thing but I just can't get on board with the baby thing.  Suddenly, the series becomes all about the baby and the characters spend all their time ooohing and aahhhing over every tiny thing it does and suddenly the series becomes all about that instead of what drew me in in the first place.  Yes, I understand character growth and it adds a layer of tenseness to the story because the characters have to think of the baby but most series just go overboard with it.  There's even one series where the characters have only been married for three months and she is already pregnant.  There wasn't time for them to grow as a married couple and now suddenly there is a baby and the whole story line has now changed. 

In another series, the wife actually forces her husband (the main character) to abandon his job a private detective because it was too dangerous so now the whole series is about him being miserable in his current job as a politician and pining for the days of detecting.  When he isn't wishing for his old life back, he is making a fool of himself over his daughter.  For example, he starts "grinning like a fool" while thinking of her blowing spit bubbles.  Really?  That's what the story has come down to?  I've actually put down the series because I just can't get past the pure silliness of the character.

It seems like whenever a baby is added to the mix, the story then becomes very domestic and tame and less about the suspense of solving murders - the reason I picked up the series in the first place.  If I wanted to read about domestic life and things of that nature, I would read chick lit.  I don't want to read about that which is why I love historical mysteries but the trend now seems to be that they must all include children and I don't understand why.

What do you think?  Are we being too harsh?  Are we the only two who really dislikes that aspect of a series?  Tell us below!

Circe by Madeline Miller - Novel Adventures May Book Club Review

Overview:

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child—not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power—the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

With unforgettably vivid characters, mesmerizing language and page-turning suspense, Circe is a triumph of storytelling, an intoxicating epic of family rivalry, palace intrigue, love and loss, as well as a celebration of indomitable female strength in a man's world.

My Review:

For the May Novel Adventures Book Club selection, we chose Circe by Madeline Miller.  It follows the story of Circe during her banishment from the house of Helios to a lonely island where she hones her skill as a witch.  

I have always loved Greek mythology and was excited to delve deeper into a character that I really didn't know much about.  I thought the author did a good job bringing Circe to life but I didn't like how oblivious she was to everything and everyone around her.  She is a god and lives in the palace where there is so much intrigue and back stabbing and she should have been more aware of her surroundings and wise to what was happening.  I understand she is just a nymph but it just didn't ring true to the surroundings she was in.

I liked the story but did not like the way in which it was told.  It was told in more of a memoir-style and I just do not like that.  Unfortunately, that seems to be the trend lately with books and while some may argue that it is artistic, I see it as a cop-out.  It's much easier to tell a story after the fact, rather than in the moment and letting the story unfold for the characters and readers at the same time.  I want to be involved in the action - not reading about it after everything has finished.  The preview said this had "page-turning suspense" but I just didn't get that vibe.  

All that being said, I enjoyed getting a different perspective from some of my favorite mythological characters like Odysseus and Daedalus but would like to have seen them be more than just a foot note.  

There was too much that happened and though the story spans a significant amount of time, there was so much happening that each incident was given just a few pages.  I would like to have seen this book broken down into a trilogy so that I could have had more time with each character. 

Overall, I didn't mind the book.  If it would have been told differently, I would have loved it.

Have you read this book?  Join the discussion below!

June selection:  The Dark Days Club by Alison Goodman

A Death in the Small Hours by Charles Finch

Overview:

Charles Lenox is at the pinnacle of his political career and is a delighted new father. His days of regularly investigating the crimes of Victorian London now some years behind him, he plans a trip to his uncle's estate, Somerset, in the expectation of a few calm weeks to write an important speech. When he arrives in the quiet village of Plumbley, however, what greets him is a series of strange vandalisms upon the local shops: broken windows, minor thefts, threatening scrawls.

Only when a far more serious crime is committed does he begin to understand the great stakes of those events, and the complex and sinister mind that is wreaking fear and suspicion in Plumbley. Now, with his protege, John Dallington, at his side, the race is on for Lenox to find the culprit before he strikes again. And this time his victim may be someone that Lenox loves. 

My Review:

It has been quite some time since I last read a book in the Charles Lenox Mystery series by Charles Finch.  I was so disappointed in the last one that I put down the series for several years before finally picking it up again to see if distance would improve my thoughts.  Unfortunately, it didn't.  

In this book, Charles has been chosen to give a key speech in front of Parliament but with all the interruptions from people telling him what to include, he decides to escape with Jane and their daughter Sophia to the country estate of his uncle where he can write and think in peace and solitude.  When he arrives, however, he learns there has been a series of incidents that he initially brushes off as just local boys playing pranks but when a police constable is murdered, Charles realizes there is more going on and decides to help solve the murder.

It sounded like an exciting plot but it was clumsily done and very easy to figure out early on what was happening.  That in itself wouldn't normally be enough to turn me off because I enjoy the escape that reading provides but I just can't get past the character issues.  Charles obviously misses being a detective and it's absolutely Jane's fault that he can't pursue his passion because she thinks it is beneath their station.  That makes her a very ugly person because she has known him from a very young age and knew that he loved detecting just to help those who are considered inferior and have no legal recourse of their own.  She married him anyway and then proceeded to take away the very thing that made him who he was.  He is plainly miserable and that really comes through the pages.  

I also don't like the way Charles acts so stupid over his daughter Sophia.  It's very unrealistic for that time period and while I could forgive that, he just goes way overboard with it.  

I also wish that Dallington was more involved.  I like him and want to see more of him.  Since Charles is no longer allowed to be a detective, perhaps Mr. Finch would continue the series with Dallington.  I want to read about murder mysteries in Victorian England - not about a main character who is clearly miserable with his Parliamentary career and over-the-top enthused about his child.  

I never like my reviews to be so totally negative.  There's usually something I like about every book I review and if not, I generally don't post about it.  That being said, I am seeing a trend that I don't like in the mystery genre and am having a really hard time finding books that are engaging, suspenseful, historically accurate, and worth my time.  

Have you read this series?  What did you think?  Am I being too harsh or not critical enough?  Let me know in the comments below.  Also, I am totally open to suggestions for other books to read.