Hey guys! It’s been a while since I’ve posted a book review, mainly because I’ve been in a reading slump. That slump is in large part due to this series, which is quite unfortunate. So let’s get into it.
I was in a bit of a slump so I decided to start a historical fiction series. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres so I thought it would do just the trick. The series is set in early Renaissance Italy and follow a ragtag group that includes: a priest, a teenage boy hired by the Pope, an exiled noble lady and their two companions. The group journeys around Europe trying to solve mysteries including werewolves, alchemists, witches, and death-dancers.
The first book, Changeling, really captivated my attention. I was able to read the book in four days! I found that the writing style was simple so it was easy to breeze through. Yet at the same time, the world was built well so I felt immersed. I like that there were many mini-adventures within the larger overarching plotline. And it took me a while to guess the mysteries. I gave this book 4/5 stars.
The second book, Stormbringers, was a little disappointing compared to the first. I guessed the major twist so there wasn’t that element of surprise like in the first book. I found that two of the characters were getting boring and the romance to be progressing super slowly. I found the historical and geopolitical aspects of the novel to be the most interesting. I gave this book 3/5 stars.
The third book, Fool’s Gold, is where things started to go downhill for me. Whereas the other novels had mini-adventures, this one was long and drawn out. I also figured out the mystery very quickly. I also disliked how in previous novels all the magic was actually explained by science and then suddenly this novel had magical elements involved. It felt very inconsistent. I found all the charm that the characters had in past books was gone and they all became one-dimensional. Finally, there was this weird love triangle/square going on that I was just not a fan out. I finished the book but it took me over a month to go so. I gave this book 3/5 stars.
The fourth and final book, Dark Tracks, I ended up DNFing. I started it and was struggling, so I ended up taking a break and reading something else. Then I came back and just couldn’t get into it. I decided it’s better for me to just put a book down than to force myself to read something I’m not enjoying. I just found the characters to be annoying. I also found that the overarching story wasn’t progressing enough for me. I didn’t rate this book since I didn’t finish it. I will say that the simple writing style and commitment to historical realness were consistent throughout the whole series.
Overall I was quite disappointed in this series. I enjoyed the first one but could barely stand to read a single page more by the end. It’s a real shame that a series can go downhill. I would not recommend the series since I don’t think it’s worth reading the first book to only not enjoy the later books.
Hopefully, my reading slump ends soon because I have so many books on my shelf that I need to read! As with all my book reviews, let me know in the comments what you’re currently reading or if you have any recommendations for me!
xoxo
Lea
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