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The Cartographer's Daughter
“Romance, adventure, a courageous heroine—and one of the coolest fantasy concepts you’ll ever see. THE CARTOGRAPHER’S DAUGHTER is an epic tale of a young woman with the power to destroy or create, simply by redrawing the map of the world. Lianna’s story will sweep you away to a world you’ve never experienced before—and one that might disappear before your very eyes.” Robin Brande, Author of Evolution, Me & Other Freaks of Nature; and The Parallel series.
A GUTSY YOUNG WOMAN MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN SAVING HER LOVER AND EXPOSING HER FAMILY’S FORBIDDEN POWERS TO THE HATE OF THE SPANISH INQUISITION IN THIS HISTORICAL FANTASY FILLED WITH ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE.
Like the rest of her kind, Lianna Reinel has the power to redraw the earth. Living secretly amongst humans, her kind have made a pact never to use their power for fear of the repercussions exposure could bring.
In fifteenth century Portugal, Lianna’s love for a human faces opposition not only from her family, but from Prince Henry, rogue brother to Portugal’s king. Determined to defeat the Moors in North Africa, Henry makes an alliance with Lianna’s wealthy uncle in order to finance his venture.
The price?
Lianna’s hand in marriage.
When the Prince sends Lianna’s human love on a doomed mission to sail to the ends of the earth, he sets events in motion that threaten to expose and exterminate Lianna’s family.
Now Lianna must rescue her love from the ends of the earth, or preserve her family and community. Whatever her choice, Prince Henry stands against her.
If you like historical fantasy, you’ll love The Cartographer’s Daughter , a story of love and the magic that holds the world together. Click buy above.
A GUTSY YOUNG WOMAN MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN SAVING HER LOVER AND EXPOSING HER FAMILY’S FORBIDDEN POWERS TO THE HATE OF THE SPANISH INQUISITION IN THIS HISTORICAL FANTASY FILLED WITH ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE.
Like the rest of her kind, Lianna Reinel has the power to redraw the earth. Living secretly amongst humans, her kind have made a pact never to use their power for fear of the repercussions exposure could bring.
In fifteenth century Portugal, Lianna’s love for a human faces opposition not only from her family, but from Prince Henry, rogue brother to Portugal’s king. Determined to defeat the Moors in North Africa, Henry makes an alliance with Lianna’s wealthy uncle in order to finance his venture.
The price?
Lianna’s hand in marriage.
When the Prince sends Lianna’s human love on a doomed mission to sail to the ends of the earth, he sets events in motion that threaten to expose and exterminate Lianna’s family.
Now Lianna must rescue her love from the ends of the earth, or preserve her family and community. Whatever her choice, Prince Henry stands against her.
If you like historical fantasy, you’ll love The Cartographer’s Daughter , a story of love and the magic that holds the world together. Click buy above.
318 pages, Paperback
First published September 16, 2011
147 people want to read
About the author
Karen L. Abrahamson
102 books34 followersKaren L. Abrahamson, writes in almost every genre to take readers into other times, exotic places, and settings that are figments of her prodigious imagination. Whether writing a modern-day mystery, a fantasy set in an alternate world, or romance involving ghosts, psychics or occult possession, many of her novels feature women’s adventures and sensuous romance with strong, passionate male and female protagonists. Karen’s work has been described by national bestselling and top five romance author of the year, M.L. Buchman as having “connection to culture and … powerful characters (that) make an incredible story.”
Her bestselling Cartographer urban fantasy series features Vallon Drake, secret agent of the American Geological Survey, keeping America safe from domestic and international terrorist magicians who can rewrite the country simply by redrawing the map.
About her UNLOCKING, romantic suspense series, Karen aims to give readers the same sense of family and place she got from reading Nora Robert’s Three Sisters Island or Blue Dahlia trilogies.
Writing as K.L. Abrahamson, Karen draws on her background in the criminal justice system to craft short stories and novels about amateur sleuths as well as police procedurals.
She lives on the west coast of Canada with bears, bald eagles and the ocean as neighbors.
Her bestselling Cartographer urban fantasy series features Vallon Drake, secret agent of the American Geological Survey, keeping America safe from domestic and international terrorist magicians who can rewrite the country simply by redrawing the map.
About her UNLOCKING, romantic suspense series, Karen aims to give readers the same sense of family and place she got from reading Nora Robert’s Three Sisters Island or Blue Dahlia trilogies.
Writing as K.L. Abrahamson, Karen draws on her background in the criminal justice system to craft short stories and novels about amateur sleuths as well as police procedurals.
She lives on the west coast of Canada with bears, bald eagles and the ocean as neighbors.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 19, 2018
I wanted to like this. I really, really wanted to like this. I forced myself all the way to the end because there is an intriguing story here too.
I suppose I wanted a story that spoke more about Portuguese history, especially since the Age of Discoveries is such an amazing time period to set a story in. Plus, the author wrote chapters from the POV of real-life historical figures. Sadly, this ended up being more of a fantasy fiction and I found her incorporation of the historic people a little insulting (maybe I am just overly sensitive). True, the overall plot was interesting, but I think the author cheated herself and the readers by not describing the setting more nor spending more time developing the characters. Maybe 100-200 more pages would have turned this book from simply "interesting" to "WOW!!".
Anyway... I usually never write reviews but my disappointment this time was so great that I made an exception. If you want an interesting book to read and don't care about historical facts - go for it. But if what you want is a book that's set in Portugal with Outlander-like details and/or a Philippa Gregory vibe, this may not be what you're looking for.
I suppose I wanted a story that spoke more about Portuguese history, especially since the Age of Discoveries is such an amazing time period to set a story in. Plus, the author wrote chapters from the POV of real-life historical figures. Sadly, this ended up being more of a fantasy fiction and I found her incorporation of the historic people a little insulting (maybe I am just overly sensitive). True, the overall plot was interesting, but I think the author cheated herself and the readers by not describing the setting more nor spending more time developing the characters. Maybe 100-200 more pages would have turned this book from simply "interesting" to "WOW!!".
Anyway... I usually never write reviews but my disappointment this time was so great that I made an exception. If you want an interesting book to read and don't care about historical facts - go for it. But if what you want is a book that's set in Portugal with Outlander-like details and/or a Philippa Gregory vibe, this may not be what you're looking for.
September 29, 2011
The Cartographer's Daughter hinges on a real humdinger of a magic system. Without giving away too much, the novel is set in 15th-century Portugal. Yes, the Age of Exploration; the era when Portuguese navigators were about to redraw all the maps, starting with the west coast of Africa. By weaving at least two real historical figures (Henry the Navigator and one of his celebrated captains, Gil Eannes) into her tale, Abrahamson masterfully blends real events and fantasy into a worthy entry in the "secret history" genre.
The evocation of Renaissance Portugal does not always ring quite true, with certain familiar 21st-century tropes intruding -- our heroine, teenager Lianna, can be depressingly feisty at times ("No, Uncle, I will NOT marry the rich and eligible bachelor you've chosen for me, so there!"), and the Evil Repressive Catholic Church (TM) is wheeled out to provide motivation for the bad guy (a Christian, of course) -- but to Abrahamson's credit, these cliches are never allowed to take over the narrative. Agile, exuberant prose keeps the story moving fast, and the central plot of young love thwarted feels fresh and sweet from beginning to end.
While this reviewer would have preferred to see more magic and less teenage angst, The Cartographer's Daughter is a satisfying read even for curmudgeons, and ought to be pure catnip for the YA audience. Recommended.
The evocation of Renaissance Portugal does not always ring quite true, with certain familiar 21st-century tropes intruding -- our heroine, teenager Lianna, can be depressingly feisty at times ("No, Uncle, I will NOT marry the rich and eligible bachelor you've chosen for me, so there!"), and the Evil Repressive Catholic Church (TM) is wheeled out to provide motivation for the bad guy (a Christian, of course) -- but to Abrahamson's credit, these cliches are never allowed to take over the narrative. Agile, exuberant prose keeps the story moving fast, and the central plot of young love thwarted feels fresh and sweet from beginning to end.
While this reviewer would have preferred to see more magic and less teenage angst, The Cartographer's Daughter is a satisfying read even for curmudgeons, and ought to be pure catnip for the YA audience. Recommended.
September 27, 2011
Here's a recipe for a novel I simply loved:
1. Start with a unique and powerful idea: instead of making maps to follow the changes in the way the world is, the cartographers in this sensitive novel reverse the process. They change the world by making new maps of the way it will be.
2. Add a title character who is beautiful, intelligent, and caring—but young and inexperienced, without any real understanding of the cartographic powers born into her.
3. Mix thoroughly with her ambitious young fisherman boyfriend, against the status-striving wishes of her wealthy but cowardly uncle-guardian.
4. Add an explosive combination of arrogant bastard prince and humble outcast alchemist.
5. Place all these ingredients in the richly drawn crucible of Lagos, Portugal, in the Year of our Lord 1432.
6. Season with a dangerous voyage of exploration, and illiterate angry crowd of peasants, a crusade, a plague, and power that redraws the map of the world and remakes the world to fit the map.
7. Finally serve up with lush but accurate prose, to make an unforgettable literary meal, so delicious I couldn't leave the table until I had savored every bite.
In short, I believe you will cherish and remember this scrumptious book.
1. Start with a unique and powerful idea: instead of making maps to follow the changes in the way the world is, the cartographers in this sensitive novel reverse the process. They change the world by making new maps of the way it will be.
2. Add a title character who is beautiful, intelligent, and caring—but young and inexperienced, without any real understanding of the cartographic powers born into her.
3. Mix thoroughly with her ambitious young fisherman boyfriend, against the status-striving wishes of her wealthy but cowardly uncle-guardian.
4. Add an explosive combination of arrogant bastard prince and humble outcast alchemist.
5. Place all these ingredients in the richly drawn crucible of Lagos, Portugal, in the Year of our Lord 1432.
6. Season with a dangerous voyage of exploration, and illiterate angry crowd of peasants, a crusade, a plague, and power that redraws the map of the world and remakes the world to fit the map.
7. Finally serve up with lush but accurate prose, to make an unforgettable literary meal, so delicious I couldn't leave the table until I had savored every bite.
In short, I believe you will cherish and remember this scrumptious book.
October 17, 2011
This is a fun book with a broad historical scope, shot through with a neat kind of magic. This is the second Cartos book of Abrahamson's I've read. Other one was Afterburn - same magic system but contemporary adult. It's a magic universe she obviously plans to explore fully and that should make us all very happy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews