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Jackdaw Hammond #1
The Secrets of Life and Death
In modern day England, Professor Felix Guichard is called in to identify occult symbols found on the corpse of a young girl. His investigation brings him in contact with a mysterious woman, Jackdaw Hammond, who guards a monumental secret–She’s Dead. Or she would be, were it not for magic which has artificially extended her life. But someone else knows her secret. Someone very old and very powerful, who won’t rest until they’ve taken the magic that keeps her alive….
In Krakow in 1585, Dr John Dee, the Elizabethan Alchemist and Occultist, and his assistant Edward Kelley have been summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his niece, the infamous Countess Elisabeth Bathory. But they soon realize that the only thing worse than the Countess’ malady, is the magic that might be able to save her…
As Jackdaw and Felix race to uncover the truth about the person hunting her, it becomes clear that the answers they seek can only be found in the ancient diary of John Dee’s assistant, Edward Kelley. Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying.
In Krakow in 1585, Dr John Dee, the Elizabethan Alchemist and Occultist, and his assistant Edward Kelley have been summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his niece, the infamous Countess Elisabeth Bathory. But they soon realize that the only thing worse than the Countess’ malady, is the magic that might be able to save her…
As Jackdaw and Felix race to uncover the truth about the person hunting her, it becomes clear that the answers they seek can only be found in the ancient diary of John Dee’s assistant, Edward Kelley. Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2013
54 people are currently reading
2499 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Alexander
40 books153 followersHaving had a career in psychology, Rebecca Alexander decided to take time out to raise and home educate six children - and home educate herself with an MA in Creative Writing. The Secrets of Life and Death (2013) was a runner up in the 2011 novel writing competition with Mslexia and an agent and book deal for three books ensued. The Secrets of Blood and Bone (2014) and The Secrets of Time and Fate (2016) were published by Del Rey UK. With a historical strand exploring 16th century sorcery and a contemporary story about revenants, the books enjoyed a fantasy readership.
Since then, A Baby's Bones will be published by Titan Books (May 1 2018) and is decidedly crime. A sequel comes out next April, and the books follow the work of an archaeologist trying to solve crimes in the past. And staying safe in the present, with the help of Felix Guichard from the Secrets series. Things are still going bump in the night.
Since then, A Baby's Bones will be published by Titan Books (May 1 2018) and is decidedly crime. A sequel comes out next April, and the books follow the work of an archaeologist trying to solve crimes in the past. And staying safe in the present, with the help of Felix Guichard from the Secrets series. Things are still going bump in the night.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews
November 5, 2014
"It doesn't matter now, that was your old life. Now you have a new one. You're on 'borrowed time'. If we get one herb wrong, leave one sigil out or let you go out of the circle, you will choke to death."
There is something that I find fascinating about Elizabeth Bathory.
It is a story that has been done again and again by different authors in different ways. The Secrets of Life and Death is a fascinating take on this old tale, one that I feel did a great job at explaining how she became the monster she was.
A girl is found dead in a train station, with strange symbols drawn all over her body. Professor Felix Guichard is called in by the police to help them identify the symbols. The story switches between the modern day investigation and 1585, where Elizabeth Bathory is dying and it is up to Dr John Dee and his assistant Edward Kelley to save her or die.
The links between the stories are revealed slowly, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the magic in this world. There were a number of twists that kept my attention and I really did enjoy the ride. The characters were interesting, although it was hard to connect with them as there is a lot of jumping around between time peiods, but I felt that for the most part they were well done.
Unfortunately the romance was a tad bit forced, and there wasn't a lot of chemistry. It seemed almost thrown in just because that is what you do when writing an urban fantasy book. I think it could have been done better, or left out entirely and the book would not have been affected.
It is a short read, but if you love a good paranormal mystery with a whole lot of magic, you may enjoy this book.
There is something that I find fascinating about Elizabeth Bathory.
It is a story that has been done again and again by different authors in different ways. The Secrets of Life and Death is a fascinating take on this old tale, one that I feel did a great job at explaining how she became the monster she was.
A girl is found dead in a train station, with strange symbols drawn all over her body. Professor Felix Guichard is called in by the police to help them identify the symbols. The story switches between the modern day investigation and 1585, where Elizabeth Bathory is dying and it is up to Dr John Dee and his assistant Edward Kelley to save her or die.
The links between the stories are revealed slowly, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the magic in this world. There were a number of twists that kept my attention and I really did enjoy the ride. The characters were interesting, although it was hard to connect with them as there is a lot of jumping around between time peiods, but I felt that for the most part they were well done.
Unfortunately the romance was a tad bit forced, and there wasn't a lot of chemistry. It seemed almost thrown in just because that is what you do when writing an urban fantasy book. I think it could have been done better, or left out entirely and the book would not have been affected.
It is a short read, but if you love a good paranormal mystery with a whole lot of magic, you may enjoy this book.
November 19, 2014
3.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/11/19/b...
The Secrets of Life and Death was an interesting novel, a mix of dark noir fantasy mystery and historical fiction, using the true story behind the notorious figure of Countess Elisabeth Bathory as a basis. I actually learned quite a bit from this book, as I was previously unfamiliar with Bathory before reading this. Between the years of 1585 and 1610, she and four other collaborators were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of girls, earning her the label of most prolific female serial killer in history.
The book is told through various narratives in two different timelines, the first one set in modern day England where Professor Guichard is called in to consult on a series of occult symbols drawn on the dead body of a teenage girl. His own investigations into the case lead him to Jackdaw Hammond, a mysterious woman harboring a big secret of her own. For you see, Jack is actually dead, living on borrowed time made possible by powerful magic.
Insight into such magic could be gleaned in the second timeline through the writings of Edward Kelley, the assistant of John Dee. The narrative begins in 1585, as Kelley and Dee are summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his gravely ill niece, Elisabeth Bathory. As events unfold, the two men learn there may be something more sinister behind the nature of the countess’s sickness, but the type of sorcery required to cure her may be even worse.
I enjoyed the premise behind this book, and felt the author utilized a very creative way to tell a story, with the two storylines playing out at the same time being the best and most notable aspect. However, as intriguing as I find this format, it’s not without its drawbacks. Any author who engages in this back-and-forth style of storytelling commits themselves to a fine balancing act, with the goal of making both threads entertaining and engaging to the reader. This novel falters a bit here, starting out with both the modern and historical narratives going strong, but gradually the account of Kelley and Dee’s exploits in Poland began to drag for me. There just wasn’t enough going on there to carry the momentum past the middle.
In contrast, I found Guichard and Jack’s story much more interesting, no doubt due to my fondness for mysteries and investigative cases. The modern day story also appealed to me more because of Sadie, a young girl who was “rescued” by Jack, but why or how that was achieved was not revealed for a long time, and the circumstances behind the enigma was what held my attention.
At the same time, I think more time could have been spent on beefing up the present day storyline, and I would have been perfectly okay with the decision. There was a lot more information I would have liked to know about “borrowed timers”, not to mention Guichard and Jack’s relationship felt rushed and could have used more development. More details into Jack’s past wouldn’t have hurt either, as well as her history with Maggie, the old woman who had saved Jack the same way Jack had saved Sadie. Jack’s motivation to try to save other borrowed timers like herself remained unclear to me. I find it hard to understand why she would step in and alter the fate of others, as it were, when she had been through the same process herself and knows fully well how painful and lonely it can be. Unlike Maggie, Jack didn’t have a personal stake it in, and being aware of the weighty consequences of saving a “borrowed timer”, you’d think knowing all the facts, the wiser decision would be to leave things well alone.
All told, The Secrets of Life and Death was a good book, with only some minor issues. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to history buffs with an interest in the crimes of Elisabeth Bathory, or if you have a penchant for dark historical fiction in general with a splash of the modern.
The Secrets of Life and Death was an interesting novel, a mix of dark noir fantasy mystery and historical fiction, using the true story behind the notorious figure of Countess Elisabeth Bathory as a basis. I actually learned quite a bit from this book, as I was previously unfamiliar with Bathory before reading this. Between the years of 1585 and 1610, she and four other collaborators were accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of girls, earning her the label of most prolific female serial killer in history.
The book is told through various narratives in two different timelines, the first one set in modern day England where Professor Guichard is called in to consult on a series of occult symbols drawn on the dead body of a teenage girl. His own investigations into the case lead him to Jackdaw Hammond, a mysterious woman harboring a big secret of her own. For you see, Jack is actually dead, living on borrowed time made possible by powerful magic.
Insight into such magic could be gleaned in the second timeline through the writings of Edward Kelley, the assistant of John Dee. The narrative begins in 1585, as Kelley and Dee are summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his gravely ill niece, Elisabeth Bathory. As events unfold, the two men learn there may be something more sinister behind the nature of the countess’s sickness, but the type of sorcery required to cure her may be even worse.
I enjoyed the premise behind this book, and felt the author utilized a very creative way to tell a story, with the two storylines playing out at the same time being the best and most notable aspect. However, as intriguing as I find this format, it’s not without its drawbacks. Any author who engages in this back-and-forth style of storytelling commits themselves to a fine balancing act, with the goal of making both threads entertaining and engaging to the reader. This novel falters a bit here, starting out with both the modern and historical narratives going strong, but gradually the account of Kelley and Dee’s exploits in Poland began to drag for me. There just wasn’t enough going on there to carry the momentum past the middle.
In contrast, I found Guichard and Jack’s story much more interesting, no doubt due to my fondness for mysteries and investigative cases. The modern day story also appealed to me more because of Sadie, a young girl who was “rescued” by Jack, but why or how that was achieved was not revealed for a long time, and the circumstances behind the enigma was what held my attention.
At the same time, I think more time could have been spent on beefing up the present day storyline, and I would have been perfectly okay with the decision. There was a lot more information I would have liked to know about “borrowed timers”, not to mention Guichard and Jack’s relationship felt rushed and could have used more development. More details into Jack’s past wouldn’t have hurt either, as well as her history with Maggie, the old woman who had saved Jack the same way Jack had saved Sadie. Jack’s motivation to try to save other borrowed timers like herself remained unclear to me. I find it hard to understand why she would step in and alter the fate of others, as it were, when she had been through the same process herself and knows fully well how painful and lonely it can be. Unlike Maggie, Jack didn’t have a personal stake it in, and being aware of the weighty consequences of saving a “borrowed timer”, you’d think knowing all the facts, the wiser decision would be to leave things well alone.
All told, The Secrets of Life and Death was a good book, with only some minor issues. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to history buffs with an interest in the crimes of Elisabeth Bathory, or if you have a penchant for dark historical fiction in general with a splash of the modern.
January 20, 2015
3.5 stars. Review to come.
October 23, 2014
(I got a copy courtesy of Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.)
I should have read and reviewed this book sooner, but as things go, more and more book piled up. As usual, you might say.
The Secrets of Life and Death was an entertaining story, loosely based in part on the half-history, half-legend surrounding the infamous Elisabeth Bathory. It weaves two different narratives, the first one set in modern England, the second one focused on John Dee, told in first person by his assistant Edward Kelley. People who read my reviews should know by now that I'm usually partial to time/space shifts; I enjoyed those here, for they provided enough information while gradually bringing everything together, even though I'd have a few qualms regarding the last installments of Dee & Kelley's adventure (in the end, I thought they tended to drag a little).
I also quite liked the modern part, two of its characters being "revenants" of sorts: people who should've died, but whose death could be foretold. As such, a witch managed to get to them just in time to place them within protective sigils, making them dependent on that magic to keep "surviving", yet still providing them with what they call "borrowed time." It's probably not the most original concept ever, but it's definitely not a rehashed take on "people coming back from the dead" either. Also, the magic described throughout the novel was intriguing and interesting: the revenants are weak in more than one way, unable to go far from their sigils, and the reasons to create them are both humane and rather selfish. That's a greay enough area to my liking.
Two things I found fault with, though. The first was the romance, which felt stilted and forced. The attraction between Jack and Felix came too fast (which is why I won't consider this a major spoiler), and developed in awkward ways. Understandable? Perhaps. However, in my typical way of perceiving things (in other word, "guys, there are more pressing matters of life and death to tackle here"), it didn't register as absolutely necessary to the story. As for the second point, it's more minor: I'd just would've liked more explanations about how Saraquel managed to speak to Edward (and here I'm not saying more, because that would be a spoiler).
3.5 stars nonetheless, and a story I'd easily recommend: not the best ever, but still worth reading to spend a good afternoon/evening.
I should have read and reviewed this book sooner, but as things go, more and more book piled up. As usual, you might say.
The Secrets of Life and Death was an entertaining story, loosely based in part on the half-history, half-legend surrounding the infamous Elisabeth Bathory. It weaves two different narratives, the first one set in modern England, the second one focused on John Dee, told in first person by his assistant Edward Kelley. People who read my reviews should know by now that I'm usually partial to time/space shifts; I enjoyed those here, for they provided enough information while gradually bringing everything together, even though I'd have a few qualms regarding the last installments of Dee & Kelley's adventure (in the end, I thought they tended to drag a little).
I also quite liked the modern part, two of its characters being "revenants" of sorts: people who should've died, but whose death could be foretold. As such, a witch managed to get to them just in time to place them within protective sigils, making them dependent on that magic to keep "surviving", yet still providing them with what they call "borrowed time." It's probably not the most original concept ever, but it's definitely not a rehashed take on "people coming back from the dead" either. Also, the magic described throughout the novel was intriguing and interesting: the revenants are weak in more than one way, unable to go far from their sigils, and the reasons to create them are both humane and rather selfish. That's a greay enough area to my liking.
Two things I found fault with, though. The first was the romance, which felt stilted and forced. The attraction between Jack and Felix came too fast (which is why I won't consider this a major spoiler), and developed in awkward ways. Understandable? Perhaps. However, in my typical way of perceiving things (in other word, "guys, there are more pressing matters of life and death to tackle here"), it didn't register as absolutely necessary to the story. As for the second point, it's more minor: I'd just would've liked more explanations about how Saraquel managed to speak to Edward (and here I'm not saying more, because that would be a spoiler).
3.5 stars nonetheless, and a story I'd easily recommend: not the best ever, but still worth reading to spend a good afternoon/evening.
December 23, 2014
This book started off with promise but soon warped. The best parts about it were the historical chapters, while the modern ones dragged the story down.
The historical chapters create a mood that the modern ones do not. There is an air of mystery that is completely lost in Jack’s storyline. One of the most infuriating issues I had with the novel was how quickly Felix accepted everything that was happening with Jack and Sadie. He is a professor, why would he believe in the supernatural so quickly? Even with evidence, it should have takes a bit longer for him to have warmed to the ideas Jack presented.
The characters could have all been developed more fully, including Kelley and Dee. When you write about historical figures, they better pop with life, and these did not. Bathory was better, but the menace wasn’t strong enough to be exciting.
I was disappointed in this novel because its synopsis was so enticing. Its pacing is both too abrupt and too slow, if that makes any sense. This is not one I’d recommend.
The historical chapters create a mood that the modern ones do not. There is an air of mystery that is completely lost in Jack’s storyline. One of the most infuriating issues I had with the novel was how quickly Felix accepted everything that was happening with Jack and Sadie. He is a professor, why would he believe in the supernatural so quickly? Even with evidence, it should have takes a bit longer for him to have warmed to the ideas Jack presented.
The characters could have all been developed more fully, including Kelley and Dee. When you write about historical figures, they better pop with life, and these did not. Bathory was better, but the menace wasn’t strong enough to be exciting.
I was disappointed in this novel because its synopsis was so enticing. Its pacing is both too abrupt and too slow, if that makes any sense. This is not one I’d recommend.
September 13, 2014
I received a free advanced reader's copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. FTC guidelines: check!
A girl is found dead with strange symbols written all over her body. Is it murder, suicide, a ritual gone wrong, or perhaps a combination of all of these things? In a parallel story, Edward Kelley is in Europe with his master, Dr. John Dee. They have been tasked with saving the life of a noble woman who is descended from a "cursed" family. The Secrets of Life and Death starts out a bit like a Dan Brown book but quickly distinguishes itself as its own novel through a uniquely envisioned magic system and some well-placed, gripping, 16th century flashbacks.
The strength of this book is in the magic: ritual descriptions, potential uses, limitations, and history. I thought that the author's interpretation of Enochian magic was believable and spine tingling. I think she absolutely nailed the characterizations of Edward Kelley and John Dee in the historical fiction portions of the story. They researched and performed questionable "angelic" magic during a time period when they could have easily been killed by the church for heresy. How would they have justified those acts to themselves and those around them? How did Kelley feel when the beings were speaking through him? Alexander does a great job crafting these ideas into a story.
My only moment of disbelief, as far as the story line goes, occurred when the girl Sadie was "saved". Maggie's motivation for creating Jack (which I won't share here because I don't want to spoil the story), I can understand, but why create more beings when the only purpose seems to be to prolong life. I don't consider this a necessarily "evil" aim, but it does go against the natural order of things and creates an assumption that life here is more precious than what comes after. She had her reasons for changing the destiny of the first, but those reasons felt less compelling after her initial crisis was over. I believe her struggle of conscience (which the story didn't go into much, but could have) tied into those of Kelley and Dee. Were the powers that she and they were able to control of demonic or angelic persuasion and should it matter? Were those on "borrowed time" meant to be as they are by divine order or were they "abominations"? Is free will ever really free or are we just living out the roles and destinies assigned to us? The Secrets of Life and Death spawned a host of existential questions in my mind as it unfolded.
Fans of Dan Brown or folks who enjoy reading about the occult will probably love this book.
A girl is found dead with strange symbols written all over her body. Is it murder, suicide, a ritual gone wrong, or perhaps a combination of all of these things? In a parallel story, Edward Kelley is in Europe with his master, Dr. John Dee. They have been tasked with saving the life of a noble woman who is descended from a "cursed" family. The Secrets of Life and Death starts out a bit like a Dan Brown book but quickly distinguishes itself as its own novel through a uniquely envisioned magic system and some well-placed, gripping, 16th century flashbacks.
The strength of this book is in the magic: ritual descriptions, potential uses, limitations, and history. I thought that the author's interpretation of Enochian magic was believable and spine tingling. I think she absolutely nailed the characterizations of Edward Kelley and John Dee in the historical fiction portions of the story. They researched and performed questionable "angelic" magic during a time period when they could have easily been killed by the church for heresy. How would they have justified those acts to themselves and those around them? How did Kelley feel when the beings were speaking through him? Alexander does a great job crafting these ideas into a story.
My only moment of disbelief, as far as the story line goes, occurred when the girl Sadie was "saved". Maggie's motivation for creating Jack (which I won't share here because I don't want to spoil the story), I can understand, but why create more beings when the only purpose seems to be to prolong life. I don't consider this a necessarily "evil" aim, but it does go against the natural order of things and creates an assumption that life here is more precious than what comes after. She had her reasons for changing the destiny of the first, but those reasons felt less compelling after her initial crisis was over. I believe her struggle of conscience (which the story didn't go into much, but could have) tied into those of Kelley and Dee. Were the powers that she and they were able to control of demonic or angelic persuasion and should it matter? Were those on "borrowed time" meant to be as they are by divine order or were they "abominations"? Is free will ever really free or are we just living out the roles and destinies assigned to us? The Secrets of Life and Death spawned a host of existential questions in my mind as it unfolded.
Fans of Dan Brown or folks who enjoy reading about the occult will probably love this book.
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November 19, 2014On the surface, there should be much to enjoy about The Secrets of Life and Death. There is magic, witches, the occult, science, adventure, history, and mystery. However, that which should make it interesting instead makes it too overwhelming. There is simply too much occurring at any given point in time, and a reader does not have time to absorb one set of information before bouncing to the next scene.
To make things even more complicated, the characters are thin and ill-defined. There is no backstory for any of the characters. The sheer number of characters in the story makes the lack of details more egregious in that there is very little to distinguish between them or make them memorable in any fashion. The story moves so rapidly from the moment the story opens that the gaping holes left by the lack of definition or development are glaring in their obviousness. One will wish Ms. Alexander took the time to explain Felix’s background or Jack’s shady transactions to be better able to understand their motivations as the story progresses.
While the modern-day story lacks focus, jumping from introduction to love interest in a matter of pages without guiding a reader in that direction, the historical scenes told from Edward Kelley’s point of view are riveting, if a bit melodramatic. Here, readers have the benefit of historical context. Dee’s and Kelley’s exploits around Europe have numerous documents supporting them, including their own writings. Similarly, sharp readers who know their history and recognize the name Elisabeth Báthory will have an idea in which direction the story is moving – both past and present versions. For this reason, the historical scenes are more compelling because there is much greater background information on which to base them. While Ms. Alexander acknowledges that she twists history to create her own story, there is enough factual basis to provide a better foundation for this section of the novel.
The Secrets of Life and Death suffers mostly from ambition and clutter. The supernatural police crime melodrama character-driven historical fiction thriller love story elements which it contains do not blend well together. One cannot have a character-driven story without strong characters, and there are none in the novel. The rest creates a jumble of impressions that never settle into one cohesive story. It also suffers from a predictability that lessens the suspense and diminishes the impact of the big reveals. Throughout the novel, one glimpses potential. As previously stated, the sections with Kelley and Dee are very interesting for their historical details and more developed characters. However, these are only glimpses of potential unrealized. The rest is a disappointing tangle of story-telling that moves too quickly with too little explanation for readers to be able to follow with ease and excitement.
To make things even more complicated, the characters are thin and ill-defined. There is no backstory for any of the characters. The sheer number of characters in the story makes the lack of details more egregious in that there is very little to distinguish between them or make them memorable in any fashion. The story moves so rapidly from the moment the story opens that the gaping holes left by the lack of definition or development are glaring in their obviousness. One will wish Ms. Alexander took the time to explain Felix’s background or Jack’s shady transactions to be better able to understand their motivations as the story progresses.
While the modern-day story lacks focus, jumping from introduction to love interest in a matter of pages without guiding a reader in that direction, the historical scenes told from Edward Kelley’s point of view are riveting, if a bit melodramatic. Here, readers have the benefit of historical context. Dee’s and Kelley’s exploits around Europe have numerous documents supporting them, including their own writings. Similarly, sharp readers who know their history and recognize the name Elisabeth Báthory will have an idea in which direction the story is moving – both past and present versions. For this reason, the historical scenes are more compelling because there is much greater background information on which to base them. While Ms. Alexander acknowledges that she twists history to create her own story, there is enough factual basis to provide a better foundation for this section of the novel.
The Secrets of Life and Death suffers mostly from ambition and clutter. The supernatural police crime melodrama character-driven historical fiction thriller love story elements which it contains do not blend well together. One cannot have a character-driven story without strong characters, and there are none in the novel. The rest creates a jumble of impressions that never settle into one cohesive story. It also suffers from a predictability that lessens the suspense and diminishes the impact of the big reveals. Throughout the novel, one glimpses potential. As previously stated, the sections with Kelley and Dee are very interesting for their historical details and more developed characters. However, these are only glimpses of potential unrealized. The rest is a disappointing tangle of story-telling that moves too quickly with too little explanation for readers to be able to follow with ease and excitement.
October 28, 2015
*Source* Library
*Genre* Historical, Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Secrets of Life and Death is the first installment in Rebecca Alexander's Jackdaw Hammond series. I found this story entertaining, fascinating, mysterious, and will definitely continue on to the next installment. The character depth is remarkable, as is the different settings of 1585 and modern day London. It's always fun to intermingle infamous historical characters with contemporary fictional characters.
*FULL REVIEW POSTED @ GIZMOS REVIEWS 10/28/2015*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published October 7th 2014 by Broadway Books
*Genre* Historical, Fantasy
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
The Secrets of Life and Death is the first installment in Rebecca Alexander's Jackdaw Hammond series. I found this story entertaining, fascinating, mysterious, and will definitely continue on to the next installment. The character depth is remarkable, as is the different settings of 1585 and modern day London. It's always fun to intermingle infamous historical characters with contemporary fictional characters.
*FULL REVIEW POSTED @ GIZMOS REVIEWS 10/28/2015*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Published October 7th 2014 by Broadway Books
February 10, 2017
Englantilaisen Sadie-teinitytön ensimmäinen känni-ilta olisi voinut sujua paremmissakin merkeissä. Filmi katkeaa ja herättyään hän löytää itsensä kahlittuna talosta, jonka lattiaan on maalattu omituisia symboleja. Kuinka hän on päätynyt tänne täällä? Miksi kidnappaajaksi tunnustautuva nainen on niin kovin ystävällinen? Ja miksi hän ei voi poistua symbolikehästä ilman että oksennus alkaa nousta hänen suuhunsa...?
Samaan aikaan yliopiston professori Felix Guichard avustaa poliisia mystisen kuolemantapauksen parissa. Rautatieasemalta löytyneen tytön ruumiis on täynnä okkulttisia symboleja, jotka johtavat kahden englantilaisen salatieteilijän, John Deen ja Edward Kelleyn, jäljille 1500-luvun loppupuolen Itä-Eurooppaan.
Rebecca Alexanderin "Elämän ja kuoleman salaisuudet" (Like, 2014) hyppäsi mukaan lukulistalleni vähän puolivahingossa kun satuin selailemaan kustantajan uutuusluetteloa. Englantilainen murhamysteeri, jossa käsitellään kreivitär Erzsébet Bathoryn surullisenkuuluisaa tarinaa? Tänne yksi kappale, kiitos!
No, melko pian kävi ilmi, että eihän tällä ole oikeastaan paljoakaan tekemistä dekkarien tai edes jännityksen kanssa, vaaan romaani on viime kädessä melko puhdasoppista fantasiaa. Lukija heitetään keskelle maailmaa, jossa noituus, demonien manaaminen ja muu sen sellainen ovat keskuudessamme, vaikka eihän siitä puhuta muualla kuin inkvisition salaisissa papereissa.
Kesti vähän aikaa ennen kuin sain käännettyä aivoni tälle taajuudelle - tai ainakin pitempään kuin päähenkilö-professorillamme, joka tuntui olevan sinut asian kanssa melkein heti - mutta sen jälkeen homma luistikin ihan mukavasti. Niin nykypäivään kuin 1500-luvulle sijoittuvat tarinalinjat olivat molemmat riittävän jännittäviä pitämään mielenkiintoa yllä, ja henkilötkin olivat ihan sympaattisia, vaikka kovin syvälle heidän nahkoihinsa ei mentykään.
Mitään uutta ja ihmeellistä "Elämän ja kuoleman salaisuudet" ei kyllä tarjoa, olipahan nyt vaan nopealukuinen ja kaikessa hölmöydessäänkin ihan viihdyttävä välipala, jota voisi varmaan suositella jo yläkouluikäisille lukijoille. It's alright ma, it's only witchcraft!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCtXz...
Samaan aikaan yliopiston professori Felix Guichard avustaa poliisia mystisen kuolemantapauksen parissa. Rautatieasemalta löytyneen tytön ruumiis on täynnä okkulttisia symboleja, jotka johtavat kahden englantilaisen salatieteilijän, John Deen ja Edward Kelleyn, jäljille 1500-luvun loppupuolen Itä-Eurooppaan.
Rebecca Alexanderin "Elämän ja kuoleman salaisuudet" (Like, 2014) hyppäsi mukaan lukulistalleni vähän puolivahingossa kun satuin selailemaan kustantajan uutuusluetteloa. Englantilainen murhamysteeri, jossa käsitellään kreivitär Erzsébet Bathoryn surullisenkuuluisaa tarinaa? Tänne yksi kappale, kiitos!
No, melko pian kävi ilmi, että eihän tällä ole oikeastaan paljoakaan tekemistä dekkarien tai edes jännityksen kanssa, vaaan romaani on viime kädessä melko puhdasoppista fantasiaa. Lukija heitetään keskelle maailmaa, jossa noituus, demonien manaaminen ja muu sen sellainen ovat keskuudessamme, vaikka eihän siitä puhuta muualla kuin inkvisition salaisissa papereissa.
Kesti vähän aikaa ennen kuin sain käännettyä aivoni tälle taajuudelle - tai ainakin pitempään kuin päähenkilö-professorillamme, joka tuntui olevan sinut asian kanssa melkein heti - mutta sen jälkeen homma luistikin ihan mukavasti. Niin nykypäivään kuin 1500-luvulle sijoittuvat tarinalinjat olivat molemmat riittävän jännittäviä pitämään mielenkiintoa yllä, ja henkilötkin olivat ihan sympaattisia, vaikka kovin syvälle heidän nahkoihinsa ei mentykään.
Mitään uutta ja ihmeellistä "Elämän ja kuoleman salaisuudet" ei kyllä tarjoa, olipahan nyt vaan nopealukuinen ja kaikessa hölmöydessäänkin ihan viihdyttävä välipala, jota voisi varmaan suositella jo yläkouluikäisille lukijoille. It's alright ma, it's only witchcraft!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCtXz...
April 19, 2015
A gripping tale with an intriguing plotline that's richly detailed and well researched, makes this a thoroughly entertaining read!
October 13, 2013
A richly detailed, complex tale that deftly interweaves historical with contemporary fiction
This book is a conglomeration of varying genres that spans across varying timeframes, forming an utterly unique story of vast scope and magnitude. In the vein of Bee Ridgeway’s “ a river of no return” and other historical/ time travel tales reminiscent of those by Barbara Erskine or Diana Gabaldon, Rebecca Alexander ingeniously merges together both fact and fiction. The attention to detail and authenticity is sublime, bringing the past vividly to life in all its gruesome glory and gritty realism. The quality of the writing and the beautiful descriptive passages makes the narrative standout as something memorable and highly distinctive. This poignant, noteworthy novel I will not be forgetting in a hurry as I just relished the compelling storyline and enthralling plot. I was captivated by the intricacy of the exquisite plot, and how both timeframes connected and merged together so cleverly.
Short synopsis ~
Krakow, 1585
Summoned by the King of Poland to help save his dying niece, Edward Kelley and his master, alchemist and scholar Dr John Dee, discover a dark secret at the heart of The Countess Bathory's malady. But perhaps the cure will prove more terrifying than the alternative...
England, 2013
Jackdaw Hammond lives in the shadows, a practitioner and purveyor of occult materials. But when she learns of a young woman found dead on a train, her body covered in arcane symbols, there's no escaping the attention of police consultant Felix Guichard.
Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying…
This is a tale of Alchemy, magic, myth and ancient traditions that explores our views on Witchcraft both today and many years ago. It is a story that delves into our past to uncover secrets and hidden mysteries, whilst ultimately contemplating the meaning of life. Fuelled by passion and assured premise, I was most impressed by this outstanding first novel (of a planned series). The characters are believable and wonderfully complex, who bring colour and depth to the overall plot.
Rebecca Alexander is an author to watch and this is a book that I would highly recommend!
*I won a copy of “The secrets of life and death” by Rebecca Alexander through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway. *
This book is a conglomeration of varying genres that spans across varying timeframes, forming an utterly unique story of vast scope and magnitude. In the vein of Bee Ridgeway’s “ a river of no return” and other historical/ time travel tales reminiscent of those by Barbara Erskine or Diana Gabaldon, Rebecca Alexander ingeniously merges together both fact and fiction. The attention to detail and authenticity is sublime, bringing the past vividly to life in all its gruesome glory and gritty realism. The quality of the writing and the beautiful descriptive passages makes the narrative standout as something memorable and highly distinctive. This poignant, noteworthy novel I will not be forgetting in a hurry as I just relished the compelling storyline and enthralling plot. I was captivated by the intricacy of the exquisite plot, and how both timeframes connected and merged together so cleverly.
Short synopsis ~
Krakow, 1585
Summoned by the King of Poland to help save his dying niece, Edward Kelley and his master, alchemist and scholar Dr John Dee, discover a dark secret at the heart of The Countess Bathory's malady. But perhaps the cure will prove more terrifying than the alternative...
England, 2013
Jackdaw Hammond lives in the shadows, a practitioner and purveyor of occult materials. But when she learns of a young woman found dead on a train, her body covered in arcane symbols, there's no escaping the attention of police consultant Felix Guichard.
Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying…
This is a tale of Alchemy, magic, myth and ancient traditions that explores our views on Witchcraft both today and many years ago. It is a story that delves into our past to uncover secrets and hidden mysteries, whilst ultimately contemplating the meaning of life. Fuelled by passion and assured premise, I was most impressed by this outstanding first novel (of a planned series). The characters are believable and wonderfully complex, who bring colour and depth to the overall plot.
Rebecca Alexander is an author to watch and this is a book that I would highly recommend!
*I won a copy of “The secrets of life and death” by Rebecca Alexander through a Goodreads, first-read book giveaway. *
December 13, 2015
In modern day England, Professor Felix Guichard is called in to identify occult symbols found on the corpse of a young girl. His investigation brings him in contact with a mysterious woman, Jackdaw Hammond, who guards a monumental secret--She's Dead. Or she would be, were it not for magic which has artificially extended her life. But someone else knows her secret. Someone very old and very powerful, who won't rest until they've taken the magic that keeps her alive....In Krakow in 1585, Dr John Dee, the Elizabethan Alchemist and Occultist, and his assistant Edward Kelley have been summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his niece, the infamous Countess Elisabeth Bathory. But they soon realize that the only thing worse than the Countess' malady, is the magic that might be able to save her...As Jackdaw and Felix race to uncover the truth about the person hunting her, it becomes clear that the answers they seek can only be found in the ancient diary of John Dee's assistant, Edward Kelley. Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying.
-- Book Blurb
I received a copy of the sequel to this book to review. After a couple of pages, I decided I had to read book 1 first. I felt lost and the book sounded interesting, so I figured if I was going to review the sequel, I could at least read the first book.
I found that this book required me to really focus. Between the back and forth from the present to 1585, and all the names and the old language, I had a hard time following the story if I didn't. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing, but it took me longer than usual to finish the book. I enjoyed the story, but I didn't expect it to require that much concentration.
By the time I finished the book, I was hooked on the story. And I wanted to find out what happens next. And, btw, the next book seems to require just as much focus.
Recommended to:
Fans of urban fantasy mixed with historical fantasy. Whatever that means. :)
February 8, 2015
An urban fantasy about tying the soul to the body after death and the consequences. It jumps from Krakow in the year 1585 and England in the year 2013. The story begins with a young girl's dead body found on a train that has been covered in sigil's. A local professor is called in by the police to help with the case regarding these symbols and if it can lead them to some answers regarding her death.
Prof. Felix Guichard has studied some texts from 1585 by Dr John Dee and Edward Kelley who had been summoned by the royal court Bathory to help with her ailments. The professor also tracks down the seller of some new merchandise that has just been sold that was a possession of the Dr. and his assistant to find out more about the Sigils. Jackdaw Hammond is not only connected to the merchandise, she is dead yet still connected to her body.
What I loved about this story was the different time periods, the initial intentions of 2 gentleman trying to obey orders as well as educate themselves in the power behind different symbols and people's beliefs. Jack's side of the story brings in the mystery of how one ritual can stand the test of time and the secret behind it's performance.
This story has an array of very enjoyable characters and their connections beyond just friends to being a family. Loyalty to each other plays a strong role in the outcome and the fact that an unknown terror is after them brings in that element of suspense that really makes this story fun to read.
The writing and unraveling of the story points is well done through the jumping back and forth of time periods I personally enjoyed the historical recounts the most, but the climax that takes place in 2013 is fantastic and had me on the seat of my seat.
This is a story I would recommend for those who enjoy Urban Fantasy and Witchcraft. It has very little romance but a handful of great characters and fun read.
Prof. Felix Guichard has studied some texts from 1585 by Dr John Dee and Edward Kelley who had been summoned by the royal court Bathory to help with her ailments. The professor also tracks down the seller of some new merchandise that has just been sold that was a possession of the Dr. and his assistant to find out more about the Sigils. Jackdaw Hammond is not only connected to the merchandise, she is dead yet still connected to her body.
What I loved about this story was the different time periods, the initial intentions of 2 gentleman trying to obey orders as well as educate themselves in the power behind different symbols and people's beliefs. Jack's side of the story brings in the mystery of how one ritual can stand the test of time and the secret behind it's performance.
This story has an array of very enjoyable characters and their connections beyond just friends to being a family. Loyalty to each other plays a strong role in the outcome and the fact that an unknown terror is after them brings in that element of suspense that really makes this story fun to read.
The writing and unraveling of the story points is well done through the jumping back and forth of time periods I personally enjoyed the historical recounts the most, but the climax that takes place in 2013 is fantastic and had me on the seat of my seat.
This is a story I would recommend for those who enjoy Urban Fantasy and Witchcraft. It has very little romance but a handful of great characters and fun read.
November 11, 2014
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
For me, The Secrets of Life and Death was one of the most original Fantasy and Mystery mash up I've read the last few years. Which might just go on to prove I don't really know anything about Fantasy or Folklore in general, as I had no clue who Elizabeth Báthory was, but she even has her own Wikipedia-page (in Dutch as well as in English).
This said, I really liked the beginning. I had no idea where the story was going (but in a good way). Everything involving the circles and the many rules that are linked to 'borrowing' time, suggest that behind the story there is a complicated set of rules for the magic, which is something I always appreciate. Unfortunately, since this is Urban Fantasy, we didn't get to see as much of it as I would have liked. Half of the chapters are however set in the seventeenth century and breathe a more traditional Fantasy air.
I was a bit confused though with the main character's name being Jack (as she was female) but I got used to it. What annoyed me more was the romance. It felt, once again, forced and didn't add anything to the story. Sure, Felix is a nice enough guy, but instalove isn't going to solve the problem as to why he is so determined to help them. (Even though it's obviously not save).
The end was less original unfortunately, which I thought was a pity since I enjoyed the first part so much. It was however still a very nice read and I will definitely check Rebecca Alexander's next book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For me, The Secrets of Life and Death was one of the most original Fantasy and Mystery mash up I've read the last few years. Which might just go on to prove I don't really know anything about Fantasy or Folklore in general, as I had no clue who Elizabeth Báthory was, but she even has her own Wikipedia-page (in Dutch as well as in English).
This said, I really liked the beginning. I had no idea where the story was going (but in a good way). Everything involving the circles and the many rules that are linked to 'borrowing' time, suggest that behind the story there is a complicated set of rules for the magic, which is something I always appreciate. Unfortunately, since this is Urban Fantasy, we didn't get to see as much of it as I would have liked. Half of the chapters are however set in the seventeenth century and breathe a more traditional Fantasy air.
I was a bit confused though with the main character's name being Jack (as she was female) but I got used to it. What annoyed me more was the romance. It felt, once again, forced and didn't add anything to the story. Sure, Felix is a nice enough guy, but instalove isn't going to solve the problem as to why he is so determined to help them. (Even though it's obviously not save).
The end was less original unfortunately, which I thought was a pity since I enjoyed the first part so much. It was however still a very nice read and I will definitely check Rebecca Alexander's next book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 18, 2015
Elämän ja kuoleman salaisuudet on varsin toimiva esikoisromaani. Antropologian professori selvittää nykypäivässä kuolleen teinin ihoon piirrettyjen mystisten merkkien historiaa, ja samalla toisessa aikatasossa kuuluisa mystikko John Dee matkustaa apurinsa Edward Kelleyn kanssa tapaamaan kuolemansairasta Elizabeth Bathoryä 1500-luvun loppupuolella. Aikatasojen vaihtelu rikkoo hieman kertomuksen rytmiä. Joka toinen luku sijoittuu menneisyyteen ja joka toinen nykyisyyteen, ja usein halusin vain viettää enemmän aikaa samojen hahmojen parissa. Luvut ovat välillä vain parin sivun mittaisia, mikä ei auta asiaa. Huomasin nauttivani enemmän historiallisesta osuudesta, sillä se oli kirjoitettu autenttisen oloisesti. Jos tuntee yhtään Deen ja Kelleyn elämää ennalta, tarinasta voi myös saada irti lisätasoja. Nykypäivän tarina oli myös ihan hyvä ja Jack mielenkiintoinen hahmo, mutta osio olisi selvästi kaivannut parempaa juonenkuljetusta. Menneisyyden tarina oli paljon koherentimpi.
Kirja jätti myös paljon asioita auki, joten voin vain olettaa, että tarinalle on mahdollisesti tulossa jatkoa. Kertomus toimii kyllä itsenäisesti, mutta lukisin mielelläni lisää Alexanderin kehittämistä "laina-aikalaisista".
Kirja jätti myös paljon asioita auki, joten voin vain olettaa, että tarinalle on mahdollisesti tulossa jatkoa. Kertomus toimii kyllä itsenäisesti, mutta lukisin mielelläni lisää Alexanderin kehittämistä "laina-aikalaisista".
April 8, 2020
It was 2013 when I first learned about the infamous Elizabeth Báthory. My boyfriend (now husband) had introduced me to a Swedish metal band called Ghost, and their first album featured a song called “Elizabeth.” I had no idea who the titular Elizabeth was, but then my boyfriend explained about the serial killer countess who murdered countless girls in the early 1600s. Spooky stuff! Fast forward to 2018 and a book at the store caught my eye: The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander delves into a magical mystery involving Elizabeth Báthory. I knew I had to get it.
So here we are in 2020, and I’ve finally taken the time to read the book. I’m going on a reading journey through time, and following Circe and The Silence of the Girls – both based on ancient Greek mythology – the next book on hand took me to 1585.
The Secrets of Life and Death follows dual timelines. First we meet alchemist Dr. John Dee and his assistant, Edward Kelley. Edward narrates their story, told through his personal diary, of when they were summoned by the king of Poland to save his dying niece, Elizabeth Báthory. All four of them are real historical figures, though the way events play out takes on a healthy dose of magic and witchcraft. Threats from an Inquisitor – indeed, the Spanish Inquisition was going on during this time, and its reach wasn’t limited to Spain – lead to a relocation from Krakow, Poland to Csejte Castle (also known as Čachtice Castle), located in Slovakia. But Dee and Kelley aren’t really guests there; they’re prisoners, and they won’t be set free until they’ve healed Elizabeth Báthory. But such a healing will lead to unthinkable consequences.
While all of that is going on in the past, the present takes us to Exeter, England in 2013. Jackdaw Hammond is a woman with a mysterious past, and she’s involved with saving others who are on the verge of death. But her saving them also requires imprisoning them, and their escape would mean certain death within minutes. Jackdaw (Jack for short) is involved in two ongoing cases: one of a woman who recently died under suspicious circumstances – perhaps the strange markings and sigils covering her body are a clue? – and one of a teenager who’s just gone missing.
The former case leads Professor Felix Guichard to Jack, and they find they must work together to overcome a menacing presence growing more powerful against them each day. And that modern-day threat may be related to the fateful events of 1585, when Dee and Kelley worked to revive Elizabeth Báthory.
There’s a lot going on in The Secrets of Life and Death. Both of the dual plots could have been entire books on their own, and while the inclusion of both here presents its issues, the two stories also work well together and do eventually cross paths. The present-day story really builds on what goes down in 1585, and it also extends the terrifying tale of the murderous countess into something grander and more sinister. It’s an intriguing reimagining of who Elizabeth Báthory was, why she committed the crimes she did, and what happened in the aftermath of her cruelty.
However, the novel does also suffer from combining such rich stories into one cohesive book. Neither story feels as fleshed out as it could have been. Some details and scenes are a bit rushed, and the plot would have felt stronger and more satisfying with a bit more time to breathe and develop. There are also a lot of characters in both timeframes, but with the limited pages, they don’t develop as much as they could have. While I generally liked the characters, they would have benefitted from more ‘onscreen’ time.
The Secrets of Life and Death was, admittedly, a slow start for me. Perhaps because of the many characters, plot points, and magical details, it took some time with the book before it really settled and grabbed my full attention. But once it did, I raced through it pretty quickly. I found the story gripping, and I always wanted to know what would happen next. At first I was more interested in the present-day characters and events, but later on the 1585 story grew more compelling.
Rebecca Alexander has strong writing style. Again, it took me some getting used to. Her writing is quite descriptive, though not distractingly so. She paints vivid scenes and offers a wide vocabulary, but she did overuse certain adjectives and descriptors with a few characters.
A final nitpicking observation is the romance between Jackdaw and Felix. While I love a cute romance, even in a genre like this, their initial attraction to each other is rather random and without much foundation. I appreciate the care they eventually have for each other and how level-headed they seem about it, but the way it starts just seems so sudden. Again, with more time and room, it could have started off better.
All in all, The Secrets of Life and Death is an imaginative, intriguing take on Elizabeth Báthory and how that dark magic of the past can play an eerie role today. The plots in both timelines were strong, but both would have benefitted from more time – maybe making the book a bit longer? – and dynamism. While reading it, I discovered that The Secrets of Life and Death is the first in a trilogy, so perhaps the additional books help address the issues I’ve described.
If you’re interested in Elizabeth Báthory, dark magic, witches, or themes of life vs. death, The Secrets of Life and Death is a fun and original book to explore. I enjoyed it a lot, and if you can get past some of the minor bumps, you will too.
* Please check out my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
* Here’s that Ghost song I mentioned! Enjoy “Elizabeth” on Spotify here :) *
So here we are in 2020, and I’ve finally taken the time to read the book. I’m going on a reading journey through time, and following Circe and The Silence of the Girls – both based on ancient Greek mythology – the next book on hand took me to 1585.
The Secrets of Life and Death follows dual timelines. First we meet alchemist Dr. John Dee and his assistant, Edward Kelley. Edward narrates their story, told through his personal diary, of when they were summoned by the king of Poland to save his dying niece, Elizabeth Báthory. All four of them are real historical figures, though the way events play out takes on a healthy dose of magic and witchcraft. Threats from an Inquisitor – indeed, the Spanish Inquisition was going on during this time, and its reach wasn’t limited to Spain – lead to a relocation from Krakow, Poland to Csejte Castle (also known as Čachtice Castle), located in Slovakia. But Dee and Kelley aren’t really guests there; they’re prisoners, and they won’t be set free until they’ve healed Elizabeth Báthory. But such a healing will lead to unthinkable consequences.
While all of that is going on in the past, the present takes us to Exeter, England in 2013. Jackdaw Hammond is a woman with a mysterious past, and she’s involved with saving others who are on the verge of death. But her saving them also requires imprisoning them, and their escape would mean certain death within minutes. Jackdaw (Jack for short) is involved in two ongoing cases: one of a woman who recently died under suspicious circumstances – perhaps the strange markings and sigils covering her body are a clue? – and one of a teenager who’s just gone missing.
The former case leads Professor Felix Guichard to Jack, and they find they must work together to overcome a menacing presence growing more powerful against them each day. And that modern-day threat may be related to the fateful events of 1585, when Dee and Kelley worked to revive Elizabeth Báthory.
There’s a lot going on in The Secrets of Life and Death. Both of the dual plots could have been entire books on their own, and while the inclusion of both here presents its issues, the two stories also work well together and do eventually cross paths. The present-day story really builds on what goes down in 1585, and it also extends the terrifying tale of the murderous countess into something grander and more sinister. It’s an intriguing reimagining of who Elizabeth Báthory was, why she committed the crimes she did, and what happened in the aftermath of her cruelty.
However, the novel does also suffer from combining such rich stories into one cohesive book. Neither story feels as fleshed out as it could have been. Some details and scenes are a bit rushed, and the plot would have felt stronger and more satisfying with a bit more time to breathe and develop. There are also a lot of characters in both timeframes, but with the limited pages, they don’t develop as much as they could have. While I generally liked the characters, they would have benefitted from more ‘onscreen’ time.
The Secrets of Life and Death was, admittedly, a slow start for me. Perhaps because of the many characters, plot points, and magical details, it took some time with the book before it really settled and grabbed my full attention. But once it did, I raced through it pretty quickly. I found the story gripping, and I always wanted to know what would happen next. At first I was more interested in the present-day characters and events, but later on the 1585 story grew more compelling.
Rebecca Alexander has strong writing style. Again, it took me some getting used to. Her writing is quite descriptive, though not distractingly so. She paints vivid scenes and offers a wide vocabulary, but she did overuse certain adjectives and descriptors with a few characters.
A final nitpicking observation is the romance between Jackdaw and Felix. While I love a cute romance, even in a genre like this, their initial attraction to each other is rather random and without much foundation. I appreciate the care they eventually have for each other and how level-headed they seem about it, but the way it starts just seems so sudden. Again, with more time and room, it could have started off better.
All in all, The Secrets of Life and Death is an imaginative, intriguing take on Elizabeth Báthory and how that dark magic of the past can play an eerie role today. The plots in both timelines were strong, but both would have benefitted from more time – maybe making the book a bit longer? – and dynamism. While reading it, I discovered that The Secrets of Life and Death is the first in a trilogy, so perhaps the additional books help address the issues I’ve described.
If you’re interested in Elizabeth Báthory, dark magic, witches, or themes of life vs. death, The Secrets of Life and Death is a fun and original book to explore. I enjoyed it a lot, and if you can get past some of the minor bumps, you will too.
* Please check out my full review on my blog, Amanda's Book Corner! *
* Here’s that Ghost song I mentioned! Enjoy “Elizabeth” on Spotify here :) *
October 9, 2014
Jackdaw is dead - at least, she is mostly dead. If it weren't for a witch and some potions, she would be completely dead. Instead, she is what's known as a "borrowed timer" - someone whose destiny it was to die, but was instead able to be brought back. As Jack tries to save another borrowed timer, things begin to get crazy. One girl dies, the police get called in, and a power Jack has never before encountered begins to haunt her steps to take the very girl she's trying to save.
The story of Countess Bathory is an intriguing one, so that was originally what drew me to this book. I was curious how that would tie into a novel set (at least partly) in modern-day England. The way she is woven into the book was fairly successful, but I have to say that the book itself seemed to go on longer than it should - particularly the parts related to Dr. John Dee and his assistant.
In all, I would say the take on the Countess of Bathory is a new and slightly different one, and was an interesting read, but it's probably not something I would hurry to recommend to others.
The story of Countess Bathory is an intriguing one, so that was originally what drew me to this book. I was curious how that would tie into a novel set (at least partly) in modern-day England. The way she is woven into the book was fairly successful, but I have to say that the book itself seemed to go on longer than it should - particularly the parts related to Dr. John Dee and his assistant.
In all, I would say the take on the Countess of Bathory is a new and slightly different one, and was an interesting read, but it's probably not something I would hurry to recommend to others.
November 14, 2014
* I received this free from Blogging For Books in return for a honest review.*
I had a real hard time getting into this, and I shouldn't have. It's sorcery and a murder mystery from centuries ago, and tying it into a current time, date and mystery. Jackdaw Hammond is an intriguing concept for a female lead, but she piddles and you feel like no answer will ever satisfy her. Felix, the detective, is far more intriguing. Once the mystery of the Countess' death is unraveled, most of the plot follows. I did end up liking it, because for a good portion of it, I kept waiting for something to happen, and thinking I was going to chuck it from exasperation. I liked it, just didn't love it. And that's disappointing, because it had such an intriguing plot concept and the reviews were smashing. Maybe her next book.
I had a real hard time getting into this, and I shouldn't have. It's sorcery and a murder mystery from centuries ago, and tying it into a current time, date and mystery. Jackdaw Hammond is an intriguing concept for a female lead, but she piddles and you feel like no answer will ever satisfy her. Felix, the detective, is far more intriguing. Once the mystery of the Countess' death is unraveled, most of the plot follows. I did end up liking it, because for a good portion of it, I kept waiting for something to happen, and thinking I was going to chuck it from exasperation. I liked it, just didn't love it. And that's disappointing, because it had such an intriguing plot concept and the reviews were smashing. Maybe her next book.
October 8, 2014
The word-smithing in THE SECRETS OF LIFE AND DEATH was good. Rebecca Alexander's use of language was smooth and I'd certainly check out any future books she writes.
The reason I am giving this book 3 stars is because I didn't enjoy it very much. It was an easy enough read but I didn't like how it was structured, nor the fact that the horror wasn't.
Structurally we have a character in the past and characters in the present. I wasn't drawn into the adventures of Dee and friends in the past, and the I wish most of the story had been told from the perspective of the college professor in the present. His character was great. You could base an entire series on him, but he didn't get enough 'air time' to carry the book for me.
Library Find.
--review copy
The reason I am giving this book 3 stars is because I didn't enjoy it very much. It was an easy enough read but I didn't like how it was structured, nor the fact that the horror wasn't.
Structurally we have a character in the past and characters in the present. I wasn't drawn into the adventures of Dee and friends in the past, and the I wish most of the story had been told from the perspective of the college professor in the present. His character was great. You could base an entire series on him, but he didn't get enough 'air time' to carry the book for me.
Library Find.
--review copy
August 28, 2015
I really did enjoy this book. The synopsis is intriguing, and the story was written well. However, I had a problem with the different story lines in different time frames. The modern portion of the story was really intriguing and very mysterious. I enjoyed Jackdaws character and I was fully committed to find out the mystery in this story. I didn't really like the past portion of this story that intriguing. Though it was tied to the mystery in the present.
I really did enjoy this book, but I felt it took me an ungodly amount of time to connect with the story. I would still recommend this to someone who is really into paranormal urban fantasies.
I received this from blogging for books for free in exchange for an honest review.
I really did enjoy this book, but I felt it took me an ungodly amount of time to connect with the story. I would still recommend this to someone who is really into paranormal urban fantasies.
I received this from blogging for books for free in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2014
i enjoyed this book very much.This book is definitely for lovers of fanasty and mystery .I was slow getting into the storyline but once i understood the plot and the characters I then could not put it down ,this book takes you to the unknown mystery of a medical condition that dates back and forth from 1585 and back to 2013 .The characters are clearly defined and their roles.Once you see where each character fits into the story you find yourself wanting to read the end of the book to see if in fact they do have a good ending .
I predict that this author will be writing a series of books on this storyline and the people in it.
I predict that this author will be writing a series of books on this storyline and the people in it.
December 7, 2014
I was anxious to read this book because it tied an current story to the historical story of Elizabeth Bathory. Surprisingly, I wound up enjoying the current sections of the book more than the historical ones. I also could have done without the romance, as I really didn't feel the chemistry between those two characters...the author would have done better leaving them as friends, in my estimation. The magic and the plot twists in the current story made it a great read.
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
September 6, 2013
I am a slow reader and usually read biographies, but recently read a pre release copy of this book. I finished it in under a day! A real page turner, I just couldn't put it down. It has a contemporary and a historical strand that become beautifully entwined, with characters that are complex and totally believable. Just how far would you go to save somebody's life? A tale of alchemy. Fantastic. Apparently this is part of a series. I just can't wait for book 2.
April 1, 2016
An interesting story that keeps switching between the 14th century and modern times. The main characters are all somehow affected by magics that allow souls to be bound to bodies hence saving the lives of people who would otherwise die. The switching back and forth worked well and kept me interested where I might otherwise have gotten bored. I found the connections between the two time periods a little dubious.
February 17, 2015
LOVED THIS BOOK! "A Discovery of Witches" meets "The Da Vinci Code". The way that Rebecca blends historical fact into the story made me question what we really consider to be reality and the vast possibilities of what just might "could be". The pace was great; never got bored or felt like it was drudgery to get through to the action. There was always action.
February 21, 2015
This was a quick and enjoyable urban fantasy read loosely based on infamous historical characters. The short chapters alternated between modern day and Krakow 1585 and I thought the author did a great job of unfolding the story and keeping the reader engaged. The last 30 pages dragged the denouement out a bit too long, but overall I enjoyed the story.
April 25, 2014
An interesting, complex narrative. Alexander carefully weaves between the present and the future, creating compelling characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!
July 25, 2017
Inhalt:
Eines Tages wird Professor Felix Guichard zu einem Mordschauplatz gerufen. Dies ist für ihn nichts Neues, doch was er entdeckt ist auch für ihn nicht sofort zu verstehen. Als Professor für Sozialanthropologie soll er die Zeichnungen auf der Leiche einer jungen Frau entschlüsseln. Das ihn dieser Fall auf eine lange Reise in die Tiefen der Geschichte, zur Gräfin Elisabeth Bàthory und zu einer jungen Frau namens Jackdaw Hammond leiten wird, ahnt er nicht. Plötzlich steht er vor den Rätseln der Geschichte und einem mysteriösen Unsterblichkeitskult.
Rezension:
Das Cover hat mich sofort gefesselt! Ich mag die Kombination von schwarz und rot. Es lockt sofort den Blick des Käufers auf sich und verleitet zum Kauf. Zudem passt es sehr gut zum Inhalt des Buches. Wie immer hat das Cover aber keine Auswirkung auf meine Bewertung.
Ich muss gestehen, ich weiß an dieser Stelle nicht genau wie ich euch über das Buch berichten soll. Ich habe lange an dem Buch gelesen, bis ich es schließlich abgebrochen habe. Dabei hat das Buch durchaus Potenzial und gute Aspekte, konnte aber am Ende nicht überzeugen.
Was ich dem Buch auf jeden Fall zu Gute halten möchte ich der Schreibstil. Ich fand ihn sehr angenehm zu lesen und sehr verständlich. Da es insgesamt drei Handlungsstränge gibt, waren hier die Übergänge sehr wichtig und diese sind der Autorin wirklich gut gelungen. Ich hatte nie das Gefühl von einer Szene in die nächste geworfen zu werden, sondern es ging fließend (wenn auch nicht immer ohne Cliffhanger) ineinander über.
Bei den drei Handlungssträngen konnte man als Leser merken, wie sie miteinander verknüpft waren und dass sie tatsächlich alle eine Rolle für die Handlung spielen.
Was mich etwas irritiert hat war, dass ich ab der ersten Seite dachte, dass es ein Krimi gemischt mit Fantasy sei, doch im Laufe der Zeit stellte ich fest das es eher ein Mysterie-Buch gemischt mit Fantasy, Okkultismus und Historie ist. In gewisser Weise gibt es kriminologische Aspekte, aber es ist doch eher ein Roman. Grundsätzlich eine gute Idee, war mir in der Umsetzung aber ein Ticken zu viel, obwohl die Verknüpfung wie gesagt gut gelungen ist.
Leider gibt es zwei Gründe, weshalb ich das Buch abgebrochen habe.
Das Buch konnte mich nämlich von Beginn an nicht richtig fesseln und ich habe ewig gelesen. Und mit ewig meine ich wirklich ewig. Letztendlich habe ich das Buch dann abgebrochen. Mir fehlte einfach die gewisse Spannung im Buch. Zwar gab es actionreiche Momente mit Kämpfen oder Auseinandersetzungen, dennoch konnte mich das Buch nie richtig in die Geschichte ziehen. Ich hab es mehr von außen betrachtet, als Teil der Geschichte zu sein. Der Spannungsbogen baute sich stets auf, aber so richtig zum Höhepunkt kam er nie. Hier hat mir ganz klar die Tiefe gefehlt.
Denn nicht nur die Geschichte, welche so viele super Aspekte und Ideen aufweist, mangelt an Tiefe sondern auch die Charaktere. Ich wurde nicht richtig warm mit ihnen. Besonders da historische Personen vorkommen mit realem Background, hätte man hier so viel mehr raus machen können. Sie wirkten auf mich oberflächlich und distanziert. Durch die Handlungsstränge gibt es genügen Protagonisten und nein, man muss nicht zu jedem eine Bindung aufbauen können, aber dennoch hat mich keiner vollends überzeugen können. Vermutlich hätte man sich mehr auf die Charaktere und die Spannung konzentrieren sollen, als so viele Handlungsstränge zu haben.
Fazit:
Insgesamt bietet das Buch viele interessante Aspekte und eine sehr fantasiereiche Handlung. Die Übergänge zwischen den zahlreichen Sichtweisen sind toll und auch der Schreibstil sehr flüssig. Historisch gesehen gibt es viele reale Personen über die man sich im Nachhinein noch informieren kann und zur weiteren Recherche verleiten.
Leider mangelte es an Spannung und die Charaktere blieben eher oberflächlich als dass sie in die Tiefe gingen. Ich konnte mich nicht gut in die Geschichte einfühlen und musste das Buch am Ende abbrechen. Für mich daher leider ein Fehlgriff.
Wer aber Interesse an Büchern die aus einer Mischung von Okkultismus, Mysterien, Krimi und Historie hat, sollte in das Buch mal hineinschauen. Womöglich ist es eher was für denjenigen als für mich.
Eines Tages wird Professor Felix Guichard zu einem Mordschauplatz gerufen. Dies ist für ihn nichts Neues, doch was er entdeckt ist auch für ihn nicht sofort zu verstehen. Als Professor für Sozialanthropologie soll er die Zeichnungen auf der Leiche einer jungen Frau entschlüsseln. Das ihn dieser Fall auf eine lange Reise in die Tiefen der Geschichte, zur Gräfin Elisabeth Bàthory und zu einer jungen Frau namens Jackdaw Hammond leiten wird, ahnt er nicht. Plötzlich steht er vor den Rätseln der Geschichte und einem mysteriösen Unsterblichkeitskult.
Rezension:
Das Cover hat mich sofort gefesselt! Ich mag die Kombination von schwarz und rot. Es lockt sofort den Blick des Käufers auf sich und verleitet zum Kauf. Zudem passt es sehr gut zum Inhalt des Buches. Wie immer hat das Cover aber keine Auswirkung auf meine Bewertung.
Ich muss gestehen, ich weiß an dieser Stelle nicht genau wie ich euch über das Buch berichten soll. Ich habe lange an dem Buch gelesen, bis ich es schließlich abgebrochen habe. Dabei hat das Buch durchaus Potenzial und gute Aspekte, konnte aber am Ende nicht überzeugen.
Was ich dem Buch auf jeden Fall zu Gute halten möchte ich der Schreibstil. Ich fand ihn sehr angenehm zu lesen und sehr verständlich. Da es insgesamt drei Handlungsstränge gibt, waren hier die Übergänge sehr wichtig und diese sind der Autorin wirklich gut gelungen. Ich hatte nie das Gefühl von einer Szene in die nächste geworfen zu werden, sondern es ging fließend (wenn auch nicht immer ohne Cliffhanger) ineinander über.
Bei den drei Handlungssträngen konnte man als Leser merken, wie sie miteinander verknüpft waren und dass sie tatsächlich alle eine Rolle für die Handlung spielen.
Was mich etwas irritiert hat war, dass ich ab der ersten Seite dachte, dass es ein Krimi gemischt mit Fantasy sei, doch im Laufe der Zeit stellte ich fest das es eher ein Mysterie-Buch gemischt mit Fantasy, Okkultismus und Historie ist. In gewisser Weise gibt es kriminologische Aspekte, aber es ist doch eher ein Roman. Grundsätzlich eine gute Idee, war mir in der Umsetzung aber ein Ticken zu viel, obwohl die Verknüpfung wie gesagt gut gelungen ist.
Leider gibt es zwei Gründe, weshalb ich das Buch abgebrochen habe.
Das Buch konnte mich nämlich von Beginn an nicht richtig fesseln und ich habe ewig gelesen. Und mit ewig meine ich wirklich ewig. Letztendlich habe ich das Buch dann abgebrochen. Mir fehlte einfach die gewisse Spannung im Buch. Zwar gab es actionreiche Momente mit Kämpfen oder Auseinandersetzungen, dennoch konnte mich das Buch nie richtig in die Geschichte ziehen. Ich hab es mehr von außen betrachtet, als Teil der Geschichte zu sein. Der Spannungsbogen baute sich stets auf, aber so richtig zum Höhepunkt kam er nie. Hier hat mir ganz klar die Tiefe gefehlt.
Denn nicht nur die Geschichte, welche so viele super Aspekte und Ideen aufweist, mangelt an Tiefe sondern auch die Charaktere. Ich wurde nicht richtig warm mit ihnen. Besonders da historische Personen vorkommen mit realem Background, hätte man hier so viel mehr raus machen können. Sie wirkten auf mich oberflächlich und distanziert. Durch die Handlungsstränge gibt es genügen Protagonisten und nein, man muss nicht zu jedem eine Bindung aufbauen können, aber dennoch hat mich keiner vollends überzeugen können. Vermutlich hätte man sich mehr auf die Charaktere und die Spannung konzentrieren sollen, als so viele Handlungsstränge zu haben.
Fazit:
Insgesamt bietet das Buch viele interessante Aspekte und eine sehr fantasiereiche Handlung. Die Übergänge zwischen den zahlreichen Sichtweisen sind toll und auch der Schreibstil sehr flüssig. Historisch gesehen gibt es viele reale Personen über die man sich im Nachhinein noch informieren kann und zur weiteren Recherche verleiten.
Leider mangelte es an Spannung und die Charaktere blieben eher oberflächlich als dass sie in die Tiefe gingen. Ich konnte mich nicht gut in die Geschichte einfühlen und musste das Buch am Ende abbrechen. Für mich daher leider ein Fehlgriff.
Wer aber Interesse an Büchern die aus einer Mischung von Okkultismus, Mysterien, Krimi und Historie hat, sollte in das Buch mal hineinschauen. Womöglich ist es eher was für denjenigen als für mich.
April 23, 2023
A 3.5-star read.
Characters: 6, Jack is emotionally cold and distant and we don't get much of her inner life, so I didn't connect with her (or any of the characters, if I'm honest). Maybe this was deliberate, given what Jack is? I wouldn't call the characters memorable, though the secondary characters were additive to the story (and necessary for the plot). This is definitely a plot-driven story with not much in the way of character development, and a romance that felt forced and insta-love to me.
Atmosphere: 7, the events in 1585 are well-described and done so without the bias I'm sure Edward Kelley would've had toward women and foreigners (thankfully). The events during the modern day felt more sparse- I got an idea of the setting, more or less, but not a sense of the emotion of a scene.
Writing: 6, I found the dialogue choppy at best, with things seeming to jump track in tone and absolutely no fallout from that- at least for the modern part of the story. Kelley's dialogue felt realistic and came from a place of emotion and understanding. The writing itself felt a bit rushed, though not difficult to follow or overly florid. I don't really have the desire to read anything else by the author, though. The flip-fopped perspectives and timelines was difficult for me as every other chapter changed which story I was invested in.
Plot: 7, though the concepts are interesting, there's very little in the way of surprises for half the plot, because the ending of one story is given to us at the start. The pacing of the 1585 story was tight and tense, but the pacing of the modern story was not, and flipping between the two caused things to feel very uneven. I didn't believe the romance at all, and there's too much fanwanking and assumptions I had to make as the reader, in order to understand Jack's motivations.
Intrigue: 5, I had to push myself to read this, unfortunately. It took 8 days (6 really, because 2 of those I spent reading Ghosted), so it wasn't total torture. But I wasn't very engaged.
Logic: 8, all of this involves a suspension of disbelief, which isn't an issue for me, but that does make 'logic' a bit murky. So far as I could tell, things followed logic in the world as it's revealed to us. The characters in 1585 followed their fears and ambitions pretty solidly, even when conflicted and held captive. The ambitions and fears of the modern characters were just not known, so I can't say if anyone acted logically, outside of maternal instincts.
Enjoyment: 6, meh.
Characters: 6, Jack is emotionally cold and distant and we don't get much of her inner life, so I didn't connect with her (or any of the characters, if I'm honest). Maybe this was deliberate, given what Jack is? I wouldn't call the characters memorable, though the secondary characters were additive to the story (and necessary for the plot). This is definitely a plot-driven story with not much in the way of character development, and a romance that felt forced and insta-love to me.
Atmosphere: 7, the events in 1585 are well-described and done so without the bias I'm sure Edward Kelley would've had toward women and foreigners (thankfully). The events during the modern day felt more sparse- I got an idea of the setting, more or less, but not a sense of the emotion of a scene.
Writing: 6, I found the dialogue choppy at best, with things seeming to jump track in tone and absolutely no fallout from that- at least for the modern part of the story. Kelley's dialogue felt realistic and came from a place of emotion and understanding. The writing itself felt a bit rushed, though not difficult to follow or overly florid. I don't really have the desire to read anything else by the author, though. The flip-fopped perspectives and timelines was difficult for me as every other chapter changed which story I was invested in.
Plot: 7, though the concepts are interesting, there's very little in the way of surprises for half the plot, because the ending of one story is given to us at the start. The pacing of the 1585 story was tight and tense, but the pacing of the modern story was not, and flipping between the two caused things to feel very uneven. I didn't believe the romance at all, and there's too much fanwanking and assumptions I had to make as the reader, in order to understand Jack's motivations.
Intrigue: 5, I had to push myself to read this, unfortunately. It took 8 days (6 really, because 2 of those I spent reading Ghosted), so it wasn't total torture. But I wasn't very engaged.
Logic: 8, all of this involves a suspension of disbelief, which isn't an issue for me, but that does make 'logic' a bit murky. So far as I could tell, things followed logic in the world as it's revealed to us. The characters in 1585 followed their fears and ambitions pretty solidly, even when conflicted and held captive. The ambitions and fears of the modern characters were just not known, so I can't say if anyone acted logically, outside of maternal instincts.
Enjoyment: 6, meh.
June 23, 2016
Secrets of Nothing and Nobody
Let me just start off by saying that no matter who you are, I don’t think you’ll love this book. No offense to the author—she’s very talented and has a great deal of potential—but this book fails on several levels. If you like horror, this book probably won’t have enough gore or terror in it for you. If you like mystery, you’ll be very disappointed to discover that there’s no real mystery in the plot. If you like urban fantasy, there is probably hope for you, but since I’ve never really read any urban fantasy before, I’m not even entirely sure exactly what that genre entails and whether or not this odd book actually fits into those parameters. If you like historical fiction, you’ll be frustrated every time the strongly engaging historical novel switches back to the ennui of the present. One of the characters in the novel is even frequently bored, as she waits, a minor figure, chained up in a nice old farmhouse for her own good. And if you’ve ever been a teacher, you know that in both teaching and art, if one of your characters is bored, or you the author/teacher is bored, then your audience is almost certainly bored. Nothing much really happens in this book, except that people run away from other people who are chasing them a lot. And you kinda want them to succeed, but they are already dead, so there isn’t quite as much at stake for them. Plus they aren’t especially larger-than-life or wildly romantic characters. Even Elizabeth Bathory, who was a queenly serial killer in real life. For the most part, the characters are too boring and realistic, despite the fact that none of them have any character histories, so it’s very difficult to actually feel that you know them. So not much of a plot, and no well-rounded characters in this book. 0:0 so far.
This novel starts out with a promising violent death, of a girl who is covered in strange symbols. A noted symbologist, like Robert Langdon, is called in to consult on the scene, and you think for a moment that this will be just like a Dan Brown thriller and maybe even better. But it turns out that the girl wasn’t actually killed—bizarrely, she was supposed to die a natural death months earlier, was rescued by the strange and compassionate Jack (a female of the species) and the motherly Maggie, and taken to an old farmhouse protected by symbols. Because the symbols were ancient magical talismans that could protect the rescued-undead and keep them alive. Undead (called “borrowed-timers”: really!?) who weren’t zombies or vampires, but who did get stronger (it turns out) by drinking the blood of other undeads. Awesome. So Jack is distraught over the death of the dead girl who ran away from the farmhouse and safety, but she rescues another girl and chains her in a secret priest hole in the farmhouse. An evil borrowed-timer lady tries to find and kidnap the girl and hurt Jack, and she doesn’t succeed. The symbologist professor tries to help Jack and the rescued girl and does succeed. Most of the action takes place at the farmhouse, in pubs, or at the professor’s house, none of which are very epic settings, and involves either people talking or being magically attacked. SPOILER ALERT: Also, the journals of Edward Kelley, supposed to hold the key to vanquishing the evil undead lady, don’t really do much good at all in the end for the heroes. The allies mostly just pick up a somewhat magical sword found with the journals and say, “Let’s kill her with this.” And then Jack has to do something crazy, unexpected, and dangerous to be able to wield the sword. And she does. There is a final showdown between the evil undead lady and the rescued girl and her friends. A raging fire ensues. END OF SPOILERS. There are two sex scenes in this novel, but the first (with a witch) is only implied, not described, and the second is mercifully short and not too graphic. Book ends rather unsatisfactorily. I literally can’t even remember the ending, and I just finished it last week. I only remember thinking, “Really!? That’s it!?” Blah. The end.
Oh, I forgot the good part of the book. The good part is composed of the historical scenes that take place in Poland in the 1500s. Rich with atmosphere and suspense, these scenes are the account (narrated in journals excerpts throughout the larger story) of supernatural scientist (I know, it didn’t make much sense to me, either) Dr. John Dee and his possibly demon-possessed and Puritanical apprentice Edward Kelley. Dee and Kelley have been summoned to the king’s court in Poland to cure his niece, the famous Elizabeth Bathory. Nothing much actually happens with Dee and Kelley, either: SPOILER ALERT: they meet the king, are kidnapped by his nephew-in-law, taken to the Bathory castle, meet the niece, and demonically cure her with the magical symbols. Somewhere along the way, Edward realizes that the voices in his head are probably demons, not angels. Because they’re telling him to save the life of a woman who will then spend the rest of her life living off the blood of others. And this doesn’t quite seem like the sort of thing that angels generally endorse. But to save their own lives and to “see what will happen,” Dee and Kelley perform the ritual. Then they have to flee Poland for their lives, because the townspeople aren’t really happy about having their children bled dry to slake Bathory’s lust for life and…other things. END OF SPOILERS.
I would like to apologize both to Ms. Alexander and also to my readers for my cranky tone in this review. Bad art irritates me, and especially bad art that could have been good art, because good art is sacred. If Ms. Alexander had simply given her characters backstories, made Elizabeth more terrifying instead of pathetic, cleaned up the sex, and set the entire story in the past, it would probably have been an excellent book. Here’s hoping that those who read the second in the series will find it infinitely better! It’s easy for me to critically analyze this novel as I’ve been trained to do, but to her credit, Ms. Alexander is certainly a better writer than I am, in that at least she has finished several novels and had them published, which I have not yet even begun to accomplish. Props to her!
Let me just start off by saying that no matter who you are, I don’t think you’ll love this book. No offense to the author—she’s very talented and has a great deal of potential—but this book fails on several levels. If you like horror, this book probably won’t have enough gore or terror in it for you. If you like mystery, you’ll be very disappointed to discover that there’s no real mystery in the plot. If you like urban fantasy, there is probably hope for you, but since I’ve never really read any urban fantasy before, I’m not even entirely sure exactly what that genre entails and whether or not this odd book actually fits into those parameters. If you like historical fiction, you’ll be frustrated every time the strongly engaging historical novel switches back to the ennui of the present. One of the characters in the novel is even frequently bored, as she waits, a minor figure, chained up in a nice old farmhouse for her own good. And if you’ve ever been a teacher, you know that in both teaching and art, if one of your characters is bored, or you the author/teacher is bored, then your audience is almost certainly bored. Nothing much really happens in this book, except that people run away from other people who are chasing them a lot. And you kinda want them to succeed, but they are already dead, so there isn’t quite as much at stake for them. Plus they aren’t especially larger-than-life or wildly romantic characters. Even Elizabeth Bathory, who was a queenly serial killer in real life. For the most part, the characters are too boring and realistic, despite the fact that none of them have any character histories, so it’s very difficult to actually feel that you know them. So not much of a plot, and no well-rounded characters in this book. 0:0 so far.
This novel starts out with a promising violent death, of a girl who is covered in strange symbols. A noted symbologist, like Robert Langdon, is called in to consult on the scene, and you think for a moment that this will be just like a Dan Brown thriller and maybe even better. But it turns out that the girl wasn’t actually killed—bizarrely, she was supposed to die a natural death months earlier, was rescued by the strange and compassionate Jack (a female of the species) and the motherly Maggie, and taken to an old farmhouse protected by symbols. Because the symbols were ancient magical talismans that could protect the rescued-undead and keep them alive. Undead (called “borrowed-timers”: really!?) who weren’t zombies or vampires, but who did get stronger (it turns out) by drinking the blood of other undeads. Awesome. So Jack is distraught over the death of the dead girl who ran away from the farmhouse and safety, but she rescues another girl and chains her in a secret priest hole in the farmhouse. An evil borrowed-timer lady tries to find and kidnap the girl and hurt Jack, and she doesn’t succeed. The symbologist professor tries to help Jack and the rescued girl and does succeed. Most of the action takes place at the farmhouse, in pubs, or at the professor’s house, none of which are very epic settings, and involves either people talking or being magically attacked. SPOILER ALERT: Also, the journals of Edward Kelley, supposed to hold the key to vanquishing the evil undead lady, don’t really do much good at all in the end for the heroes. The allies mostly just pick up a somewhat magical sword found with the journals and say, “Let’s kill her with this.” And then Jack has to do something crazy, unexpected, and dangerous to be able to wield the sword. And she does. There is a final showdown between the evil undead lady and the rescued girl and her friends. A raging fire ensues. END OF SPOILERS. There are two sex scenes in this novel, but the first (with a witch) is only implied, not described, and the second is mercifully short and not too graphic. Book ends rather unsatisfactorily. I literally can’t even remember the ending, and I just finished it last week. I only remember thinking, “Really!? That’s it!?” Blah. The end.
Oh, I forgot the good part of the book. The good part is composed of the historical scenes that take place in Poland in the 1500s. Rich with atmosphere and suspense, these scenes are the account (narrated in journals excerpts throughout the larger story) of supernatural scientist (I know, it didn’t make much sense to me, either) Dr. John Dee and his possibly demon-possessed and Puritanical apprentice Edward Kelley. Dee and Kelley have been summoned to the king’s court in Poland to cure his niece, the famous Elizabeth Bathory. Nothing much actually happens with Dee and Kelley, either: SPOILER ALERT: they meet the king, are kidnapped by his nephew-in-law, taken to the Bathory castle, meet the niece, and demonically cure her with the magical symbols. Somewhere along the way, Edward realizes that the voices in his head are probably demons, not angels. Because they’re telling him to save the life of a woman who will then spend the rest of her life living off the blood of others. And this doesn’t quite seem like the sort of thing that angels generally endorse. But to save their own lives and to “see what will happen,” Dee and Kelley perform the ritual. Then they have to flee Poland for their lives, because the townspeople aren’t really happy about having their children bled dry to slake Bathory’s lust for life and…other things. END OF SPOILERS.
I would like to apologize both to Ms. Alexander and also to my readers for my cranky tone in this review. Bad art irritates me, and especially bad art that could have been good art, because good art is sacred. If Ms. Alexander had simply given her characters backstories, made Elizabeth more terrifying instead of pathetic, cleaned up the sex, and set the entire story in the past, it would probably have been an excellent book. Here’s hoping that those who read the second in the series will find it infinitely better! It’s easy for me to critically analyze this novel as I’ve been trained to do, but to her credit, Ms. Alexander is certainly a better writer than I am, in that at least she has finished several novels and had them published, which I have not yet even begun to accomplish. Props to her!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 226 reviews