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Night of a Thousand Stars
New York Times bestselling author Deanna Raybourn returns with a Jazz Age tale of grand adventure
On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat's wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing--she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father's quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.
With only her feisty lady's maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita--east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the canopies of the silken city, and Poppy finds herself in the perilous sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan--one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.
"Raybourn skillfully balances humor and earnest, deadly drama, creating well-drawn characters and a rich setting." --Publishers Weekly on Dark Road to Darjeeling
On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat's wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing--she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father's quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.
With only her feisty lady's maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels incognita--east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. Danger abounds beneath the canopies of the silken city, and Poppy finds herself in the perilous sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan--one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.
"Raybourn skillfully balances humor and earnest, deadly drama, creating well-drawn characters and a rich setting." --Publishers Weekly on Dark Road to Darjeeling
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 30, 2014
192 people are currently reading
3411 people want to read
About the author
Deanna Raybourn
40 books9,393 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling novelist Deanna Raybourn is a 6th-generation native Texan. She graduated with a double major in English and history from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of one, Raybourn makes her home in Virginia. Her novels have been nominated for numerous awards including two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards, the Agatha, two Dilys Winns, a Last Laugh, three du Mauriers, and most recently the 2019 Edgar Award for Best Novel. She launched a new Victorian mystery series with the 2015 release of A CURIOUS BEGINNING, featuring intrepid butterfly-hunter and amateur sleuth, Veronica Speedwell. Veronica has returned in several more adventures, most recently AN IMPOSSIBLE IMPOSTOR, book seven, which released in early 2022. Deanna's first contemporary novel, KILLERS OF A CERTAIN AGE, about four female assassins on the cusp of retirement publishes in September 2022. (Please note: Deanna is not active on GR.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
August 10, 2016
4 stars!!
This was such a FUN book to read!! And I mean it was a total escapism kind of book...reminded me of the old days where I’d be sucked into movies for hours and tune out reality. Starting with the Lady Julia Grey series Deanna Raybourn’s forte has always been her ability to richly describe the setting, a skill that’s absolutely necessary for any author in the historical mystery genre. Written with romantic undertones, Night of a Thousand Stars is a must-read for any historical fan with a penchant for adventure, mystery, and political intrigue.
This book had my attention right from the start – Poppy is fleeing from her wedding to Society’s darling Viscount by climbing through a window. She meets Sebastian who ends up helping her escape unnoticed and delivers her to her family in the country to let the gossip die down. After some time, she returns to London and the first thing on her mind is to thank Sebastian for his help…only she can’t because he’s disappeared. No one has ever heard of him or seen him, and pretty soon Poppy realizes Sebastian has duped her – lied to her about who he is and what he does. With the help of her resourceful maid, Poppy finds some clues about where he might’ve gone and sets out to unearth the mystery that surrounds him.
I honestly cannot say much more about the book plot. The rest is the grand adventure Poppy embarks on to find Sebastian and to spoil one part would reveal the rest and what fun is the mystery if I unravel it for you? ;) The things I can talk about are the character descriptions. Poppy has got to be one of the BEST heroines, especially when I compare her to other heroines in historical books. She’s instinctive, audacious, and bold, traits that normally do not belong to historical heroines. Her adventurous spirit actually reminds me of Beatrix from Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas. Sebastian is the exact opposite. His line of work requires stealth, intelligence, ruthlessness, and knowledge in combat. Some of their interactions are so serious and some hilarious – the author really knows how to inject wry humor in their conversations. And what I appreciated most of all is that underneath the adventure lies a thought-provoking story that makes the reader constantly question roles and motivations, and inspires desires and thoughts that define these characters but are deemed unacceptable by Society’s measures.
Though this is a standalone story, I loved that characters from previous books made an appearance or were mentioned. Reading a book from this author has always been a pleasure for my mind and senses as she really knows how to write a good book combining historical elements, suspense, mystery, and a little romance. Her books always make me feel like:
And once I’m finished with her stories, I feel a bit sad that the journey is over. Recommended read.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was such a FUN book to read!! And I mean it was a total escapism kind of book...reminded me of the old days where I’d be sucked into movies for hours and tune out reality. Starting with the Lady Julia Grey series Deanna Raybourn’s forte has always been her ability to richly describe the setting, a skill that’s absolutely necessary for any author in the historical mystery genre. Written with romantic undertones, Night of a Thousand Stars is a must-read for any historical fan with a penchant for adventure, mystery, and political intrigue.
This book had my attention right from the start – Poppy is fleeing from her wedding to Society’s darling Viscount by climbing through a window. She meets Sebastian who ends up helping her escape unnoticed and delivers her to her family in the country to let the gossip die down. After some time, she returns to London and the first thing on her mind is to thank Sebastian for his help…only she can’t because he’s disappeared. No one has ever heard of him or seen him, and pretty soon Poppy realizes Sebastian has duped her – lied to her about who he is and what he does. With the help of her resourceful maid, Poppy finds some clues about where he might’ve gone and sets out to unearth the mystery that surrounds him.
I honestly cannot say much more about the book plot. The rest is the grand adventure Poppy embarks on to find Sebastian and to spoil one part would reveal the rest and what fun is the mystery if I unravel it for you? ;) The things I can talk about are the character descriptions. Poppy has got to be one of the BEST heroines, especially when I compare her to other heroines in historical books. She’s instinctive, audacious, and bold, traits that normally do not belong to historical heroines. Her adventurous spirit actually reminds me of Beatrix from Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas. Sebastian is the exact opposite. His line of work requires stealth, intelligence, ruthlessness, and knowledge in combat. Some of their interactions are so serious and some hilarious – the author really knows how to inject wry humor in their conversations. And what I appreciated most of all is that underneath the adventure lies a thought-provoking story that makes the reader constantly question roles and motivations, and inspires desires and thoughts that define these characters but are deemed unacceptable by Society’s measures.
Though this is a standalone story, I loved that characters from previous books made an appearance or were mentioned. Reading a book from this author has always been a pleasure for my mind and senses as she really knows how to write a good book combining historical elements, suspense, mystery, and a little romance. Her books always make me feel like:
And once I’m finished with her stories, I feel a bit sad that the journey is over. Recommended read.
ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2015
“I say, if you’re running away from your wedding, you’re going about it quite wrong.”
"There it was, in black and white for all to see. Viscount's Heir Jilted By American Society Girl."
The girl: Poppy Hammond decides at the last minute not to marry into a stodgy, boring life with some blue-blooded aristocrat and seeks refuge at her father's house (long story, she was raised in America by her mother and step-father, hasn't seen her real father in years).
The guy: As Poppy plans her escape, she's conveniently aided by the ever-so-helpful (and handsome!) curate Sebastian Cantrip. The resourceful curate gets her out, to her father's and leaves her there and promptly disappears without a trace. Oh, and Cantrip's not his real name either...
"Have you never heard the word before? A cantrip is an old Scots word. It means a witch’s trick, a spell. The very word means deception.”
Hmmmm. What's a plucky heroine to do but go after her mystery man and make sure he's OK? He could be hurt and dying somewhere and desperately in need of Poppy to rescue him. And the adventure begins and Poppy and her intrepid maid are off to Damascus for whatever adventures might await them.
I loved every second of this book. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. Some delightful baddies and a surprise visit from a character in the previous book City of Jasmine. Oh, and plenty of laugh out loud lines as the relationship between these two shake out.
My only disappointment is that it appears there aren't going to be any more of these, I hear the author's going back to Victorian era mysteries again. There's so much potential at the end of this for more more more.
*pouts*
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
"There it was, in black and white for all to see. Viscount's Heir Jilted By American Society Girl."
The girl: Poppy Hammond decides at the last minute not to marry into a stodgy, boring life with some blue-blooded aristocrat and seeks refuge at her father's house (long story, she was raised in America by her mother and step-father, hasn't seen her real father in years).
The guy: As Poppy plans her escape, she's conveniently aided by the ever-so-helpful (and handsome!) curate Sebastian Cantrip. The resourceful curate gets her out, to her father's and leaves her there and promptly disappears without a trace. Oh, and Cantrip's not his real name either...
"Have you never heard the word before? A cantrip is an old Scots word. It means a witch’s trick, a spell. The very word means deception.”
Hmmmm. What's a plucky heroine to do but go after her mystery man and make sure he's OK? He could be hurt and dying somewhere and desperately in need of Poppy to rescue him. And the adventure begins and Poppy and her intrepid maid are off to Damascus for whatever adventures might await them.
I loved every second of this book. Lots of ups and downs and twists and turns. Some delightful baddies and a surprise visit from a character in the previous book City of Jasmine. Oh, and plenty of laugh out loud lines as the relationship between these two shake out.
My only disappointment is that it appears there aren't going to be any more of these, I hear the author's going back to Victorian era mysteries again. There's so much potential at the end of this for more more more.
*pouts*
Kindle copy obtained via library loan.
September 9, 2025
Actually 4.5 rounded up to 5.
___SYOPSYS___ On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.
With only her lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels under cover—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. As danger abounds, Poppy finds herself in the sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.
__________
MY OPINION:
It was a gripping, fast-paced adventure that I would have rated 5 full stars if only there was romance throughout the entire story.
The synopsis, the title, the cover, and even the opening of the book somehow promise a good dose of romance and flirtation, which the author, however, fails to develop. The romantic reader will therefore have to look elsewhere to fully satisfy her desire for courtship, flirtation, and sweet and/or passionate kisses.
Luckily for me, I love adventure, and the entire story still managed to draw me into a daring whirlwind of escapes, disguises, ambiguous characters (both good and bad), action, historical insights, and a surprise ending that neither the main character, Poppy March, nor the reader expected.
Although the book desperately lacks a good flirtation to excite the reader, we ultimately get a happy ending, after a kiss and some sex, without description, in the final chapters.
------> The book is a sort of sequel, or rather a complete sequel, to the book I read previously, "City of Jasmine," in which Gabriel Starke and his wife Eve are drawn into an adventure in Damascus, amidst the desert, political intrigue, and the search for a precious archaeological relic.
Gabriel was part of a secret group run by a British spy agency.
Sebastian, the male hero of this book, is a friend of his, and throughout the book's story, we discover the bond that unites them and brings Sebastian, and consequently Poppy, to Damascus, to experience an equally frenetic, dangerous, and exciting adventure.
__ THE CHARACTERS: Hero and heroine of the story:
I really liked them as a couple. I find them in tune even though they don't know each other very well and there are secrets that create barriers between them. My only complaint is that I would have liked them to spend more time together, whereas in the book, they meet at the beginning and only meet again halfway through.
SEBASTIAN : While in the previous book the character I admired most was the female one, here I preferred the male one.
Sebastian is not only smart, but also patient and, in his own way, very humble, putting up with the idle chatter of Poppy, who is still very immature and a little spoiled, though with a sincere and generous heart.
Sebastian is forced by circumstances not to give in to Poppy's brazen feminine provocations. He is strict because he has to follow his duty, but he is never offensive or rude to Poppy, as Gabriel was in the previous book.
He is charming in his silence and his desert prince attire, and he shows that he is also deeply so, defending and protecting Poppy with great courage and devotion.
POPPY: For her part, Poppy, although a little too insistent in judging Sebastian and wanting to pursue her plans according to her impulses, does everything with great heart and enthusiasm. Her good intentions make his stubbornness and superficiality in approaching dangerous adventures forgivable. The whole story will be fundamental in making her move from the world of naive children to that of responsible adults.
The VILLAINS and the POSITIVE SUPORTING CHARACTERS are also very interesting.
Although the book is quite long, the sequence of events, interspersed with lively dialogue and historical information, is so intense that there was no way to delve deeply into each one. However, the author was able to convey the unique traits of each character to the reader, even through a few scenes and lines.
I never felt lost or confused during the plot; Ms. Raybourn managed to blend all the elements and threads of the different plots together spectacularly.
__THE HISTORICAL PART OF FICTION_ I love it when the writer's imagination finds its way into real historical events and real characters.
This allows me to broaden my knowledge.
I'm Italian and know little about the history of the British Empire (only the main facts studied in school), much less about eccentric or unusual British characters who challenged the rules of rigid Regency and Victorian society.
----> In this novel, I had the opportunity to learn about (and explore further through personal research online) the character of Lady Esther Stanhope (a truly incredible woman!) and the legend of the Treasure of Ashkelon.
--> The author did a good job of introducing the two themes at the right time and gradually, making the historical part intriguing for the reader and never burdensome or boring.
IN CONCLUSION:
:-) :-) :-) A beautiful and engaging, fast-paced story that I recommend to all lovers of adventure and light, carefree reading.
WARNING : Not recommended if you're looking for passionate love stories; even a proper Regency romance will give you deeper romantic thrills than this one.
(Don't be misled by the title or synopsis.)
Thanks for reading my opinion and please excuse my English, as I said I'm from Italy and I'm writing in a foreign ( to me ) language.
___SYOPSYS___ On the verge of a stilted life as an aristocrat’s wife, Poppy Hammond does the only sensible thing—she flees the chapel in her wedding gown. Assisted by the handsome curate who calls himself Sebastian Cantrip, she spirits away to her estranged father’s quiet country village, pursued by the family she left in uproar. But when the dust of her broken engagement settles and Sebastian disappears under mysterious circumstances, Poppy discovers there is more to her hero than it seems.
With only her lady’s maid for company, Poppy secures employment and travels under cover—east across the seas, chasing a hunch and the whisper of clues. As danger abounds, Poppy finds herself in the sights of those who will stop at nothing to recover a fabled ancient treasure. Torn between allegiance to her kindly employer and a dashing, shadowy figure, Poppy will risk it all as she attempts to unravel a much larger plan—one that stretches to the very heart of the British government, and one that could endanger everything, and everyone, that she holds dear.
__________
MY OPINION:
It was a gripping, fast-paced adventure that I would have rated 5 full stars if only there was romance throughout the entire story.
The synopsis, the title, the cover, and even the opening of the book somehow promise a good dose of romance and flirtation, which the author, however, fails to develop. The romantic reader will therefore have to look elsewhere to fully satisfy her desire for courtship, flirtation, and sweet and/or passionate kisses.
Luckily for me, I love adventure, and the entire story still managed to draw me into a daring whirlwind of escapes, disguises, ambiguous characters (both good and bad), action, historical insights, and a surprise ending that neither the main character, Poppy March, nor the reader expected.
Although the book desperately lacks a good flirtation to excite the reader, we ultimately get a happy ending, after a kiss and some sex, without description, in the final chapters.
------> The book is a sort of sequel, or rather a complete sequel, to the book I read previously, "City of Jasmine," in which Gabriel Starke and his wife Eve are drawn into an adventure in Damascus, amidst the desert, political intrigue, and the search for a precious archaeological relic.
Gabriel was part of a secret group run by a British spy agency.
Sebastian, the male hero of this book, is a friend of his, and throughout the book's story, we discover the bond that unites them and brings Sebastian, and consequently Poppy, to Damascus, to experience an equally frenetic, dangerous, and exciting adventure.
__ THE CHARACTERS: Hero and heroine of the story:
I really liked them as a couple. I find them in tune even though they don't know each other very well and there are secrets that create barriers between them. My only complaint is that I would have liked them to spend more time together, whereas in the book, they meet at the beginning and only meet again halfway through.
SEBASTIAN : While in the previous book the character I admired most was the female one, here I preferred the male one.
Sebastian is not only smart, but also patient and, in his own way, very humble, putting up with the idle chatter of Poppy, who is still very immature and a little spoiled, though with a sincere and generous heart.
Sebastian is forced by circumstances not to give in to Poppy's brazen feminine provocations. He is strict because he has to follow his duty, but he is never offensive or rude to Poppy, as Gabriel was in the previous book.
He is charming in his silence and his desert prince attire, and he shows that he is also deeply so, defending and protecting Poppy with great courage and devotion.
POPPY: For her part, Poppy, although a little too insistent in judging Sebastian and wanting to pursue her plans according to her impulses, does everything with great heart and enthusiasm. Her good intentions make his stubbornness and superficiality in approaching dangerous adventures forgivable. The whole story will be fundamental in making her move from the world of naive children to that of responsible adults.
The VILLAINS and the POSITIVE SUPORTING CHARACTERS are also very interesting.
Although the book is quite long, the sequence of events, interspersed with lively dialogue and historical information, is so intense that there was no way to delve deeply into each one. However, the author was able to convey the unique traits of each character to the reader, even through a few scenes and lines.
I never felt lost or confused during the plot; Ms. Raybourn managed to blend all the elements and threads of the different plots together spectacularly.
__THE HISTORICAL PART OF FICTION_ I love it when the writer's imagination finds its way into real historical events and real characters.
This allows me to broaden my knowledge.
I'm Italian and know little about the history of the British Empire (only the main facts studied in school), much less about eccentric or unusual British characters who challenged the rules of rigid Regency and Victorian society.
----> In this novel, I had the opportunity to learn about (and explore further through personal research online) the character of Lady Esther Stanhope (a truly incredible woman!) and the legend of the Treasure of Ashkelon.
--> The author did a good job of introducing the two themes at the right time and gradually, making the historical part intriguing for the reader and never burdensome or boring.
IN CONCLUSION:
:-) :-) :-) A beautiful and engaging, fast-paced story that I recommend to all lovers of adventure and light, carefree reading.
WARNING : Not recommended if you're looking for passionate love stories; even a proper Regency romance will give you deeper romantic thrills than this one.
(Don't be misled by the title or synopsis.)
Thanks for reading my opinion and please excuse my English, as I said I'm from Italy and I'm writing in a foreign ( to me ) language.
March 3, 2017
Ah, Deanna Raybourn, I love you. Please don't stop writing. And please find a way to come back and write more about Julia and Brisbane. This book made me miss them so much! I want to know more about the Vespiary! There's so much more there, I know it.
Night of a Thousand Stars was yet another enjoyable, light, romantic historical adventure. I enjoyed seeing how Poppy ties in with Julia, and how the mad March legacy continues. But it also made me homesick for the old friends. I still don't want to say goodbye to them for good. And I want more 1920s Middle-Eastern treasure hunts now, too. Everything I read just makes me want more.
So, this one is 4.5 Stars because it didn't quite manage to match up to City of Jasmine. I loved the wedding escape at the beginning - that was hilarious. And Sebastian won me over pretty much instantly before he disappeared. I thought Poppy was really blind and stupid about him at times, but she was also impulsive, smart and stubborn, and I liked her spirit.
The adventure wasn't as adventurous as the one in City of Jasmine, but Poppy isn't an intrepid pilot, and this is her first adventure. So I'm cutting her some slack for not always knowing how to handle it and not always seeing what's going on. And honestly, more treasure would have been nice, too.
It was fun, and I loved it. I want more. Raybourn remains on my list of authors whose books I will actually pre-order - a very short list indeed. I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't love, and I only have one left that I haven't read so far. I'm eagerly anticipating her new Victorian mystery series starting this Fall with A Curious Beginning. I'm sure that I'll end up loving that series too, once I can get my hands on it.
Night of a Thousand Stars was yet another enjoyable, light, romantic historical adventure. I enjoyed seeing how Poppy ties in with Julia, and how the mad March legacy continues. But it also made me homesick for the old friends. I still don't want to say goodbye to them for good. And I want more 1920s Middle-Eastern treasure hunts now, too. Everything I read just makes me want more.
So, this one is 4.5 Stars because it didn't quite manage to match up to City of Jasmine. I loved the wedding escape at the beginning - that was hilarious. And Sebastian won me over pretty much instantly before he disappeared. I thought Poppy was really blind and stupid about him at times, but she was also impulsive, smart and stubborn, and I liked her spirit.
The adventure wasn't as adventurous as the one in City of Jasmine, but Poppy isn't an intrepid pilot, and this is her first adventure. So I'm cutting her some slack for not always knowing how to handle it and not always seeing what's going on. And honestly, more treasure would have been nice, too.
It was fun, and I loved it. I want more. Raybourn remains on my list of authors whose books I will actually pre-order - a very short list indeed. I have yet to read a book by her that I didn't love, and I only have one left that I haven't read so far. I'm eagerly anticipating her new Victorian mystery series starting this Fall with A Curious Beginning. I'm sure that I'll end up loving that series too, once I can get my hands on it.
September 7, 2016
I've given this an A- at AAR - but it very nearly squeaked an A, so I'm leaving it at 5 stars.
You know how sometimes you read the opening line or two of a book, and not only does it hook you immediately, but you can just tell it’s going to be a great read? Well, Night of a Thousand Stars is one of those books.
It opens with Penelope Hammond, step-daughter of a rich American industrialist running out on her wedding to a stodgy viscount’s heir with the help of a rather attractive and delightfully unflappable curate. He introduces himself as Sebastian Cantrip, and agrees to drive her to her father’s house in Devon. On the way, Penelope explains that she prefers to be called by her nickname “Poppy”, and that her last name isn’t actually Hammond, because her step-father has never legally adopted her. Her actual last name is March.
Which is where I might have squealed, just a little bit.
Because – as anyone who has read any of the books in Ms Raybourn’s series of Victorian mysteries will know – March is the maiden name of the eponymous Lady Julia; and as Poppy’s father turns out to be none other than Eglamour, or “Plum” March, it makes Lady Julia Poppy’s aunt.
Having safely deposited Poppy with her father, the obliging curate leaves the following morning, which, for some reason she can’t fathom, leaves her feeling a little flat.
Poppy’s parents are divorced and while her step-father treats her as one of the family, she has never really felt as though she belonged. She was the same at school, her quick wit and adventurous nature getting her into trouble more often than not. She tries to live up to her mother’s expectations of what a young lady should be and gets engaged to a worthy – if dull – young man, but no matter what she does, she just doesn’t do “conventional”. Reading her aunt’s journals (the first of which is entitled Silent in the Grave), something finally clicks for Poppy, and she determines it’s time to be herself rather than try to fit in with other people’s expectations. She wants to have a “little adventure”, and decides to start by going to London – where she will have to put on a brazen front to brave the gossip – in order to find Mr Cantrip so that she can thank him properly for his assistance.
Returning to the church from which she ran away, she is disturbed to discover that the curate is in fact a Mr. Hobbs, who tells her that the name Cantrip is actually an archaic Scottish word meaning “trick”. Something is obviously not right, which makes Poppy – who has started to believe that perhaps Sebastian is in some sort of trouble - even more determined to track him down.
Her investigations eventually lead her to discover that Sebastian – whose real last name is Fox – has travelled to the Holy Land and Poppy must find a way to follow him there.
Night of a Thousand Stars is a companion story to Ms Raybourn’s previous book, City of Jasmine although it’s not necessary to have read that first in order to understand this one. To say too much about the plot will spoil it, so I’ll just say that it’s an eventful, fast moving adventure in which the author expertly balances danger and treachery with humour and deadpan wit. It is a little frustrating that the central characters spend a large portion of the first half of the book apart, but there is much to enjoy in Ms Raybourn’s attention to detail, which is very impressive, and in the writing, which just sparkles with wit and has a real “twenties feel” about it – by which I mean that it’s infused with that zest for life and desire to push boundaries that seems to have been commonly felt by so many young people after the horrors of the First World War.
The descriptions of Damascus –the sights, sounds, and smells of the souks and streets – bring the city vividly to life, and the author also includes relevant details concerning the precarious political situation of the time, which are both relevant to the story and interesting in their own right.
There is, of course, a nice dash of romance running through the story. The reunion between Poppy and Sebastian is splendidly tongue-in-cheek, with Sebastian turning up looking like a desert prince, all billowing black robes and tall boots (swoon!) … The guy is Errol Flynn, James Bond and Indiana Jones rolled into one and is, for my money, the sexiest Vicar ever written! The dialogue is full of humour and the couple bickers in the manner of the best screwball comedies. But it’s also clear that they trust each other implicitly and will do whatever is necessary to keep each other safe. Ms. Raybourn doesn’t write explicit sex scenes, but the sexual tension between the pair is tremendous and done without repetitious mental lusting over exposed muscular body parts. (Not to say there isn’t any… it’s just not overdone.)
The only reason this isn’t a straight “A” book is that the denouement seemed a little too “pat”. Many loose ends are tied up, and co-incidences explained, but it didn’t quite work for me – perhaps because it’s just too perfect. I suspect I may well be in the minority in that one, and I certainly enjoyed the way Poppy turned the tables on Sebastian at the end.
Night of a Thousand Stars is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and the characterisation is excellent all round. Poppy is probably the most strongly drawn character, but then it’s her story and hers is the greatest emotional journey as she gradually learns to believe in herself and takes charge of own life. I loved the book, and have no hesitation in recommending it very highly indeed.
You know how sometimes you read the opening line or two of a book, and not only does it hook you immediately, but you can just tell it’s going to be a great read? Well, Night of a Thousand Stars is one of those books.
It opens with Penelope Hammond, step-daughter of a rich American industrialist running out on her wedding to a stodgy viscount’s heir with the help of a rather attractive and delightfully unflappable curate. He introduces himself as Sebastian Cantrip, and agrees to drive her to her father’s house in Devon. On the way, Penelope explains that she prefers to be called by her nickname “Poppy”, and that her last name isn’t actually Hammond, because her step-father has never legally adopted her. Her actual last name is March.
Which is where I might have squealed, just a little bit.
Because – as anyone who has read any of the books in Ms Raybourn’s series of Victorian mysteries will know – March is the maiden name of the eponymous Lady Julia; and as Poppy’s father turns out to be none other than Eglamour, or “Plum” March, it makes Lady Julia Poppy’s aunt.
Having safely deposited Poppy with her father, the obliging curate leaves the following morning, which, for some reason she can’t fathom, leaves her feeling a little flat.
Poppy’s parents are divorced and while her step-father treats her as one of the family, she has never really felt as though she belonged. She was the same at school, her quick wit and adventurous nature getting her into trouble more often than not. She tries to live up to her mother’s expectations of what a young lady should be and gets engaged to a worthy – if dull – young man, but no matter what she does, she just doesn’t do “conventional”. Reading her aunt’s journals (the first of which is entitled Silent in the Grave), something finally clicks for Poppy, and she determines it’s time to be herself rather than try to fit in with other people’s expectations. She wants to have a “little adventure”, and decides to start by going to London – where she will have to put on a brazen front to brave the gossip – in order to find Mr Cantrip so that she can thank him properly for his assistance.
Returning to the church from which she ran away, she is disturbed to discover that the curate is in fact a Mr. Hobbs, who tells her that the name Cantrip is actually an archaic Scottish word meaning “trick”. Something is obviously not right, which makes Poppy – who has started to believe that perhaps Sebastian is in some sort of trouble - even more determined to track him down.
Her investigations eventually lead her to discover that Sebastian – whose real last name is Fox – has travelled to the Holy Land and Poppy must find a way to follow him there.
Night of a Thousand Stars is a companion story to Ms Raybourn’s previous book, City of Jasmine although it’s not necessary to have read that first in order to understand this one. To say too much about the plot will spoil it, so I’ll just say that it’s an eventful, fast moving adventure in which the author expertly balances danger and treachery with humour and deadpan wit. It is a little frustrating that the central characters spend a large portion of the first half of the book apart, but there is much to enjoy in Ms Raybourn’s attention to detail, which is very impressive, and in the writing, which just sparkles with wit and has a real “twenties feel” about it – by which I mean that it’s infused with that zest for life and desire to push boundaries that seems to have been commonly felt by so many young people after the horrors of the First World War.
The descriptions of Damascus –the sights, sounds, and smells of the souks and streets – bring the city vividly to life, and the author also includes relevant details concerning the precarious political situation of the time, which are both relevant to the story and interesting in their own right.
There is, of course, a nice dash of romance running through the story. The reunion between Poppy and Sebastian is splendidly tongue-in-cheek, with Sebastian turning up looking like a desert prince, all billowing black robes and tall boots (swoon!) … The guy is Errol Flynn, James Bond and Indiana Jones rolled into one and is, for my money, the sexiest Vicar ever written! The dialogue is full of humour and the couple bickers in the manner of the best screwball comedies. But it’s also clear that they trust each other implicitly and will do whatever is necessary to keep each other safe. Ms. Raybourn doesn’t write explicit sex scenes, but the sexual tension between the pair is tremendous and done without repetitious mental lusting over exposed muscular body parts. (Not to say there isn’t any… it’s just not overdone.)
The only reason this isn’t a straight “A” book is that the denouement seemed a little too “pat”. Many loose ends are tied up, and co-incidences explained, but it didn’t quite work for me – perhaps because it’s just too perfect. I suspect I may well be in the minority in that one, and I certainly enjoyed the way Poppy turned the tables on Sebastian at the end.
Night of a Thousand Stars is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and the characterisation is excellent all round. Poppy is probably the most strongly drawn character, but then it’s her story and hers is the greatest emotional journey as she gradually learns to believe in herself and takes charge of own life. I loved the book, and have no hesitation in recommending it very highly indeed.
September 6, 2021
I’m almost sad that I have finally read everything Deanna Raybourn has written and that I’ve come to the end of the whole Mira phase of her career. (Side note: how did they not retain her? So glad Berkeley is publishing her new books.)
I’ll admit that I did not really get the leap to Poppy needing to go to Syria, but I just suspended my disbelief and enjoyed the ride. The characters are a joy and the action is dizzying (in a good way). As usual with Raybourn’s stories, Poppy a bold, adventurous heroine who had me rooting for her from the first page.
Because of the Whisper of Jasmine novella, I knew of the connection to the Lady Julia series. All is revealed at the end, but I sort of wish we knew up front which character was the main connection.
Warning: if you read the Julia Grey books previously, this book WILL make you pick them up again. I read this book and then spent three days reading books 1-3 in that series.
I’ll admit that I did not really get the leap to Poppy needing to go to Syria, but I just suspended my disbelief and enjoyed the ride. The characters are a joy and the action is dizzying (in a good way). As usual with Raybourn’s stories, Poppy a bold, adventurous heroine who had me rooting for her from the first page.
Because of the Whisper of Jasmine novella, I knew of the connection to the Lady Julia series. All is revealed at the end, but I sort of wish we knew up front which character was the main connection.
Warning: if you read the Julia Grey books previously, this book WILL make you pick them up again. I read this book and then spent three days reading books 1-3 in that series.
January 19, 2015
This book is frightfully silly.
Possible spoilers below
Poppy Hammond decides she's had enough of high society life and decides to make a run for it. On the day of her wedding to a staid and proper lordling, she tries to escape through the window.
Enter mysterious man #1: A curate who aids her dash to freedom and drives her to her estranged father. In a shiny fast car. Who is kind and dashing, an excellent companion and has a sense of humour.
After depositing her with her father, he promptly disappears the next day. Our heroine chases after him , discovers that he keeps an alias and it leads her all the way to Damascus. Don't ask.
Mysterious man #2: Poppy's employer's valet. Astonishingly handsome. Has moonlit waltzes with her on the ships' deck.
Mysterious man #3:Poppy's host's son. Also astonishingly handsome. Woos her rather aggressively. Something about him puts Poppy off.
All de rigeur as in an old gothic novel. Except in those, the author builds upon the characters', their motives and heightens the suspense. Here, it all fizzles out quickly.
Poppy, this silly chit has no sense of self preservation. Creepy encounters intended to scare her off, she thinks it's all a 'grand adventure'. Bullets flying left and right, murders happening; and she's super excited. I found her self absorption quite shallow and stupid.
The book ends her getting recruited as a special agent for England. On basis of her handlers' observation of her on the mission. She's shown zero common sense and lack of any spy-worthy skill altogether. Except her adeptness at lying, which is explained away as a by-product of her boarding school education. Special snowflake syndrome, anyone?
Possible spoilers below
Poppy Hammond decides she's had enough of high society life and decides to make a run for it. On the day of her wedding to a staid and proper lordling, she tries to escape through the window.
Enter mysterious man #1: A curate who aids her dash to freedom and drives her to her estranged father. In a shiny fast car. Who is kind and dashing, an excellent companion and has a sense of humour.
After depositing her with her father, he promptly disappears the next day. Our heroine chases after him , discovers that he keeps an alias and it leads her all the way to Damascus. Don't ask.
Mysterious man #2: Poppy's employer's valet. Astonishingly handsome. Has moonlit waltzes with her on the ships' deck.
Mysterious man #3:Poppy's host's son. Also astonishingly handsome. Woos her rather aggressively. Something about him puts Poppy off.
All de rigeur as in an old gothic novel. Except in those, the author builds upon the characters', their motives and heightens the suspense. Here, it all fizzles out quickly.
Poppy, this silly chit has no sense of self preservation. Creepy encounters intended to scare her off, she thinks it's all a 'grand adventure'. Bullets flying left and right, murders happening; and she's super excited. I found her self absorption quite shallow and stupid.
The book ends her getting recruited as a special agent for England. On basis of her handlers' observation of her on the mission. She's shown zero common sense and lack of any spy-worthy skill altogether. Except her adeptness at lying, which is explained away as a by-product of her boarding school education. Special snowflake syndrome, anyone?
August 13, 2024
Review from 2015
AUDIO VERSION:
C- for narration / A- for content. I'm sticking at 3 stars, although honestly, it's not an audio I would recommend.
I read and loved this book last year, so I was delighted to see that it had recently been made available in audio and eagerly snapped it up, even though the narrator is not someone I have listened to before. Night of a Thousand Stars is one of Deanna Raybourn’s set of three loosely connected novels set in the 1920s, and in fact links back to her Lady Julia books in that the heroine is the daughter of Julia’s youngest brother, “Plum” – a fact revealed early in the story and which may have caused just the slightest squee from yours truly upon reading.
As an audiobook, however, Night of a Thousand Stars is a very different prospect, and I struggled to finish it. I often listen to audios of books I have enjoyed, so I am bound to have certain expectations of what I want to hear; and while in many cases, these are fulfilled, this is an instance where the audiobook falls very short of my expectations. I rated the book highly at All About Romance, giving it an A- and making it a Desert Isle Keeper, but I didn’t enjoy the story nearly as much here because the performance was so distracting – and not in a good way. Because of this, my description of the book content has come largely from my memory of the printed edition, because I didn’t want to make it sound as though my lack of enjoyment was down to the story or the author.
Poppy March’s parents are divorced and her mother has remarried a wealthy American, a kind man who has always treated Poppy as if she were his own daughter. She tries to live up to her mother’s expectations – even going so far as becoming engaged to a worthy, if dull, young man – but her adventurous, unconventional nature baulks at the last moment, leading her to abandon her fiancé at the altar and escape, aided by a handsome curate, Sebastian Cantrip, who drives her to her father’s house in Devon.
The following morning, and feeling rather flat following Sebastian’s departure, Poppy finds herself browsing through her aunt’s journals, the first of which is called Silent as the Grave (*wink*) and realises that what she really wants is to be herself and stop trying to fit in and conform. She wants a bit of adventure, and she decides to start by going back to London (where she will have to brave the gossip following her aborted wedding) to find Sebastian to thank him properly for his help.
But she has almost nothing to go on – all she knows is his name and that he’s a vicar, so Poppy returns to the church to see if she can find him. She is astonished to discover that the curate there is an elderly man called Hobbs, and even moreso when he tells her that the word “Cantrip” is actually an old Scottish word meaning “trick.” Poppy, who had already started to think that something is not right, becomes convinced that Sebastian whoever-he-is is in some kind of trouble and is all the more determined to track him down.
Her investigations eventually lead her to conclude that Sebastian Fox has travelled to the Middle East. Still convinced he needs help, Poppy secures herself a position as secretary and amanuensis to the elderly Colonel Archainbaud and joins him and his valet, Talbot, on their journey to Damascus.
The story is a fast-paced adventure romp that’s full of danger, suspicious characters, daring escapes, treachery and deadpan wit; and Ms Raybourn’s superb descriptions of the desert landscapes and the sights, sounds and smells of Damascus really put the listener right in the middle of the action. The writing sparkles, the dialogue zings and her attention to historical detail is impressive. In the audiobook, however, that zest and sparkle is largely absent, so the listener who hasn’t read the book could be forgiven for thinking it a merely average story. My only niggles are that the protagonists spend a large part of the first half of the book apart and the ending is a bit too pat.
Poppy and Sebastian are engaging and feel very much “of their time”, with Poppy, especially, being in the mold of the “bright young things” of the 1920s – plucky, resourceful and difficult to rattle. Sebastian would easily win the award for the “sexiest vicar ever in a romance novel”, were such a thing to exist – he’s gorgeous, edgy and a bit dangerous, trading quip for quip with Poppy in the tradition of the best screwball comedies; and even though Ms Raybourn doesn’t write sex scenes, there is a satisfying sexual tension thrumming between them.
If you haven’t read Night of a Thousand Stars but like the sound of it, then take my advice and stick to the printed edition, because the audiobook is a disappointment. The tone Ms Parker-Naples has adopted for Poppy is perhaps in keeping with the character – think a cross between Lady Mary in Downton Abbey (but about an octave higher and somewhat faster) and Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds (the 60s TV show, not the film) – terribly posh, but also incredibly girlish, overly bright and whiny; and it was very grating. I did become used to it over time, but if I’d not been listening for review I may not have persevered with it long enough for that to happen. The story is told in the first person and Ms Parker-Naples employs the same tone for the narrative portions as well as Poppy’s dialogue. I can understand why she makes that choice, but had she tempered her tone somewhat for the narrative parts of the story, the whole thing might have been easier to listen to.
She differentiates well between the various characters, and her best portrayals are of Sebastian, Masterson, Poppy’s ‘maid’, who has a warm-toned, northern accent (although I don’t know why she was given it, given that she’d have had the same sort of upbringing as Poppy) and the colonel’s valet, Talbot, whom she also delineates by accent. The rest of her portrayals are less successful, however. She doesn’t lower her pitch to portray the men, or perhaps I should say that she isn’t able to do so; she tries, but when she does, it sounds strained and, in the case of Poppy’s father, as though he’s quasi-shouting the whole time. And while her English regional accents are decent, the American accent she employs for Poppy’s step-father is execrable and the French one she attempts for the mysterious Comtesse de Courtempierre and her son is just as bad. And as for voicing the Damascenes… I don’t really want to think about it.
I tried hard to rate the story according to my enjoyment of it in audio, but it proved impossible because the narration was so off-putting, and as a result I’m sticking to the A- I gave the book. If you enjoy Ms Raybourn’s work, then skip this audio and enjoy this one in print.
AUDIO VERSION:
C- for narration / A- for content. I'm sticking at 3 stars, although honestly, it's not an audio I would recommend.
I read and loved this book last year, so I was delighted to see that it had recently been made available in audio and eagerly snapped it up, even though the narrator is not someone I have listened to before. Night of a Thousand Stars is one of Deanna Raybourn’s set of three loosely connected novels set in the 1920s, and in fact links back to her Lady Julia books in that the heroine is the daughter of Julia’s youngest brother, “Plum” – a fact revealed early in the story and which may have caused just the slightest squee from yours truly upon reading.
As an audiobook, however, Night of a Thousand Stars is a very different prospect, and I struggled to finish it. I often listen to audios of books I have enjoyed, so I am bound to have certain expectations of what I want to hear; and while in many cases, these are fulfilled, this is an instance where the audiobook falls very short of my expectations. I rated the book highly at All About Romance, giving it an A- and making it a Desert Isle Keeper, but I didn’t enjoy the story nearly as much here because the performance was so distracting – and not in a good way. Because of this, my description of the book content has come largely from my memory of the printed edition, because I didn’t want to make it sound as though my lack of enjoyment was down to the story or the author.
Poppy March’s parents are divorced and her mother has remarried a wealthy American, a kind man who has always treated Poppy as if she were his own daughter. She tries to live up to her mother’s expectations – even going so far as becoming engaged to a worthy, if dull, young man – but her adventurous, unconventional nature baulks at the last moment, leading her to abandon her fiancé at the altar and escape, aided by a handsome curate, Sebastian Cantrip, who drives her to her father’s house in Devon.
The following morning, and feeling rather flat following Sebastian’s departure, Poppy finds herself browsing through her aunt’s journals, the first of which is called Silent as the Grave (*wink*) and realises that what she really wants is to be herself and stop trying to fit in and conform. She wants a bit of adventure, and she decides to start by going back to London (where she will have to brave the gossip following her aborted wedding) to find Sebastian to thank him properly for his help.
But she has almost nothing to go on – all she knows is his name and that he’s a vicar, so Poppy returns to the church to see if she can find him. She is astonished to discover that the curate there is an elderly man called Hobbs, and even moreso when he tells her that the word “Cantrip” is actually an old Scottish word meaning “trick.” Poppy, who had already started to think that something is not right, becomes convinced that Sebastian whoever-he-is is in some kind of trouble and is all the more determined to track him down.
Her investigations eventually lead her to conclude that Sebastian Fox has travelled to the Middle East. Still convinced he needs help, Poppy secures herself a position as secretary and amanuensis to the elderly Colonel Archainbaud and joins him and his valet, Talbot, on their journey to Damascus.
The story is a fast-paced adventure romp that’s full of danger, suspicious characters, daring escapes, treachery and deadpan wit; and Ms Raybourn’s superb descriptions of the desert landscapes and the sights, sounds and smells of Damascus really put the listener right in the middle of the action. The writing sparkles, the dialogue zings and her attention to historical detail is impressive. In the audiobook, however, that zest and sparkle is largely absent, so the listener who hasn’t read the book could be forgiven for thinking it a merely average story. My only niggles are that the protagonists spend a large part of the first half of the book apart and the ending is a bit too pat.
Poppy and Sebastian are engaging and feel very much “of their time”, with Poppy, especially, being in the mold of the “bright young things” of the 1920s – plucky, resourceful and difficult to rattle. Sebastian would easily win the award for the “sexiest vicar ever in a romance novel”, were such a thing to exist – he’s gorgeous, edgy and a bit dangerous, trading quip for quip with Poppy in the tradition of the best screwball comedies; and even though Ms Raybourn doesn’t write sex scenes, there is a satisfying sexual tension thrumming between them.
If you haven’t read Night of a Thousand Stars but like the sound of it, then take my advice and stick to the printed edition, because the audiobook is a disappointment. The tone Ms Parker-Naples has adopted for Poppy is perhaps in keeping with the character – think a cross between Lady Mary in Downton Abbey (but about an octave higher and somewhat faster) and Lady Penelope from Thunderbirds (the 60s TV show, not the film) – terribly posh, but also incredibly girlish, overly bright and whiny; and it was very grating. I did become used to it over time, but if I’d not been listening for review I may not have persevered with it long enough for that to happen. The story is told in the first person and Ms Parker-Naples employs the same tone for the narrative portions as well as Poppy’s dialogue. I can understand why she makes that choice, but had she tempered her tone somewhat for the narrative parts of the story, the whole thing might have been easier to listen to.
She differentiates well between the various characters, and her best portrayals are of Sebastian, Masterson, Poppy’s ‘maid’, who has a warm-toned, northern accent (although I don’t know why she was given it, given that she’d have had the same sort of upbringing as Poppy) and the colonel’s valet, Talbot, whom she also delineates by accent. The rest of her portrayals are less successful, however. She doesn’t lower her pitch to portray the men, or perhaps I should say that she isn’t able to do so; she tries, but when she does, it sounds strained and, in the case of Poppy’s father, as though he’s quasi-shouting the whole time. And while her English regional accents are decent, the American accent she employs for Poppy’s step-father is execrable and the French one she attempts for the mysterious Comtesse de Courtempierre and her son is just as bad. And as for voicing the Damascenes… I don’t really want to think about it.
I tried hard to rate the story according to my enjoyment of it in audio, but it proved impossible because the narration was so off-putting, and as a result I’m sticking to the A- I gave the book. If you enjoy Ms Raybourn’s work, then skip this audio and enjoy this one in print.
October 27, 2014
I'm a huge fan of Deanna Raybourn, particularly of her Lady Julia Grey series, and her three latest stand-alone novels are taking readers to some exciting, exotic new locales for historical fiction. Night of a Thousand Stars starts off in London, shortly after the end of World War I, as we witness our intrepid heroine, Poppy, who, much to my delight, is the niece of my beloved Julia, climbing out of a window to flee a marriage she does not want just moments before it is to take place. She is aided by a seemingly humble church curate, Sebastian Cantrip, who volunteers his rather flashy sports car as her getaway ride and inadvertently finds himself in the middle of a melee when the bride's family and jilted groom track them down. Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, Sebastian disappears, leaving a trail of maddeningly curious clues for someone who was supposed to be a simple man of the church. Questioning what she wants out of life and convinced that an adventure is just what she needs--and that Sebastian is in need of rescuing and she is just the person to help--Poppy becomes obsessed with finding him. And thus begins her trek across the globe as traveling companion to an elderly soldier with his handsome valet and her stalwart maid in tow.
With a copy of her Aunt Julia's memoirs and a trunk full of travel guides, Poppy embraces life on the road and relishes the new sights and sounds around her. But when her party arrives in Damascus, she begins to realize that nothing is quite what it seems. She suspects their hostess, the beautiful Comtesse de Courtempierre, and her son, the smooth and charming Armand, are hiding darker secrets. Hugh, the valet, has set his sites on wooing Poppy, but her skeptical nature suspects he has an ulterior motive, and even her maid, Masterman, seems far too adept at subterfuge and ferreting out information. As political unrest mounts and whispers of a long-lost treasure swirl, she discovers that Sebastian is far more than a curate, and she becomes even more convinced that he is in danger and in need of rescue. But there are those that will stop at nothing to deter her, and she becomes intimately acquainted with the more sinister side of the enchanting city of Damascus. But her real adventure doesn't begin until she finally comes face to face with Sebastian again, and Poppy finds herself on an epic journey across a foreign land facing a brewing civil war, tested in ways she never imagined, and confronted with life-altering decisions she never anticipated.
Night of a Thousand Stars has a little bit of everything I love in a good novel: adventure, history, intrigue, betrayal, and of course, romance. Poppy is a lot of fun. She has the March zest for life in spades, and it was wonderful to watch this new generation of the family while catching up with those we met in Lady Julia's novels. Poppy always speaks her mind, and that makes for some pretty zippy exchanges between her and Sebastian that had me laughing out loud. And she's a smart cookie, which I really appreciated. She was not easy to fool in her quest. The mystery had me burning through the pages, the descriptions of Syria and Lebanon in the 1920s had me fully immersed in those lush lands of contradictions, and the push-pull between Poppy and Sebastian kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out how it could all possibly end well in the face of such adversity. But end well it did! I found some of the final revelations to be a little over-the-top, but that last scene was totally swoon-worthy and had me shedding a tear of happiness and closing the cover in complete satisfaction. Another great read from Deanna Raybourn!
With a copy of her Aunt Julia's memoirs and a trunk full of travel guides, Poppy embraces life on the road and relishes the new sights and sounds around her. But when her party arrives in Damascus, she begins to realize that nothing is quite what it seems. She suspects their hostess, the beautiful Comtesse de Courtempierre, and her son, the smooth and charming Armand, are hiding darker secrets. Hugh, the valet, has set his sites on wooing Poppy, but her skeptical nature suspects he has an ulterior motive, and even her maid, Masterman, seems far too adept at subterfuge and ferreting out information. As political unrest mounts and whispers of a long-lost treasure swirl, she discovers that Sebastian is far more than a curate, and she becomes even more convinced that he is in danger and in need of rescue. But there are those that will stop at nothing to deter her, and she becomes intimately acquainted with the more sinister side of the enchanting city of Damascus. But her real adventure doesn't begin until she finally comes face to face with Sebastian again, and Poppy finds herself on an epic journey across a foreign land facing a brewing civil war, tested in ways she never imagined, and confronted with life-altering decisions she never anticipated.
Night of a Thousand Stars has a little bit of everything I love in a good novel: adventure, history, intrigue, betrayal, and of course, romance. Poppy is a lot of fun. She has the March zest for life in spades, and it was wonderful to watch this new generation of the family while catching up with those we met in Lady Julia's novels. Poppy always speaks her mind, and that makes for some pretty zippy exchanges between her and Sebastian that had me laughing out loud. And she's a smart cookie, which I really appreciated. She was not easy to fool in her quest. The mystery had me burning through the pages, the descriptions of Syria and Lebanon in the 1920s had me fully immersed in those lush lands of contradictions, and the push-pull between Poppy and Sebastian kept me on my toes as I tried to figure out how it could all possibly end well in the face of such adversity. But end well it did! I found some of the final revelations to be a little over-the-top, but that last scene was totally swoon-worthy and had me shedding a tear of happiness and closing the cover in complete satisfaction. Another great read from Deanna Raybourn!
October 14, 2014
Night of a Thousand Stars is a historical fiction adventure, and unfortunately for me, I was a reluctant adventurer. While there were some elements that really worked for me, I had a really hard time finishing this book as it simply didn’t capture my attention.
Poppy Hammond is on the brink of marriage to a wealthy aristocratic; a comfortable life awaits her. But, Poppy wants more; she doesn’t feel like marriage is the right decision and she wants an adventure. So with the help of an unusually accommodating curate, Poppy jilts her groom. Determined to thank her rescuer, Sebastian Cantrip, Poppy heads off to London, only to discover that Sebastian has disappeared, and is really known as Sebastian Fox. What could have happened? After a little bit of digging, Poppy discovers that Sebastian traveled to Damascus. Convinced that Sebastian must be in trouble Poppy follows, finally embarking on the adventure that she always wanted.
Despite the fact that I’m not normally a fan of this author’s style, I wanted to read this one because the premise sounded amazing. I loved the idea of adventure in a foreign land, and after reading other reviews and quotes of the book, I was intrigued. And while I loved the descriptive setting and the humour, I personally, just didn’t enjoy reading about the main character, Poppy.
Poppy is impetuous and comes across as rather immature in her desire for an adventure. On the one hand, the reasoning behind Poppy’s flight from the altar is solid. She explains to Sebastian that she would be stifled as a future Viscount’s wife:
“I realised with Gerald, my life would always take second place. I would be his wife, and eventually Viscountess Madderley, and then I would die. In the meantime I would open fetes and have his children and perhaps hold a memorable dinner party or two, but what else? Nothing. I would have walked into that church today as Penelope Hammond and walked out as the Honourable Mrs. Gerald Madderley, and no one would have remembered me except as a footnote in the chronicles of the Madderley family.” (p. 13)
I think Poppy’s lack of individuality and need for recognition speak to the concerns of women of the time, as well as today, for that matter. I expected this need for action to manifest in a way that demonstrated that Poppy controlled her own destiny, instead she seemed to blunder into an adventure that I don’t feel actually changed her character. Further, Poppy continued to be identified as someone extraordinary by those around her, and while in some cases this was a subterfuge, this extraordinary quality was never really effectively conveyed. Why is Poppy so spectacular? It is because she’s pretty, intuitive? Beyond that I never really got much of a sense of what really made her so worthy of the attention that she received throughout the book. And because of this weak exploration, Poppy’s adventure never fully captured my attention.
What was really well developed in Night of a Thousand Stars was the luscious sense of place and the great humour.
I loved the exotic setting of Night of a Thousand Stars; this is a great example of armchair travel in fiction. Poppy’s experiences traveling and the way that this was described is stunning and evocative. Take Poppy’s first sighting of Damascus as an example:
Long rays of sunshine slanted over the city, gilding the stone and causing it to shimmer on the flat plain. Mount Hermon, newly carpeted in soft green on its lower flanks, rose to snowy heights in the distance, and I could smell the mingled scents of freshly turned earth and fruit blossoms and smoke on the air. (p. 101)
Whenever the setting is discussed, the author excels at presenting a sensual picture of the place rather than a visual simulation. This style of description brought a strong sense of place to the novel, and I feel that it is the strongest element to the novel and it is because of this that I would recommend it to fans of exotic locales; it is these readers that will appreciate this level of detail.
Second to the setting, I also liked the humour in the Night of a Thousand Stars. While I found the first third of the book to be hard to get into, when Poppy once again meets up with Sebastian I found that the humour really stood out. The one-liners between these two put a smile on my face:
We’d been riding for hours, and although I would have died rather than admit it to Sebastian, I was thoroughly exhausted. I gave a sigh of impatience and dropped my head to his back. He jerked, nearly throwing himself off the horse. His sudden lurch irritated her and she tossed her head, crossing her feet sideways.
“For God’s sake,” I muttered irritably, “What’s the matter with you? Anyone would think you were the Gothic heroine.” (p. 234)
Poppy is quite willing to dish it out to Sebastian and I found this interactions highly amusing. But, since there is a strong romantic current in the novel between Poppy and Sebastian, I was surprised that the witty banter didn’t move forward into something a little more reliant on character development. My impression of Poppy and Sebastian’s relationship is that they had the romantic tension, but not the depth of emotion that you expect in the romance genre. I realize that Night of a Thousand Stars is not a book that would be found in the romance section of the library, but since it does feature in the book, I feel that it could have been further developed.
My verdict on Night of a Thousand Stars? Fans of Deanna Raybourn will like this new book; it has her signature wit and quirky characters, and those will continue to appeal to her fans. While there were certain elements that I didn't care for as a reader, I maintain that this is a book that will go over with many audiences.
Review originally published with similar reads on The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
Poppy Hammond is on the brink of marriage to a wealthy aristocratic; a comfortable life awaits her. But, Poppy wants more; she doesn’t feel like marriage is the right decision and she wants an adventure. So with the help of an unusually accommodating curate, Poppy jilts her groom. Determined to thank her rescuer, Sebastian Cantrip, Poppy heads off to London, only to discover that Sebastian has disappeared, and is really known as Sebastian Fox. What could have happened? After a little bit of digging, Poppy discovers that Sebastian traveled to Damascus. Convinced that Sebastian must be in trouble Poppy follows, finally embarking on the adventure that she always wanted.
Despite the fact that I’m not normally a fan of this author’s style, I wanted to read this one because the premise sounded amazing. I loved the idea of adventure in a foreign land, and after reading other reviews and quotes of the book, I was intrigued. And while I loved the descriptive setting and the humour, I personally, just didn’t enjoy reading about the main character, Poppy.
Poppy is impetuous and comes across as rather immature in her desire for an adventure. On the one hand, the reasoning behind Poppy’s flight from the altar is solid. She explains to Sebastian that she would be stifled as a future Viscount’s wife:
“I realised with Gerald, my life would always take second place. I would be his wife, and eventually Viscountess Madderley, and then I would die. In the meantime I would open fetes and have his children and perhaps hold a memorable dinner party or two, but what else? Nothing. I would have walked into that church today as Penelope Hammond and walked out as the Honourable Mrs. Gerald Madderley, and no one would have remembered me except as a footnote in the chronicles of the Madderley family.” (p. 13)
I think Poppy’s lack of individuality and need for recognition speak to the concerns of women of the time, as well as today, for that matter. I expected this need for action to manifest in a way that demonstrated that Poppy controlled her own destiny, instead she seemed to blunder into an adventure that I don’t feel actually changed her character. Further, Poppy continued to be identified as someone extraordinary by those around her, and while in some cases this was a subterfuge, this extraordinary quality was never really effectively conveyed. Why is Poppy so spectacular? It is because she’s pretty, intuitive? Beyond that I never really got much of a sense of what really made her so worthy of the attention that she received throughout the book. And because of this weak exploration, Poppy’s adventure never fully captured my attention.
What was really well developed in Night of a Thousand Stars was the luscious sense of place and the great humour.
I loved the exotic setting of Night of a Thousand Stars; this is a great example of armchair travel in fiction. Poppy’s experiences traveling and the way that this was described is stunning and evocative. Take Poppy’s first sighting of Damascus as an example:
Long rays of sunshine slanted over the city, gilding the stone and causing it to shimmer on the flat plain. Mount Hermon, newly carpeted in soft green on its lower flanks, rose to snowy heights in the distance, and I could smell the mingled scents of freshly turned earth and fruit blossoms and smoke on the air. (p. 101)
Whenever the setting is discussed, the author excels at presenting a sensual picture of the place rather than a visual simulation. This style of description brought a strong sense of place to the novel, and I feel that it is the strongest element to the novel and it is because of this that I would recommend it to fans of exotic locales; it is these readers that will appreciate this level of detail.
Second to the setting, I also liked the humour in the Night of a Thousand Stars. While I found the first third of the book to be hard to get into, when Poppy once again meets up with Sebastian I found that the humour really stood out. The one-liners between these two put a smile on my face:
We’d been riding for hours, and although I would have died rather than admit it to Sebastian, I was thoroughly exhausted. I gave a sigh of impatience and dropped my head to his back. He jerked, nearly throwing himself off the horse. His sudden lurch irritated her and she tossed her head, crossing her feet sideways.
“For God’s sake,” I muttered irritably, “What’s the matter with you? Anyone would think you were the Gothic heroine.” (p. 234)
Poppy is quite willing to dish it out to Sebastian and I found this interactions highly amusing. But, since there is a strong romantic current in the novel between Poppy and Sebastian, I was surprised that the witty banter didn’t move forward into something a little more reliant on character development. My impression of Poppy and Sebastian’s relationship is that they had the romantic tension, but not the depth of emotion that you expect in the romance genre. I realize that Night of a Thousand Stars is not a book that would be found in the romance section of the library, but since it does feature in the book, I feel that it could have been further developed.
My verdict on Night of a Thousand Stars? Fans of Deanna Raybourn will like this new book; it has her signature wit and quirky characters, and those will continue to appeal to her fans. While there were certain elements that I didn't care for as a reader, I maintain that this is a book that will go over with many audiences.
Review originally published with similar reads on The Book Adventures.
*Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.
October 9, 2014
4.5 stars
I'm not sure how to summarize the plot without giving it away so read at your own risk! Penelope "Poppy" Hammond can not bring herself to marry Gerald Madderly, the crushing bore her mother has chosen for her, it would be too too Victorian. Poppy hoped they could be compatible but it is not meant to be, so she leaves the church by way of the window assisted by the affable curate, Sebastian Cantrip. Along the way to her estranged father's cottage in Devon, she makes a full confession. Poppy then meets her father, Eglamour "Plum" March (Lady Julia's brother) for the first time and finds him lovely, but is bored. When she heads back to London, accompanied by her maid, Masterson, to find Sebastian and thank him properly, she discovers that all is not as it seems. Sebastian left in a hurry for the Holy Land and left a precious possession behind. Poppy feels he's in trouble and it's up to her to rescue him. She manages to find a way to get to Syria, under her real name, Poppy March, with Masterson following discreetly behind. In Syria she discovers a wild, wonderful land filled with twinkling stars and fragrant Jasmine blossoms. There's also danger afoot as the Syrians are making a bid for independence from their French rulers and a half-French Comte tries to seduce her. Then there's Hugh, her employer's valet, who makes impassioned speeches and kisses her without emotion. When Poppy is reunited with Sebastian, the adventure she has longed for finally begins. She discovers that with adventure comes danger and the passion she's always longed for.
There, I hope that summarized things properly without giving it away. The next part is telling you how I felt about this novel. It. was. amazing! I could not put it down. My favorite part of this novel is Deanna Raybourn's beautiful prose. She describes the Middle East so vividly, I can imagine away the present images of conflict in Syria to see the land the author seems to love so much. Certainly Poppy fell in love with it. I also love all the literary allusions. The title refers to Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J.M. Barrie. The stars play an important role in both stories. There are also Austen allusions! The heroine and hero have both read and enjoyed Miss Austen's novels. There are lots more literary references to be found here. A for literary geekiness! Then, there's the plot. There's almost non-stop adventure and intrigue that kept me turning the pages long after I was nodding off. I finally had to stop the first night but stayed up too late the second night to finish. I could not put it down. I was really shocked at some of the plot twists and surprised at how some turned out. Others I wasn't surprised at all. I pretty much figured I knew who the villain was and I was certain I knew that all was not as it seems with Sebastian, but there's plenty there to keep the story interesting. I was so happy to catch up with the Marches but sad to learn some of them are no longer living. (The story takes place in 1920, making Julia 60ish and her siblings elderly). I was SUPER excited to learn There's a love story here that feels a little cliched but I enjoyed it. The love scene comes at the perfect moment and is implied rather than shown. The middle of the book reads like a YA novel but then the sexual tension amps up and the action gets violent. The violence was too much for me. I learned a lot about the different cultures in Syria. There's a bit of political commentary, I tried to highlight some passages but my PC screen in finicky like that. I'll try to do it on the iPad and add them in later. It's very important to understand the political background of Syria for not only is it relevant today but it plays a huge role in the story.
The weak link in the story is the main characters, especially Poppy. Poppy is very innocent and naive. She blunders along in a dangerous situation without thinking. She's a much younger version of her Aunt Julia and more annoying. I found it hard to believe she didn't notice that not all was what it seemed with Sebastian. After all, she was told certain things, she was warned away and she refused to believe anything other than her first impression of him. Sebastian summed Poppy up nicely by comparing her to a particular Austen character. Sebastian is one of those chip-on-his-shoulder outcasts who does his very best to be noble and do the right thing. He's willing to fall on his sword for Poppy and trying his hardest to be noble and not act on his feelings. It's perfectly obvious and she doesn't see it. His high-handed actions are more typical of a Victorian man with Poppy pushing his patience to the limit. Poppy doesn't appreciate what he does for her. Sebastian isn't as swoony as Brisbane but I hope they get to meet Aunt Julia and Uncle Nicholas (now the Duke of Abadour) some day so Nicholas and Sebastian can compare notes and roll their eyes over their impetuous loves.
The secondary characters are great. I want to know more about Rashid and Demitrius and especially the famed aviatrix. She has her own book, City of Jasmine, which I fully intend to read next.
I think that's all I can say without giving away too much.
Read this if you love Deanna Raybourn's other novels. Adult fans of The Agency series by Y.S. Lee will probably like this too.
I'm not sure how to summarize the plot without giving it away so read at your own risk! Penelope "Poppy" Hammond can not bring herself to marry Gerald Madderly, the crushing bore her mother has chosen for her, it would be too too Victorian. Poppy hoped they could be compatible but it is not meant to be, so she leaves the church by way of the window assisted by the affable curate, Sebastian Cantrip. Along the way to her estranged father's cottage in Devon, she makes a full confession. Poppy then meets her father, Eglamour "Plum" March (Lady Julia's brother) for the first time and finds him lovely, but is bored. When she heads back to London, accompanied by her maid, Masterson, to find Sebastian and thank him properly, she discovers that all is not as it seems. Sebastian left in a hurry for the Holy Land and left a precious possession behind. Poppy feels he's in trouble and it's up to her to rescue him. She manages to find a way to get to Syria, under her real name, Poppy March, with Masterson following discreetly behind. In Syria she discovers a wild, wonderful land filled with twinkling stars and fragrant Jasmine blossoms. There's also danger afoot as the Syrians are making a bid for independence from their French rulers and a half-French Comte tries to seduce her. Then there's Hugh, her employer's valet, who makes impassioned speeches and kisses her without emotion. When Poppy is reunited with Sebastian, the adventure she has longed for finally begins. She discovers that with adventure comes danger and the passion she's always longed for.
There, I hope that summarized things properly without giving it away. The next part is telling you how I felt about this novel. It. was. amazing! I could not put it down. My favorite part of this novel is Deanna Raybourn's beautiful prose. She describes the Middle East so vividly, I can imagine away the present images of conflict in Syria to see the land the author seems to love so much. Certainly Poppy fell in love with it. I also love all the literary allusions. The title refers to Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens by J.M. Barrie. The stars play an important role in both stories. There are also Austen allusions! The heroine and hero have both read and enjoyed Miss Austen's novels. There are lots more literary references to be found here. A for literary geekiness! Then, there's the plot. There's almost non-stop adventure and intrigue that kept me turning the pages long after I was nodding off. I finally had to stop the first night but stayed up too late the second night to finish. I could not put it down. I was really shocked at some of the plot twists and surprised at how some turned out. Others I wasn't surprised at all. I pretty much figured I knew who the villain was and I was certain I knew that all was not as it seems with Sebastian, but there's plenty there to keep the story interesting. I was so happy to catch up with the Marches but sad to learn some of them are no longer living. (The story takes place in 1920, making Julia 60ish and her siblings elderly). I was SUPER excited to learn There's a love story here that feels a little cliched but I enjoyed it. The love scene comes at the perfect moment and is implied rather than shown. The middle of the book reads like a YA novel but then the sexual tension amps up and the action gets violent. The violence was too much for me. I learned a lot about the different cultures in Syria. There's a bit of political commentary, I tried to highlight some passages but my PC screen in finicky like that. I'll try to do it on the iPad and add them in later. It's very important to understand the political background of Syria for not only is it relevant today but it plays a huge role in the story.
The weak link in the story is the main characters, especially Poppy. Poppy is very innocent and naive. She blunders along in a dangerous situation without thinking. She's a much younger version of her Aunt Julia and more annoying. I found it hard to believe she didn't notice that not all was what it seemed with Sebastian. After all, she was told certain things, she was warned away and she refused to believe anything other than her first impression of him. Sebastian summed Poppy up nicely by comparing her to a particular Austen character. Sebastian is one of those chip-on-his-shoulder outcasts who does his very best to be noble and do the right thing. He's willing to fall on his sword for Poppy and trying his hardest to be noble and not act on his feelings. It's perfectly obvious and she doesn't see it. His high-handed actions are more typical of a Victorian man with Poppy pushing his patience to the limit. Poppy doesn't appreciate what he does for her. Sebastian isn't as swoony as Brisbane but I hope they get to meet Aunt Julia and Uncle Nicholas (now the Duke of Abadour) some day so Nicholas and Sebastian can compare notes and roll their eyes over their impetuous loves.
The secondary characters are great. I want to know more about Rashid and Demitrius and especially the famed aviatrix. She has her own book, City of Jasmine, which I fully intend to read next.
I think that's all I can say without giving away too much.
Read this if you love Deanna Raybourn's other novels. Adult fans of The Agency series by Y.S. Lee will probably like this too.
January 21, 2015
Shortly after the first paragraph, this book veered into ridiculousness, but I still found it immensely entertaining. I think the author herself called it part "screwball-comedy," which is not a description I would normally find appealing, but worked well with these quirky characters and their humorous exchanges.
If I had a criticism, I would say this was too similar to her previous book City of Jasmine. So much so that I kept getting the characters confused! And, it lended a feeling of "been there, done that" to some of the plot points. On the other hand, if the author were to continue with the Lost Boys storyline as a series, I admit, I'd probably be first in line to read them. I can't seem to help myself. Raybourn's characters charm me every time! I was tickled to discover how the characters from Night of a Thousand Stars tied into characters from all her other books, including the Lady Julia Grey series. Fans will love it.
If I had a criticism, I would say this was too similar to her previous book City of Jasmine. So much so that I kept getting the characters confused! And, it lended a feeling of "been there, done that" to some of the plot points. On the other hand, if the author were to continue with the Lost Boys storyline as a series, I admit, I'd probably be first in line to read them. I can't seem to help myself. Raybourn's characters charm me every time! I was tickled to discover how the characters from Night of a Thousand Stars tied into characters from all her other books, including the Lady Julia Grey series. Fans will love it.
August 22, 2014
3.5 stars
This was fun, full of adventure, espionage and funny dialogues and lots of interesting characters.
Poppy is such a fun herione, strong in a away but still there is a femininity about her and a little bit of rashness.
She goes to thank a man who helped her escape her marriage only to discover that he is not who she thinks he is and also that he disappeared!
On impulse she follows clues to find him thinking he is in danger and ends up following his trail to Damascus with her lady's maid.
Then she is pulled into a series of events that lead to many discoveries.
I totally enjoyed it, but it fell a bit short on the fact that the main plot lines reminded me so much of City of Jasmine, it was like reading another version of it, Gabriel Starke even makes an appereance.
I just wished it could have maybe a different sitting or a different background!
I liked how the characters from Deanne Raybourn other books connected with this one.
This review is for a free copy courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley.
This was fun, full of adventure, espionage and funny dialogues and lots of interesting characters.
Poppy is such a fun herione, strong in a away but still there is a femininity about her and a little bit of rashness.
She goes to thank a man who helped her escape her marriage only to discover that he is not who she thinks he is and also that he disappeared!
On impulse she follows clues to find him thinking he is in danger and ends up following his trail to Damascus with her lady's maid.
Then she is pulled into a series of events that lead to many discoveries.
I totally enjoyed it, but it fell a bit short on the fact that the main plot lines reminded me so much of City of Jasmine, it was like reading another version of it, Gabriel Starke even makes an appereance.
I just wished it could have maybe a different sitting or a different background!
I liked how the characters from Deanne Raybourn other books connected with this one.
This review is for a free copy courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley.
November 26, 2014
I am a fan of this author's. While I really miss Lady Julia Grey. I have enjoyed this new path that the author has taken with her last couple of books in the histrocial fiction genre, A Spear of Summer Grass and City of Jasmine. So I was looking forward to read her newwest book, Night of a Thousand Stars. Despite the mention and some reference to Lady Julia Grey, I had a really really hard time wantint to stick with this book. The beginning was fine. Nothing too interesting about the characters but the background/time period was good. I put the book down after about six chapters thinking it was just my current mood. I came back to the book later and thought I would give it another chance. I was hoping that the story and the characters would grab me once Poppy started her grand adventure. This did not happen. In fact, I grew even more bored and finally gave up on this book. I can't even remember a thing about it. Bummer.
May 18, 2017
Adorable! Just what I needed to get me out of a reading slump. Grabbed me from the first page and delighted me until the the very end. (I loved all the little surprise appearances from her other books.) Deanna Raybourn fans are going to gobble this one up.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
September 27, 2020
Deanna Raybourn wrote a beautiful and captivating read, with strong characters travelling throughout some of the worlds most gorgeous places. I felt like I was there with the characters by the amazing writing, as she described places, landscapes, ruins and many other elements thoroughly. Poppy and Sebastian will stay with me for a while, and I will be reading more of this authors books. Beautiful read.
June 22, 2020
BOOK GUSH!! !HOW THE COOKIES had I never reviewed this!!! This was like my third re-read
I freaking LOVE this book. We all know that Deanna Raybourn writes the best male heroes and no one contests that --- from Stoker to Brisbane to Gabriel FREAKING Pimpernel Starke but I have such a soft spot for Sebastian Fox. Largely because this dude has such a remarkable sense of humour. Raybourn excels at dialogue (always) and the deft chemistry of repartee ( always) but there is something about Sebastian that creeps up on you and when you realize *who* and *what* he is and that it is at such odds by his hope and humour and quips, it's just so *chef's kiss* deliciously perfect.
This is, of course, Poppy March's story: her growth, her vulnerabilities, her exploration to become who she is to become ( and whoa! does that twist of her revelation make me want to squeak for joy), but Sebastian is the perfect counterpart because, unlike Gabriel, he is not equally matched in terms of page time, but that a.) allows for Poppy to see him as we are meant to see him, with an air of mystery ( that makes his reveal delightful ) b.) allows for her expansion and growth to include her assessment and interaction when paired with a man so like her. They're clearly soulmates but he's prickly and she's so certain she will save him.
Of course, they save each other, in a delicious romp that sets Raybourn back in the Damascus and surrounding jewels that clearly are her poetic muse. And yes, the story is surged with elegant myth and majesty, of little known history like a garden rooted in City of Jasmine and flourishing beautifully here. And esoteric poems, legends and Peter Pan return in the motif of this series.
The thinking woman's romance which is carefully handled in the marvelous first person of a woman as naiive as she is daring and crackled with the most whip-smart wit.
These books bring me such unparalleled joy!! They dash through my system and leave me elated and ready to go hop on a camel or find a grail or sword fight something.
But most often they make me yearn for love: love of place, love of history, love of beautifully woven narrative, and the love that finds two people so at odds search for each other to the ends of the earth---as Poppy does Sebastian--after one screwball romantic opening patterns something she cannot name in her heart and Sebastian becomes synonymous with adventure, sure...
but he also sews up the most hidden and needing parts of her heart.
A BILLION STARS
I freaking LOVE this book. We all know that Deanna Raybourn writes the best male heroes and no one contests that --- from Stoker to Brisbane to Gabriel FREAKING Pimpernel Starke but I have such a soft spot for Sebastian Fox. Largely because this dude has such a remarkable sense of humour. Raybourn excels at dialogue (always) and the deft chemistry of repartee ( always) but there is something about Sebastian that creeps up on you and when you realize *who* and *what* he is and that it is at such odds by his hope and humour and quips, it's just so *chef's kiss* deliciously perfect.
This is, of course, Poppy March's story: her growth, her vulnerabilities, her exploration to become who she is to become ( and whoa! does that twist of her revelation make me want to squeak for joy), but Sebastian is the perfect counterpart because, unlike Gabriel, he is not equally matched in terms of page time, but that a.) allows for Poppy to see him as we are meant to see him, with an air of mystery ( that makes his reveal delightful ) b.) allows for her expansion and growth to include her assessment and interaction when paired with a man so like her. They're clearly soulmates but he's prickly and she's so certain she will save him.
Of course, they save each other, in a delicious romp that sets Raybourn back in the Damascus and surrounding jewels that clearly are her poetic muse. And yes, the story is surged with elegant myth and majesty, of little known history like a garden rooted in City of Jasmine and flourishing beautifully here. And esoteric poems, legends and Peter Pan return in the motif of this series.
The thinking woman's romance which is carefully handled in the marvelous first person of a woman as naiive as she is daring and crackled with the most whip-smart wit.
These books bring me such unparalleled joy!! They dash through my system and leave me elated and ready to go hop on a camel or find a grail or sword fight something.
But most often they make me yearn for love: love of place, love of history, love of beautifully woven narrative, and the love that finds two people so at odds search for each other to the ends of the earth---as Poppy does Sebastian--after one screwball romantic opening patterns something she cannot name in her heart and Sebastian becomes synonymous with adventure, sure...
but he also sews up the most hidden and needing parts of her heart.
A BILLION STARS
October 21, 2014
I love each book that Deanna Raybourn has written and, once again, she has outdone herself with "Night Of A Thousand Stars".
Another great story with Poppy as our funny and gutsy heroine determined to find her hero and have an adventure. After abandoning her fiance at the altar she secretly flees (with the help of a friendly curate) to visit her father whom she hasn't seen in years, then leaves for the Holy Land in search of the man who helped her escape believing he is in trouble.
With references made to the Lady Julia Grey series Raybourn was able to blend two eras rather seamlessly.
A captivating, wonderfully written story with extraordinary characters I hope to one day meet again!
Another great story with Poppy as our funny and gutsy heroine determined to find her hero and have an adventure. After abandoning her fiance at the altar she secretly flees (with the help of a friendly curate) to visit her father whom she hasn't seen in years, then leaves for the Holy Land in search of the man who helped her escape believing he is in trouble.
With references made to the Lady Julia Grey series Raybourn was able to blend two eras rather seamlessly.
A captivating, wonderfully written story with extraordinary characters I hope to one day meet again!
December 30, 2014
Another great novel by Deanna Raybourn! I loved the characters and the story. She's become a must read for me!
April 27, 2021
Racist tosh.
(Also, REALLY, nepotism (of rich, titled people!) is how you solve the failure of spy networks? REALLY. Because that's not what has historically been what spy networks have been up to. Right.
Also, for the LOVE of GOD, will Deanna Raybourn stop having her White characters dressing up as other races? It's a bad look.
(Also, REALLY, nepotism (of rich, titled people!) is how you solve the failure of spy networks? REALLY. Because that's not what has historically been what spy networks have been up to. Right.
Also, for the LOVE of GOD, will Deanna Raybourn stop having her White characters dressing up as other races? It's a bad look.
December 11, 2014
4.5 stars
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Deanna Raybourn has solidified herself as my favorite historical fiction author and Night of a Thousand Stars is a perfect example of why. It had colorful characters, mystery and intrigue, an exotic setting, and just the right touch of wit to pull everything together. It was more of a romp than the Lady Julia Grey novels, but I loved the little Easter egg of the characters in both books being connected.
Night of a Thousand Stars was just plain fun to read! We are introduced to our heroine, Poppy March (yep, Julia Grey readers... I said March), as see is fleeing from her wedding. Beautiful white dress, perfect hair and makeup, hundreds of people and one groom waiting for her... and Poppy is trying to climb out of a window. She also manages to rope clergyman Sebastian Cantrip into her runaway bride act and they are soon driving off into the sunset. This is just the beginning of the story though...
Poppy has realized she doesn't want the boring life society has planned for her. She knows she owes Sebastian a debt of gratitude for helping her and, when he appears to go missing, she bounds off to the Levant to find him. Along the way, Poppy connects with a slew of new characters and finds herself been pulled deeper and deeper into the life of Mr. Sebastian Cantrip... if that's even his real name! With only her loyal lady's maid for backup, Poppy is determined to learn the truth of the mystery and to see herself and Sebastian safely back to London.
I absolutely loved this story. Everything was so beautifully detailed and described that you felt you were there by Poppy's side. Our plucky heroine was continuously getting into scrapes and close calls that would send anyone else running for home, but she held her own and successfully came out the other side. Sebastian was mysterious and dashing... when he wasn't being grouchy and reticent. The mystery was layers deep and Poppy, as well as the reader, had no idea the complete truth of the matter until the very end. Night of a Thousand Stars captures you from the start and doesn't let you go. Though the situation could be pretty bleak and scary at times, the humor and the interaction between Poppy and Sebastian kept things balanced throughout. I found this to be an excellent read and am just sad to learn it will be a one-off. I could definitely see this as the beginning of a fascinating new series... there are just so many places that Poppy and Sebastian could go!
Thank you to Harlequin MIRA and Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!
Deanna Raybourn has solidified herself as my favorite historical fiction author and Night of a Thousand Stars is a perfect example of why. It had colorful characters, mystery and intrigue, an exotic setting, and just the right touch of wit to pull everything together. It was more of a romp than the Lady Julia Grey novels, but I loved the little Easter egg of the characters in both books being connected.
Night of a Thousand Stars was just plain fun to read! We are introduced to our heroine, Poppy March (yep, Julia Grey readers... I said March), as see is fleeing from her wedding. Beautiful white dress, perfect hair and makeup, hundreds of people and one groom waiting for her... and Poppy is trying to climb out of a window. She also manages to rope clergyman Sebastian Cantrip into her runaway bride act and they are soon driving off into the sunset. This is just the beginning of the story though...
Poppy has realized she doesn't want the boring life society has planned for her. She knows she owes Sebastian a debt of gratitude for helping her and, when he appears to go missing, she bounds off to the Levant to find him. Along the way, Poppy connects with a slew of new characters and finds herself been pulled deeper and deeper into the life of Mr. Sebastian Cantrip... if that's even his real name! With only her loyal lady's maid for backup, Poppy is determined to learn the truth of the mystery and to see herself and Sebastian safely back to London.
I absolutely loved this story. Everything was so beautifully detailed and described that you felt you were there by Poppy's side. Our plucky heroine was continuously getting into scrapes and close calls that would send anyone else running for home, but she held her own and successfully came out the other side. Sebastian was mysterious and dashing... when he wasn't being grouchy and reticent. The mystery was layers deep and Poppy, as well as the reader, had no idea the complete truth of the matter until the very end. Night of a Thousand Stars captures you from the start and doesn't let you go. Though the situation could be pretty bleak and scary at times, the humor and the interaction between Poppy and Sebastian kept things balanced throughout. I found this to be an excellent read and am just sad to learn it will be a one-off. I could definitely see this as the beginning of a fascinating new series... there are just so many places that Poppy and Sebastian could go!
Thank you to Harlequin MIRA and Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
November 10, 2014I've read the majority of Deanna Raybourn's novels and I loved the first four books in the Lady Julia series. But was disappointed by the last one, it had a lighter quality than the others and the headstrong clever protagonist somehow became flakey and wimpy. It left me wondering if the series had seen the end of the line (for me, at least).
I was please to find 'A Spear of Summer Grass', published last year, more in keeping with the author's earlier work and I hoped 'Night of a Thousand Stars' would have the same style as the other novels I'd enjoyed from this author. Unfortunately 'Night of a Thousand Stars' reads like a typical romance novel with events that are unlikely, improbable and silly dominating the storyline.
I enjoyed the setting, the story unfolds in 1921 and the period details were well done and added to the interest of the story. I enjoyed the family backlash in response to Penelope's leaving her betrothed at the altar, as well as the rekindled relationship with her father, Plum March. I was hoping we might get to spend some more time with Plum and the other March siblings because I've enjoyed them in the past. Unfortunately Penelope hares off to Damascus on a far-fetch adventure without their company.
I hoped I could stick it out with the heroine after she got off the ship in Syria but instead of becoming more believable the storyline devolved from there. I threw in the towel when mysterious (and handsome) man number four crossed her path. I could see that this wasn't going to be something I was going to enjoy reading at that point and abandoned it for something that didn't set my teeth on edge.
This one is probably going to be best for readers who enjoy romance novels.
Thank you to Harlequin Mira publishers and the Amazon Vine program for a copy of this book given in exchange for an honest review
I was please to find 'A Spear of Summer Grass', published last year, more in keeping with the author's earlier work and I hoped 'Night of a Thousand Stars' would have the same style as the other novels I'd enjoyed from this author. Unfortunately 'Night of a Thousand Stars' reads like a typical romance novel with events that are unlikely, improbable and silly dominating the storyline.
I enjoyed the setting, the story unfolds in 1921 and the period details were well done and added to the interest of the story. I enjoyed the family backlash in response to Penelope's leaving her betrothed at the altar, as well as the rekindled relationship with her father, Plum March. I was hoping we might get to spend some more time with Plum and the other March siblings because I've enjoyed them in the past. Unfortunately Penelope hares off to Damascus on a far-fetch adventure without their company.
I hoped I could stick it out with the heroine after she got off the ship in Syria but instead of becoming more believable the storyline devolved from there. I threw in the towel when mysterious (and handsome) man number four crossed her path. I could see that this wasn't going to be something I was going to enjoy reading at that point and abandoned it for something that didn't set my teeth on edge.
This one is probably going to be best for readers who enjoy romance novels.
Thank you to Harlequin Mira publishers and the Amazon Vine program for a copy of this book given in exchange for an honest review
October 3, 2014
Raybourn will forever be my go to author for a fabulous historic read with just the right amount of detail, mystery, paranormal elements and of course, a swoon worthy romance to make every single craving of mine complete.
She has an amazing ability to be able to paint a picture so vivid you feel as if you are watching the very scenes unfold in your mind. You see, feel, smell and experience it all for yourself right along with the characters, it truly feels as if you are there right along with them.
I fell in love with her Julia Grey series and my love for her work just escalated after each new release, each new book and each new series To have elements from all her books and characters, together, in this one read, is truly amazing and was quite the gift. She pulled it off beautifully, she blended the old with the “new” and it was flawless.
I don't even know where to begin to describe this other than to tell you that I loved Sebastian and Poppy almost as much as I love Brisbane and Julia, which is no small feat.
The blending of the two worlds, two eras really was seamless and reminded me all over again why I am a fan of Raybourn's and will continue to be one as long as she is writing, which I hope is for a very long tme.
I am so very exited about where this series is headed, where everything is headed. My only regret is that Nicholas and Julia weren't in this right along with Sebastian and Poppy. I would have loved to see them all together out there solving the worlds mysteries, I can only hope it will happen at some point in the future.
She has an amazing ability to be able to paint a picture so vivid you feel as if you are watching the very scenes unfold in your mind. You see, feel, smell and experience it all for yourself right along with the characters, it truly feels as if you are there right along with them.
I fell in love with her Julia Grey series and my love for her work just escalated after each new release, each new book and each new series To have elements from all her books and characters, together, in this one read, is truly amazing and was quite the gift. She pulled it off beautifully, she blended the old with the “new” and it was flawless.
I don't even know where to begin to describe this other than to tell you that I loved Sebastian and Poppy almost as much as I love Brisbane and Julia, which is no small feat.
The blending of the two worlds, two eras really was seamless and reminded me all over again why I am a fan of Raybourn's and will continue to be one as long as she is writing, which I hope is for a very long tme.
I am so very exited about where this series is headed, where everything is headed. My only regret is that Nicholas and Julia weren't in this right along with Sebastian and Poppy. I would have loved to see them all together out there solving the worlds mysteries, I can only hope it will happen at some point in the future.
May 6, 2025
So many things to love about this book... and at the top of my list are the many tie-ins with the March family from the Lady Julia and Brisbane series. Please, please, please give us more of the March family. Also, the tie-in to Jude's husband from A Spear of Summer Grass. You can't just leave us hanging like that! Please send someone out to rescue Stephen!
I liked Sebastian and Poppy right from the start. Sebastian and the pirate twinkle in his eye, Poppy is impetuous and naïve and I can't help but be rooting for her.
I liked Sebastian and Poppy right from the start. Sebastian and the pirate twinkle in his eye, Poppy is impetuous and naïve and I can't help but be rooting for her.
August 21, 2025
Love. Strong heroine, noble hero, intrigue and adventure. What's not to love?
Kinda wish I hadn't gobbled it up so fast, but I couldn't help myself.
Kinda wish I hadn't gobbled it up so fast, but I couldn't help myself.
October 10, 2023
Dreadful after the first chapters.
Can’t even see an enthusiastic historical fiction reader liking this.
↠ 2 stars
Can’t even see an enthusiastic historical fiction reader liking this.
↠ 2 stars
June 13, 2017
Deanna Raybourn non si smentisce e scrive un nuovo capolavoro. Dopo Africa mon amour che mi era piaciuto da matti, l'autrice supera se stessa dando vita ad un libro ancora più bello ed appassionante.
Damasco, l'oriente, i ruggenti anni '20, spionaggio, un tesoro misterioso, tanta avventura e una buona dose d'amore... ecco ciò che caratterizza questo meraviglioso romanzo.
La protagonista è Poppy, ereditiera londinese che scappa via, il giorno delle sue nozze, lasciando il futuro marito sull'altare. Come la protagonista del precedente libro dell'autrice, anche Poppy è una donna forte e indipendente; completamente fuori dagli schemi per l'epoca in cui è ambientata la storia. Una donna che sta cercando di riscoprire se stessa e che non si arrende davanti alle difficoltà pur di portare a termine il suo obiettivo. Impossibile non adorare una protagonista del genere, è quello che ognuna di noi, nel profondo, spera di essere... e riesce pure a strappare dei sorrisi, soprattutto quando parla delle "maree favorevoli" (leggete il libro e capirete di che si tratta).
Sebastian, invece, è il co-protagonista e affiancherà la nostra eroina per quasi tutta la sua avventura in Syria. E' forte e sicuro di sé, non si lascia intimidire da niente e da nessuno ed è una spia fenomenale. Devo dire che Sebastian è proprio riuscito come personaggio maschile, diversamente dal protagonista di Africa mon amour che, invece, non mi aveva lasciato molto. Una parola va spesa anche per Masterman, la cameriera personale di Poppy che è stata una rivelazione del tutto inaspettata.
Deanna Raybourn scrive in modo semplice, ma adatto all'epoca in cui la storia è ambientata. Ha uno stile in grado di evocare colori, odori e sapori nella mente del lettore; mi era già successo leggendo il romanzo ambientato in Africa e sono stata molto contenta quando è avvenuta la stessa identica cosa con questo: sono stata trasportata a Damasco, nel magico oriente a cui sono tanto legata e mentre leggevo mi sembrava di rivivere i momenti passati nel Levante; le descrizioni non sono lunghe, ma nonostante questo risultano vivide ed efficaci, leggere di quei luoghi è stato come avere un pezzo di oriente a casa mia.
L'elemento dello spionaggio è il più ricorrente, se non addirittura il vero protagonista! Non avevo mai letto una storia di spie (oltre i cari vecchi gialli di Agatha Christie e Arthur Conan Doyle) e non sapevo cosa aspettarmi, ma le mie (quasi inesistenti) aspettative sono state ampiamente soddisfatte. C'è un mistero, un complotto, un'organizzazione criminale e, ovviamente, ci sono le spie ed è tutto trattato alla perfezione... All'inizio si può pensare che non tutto quadri, ma arrivati all'ultimo capitolo ogni cosa avrà un senso perfettamente logico. Non mancano affatto i colpi di scena, uno in particolare non me lo sarei mai immaginato e mi ha spiazzata in positivo. E non manca neanche la storia d'amore che, seppur messa in secondo piano e trattata come contorno di una storia molto più ampia, è stata in grado di farmi battere il cuore e sospirare, nonostante anche il suo essere diversa dalle normali storie d'amore. Arrivata all'ultima pagina avrei voluto che ci fosse dell'altro, è troppo sperare in un seguito? Insomma, immagino ci siano tante altre avventure da raccontare per Poppy e i suoi compagni, no?
Damasco, l'oriente, i ruggenti anni '20, spionaggio, un tesoro misterioso, tanta avventura e una buona dose d'amore... ecco ciò che caratterizza questo meraviglioso romanzo.
La protagonista è Poppy, ereditiera londinese che scappa via, il giorno delle sue nozze, lasciando il futuro marito sull'altare. Come la protagonista del precedente libro dell'autrice, anche Poppy è una donna forte e indipendente; completamente fuori dagli schemi per l'epoca in cui è ambientata la storia. Una donna che sta cercando di riscoprire se stessa e che non si arrende davanti alle difficoltà pur di portare a termine il suo obiettivo. Impossibile non adorare una protagonista del genere, è quello che ognuna di noi, nel profondo, spera di essere... e riesce pure a strappare dei sorrisi, soprattutto quando parla delle "maree favorevoli" (leggete il libro e capirete di che si tratta).
Sebastian, invece, è il co-protagonista e affiancherà la nostra eroina per quasi tutta la sua avventura in Syria. E' forte e sicuro di sé, non si lascia intimidire da niente e da nessuno ed è una spia fenomenale. Devo dire che Sebastian è proprio riuscito come personaggio maschile, diversamente dal protagonista di Africa mon amour che, invece, non mi aveva lasciato molto. Una parola va spesa anche per Masterman, la cameriera personale di Poppy che è stata una rivelazione del tutto inaspettata.
Deanna Raybourn scrive in modo semplice, ma adatto all'epoca in cui la storia è ambientata. Ha uno stile in grado di evocare colori, odori e sapori nella mente del lettore; mi era già successo leggendo il romanzo ambientato in Africa e sono stata molto contenta quando è avvenuta la stessa identica cosa con questo: sono stata trasportata a Damasco, nel magico oriente a cui sono tanto legata e mentre leggevo mi sembrava di rivivere i momenti passati nel Levante; le descrizioni non sono lunghe, ma nonostante questo risultano vivide ed efficaci, leggere di quei luoghi è stato come avere un pezzo di oriente a casa mia.
L'elemento dello spionaggio è il più ricorrente, se non addirittura il vero protagonista! Non avevo mai letto una storia di spie (oltre i cari vecchi gialli di Agatha Christie e Arthur Conan Doyle) e non sapevo cosa aspettarmi, ma le mie (quasi inesistenti) aspettative sono state ampiamente soddisfatte. C'è un mistero, un complotto, un'organizzazione criminale e, ovviamente, ci sono le spie ed è tutto trattato alla perfezione... All'inizio si può pensare che non tutto quadri, ma arrivati all'ultimo capitolo ogni cosa avrà un senso perfettamente logico. Non mancano affatto i colpi di scena, uno in particolare non me lo sarei mai immaginato e mi ha spiazzata in positivo. E non manca neanche la storia d'amore che, seppur messa in secondo piano e trattata come contorno di una storia molto più ampia, è stata in grado di farmi battere il cuore e sospirare, nonostante anche il suo essere diversa dalle normali storie d'amore. Arrivata all'ultima pagina avrei voluto che ci fosse dell'altro, è troppo sperare in un seguito? Insomma, immagino ci siano tante altre avventure da raccontare per Poppy e i suoi compagni, no?
April 24, 2017
Just before walking down the isle, Penelope Hammond has second thoughts about marrying her titled British aristocratic fiance. She escapes out of a window with the aid of a cleric who then transports her to her father's home in Devon. This is when we find out that her father is none other than Eglamore March, better known as Plum, brother of Lady Julia Grey. Penelope, who was taken to America at a young age when her mother divorced her father, has had no contact with her father other than some letters. Now the step-daughter of a wealthy American businessman named Hammond, Penelope is really Poppy March, a young girl who has had trouble fitting in with the society in which her mother has raised her. The year is 1920, and Poppy is headed for adventure in an attempt to find out what she wants to do with her life.
Fans of Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series will be delighted to read again about the unconventional March family, who have several cameo mentions in this book. After reading her aunt's memoirs, Poppy begins to feel she is a lot like her Aunt Julia. Her adventure takes her to the Middle East - Syria and Lebanon - where she is thrown into the Arabic culture at a time just after WWI when the area is in flux. There is mystery and intrigue when Poppy encounters life-threatening situations. This could have been the beginning of another wonderful series. Perhaps Deanna Raybourn will consider it in the future.
Fans of Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series will be delighted to read again about the unconventional March family, who have several cameo mentions in this book. After reading her aunt's memoirs, Poppy begins to feel she is a lot like her Aunt Julia. Her adventure takes her to the Middle East - Syria and Lebanon - where she is thrown into the Arabic culture at a time just after WWI when the area is in flux. There is mystery and intrigue when Poppy encounters life-threatening situations. This could have been the beginning of another wonderful series. Perhaps Deanna Raybourn will consider it in the future.
February 20, 2021
This book had a 5 star first chapter, but after that the hero unfortunately suffered a personality transplant and it slid off the rails rather quickly.
And don’t even get me started on the plotting or the plot itself. Jumbled and nonsensical.
And don’t even get me started on the plotting or the plot itself. Jumbled and nonsensical.
September 28, 2020
What a fun romp with great heroine, funny dialogue, great setting. Fans of Amelia Peabody esp will enjoy
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