Cayenne (princesscayenne) reviewed on + 12 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This is SUCH an excellent book! I just loved it like crazy, every step of the way! I am so glad that I picked this book up - I accidentally ordered it from the library, with no clue what it was about, and it was SUCH a good choice!
Susan Trinder lives in the Borough of London in a thieves' den. She's the beloved ward of Mrs. Sucksby who runs an infant farm with disinterest. Gentleman, or Mr. Richard Rivers, a thief in a gentleman's clothes, comes up with a plot and draws Sue into it. Mr. Lilly, an older creator of a dictionary, has a young niece, Maud Lilly, who stands to gain a huge inheritance as soon as she marries. The plot, from here, seems obvious. Sue is to pose as Maud's new lady maid in order to help Gentleman who her, at which point he will steal her away, marry her, take her fortune and leave her in a madhouse. The amazing part of this book is that as soon as you think you know what's going on, Waters pulls the rug out from underneath you and makes you sit and try and resort everything you thought you knew into a whole new way of thinking. She does this again, and again. One of the best parts of the story is the beautiful inner love story, woven delicately and subtlety throughout the prose. It would be so, so easily to mishandle that story, but it so beautiful and artful and by the time it's made clear you feel like you've been waiting for it all your life. It is just so gorgeous. Part of the reason that it's made so beautiful is to another major strength of the story, which is the gorgeous prose. Usually, I am very critical of first person, but I can't imagine this story being told in any other way. Waters does such an excellent job of getting into the characters' heads without telling more than showing, without each character being more self-aware than they ought to be. Her characters make mistakes and good decision, all while managing to portray it as the characters genuinely leading their own lives, as opposed to just functioning to make the plot move forward.
I have one tiny issue with this novel, although it really did bother me. It seems something so silly to be miffed about, but everything was so carefully plotted with no words wasted, I was surprised that nothing ever came of Mr. Ibbs' sister. Why was she there? What was her purpose?! What was the use of her even being mentioned? There was literally no point to Mr. Ibbs having a bed-ridden sister in the house, and I just didn't get it and it bothered the crap out of me. Was there a point and I just missed it, or...? I dunno.
But seriously. I would recommend this to anyone. This novel was gripping, emotionally engaging, interesting, thoughtful and just downright beautiful.
Susan Trinder lives in the Borough of London in a thieves' den. She's the beloved ward of Mrs. Sucksby who runs an infant farm with disinterest. Gentleman, or Mr. Richard Rivers, a thief in a gentleman's clothes, comes up with a plot and draws Sue into it. Mr. Lilly, an older creator of a dictionary, has a young niece, Maud Lilly, who stands to gain a huge inheritance as soon as she marries. The plot, from here, seems obvious. Sue is to pose as Maud's new lady maid in order to help Gentleman who her, at which point he will steal her away, marry her, take her fortune and leave her in a madhouse. The amazing part of this book is that as soon as you think you know what's going on, Waters pulls the rug out from underneath you and makes you sit and try and resort everything you thought you knew into a whole new way of thinking. She does this again, and again. One of the best parts of the story is the beautiful inner love story, woven delicately and subtlety throughout the prose. It would be so, so easily to mishandle that story, but it so beautiful and artful and by the time it's made clear you feel like you've been waiting for it all your life. It is just so gorgeous. Part of the reason that it's made so beautiful is to another major strength of the story, which is the gorgeous prose. Usually, I am very critical of first person, but I can't imagine this story being told in any other way. Waters does such an excellent job of getting into the characters' heads without telling more than showing, without each character being more self-aware than they ought to be. Her characters make mistakes and good decision, all while managing to portray it as the characters genuinely leading their own lives, as opposed to just functioning to make the plot move forward.
I have one tiny issue with this novel, although it really did bother me. It seems something so silly to be miffed about, but everything was so carefully plotted with no words wasted, I was surprised that nothing ever came of Mr. Ibbs' sister. Why was she there? What was her purpose?! What was the use of her even being mentioned? There was literally no point to Mr. Ibbs having a bed-ridden sister in the house, and I just didn't get it and it bothered the crap out of me. Was there a point and I just missed it, or...? I dunno.
But seriously. I would recommend this to anyone. This novel was gripping, emotionally engaging, interesting, thoughtful and just downright beautiful.
