Release Date: March 13th 2014
Publisher: 5 Prince Publishing
Series: The Broken Line (#1)
Pages: 257
From the book jacket:
Adela Tilden has always been more ambitious than her station in life might allow. A minor nobleman’s daughter on a failing barony, Adela’s prospects seem dire outside of marrying well-off. When Adela catches the eye of the crown prince, Edward, however, well-off doesn’t seem to be a problem. Thrown into a world of politics and intrigue, Adela might have found all the excitement she ever wanted—if she can manage to leave her past behind.
Overall Thoughts:
Though the book jacket description is eye-catching, it really isn’t doing this book justice. The story is much more involved than it would lead you to believe. I expected to like the book, but I ended up enjoying it, and Adela, more than I thought I would. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Characters:
Adela starts out as a little bit of a brat, but I soon started really liking her confidence and her unapologetic attitude towards going after what she wants. What reads as spoiled childishness at the beginning ends up morphing into a woman doing what she can to protect herself in a world where she doesn’t have many options. Yes, she is selfish and vain and sometimes hurts other people, but she is also strong, intelligent, and ambitious in a way that female characters (or, really,women in general) are not often allowed to be.
Setting:
I actually had to go back and skim the book again before I could write about the setting; I couldn’t think of any overly distinguishing characteristics. This is not because it is deficient, but instead because it complements the story so well. It provides the perfect backdrop for Adela and her rise to power.
Writing Style:
The writing isn’t exceptionally poetic – this is a novel driven more by plot than language – but it serves it’s utility. The dialogue is the most impressive bit. Dialogue is difficult for many writers, but Dall makes it seem effortless. It walks the line between appropriate to the historical setting and appealing to modern readers while still sounding completely natural. I’ll admit that my inner voice was slightly British when reading the dialogue.
Extras:
Just a touch of magic…maybe.
Favorite Line:
“Men tend to underestimate a smart woman with an innocent face.”
Read This If You Like:
The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Nobody’s Princess by Esther M. Friesner
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review. I did not receive any compensation for this review. All opinions here are my own.
