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The Strangely beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Hieber
Book 1
Genre: Paranormal Historical Gothic
Pages: 320
Published: 2009
What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Hidden in the dark heart of Victorian London, the Romanesque school was dreadfully imposing, a veritable fortress, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met its powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadows, of the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She saw simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gift. This arched stone doorway was a portal to a new life, to an education far from what could be had at a convent-and it was an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death...
I think I have to go against everyone else once again. I mean the book was ok, but, I struggled with the first 100 pages and was kind of bored by it all. Then it got better and then it had me enthralled, but I still remember that first struggle.
This is the tale of Persephone Parker who comes straight from a convent to a school in London. She is 18, almost 19 and older than the rest of the pupils. But she wanted something else than the convent, and she is a strange young woman. White hair and the skin of a ghost. Not to mention having strange visions and seeing dead people.
The school is guarded by 6 people awaiting prophecy and they fight the darkness in London while waiting for their 7th.
So yes I found it kind of boring at first. Wanted to give up and try something else, but I hung in there. I think it was when Professor Alexi Rychmann really made an entrance that I got interested. He was so dark and brooding and clinging to his thought that when their 7th comes it will be his soul mate, and that just makes a girl melt into a puddle on the floor. I was smitten and I wanted to know how it all would end.
She falls for him, he knows it is wrong, forbidden love and no one makes a move, I was on the edge of my seat. All while she is falling deeper and deeper while having visions, something strange is going on.
I liked that she took in the myth of Hades and Persephone (too bad she made him all evil, I always had some kind of weird crush on Hades.) Then there are the ghost, mysteries, and Jack the Ripper killing women in White Chapel. There is also the Phoenix and muses, that was cool.
But there was something that made me a bit upset, I would be so pissed, but she kind of just forgave, I guess she is just nice. hm.
An ok book, and worth it cos of a hunky brooding Professor.
Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: pretty and blue
Reason for Reading: Own copy
Final thoughts: Nice mix of genres.
I have this one on the shelves and I'm still intrigued! I mean Hades/Persephone, ghosts, Jack the Ripper and Prof. Alexi sounds ->positively delish <- why do I hear a character from a TV series say that too in my mind?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm glad the end delivered more of the good stuff for you Blodeuedd and a forbidden love...I enjoy this kind of romance :D
so this is the professor you're in love with on Facebook?? Sometimes it does pay off to keep with a book!
ReplyDeleteSorry you did not enjoy this book; I hope your next read is great!
ReplyDeleteHere is an award for you :) http://muse-in-the-fog.blogspot.com/2010/04/suddenly-sunday_11.html
Have a great week!
I'm not sure I would've persisted for 100 pages if I had trouble getting into a book!
ReplyDeleteB,
ReplyDeleteGreat review. :)
I've had this one on my wish list for a while now...I need to get it.
M
Hi B!
ReplyDeleteI loved it, Hades, Persephone, Jack the ripper, Hellhounds, Gorgons, I love fantasy reads. Ah, the mysterious Professor drawn in like a moth to the flame, LOL. I loved him too, so brooding.
Thanks for a great review, maybe you'll like Darkly Luminous better?
Dottie :)
hey sweetie!
ReplyDeleteWell I can't tell you if it is or isn't...that would tell everyone else the answer ...LOL
But sweetie if you want ot be in the running for the gifts (personalized tooled leather book cover or the free book) you have to leave the comment on Jes' blog! xoxoxo
OH, BTW I love that picture you have at the top right of your blog...art by Taylor! I love it!
Hugs
Hawk
Leontine
ReplyDeleteThe professor, mmm, oh yes ->positively delish <-.
I am glad too that I got sucked in at last.
Muse
Thanks :D Must come over soon!
Chris
If it had been a library book...perhaps not, but since it was my own, well I am glad I did not stop.
Michelle
I had to have this on my bday wish list, since everyone was reading it :D
Hi Dottie
ReplyDeleteMmm Alexi, totally a new fictional boyfriend *giggles*
Perhaps, I am just not sure if I should buy it or not, gonna give other books a try and perhaps get back one day.
Hawk
On it :) have been a total scatterbrain today
I've got this one in my TBR but haven't read it yet, too many great new releases keep coming out ;)
ReplyDeletePatti
ReplyDeletetell me about it ;)
But sadly (or should it be luckily) by TBR pile is shrinking
This book is different - I enjoyed it..but hey - not everything always works :)
ReplyDeleteI got this one for Christmas,but still haven't read it. I am sorry to hear that you didn't really enjoy it to begin with.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like it has a lot going on in it. Sorry you didn't enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that this book dragged out a bit for you in the begining. I'm almost a bit in love with this professor myself, and that is just by reading what you wrote about him LOL
ReplyDeleteI almost forgot, but thanks a million for thinking of tiping me in advance about Shadow Prowler. The only thing was that I ordered my own copy the day before you left the comment LOL ;-)
ReplyDeleteMandi
ReplyDeleteIt can't work perfectly for all :)
Vivienne
Beginnings can be hard, but it does get better
DC
So strange really that I didn't, but well that is life
Ladybug
ReplyDeleteOh you did, lol, I was one day too late.
He is *sighs* where was I? Yes that good
Sounds like there's a lot going on, but 100 pages is a lot to wade through before really caring about the story.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you ended up liking the book. It does sound good!
ReplyDeleteI started laughing that you said it was worth it because of the hunky brooding professor! Sometimes, one character is all you need to get you through, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou've been reading so many books that appeal to me recently! Very dangerous :-)
I really enjoyed this one myself. I thought her forgiveness feel in line with her character's personality which was so sweet. :) Glad you like the brooding and hunky Alexi!
ReplyDeleteDarlene
ReplyDeleteI am glad too, it may have been a bumby road, but I followed thoes bumps to the end.
Aarti
Totally! I was yawning and looking around the room, then he swept in and I got such a fiction crush on him ;)
Donna
Thought so much, she is sure sweeter than me, but that is good
I'm with Chris, I don't think I would've persisted either.
ReplyDeleteA crush on Hades, huh? LOL!
Janna
ReplyDeleteI confess, I do have a crush on him, and I always get so sad when he is portrayed as ugly in movies. In my mind he is a hottie
This professor sounds intriguing but I think I would have the same issues with the start like you. I'm so low on patience at the moment. WIll mark it for a future read
ReplyDeleteSusi
ReplyDeletePatience, not easy to muster up, but save it for later ;)
You're hilarious! I really like your reviews, they always make me laugh, just like this one with the 'hunky brooding Professor".
ReplyDeleteeven tho it started off slow, this one sounds very good!
ReplyDeletehttp://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/
Lilly
ReplyDeleteLol, that is what I am here for, laughing is always good.
Naida,
It was, and I am sure others wouldn't think the start was slow
I hate slow beginnings because rarely am I rewarded. It took me over 100 pages to get into We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I kept reading because it was a book club book, and I'm glad I did because it blew me away. But the process of getting to that point was hard.
ReplyDelete--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric
Anna
ReplyDeleteSame with me, there is nothing more I hate than reading and reading, and then I just hate the book anyway. But then there are those that are worth it :)