Fiction Pick: Changeling

Changeling (Order of Darkness, Book 1)
by Phillipa Gregory
Simon Pulse
2012
256 pages

In book one, we meet Luca Vero, a wonderfully hot hero who is expelled from his monastery and sent on a journey across Europe to witness the greatest fears of the "end of times." Luca must investigate when the church hears of evil in its midst.

He arrives at the Abbey of Lucretill (near Rome) to investigate the "madness" among the nuns. One sister has bleeding palms and sleepwalks; others can't sleep at all. All of them are fearful that demons are among them.

Isolde is sent away from her castle by her brother; he takes control of their inheritance--Isolde is, after all, only a girl, not someone who can inherit. She is told that her father wanted her to enter the church and never marry. She becomes the Abbess of Lucretill and travels with her mysterious servant to the abbey's walls.

Soon, Luca must interview the nuns about the strange happenings in the abbey; first, he must have the Abbess's permission. He is intrigued by this young abbess who hides her face in the gloom. Further, he wants to get to the bottom of the mysterious and evil doings.

A compelling secret is discovered on the lands owned by the abbey and Luca has a pretty good idea of who is hiding it. He investigates his hunch helped by Isolde. What they find will threaten the abbey and Isolde's life.

Books two and three promise to develop more of a romance between the two main characters. While Isolde is meek and pliable in book one, Gregory reminds readers in the author's note that Isolde is a typical girl of this time. A girl whose future lies at the hands of her father and brother. I wish the author's note was at the beginning of the book for teen readers to understand why Isolde has such a meek character. She's forced into a life she didn't choose and she seems to just go along with it; which is what any girl of her time would naturally do. At the end of Changeling, Isolde chooses her future for herself, and female readers will applaud.

Highly recommended for mature readers who love history. Rich in detail and brilliantly researched, Changeling will have its fans among those who love the middle ages and European history. Some mature content, no language.

Grades 9-up. A lot of church history and tradition.

High School Pick: This Gorgeous Game (Guest Blogger Review)

This guest review is by Leslie Rush, my BFF and avid ya reader and reviewer.


This Gorgeous Game
by Donna Freitas
Square Fish
2011
240 pages

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Peters has just won a writing contest, sponsored by a famous novelist, Boston celebrity priest, Father Mark Brendan. The prize: a $10,000 scholarship, publication of her story, and best of all a coveted seat in the handsome, charismatic priest’s elite summer writing seminar. Olivia is thrilled and completely overwhelmed by this honor---as is everyone around her; the nuns at school, her friends, and her mother, a novelist in her own right, and enthusiastic Father Mark fan.

Olivia’s feeling of being “positively shined upon by fate” blooms, as Father Mark takes her under his wing, helping her edit her story and ready it for publishing. His exacting assignments challenge her, and she is determined to earn his praise and ever-increasing proprietary affection.
When Olivia begins dating Jamie, an attractive college boy who also has gotten into Father Mark’s seminar, the affectionate, protective mentoring with Father Mark changes. He begins calling, emailing and texting Olivia, escalating from once or twice a day, to dozens of times. His mentoring becomes creepy and obsessive; he will not leave her alone.

As his grip becomes relentless and claustrophobic, everyone around her tells Olivia how lucky she is, how blessed to be smiled upon by the famous Father Mark—and Olivia must summon the courage to face the truth; first, with herself, and then with the world.

Freitas’s fast-paced story captures the abuse of power and its frightening effects on the victim, as dizzying gratitude spins into uncertainty, fear and self-doubt. This is an alarming, intimate read that will resonate with all women, not just teens.

Highly recommended for ages 13 and up. Adult situations, no language or violence, light romance with the adorable Jamie.

Blog review by Leslie Rush, guest reviewer.

FTC Required Disclaimer: I/We received this book from the publisher. We did not receive monetary compensation for this review.