Cordelia’s mother, Evangeline, is a sorceress. She doesn’t allow doors in their house, nor does she permit Cordelia to have friends—or any sort of freedom. Sometimes, Evangeline takes control of Cordelia’s body, forcing her to be a mere passenger while her mother dictates her every movement. Cordelia’s only friend is her mother’s magnificent white horse, Falada. She takes Falada on long rides and confides in him, sharing her deepest secrets.
However, when Cordelia discovers that Falada is actually one of Evangeline’s familiars and has been relaying everything to her mother, she is devastated.
Evangeline is searching for someone to support her—namely, a wealthy new husband. She and Cordelia move into the household of a rich bachelor, the Squire, who lives with his elderly sister, Hester. Hester immediately senses that something is wrong. She notices that Cordelia looks like a wild animal trapped in a cage, utterly terrified of her mother. Hester and Cordelia form a friendship. A matter-of-fact and practical noblewoman, Hester’s previous main hobby was breeding geese.
But how will they stop the marriage? And how will Cordelia escape her mother’s powers?
This is a very well-written and compelling book with a heavy dose of dark, subtle humor. While it may not be as strong as some of the author’s earlier works, it is still highly enjoyable. The weakest part of the book is the middle, which could have been tightened a bit. The beginning is the strongest, while the ending, though messy, perhaps felt a bit “too easy.”
The characters are interesting, engaging, and well-crafted. Evangeline is a ruthless adversary, willing to do anything—even commit murder, which is all too easy when you can control other people’s minds. Her backstory could have been explored a bit more—perhaps there’s even another book in there?
327 pp
No comments:
Post a Comment