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The Luxe

Title: The Luxe
Author: Anna Godbersen
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release date: November 20, 2007
Genre: historical fiction
Source: eBook
Rating: 

Pretty girls in pretty dresses, partying until dawn. Irresistible boys with mischievous smiles and dangerous intentions. White lies, dark secrets, and scandalous hook-ups. This is Manhattan, 1899. Beautiful sisters Elizabeth and Diana Holland rule Manhattan's social scene. Or so it appears. When the girls discover their status among New York City's elite is far from secure, suddenly everyone--from the backstabbing socialite Penelope Hayes, to the debonair bachelor Henry Schoonmaker, to the spiteful maid Lina Broud--threatens Elizabeth's and Diana's golden future.

With the fate of the Hollands resting on her shoulders, Elizabeth must choose between family duty and true love. But when her carriage overturns near the East River, the girl whose glittering life lit up the city's gossip pages is swallowed by the rough current. As all of New York grieves, some begin to wonder whether life at the top proved too much for this ethereal beauty, or if, perhaps, someone wanted to see Manhattan's most celebrated daughter disappear...

In a world of luxury and deception, where appearance matters above everything and breaking the social code means running the risk of being ostracized forever, five teenagers lead dangerously scandalous lives. This thrilling trip to the age of innocence is anything but innocent.

My thoughts

My friend Charlotte (CharrsNewChapter on YouTube) has been forcefully recommending this book to me and finally I gave in when I realised what this book is about. I love historical fiction and big poofy dresses so to be this book seemed perfect. And in the end it was; only it has some problems.

The book started off slow and quiet and annoying. I had no connection to any of the characters. Especially Henry Schoonmaker, who is featured in almost every chapter, annoyed me to pieces. He did lots of things I didn’t agree with. Same goes for Penelope and Diana, but every changed after a couple of chapters. The characters show their human sides which caused me to sympathise with all of them.

The story building was great. The ending was a big surprise and for me that is fantastic. I’ve read a lot of story and usually I see what’s coming, but this was the first time in a long time I didn’t. And it felt great.  The writing style was a big part of that. Godbersen only included the things that were important, just enough, nothing more, nothing less and she did a great job.

Quotes I liked

“Don't go looking for boys in the dark
they will say pretty things then
leave you with scars.
Do go looking for boys in the park
for that is where the true gentlemen are.” 

“The headiest loves were the loves that couldn't be.” 

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Curse of the Wolf Girl

Title: Curse of the Wolf Girl (Kalix MacRinnalch #2)
Author: Martin Millar
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Release date: August 5, 2010
Genre: Urban fantasy
Source: Purchased
Rating: 

Scottish teenage werewolf Kalix MacRinnalch tries to settle in London though she still struggles with anxiety, depression, and self-abuse. Her new friends support her as she goes to college to learn to read and write, but her old enemies won't leave her alone. Many powerful werewolves want Kalix dead, and the Guild of Werewolf Hunters is still dedicated to wiping out the entire Werewolf Clan. Life might be easier for Kalix if her werewolf family were to help, but her sister the Enchantress needs all of her sorcerous powers to locate the perfect pair of high heels, her brother Markus is busy in Scotland organising an opera, and her cousin Dominil is engaged in her own merciless vendetta with her enemies. The MacRinnalch Werewolf Clan has problems of its own, from angry Fire Elementals to uncooperative fashion editors, leaving Kalix to struggle on alone. Kalix finds it's difficult enough for a young werewolf to pay the rent, without struggling against werewolf hunters and college exams at the same time.

My thoughts

This is the second book in the Kalix MacRinnalch series. If you haven’t heard of the first book then I suggest checking out my video review of it here on YouTube. It is one of my favourite werewolf books I’ve read so far. You need it in your life.

The Curse of the Wolf Girl starts off a couple of days to a week after the final incident in the first book. Since not a lot of time has gone by when the reader wasn’t there, there isn’t much to explain to get back on track with the story and the characters.

The feeling of soap opera family drama gets back to you the instant you start reading. Some of members of the werewolf family are dead, which has led to positive outcomes for some and negative ones for others. Our main character Kalix still has a bad relationship with almost every family member, but her mother is now funding her to go to school. Her two human friends are still housing her, but that has become a little easier since Kalix now has the money to pay the bills and her own food. All the other characters (too many to name) are continuing on with their lives, hoping for some peace and quiet. Unfortunately for them that is not what they’re getting. Some evil plans are made and the people who plan them will make sure the werewolves’ lives won’t be peachy keen.

Martin Millar has created an amazing world within our own. Werewolves and Fire Elementals living together with humans in London. He structured the book so that every character gets a change to speak up and show us what he or she is feeling and experiencing. It is something that you have to like. I love getting to know as many characters in one book as possible. Because Millar has so many characters with small chapters is might seem like a soap opera with all the different relationships, schemes and families all with a short time on screen.

The Curse of the Wolf Girl is a character driven book. The characters construct the book more than certain events do. It’s an urban fantasy tale with a soap opera feeling.

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