Description
Songs of Seraphina
by Jude Houghton
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: June 30th 2015
Tenebris Books, Grimbold Books
Summary from Goodreads:
Some battles bleed so much, and for so long, that the earth never truly forgets their dead. Some battles are born of oppression, and some of greed, and some simply because it was written in the stars.
Three sisters—Charlemagne, Cairo and Pendragon Agonistes—are sent from America to England to live with their eccentric grandparents after their mother disappears and their father falls to pieces. But before the girls have time to find their feet, Charlemagne is married off to a dead man, Penny takes a nap and wakes up as a boy, and Cairo is swept into a dangerous romance with a man who wants her for more than her considerable charm. With the girls wrapped up in a conflict they barely understand, they don’t notice that their grandmother is transforming, or that the two demigod assassins who took their mother are now coming for them—if one of them can get over his crisis of conscience.
In this richly painted tale, at whose heart is the unbreakable bond of family and blood, the world of Seraphina collides with our own as three unique girls are dragged into twilight lives past, fighting for vengeance, retribution, and the survival of their exiled people.
by Jude Houghton
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: June 30th 2015
Tenebris Books, Grimbold Books
Summary from Goodreads:
Some battles bleed so much, and for so long, that the earth never truly forgets their dead. Some battles are born of oppression, and some of greed, and some simply because it was written in the stars.
Three sisters—Charlemagne, Cairo and Pendragon Agonistes—are sent from America to England to live with their eccentric grandparents after their mother disappears and their father falls to pieces. But before the girls have time to find their feet, Charlemagne is married off to a dead man, Penny takes a nap and wakes up as a boy, and Cairo is swept into a dangerous romance with a man who wants her for more than her considerable charm. With the girls wrapped up in a conflict they barely understand, they don’t notice that their grandmother is transforming, or that the two demigod assassins who took their mother are now coming for them—if one of them can get over his crisis of conscience.
In this richly painted tale, at whose heart is the unbreakable bond of family and blood, the world of Seraphina collides with our own as three unique girls are dragged into twilight lives past, fighting for vengeance, retribution, and the survival of their exiled people.
About the Author
Jude Houghton developed a love of fantasy from a relatively early age
after realising an innate talent for making stuff up could result in something
other than detention. Working across the globe in fields as diverse as
journalism, data entry, sales, management consultancy and babysitting, Jude has
partially succeeded in putting an English and History degree from Oxford
University to good use. A somnambulist, insomniac, lover of letters, Jude writes
late into the night, most nights, tumbling down the rabbit hole to dream of
other lives. Jude currently lives in Pennsylvania with an over-enthusiastic
family and absurdly entitled dog.
Review
After their mother’s disappearance, their father
sent his three girls—Charlemagne, Cairo, and Pendragon—to live with their grandparents
in England, who they haven’t spoken to in years. Many surprises occur for the
teens, not the least of which are visions, magical crystals, wakes, an
alternate world, and gods and demigods out to kill them for reasons they are
only beginning to understand.
Songs of
Seraphina was very interesting. I dare say, it was unlike any book I have
ever read in some ways. I read the description, and it sounded to quirky I just
had to try it, and I truly enjoyed it. It was very much a mystery, in which the
three sisters fought to understand all the supernatural events going on, such
as the visions and dreams each of them keep having. I liked the use of the
visions to reveal bits of the past. Each of the visions took one of the sisters
literally into the mind and perspective of someone in the past in the alternate
world called Seraphina. The bits and pieces of information revealed in each
vision were masterfully tied in to the larger story, spanning two worlds and
multiple generations. There was much deception that the sisters fell prey to
before they were able to discover the truth, and with multiple versions of the
truth being presented and tied with manipulation and almost-hypnosis, it was no
easy task. And the biggest question of the story was discovering who the real
enemy was, which had a layered answer no matter how you look at it. I liked the
world-building, with the gods, nations, crystals, and generations, but there
could have been a little more to it—more description of the lands themselves
and what makes Seraphina unique from Earth. Songs
of Seraphina was a little dark in some ways; you know, a wake, plots to
murder the main characters, deceit, and two demigods who are the assassins for the
gods. All of it added up to a pretty epic book, too. But I must add, the book ended with a lot of unanswered questions and
a giant cliffhanger, so I am really hoping for a second book.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy YA
fantasy with some paranormal effects.
I received a free copy of this book from the
author in exchange for an honest review.
Giveaway
Blog Tour Organized by:
No comments:
Post a Comment