Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield: Review

Author: Amy Butler Greenfield

Pages: 324 pages

Release Date: May 7th, 2013

Status: book 1 of the Chantress series

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Lucy, shipwrecked on an island at 7, is forbidden to sing by guardian Norrie. On All Hallows Eve 1667, at 15, she sings, and is swept into darkness. She wakes to hear powerful men hunt Chantresses who sing magic into the world. At the Invisible College she finds sanctuary, plots to overthrow the evil Lord Protector, and distrustful scientist-apprentice Nat. Only a Chantress can overcome the Protector, and Lucy is the last in England.

I put this book on hold back in September and got it early October from the library. It sat on my shelf for a little while (I really hate homework), but when I read this book, I literally finished it in a few hours!

Chantress is about 15 year old Lucy Marlowe, a girl who has been stranded on an island for years with her guardian Norrie. She ended up on the island after a shipwrek, her mother is dead and she is forbidden to sing.

On All Hallow's Eve (FYI, that's what they called Halloween back in the ye olden days), Lucy hears music. Unable to find answers from Norrie, she searches her house and discovers a letter that her mother wrote to her long ago. It tells her her mother 'sang' her away, and that she will find her way home if she takes off the stone she gave her.


I'm pretty sure you guys can guess what happens next: Lucy takes off the stone and ends up back in England. What I didn't expect was for her to end up in the library of the evil Lord Protector himself (did I mention he was also in the room?).


Lucy finds refuge with the Invisible College, a group of men who plot to destroy the Lord Protector and his evil Shadowgrims (birds that were enchanted to take your memory away and burn you into ashes). However, even with the Invisible College on her side, the mysterious Nat is hostile towards him. And when her godmother comes back to train her, things get more complicated as she is an Elizabethan (not even sure it this book is set in that era, but you know...) feminist.


I really liked this book! When I first read the synopsis, I already knew I was going to enjoy it! Unlike most historical fantasy books, Chantress really charms you within the first couple pages! It's mysterious, it's dark, it's edgy, and of course, it's addictive!


I didn't reallly get much romance in this book which I would normally be upset about, but Amy is able to make the relationship between Nat and Lucy alive and real, and not overly dramatic and focused on like in some books. It was a good romance, and it fit well with the story- it was important, but not the point. It was there, but it didn't take away from Lucy's character and the overall story.


This book was very plot-based and focused on Lucy discovering her Chantress abilities and defeating the Lord Protector and his Shadowgrims. Lucy has character development in the story as well, but other than her, everything was just background noise to me. Nat comes a long way from the beginning as well, but from the second last chapter and the last chapter there is a three month time jump, so we don't really see much of his development in that time frame.


Other characters like Penebrygg and Sir Barnaby were nicely written, but the book didn't focus on them. And Scargrave (aka Lord Protector) was the villian, but he wasn't really in the book much- t really did focus on Lucy's training. Through the Shadowgrims, Amy was able to keep the fear of both them and Scargrave alive, and I really like that.


What I loved the most about the book is the interaction between the characters. Lucy's godmother was not my favourite, but whenever she said something to the guys of the Invisible College, I couldn't help but cheer a little- she's a feminist in the 1600's, so how can you not? One of my parts of the book was when Penebrygg was explaning the Invisble College to Lucy:

"For all intents and purposes, Sir Barnaby joked, we were members of the Invisible College. " He added, "I think he took pleasure in the abbreviation, too."

I did not quite follow him.

"IC," Penebrygg said, pointing to his eyes. "I see."

"Sir Barnaby loves puns," Nat said drily.

-Chantress, page 90

 

I don't know why, but that part made me laugh. It was one of my favourite parts (other than Nat training Lucy). This book was REALLY good, I seriously CAN NOT wait for the sequel, Chantress Alchemy!

 

 

I give this book 3.5 out of 5 stars! Happy Monday guys!

Saturday Spotlight: Eve Edwards (Halloween Edition)

It's Saturday Spotlight guys! And this week, UK YA author Eve Edwards is here to join us!

 

About Eve:

Eve Edwards is the pen-name of English authors, Julia Golding and Joss Stirling, an author of both children's and Young Adult books. Under Eve, she has publsihed two historical series The Lacey Chronicles (set in Elizabethan England) and the Dusk series (set in World War I). A former British diplomat and Oxfam policy adviser, she has published over 30 books in various genres like historical fiction to fantasy.

 

I have read the Lacey Chronicles and LOVE all the books! I have yet to read Dusk, but I know very well that I will enjoy it as much as I did with her other series. I haven't really read anything under her real name, but I am currently searching Indigo to see if they have any of her books (from either name) in stock!

 

When I read the Lacey Chronicles, I was really amazed at how she was able to make a story that focuses on the importance of family, friends and love without taking away from the authentic Elizabethan feel. Unlike most YA Historical that feel too slow or boring, her books are very well plotted, have a nice pace, and her characters are always developed beatuifully.

 

I really wanted to talk to her about both historical series, but since Dusk isn't available in the US, we decided that we focus on a  party. But not just any ordinary party, BUT a Historical Halloween Party! (Since Halloween is NEXT THURSDAY!). Isn't that cool? Here is Eve's post and who SHE would invite to her Historical Halloween Party!

 

As Halloween approaches it is time to dust off those plastic vampire fangs, get out the pumpkin candle lights and stock up on candies. As a writer of historical YA fiction, I'm often living in the past so the thought of the festivities started me wondering who I would invite if I held a party with historical guests.

We don't go in for such big celebrations of Halloween in the UK as in the US but one thing that is standard for a fancy dress party on that night are silly games. Hmm, so who would be good at apple bobbing?

Isaac Newton. He can bob for apples while thinking about gravity. Perhaps to keep him company, I'd invite Archimedes (he of the eureka bath experiment). We'll leave the scientists to their barrel of apples while we go off to another game.

Over on the other side of the room I've invited Christopher Columbus for that game where you have to attack a bar of chocolate while wearing scarf, hat, gloves etc and eat it with a knife and fork. He should be allowed a go as he is said to have introduced the cocoa bean to Europe. To up the ante, I think I'll put him against Francis Drake, the privateer who served Queen Elizabeth I and also visited the New World. I imagine they would both be fiercely competitive so I would make sure they were disarmed before being allowed inside.

Leaving those two battling it out over the chocolate, I now turn to the refreshments. I've put in charge of them Marie-Antoine Careme, chef to the Prince Regent (later George IV). He was the first celebrity chef in England and was a genius as creating outstanding banquets. I'm sure he would come up with some suitably outrageous ghostly themed desserts.

On the drinks table I would place F Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda. They could shake up a few 1920s cocktails and add a dash of flapper style to the party. I've been reading about them recently - a fragile and brilliant couple who appeared to be good at party-going.

I would need a few characters who would be good for a laugh. I would love to chat with Jane Austen - she loved a party and might be able to persuade my guest musician, Count Basie, to play a few tunes for us and Billy Holiday to sing. Jane and I would both like to invite William Shakespeare. He can recite the witches speech from Macbeth. For scary stories, we would invite Mary Shelley and Bram Stoker. To add a little romantic frisson to the evening, I think we'd also like Cassanova to come and flirt with us ladies, but we are all too sensible to contemplate leaving with him.

The evening would end with Trick or Treating. To carry our candy haul, I think I'd invite along some handsome gladiators. Imagine Jane, Billy H, Mary S and I escorted through the streets by our guard of honour with Shakespeare to knock on the doors and use his silver tongue to persuade the inhabitants to part with their sweets. That's a night to remember.

 

Her party seems very high-class. I feel like my dinner party with the Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Gary Cooper, and Grand Duchess Anastasia and her brother, Alexi, would pale in comparison! I, personally, would invite Mary Shelley as well- who doesn't want to hear scary stories from her?

 

Anyways, who would you guys invite to your Historical Halloween Party?

 

Thank you so much to Eve for taking the time out to do this little guest post! I really appreciate it!

Wanna learn more about Eve and her books? Check out the links bellow!

 

Website: http://eve-edwards.co.uk/

 

Twitter: @_Eve_Edwards

 

Goodreads: Eve Edwards (Author)

 

Interested in MORE UK YA books? Check out these links bellow!

 

The UKYA Website, Celebrating YA fiction by UK Authors: UKYA Website

 

Project UKYA Website: ProjectUKYA

 

Lucy Powrie, YA Blogger from the UK: Queen of Contemporary

 

Lucy's Twitter: @LucyTheReader

Throw Back Thursday: Henderson's Boys

It's Throw Back Thurday!

And we're throwing back to 2009 to the release of the first book of the Henderson's Boys series, The Escape.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It is the summer of 1940, Hitler's army is advancing towards Paris, and millions of French civilians are on the run. Amid the chaos, two British children are being hunted by German agents. British spy Charles Henderson tries to reach them first, but he can only do it with the help of a 12-year-old French orphan. The British secret service is about to discover that kids working undercover will help to win the war. For official purposes, these children do not exist

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour :D
Favourite Scene: When Henderson first meets Marc and saves him from the Gestapo.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

It is late summer, 1940, and Hitler has conquered France. Now he intends to cross the Channel and defeat Britain before winter arrives. A group of young refugees led by British spy Charles Henderson faces a stark choice—to head south into the safety of neutral Spain, or go north on a risky mission to sabotage the German invasion plans. For official purposes, these children do not exist.

Favourite Character: PT Bivott
Favourite Scene: When Paul manages to knock PT out after he tries to escape from the safe house.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Synopsis (from hendersonsboys.com):

Charles Henderson is back home in Britain, but will the military establishment allow him to enact a plan to train teenagers as spies?

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour
Favourite Scene: the first ever mention of Mac (aka when his mom announces that she's pregnant)
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

APRIL 1941

With no European allies, Britain has to ship fuel, weapons and more than half of its food across the Atlantic from Canada and the United States. But slow moving cargo vessels make easy prey for packs of German submarines.

Henderson and a team of young agents must go undercover to sabotage German U-Boat operations. If they dont succeed, the British people face starvation.

Favourite Character: Paul Clarke
Favourite Scene: When Henderson tells the girl in the lighthouse that Marc's his wife
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

One of Henderson's best agents is being held captive in Frankfurt. A set of forged record cards could be his ticket to freedom, but might just as easily become his death warrant. A vital mission awaits him in France—if he can find a way to escape.

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour <3 <3 <3
Favourite Scene: Mostly the beginning, because Vogel is so nice to Marc. Oh, and when he meets Maxine again.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Spring, 1943.

The war is turning against Germany, but Hitler isn't giving up. In a secret bunker deep in occupied France, scientists are hard at work on Hitler's latest deadly weapon: code name FZG-76. Back in England Henderson's boys will need to undergo advanced sniper training if they have any chance of infiltrating the bunker. Parachuting into occupied France, they track down a secret dossier filled with invaluable material and uncover the meaning of the enigmatic code.

Favourite Character: Marc Kilgour
Favourite Scene: I can't really decided on a favourite scene.
Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

JUNE 1944

The allies have landed in Northern France. Henderson and his team embark on a mission to, sabotage German supply lines.

But the retreating Nazis are at their most brutal and desperate, which will make Henderson's Boys final mission their most dangerous.

Favourite Character: ALL OF THEM! Especially Rosie...
Favourite Scene: THE EPILOGUE! If that counts...
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars




Just like the Gallagher Girls series, the Henderson's Boys series is one that I grew up with, and was sad to see end.

I started reading the series back in 2009, and to be honest with you, I didn't really want to read it. But immediately, I fell in love with the series. I love Robert's style of writing, and he is one of the few male authors that I enjoy and read by choice (most of the guy writers I read are due to the English department curriculum).

I think what really drew me to the series was the fact that it was set in World War II and it wasn't a survival story (well, not entirely; there is a lot of trying to keep alive in these books!), but I rebellion story to fight for a greater good.

So thank you Robert Muchamore for being one of my favourite guy writers and the mastermind behind one of my favourite series. I loved the Henderson's Boys from begininng to end (although I would've preferred Marc marrying me).