Thursday, December 14

The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt

I picked up Elizabeth Hoyt's the Raven Prince after Jane's review over on Dear Author. I wasn't completely sold on the premise, but figured Jane gave it a B so it would be worth trying. Then somehow it went missing in my house. Following Kristie's advice I didn't search for it and hoped it would show up. Then I read Rosario's review and I started to get a little antsy, and finally Kristie's review sent to me looking for another copy, which I didn't find. But Kristie's theory comes through and while searching under the sofa for some missing Matchbox cars The Raven Prince was found...

Jane's review at Dear Author

Rosario's review

Kristie's review

Blurbs and/or good synopses can be found on all three sites, it's rather redundant to do another--*code for go check out their reviews I am being too lazy write my own.*


And, boy am I glad it showed up. I really liked this one.

I still think the female secretary/brothel visiting premise itself is rather weak and yet Ms. Hoyt's style, voice and story structure makes it work and work beautifully.

Anna Wren and Edward de Raaf are both interesting and well developed characters. A wren would be a good description of Anna at the beginning of the story, but she comes into her own as the story progresses. Edward's bad temper and cranky behavior is actual quite fun. His relationships with his employees are interesting and the exchanges with his valet, Davis, are laugh out loud funny. All the secondary characters are unique and well developed too--Mother Wren, Anna's sweet MIL, the prostitute sisters the nice Pearl and the tough Coral, Hopple, the overworked steward with the deplorable fashion sense. Felicity Clearwater's, the manipulative Squire's wife, bedroom scenes are quite funny too. And, Felicity's description of the "just a little off" Lillipin gives a perfect physical and mental picture of our villain.

The two love scenes in the brothel are completely silent making them both incredibly sensual and erotic.

The entire book is well plotted and flows beautifully together. It's hard to believe Ms. Hoyt's a rookie at this. This one falls between very good and great.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

She is an amazing debut author. I saw over at amazon.com, she has over 20 reviews and an average 5 star rating so it seems like readers are all responding well to this story.

The silent, masked sex scene was one of the best I've read. It was titillating (perv that I am) but it also important to the plot.

Frankly, I think that if all historicals were of this caliber, the historical genre wouldn't be in trouble - at all.

Kristie (J) said...

Isn't this one a treasure?!? I'm reading it again because once just wasn't enough.
And Jane - you are so right!! If all historicals were of this quality writing, I and so many others wouldn't be so disenchanted with the genre. This book is SUCH a breath of fresh air!

Marg said...

I am thinking that I am going to have to get this one!

Tara Marie said...

Jane, I'm really impressed and am looking forward to her next book, can she do it again? The silent scenes were amazing and really are important to the plot not just "titillating." And, your right if all historicals were on a par with this one no one would be saying historicals are dying.

Kristie, I'm thinking about rereading it too. I absolutely love the characters.

Marg, get it, it's worth a read.

vanessa jaye said...

This was one of my favorite books this year. Went straight onto the keeper shelf.

Tara Marie said...

Jaye, I'm not surprised. It really is very good.