The Deception of the Emerald Ring
Nov. 30th, 2006 10:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jmc_bksThe Deception of the Emerald Ring is the third book in Lauren Willig's series set in modern England and Napoleonic England, Ireland and France. Eloise Kelly, an American Ph.D. student in history, is researching English and French spies for her dissertation, and believes she has struck gold among the records of the Selwick family.
As usual, the bookflap text is misleading. Eloise hasn't been getting into trouble or carrying on with Colin. She's crushing on him and hoping there's something there, but no trouble yet. Two deadly spies? The Black Tulip has no problem killing, but there hasn't been any mention of any deaths at the hand of the Pink Carnation, IIRC. I'm sure there would've been deaths as a result of PC's work, but no stiletto work, unlike BT who seems to like flashing a blade. Letty isn't worried about being outdone by Geoffrey -- she's drunk when she takes off for Ireland and wakes up hungover on the Dublin transport without any idea of where she is. And how will the research occuring in the 21st century change the course of 19th century history? That line is just over the top melodrama IMO.
What did I like about the book? Same thing I liked about the two earlier books: the time shifts between narrators. I like the mix of modern, following Eloise in her research, moving from Selwick Hall to the British Library, and seeing how she decides where to look next. I also like the idea of the Pink Carnation, who is not your typical Napoleonic spy. Willig's writing style is getting better, too, I think, not that it was bad to begin with. I liked that Geoffrey and Letty are essentially on a road romance, learning to live with and like each other. But that pleasure is offset by the irritation that their conflict could've been avoided by a single conversation if Geoffrey didn't have his head up his ass, refusing to talk to Letty.
Overall grade: C+. It was more of a B- until I remembered how awkward the pacing was in places. Emerald Ring is about 100 pages too long. Ms. Willig needs a ruthless editor or a better critique group. The middle of the book -- from Letty's trip to Dublin to her being drawn into the Pink Carnation's confidence -- drags unbearably. And while the title is cute, it is pretty tangential, unlike the titles of the two earlier books of the series.
And this is just a quirk of mine: Eloise refers to the men she dates as "boys". She's 27 years old. At that point, they are men (or should be), not boys, and that seem a little juvenile to me. But that's a picky matter of taste.
Emerald rings aren't all they're cracked up to be. . . .
Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she's been spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip -- two of the deadliest spies to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France. Not only has she been unearthing secrets that will change the course of history, she's been dally with Colin Selwick -- great-nephew of Mrs. Selwick-Alderly, the keeper of important hidden documents -- looking for a romantic adventure to call her own.
Little does she know there's anothe fierce heroine running headlong into history. . . .
It's 1803 England, and Letty Alsworthy awakens in the middle of the night to discover that her sister, Mary, is about to make the very grave mistake of eloping with Geoffrey Pinchingdale-Snipe (second in command of the League of the Purple Gentian). In an attempt to save the family name, Letty tries to break up the midnight assignation -- only to find herself accidentally carried off in her sister's place. The ensuing scandal forces Letty and Geoff into a hasty marriage -- and just as hastily, Geoff disappears on their wedding night, under orders to hurry to Ireland and help the Pink Carnation squash a ring of Irish rebels led by the Black Tulip. Not to be outdone by her husband, Letty steals away on a ship bound for the Emerald Isle, armed and ready to fight for her integrity, and to learn a thing or two about espionage -- never imagining she might learn a few things about love on the way. . . .
As usual, the bookflap text is misleading. Eloise hasn't been getting into trouble or carrying on with Colin. She's crushing on him and hoping there's something there, but no trouble yet. Two deadly spies? The Black Tulip has no problem killing, but there hasn't been any mention of any deaths at the hand of the Pink Carnation, IIRC. I'm sure there would've been deaths as a result of PC's work, but no stiletto work, unlike BT who seems to like flashing a blade. Letty isn't worried about being outdone by Geoffrey -- she's drunk when she takes off for Ireland and wakes up hungover on the Dublin transport without any idea of where she is. And how will the research occuring in the 21st century change the course of 19th century history? That line is just over the top melodrama IMO.
What did I like about the book? Same thing I liked about the two earlier books: the time shifts between narrators. I like the mix of modern, following Eloise in her research, moving from Selwick Hall to the British Library, and seeing how she decides where to look next. I also like the idea of the Pink Carnation, who is not your typical Napoleonic spy. Willig's writing style is getting better, too, I think, not that it was bad to begin with. I liked that Geoffrey and Letty are essentially on a road romance, learning to live with and like each other. But that pleasure is offset by the irritation that their conflict could've been avoided by a single conversation if Geoffrey didn't have his head up his ass, refusing to talk to Letty.
Overall grade: C+. It was more of a B- until I remembered how awkward the pacing was in places. Emerald Ring is about 100 pages too long. Ms. Willig needs a ruthless editor or a better critique group. The middle of the book -- from Letty's trip to Dublin to her being drawn into the Pink Carnation's confidence -- drags unbearably. And while the title is cute, it is pretty tangential, unlike the titles of the two earlier books of the series.
And this is just a quirk of mine: Eloise refers to the men she dates as "boys". She's 27 years old. At that point, they are men (or should be), not boys, and that seem a little juvenile to me. But that's a picky matter of taste.
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no subject
Date: 2006-12-01 04:36 am (UTC)Thanks for the other book. I can give you better recs of ebooks if you want any.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-01 12:50 pm (UTC)I can't remember exactly (shame on me), but the set up of the series is either that the novel The Scarlet Pimpernel is a fictionalized account of the true historical exploits of the Purple Gentian and his League of Spies, or that SP was real and these other flower-named spies were his colleagues and/or enemies.
I liked the cover, but thought the dress looked wrong. I'm not up on exactly what styles were worn when, though.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 06:42 pm (UTC)Stephanie Vaughan is a personal e-friend of mine, and she's a pretty good writer. I'm not going to figure out the links, just give you the titles. "Cruel to be Kind" is mild femdom BDSM and just delicious. Little disappointing on ending, but okay over all. "Off-World" is a m/m scifi--haven't read the whole thing, but I proofed some early stages and the sex is hot and the love story is good. "Jumping the Fence" is m/m and just wonderful. Its sequel is not as great but worth the read.
Matthew Haldeman-Time! I can't say enough good stuff about this man. His novel is finally available in e-version, so easily attainable and one of the best love stories I've EVER EVER read, and I'm absolutely not exaggerating. Up there with Pride and Prejudice but with more sex. Gentle m/m romance with lots of sex and intensely beautiful. If you get nothing else from this whole post, get that book. And there's his short stories as well, completely free and available. I recommend "Perfect on Paper," "Who Knew," but especially "Two Bodies" (long) and "Ten Weird Things" as the absolute best of the bunch, but you really can't go wrong with any of them. Once you've fallen in love with him, then you can get into "In This Land" which takes a lot of getting into but is worth it.
Um...lessee. More m/m: I've fallen for Chris Owen as well. If you can get over the twin squick, "Gemini" is a great m/m/m. "911" is a fabulous m/m/m. His/her "Carbon and Ash" is a good short.
Joey Hill is another of my all time favorites. "Natural Law" is femdom BDSM, pretty heavy at times, and is another of my most favoritest books ever ever ever. DON'T read "Mistress of Redemption" first. It's weird.
Claire Thompson on Ellora's Cave sucks. As does Ann Douglas, for me at least. Evangeline Anderson is hit or miss, but I liked her "The Assignment." Diana Hunter's another hit or miss, usually miss. Diane Whiteside's "The Switch" is now in print and is great. I desperately want to have the time to read Willa Okati but his/her backlist is soooo long.
Good: Laura Baumbach's m/m "Bit of Rough." Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow's "Laying a Ghost" was a nice gentle m/m. Jules Jones is supposed to be great. "Kiziah's Reading" by Jory Strong is on my TBR e-pile but looks good.
I need my other computer with me to give you all the best, but that should start you off, at least! Let me know how it goes.
no subject
Date: 2006-12-04 11:16 pm (UTC)I've read Stephanie Vaughan -- loved Crossing the Line. Rosario (http://rosario.blogspot.com) recently reviewed a new short story by SV and pointed out another that is available from Torquere Press. I've got both of them TBR.
I've read Matthew Haldeman-Time's Off the Record, which I liked very much. Received an email a while back about a new project, but haven't checked his website recently. Thanks for the reminder.
I liked Anderson's The Assignment; picked up her Take Two at the bookstore and ended up putting it back on the shelf. The story may be great, but the cover is too campy, even for me. And I've got a pretty high tolerance for bad covers.
Envy
Date: 2006-12-02 12:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-02 05:20 pm (UTC)Is this the last book in the series? And does Eloise finally get a HEA?
--Jennie
No HEA for Eloise yet.
Date: 2006-12-02 10:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-12-03 05:10 am (UTC)~Jay, the IRACing fiend. ;)