Title: The Black Swan of Paris Author: Karen Robards Genre: Historical Fiction Publisher: MIRA Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: June 30, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.
Paris, 1944
Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.
When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.
Review:
Genevieve Dumont is a famous singer in Paris, known as the Black Swan. While she performs for Nazis at night, she works with the Resistance during the day with her manager, Max. Genevieve’s estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis. Lillian has information on an invasion, so they plan to torture her until she tells and then kill her. Genevieve has to use her secret contacts to find her mother in time.
This story was so suspenseful. There were many twists. I became invested in the story very quickly because it was so detailed. It wasn’t clear at first how Lillian and Genevieve were related, but it was revealed a few chapters in. There were some details about their relationship that weren’t revealed until later in the book, which kept me guessing throughout my reading.
I find the stories of spies during the war so fascinating. They had to use subtle ways to communicate, so as not to be noticed by the enemy, yet they were often found out. Without technology they had to rely on small scraps of paper and nicknames. It’s amazing the way the espionage worked back then.
This story was a tearjerker. The setting of World War II gave the story a dark atmosphere. Even without the war, Genevieve had a heartbreaking past. The story was upsetting at times, but so good.
This is such a great story!
Thank you HarperCollins for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
The Queen of Paris: A Novel of Coco Chanel by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The Forgotten Home Child by Genevieve Graham
About the author:
Karen Robards is the New York Times, USA TODAY and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty novels and one novella. She is the winner of six Silver Pen awards and numerous other awards.
This blog meme is hosted by Book Date. It is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It’s a great post to organize yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment, and er… add to that ever growing TBR pile!
What I just finished:
This weekend I finished The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards.
What I’m currently reading:
I’m currently reading Date Me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye.
What I’m reading next:
Next I will be reading The Last Wife by Karen Hamilton.
What are you guys reading this week? Have you read any of these books?
The meme that dares to ask what book has been in your bed this morning? Come share what book you’ve spent time curled up reading in bed, or which book you wish you had time to read today! This meme is hosted by Midnight Book Girl.
This Sunday I’m reading The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards.
Goodreads Synopsis:
A world at war. A beautiful young star. A mission no one expected.
Paris, 1944
Celebrated singer Genevieve Dumont is both a star and a smokescreen. An unwilling darling of the Nazis, the chanteuse’s position of privilege allows her to go undetected as an ally to the resistance.
When her estranged mother, Lillian de Rocheford, is captured by Nazis, Genevieve knows it won’t be long before the Gestapo succeeds in torturing information out of Lillian that will derail the upcoming allied invasion. The resistance movement is tasked with silencing her by any means necessary—including assassination. But Genevieve refuses to let her mother become yet one more victim of the war. Reuniting with her long-lost sister, she must find a way to navigate the perilous cross-currents of Occupied France undetected—and in time to save Lillian’s life.
Title: Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo Author: Stacy King, Alexandre Dumas Genre: Manga Publisher: Udon Entertainment Source: Publisher via NetGalley Format: Ebook Release Date: April 1, 2017 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
A Conspiracy and a miscarriage of justice turn the gentle Edmond Dantès into an implacable agent of fate: The Count of Monte Cristo. Obsessed by vengeance and empowered by providence, the Count avenges himself on whose who have wronged him – but is this justice, or is this hubris? In the end, does even the Count know?
Alexandre Dumas’ skillful narrative combines intrigue, betrayal, and triumphant revenge into a powerful conflict between good and evil. Now this exciting saga, rich and diverse, takes on an entirely new life in this Manga Classics adaptation!
Review:
Edmond Dantès gets the exciting news that he will become captain of the ship he has been working on. When his adversaries find out, they make sure he will not be captain, and put him in jail. After being in prison for years, Edmond becomes friends with a fellow prisoner who gives Edmond his personal fortune. With this newfound wealth, Edmond reinvents himself as the Count of Monte Cristo. It takes a few years, but the Count devises a plan to bring justice down on all of the men who made him suffer.
I found it funny that the characters didn’t recognize Edmond as the Count. It had been years since they saw him and they assumed he had died, but I still think they would have recognized him. This created some dramatic irony, since the reader knows that he is Edmond, but most of the characters don’t recognize him.
I liked the illustrations in this manga. I find that sometimes the characters end up looking alike in some manga comics. Each character had a distinct style and looked different, so it was easy to tell them apart. I also found the story very easy to follow with the illustrations. The Count of Monte Cristo is a long novel that I’ve never read, but I could understand the story, and read it much quicker, in this format.
This is a great manga adaptation!
Thank you Udon Entertainment for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Manga Classics: Les Misérables by Stacy King, Victor Hugo
Manga Classics: Great Expectations by Stacy King, Charles Dickens
Have you read Manga Classics: The Count of Monte Cristo? What did you think of it?
Title: Shades of Magic, Vol. 2: Night of Knives Author: V.E. Schwab, Andrea Olimpieri Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy Publisher: Titan Comics Source: Publisher Format: Ebook Release Date: October 16, 2020 Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Synopsis:
Written by #1 New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab and torn from the universe of the Shades of Magic sequence, this all-original comic book adventure continues the story begun in The Steel Prince – perfect for fans of bloody, swashbuckling adventure and gritty fantasy!
The young and arrogant prince Maxim Maresh, having faced the terror of the Pirate Queen, now aims to capture the respect of the combative port town of Verose – by taking the impossible challenges of the Night of Knives… and surviving, where none has survived before!
These are the hidden, secret adventures of Maxim, from long before he became the king of Red London and adoptive father to Kell, the lead of A Darker Shade of Magic!
Collects Shades of Magic #5-8: Night of Knives
Review:
Prince Maxim is training with the army, but he finds that the soldiers still think of him as a royal, not a fellow soldier. To gain their trust, he decides to do the Night of Knives. The Night of Knives is a series of four challenges that people can do to prove their strength. Maxim’s friend Isra has done it, but she only made it through the first two. She tells Maxim not to go all the way through to the fourth challenge, because no one has ever survived it. Maxim doesn’t always follow instructions, so he has some surprises waiting for him in the Night of Knives.
This was another great story set in the word of the Shades of Magic. This volume could be read without reading the first one, though you will get more out of it by reading them in order.
This second volume was even more fast paced than the first one. There were a lot of action when Maxim was fighting through the challenges, which made the story progress quickly. My only complaint is that I wish the story was longer because I love this world.
I loved this graphic novel! I’m so excited to read the third and final volume.
Thank you Titan Comics for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What to read next:
Shades of Magic, Vol. 3: The Rebel Army by V.E. Schwab, Andrea Olimpieri
A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab
