Review: Darker than the first - chilling and impactful
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 21, 2012
Is it possible to feel sympathy for a devious, evil creature like Eco? He is doomed from the start and acts from pure self-interest but somehow, Carole Gill gives this incredibly flawed character a deeper dimension. There were times I truly felt sorry for him, while hating him the next moment, but one thing this story didn't leave me is indifferent. Written in a journal-style narrative - it is, after all, Eco's testament that the book is about - the language flows and moves at a rhythmic pace, keeping the reader's interest.The author dives deep into the suspense of the story right from the start. We know something terrible is about to happen, and when it does, we're left wondering how it will all unfold. Eco is a very interesting character and his story is heartbreaking, shocking, and frightening at the same time. It is worth telling and Carole's foray into history is written in beautiful prose that sticks in the brain. I love Ms. Gill's "old world" writing style, the lyrical voice that seems to bleed so effortlessly into the pages. That voice is kept alive and well in this sequel to The House on Blackstone Moor. Indeed, it is made more compelling. I have to give this story five stars and nothing less. I can't wait for book number 3 to come out so I can see what happens to Rose, Louis, and the adorable Simon and Ada.