Review: Promises a great series
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 6, 2013
THE AUSPICIOUS TROUBLES OF CHANCE by Charlie CochetChance Irving is a kid from the wrong side of town, which covers a lot of real estate since that town is New York City.  He's never known anything but trouble and decides to pack it in and join... what else?  The French Foreign Legion.  He winds up part of a band of misfits led by the astonishing Captain Jacky Valentine.  When Valentine makes Chances dreams come true romantically, Chance still nearly messes it all up, but this time he learns from his mistakes.. or does he?Cochet is a highly entertaining author of whimsy.  Her characters are both unique and quirky and also strong and likeable.  The story is a sort of picaresque with oddballs facing danger and opportunity in the most inventive ways.  You will want to hear more of Chance and his beloved Jacky.I know a secret... the only thing Cochet does better than write terrific novels is that she is a marvelous graphic artist with a true hand at the sort of vintage illustration that fits these early 20th century historicals.  I say "Encore!  Encore!" and I mean both the illustrations and the novels!