Review: Torn
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 05 20, 2014
2.5 stars.The author's lack of research into the proper forms of address, something elementary in historical fiction set in England, disturbed me.Within the first two chapters, there were numerous errors that, with five minutes of research into proper forms of address, could have been cleared up.We are introduced to Lord Thomas Barrington. We find he is the second son of the Duke of Barrington. However, Lord Thomas wouldn't be Barrington. His proper form of address is Lord Thomas and the family's surname, say it is Drake. Lord Thomas Drake.Upon arrival at the family seat, Barrington Hall, Thomas sees a portrait of his late sister in law, Lady Anne Barrington. This is incorrect. Her husband Edward, the Duke's eldest son, would have assumed one of his father's lesser titles, the one the father used before his own inheritance at the death of his father. Say that title is Marquis of Sudsbury. As Marchioness of Sudsbury, Lady Anne would be Lady Anne Sudsbury, not Barrington.Thomas greets his mother, the Duchess OF Barrington, and the author refers to her continually as Duchess Barrington. Upon introduction, she would be Your Grace in verbal communication, and then not after every bit of dialogue.The writing was just okay, with passive voice throughout. The story was just okay as well. I kept asking, "Why write a historical and not do the research?" For me, that is a deal breaker.