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Feb082011
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Black Swan Rising’ by Lee Carroll
by Carolyn • Posted in 3 Star Reviews, Authors A-D, Bantam, Book Reviews, Reviews by Carolyn, Tor US, Transworld, Urban Fantasy
Title: Black Swan Rising
Author: Lee Carroll
Publisher: Bantam Press (UK) | Tor (US)
Publication Date: Nov 2010 (UK) | Aug 2010 (US)
Paperback: 396 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Source: Review Copy
Reviewed by: Carolyn
RATING: 6/10 – Good
GOODREADS SUMMARY:
When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can’t believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. . .
That evening, the precious silver box is stolen. When Garet begins to investigate, she learns that she has been pulled into a prophecy that is hundreds of years old, and opening the box has unleashed an evil force onto the streets of Manhattan and the world at large. Gradually, Garet pieces together her true identity—one that her deceased mother desperately tried to protect her from. Generations of women in Garet’s family, including her beloved mother, suffered and died at the hands of this prevailing evil. Does Garet possess the power to reclaim the box and defeat this devastating force?
On her journey, she will meet the fey folk who walk unnoticed among humans and a sexy vampire who also happens to be a hedge fund manager that she can’t stop thinking about. But the fairies reveal a desire to overpower mere humans and the seductive vampire has the power to steal the life from her body. Whom can Garet trust to guide her? Using her newfound powers and sharp wit, Garet will muster everything she’s got to shut down the evil taking over her friends, family, New York City, and the world.
REVIEW:
‘Black Swan Rising‘ is a little different to other urban fantasy novels I’ve read, in that it is quite a gentle read. Garet James is not the typical kick-arse chick – she’s a fairly normal, down-to-earth woman struggling to make ends meet. She knows nothing of the supernatural world which surrounds her and so when she finds out that the world is not as it seems we see her trying to come to terms with the revelation that there are faeries, vampires and demons to contend with.
The beginning of the book is great and very atmospheric. I liked Garet straight away as I did her father and her two friends, Becky and Jay. Garet and her dad have lived together since her mother was killed in a car accident, but Garet’s memories are tested when she finds out that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was and Garet has a role to play in the newly discovered supernatural world.
One
cold,
foggy night Garet finds herself taking refuge in an antique shop, where she is asked by the antique dealer to use her jewelry making skills to open an ancient silver box. Garet agrees and this is when strange things begin to happen. I loved this part of the book, it was intriguing and it was fun to discover that the antique dealer was a demon called Dee who has been in and out of Garet’s life for sometime without her knowledge.
Unfortunately, even with Garet and the other characters, ‘Black Swan Rising‘ started to lose some of it’s charm for me half way through when Garet is taken on a journey
by the Faery King to learn magical skills from different elementals. One of these elementals is Melusine. She is a water elemental. It is from this particular moment in the book that I lost virtually all interest and struggled to finish the book, as it just didn’t make any sense.
Garet and Melusine are torn apart into atoms and then form molecules to travel through water. Then they evaporate to come back down as rain. While this is happening their molecules intertwine and they can “see” each others memories and “feel” each others emotions…also, Melusine “sniffs to find Dee’s presence”…really? sniffs? While they are molecules? Don’t you need a nose and some lungs to sniff?
I know I should suspend my disbelief further, as this book is about vampires, demon’s and other supernatural creatures, but I just couldn’t and as this went on for the rest of the book, I was unfortunately lost to this part of story.
Also, for some reason the author thought it a good idea for this particular elemental to spit at people:
As if to remind me of that greeting she [Mesuline] cleared her throat and hawked up a great gob of spit that landed six inches from the polished loafers of a lunching businessman.
The
honking and spitting went on for some pages and I found myself wanting to gag. This just wasn’t necessary and I can’t for the life of me think why this was thought to be a good personality trait.
There is a love interest for Garet too in the form of yummy vampire, Will Hughes. I liked Will very much but the romance between them is slightly tainted by the fact that you don’t know whether he is falling in love with Garet or because she resembles a woman he used to love called Marguerite, who is part of Garet’s lineage. I’m hoping it’s the former.
VERDICT:
‘Black Swan Rising‘ has a great first half and a poor second half. It’s the first that has the potential to be a really interesting, albeit a slightly gentler, urban fantasy. Sadly there are a few additions in this instalment I could definitely have done without, but they won’t stop me from picking up the next book in the series, ‘The Watchtower‘, as I really liked the characters, especially Garet and I would like to continue her story.
This book counts towards the following BCC reading challenges:
5 Comments
Oh such a shame about the second half of the book.
What different book covers too, the left hand one is so much prettier!
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Bummer. It sounded so good at first. Thanks for the awesome review.
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Sounds like the second half would have lost me too. I love the title and the covers though.
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Oh you've definitely intrigued me with the fey and the vamps in one book!
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Laura – Yes, I was very disappointed with the second half – let's hope book two will be better.
Juju – It definitely has it's moments which means I will be picking up book 2 when it's released but I just hope there isn't any honking or silly science stuff that doesn't make any sense LOL
carolsnotebook – I love the cover of the UK edition too – the US version has a lot to be desired though…
Ladytink – the supernatural creatures are good fun and Will, the vampire love interest is pretty dishy!
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