Title: The Lord of Stariel
Author: A.J Lancaster
Published: 01/11/2018
Hello my fellow Bookworms and page turners,
This week we are back in the similar embraise of fantasy. The Lord of Stariel is a mix of fantasy and classical literature. To not put a finer point on it, you can think of this one as Jane Austen but with magic and Fae. The story is set in a world similar to that of Jane Austins 18th century England, especially when you look at the expectations and manners of the characters within this story. It differs however as it explores a modern perspective, and ushers in the exeptance of female freedom from male domination.
Our female protagonist, Hetta Valstar has tasted such a freedom whilst abroad, and has since returned home. Upon which she now finds herself with somewhat differing and unique perspective to that of her various archaic family members, all of whom relate to her modernity with varying levels of acceptance and disgust.
The main story follows Hetta. Who throughout the story is delving into the history – and secrets – of her family and her friends. As I previously mentioned she has been absent from the family for some time, six years infact, and has now arrived back at her family estate – Stariel – having proved that there were more secrets and lies hidden within those walls than she remembered.
And now the death of her Father brings more than old family members into the estate, and she suddenly isn’t the only one in her household able to use magic.
The plot as a whole is easy to grasp, but is engaging enough to keep you invested. In the latter half of the book it suddenly ramps up with a number of unexpected twists and turns that keep you on your toes, but I have to admit I picked out the baddy quite early on but im not sure if that was sheer dumb luck or a tiny bit of genius on my part (probably dumb luck)
Overall, this was a great mix of magic and classicism. I particularly enjoyed the amazing character portrayals, but I found that the story as a whole didn’t evoke any strong emotions or a particular love for it. That’s not to say it’s a bad book. It really isn’t. But compared to others that really captivated me, this one had a particularly dry tone.
Until next time, read more books!
Between|the|Blurb 