'

Saturday 4 February 2012

LENOBIA'S VOW by P.C. and Kristin Cast

The all-new House of Night Novellas will delve into the backgrounds of some of the Tulsa House of Night's most important - and mysterious - professors.

In a small southern town at the turn of the century, young Lenobia is developing into a beautiful young woman with ideas of her own. But when she is Marked as a fledgling vampyre, her world turns upside down, and she is drawn to the musical streets of New Orleans. There, she learns of the city’s dark underbelly, ruled by powerful black magic. As Lenobia experiences her first love – and loss – and discovers a passion for horses to sustain her, she must come face-to-face with Darkness itself. And she may not escape without scars.

I started reading this novella this afternoon, and as soon as I started, I was hooked. Actually, I was so caught up in Lenobia's story that I read it in a handful of hours.

It's 1788 and Lenobia is the bastard daughter of a baron--as people like to remind her. When an odd opportunity arises, her mother ships her off to New Orleans, by pretending she's someone else. Lenobia doesn't want to leave her mother behind, but when she reaches the ship that will take her to the New World, she starts to feel hopeful. Until she spots an evil bishop who's had his eye on her for several years.

She manages to avoid him for weeks, by pretending she's feeling too seasick to leave her shared quarters, while the nun the group of girls are travelling with takes care of her. One morning, unable to stand being cooped up so much, she decides to walk through the ship while everyone's still asleep and ends up in the cargo hold, where there are two beautiful horses. This is also where she meets the alluring Martin, and their interactions develop into something forbidden. Especially since the bishop is determined to get his hands on her, and refuses to give up the notion of making Lenobia his...

Lenobia's Vow is a lovely and very emotional story of love and hope. It's a coming of age story about a girl who wants to become a strong woman in a time where the odds are stacked against her. It's also a tragic love story. First, the sacrifice of her mother encouraging her to leave, and then with what she shares with Martin. It's also a terrifying tale of an evil bishop's manipulation, violence, and dark magic to get what he wants.

I absolutely adored this novella. It's beautifully tragic, and a wonderful addition to the House of Night series.      

Lenobia's Vow: House of Night Novellas #2 , February 2012, ISBN 9781907411199, Atom

No comments:

Favorites More