Synopsis from Goodreads:
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
Rating: 4 Stars
Today's review is on a novel that I read recently. Rook by Sharon Cameron is a novel I had on my list of Most Anticipated New Releases for March and April 2015. I was curious to read this after reading the synopsis. I went into the novel having a vague idea of what it was about after reading the synopsis. I was curious as to what sort of world this would be since it's set in a futuristic setting and kind of reminded me of The Scarlet Pimpernel with the masked hero saving the victims of the Revolution, although I haven't read the classic and as far as I know this isn't a retelling. I really enjoyed Rook, and ended up giving the novel 4 out of 5 stars.
To begin, I really enjoyed the novel's characters and how they were each memorable and quirky in their own ways. Sophia is a great protagonist. She's tough, witty, and resourceful. René is a really interesting character, and I think his character development is really well done throughout the novel. The supporting characters as well are unique in that they have a lot of different qualities to them. Sophia's brother Tom is an awesome character, for example. Even some characters that didn't appear as much in the novel still had flaws and unique aspects that made them memorable characters. I thought it was interesting that there was a rotating perspective in the sense of who the novel focused on, and really added to the story.
The one aspect I didn't enjoy as much was the world building. The story was set in a futuristic society that was experiencing a tumultuous and violent time, with a lot of executions and trials. This is where the Red Rook came in, and I think that this aspect of the story was the most confusing, especially where it tied in with the character LeBlanc and his character development. I think that these aspects were interesting but the world building was a little random in including the futuristic elements, although it still definitely created a unique world.
Overall, Rook was a really unique novel with great characters and an interesting story. While I wasn't the biggest fan of the world building, but I think it was still really interesting. I gave this 4 stars out of 5.
If you liked The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner, you might like Rook by Sharon Cameron!
From the paper world,
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I'm super excited to read this book! It sounds so good! A little bummed to hear about the world-building. But I'm hoping I love it! Great review!
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