Book Review: The Twelfth Enchantment

Author: David Liss
Title: The Twelfth Enchantment
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date: August 9, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: TLC Book Tours and the publisher
Book Blurb: Lucy Derrick is a young woman of good breeding and poor finances. After the death of her beloved father, she is forced to maintain a shabby dignity as the unwanted boarder of her tyrannical uncle, fending off marriage to a local mill owner. But just as she is on the cusp of accepting a life of misery, events take a stunning turn when a handsome stranger—the poet and notorious rake Lord Byron—arrives at her house, stricken by what seems to be a curse, and with a cryptic message for Lucy. Suddenly her unfortunate circumstances are transformed in ways at once astonishing and seemingly impossible.
With the world undergoing an industrial transformation, and with England on the cusp of revolution, Lucy is drawn into a dangerous conspiracy in which her life, and her country’s future, are in the balance. Inexplicably finding herself at the center of cataclysmic events, Lucy is awakened to a world once unknown to her: where magic and mortals collide, and the forces of ancient nature and modern progress are at war for the soul of England . . . and the world. The key to victory may be connected to a cryptic volume whose powers of enchantment are unbounded. Now, challenged by ruthless enemies with ancient powers at their command, Lucy must harness newfound mystical skills to prevent catastrophe and preserve humanity’s future. And enthralled by two exceptional men with designs on her heart, she must master her own desires to claim the destiny she deserves.
The Twelfth Enchantment is the most captivating work to date of a master literary conjurer.
 
Review: This is one of those books that lovers of historial fiction will find hard to put down. I know I couldn't. It has so much of everything in it; romance, intrigue, witches and great historical figures and set in one of my favorite periods, Regency England.

From the very start, Lucy is a character that you can't help but love. She's strong, fiesty and really the type of character readers hope to find in every book.  As the story progresses we see how strong and determined she is and she becomes even more likable.

There are so many interesting plot twists in this story that involve the magic that Lucy has discovered within herself. Many times while reading this book I found myself thinking of several of the supporting characters that everything is not what it seemed and that proved to be the case many times over.

The most intriguing relationships in the book are between Lucy and Byron and Morrison. She clearly had affection for both of them in one way or another. The intrigue attached to Morrison really made him a unique hero for the story. Was he a hero or was he a villian...You had to keep turning the pages to find out, and believe me  you'll want to turn the pages.

I was a bit hesitant in reading a story with romantic elements written by a man, especially when the main character is female. I don't know why, but male writers never seem to capture the feminine essence for me, but David Liss did, and the story he told is definitely a great one. This is a must read book!

Rating: 5 flowers

About David Liss:

David Liss is the author of The Whiskey Rebels, The Ethical Assassin, A Spectacle of Corruption, The Coffee Trader, and A Conspiracy of Paper. He is also the recipient of the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. He lives in San Antonio with his wife and children.

Visit David:

http://www.davidliss.com/

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