Review - Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman

 

 

 Title: Pandora

Author: Susan Stokes-Chapman

Pages: 399

Publisher: Vintage Digital

Release Date: 27th January 2022

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Steeped in mystery and rich in imagination, an exhilarating historical novel set in Georgian London where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations, and romance.

London, 1799. Dora Blake, an aspiring jewelry artist, lives with her odious uncle atop her late parents' once-famed shop of antiquities. After a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, her uncle begins to act suspiciously, keeping the vase locked in the store's basement, away from prying eyes--including Dora's. Intrigued by her uncle's peculiar behavior, Dora turns to young, ambitious antiquarian scholar Edward Lawrence who eagerly agrees to help. Edward believes the ancient vase is the key that will unlock his academic future; Dora sees it as a chance to establish her own name.

But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has believed about her life, her family, and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth, she comes to understand that some doors are locked and some mysteries are buried for a reason, while others are closer to the surface than they appear.

A story of myth and mystery, secrets and deception, fate and hope, Pandora is an enchanting work of historical fiction as captivating and evocative as The Song of Achilles, The Essex Serpent, and The Miniaturist.

 

 

 Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley*

 

 

In 1799 London, Pandora 'Dora' Blake lives in a once-renowned antiques shop that has fallen into disrepair since being taken over by her uncle after Dora's parents' deaths.

Dora dreams of restoring the shop to its former glory, and hopes to make a living from designing jewellery.

When Dora's uncle's behaviour starts to become strange after a Greek vase is delivered and then locked away in the basement, Dora is determined to find out what her uncle is up to.

Dora meets Edward Lawrence, a scholar desiring membership to the Society of Antiquities, who agrees to help Dora research the vase.

Dora and Edward's quest will lead them to buried secrets and could be more dangerous than either of them had imagined.

Is there more to the strange vase than meets the eye?

Will Pandora and Edward achieve their dreams?

 

The concept of a strange Greek vase in 1799 London really intrigued me, and I was excited to read this to see what happened.

Pandora 'Dora' Blake was a likeable and relatable protagonist. I empathised with her and hoped she would get away from her horrible uncle. I also liked Dora's pet magpie, Hermes, and Edward, whose relationship with his best friend Cornelius was interesting, as was Edward's past.

The setting was intriguing, and I found it easy to imagine the once-great Blake's Emporium on a dirty, smoky London street.

The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped or particularly surprised by anything that happened.

The writing style was easy to follow.

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

 

Review - The City We Became (Great Cities, #1) by N.K. Jemisin

 

 

 Title: The City We Became (Great Cities, #1)

Author: N.K. Jemisin

Pages: 481

Publisher: Orbit

Release Date: 24th March 2020

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power.

In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it's as if the paint is literally calling to her.

In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels.

And they're not the only ones.

Every great city has a soul. Some are ancient as myths, and others are as new and destructive as children. New York? She's got six.

 

 

Goodreads | Storygraph | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Bookshop

 

 

 

 

 

My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Orbit and NetGalley*

 

 

Cities have avatars, humans that embody the city and protect it.

Some cities only have one avatar, but New York has six - one for each borough.

They have never met, but can they come together to protect New York from a growing threat that could destroy their home?

 

I have a confession - I have never read a N.K. Jemisin book. I'd always meant to, but never gotten around to it. Until now.

The six avatars of New York were all very different people, and it was interesting to read as they interacted with each other. As someone who has never been to New York, I don't know much about the city, so I appreciated that the reader is told what attributes are associated with each borough.

While I did enjoy finding out more about the avatars, there weren't any characters that stood out for me, and I didn't really connect with any of them. However, I liked the diversity.

The concept of the avatars and cities being alive was my favourite part of the book - I found it very interesting and intriguing and wanted to learn more.

The plot was mixed for me - it was interesting at times was a little confusing at the beginning. I did get a little bored at several points as the book seemed to drag, and I felt it could have been a lot shorter. I wasn't gripped, but I did want to see what would happen in the end, so I continued reading.

While I did enjoy this overall, I didn't like it as much as I hoped I would, so I'm a bit disappointed.

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.