Tangled Webs

April 15, 2015
Secret-life shenanigans in 18th-century London. Seventeen-year-old orphan Arista survives by helping her vile and violent employer blackmail the aristocracy. As the public face of their extortion racket, she slips in and out of costume balls to deliver messages to and collect payments from sleazy courtiers. When, in the line of duty, she crosses paths with an attentive masked stranger, they are both thrown by the force of the instant attraction between them. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and this romance rehashes many timeworn tropes en route to its inevitable happy ending. Arista as a character remains elusive; her inner life is essentially just a loop of vigilant worry, and the third-person perspective puts her at an additional remove. She's street-smart, but is she intelligent? The novel might find an audience among readers who enjoy both the predictability of the romance genre and the warrior ferocity of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the dialogue lacks the humor and warmth of the latter, and at times, the tale sags under the weight of its own overwrought exposition. Conversational anachronisms like "okay" and nagging plot holes-like how the nearly feral Arista can pass for middle-class in daily life-further disrupt the narrative momentum.The overall effect is that the tale is underbaked; perhaps the planned sequel will help it set. (Romance. 12 & up)

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May 1, 2015

Gr 8 Up-An orphan finds her way in Oliver Twist-like London. Arista is indentured to a malevolent master who lords over her and dozens of other children. Her master's traffic is secrets (such as messages and blackmail payments). Arista dons disguises so convincing that she sometimes loses herself even to herself, amid shadowy and dangerous circumstances. As she comes of age, Arista rebels against her disguises and finds her voice and courage. She is lovely, smart, and fortunate. Her best luck is having a best friend and two boys who adore, champion, and protect her. Plot and character development go hand in glove in this historical work, supported by rich details about the intricate social and political hierarchy of industrializing London. The story line involves Arista attempting one tricky and dangerous mission after another. Each time, she outwits danger and discovery with her own cunning plus friends who have her back. The only romance in the novel is chaste. The title's setting matches that of important mainstays in the English curriculum, such as books by Charles Dickens and the Bronte sisters, but its contemporary style makes it easier to read than the classics. VERDICT A volume for historical fiction fans, which would also be a good choice for readers just getting into the genre.-Amy Thurow, New Glarus School District, WI

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