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The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner (view source)
Revision as of 10:32, 8 August 2020
, 10:32, 8 August 2020no edit summary
Paris's streets are already humming with talk of revolution, when the young gypsy Yann Margoza is summoned to perform his magic at the chateau of a selfish, debt-ridden marquise. He is to tell the assembled aristocracy their future. But what he hoped would be the ticket to a better life turns into a nightmare when he has a vision of the richly-dressed crowd drowning in a sea of blood.
To make matters worse, he catches the attention of one Count Kalliovsky, a sinister gentlemen gentleman who searches out nobility in distress and lends them money in return for little favours, little secrets. And not only does this mysterious fellow want the secret of Jan's powers, he also wants the marquise's neglected daughter Sido, and the hefty fortune her marriage will bring. But neither Yann nor Sido are willing to give themselves up without a fight, and they soon become unlikely allies in a desperate attempt to escape the count and the oncoming revolution.
About a year ago I got to review another book by Sally Gardner, [[The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner|The Silver Blade]], which is actually the sequel to this one. It's a great book, rich and complex, and one of my all-time favourite YA historicals. Orion is re-releasing the two in fetching new covers this year, so I got the opportunity to review ''Necklace'' as well. I was expecting it to be a little strange, reading the first book now, but it wasn't. ''Necklace'' is completely self-contained and so full of twists and turns, double-crossings and thrills, that it doesn't really matter in what order you read the books, or whether you read one and leave the other one out all togetheraltogether.
One of my favourite things about ''Necklace'' is the way that Gardner blends her fantasy elements in with the facts of Revolutionary France. It's brilliantly done. You're not going to be scratching your head over the living dolls and floating teapots populating 18th century Paris. The magic is perfectly dosed and expertly written, and not once does it detract from the historical shenanigans.
Many thanks to Orion for sending Bookbag a copy.
If you enjoyed this book then you absolutely ''must'' read its sequel. [[The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner|The Silver Blade]] is fantastic. (That's the last time I'll say it, I promise.) [[Gideon the Cutpurse by Linda Buckley-Archer]] is another great historical thriller, but with a time-travel spin. We've also enjoyed [[A Palace Full of Princesses by Sally Gardner]].
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