Book Review: Changeling

Changeling (Order of Darkness)
Author: Philippa Gregory
Published: May 2012, Simon Pulse
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction Fantasy
Rating: 2.5/5

Many of my blog readers know I am a huge fan of Philippa Gregory's novels. My fascination began back when I was in high school with the release of The Other Boleyn Girl in 2004. I was drawn to Gregory's ability to weave together amazing stories based on the idea of "what if?". I continued to read her novels during my years at  university and even wrote my MFA third semester critical essay about her work. When I saw she had expanded into the YA market I was a bit surprised and pleased. Regrettably, the story and writing was not the quality I expected from Gregory.

Luca Vero is a novice priest who is uprooted from his monastery and recruited into a secret sect called The Order of the Dragon. He will investigate evil across Europe and determine if it the work of Satan or of man.  His first investigation is at nunnery where a 17-year-old girls has recently been named Head Abbess. Isolde never wanted the life of a religious woman. She was to be an heiress with her own lands until her father dies and her brother claims differently. As their paths cross the embark on a journey that will take them and their companions across Europe.

While I feel Gregory has a very good premise for this book series she did not bring this novel to quality it should have been. The pacing at times was awful with some scenes too short in which the reader should have been allowed to linger with the character. I felt as if the characters were cliche and two-dimensional with a promise of depth that never came. Plot-wise the novel felt a bit too predictable at times and the characters seemed to get out of danger almost a little too easily. There was ample opportunities to bring the both plot and characters to a higher plane the author never took.

I would only recommend this book to true Gregory fans. I struggled to make it through this 272 page novel but continued in hope Gregory would change my disappointed thoughts. Unfortunately, I had to start reading her newest release The Kingmaker's Daughter to heal my aching muse. I will read the next book in the Order of Darkness series and hope it proves much better than the first.

(#20 of the 100 Book Challenge)