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ABOUT
Title: The Empress Chronicles
Author: Suzy Vitello
Series: N/A
Publisher: Diversion Books
Release Date: September 2nd 2014
Source: e-ARC via Netgalley
Synopsis:
In this dazzling novel from the author of THE MOMENT BEFORE, one courageous girl seeks keys to the past to unlock the future…
When city girl Liz is banished to a rural goat farm on the outskirts of Portland, the 15-year-old feels her life spiraling out of control. She can’t connect to her father or his young girlfriend, and past trauma adds to her sense of upheaval. The only person who seems to keep her sane is a troubled boy who is fighting his own demons. But all of this changes in one historical instant.
One-hundred fifty years earlier, Elisabeth of Bavaria has troubles of her own. Her childhood is coming to a crashing end, and her destiny is written in the form of a soothsaying locket that has the ability to predict true love. But evil is afoot in the form of a wicked enchantress who connives to wield the power of the locket for her own destructive ends.
When Liz finds a time-worn diary, and within it a locket, she discovers the secrets and desires of the young Bavarian princess who will one day grow up to be the legendary Empress of Austria.
It is in the pages of the diary that these two heroines will meet, and it is through their interwoven story that Liz will discover she has the power to rewrite history—including her own...
Readers of books like Rachel Harris’s MY SUPER SWEET SIXTEENTH CENTURY will love THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES.
I received an e-ARC from Diversion Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact in no shape or form affects my review. Except for the existence of the review itself. I received no compensation for this review in any way.This is my honest opinion of the work.
THE EMPRESS CHRONICLES is told in dual perspective that switches between the points of view of 15 year old Elisabeth, the future Empress of Austria, and Elizabeth, a 15 year old with a repulsion disorder living in modern society.
The book is written in a way that it leaves you on a cliff hanger with each chapter as you switch to the other person's perspective. It leaves you wanting to continue on with the story of the person you were just reading. I have to admit I found Elizabeth's journey of learning to deal with her disorder and learning about Empress Sisi much more interesting than Sisi's story herself, even if her story takes a turn for the paranormal.
Throughout the book, I didn't really understand why I was reading the perspectives of two different people. Their stories didn't truly intersect until the book was about 75% through or so. And because of this and the switching perspectives, the story feels a little disjointed and not a smooth ride. I think that if each of the perspectives were fleshed out a little more, each of the perspectives could stand as a story by themselves.
I really liked learning Elizabeth's story and her struggles with her OCD. It's eye opening and a little tragic how she got to the point of needing to be rehabilitated. I liked watching her heal and grow and learn to broaden her horizons. I liked that there was depth and complexity to Cory's character and I would love to know more about him
Sisi, I thought was kind of meh. She is dealing with the perils of her position as a high born duchess. Her father is an eccentric playboy who teaches Sisi circus tricks and takes her with him on a hunt. She is coming into her womanhood and learning the difference between duty and love. She does a lot of things without thinking them through. There were points in her story where I mentally screamed at her to stop what she was doing, because seriously, she's one of those "do now, think later" people.
I liked the way Sisi's story turned out and since the story ends on a Sisi chapter, I would have liked to know how Elizabeth and Cory turned out. I rather like those two.
Happy Reading!
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