What do you think?
Rate this book
Rook
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
456 pages, Hardcover
First published April 28, 2015
376 people are currently reading
18.6k people want to read
About the author
Sharon Cameron
21books2,051followersSharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,708 reviews
October 23, 2015
Rook was a pretty decent book! Not the best I've read but not the worst. I talk about it more in my liveshow with Regan on my channel now!
November 18, 2015
Sacré bleu, this book was incroyablement fucking terrible. Pardon my French.
This book starts off with an execution on the guillotine. Very reminiscent of the French Revolution. And yes, the entire book had a French Revolution feel for it, which is cute, but still fails utterly because it doesn't take place during the late 18th century France, but in a French-inspired dystopian world that, like many of its YA predecessors, makes no sense whatsoever.
Neither the past nor the present is explained in any detail, and subsequently, the book is left like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle of a Picasso painting. Which is to say it doesn't make any fucking sense. It's...the future? Some people speak Parisian (whatever happened to French). There was some...Great Death event that...I don't know what happened, but it's mentioned rather ominously. Technology and shit are banned, for no reason, without any explanation.
:|
Marriages are still arranged. Young ladies come out and get betrothed to eligible gentlemen. They wear BODICES!!! It doesn't look like women have any rights at all. There are no cars! There are no iPhones! *clutches her pearls in horror* OTHER NATIONS HAVE SIMILAR ANTI-TECHNOLOGY LAWS.
Aside from the ludicrousness of the setting, the book itself commits the unforgivable crime of being excruciatingly dull. The whole thing could have been told in half the length, with half as many POVs. Dieu Merci, je suis fait.
This book starts off with an execution on the guillotine. Very reminiscent of the French Revolution. And yes, the entire book had a French Revolution feel for it, which is cute, but still fails utterly because it doesn't take place during the late 18th century France, but in a French-inspired dystopian world that, like many of its YA predecessors, makes no sense whatsoever.
Neither the past nor the present is explained in any detail, and subsequently, the book is left like an unfinished jigsaw puzzle of a Picasso painting. Which is to say it doesn't make any fucking sense. It's...the future? Some people speak Parisian (whatever happened to French). There was some...Great Death event that...I don't know what happened, but it's mentioned rather ominously. Technology and shit are banned, for no reason, without any explanation.
The Parliament of the Commonwealth did not choose to print the Wesson’s Guide. Because a printing press was a machine, and machines were technology, and because technology clouded minds, weakened the will, and took away the self-reliance of the Ancients—or so their Parliament said—such dangerous items could be used only by a special license.So how did we get to this point?
"At the university in Manchester they teach that when the magnetic poles of the earth shifted, the protective layer around the earth was damaged, allowing the radiation of the sun to destroy the technology that the Ancients depended on. What I think, though, is that this same solar radiation caused the first wave of the Great Death. Sickness killed the people first, technological dependence second, that’s what I believe."800 years ago this happened. *throws up arms in disgust*
:|
Marriages are still arranged. Young ladies come out and get betrothed to eligible gentlemen. They wear BODICES!!! It doesn't look like women have any rights at all. There are no cars! There are no iPhones! *clutches her pearls in horror* OTHER NATIONS HAVE SIMILAR ANTI-TECHNOLOGY LAWS.
“Do you not believe that machines made the people weak, that the Great Death, as you call it, came about because the Ancients were dependent on technology, and did not know how to survive when they lost it? That making heat and light, traveling, fighting, that these things were impossible for them, because of their dependence?�So apparently somehow along the way we lost the ability to fucking do anything because we love technology too much? Does that make sense to anyone with a sense of the rational?
Aside from the ludicrousness of the setting, the book itself commits the unforgivable crime of being excruciatingly dull. The whole thing could have been told in half the length, with half as many POVs. Dieu Merci, je suis fait.
June 9, 2023
3.5
Very clever world but overall the story was slow. Live show discussion is coming up tho!
Very clever world but overall the story was slow. Live show discussion is coming up tho!
December 7, 2023
This review has proven to be as stubborn as Sophie Bellamy. Therein lies the ultimate compliment. To me, it is only when I’m consumed by furious joy and almost dumb with delight that writing a review becomes a seemingly insurmountable challenge. I’m torn between simply carrying this tome everywhere I go so that I can thrust it into someone’s hand and simply say, “This.� and gushing like a new grandparent.
ROOK is a remarkably enjoyable, engaging read. Each of the colorful, captivating characters has his or her own agenda. Engulfed in a time when a coin stamped with the year 2024 is considered ancient and satellites are machines from the Time Before, enamored with and eagerly enthusiastic for Sophia, I could not keep myself from guessing who was true to Sophie and her most honorable cause, and who was true only to himself�..or herself, for that matter.
Instead of moving forward, it seems that we’ve only gone backward…all progress has been undone. Rather than gender equality, women are reduced. Instead of a democracy, a dictatorship, topped by the illogical, egotistical insanity of narcissistic men that are only up when holding others down.
Against unimaginable odds, The Red Rook devises a daring plan including a mass release of those wrongfully imprisoned to be followed by the triumphant toppling of the terrifying regime. Action is aplenty, alongside conflicting emotions, witty banter and immediately intriguing ideas. It isn’t possible to read this story without taking pauses to consider and ponder points. Not in a “what the �?� way but in an “hmmmm�..interesting, I couldn’t have conjured�.� way.
While appropriate and appealing to Middle Grade readers, I would be remiss if I limited my recommendation to that group. Like a giant bag of Hershey’s miniatures, there is something for everyone. Enjoy.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
ROOK is a remarkably enjoyable, engaging read. Each of the colorful, captivating characters has his or her own agenda. Engulfed in a time when a coin stamped with the year 2024 is considered ancient and satellites are machines from the Time Before, enamored with and eagerly enthusiastic for Sophia, I could not keep myself from guessing who was true to Sophie and her most honorable cause, and who was true only to himself�..or herself, for that matter.
Instead of moving forward, it seems that we’ve only gone backward…all progress has been undone. Rather than gender equality, women are reduced. Instead of a democracy, a dictatorship, topped by the illogical, egotistical insanity of narcissistic men that are only up when holding others down.
Against unimaginable odds, The Red Rook devises a daring plan including a mass release of those wrongfully imprisoned to be followed by the triumphant toppling of the terrifying regime. Action is aplenty, alongside conflicting emotions, witty banter and immediately intriguing ideas. It isn’t possible to read this story without taking pauses to consider and ponder points. Not in a “what the �?� way but in an “hmmmm�..interesting, I couldn’t have conjured�.� way.
While appropriate and appealing to Middle Grade readers, I would be remiss if I limited my recommendation to that group. Like a giant bag of Hershey’s miniatures, there is something for everyone. Enjoy.
This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
July 25, 2018
one of my mothers favourite films is ‘the scarlet pimpernel� and i cant even begin to count how many times i have watched it with her. ive not actually read the book, but i figured my mothers obsession would be a good enough basis before reading this reimagining.
and this wasnt too bad! what i really liked was the setting of the story - i thought the dystopian aspect was done well. even though its set in the distant future, it still had a historical feel to it, which i thought was quite interesting. it definitely put a spin on the original story. i also think this is also my first retelling where the book its based off of is actually referenced in the story. kind of threw me off at how well it worked in this particular book.
i think i would have enjoyed this so much more had it not been sooo long. the prose was heavy with description and introspection that it sometimes felt tedious and slow to read. i often found myself skimming through long paragraphs, which is not something you want from a story that should be fast paced and full of action.
but overall, i didnt hate this, which is always something! lol. and i would definitely recommend those who are ‘scarlet pimpernel� fans to give this a try.
� 3.5 stars
and this wasnt too bad! what i really liked was the setting of the story - i thought the dystopian aspect was done well. even though its set in the distant future, it still had a historical feel to it, which i thought was quite interesting. it definitely put a spin on the original story. i also think this is also my first retelling where the book its based off of is actually referenced in the story. kind of threw me off at how well it worked in this particular book.
i think i would have enjoyed this so much more had it not been sooo long. the prose was heavy with description and introspection that it sometimes felt tedious and slow to read. i often found myself skimming through long paragraphs, which is not something you want from a story that should be fast paced and full of action.
but overall, i didnt hate this, which is always something! lol. and i would definitely recommend those who are ‘scarlet pimpernel� fans to give this a try.
� 3.5 stars
May 14, 2015
I reallycan't shake off the feeling that this book would have been 5 times better if it wasn't as long as it was.
Yeah, it was only, what, 464 pages? 6000 Kindle locations? But let me tell you that reading this felt like it took bloody eternity. Not even my love for anything French could have preventedthe yawns this book made me do... oh, every 5 minutes. If it wasn't for the fact I needed to read and finish this in the next six hours just in time to write this review for today (I like to live dangerously), I would've set it aside to take a well-deserved nap.
But, hey, I did it, friends! I survived! Even though most of the time in the last six hours I was like this:
and like this:
It would be harsh to say it was torture, but not taking that nap when my eyes desperately needed it was pretty painful.
First of all, let's get one thing straight: this book was boring, which could honestly be attributed to the writing/narration in general because it often talked about the most mundane of things in a really long-winded way.It would talk about the setting, what the characters were doing, why they were doing what they were doing, over and over, spanning countless paragraphs and pages. If the writing was beautiful, lyrical, poetic, and had meaning and purpose to each word, I would have gobbled all that up because I'm not a stranger to dense books in third person (hi, Brandon Sanderson), but the ones here just did not have the substance to engage me. So many descriptions about almost everything and yet each one felt so empty. I had to skim so many pages, sometimes even reading just one paragraph or two, before going to the next page.
Guess what I missed? NOTHING.
Guys, you could literally cut this book to half and you can still get the same story and with the necessary descriptions. The "build up" was too much that it became stagnant quickly.Before long, it felt like it was just going in circles.
As for the main character, Sophie Bellamy (which is a pretty nice name, if I do say so myself), she could've been a great character if only she didn't make me want to put toothpicks in my eyes just so my eyelids could stay open. I get that she's someone who loved challenges, who wanted to save the people from the evil LeBlanc and save her brother from hisclutches, but she just didn't click with me. On paper, yes, she was someone flawed and perhaps a li'l complex, but I never really saw it in the book explicitly, especially in the first 50% in which I skimmed not a single page. She felt so flat.
I blame the narration for this, though. The writing in general was just so muddled, sloppy and long-winded that it failed to portray the depth of her character.Plus, there were also too many POVs, usually used in order to tell us why a side character did what they recently did. Which is a damn shame because not only did it limit the MC's character development, the book was then forced to show those characters' developments, too, which becameeven more limiting.
Plus, come on. When we're talking about motives and agendas, it's better to show it to us than tell. When one needs to use countless other POVs to do that, I think it's a sign that maybe something else needs to be done. Something that involves notneeding countless other POVs. x_x
And another plus, I wasn't a fan of certain scenes where the MC wnetpuppy eyes over the love interest, ESPECIALLY AFTER huge, important events. "OMG MY BROTHER GOT ARRESTED BUT oooohh I wonder what it would feel like if I touch René's stubble..." (non-verbatim, but I swear there were too many of this kind of scenes in the first 50%. I mean, girl, seriously?!)
The same could be said for the plot. I love stories about vigilantes toppling evil governments and figureheads, but it was hard to get excited for the action when the book tookits damn sweet time getting there, dragging unnecessary scenes to kingdom come. At this point, I was skimming a lot becauseGOOD LORD CAN WE GET TO THE MEAT OF THE STORY ALREADY?!
So when the climax happened, I was so relieved because thismeant the ending would come, too. I mean, they have already achieved whatever their goal was. Usually, after that, you wrap things up and end the book in a (hopefully) promising, satisfactory note.
But jesus h. christ, this book really took "tedious" to the next level because that wrapping-up part? IT HAPPENED FROM 90% TO 100%. Do you see that?10% of the book to wrap everything up.
If you want any idea of what my face looked like then, it was this:
(cue groans of "oh cooooome oooon!")
I am bloody serious. Just when the climax happened and what should have been the ending, the book then decided to make one last anti-climactic hurrah true to its "dragging" fashion - 10% of drama and filler and pretty much scenes that should have been ELSEWHERE and not at the end of the book. At least that's what I felt because they seriously lookedill-placed.
I don't even care that this was set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian France. This book needed some serious editing.
Yeah, it was only, what, 464 pages? 6000 Kindle locations? But let me tell you that reading this felt like it took bloody eternity. Not even my love for anything French could have preventedthe yawns this book made me do... oh, every 5 minutes. If it wasn't for the fact I needed to read and finish this in the next six hours just in time to write this review for today (I like to live dangerously), I would've set it aside to take a well-deserved nap.
But, hey, I did it, friends! I survived! Even though most of the time in the last six hours I was like this:
and like this:
It would be harsh to say it was torture, but not taking that nap when my eyes desperately needed it was pretty painful.
First of all, let's get one thing straight: this book was boring, which could honestly be attributed to the writing/narration in general because it often talked about the most mundane of things in a really long-winded way.It would talk about the setting, what the characters were doing, why they were doing what they were doing, over and over, spanning countless paragraphs and pages. If the writing was beautiful, lyrical, poetic, and had meaning and purpose to each word, I would have gobbled all that up because I'm not a stranger to dense books in third person (hi, Brandon Sanderson), but the ones here just did not have the substance to engage me. So many descriptions about almost everything and yet each one felt so empty. I had to skim so many pages, sometimes even reading just one paragraph or two, before going to the next page.
Guess what I missed? NOTHING.
Guys, you could literally cut this book to half and you can still get the same story and with the necessary descriptions. The "build up" was too much that it became stagnant quickly.Before long, it felt like it was just going in circles.
As for the main character, Sophie Bellamy (which is a pretty nice name, if I do say so myself), she could've been a great character if only she didn't make me want to put toothpicks in my eyes just so my eyelids could stay open. I get that she's someone who loved challenges, who wanted to save the people from the evil LeBlanc and save her brother from hisclutches, but she just didn't click with me. On paper, yes, she was someone flawed and perhaps a li'l complex, but I never really saw it in the book explicitly, especially in the first 50% in which I skimmed not a single page. She felt so flat.
I blame the narration for this, though. The writing in general was just so muddled, sloppy and long-winded that it failed to portray the depth of her character.Plus, there were also too many POVs, usually used in order to tell us why a side character did what they recently did. Which is a damn shame because not only did it limit the MC's character development, the book was then forced to show those characters' developments, too, which becameeven more limiting.
Plus, come on. When we're talking about motives and agendas, it's better to show it to us than tell. When one needs to use countless other POVs to do that, I think it's a sign that maybe something else needs to be done. Something that involves notneeding countless other POVs. x_x
And another plus, I wasn't a fan of certain scenes where the MC wnetpuppy eyes over the love interest, ESPECIALLY AFTER huge, important events. "OMG MY BROTHER GOT ARRESTED BUT oooohh I wonder what it would feel like if I touch René's stubble..." (non-verbatim, but I swear there were too many of this kind of scenes in the first 50%. I mean, girl, seriously?!)
The same could be said for the plot. I love stories about vigilantes toppling evil governments and figureheads, but it was hard to get excited for the action when the book tookits damn sweet time getting there, dragging unnecessary scenes to kingdom come. At this point, I was skimming a lot becauseGOOD LORD CAN WE GET TO THE MEAT OF THE STORY ALREADY?!
So when the climax happened, I was so relieved because thismeant the ending would come, too. I mean, they have already achieved whatever their goal was. Usually, after that, you wrap things up and end the book in a (hopefully) promising, satisfactory note.
But jesus h. christ, this book really took "tedious" to the next level because that wrapping-up part? IT HAPPENED FROM 90% TO 100%. Do you see that?10% of the book to wrap everything up.
If you want any idea of what my face looked like then, it was this:
(cue groans of "oh cooooome oooon!")
I am bloody serious. Just when the climax happened and what should have been the ending, the book then decided to make one last anti-climactic hurrah true to its "dragging" fashion - 10% of drama and filler and pretty much scenes that should have been ELSEWHERE and not at the end of the book. At least that's what I felt because they seriously lookedill-placed.
I don't even care that this was set in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian France. This book needed some serious editing.
October 28, 2018
I have had this book FOREVER! I'm glad GR Group challenge finally got me to read it because I loved it! 😄
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Happy Reading!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
April 7, 2015
Original Review at:
Can I just go ahead and just rant and rave about how awesome this book was?! Well, it was amazing! I couldn't put it down! I was so impressed with how Sharon Cameron redid her own version of The Scarlet Pimpernel (which is a favorite of mine book and the 1982 Jane Seymoure movie adaptation). It was BRILLIANT, she took apart characters and created different/new characters with individual aspects that were in specific characters from the original telling.
I enjoyed how this story takes place MANY years from now where the world went through a technology-earth destruction that killed many people as they relied so much on technology that they didnt know how to survive without it. So technology has been outlawed and those that fund, use, or any way get access to technology are put to death. This society has decided to revert back to the 17th century style of living. With big hair, lots of makeup and ridiculous outfits.
We have Sophia who is our main character and she is a completely fun, I had a blast reading her adventures and character development. She's normal too, with all the feelings and emotions of any normal girl. Yet with a bit more adventure than the average girl she is just cool.
I completely enjoyed the brother/sister relationship between Sophia and her brother Tom. I loved reading their interactions and what they were willing to do for each other.
The action was crazy and had me biting my nails and sitting at the edge of my seat holding the book 2 inches from my face because I had to know what was going to happen next.
LeBlanc our villain was INSANE, literally INSANE, his logic, way of thinking the world should be and the sickness in his own mind was fascinating! I was creeped out and disgusted by him which made him completely fun to read about. Creepy creepy man....
I was floored with the twist and turns of this story. I kept second guessing myself with pointing the fingers to every character who I thought was the "bad guy" and when all was reveled...whoa. didn't see it coming.
I actually didn't mind the romance in this. There is a bit of a love triangle that wasn't bad to read at all! Plus the romance didn't overwhelm the story. It was a nice undertone which kept you interesting which I prefer!
Overall the author did a GREAT job of writing her own version of this story and I thought she was brilliant!
Sexual Content: mild
Violence: moderate (PG-13 not too graphic)
Language: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
Can I just go ahead and just rant and rave about how awesome this book was?! Well, it was amazing! I couldn't put it down! I was so impressed with how Sharon Cameron redid her own version of The Scarlet Pimpernel (which is a favorite of mine book and the 1982 Jane Seymoure movie adaptation). It was BRILLIANT, she took apart characters and created different/new characters with individual aspects that were in specific characters from the original telling.
I enjoyed how this story takes place MANY years from now where the world went through a technology-earth destruction that killed many people as they relied so much on technology that they didnt know how to survive without it. So technology has been outlawed and those that fund, use, or any way get access to technology are put to death. This society has decided to revert back to the 17th century style of living. With big hair, lots of makeup and ridiculous outfits.
We have Sophia who is our main character and she is a completely fun, I had a blast reading her adventures and character development. She's normal too, with all the feelings and emotions of any normal girl. Yet with a bit more adventure than the average girl she is just cool.
I completely enjoyed the brother/sister relationship between Sophia and her brother Tom. I loved reading their interactions and what they were willing to do for each other.
The action was crazy and had me biting my nails and sitting at the edge of my seat holding the book 2 inches from my face because I had to know what was going to happen next.
LeBlanc our villain was INSANE, literally INSANE, his logic, way of thinking the world should be and the sickness in his own mind was fascinating! I was creeped out and disgusted by him which made him completely fun to read about. Creepy creepy man....
I was floored with the twist and turns of this story. I kept second guessing myself with pointing the fingers to every character who I thought was the "bad guy" and when all was reveled...whoa. didn't see it coming.
I actually didn't mind the romance in this. There is a bit of a love triangle that wasn't bad to read at all! Plus the romance didn't overwhelm the story. It was a nice undertone which kept you interesting which I prefer!
Overall the author did a GREAT job of writing her own version of this story and I thought she was brilliant!
Sexual Content: mild
Violence: moderate (PG-13 not too graphic)
Language: none
Drugs/Alcohol: mild
February 15, 2021
Sorry guys, it seems that I accidently deleted this review. Sigh.
DNF @page 212
Dear book,
Now that we have spent
With best regards,
éԴǰ.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
May 29, 2015
"Sophia Bellamy's arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she."
OH SHIIIIETTTTTT! I don't know what's going on with her, but...
edit after reading rook:
It's definitely worth a read but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Still entertaining although it dragged a bit in the middle.
OH SHIIIIETTTTTT! I don't know what's going on with her, but...
edit after reading rook:
It's definitely worth a read but it wasn't as good as I expected it to be. Still entertaining although it dragged a bit in the middle.
April 27, 2015
*
Rook by Sharon Cameron
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from ŷ):
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
What I Liked:
Ah! I love Cameron's books! I'm three for three with her novels. The Dark Unwinding and A Spark Unseen were two excellent novels (a duology), and I have been excited for Rook for years! I absolutely loved Rook, possibly even more than I loved Cameron's debut duology. I've never read The Scarlet Pimpernel, but I loved Diana Peterfreund's retelling, Across A Star-Swept Sea.
The Red Rook has been spiriting away prisoners who are set to be executed with the Razor (think guillotine). LeBlanc, the minister of security of the City of Light, is not pleased. Meanwhile, Sophia Bellamy is set to be engaged to René Hasard, who is the cousin of LeBlanc. Sophia, her brother Tom, and even René are not who they seem, and as everyone converges to find the Red Rook, Sophia finds herself desperate to help herself, as well as her friends and family. The stakes get higher when someone she knows is taken to be executed. The Red Rook plans to do the impossible, but not enough LeBlanc catches this legend first.
From the start, I knew I would like Sophia. She is physically tough - she can wield a sword, climb up to roofs and walls, she's stealthy, she's fast. But she's very smart too - she can think her way through a difficult situation (which we see in the very first scene). Sophia is not passive, does not let others make decisions for her (she agrees to her arranged marriage/engaged for a good reason), she has a quick but reigned-in temper, and she has a quick tongue. She trusts no one, and she is selfless.
René and Sophie do not get along when they meet. Their engagement has been arranged by René's family and Sophia's family. Sophia is suspicious of René - he seems like a flirtatious, coy gentleman who has an empty head. But she doesn't trust this. And, as it would turn out, René is not who he seems. He is the cousin of LeBlanc (which everyone knows), and he is in on the scheme to find the Red Rook. René is wicked smart, just as clever as Sophia, and terribly good at getting himself out of sticky situations. He's also definitely a bit dreamy, and I may or may not have a slight crush on him. Wink.
That being said, the fake happy relationship and the banter was so great to read. I love those types of relationships, from hate to love, aggression to passion. René and Sophia share a lot of witty banter, and their interactions are always so entertaining.
The story is very intricate, with several plots going on all at once. It's not a confusing mix, as each plot intersects with another and relates to each other (though it may not seem so at first). Everything and everyone is related. We have LeBlanc's third person perspective, René's perspective, Sophia's perspective, all in third person. I like that Cameron decided to write with several perspectives featured here and there. Mostly, it's Sophia's third-person point-of-view, but sporadically, there is René's and LeBlanc's and I think a few others (but I can't remember specifically).
The story is very dense, which is not surprising for a standalone novel. A lot happens in the novel, at a pretty fast past. Sophia and René have their engagement party, but then René and Sophia must flee, in order to save people they each care about. They make a tentative agreement to help each other, but neither of them trust the other. The pacing is fast but not overwhelming. There was no info-dumping, no parts where I was totally lost.
The setting is incredibly cool! This one is sort of historical fiction, but really, it's not. It's set way into the future, way past our time. Plastic and technology are things of the past, from my understanding. The world has regressed to times like the late 1800s, it seems. But we know the time is of the future because there are many mentions of things that are known to this day (I think a Nintendo is one of the artifacts). Cameron does an amazing job of building the world, creating a very unique setting that is distinct and creative.
The romance. Oh, the romance was fantastic. It's one of my favorite tropes - the hate-to-love thing. René and Sophia don't like each other at all, though they must pretend to be happy and trust each other and whatnot (they're engaged). But eventually, they learn to trust each other, and they fall for each other. Sophia's childhood friend loves Sophia, but she only loves him as a brother. The romance is solely set on René and Sophia, and I love it.
The ending is so satisfying! It's a bit sad, with some death and unexpected action, but overall, the ending is very good. René and Sophia get a fitting ending, one that I wasn't expecting to be so good! Cameron wraps things up beautifully. I love René's family (his uncles are hilarious), and while Sophia's family aren't the most exciting, they are an interesting bunch. All is revealed at the end, and the ending is quite satisfying.
What I Did Not Like:
I can't think of anything specific! I know some people complained about the length of the book, but I think if the book wasn't as "long" as it is, it wouldn't be as amazing!
Would I Recommend It:
Yes! This book is quite a fun ride! Even if you don't like "historical fiction", keep in mind that this one isn't technically historical, since it's set in the future (though society has regressed to a historic setting ish). There is a steampunk vibe, and of course, a very slow-burn and sweet romance. It's a very intelligent yet fun novel, not juvenile at all, but younger and older readers alike could read this one and enjoy it!
Rating:
4 stars. This one was a very enjoyable read! I'm slightly saddened that it's only a standalone, but extremely pleased that it's a standalone. It's a great novel, and I can't wait to read more of Cameron's future novels!
Rook by Sharon Cameron
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from ŷ):
History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?
Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.
As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.
What I Liked:
Ah! I love Cameron's books! I'm three for three with her novels. The Dark Unwinding and A Spark Unseen were two excellent novels (a duology), and I have been excited for Rook for years! I absolutely loved Rook, possibly even more than I loved Cameron's debut duology. I've never read The Scarlet Pimpernel, but I loved Diana Peterfreund's retelling, Across A Star-Swept Sea.
The Red Rook has been spiriting away prisoners who are set to be executed with the Razor (think guillotine). LeBlanc, the minister of security of the City of Light, is not pleased. Meanwhile, Sophia Bellamy is set to be engaged to René Hasard, who is the cousin of LeBlanc. Sophia, her brother Tom, and even René are not who they seem, and as everyone converges to find the Red Rook, Sophia finds herself desperate to help herself, as well as her friends and family. The stakes get higher when someone she knows is taken to be executed. The Red Rook plans to do the impossible, but not enough LeBlanc catches this legend first.
From the start, I knew I would like Sophia. She is physically tough - she can wield a sword, climb up to roofs and walls, she's stealthy, she's fast. But she's very smart too - she can think her way through a difficult situation (which we see in the very first scene). Sophia is not passive, does not let others make decisions for her (she agrees to her arranged marriage/engaged for a good reason), she has a quick but reigned-in temper, and she has a quick tongue. She trusts no one, and she is selfless.
René and Sophie do not get along when they meet. Their engagement has been arranged by René's family and Sophia's family. Sophia is suspicious of René - he seems like a flirtatious, coy gentleman who has an empty head. But she doesn't trust this. And, as it would turn out, René is not who he seems. He is the cousin of LeBlanc (which everyone knows), and he is in on the scheme to find the Red Rook. René is wicked smart, just as clever as Sophia, and terribly good at getting himself out of sticky situations. He's also definitely a bit dreamy, and I may or may not have a slight crush on him. Wink.
That being said, the fake happy relationship and the banter was so great to read. I love those types of relationships, from hate to love, aggression to passion. René and Sophia share a lot of witty banter, and their interactions are always so entertaining.
The story is very intricate, with several plots going on all at once. It's not a confusing mix, as each plot intersects with another and relates to each other (though it may not seem so at first). Everything and everyone is related. We have LeBlanc's third person perspective, René's perspective, Sophia's perspective, all in third person. I like that Cameron decided to write with several perspectives featured here and there. Mostly, it's Sophia's third-person point-of-view, but sporadically, there is René's and LeBlanc's and I think a few others (but I can't remember specifically).
The story is very dense, which is not surprising for a standalone novel. A lot happens in the novel, at a pretty fast past. Sophia and René have their engagement party, but then René and Sophia must flee, in order to save people they each care about. They make a tentative agreement to help each other, but neither of them trust the other. The pacing is fast but not overwhelming. There was no info-dumping, no parts where I was totally lost.
The setting is incredibly cool! This one is sort of historical fiction, but really, it's not. It's set way into the future, way past our time. Plastic and technology are things of the past, from my understanding. The world has regressed to times like the late 1800s, it seems. But we know the time is of the future because there are many mentions of things that are known to this day (I think a Nintendo is one of the artifacts). Cameron does an amazing job of building the world, creating a very unique setting that is distinct and creative.
The romance. Oh, the romance was fantastic. It's one of my favorite tropes - the hate-to-love thing. René and Sophia don't like each other at all, though they must pretend to be happy and trust each other and whatnot (they're engaged). But eventually, they learn to trust each other, and they fall for each other. Sophia's childhood friend loves Sophia, but she only loves him as a brother. The romance is solely set on René and Sophia, and I love it.
The ending is so satisfying! It's a bit sad, with some death and unexpected action, but overall, the ending is very good. René and Sophia get a fitting ending, one that I wasn't expecting to be so good! Cameron wraps things up beautifully. I love René's family (his uncles are hilarious), and while Sophia's family aren't the most exciting, they are an interesting bunch. All is revealed at the end, and the ending is quite satisfying.
What I Did Not Like:
I can't think of anything specific! I know some people complained about the length of the book, but I think if the book wasn't as "long" as it is, it wouldn't be as amazing!
Would I Recommend It:
Yes! This book is quite a fun ride! Even if you don't like "historical fiction", keep in mind that this one isn't technically historical, since it's set in the future (though society has regressed to a historic setting ish). There is a steampunk vibe, and of course, a very slow-burn and sweet romance. It's a very intelligent yet fun novel, not juvenile at all, but younger and older readers alike could read this one and enjoy it!
Rating:
4 stars. This one was a very enjoyable read! I'm slightly saddened that it's only a standalone, but extremely pleased that it's a standalone. It's a great novel, and I can't wait to read more of Cameron's future novels!
January 5, 2021
9 out of 10
Ревью в моем блоге/This review on my blog
(please use Chrome/Yandex browser or Android/IOS to see the page; otherwise, spoiler-tags I use to make my post compact may not work)
Short-Soundtrack:
Genre: post-apocalyptic, retelling, YA
Stuff: future France, revolution, smart girl and foxy man
WOW: writing styly, Hasard family
POV: 3rd-person, multi
Love-Geometry: seeming
Quote-Core:
“Being � how do you say, underestimated, that is never a bad thing.�
It was the first buddy-read of The Pen friends!. I'd been reading it along with Kati, Nastassja and Ileana and Nalani
What will have already been�
Can’t agree with these words more. This book is about faaaar future but it seems like you’re reading a historical novel. The author is right, history has a way of repeating itself. Slightly shift of poles and, voila, satellites are falling from the skies and burning in the atmosphere like shining stars.
Just imagine that Rook is a stairs . Although the begging of climbing is so-so, your journey will get better with every step and in the end, you’d be regret that Rook is a standalone and you should say “goodbye� to all these amazing characters.
So, it’s been 800 years since our days. Something awful happened with the Earth (ps by the author would explain what exactly); Paris is sunken and has a new name Sunken City. I think the crust of the earth had been dancing for a while ‘cause Paris now has two levels: Upper, where rich people live, and Lower, where poor ones do.
The landscape is a bit above Venetian, as to technologies... society's in a very bad shape. Natural cataclysms used to bring people back in dark times. The trouble is, new progress is not even close because it is forbidden. I mean, no electric light, no machines, and no normal clocks. They tell the time just like that: nethermoon, middlesun, highmoon, icanseenothingthroughtheclouds, etc. Okay, the part with the clouds I’ve just made up but the thing with the never/middle/high and so on suns-moons is true.
So, all the people who are not gonna live the way new dictator Allemande want them to do are going to the Razor . What’s the matter with Allemande's desires?! Seems like he’s a fan of Medieval Times. No education for women, ride a horse if you wanna move, take a candle for light. BTW, most of the LOLs: plastic is more precious than gold. Plastic costs more than a villa next to the sea. More than anything!) It’s the subject of speculations, illegal traffic; it’s the gem of the modern collections! xDDD
Okay, let’s get back to the Medieval Times' topic. We have our own inquisitor. He’s a kinda cultist and worships some Goddess of Luck and Fate. His surname is LeBlanc (in Russian this word has a nice rhythm in a strong language, in English this rhythm-word means... fucker, I guess; and it’s fair, he’s an evil bastard). LeBlanc sends people in dungeons of Tombs and then to the Razor, but someone foxy used to steal his prisoners on a scheduled basis.
Meet the local Zorro! His name is Red Rook ! I LOLed, ‘cause in English “rook� is a bird and a chess-piece but in Russian, it’s just a bird from Savrasov’s picture “The Rooks Have Come Back�. Not sexy, you know. So, LeBlanc is dying for killing this annoying bird. He’s smart; he’s always one step ahead of his opponent. But the Rook is no worse.
It’s a third-person perspective with alternative POV’s so we can watch the whole picture at once, and this adds the oil to the flame of our nerves. You know that there's a trap in the place where your favorite character's going to go, but you can’t warn or stop him or her.
BTW, besides saving deals, our bird has other problems. Like engagement with a stranger from the Sunken City, for example. Marriage of convenience is gonna save Sophia’s (it’s the she-Rook’s real name) father from the prison and their home from creditors. The
The book starts with one of the missions of Rook and Co. Guys save the Bonnard family, thus LeBlanc got a clue: he doesn’t know who the Red Rook is but he definitely knows where the areal of this bird is. That’s why he came to the Commonwealth and appeared on the S&R Banns. LeBlanc has a plan, and things will turn out badly.
What I like more is that the plot is multilayered. You think you’ve done it, but the author suggests you see what will happen next and to reveal one more secret of hers. I was like, 'Okay, everything's clear. Bye!' But Sharon was like, 'Don’t you wanna know who’s spying on R&S and Co?!' And so on.
In short, I loved Sharon Cameron's writing style, I loved the settings, loved the plot, the witty banters, the characters which were real and 3D-ish.
PS: The Hasard’s family is freaking awesome!
PPS: Read this book! Read!)
PPPS: I can try to convince you to read it with funny quotes...
“I was just telling your cousin I thought you were sick,� she said to René. “Why, exactly, aren’t you sick?�
“Such a darling,� René said to the room. “And so considerate of my health. You’d have me abed all day, wouldn’t you, my love?�
“Always,� she replied slowly, “my love.� Though the look she sent clearly added her preference that he be in an unconscious or perhaps a non-breathing state.�
***
“Our clients find me charming. And I find out things Maman and my uncles never could …�
“Because people think you’re an imbecile.�
“Being � how do you say, underestimated, that is never a bad thing.�
***
“Should she pretend to like it, when she really did, all while pretending that she didn’t?�
***
“Your maman was in my room last night.�
“And I was not.� His tone was glum.�
May 22, 2015
Oddly enough, I don't have much to say about Rook. I really enjoyed it--thoroughly, in fact--and though some readers argue that its length is its downfall, I can't admit to having found it a problem. The characters and world that Cameron builds is so wildly entertaining and imaginative that I simply didn't want to leave. I adored this enemies-to-lovers romance, the spying, the twists and turns, and, of course, the lady savior at the heart of it all. Rook is every bit as intriguing as its synopsis and cover promise and though I find Cameron's debut duet to be of stronger stock--simply more memorable, although perhaps because the characters stayed with us for two books opposed to one--this is an extremely well-written stand-alone. I look forward to Cameron's future endeavors very much; her brand of steampunk is unique and unparalleled.
December 11, 2015
DNF @ 45%
When you hear someone DNF a book, trust that it is easier said than done.
It is a struggle to try to read a book out of some misguided sense that you are required to finish it.
Therefore, I was more than happy to give up on Rook.
The book will have its fans, but I can’t be one of them.
THE GOOD: I have nothing good to say.
THE BAD: I don’t know what’s wrong with the writing. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Is there something wrong with the writing? Is it me? I don’t know. All I know is the book is dreadfully boring. It killed me to have to pick it up and try to finish it at a slow pace.
I can handle not being able to connect to a character. What I can’t handle is when said-character is DULL. All the characters in the book are dull. And the villains? Ha! No� just no.
There is a love triangle. Whyyyy? I was willing to forgive this book for the love triangle, but then the soul-staring� as I put it� started to get on my nerves. Instead of the love triangle giving the book appeal, it only dragged the story out. I can only imagine what the other half of the book is like. Thanks for reminding me why I was reading Rook in the first place because it wasn’t for this.
I didn’t like the amount of POV changes and how it changes. Is it because people these days have short attention spans or something? For example: There is a part where the antagonists Allemande and LeBlanc are in LeBlanc’s private rooms. LeBlanc is brewing potions to “communicate� with his Goddess and the results will supposedly show the Goddess’s answer to LeBlanc’s question. (It’s confusing. I don’t know how it works.) Anyways, the antagonist’s POV ended without much ado and the story goes onto the protagonist’s POV. A few pages later, the POV switches again and we are right back where the antagonist left off. There isn’t anything more for the author to write except the results of what happens with LeBlanc’s little sacrifice, and therefore, a few paragraphs later, the author drops this POV and continues the rest of the chapter with the protagonist’s POV. I, for one, do NOT like how this sequence of events plays out. It’s too abrupt and pointless. If the author’s motive was to keep me interested or anticipated about the outcome, it didn’t work.
ACTUAL RATING: 1.5 Stars because Rook is an absolute bore for me. 1 star doesn’t have value. 2 stars are too generous. I usually try to not rate books I don’t finish, but I once again have to make an exception. Rook was one of my most anticipated books of the year. As a matter of fact, it was in the top five. It’s heartbreaking that almost every single book I’m greatly anticipating more than others are turning out to be the most disappointing. I was genuinely looking forward to being a fan of Sharon Cameron.
THE DECREE: Goodbye, Rook. I’m sending you to Limbo. Cinder and Throne of Glass are there. They’ll be your besties.
An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review! Thank you to the publisher and author!
When you hear someone DNF a book, trust that it is easier said than done.
It is a struggle to try to read a book out of some misguided sense that you are required to finish it.
Therefore, I was more than happy to give up on Rook.
The book will have its fans, but I can’t be one of them.
THE GOOD: I have nothing good to say.
THE BAD: I don’t know what’s wrong with the writing. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Is there something wrong with the writing? Is it me? I don’t know. All I know is the book is dreadfully boring. It killed me to have to pick it up and try to finish it at a slow pace.
I can handle not being able to connect to a character. What I can’t handle is when said-character is DULL. All the characters in the book are dull. And the villains? Ha! No� just no.
There is a love triangle. Whyyyy? I was willing to forgive this book for the love triangle, but then the soul-staring� as I put it� started to get on my nerves. Instead of the love triangle giving the book appeal, it only dragged the story out. I can only imagine what the other half of the book is like. Thanks for reminding me why I was reading Rook in the first place because it wasn’t for this.
I didn’t like the amount of POV changes and how it changes. Is it because people these days have short attention spans or something? For example: There is a part where the antagonists Allemande and LeBlanc are in LeBlanc’s private rooms. LeBlanc is brewing potions to “communicate� with his Goddess and the results will supposedly show the Goddess’s answer to LeBlanc’s question. (It’s confusing. I don’t know how it works.) Anyways, the antagonist’s POV ended without much ado and the story goes onto the protagonist’s POV. A few pages later, the POV switches again and we are right back where the antagonist left off. There isn’t anything more for the author to write except the results of what happens with LeBlanc’s little sacrifice, and therefore, a few paragraphs later, the author drops this POV and continues the rest of the chapter with the protagonist’s POV. I, for one, do NOT like how this sequence of events plays out. It’s too abrupt and pointless. If the author’s motive was to keep me interested or anticipated about the outcome, it didn’t work.
ACTUAL RATING: 1.5 Stars because Rook is an absolute bore for me. 1 star doesn’t have value. 2 stars are too generous. I usually try to not rate books I don’t finish, but I once again have to make an exception. Rook was one of my most anticipated books of the year. As a matter of fact, it was in the top five. It’s heartbreaking that almost every single book I’m greatly anticipating more than others are turning out to be the most disappointing. I was genuinely looking forward to being a fan of Sharon Cameron.
THE DECREE: Goodbye, Rook. I’m sending you to Limbo. Cinder and Throne of Glass are there. They’ll be your besties.
An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review! Thank you to the publisher and author!
March 31, 2018
If you love dystopian, historical, feisty heroines, swoon-worthy boys and all things French, read this book.
is set far, far in the future, though it has more of a historical feel than anything else. It takes place after a cataclysmic polar shift sent humanity back into the dark ages and basically caused the destruction of society as we once knew it. The people blame over-reliance on technology for the collapse of the old civilisation, and in the Sunken City that used to be Paris, anyone rich enough to develop any kind of technology or machinery is put to death. Sounds wild, right? It is. And it's so fucking fun.
The book pays homage to , as there's a quasi-French Revolution taking place, and a mysterious hero known only as the Red Rook is freeing innocent prisoners from the Tombs beneath the city. I absolutely ADORE all things French (in fact, as I'm writing this review I'm wearing my Eiffel Tower t-shirt that I bought in Paris...that sounds so touristy but whatever) so I was basically set to love this book. But there were other things I loved about the story other than the general Frenchiness:
Sophia, our main character, was a great heroine to follow. She's clever and quick-witted, resourceful and funny. I always love Sharon Cameron's main characters; she's so good at writing empowered, bad-ass females who also aren't afraid to be vulnerable and sweet as well. You don't have to have a heart of stone to be a badass, people!
Rene (I don't know how to add the acute accent on the last 'e' on my computer, so forgive me) was adaughter stealer charmer. I said I always love Sharon Cameron's main protags, and I always absolutely ADORE her male love interests. He was hilarious and charming and sexy (not to mention French) and I loved the relationship between him and Sophia. I'm a sucker for a good enemies-to-lovers trope, and this one was no exception. (Also, bonus points for him being a redhead, because YEAH REDHEADS UNITE!!!)
Most of the side characters were also amazing. I loved Rene's uncles, they were hilarious. You don't often get YA books with prominent adult-guardian figures, so it was great to have them around and to know that our kids weren't alone.
A couple of complaints:
I felt like the villain was really quite one-dimensional and not really fleshed out at all. I like my villains to have just as much personality and dimension as my protagonists, and when you have a villain doing villainous stuff *just because* it's really quite tedious.
Also, the beginning was quite confusing, and I can see why some people would put it down in the first 50 pages. But if you persevere, it really pays off! There were a couple of moments of confusion later in the story, for example there was a passage where I thought one character had been killed, but then it turned out they weren't dead, and it wasn't one of those times when the author deliberately makes you think they're dead, it was just down to the confusing writing and not knowing who was actually in the scene. Still, these complaints are pretty minor, and over all I really enjoyed this book a lot!
Sharon Cameron is starting to become one of my auto-buy authors.
is set far, far in the future, though it has more of a historical feel than anything else. It takes place after a cataclysmic polar shift sent humanity back into the dark ages and basically caused the destruction of society as we once knew it. The people blame over-reliance on technology for the collapse of the old civilisation, and in the Sunken City that used to be Paris, anyone rich enough to develop any kind of technology or machinery is put to death. Sounds wild, right? It is. And it's so fucking fun.
The book pays homage to , as there's a quasi-French Revolution taking place, and a mysterious hero known only as the Red Rook is freeing innocent prisoners from the Tombs beneath the city. I absolutely ADORE all things French (in fact, as I'm writing this review I'm wearing my Eiffel Tower t-shirt that I bought in Paris...that sounds so touristy but whatever) so I was basically set to love this book. But there were other things I loved about the story other than the general Frenchiness:
Sophia, our main character, was a great heroine to follow. She's clever and quick-witted, resourceful and funny. I always love Sharon Cameron's main characters; she's so good at writing empowered, bad-ass females who also aren't afraid to be vulnerable and sweet as well. You don't have to have a heart of stone to be a badass, people!
Rene (I don't know how to add the acute accent on the last 'e' on my computer, so forgive me) was a
Most of the side characters were also amazing. I loved Rene's uncles, they were hilarious. You don't often get YA books with prominent adult-guardian figures, so it was great to have them around and to know that our kids weren't alone.
A couple of complaints:
I felt like the villain was really quite one-dimensional and not really fleshed out at all. I like my villains to have just as much personality and dimension as my protagonists, and when you have a villain doing villainous stuff *just because* it's really quite tedious.
Also, the beginning was quite confusing, and I can see why some people would put it down in the first 50 pages. But if you persevere, it really pays off! There were a couple of moments of confusion later in the story, for example there was a passage where I thought one character had been killed, but then it turned out they weren't dead, and it wasn't one of those times when the author deliberately makes you think they're dead, it was just down to the confusing writing and not knowing who was actually in the scene. Still, these complaints are pretty minor, and over all I really enjoyed this book a lot!
Sharon Cameron is starting to become one of my auto-buy authors.
April 17, 2018
OH THIS IS A WONDERFUL WONDERFUL BOOK.
Action. Adventure. Mystery. Politics. Romance. Phenomenal characters, brilliantly written plot and exquisite dialogue. Honestly, I LOVED THE HELL OUT OF THIS BOOK.
Everyone is shady as hell. Trust no one! The villain is insane, the conflict is amazing and a respectful nod to actual French history plus a spin on the Scarlet Pimpernel! The setting is a futuristic France with no technology and social divides existing because of political drama, the supporting characters are very nicely fleshed out, and lastly, our main protagonists, Sophia and Rene, are just the perfect pair to cause havoc but look so fucking good doing it. Their dynamic is absolutely delicious! *heart eyes*
Seriously! Recommended to everyone! I love the author's writing. It is masterful and I'm super super impressed. Will definitely be reading more of her work.
Action. Adventure. Mystery. Politics. Romance. Phenomenal characters, brilliantly written plot and exquisite dialogue. Honestly, I LOVED THE HELL OUT OF THIS BOOK.
Everyone is shady as hell. Trust no one! The villain is insane, the conflict is amazing and a respectful nod to actual French history plus a spin on the Scarlet Pimpernel! The setting is a futuristic France with no technology and social divides existing because of political drama, the supporting characters are very nicely fleshed out, and lastly, our main protagonists, Sophia and Rene, are just the perfect pair to cause havoc but look so fucking good doing it. Their dynamic is absolutely delicious! *heart eyes*
Seriously! Recommended to everyone! I love the author's writing. It is masterful and I'm super super impressed. Will definitely be reading more of her work.
April 26, 2017
What. A. Waste. Of. My. Time. THIS BOOK WAS TERRIBLE!!!! IT TOOK ME SO LONG TO FINISH IT AND I JUST...I CAN'T EVEN EXPLAIN HOW BAD IT IS!!! IT TOOK ME WEEKS TO FINISH THIS BOOK AND NOW BECAUSE OF THIS STUPID BOOK I AM
SEVEN
BOOKS BEHIND MY SCEHDUALE! YES,
SEVEN
! IT WAS SO SLOW AND BORING. HALF THE TIME I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I WANTED SO BADLY TO DNF THIS BOOK EVERY THREE PAGES I READ! I ONLY READ THREE PAGES A DAY, SOMETIMES MORE!! BUT I COULDN’T CONCENTRATE AND GET ENGROSSED IN THIS BOOK.
Everything was terrible, everything. I hated everything about it. It was boring, dull, tedious and just awful. I’ve never been this annoyed about a book ever. Nothing happens throughout this book, I’m not even kidding. Every page felt like an eternity. This book started off okay, I mean it wasn’t bad until around 40 pages through. Then from that on to around the 300th page, nothing interesting happened. Nothing at all. It was a waste of ink and paper. This book could have been told in around 100 pages NOT 400!
I did not like any character at all, none! Usually, if you don’t like the characters the book it's terrible and there’s really no point reading it. Sorry, this a very bad and short review but honestly this book doesn’t deserve a proper review. I do NOT recommend it to anyone!!!!
Everything was terrible, everything. I hated everything about it. It was boring, dull, tedious and just awful. I’ve never been this annoyed about a book ever. Nothing happens throughout this book, I’m not even kidding. Every page felt like an eternity. This book started off okay, I mean it wasn’t bad until around 40 pages through. Then from that on to around the 300th page, nothing interesting happened. Nothing at all. It was a waste of ink and paper. This book could have been told in around 100 pages NOT 400!
I did not like any character at all, none! Usually, if you don’t like the characters the book it's terrible and there’s really no point reading it. Sorry, this a very bad and short review but honestly this book doesn’t deserve a proper review. I do NOT recommend it to anyone!!!!
October 3, 2017
Was an amazing twist OMG a classic
May 14, 2015
I feel like Rook is a very underappreciated book. It deserves much more praise and recognition than it has received. The plot of the story and the setting are both wildly innovative and astounding. In a world where technology is seen as the ruin of humanity, society has reverted back to the age before technology. France is experiencing the French revolution again while Great Britain is re-establishing British decorum and costume. The characters are all charming and endearing in their own ways. My biggest concern with this book was the slow pace and wordiness which heavily affected my rating and enjoyability. Overall this book was impressive though! Review to come.
April 27, 2015
4.5*
I really, really likedRook. Like, a lot. It has a lovely spot on my "4 Stars and Up" shelf, right above my desk. So I am going to gush in a minute, but there isone thing that is stopping me from giving it a full five stars, and one thing that I think is super important for readers to know:It starts off really slowly.
The first 50 pages or so were painfully slow to me, but I kept going, because I was interested in the characters from the start. The problem is, in the beginning, there is alot of information coming, and a lot ofnames too. And a lot of these names are French, and I got a little lost. So for the first bit of the book, I was bored, and I was confused, and I didn't think it was going to be a good experience.But, I am so glad I didn't stop reading, because things got really good!
What did I like aboutRook, other than the obvious "set in sunken Paris" and "Red Rook saving people" thing? So very much:
Sophia andRené werefabulous. Sophia had me from the first page, I knew I'd adore her. She is strong, and brave, andbasicallyshe's pretty amazing. She isn't perfect, not by a long shot, she has her flaws. She's quite naive about so much, and she is stubborn too. But her flaws work for her, and she is believable because of them. René is... well, book boyfriend worthy. He is charming, and witty, and charismatic, and brave in his own right.Still, I was nevercompletely sure that he was being authentic, which was good for the story. Very good.
The other characters were amazing too! Even the more minor characters were very well fleshed out. Sophia's brother Tomand friend Spear were basically the people she'd grown up with. Tom was a good, if not particularly exciting guy, and Spear... I couldn't quite figure him out a lot of the time either (again, this is a good thing). The villain... well,I spent most of the book wondering if he was actually insane, like, requiring a legitimate diagnosis. Dude is messed up! Obviously, anyone who gets their jollies from beheading citizens is probably not going to be in his right mind but... wow. He brings it as the villain for sure! This is seriously just the tip of the awesome-character-iceberg, but I could go on and on, so I'll stop there.
The plot is very captivating, after the initial slow start. Of course you want to knowall about the Red Rook. Why is this person freeing prisoners? Why are the prisoners there to begin with? There's political turmoil, financial turmoil, and what is pretty much a guillotine. Basically, there are a lot of questions, and a lot of people who may or may not be what they seem (which, I loved trying to figure out)!
The world is incredibly unique and has a pretty fascinating message in itself. First, it;s inSunken Paris. I don't think settings get more unique or creative than that. This story is set years after a major cataclysmic event that basically decimated the Earth, and now, to try to prevent history from repeating, most people are very anti-technology. The setting is dark, and quite depressing, and it comes through very vividly. I love that we are getting to see a post-apocalyptic Europe too!
The romance is slow, and swoon worthy, and lovely.Sophie andRené are engaged mostly because her mess of a father is about a day away from losing their house due to some bad financial decisions.He isn't particularly concerned about Sophia in general, so it really doesn't matter to him. And Sophia doesn't trustRené as far as she can throw him. This certainly makes things interesting, to say the least.
Bottom Line: Yes, it starts off slow, but give it a chance, because the slowness does not last. It is very worth it in the end!
**Copy provided from publisher for review**
I really, really likedRook. Like, a lot. It has a lovely spot on my "4 Stars and Up" shelf, right above my desk. So I am going to gush in a minute, but there isone thing that is stopping me from giving it a full five stars, and one thing that I think is super important for readers to know:It starts off really slowly.
The first 50 pages or so were painfully slow to me, but I kept going, because I was interested in the characters from the start. The problem is, in the beginning, there is alot of information coming, and a lot ofnames too. And a lot of these names are French, and I got a little lost. So for the first bit of the book, I was bored, and I was confused, and I didn't think it was going to be a good experience.But, I am so glad I didn't stop reading, because things got really good!
What did I like aboutRook, other than the obvious "set in sunken Paris" and "Red Rook saving people" thing? So very much:
Sophia andRené werefabulous. Sophia had me from the first page, I knew I'd adore her. She is strong, and brave, andbasicallyshe's pretty amazing. She isn't perfect, not by a long shot, she has her flaws. She's quite naive about so much, and she is stubborn too. But her flaws work for her, and she is believable because of them. René is... well, book boyfriend worthy. He is charming, and witty, and charismatic, and brave in his own right.Still, I was nevercompletely sure that he was being authentic, which was good for the story. Very good.
The other characters were amazing too! Even the more minor characters were very well fleshed out. Sophia's brother Tomand friend Spear were basically the people she'd grown up with. Tom was a good, if not particularly exciting guy, and Spear... I couldn't quite figure him out a lot of the time either (again, this is a good thing). The villain... well,I spent most of the book wondering if he was actually insane, like, requiring a legitimate diagnosis. Dude is messed up! Obviously, anyone who gets their jollies from beheading citizens is probably not going to be in his right mind but... wow. He brings it as the villain for sure! This is seriously just the tip of the awesome-character-iceberg, but I could go on and on, so I'll stop there.
The plot is very captivating, after the initial slow start. Of course you want to knowall about the Red Rook. Why is this person freeing prisoners? Why are the prisoners there to begin with? There's political turmoil, financial turmoil, and what is pretty much a guillotine. Basically, there are a lot of questions, and a lot of people who may or may not be what they seem (which, I loved trying to figure out)!
The world is incredibly unique and has a pretty fascinating message in itself. First, it;s inSunken Paris. I don't think settings get more unique or creative than that. This story is set years after a major cataclysmic event that basically decimated the Earth, and now, to try to prevent history from repeating, most people are very anti-technology. The setting is dark, and quite depressing, and it comes through very vividly. I love that we are getting to see a post-apocalyptic Europe too!
The romance is slow, and swoon worthy, and lovely.Sophie andRené are engaged mostly because her mess of a father is about a day away from losing their house due to some bad financial decisions.He isn't particularly concerned about Sophia in general, so it really doesn't matter to him. And Sophia doesn't trustRené as far as she can throw him. This certainly makes things interesting, to say the least.
Bottom Line: Yes, it starts off slow, but give it a chance, because the slowness does not last. It is very worth it in the end!
**Copy provided from publisher for review**
November 7, 2015
This is my first time actually writing more than a sentence review so I'm sorry if it doesn't sound as well written as others.
When I first heard of this book I wasn't particularly interested. It had come up on a listotopia. Then one day I had gone to the bookstore and decided to buy. I saw it there and thought that I would give it a shot and if I didn't enjoy I would return it. I was actually excepting not to enjoy this one. But man was I wrong! As I continued to read it I insistently got sucked in to the book and the world in which Sharon Cameron created. Rene and Sophia are not the typical characters that I have ever read about. They were absolutely different. In a way all of her characters are like that. Even the love triangle was handled differently than what I'm used to reading. There wasn't a lot of action and the pace was kind of slow but it was worth the read. All the loose ends were tied up quiet nicely. Overall this was a bit slow but still a fantastic read!
When I first heard of this book I wasn't particularly interested. It had come up on a listotopia. Then one day I had gone to the bookstore and decided to buy. I saw it there and thought that I would give it a shot and if I didn't enjoy I would return it. I was actually excepting not to enjoy this one. But man was I wrong! As I continued to read it I insistently got sucked in to the book and the world in which Sharon Cameron created. Rene and Sophia are not the typical characters that I have ever read about. They were absolutely different. In a way all of her characters are like that. Even the love triangle was handled differently than what I'm used to reading. There wasn't a lot of action and the pace was kind of slow but it was worth the read. All the loose ends were tied up quiet nicely. Overall this was a bit slow but still a fantastic read!
April 25, 2015
***This review has also been posted on
When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I would love it. It sounded like such a Rashika book and I could already imagine how much fun I would have with the book.
We are thrownright into the action so it was, at first, quite hard for me to keep up. I was confused about what was happening and as I progressed, the initial confusion made it so that I would have to flip back to the beginning to understand what was happening. So yes, that did become a problem for me (to the point where I wasn’t sure of a character’s approximate age until the end of the book, and I was off by a LOT) but, once you get into this book, it will suck you in and have you flipping pages and looking at the clock, hoping that you still have plenty of time left to read.
The identity of the Rook surprised me a little (you find out early on but the only reason I won’t mention it is because it’s fun to find out for yourself) but I am glad the author chose that character to be the Rook because they are so strong and cleverand just so fantastically themselves.
Sophia is a great main character. She is badass in the actual sense of the word. There are so many things she pulls that made me want to high five her. She is the kind of character I love in spite of her faults. Never once did I want to shake her, even if she did something I wasn’t completely okay with me because I was a 100% on her side.
Rene was a beautiful creature and I beg that you keep your slimy little paws off of MY RENE (yes I just laid my claim to a fictional character in my review for the book). He is just so fantastic and I imagine that had this been an adult book rather than a YA, there would be cold showers involved. He is a swoon worthy character AND I LOVE HIM. He is more than just a love interest. He is a fishy little creature who is clever and won’t fail to charm your pants off.
Their relationship is also a thing of beauty. They get off to a rough start and once the sparks start flying, the lack of relationship drama is actually surprising. There are so many ways the author could have made their relationship a hot and cold thing yet it was never that. It was just pure gorgeous development with one major bump. They trust each other, she confides in him and she actually, for the most part, doesn’t have secrets from him. ISN’T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
This book also had a very enjoyable plot line even if I wanted more in terms of action. It isn’t that there isn’t much going on -- the stakes were pretty damn high � but I just wanted a little more in terms of what they were doing and how they were doing it, and just some more of ass-kicking ya know?
I also found the plot to be pretty believable considering that the Rook isn’t actually old. The Rook doesn’t do all the things on their own, the Rook actually has a group of people they trust to help them and I also really liked the way things worked out. With the people takingcharge of their situation instead of the Rook. The Rook, while having seen their suffering and the pain, cannot possibly take leadership for something like thatsince they haven’t had to put up with it andI really liked that.
I also really liked the secondary characters! My favorite being Tom, followed by Benoit. I love that none of these secondary characters are just there, they actually play a part, and they have stories that we get to know. They have miniature arcs and along the way, we get to learn more and more about them which just made me love them all the more.
I was a little disappointed by the world building. This book is set in such a gorgeous location and I wanted to see that explored a little more. This book is also set in a post-apocalyptic world but we only get minimal information on that, just enough for us to understand the world some and while I was upset we didn’t get more, it was also understandable since there are other things going on in this story for everything to be fit into one standalone novel.
This was such a spectacular read and I loved almost every minute of it. It does take a while to get into but once I adjusted to the situation, I devoured the book and had lots of fun. It is definitely a read I’d recommend to all you readers who is looking something adventurousset in the future.
When I read the blurb for this book, I knew I would love it. It sounded like such a Rashika book and I could already imagine how much fun I would have with the book.
We are thrownright into the action so it was, at first, quite hard for me to keep up. I was confused about what was happening and as I progressed, the initial confusion made it so that I would have to flip back to the beginning to understand what was happening. So yes, that did become a problem for me (to the point where I wasn’t sure of a character’s approximate age until the end of the book, and I was off by a LOT) but, once you get into this book, it will suck you in and have you flipping pages and looking at the clock, hoping that you still have plenty of time left to read.
The identity of the Rook surprised me a little (you find out early on but the only reason I won’t mention it is because it’s fun to find out for yourself) but I am glad the author chose that character to be the Rook because they are so strong and cleverand just so fantastically themselves.
Sophia is a great main character. She is badass in the actual sense of the word. There are so many things she pulls that made me want to high five her. She is the kind of character I love in spite of her faults. Never once did I want to shake her, even if she did something I wasn’t completely okay with me because I was a 100% on her side.
Rene was a beautiful creature and I beg that you keep your slimy little paws off of MY RENE (yes I just laid my claim to a fictional character in my review for the book). He is just so fantastic and I imagine that had this been an adult book rather than a YA, there would be cold showers involved. He is a swoon worthy character AND I LOVE HIM. He is more than just a love interest. He is a fishy little creature who is clever and won’t fail to charm your pants off.
Their relationship is also a thing of beauty. They get off to a rough start and once the sparks start flying, the lack of relationship drama is actually surprising. There are so many ways the author could have made their relationship a hot and cold thing yet it was never that. It was just pure gorgeous development with one major bump. They trust each other, she confides in him and she actually, for the most part, doesn’t have secrets from him. ISN’T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
This book also had a very enjoyable plot line even if I wanted more in terms of action. It isn’t that there isn’t much going on -- the stakes were pretty damn high � but I just wanted a little more in terms of what they were doing and how they were doing it, and just some more of ass-kicking ya know?
I also found the plot to be pretty believable considering that the Rook isn’t actually old. The Rook doesn’t do all the things on their own, the Rook actually has a group of people they trust to help them and I also really liked the way things worked out. With the people takingcharge of their situation instead of the Rook. The Rook, while having seen their suffering and the pain, cannot possibly take leadership for something like thatsince they haven’t had to put up with it andI really liked that.
I also really liked the secondary characters! My favorite being Tom, followed by Benoit. I love that none of these secondary characters are just there, they actually play a part, and they have stories that we get to know. They have miniature arcs and along the way, we get to learn more and more about them which just made me love them all the more.
I was a little disappointed by the world building. This book is set in such a gorgeous location and I wanted to see that explored a little more. This book is also set in a post-apocalyptic world but we only get minimal information on that, just enough for us to understand the world some and while I was upset we didn’t get more, it was also understandable since there are other things going on in this story for everything to be fit into one standalone novel.
This was such a spectacular read and I loved almost every minute of it. It does take a while to get into but once I adjusted to the situation, I devoured the book and had lots of fun. It is definitely a read I’d recommend to all you readers who is looking something adventurousset in the future.
December 27, 2018
No time for a review, but dnfed around 35%.
Some parts were very good but some other were quite boring and I suspect it's another case of Murtaugh syndrome. Or it was bad timing. Don't know.
I may come back to it later because I kinda liked Sophia (the MC) and René, despite his terrible name, was legit swoon-worthy.
2,5 stars, for now.
___________________________________________
Probably next in line...but why the fuck does the hero has to be called René?!
In France, your great-grand-father's called René.
Not. Sexy.
(aaaand my shallow self will now shut up and go back to more serious business)
Some parts were very good but some other were quite boring and I suspect it's another case of Murtaugh syndrome. Or it was bad timing. Don't know.
I may come back to it later because I kinda liked Sophia (the MC) and René, despite his terrible name, was legit swoon-worthy.
2,5 stars, for now.
___________________________________________
Probably next in line...but why the fuck does the hero has to be called René?!
In France, your great-grand-father's called René.
Not. Sexy.
(aaaand my shallow self will now shut up and go back to more serious business)
September 18, 2016
4.5 stars but it was worthy to be rounded up! <3
*Thank you very much to Scholastic Canada for providing me with a copy of Rook in exchange for an honest review! Seriously, this book made my life a little better so thank you!*
This review is pretty long and go into some detail (though not spoilers) about some stuff, so if you don't want that, here is the itty bitty over-view: This book is awesome. Read it. That's it. Nothing more to say in short because if I start, I'll start rambling and gushing. Go read it for yourself, you definitely don't want to pass this one up! WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE READING THIS? AREYOUMAD? YOU'RE MISSING A GREAT BOOK!!!!!
Now, the long and detailed. Or where I just helplessly flail because ohmygosh, I swear I am in loveeeeee!!!!
When I started this book, I went into it only knowing the synopsis, I didn't know if the people I trusted liked it or didn't like it or whatnot. This seemed like something right up my alley and I hoped, expected even, to enjoy it. What I didn't expect was for me to love and adore the book!
This book's main message seems to be that History Repeats Itself. I've heard it many times, many books contain the same message but I should think that I love this one most of all! :)
This is set in the future but because history repeats itself, we're reliving the French revolution! Yay for the setting not being America! Paris wasn't very beautiful (on the cover, the Eiffel Tower is half torn down...) but I still liked the setting. I also loved the atmosphere! It was magnificent and beautiful.
Anyway, there's a Red Rook, a seeming hero who frees the prisoners, leaving only a red-tipped feather in their place! I won't reveal who this character is and it's not very hard to guess but you still get that little thrill when it's confirmed! Just know that they are bad-ass and awesome.
We also follow Sophie, our main character, who is to be married to a wealthy man to save her family. I can't tell much of her story because of spoilery purposes but know that it is intriguing and exciting!
I LOVE SOPHIE!!! She is so smart and kick-ass and relatable and just, gah love her! I love having her as the MC and I've got her back! She, like any real human, isn't without faults and I do not always agree with her but I completely support her, the same way I support my real life annoying, yet endearing, friends! I feel like that's a huge accomplishment (it's very easy for MCs to get on my nerves... -_-) and so kudos to you Ms. Cameron!
René is so awesome!! He's charming and clever and funny and I love him too!
"To say the truth," he (Renè) said, looking elsewhere, as if to spare her the embarrassment. "we had to pry your arms from my neck."
"And perhaps you might remember, Monsieur, I was suffering from a head injury at the time? Is any wonder I would act insane?"
The romance is so cute and awesome! I ship the two so hard! Love their banter and love how they're equal in so many ways! He's not a jerk and she's not a damsel in distress. Heck, there was that one time when they were sword-fighting in their flat and I swear it was the cutest thing! Most of my favourite couples have had a sword-fight or two or some other kind of cool training fighting (Percabeth, Chaol and Celaena, etc etc), it just makes for cuter couples.
"When you come down the stairs with your painted eyes and caramel skin and you make every man stare, I still think of you with mud in your hair and a sword strapped to your thigh. Are they not both one and the same?" ~Renè
Tom is Sophie's brother and while we do not see too much of him in the story, I feel like I know him quite well through Sophie's thoughts and memories and the few scenes that he has.
I think characters and the romance are where Ms. Cameron is strongest! I applaud her for that but also envy her cuz my characters end up like cardboard pieces with some jagged edges... -_-
I quite love the writing, it's lyrical but not so rambly. It has the atmospheric tone and it's gorgeous! LOVEEEE!!! I also this that this book does 3rd person very well! I love it when in a 3rd person novel, we get to see other people's POVs. What I loved about this book is that we also quite often get to see what's happening to LeBlanc, our main antagonist. We get to know what he's doing and some of his evil plans and learn to see him as a person and yet hate him.
This only thing is, this book has quite a slow pace. It starts off very exciting and filled with action but after that, at around 25% or so, it gets quite slow. We plan, we strategize, we learn but we don't DO much ass kicking. But thing thing is, it's not that nothing happens, it's just that not much action happens. And the other thing is that I'm fine with it. I had the characters to keep me company and I feel like it was still productive, even if it was slow.
So yes, highly recommend, go read.
This review was posted on April 25, 2015 on a blog that is now private. I thought I would now have them here as well!
*Thank you very much to Scholastic Canada for providing me with a copy of Rook in exchange for an honest review! Seriously, this book made my life a little better so thank you!*
This review is pretty long and go into some detail (though not spoilers) about some stuff, so if you don't want that, here is the itty bitty over-view: This book is awesome. Read it. That's it. Nothing more to say in short because if I start, I'll start rambling and gushing. Go read it for yourself, you definitely don't want to pass this one up! WHAT ARE YOU STILL DOING HERE READING THIS? AREYOUMAD? YOU'RE MISSING A GREAT BOOK!!!!!
Now, the long and detailed. Or where I just helplessly flail because ohmygosh, I swear I am in loveeeeee!!!!
When I started this book, I went into it only knowing the synopsis, I didn't know if the people I trusted liked it or didn't like it or whatnot. This seemed like something right up my alley and I hoped, expected even, to enjoy it. What I didn't expect was for me to love and adore the book!
This book's main message seems to be that History Repeats Itself. I've heard it many times, many books contain the same message but I should think that I love this one most of all! :)
This is set in the future but because history repeats itself, we're reliving the French revolution! Yay for the setting not being America! Paris wasn't very beautiful (on the cover, the Eiffel Tower is half torn down...) but I still liked the setting. I also loved the atmosphere! It was magnificent and beautiful.
Anyway, there's a Red Rook, a seeming hero who frees the prisoners, leaving only a red-tipped feather in their place! I won't reveal who this character is and it's not very hard to guess but you still get that little thrill when it's confirmed! Just know that they are bad-ass and awesome.
We also follow Sophie, our main character, who is to be married to a wealthy man to save her family. I can't tell much of her story because of spoilery purposes but know that it is intriguing and exciting!
I LOVE SOPHIE!!! She is so smart and kick-ass and relatable and just, gah love her! I love having her as the MC and I've got her back! She, like any real human, isn't without faults and I do not always agree with her but I completely support her, the same way I support my real life annoying, yet endearing, friends! I feel like that's a huge accomplishment (it's very easy for MCs to get on my nerves... -_-) and so kudos to you Ms. Cameron!
René is so awesome!! He's charming and clever and funny and I love him too!
"To say the truth," he (Renè) said, looking elsewhere, as if to spare her the embarrassment. "we had to pry your arms from my neck."
"And perhaps you might remember, Monsieur, I was suffering from a head injury at the time? Is any wonder I would act insane?"
The romance is so cute and awesome! I ship the two so hard! Love their banter and love how they're equal in so many ways! He's not a jerk and she's not a damsel in distress. Heck, there was that one time when they were sword-fighting in their flat and I swear it was the cutest thing! Most of my favourite couples have had a sword-fight or two or some other kind of cool training fighting (Percabeth, Chaol and Celaena, etc etc), it just makes for cuter couples.
"When you come down the stairs with your painted eyes and caramel skin and you make every man stare, I still think of you with mud in your hair and a sword strapped to your thigh. Are they not both one and the same?" ~Renè
Tom is Sophie's brother and while we do not see too much of him in the story, I feel like I know him quite well through Sophie's thoughts and memories and the few scenes that he has.
I think characters and the romance are where Ms. Cameron is strongest! I applaud her for that but also envy her cuz my characters end up like cardboard pieces with some jagged edges... -_-
I quite love the writing, it's lyrical but not so rambly. It has the atmospheric tone and it's gorgeous! LOVEEEE!!! I also this that this book does 3rd person very well! I love it when in a 3rd person novel, we get to see other people's POVs. What I loved about this book is that we also quite often get to see what's happening to LeBlanc, our main antagonist. We get to know what he's doing and some of his evil plans and learn to see him as a person and yet hate him.
This only thing is, this book has quite a slow pace. It starts off very exciting and filled with action but after that, at around 25% or so, it gets quite slow. We plan, we strategize, we learn but we don't DO much ass kicking. But thing thing is, it's not that nothing happens, it's just that not much action happens. And the other thing is that I'm fine with it. I had the characters to keep me company and I feel like it was still productive, even if it was slow.
So yes, highly recommend, go read.
This review was posted on April 25, 2015 on a blog that is now private. I thought I would now have them here as well!
November 29, 2015
is one classic I haven't read, but I have read two young adult retellings, and now Rook. The classic is set during the French Revolution, in which a fictional masked man rescues the wealthy aristocrats from "Madame Guillotine". In the YA versions, however, the vigilante is a she instead of a he, and the events aren't historical but set in a dystopian future. Whereas AaS-SS has more fantasy elements, Rook is grittier and based more firmly in reality. It's as if history is repeating itself, with Paris once again in the midst of a revolution and those in power using the guillotine as a form of execution.
By day Sophia Bellamy is a young lady of the Commonwealth, set to marry in order to save her family from financial ruin, and by night the Red Rook who frees those imprisoned in the Sunken City that was once Paris. Except, she never counted on herself not being the only person who isn't who she says she is...
Rook was not the easiest book to get into, nor did the urge to skim ever completely abate. Admittedly, lengthy books (for me that's 350+ pages) always make my leery, mostly because I fear they'll drag and my attention will wane. I don't ever want to feel the number of pages, and that's unfortunately what happened with Rook. Too many pages of details without dialogue, too many instances where I forgot who a certain character was, too many needless point-of-view switches, and too many times I grew confused by the worldbuilding. The set up itself is fascinating - a world in which Paris has literally sunk, technology has been outlawed, and the wealthy are being punished via the guillotine. Sharon Cameron's dystopian future is dark and gritty and oddly backwards, with the customs, way of dressing, and the treatment of women reflecting that of the 18th century. But too often I wished the plot moved along at a brisker pace. There wasn't near enough action or story to warrant a 450-page book.
The parts I did like, though, were very enjoyable. The main characters - Sophie, her brother Tom, and her love interest Rene - are a lively, witty bunch, sparks of life in an otherwise dreary setting. The author is brilliant with her dialogue, which is why I wish we had gotten more of it and less descriptions or characters' inner musings. The romance, especially, is a true delight. At first Sophie assumes her fiance is a useless dimwit; charming and handsome, but an idiot nonetheless. It's quite funny when she starts to realize how much she has underestimated him. It turns out that they're not so different after all. Once he discovers her true identity and shows his own cards (which happen fairly early on in the book, a fact for which I was thankful), a meeting of minds has never been so fun or sexy. They play off each other beautifully. Even when Sophie has doubts that Rene is truly on her side, they make an excellent team. Rene understands her in a way no one else ever has, and he's finally found his own equal match. And, oh wow, their chemistry and banter are terrific. I was simultaneously smiling and swooning. Again, I just wanted more of it.
There are several point-of-view switches throughout the book, and it happens even more frequently toward the end when the plots and schemes are put into motion. Sometimes I was okay with being inside the heads of others - the villain is truly vile and creepy - but for the most part I would have preferred to stay with Sophie and Rene. The other main character is Spear, a childhood friend of Sophie and her brother. I was worried a love triangle was going to develop, but I'll just say that, thankfully, one never does.
I do think Rook is worth a try, especially since many readers won't be bothered by the page length. It wasn't so much that I was bored, I just would have preferred spending time with certain characters as opposed to being given insignificant details. The romance is what truly saved the book for me, and I bet nearly every reader will be charmed by Sophie and Rene's relationship, and many will be intrigued by this world Sharon Cameron has created.
***Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!***
This review can also be found at .
By day Sophia Bellamy is a young lady of the Commonwealth, set to marry in order to save her family from financial ruin, and by night the Red Rook who frees those imprisoned in the Sunken City that was once Paris. Except, she never counted on herself not being the only person who isn't who she says she is...
Rook was not the easiest book to get into, nor did the urge to skim ever completely abate. Admittedly, lengthy books (for me that's 350+ pages) always make my leery, mostly because I fear they'll drag and my attention will wane. I don't ever want to feel the number of pages, and that's unfortunately what happened with Rook. Too many pages of details without dialogue, too many instances where I forgot who a certain character was, too many needless point-of-view switches, and too many times I grew confused by the worldbuilding. The set up itself is fascinating - a world in which Paris has literally sunk, technology has been outlawed, and the wealthy are being punished via the guillotine. Sharon Cameron's dystopian future is dark and gritty and oddly backwards, with the customs, way of dressing, and the treatment of women reflecting that of the 18th century. But too often I wished the plot moved along at a brisker pace. There wasn't near enough action or story to warrant a 450-page book.
The parts I did like, though, were very enjoyable. The main characters - Sophie, her brother Tom, and her love interest Rene - are a lively, witty bunch, sparks of life in an otherwise dreary setting. The author is brilliant with her dialogue, which is why I wish we had gotten more of it and less descriptions or characters' inner musings. The romance, especially, is a true delight. At first Sophie assumes her fiance is a useless dimwit; charming and handsome, but an idiot nonetheless. It's quite funny when she starts to realize how much she has underestimated him. It turns out that they're not so different after all. Once he discovers her true identity and shows his own cards (which happen fairly early on in the book, a fact for which I was thankful), a meeting of minds has never been so fun or sexy. They play off each other beautifully. Even when Sophie has doubts that Rene is truly on her side, they make an excellent team. Rene understands her in a way no one else ever has, and he's finally found his own equal match. And, oh wow, their chemistry and banter are terrific. I was simultaneously smiling and swooning. Again, I just wanted more of it.
There are several point-of-view switches throughout the book, and it happens even more frequently toward the end when the plots and schemes are put into motion. Sometimes I was okay with being inside the heads of others - the villain is truly vile and creepy - but for the most part I would have preferred to stay with Sophie and Rene. The other main character is Spear, a childhood friend of Sophie and her brother. I was worried a love triangle was going to develop, but I'll just say that, thankfully, one never does.
I do think Rook is worth a try, especially since many readers won't be bothered by the page length. It wasn't so much that I was bored, I just would have preferred spending time with certain characters as opposed to being given insignificant details. The romance is what truly saved the book for me, and I bet nearly every reader will be charmed by Sophie and Rene's relationship, and many will be intrigued by this world Sharon Cameron has created.
***Thanks to the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!***
This review can also be found at .
November 23, 2023
An ARC of this title was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own.
This review (and a giveaway thru 5/3!) can also be found at .
With every retelling of The Scarlet PimpernelI read, I'm more and more convinced that I absolutely must read the original classic. And while it's true that this is technically only the second retelling I've read, it is by far my favorite. I would give this book all the stars. Neverending, infinity stars.
But this book is not strictly a retelling; it is more of a tribute to the original story and very well done at that. I guess you could call this book post-apocalyptic in nature because of it's focus on France after the shifting of the poles, subsequent holes in the ozone and the resulting fall of technology. But it doesn't feel like your typical post-apocalyptic fare. This story is just so much goodness wrapped into one pretty package, and it's focus was more reliant on the fact that history is doomed to repeat itself and the revolution that fact seems to spark in people.
Sophia Bellamy is my favorite kind of heroine: skilled but not infallible, charming but not easily trusting, and completely and totally underestimated. René Hasard is also my favorite kind of love interest. The one who worms his way into the heroine's heart -- but not easily -- and provides me with delicious banter. Which is also why this is one of my favorite kinds of romances…I just adore the passion of a good hate-to-love romance.
The entire cast of characters endeared themselves to me practically from the beginning, though. Hasard's family charmed the pants off me, and Sophia's cohorts were no less enchanting. And the vile LeBlanc and Allemande were sufficiently evil. I've said it before, but I don't usually enjoy novels with so many third person perspectives. Though I think I may be retracting that statement in the near future with as many novels as I've enjoyed recently written in just that style. I was so engrossed in this novel that I just stopped expecting characters to act a certain way or for things to happen and simply allowed myself to enjoy the story.
It wasn't hard to do. This book just does not quit. Fast-paced from the moment I cracked the spine and it only picked up speed as I continued to read. It was intense and I was fraught with nerves the entire time, especially as one character's perspective would leave off on one train of thought, only to have another character pick up that same train of thought. It rent the novel with a sense of urgency that had me flipping pages well past my usual bedtime. I haven't found the energy to stay up into the night just to finish a novel in ages, but that's exactly what I did with Rook.
This homage to The Scarlet Pimpernelis definitely going to make it onto my list of favorites this year. It's just such a ME book and it's definitely left me curious about the author's other works. And I am just so happy to have read such an amazing fantasy novel that isn'tthe beginning of another trilogy. :)
GIF it to me straight:
This review (and a giveaway thru 5/3!) can also be found at .
With every retelling of The Scarlet PimpernelI read, I'm more and more convinced that I absolutely must read the original classic. And while it's true that this is technically only the second retelling I've read, it is by far my favorite. I would give this book all the stars. Neverending, infinity stars.
But this book is not strictly a retelling; it is more of a tribute to the original story and very well done at that. I guess you could call this book post-apocalyptic in nature because of it's focus on France after the shifting of the poles, subsequent holes in the ozone and the resulting fall of technology. But it doesn't feel like your typical post-apocalyptic fare. This story is just so much goodness wrapped into one pretty package, and it's focus was more reliant on the fact that history is doomed to repeat itself and the revolution that fact seems to spark in people.
Sophia Bellamy is my favorite kind of heroine: skilled but not infallible, charming but not easily trusting, and completely and totally underestimated. René Hasard is also my favorite kind of love interest. The one who worms his way into the heroine's heart -- but not easily -- and provides me with delicious banter. Which is also why this is one of my favorite kinds of romances…I just adore the passion of a good hate-to-love romance.
The entire cast of characters endeared themselves to me practically from the beginning, though. Hasard's family charmed the pants off me, and Sophia's cohorts were no less enchanting. And the vile LeBlanc and Allemande were sufficiently evil. I've said it before, but I don't usually enjoy novels with so many third person perspectives. Though I think I may be retracting that statement in the near future with as many novels as I've enjoyed recently written in just that style. I was so engrossed in this novel that I just stopped expecting characters to act a certain way or for things to happen and simply allowed myself to enjoy the story.
It wasn't hard to do. This book just does not quit. Fast-paced from the moment I cracked the spine and it only picked up speed as I continued to read. It was intense and I was fraught with nerves the entire time, especially as one character's perspective would leave off on one train of thought, only to have another character pick up that same train of thought. It rent the novel with a sense of urgency that had me flipping pages well past my usual bedtime. I haven't found the energy to stay up into the night just to finish a novel in ages, but that's exactly what I did with Rook.
This homage to The Scarlet Pimpernelis definitely going to make it onto my list of favorites this year. It's just such a ME book and it's definitely left me curious about the author's other works. And I am just so happy to have read such an amazing fantasy novel that isn'tthe beginning of another trilogy. :)
GIF it to me straight:
Want to read
September 21, 2015"Which is only fair, because neither is she." Hook, line, sinker, MUST READ THIS BOOK.
November 12, 2016
i've been sleeping on this book for more than a year and i kinda hate myself
i haven't expected it to be this good BUT IT'S SO FUCKING GOOD
this book lowkey reminded me of six of crows with all schemes and plotting AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH
i also loved the setting! it's set in the future after polar shift and it's xviii century all over again (i snorted so much times ar a nintendo or another things because ajlfkj;afjlfa you lowkey get used that you read about something like victorian ages and then bam and you remember that this is future)
this book is action-packed but the action moslty takes place in the second half, and i loved every word of it, this shit was so intense and frustrating (in a good way) i nearly died
but my favorite thing about this book is its CHARACTERS.
i fell in love with Sophie since the very first chapter where she kicled everybody's ass. she's so awesome and she's totally on my best-female-characters-list because DAMN.
also, René WHO ALLOWED YOU TO BE SO PERFECT. will there be time when i stop having crushes on fictional characters (get a life smh). i spend half of the book having a stupid smile plastered on my face because of him
the romance between Sophie and René killed me. it's so AMAZING. they're so cute and sweet (gave me cavities thank you so much) AND WITTY AND I LOVE THEM MY BABIES and the sexual tension between them drove me mad and i needed them to be together since the very beginning . they're like smart and cunning power couple and can i get more of them PLEASE.
also, the Hasard family THESE GUYS ROCK.
that's it i guess? i love being a mess.
5 stars because it's probably one of the best books i've read this year and i enjoyed every word of it.
May 27, 2016
And you come out on my birthday too? Pff...I think you are meant to be mine!!
PS: Give it to me, and give it to me now, he hee!
October 3, 2018
*screams and flails forever because I absolutely adore this book*
I read and enjoyed this book long before I read The Scarlet Pimpernel and developed an obsessive love for that story. But now that I have read and enjoyed the Scarlet Pimpernel that makes this retelling a hundred million times better. I love the subtle differences Cameron added to the plot, making this her own story.
She has so much detail to her post apocalyptic world that I feel like she could have dedicated a whole series to this world. Actually, I really would have liked that, so that I could have more time with these lovely characters.
Ah, these characters...
Sophia is a witty clever heroine and even though she is the Red Rook (this book's version of the Scarlet Pimpernel) I really feel like the author kept her personality true to Marguerite's. So this book wasn't a complete gender swap. Both Rene and Sophia had the admirable (and sometimes less admirable) qualities of both Percy and Marguerite. Rene is one of my all time fictional crushes. He is just so charming, and wears so many masks, and is so good at lying. He's basically a scoundrel Percy. I'm in love.
I also loved Thomas. He deserves the best brother of the year award. And I totally ship him with Jennifer. Also I would read a sequel about those two, just sayin'... Orla was hilarious and I would definitely not mess with her. I loved all of Rene's family, but especially his uncles. These guys are awesome and seriously, who even needs and army when you can have a family like the Hasards?
The only character I didn't like, other than the obvious bad guys of course, was Hammond (I don't even call him by his first name, that's how much I detest him). He's about as obsessive and controlling as the Phantom, only minus the musical genius.
Content: Some violence, including mild descriptions of torture, beheadings, and lots of blood and wounds. I don't really remember any language, but there may have been a few words sprinkled here and there. And as far as romance goes, it's relatively clean with maybe one intense kiss that I remember.
I don't normally mention anything about the style of books because as long as the characters and plot sweep me away I don't really care, but since I enjoyed the way this book was written so much, I guess I should say something about it. I found it gripping how every section would end with a character doing, thinking, or saying something and then the next section would begin with another character doing almost that same thing. It was especially fast paced in the climax. I find that I'm never able to even put this book down after it reaches a certain point.
I would recommend this book to fans of unique dystopian worlds, the Scarlet Pimpernel, or just clean YA in general.
I read and enjoyed this book long before I read The Scarlet Pimpernel and developed an obsessive love for that story. But now that I have read and enjoyed the Scarlet Pimpernel that makes this retelling a hundred million times better. I love the subtle differences Cameron added to the plot, making this her own story.
She has so much detail to her post apocalyptic world that I feel like she could have dedicated a whole series to this world. Actually, I really would have liked that, so that I could have more time with these lovely characters.
Ah, these characters...
Sophia is a witty clever heroine and even though she is the Red Rook (this book's version of the Scarlet Pimpernel) I really feel like the author kept her personality true to Marguerite's. So this book wasn't a complete gender swap. Both Rene and Sophia had the admirable (and sometimes less admirable) qualities of both Percy and Marguerite. Rene is one of my all time fictional crushes. He is just so charming, and wears so many masks, and is so good at lying. He's basically a scoundrel Percy. I'm in love.
I also loved Thomas. He deserves the best brother of the year award. And I totally ship him with Jennifer. Also I would read a sequel about those two, just sayin'... Orla was hilarious and I would definitely not mess with her. I loved all of Rene's family, but especially his uncles. These guys are awesome and seriously, who even needs and army when you can have a family like the Hasards?
The only character I didn't like, other than the obvious bad guys of course, was Hammond (I don't even call him by his first name, that's how much I detest him). He's about as obsessive and controlling as the Phantom, only minus the musical genius.
Content: Some violence, including mild descriptions of torture, beheadings, and lots of blood and wounds. I don't really remember any language, but there may have been a few words sprinkled here and there. And as far as romance goes, it's relatively clean with maybe one intense kiss that I remember.
I don't normally mention anything about the style of books because as long as the characters and plot sweep me away I don't really care, but since I enjoyed the way this book was written so much, I guess I should say something about it. I found it gripping how every section would end with a character doing, thinking, or saying something and then the next section would begin with another character doing almost that same thing. It was especially fast paced in the climax. I find that I'm never able to even put this book down after it reaches a certain point.
I would recommend this book to fans of unique dystopian worlds, the Scarlet Pimpernel, or just clean YA in general.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,708 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.