The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

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Brooke Reviews, August 24, 2009 (view all comments by Brooke Reviews)
ecause I can't write a Summary that will do this Victorian Gothic tale justice this is from Leanna Renee Hieber's website:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death….

My take:

The Guard is a group of six who were given special powers so they could protect London from the supernatural, or at least evil spirits that lurk about causing trouble. When they were given these powers there was also a prophecy about a seventh member that would be added to their group. There were many clues that would lead them to this seventh member, and it just so happens there are two women that almost fit the prophecy. The group must chose, and if they chose incorrectly, well, very bad things will happen.

Miss Percy Parker is a lovely tale. Whenever I try to describe this book I always go back to the words "lovely" or "beautiful". Beautiful is quite fitting as it's in the title of the book, right? Percy Parker is a great heroine to follow. She knows nothing of the prophecy, and nothing about her past or the powers she holds. She only knows that she's odd, in that she sees ghosts and that she somewhat resembles them with her pale skin, hair, and eyes. When I say she is a great heroine to follow, I mean that she grows through the whole story - with the help of her Professor - and it's very nice to see this shy young lady grow stronger and into more of a woman.

Professor Alexi Rychman is a very mysterious man to those on the outside, but on the inside he's lonely, and desperate to find this seventh member. One who he believes he is supposed to be in love with. He has tough choices to make in this book, and the whole time I'm screaming to myself, "Come on Alexi! You know what to do!"

It was hard to sit on the "outside" of this book. I just wanted to jump in and help these characters out. I guess wanting to be involved in the story is a good thing right? There are more characters than Percy and Alexi, and all have their separate quirks and personalities. While reading, you can get a good feel for each one, and their likes/dislikes, desires, and powers.

Another aspect of the story was that of The Ripper. I love this twist, I've always been interested in Jack the Ripper, and had the privilege of learning more about him in a class over the summer. That's besides the point though. This part was a great addition to the story.

Leanna Renee Hieber's education on everything Victorian shines in this tale, and it was a pleasure to watch it all unravel. I look forward to many more LOVELY books from her in the future. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is alluring and haunting and should NOT be missed.

You can visit Hieber's website for a trailer, excerpts, and prologue.

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tdfangirl, August 17, 2009 (view all comments by tdfangirl)
The Strangely Beautiful Tale... is certainly strangely beautiful, and I had to force myself to put the book down so I could sleep. Set in an alternate Victorian England, where spirits roam the streets and six chosen people safeguard the mortal world from dangerous ghosts, this book is richly imagined and constructed, with fascinating characters and an engrossing storyline.

I think my favorite thing about this book is the incredible romantic tension that develops between meek Percy and arrogant Alexi. Have any of you seen North and South (the BBC production of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, not that Civil War miniseries from the 80s)? You know how the tension between Margaret and Mr. Thornton builds and builds and builds with no release in sight, and when there finally is a release, you're practically panting even if it's just a kiss? Well, I spent every page of this book from the moment Percy met Alexi in that state. It's really a fantastic take on the destined-to-be-together storyline; I was surprised that I liked it so much because I usually don't care for that type of romance. It just worked really well in this context.

Percy is an unusual heroine for me to like, because she is very meek and uncertain. I lean toward the tough chicks, and while Percy does have incredible inner strength, she is very timid on the outside. There were a few times when I wanted to shout at her to stand up for herself, but she does come through when it really matters (and I cheered). Alexi, on the other hand, pushes all of my brooding hero buttons. I have to admit that I pictured the aforementioned Richard Armitage as Alexi; a Twitter conversation with the author revealed that she imagined Alexi as Alan Rickman when she started writing the novel. Either way, he's brooding and isolated, having devoted his entire life to seeking out the Prophecy revealed to him when he was a teenager, and he's the perfect picture of a lonely romantic hero.

I think the thing I found most fascinating about this novel was the mythology that surrounds the characters. Alexi and his five companions were chosen as young teenagers to serve as the Guard, and they were granted specific powers that would allow them to police London and send dangerous spirits packing. Alexi has spent the twenty years since that time struggling to balance his beliefs as a scientist with the memory of the goddess who appeared to them through a portal in the air. I won't give away the mythology itself, but it was well-integrated into the story and was definitely an interesting twist on what could have been a simpler ghost story.

The only complaint I have is that the end seemed to happen really swiftly, and I wish it had been drawn out a bit more. But otherwise, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9780843962963

Author:

Hieber, Leanna Renee

Publisher:

DP

Subject:

Romance - Fantasy

Subject:

Fantasy fiction

Subject:

Albinos and albinism - England - London -

Copyright:

2009

Edition Description:

Trade Paper

Publication Date:

20110502

Binding:

Paperback

Language:

English

Pages:

320

Dimensions:

8.50 x 5.25 in