Rate this book

City Of Swords (2012)

by Mary Hoffman(Favorite Author)

3.89 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1408800500 (ISBN13: 9781408800508)

languge

English

genre

Romance

publisher

Bloomsbury

series

Stravaganza

review 1: Super disappointed in this book. Even though my expectations were rather low after reading some reviews. Things I did not like:- Laura and Ludo... Like, what? I could maybe believe in Laura acting the way she did being a teenager, but Ludo is supposed to be like, 24? And don't Talians kind of have to grow up faster anyways? Luciano for example. I didn't like Laura too much, but I kind of expected that. But I found myself very annoyed with any and all decisions Ludo made. So you finally found your long lost, noble half sisters, and your way of introduction is to start a civil war? Which you then back out of because a girl you've known for like, a week, gets injured? And not even because of the civil war?! Laaaaaame. I feel like it was very out of character for him. I would ... morehave like to see him befriend Lucia and support her instead. Maybe going against something Fabrizio wanted, since there needs to be some sort of di Chimici conflict in every book. - Mortimer Stravagating. What was the point of that? It would have been just as effective for him to find out about Talia from being suspicious about the portrait of Georgia. Unless, there is a point to him being a Stravaganti in a new book? Is there even one? It makes sense that there should be. - Fabrizio was kind of an idiot in this one. I thought he was more appropriately villainous in City of Ships. In this, I didn't thing he posed a threat at all. He didn't really do too much except get mad all over the place. He reminded me of a villain in a cartoon, gets mad when he doesn't get his way and starts doing evil things. - I was hoping that (assuming this was the last book) that there would be something resolved with all the tensions between the di Chimici and the Stravaganti, because it's mostly just Fabrizio, Rinaldo and sort of Fillippo who really hate them. I thought there was going to be something with Nick, especially as all his relatives are starting to learn about him not really dying. Or that with Rodolfo and Luciano offering their services to Fabrizio, they would change his mind. - the Civil War. Why didn't they end up offering to help Fabrizio? That would have made for some more interesting tensions. - the ending. What? Ludo translates just like that? Now what? There's going be a time shift again? So everyone just go home. The end. What?! And Luciano and Arianna are too caught up in wedding bliss, that they're just like, "Whatevs. You all sort it out. We just got married." I mean, being married is great and all, but it doesn't cause you not to care about major crises that affect your Secret Society and all your friends. Things I Liked:- Lucia and Guido. Totally saw that coming, but I thought it was sweet. - the cats. Dunno why, but I enjoyed them. - the wedding! Although, not the ending. Actually, I think the wedding could have been better. But I'm glad they are married. - hearing more from Alfonso of Volana and the Pope. I liked the appearances of the other di Chimici relatives. Overall, I thought this book had some good starting points, some interesting ideas, but those ideas didn't pan out at all. It felt very rushed, like there was a big deadline looming so Mary Hoffman just threw this book together as a filler. Which maybe I will forgive if there are other books coming. There's potential here... But sadly, City of Swords did not live up it the many possibilities.
review 2: Once again I have picked not the first book in a series.City of Swords is the third book, I think. If I knew what was going on I would have liked this book, however my lack of knowledge of previous events is my fault not the author's. The idea of traveling back in time is fascinating. Mary Hoffman describes the past with what sounds like accuracy, I wasn't there so I don't actually know and I am not into research. It's hard to tell because I have a three year old but I felt like this book dragged in events just a bit. I would like to read the other books in the series and catch up. Perhaps one day I will get to it. If you don't have a three year old, read the whole series. I dare you. less

Download links for: City of Swords

Advertising