Leanna Renee Hieber
The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker (Strangely Beautiful #1)
Leisure Books
ISBN-10: 0843962968
ISBN-13: 978-0843962963
Gothic Victorian fantasy (romance)
August 25, 2009
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….
If you’ve been looking for something different, this is it. While I’ve encountered similar enough stories, I dare say this is even a fresh twist on the Gothic romance as we know it today. What completely transports the book into its own is the author’s voice and the dramatic way in which the story unfolds.
I don’t know that a title has ever been so apt for a book. A strange and beautiful tale is indeed what we get as we become acquainted with the ethereal Miss Percy Parker. A young woman with more years on her shoulders than mere age conveys, she appears as though an old soul resides within. Beaten down by her own appearance, she’s self conscious to the point of painfulness. Described in rather extreme details of skin as pale as a ghost, eyes devoid of color and hair of the palest white, she’s both used to and tired of the whispers and ridicule her looks bring. This doesn’t stop her from stepping foot outside the convent she was raised in to pursue something more for herself. That something more is an education at Athens Academy. Older than most of the students, she tries her best to fit in.
She can no more fit in, though, than she can avoid the sharp and intimidating notice of Professor Rychman. Alexi, with his special, hidden skills as the leader of a secret group of protectors, knows there’s something different about Miss Parker, and her looks have nothing to do with it. Strangely beautiful though she may be, there arises one coincidence too many for Alexi to ignore her intriguing presence. Drawn to her in ways too startling to observe closely, Alexi does his best to maintain a professional distance as he seeks out the answers to a Prophecy he and his friends have long awaited. The more these coincidences arise, though, the more he cannot ignore what Fate is trying to tell him.
Alexi and Percy had an instantly attractive kind of attraction for me – much older man meets and falls quite irresistibly for a much younger woman. Instant conflict enabler, yet they of course face so much more. He’s in a position of authority over her, he has to find the last person that will complete his group’s powers and he’s been warned against an impostor. Can Percy really be the one they need – that he needs – when she resides in such a young body? The rest of his compatriots, The Guard, are more inclined towards the much more alluring charms of a Miss Linden, a sweet-natured lady closer in age to them and who seems to possess the traits necessary to help them. All is not as it seems, of course, and Alexi will have to make a choice, one that could have dire consequences or save them all. Who can he trust?
From the moment the book opens, with our introduction to The Guard’s formation, to the dramatic conclusion, The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker was the kind of book that was impossible to put down. I felt completely drawn in from the beginning and had I the time I probably would’ve devoured the book in one sitting. Percy is a wonderful heroine that, while young, was amusing, emotionally engaging and it became increasingly harder not to pull for her. Alexi had a lot riding on his shoulders, and we see plenty of examples that the stress of it all has come to a boiling point with him, yet I couldn’t help but want to thump him over the head at times. Still, the attraction between the two is nicely built upon until the conflicts between them, age being one of the biggest, become pale in comparison. Their romance isn’t so much a sexy kind as much as it is a sweet, wondrous road to discovery. Surrounded by the strange, paranormal happenings that neither completely understands, the romance aspect does have a nice backdrop.
Secondary characters play an important role. The rest of The Guard all have important talents that make each of them indispensable to their work, that of dealing with ghosts that have gotten particularly unruly. When a killer sets sights on the seedier side of London, The Guard has their work cut out for them. We see and learn about all of them to a point, but Rebecca plays one of the bigger roles, as she works at the academy with Alexi as the headmistress of the school. I did get a sense though that there is still plenty to tell about each of The Guard, and I look forward to continuing what was clearly the first in a new series.
I’ve read a few books where the world the author has built begins to feel like a character in and of itself. It becomes almost like this atmosphere that a reader can see and feel as they become invested in the story. I felt this way with this book, as if transported to Athens Academy and this London that the author has envisioned. From the clever twist on the Ripper, to the other villains and the ingrained nature of the ghosts throughout the story, Hieber has managed to create a backdrop that has earned its place as surely as any well developed character.
The only part of the book that didn’t necessarily live up to expectation was the villains themselves. Normally this is one of my biggest pet peeves, when the villain isn’t villainous enough. This time, it wasn’t that, more that Alexi and Percy were such great characters that I didn’t really give a fig about the villains. Don’t get me wrong, the villains do put up a good fight and challenge the protagonists well enough. I simply only had eyes for Percy and Alexi and couldn’t wait to get through anything that wasn’t directly about them or The Guard.
As the first in a new series, this is just a superb book. I was charmed, entertained and cheering for the romantic development of the hero and heroine – and that, fellow, readers, is all this particular reader could ask for. Really excellent with a few small reservations. Highly recommended.
Book two will release in May 2010, title TBA and according to the author, “The danger is bigger, the sensuality is bigger, and our glimpses into the rest of the Guard are bigger.”
Rating: Four and a Half Scoops
For more information on the author and her work, visit her site.
February 21, 2012
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I adored this book for all the reason you mention. It is so different and charming!! While I loved Percy and Alexi, I thought the supporting characters fit in perfect.
Hi :)
Thanks for the terrific review!
I was wondering about this novel & you have convinced me to read it.
Love and best wishes,
twitter: @RKCharron
xoxo
I am starting this today! Glad that you enjoyed it so much.
I’ve been hearing so many good things about this book and you review just cemented my desire to make this a must read. Thank you!
I’m definitely reading this one, KMont. Thanks for the review. :)
great review! so glad to hear of another positive reading experience. while i am definitely going to pick this up, one moment of whining…whyyy must it be a series?!?! so many of the new-to-me books i am falling in love with are parts of looong series! more to enjoy, i guess, but everything that seems interesting to me these days is such a commitment.
I loved this book! Your review was perfect. Such a strangely beautiful tale indeed. I wanted so much more of Percy and Alexi that even though I was hoping for a book which focused on other Guard members, I was so pleased to learn that book two is still Percy and Alexi!
Percy Parker is a sweet and beautiful character. As for Alexi… *rowl*.
This book has a great combo of genres that really work. I also think the level of sensuality was the right amount. Not that I wouldn’t have minded if Alexi placed Percy on his desk and showed her the wonders of what a nice cravat can do.
Yes, I am now more obsessed with a cravat then ever.
Can’t wait for the next book.
Thank you so much Kenda! I’m really honoured by your words. I’ve linked to this post on all my sites. I’m thrilled. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey with me.
Just stumbled across this site and Love it!
“. . . the world the author has built begins to feel like a character in and of itself. It becomes almost like this atmosphere that a reader can see and feel as they become invested in the story.”
I love when an author can do this, too.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone, and sorry for the blanket reply. One of those weeks! I hope if yall pick this one up that you really enjoy it. :)
Thanks for the review KMont! I have yet to get to this, and your review just cements my expectations of what I think I’ll get out of this book :P