The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

The Swan Thieves
Elizabeth Kostova

Front cover

Date read: 28 November - 12 December 2016
Length: 607 pages

Dr. Marlow is a psychiatrist assigned the case of Robert Oliver, an artist who got arrested for destroying a painting. Apart from their first encounter, Robert won't speak. This forces Dr. Marlow to try to get inside his head by speaking to his ex-wife and lover. Robert does nothing but paint. Who is this mysterious woman he paints over and over? 


The Swan Thieves is quite a captivating story, although it can drag a little in parts. I don't think the book had to be as long as it was, and some bits felt a little stretched out. But overall I enjoyed the story. 

I thought the flashes to the past were interesting, and the unravelling of the mystery of the woman in the painting too. You spend so much of the book wondering if she's real or not, and if Robert actually knew her. 

You also spend a lot of the book wondering if Robert will ever speak again! I won't reveal for the sake of spoilers, but it was actually beginning to irritate me. Although sometimes I wish I could just not speak to anyone! 

After reading The Historian I have to say this just doesn't compare. I read The Historian a good many years ago now, but I loved it. I couldn't get enough of it! So if you're looking for something in the same ilk as Kostova's previous work, you will be a little disappointed. 

That's not to say you can't read this one as well though! 




Overall rating

Thanks, 
The Wee Librocubicularist 

The Shepherd's Crown (Discworld #41) by Terry Pratchett

The Shepherd's Crown
Discworld #41
Terry Pratchett

Front cover

Date read: 19 - 27 November 2016
Length: 333 pages

After the death of a certain well known witch, everything sort of falls into the hands of Tiffany Aching. And quite rightly so. Due to her previous experience, she is the only one capable of leading the defence against the fairy invasion. It's more menacing than it sounds. Can Tiffany keep the land protected?


The death was right at the beginning of the story, and it was so abrupt and straight to the point that I was caught off guard a little! I think it's very fitting though, and worked out very well.

It's nice to see Tiffany all grown up. I still think of her as a little pre-teen just learning about the world of magic. And don't forget the Nac Mac Feegle; the most honourable little blue men you will ever meet. No matter what Tiffany goes through, they will be right by her side.

The Shepherd's Crown clearly isn't as finished as the Discworld novels usually are. But despite this I'm very glad it was still published. I think the world needed this story (even though it made the series finish on an odd number) and I took a lot of symbolism from it. Terry Pratchett is Granny Weatherwax and the readers are Tiffany Aching. Of course it's an extremely sad thing that they passed, but magic/the Discworld will continue through Tiffany/the readers.


Well here we are. The last ever Discworld novel. The end of an era. I first picked up a Discworld novel as a teenager; and I remember it was Soul Music. I thought it was amazing, and is still one of my favourites in the series. But after that I didn't read any for a while. Then about 3 and a half years ago, I decided I was going to read all of the Discworld novels, starting with The Colour of Magic and working my way through right until the very end. And that's what I did. I don't regret a single second of it.

Terry Pratchett

Overall rating

Thanks,
The Wee Librocubicularist