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. Recent Reviews:
The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander (received through Blogging for Books)
4 stars
Felix Guichard is a professor that studies the occult, both in history and in recent cultures. Asked to examine a dead teenager with strange symbols written on her, he notices a mysterious woman at the crime scene. Jackdaw Hammond has a very strange secret. She should be dead but is instead a living corpse who risks her life to help others in her situation. The narrative alternates between the present day and the sixteenth century when renowned alchemist John Dee and his assistant, Edward Kelley travel to Hungary/Poland (the geography was a little confusing) to save the Countess Elizabeth Bathory who is dying. They encounter witches, Inquisitors, and dark magic that threatens their own morality.
The sixteenth century sections are full of fascinating details that demonstrates the dark belief system at the time. The "Historical Note" at the end notes that Elizabeth Bathory was a real person found guilty for the deaths of many children. I found this mix of history and fantasy to work very well in this novel and the present day sections proved even stranger as Professor Guichard and Jackdaw attempt to protect a teenage girl who will die if not surrounded at all times by handwritten symbols. For the most part the novel flows smoothly however, the romance between the two characters stalled and Guichard's acceptance of Jackdaw seems a very unrealistic. Overall, though, I liked this book and couldn't put it down once I got started. I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
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