This book had me at ballgowns and betrayal, but lost me at the writing style.
A big thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book had me at ballgowns and betrayal, but lost me at the writing style.
House of Marionne by J. Elle is a YA fantasy novel that follows 17 year-old Quell who has lived her entire life on the run due to a secret magic she must never use nor ever tell anyone about. But one day someone does, and she is forced to become a member of a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever. But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training. When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.
I REALLY wanted to love this book. But I just couldn't do it. And the main reason is the writing style. It was choppy and confusing, and I could have sworn the character were jumping across the page willy-nilly. Maybe one day I'll try this book again, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.
This book had me at ballgowns and betrayal, but lost me at the writing style.
House of Marionne by J. Elle is a YA fantasy novel that follows 17 year-old Quell who has lived her entire life on the run due to a secret magic she must never use nor ever tell anyone about. But one day someone does, and she is forced to become a member of a debutante society of magical social elites called the Order that she never knew existed. If she can pass their three rites of membership, mastering their proper form of magic, she’ll be able to secretly bury her forbidden magic forever. But becoming the perfect debutante is a lot harder than Quell imagined, especially when there’s more than tutoring happening with Jordan, her brooding mentor and— assassin in training. When Quell uncovers the deadly lengths the Order will go to defend its wealth and power, she’s forced to choose: embrace the dark magic she’s been running from her entire life or risk losing everything, and everyone, she’s grown to love.
I REALLY wanted to love this book. But I just couldn't do it. And the main reason is the writing style. It was choppy and confusing, and I could have sworn the character were jumping across the page willy-nilly. Maybe one day I'll try this book again, but I don't see that happening anytime soon.