Dec. 14th, 2020 06:29 pm
Mother of Souls Book Review
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foreverdawning I finished Heather Rose Jones' Mother of Souls this week. I liked it a lot. I'm a bit sad that the world of Alpennia is more or less finished, but I'm glad it ended on a bang and not a fizzle. The book starts off with a character we met briefly in the previous book: Serafina Talarico, a Roman born from Ethiopian parents, who moves to Alpennia to learn how to perform mysteries. Serafina left behind a negligent husband who doesn't even know she's gone.
Serafina is a fun protagonist because she's a change of pace. She's a breath of fresh air, really. All the other main characters have been upper middle class who suddenly becomes an heiress or heiress turned poor. Serafina is solidly middle class and is extremely driven. I enjoyed following along to her story. She's also very much into women and not ashamed of it, but she still is careful like the time period would have required. Serafina's main objective though is to learn how to work mysteries. She comes to the harsh realization that though she has the vision to see mysteries, she does not have the "ear of the saints."
Soon after that she notices her landlady (I forget the actual term, Serafina is a boarder at this woman's home) Luzie Valorin is able to create something related to the mysteries. Marguerite thinks that they're just pure fluctus while Serafina is convinced she is able to create mysteries from music alone. There is also a subplot with the Swiss being super sketchy about the French King dying. We eventually find out there are a few rogue Swiss people who created a curse that covers all of Alpennia and they're trying to weaken the city. Serafina tells Lucie and through her music are able to protect all of Alpennia from the curse.
I really liked the book. It was especially fun to read a non-white perspective in this fantasy world. As always, it is nice to step back into a world you're familiar with but with a fun twist. This is also the first time we see an average person in Alpennia as opposed to the uber rich or anyone in nobilitiy. Lucie Valorin is an interesting character herself. I was a bit disappointed in the end but it was a good disappointment that fit within the story. Very cathartic.
(Major Spoilers)I am sad the trilogy ended on a sad note for Serafina's love life. I am glad she is rid of her husband and can make her way through Alpennia on her own, I'm still sad things didn't work out for her and Lucie.
(End of spoilers)
Overall: Highly recommend this book to everyone. I bought it off of the Bella Books website. I wish I had bought the bundle after I fell in love with the first book. You can buy the bundle here and the individual book here.
Serafina is a fun protagonist because she's a change of pace. She's a breath of fresh air, really. All the other main characters have been upper middle class who suddenly becomes an heiress or heiress turned poor. Serafina is solidly middle class and is extremely driven. I enjoyed following along to her story. She's also very much into women and not ashamed of it, but she still is careful like the time period would have required. Serafina's main objective though is to learn how to work mysteries. She comes to the harsh realization that though she has the vision to see mysteries, she does not have the "ear of the saints."
Soon after that she notices her landlady (I forget the actual term, Serafina is a boarder at this woman's home) Luzie Valorin is able to create something related to the mysteries. Marguerite thinks that they're just pure fluctus while Serafina is convinced she is able to create mysteries from music alone. There is also a subplot with the Swiss being super sketchy about the French King dying. We eventually find out there are a few rogue Swiss people who created a curse that covers all of Alpennia and they're trying to weaken the city. Serafina tells Lucie and through her music are able to protect all of Alpennia from the curse.
I really liked the book. It was especially fun to read a non-white perspective in this fantasy world. As always, it is nice to step back into a world you're familiar with but with a fun twist. This is also the first time we see an average person in Alpennia as opposed to the uber rich or anyone in nobilitiy. Lucie Valorin is an interesting character herself. I was a bit disappointed in the end but it was a good disappointment that fit within the story. Very cathartic.
(Major Spoilers)I am sad the trilogy ended on a sad note for Serafina's love life. I am glad she is rid of her husband and can make her way through Alpennia on her own, I'm still sad things didn't work out for her and Lucie.
(End of spoilers)
Overall: Highly recommend this book to everyone. I bought it off of the Bella Books website. I wish I had bought the bundle after I fell in love with the first book. You can buy the bundle here and the individual book here.