Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Hardcover: 336 pages
Lucy’s Chantress magic will make her the most powerful—and most hunted—girl in England.
“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.
When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.
Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion...
Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.
An enchanting story about a girl who can draw magic into being just by singing a song. A plot that is mostly uncomplicated and great characters make for an entertaining read. I was certainly pleasantly surprised that even though things are simple in the novel, I was still greatly captivated by the originality of the idea and its execution.
Lucy was hidden away on an isle and forbidden to sing because it would be really dangerous. Chantress are almost extinct and Lord Protector is trying to kill the remaining ones so that they disappear once and for all. When in London, Lucy finds protection with the Invisible College, who wants to see Lord Protector gone. The execution of this plot is mainly simple but really captivating! However I do have to mention that even though I enjoyed the story, there weren't many remarkable aspects to it. The romance was nevertheless really refreshing, since it was slowly developed.
The characters were all easy to like, even though many were also as forgettable. Lucy was a nice main character. She lacked a bit of charisma, maybe, but throughout I liked her determination to learn magic and to help the others (and even learn more about herself as a chantress). Nat was so swoony! He was handsome but intelligent and as scientist, a bit skeptical about the whole chantress thing, but that made the whole character more unique (if compared to other YA boys).
I would certainly recommend Chantress to anyone. It's an easy read with paranormal aspects and a nice romance. Although I thought the pace of the story to be a bit slow, I think that it was normal for such a series' beginning (Lucy does have to learn everything from scratch). I'm excited to get my hands on the next one; for I think the story will have more bite.
Good review. Thanks for participating.
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