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wmhenrymorris's review
Although it lacks the febrile moments and rush of its previous middle-child twin, the third book in the quartet has a charm, a dark charm, of its own as characters, particularly Baroness Ceaucescu and Miranda Popescu, try to figure out the limits of their power and the strength of their relationships as the political situation in Roumania rapidly changes. There is less action, less movement across space, but there are more moments of exquisite shimmering tension as all the main characters are finally back in one place.
Very good stuff. Let's just hope Park can pull off the final volume. The good (although slightly worrisome because there's only one book to do it in) news is that I'm not quite sure where we're headed for the ending or what the best solution, geo-politically, could possibly be.
Very good stuff. Let's just hope Park can pull off the final volume. The good (although slightly worrisome because there's only one book to do it in) news is that I'm not quite sure where we're headed for the ending or what the best solution, geo-politically, could possibly be.
woodge's review
3.0
This is the third book (in a series of four) that was begun in A Princess of Roumania and it's only getting stranger. In fact, this is one of the strangest plots I've come across in some time. In this outing, Miranda learns more about the mysterious hidden world which seems to be populated by people's animal spirits. And the Baroness Ceausescu must be half-crazy and a cold-hearted bitch besides. She's such an odd character with a weird appeal to various men around her. Some of the stranger developments concern Miranda's friend Andromeda who is really Lieutenant Sasha Prochenko in Roumania. Prochenko seems to vacillate between three modes of existence and not always mutually exclusive. He's both a he (Sasha), a she (Andromeda), and at times, a dog. Or a furry he-she. Strangeness abounds. The Hidden World is the next book.
nigellicus's review
5.0
Superb third volume in this extraordinary series. Miranda and Peter are in the clutches of the increasingly depraved Baroness. Andromeda is free, but poisoned by radiation and drift in her trip;e identity, Political forces are in motion as German power in Roumania wanes, but what will take its place? Miranda, in captivity, but courted by the German ambassador, rejects her role as a Princess and struggles to understand the lessons and plans of her Aunt Aegypta. The Baroness plots murder and celebrates her twisted art which mirrors her profoundly perverse mentality. Peter is imprisoned in appalling conditions and the streets are filled with revolutionary fervour.
This is a dark, strange book, with our heroes sidelined or forced into inactivity as danger grows around them and the Baroness is at her pinnacle of power. Terrible things are loose in the world of Greater Roumania, war is brewing in the East and a suspiciously fascist power is on the rise. The Princess of Roumania notably fails to ascend to her rightful place and set everything to rights in fairy-tale fashion. Straight into the final volume to see how all of this is resolved.
This is a dark, strange book, with our heroes sidelined or forced into inactivity as danger grows around them and the Baroness is at her pinnacle of power. Terrible things are loose in the world of Greater Roumania, war is brewing in the East and a suspiciously fascist power is on the rise. The Princess of Roumania notably fails to ascend to her rightful place and set everything to rights in fairy-tale fashion. Straight into the final volume to see how all of this is resolved.
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