Review: The Rose Master by Valentina Cano

The Rose Master by Valentina Cano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Received: NetGalley
Publication Date: June 23rd, 2014
Publisher: REUTS Publications, LLC
Genres & Themes: Young Adult, Fantasy, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Magic, Fairy Tales.

BLURB:

The day Anne Tinning turns seventeen, birds fall from the sky. But that’s hardly the most upsetting news. She’s being dismissed from the home she’s served at since she was a child, and shipped off to become the newly hired parlor maid for a place she’s never heard of. And when she sees the run-down, isolated house, she instantly knows why:

There’s something wrong with Rosewood Manor.

Staffed with only three other servants, all gripped by icy silence and inexplicable bruises, and inhabited by a young master who is as cold as the place itself, the house is shrouded in neglect and thick with fear. Her questions are met with hushed whispers, and she soon finds herself alone in the empty halls, left to tidy and clean rooms no one visits.

As the feeling of being watched grows, she begins to realize there is something else in the house with them–some creature that stalks the frozen halls and claws at her door. A creature that seems intent on harming her.

When a fire leaves Anne trapped in the manor with its Master, she finally demands to know why. But as she forces the truth about what haunts the grounds from Lord Grey, she learns secrets she isn’t prepared for. The creature is very real, and she’s the only one who can help him stop it.

Now, Anne must either risk her life for the young man she’s grown to admire, or abandon her post while she still can.

REVIEW:

The day I turned seventeen, birds fell from the sky. A flock of them seemed to cross an invisible line, a boundary of packed winter breezes that wrapped them up in a coat of ice, freezing whatever kernel of magic allowed them power over the air. In great, like collapsing hair, they let out feathery sighs and gave in the fall.

Wonderful. I cannot believe this story is not more popular. I enjoyed every singly second of my read. The writing is mesmerizing and the story enticing.

Anne is a servant, working for Lady Caldwell, like her mother did before her. But, one day, she is sent to this mysterious and quiet master living in Rosewood Manor. When she arrives, the place appears to her as one who hasn’t held occupants for a while. It’s dusty, dark and definitely gloomy. Especially at night.

But where is the Sir Grey? Why and where is he hiding?

I am most in admiration with the writing. It is extremely pretty and it makes every detail and character that we encounter important. With words, this author can do wonders. And I cannot wait to read more of her works. If there is something that I can guarantee will appeal to you in this novel, it is most definitely the writing.

Anne is an easily likeable protagonist. She is intelligent, caring and relatable. However, I do not know in what year or historical context exactly the author meant for her story to be happening. So, for that, there is lack of information. Some background on the city or even country – which I do not recall being mentioned – would have been appreciated.

I loved all characters in this story, from the cameo to the main ones. It was obvious to me that they were all well thought of before introducing them to us and were there for a reason and not simply as an entertainment or fulfilling some plot hole. Everything inside and every scene made sense to the story since it all happened for a reason. I deeply thought, though, that Elsie should have been more present, for her friendship with Anne is so beautifully true and having her only at the beginning of the story was not enough. I missed her throughout my read.

This is not mainly a love story. Yes, you can see it that way, but I do not because romance it lacked. It sure was sweet when it was present but, as in the fairy tales we well know of, the romance is principally unrevealing itself at the end. It did not cause me to not enjoy the story since, when I did find the author’s plan of making us wait for it and get attached to the characters first and find some chemistry between them, I understood better.

Wow, I am cannot recommend this highly enough. For fans of fantasy, magic, fairy tales and gothic stories filled with a mysterious and a little creepy atmosphere that will only make you want to read more and more.