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Available
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Genres
Collection
Publication
Brilliance Audio (2011), Edition: Library
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Thriller. Historical Fiction. HTML:Lucy Derrick is a young woman of good breeding and poor finances. After the death of her beloved father, she becomes the unwanted boarder of her tyrannical uncle, fending off marriage to a local mill owner. But just as she is resigned to a life of misery, a handsome stranger�??the poet and notorious rake Lord Byron�??arrives at her house, stricken by what seems to be a curse, and with a cryptic message for Lucy. With England on the cusp of revolution, Lucy inexplicably finds herself awakened to a world where magic and mortals collide, and the forces of ancient nature and modern progress are at war for the soul of England . . . and the world. The key to victory may be connected to a cryptic volume whose powers of enchantment are unbounded. Now, challenged by ruthless enemies with ancient powers at their command, Lucy must harness newfound mystical skills to preserve humanity�??s future. And enthralled by two exceptional men with desi… (more)
Media reviews
"Set in 1812 Nottinghamshire, this delightfully original tale from Liss (The Devil's Company) combines the classic elements of a Regency romance with ancient magic and the machine-breaking of the Luddite rebellion."
Edgar Award-winner Liss has provided a truly wicked read, a cartoonishly entertaining yet culturally instructive fiction that no conscientious admirer of occult fantasy need feel any guilt over indulging in.
"This novel is a strong effort from Liss as it offers a unique and fascinating story, compelling characters, and the delicious combination of realism and mythical."
"This odd mixture of industrial history and the occult world lacks charm and coherency, but it earns points for ambition and characterization."
User reviews
LibraryThing member Cariola
Let me start by saying that while I love historical fiction, I'm not a fan of fantasies or mysteries. So if you are into ghosts, faeiries, revenants, sorcerers, devil dogs, and the like, you will probably enjoy this book more than I did. My interest was held more by the arrival of literary figures
The novel's young heroine, Lucy Derrick, has been cheated out of her inheritance and almost cheated out of her reputation. Her quest is to set the first wrong aright and to overcome the second. When evil forces replace her baby niece with an evil changeling, Lucy's search for the pages of an ancient mystical book and her desire to defeat her--and England's--enemies accelerate. Along the way, Liss throws in a bit of romance. (After all, who could NOT be attracted to the handsome Lord Byron?)
As others have mentioned, there were a few holes in the story, places where more background information would have helped. And Lucy seemed at times a bit too naive, even for a young woman of the eighteenth century. But the writing was lively and the book generally held my attention. Recommended for those who like their history blended with fantasy.
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Lord Byron and William Blake and the depiction of the burgeoning industrialization of England.The novel's young heroine, Lucy Derrick, has been cheated out of her inheritance and almost cheated out of her reputation. Her quest is to set the first wrong aright and to overcome the second. When evil forces replace her baby niece with an evil changeling, Lucy's search for the pages of an ancient mystical book and her desire to defeat her--and England's--enemies accelerate. Along the way, Liss throws in a bit of romance. (After all, who could NOT be attracted to the handsome Lord Byron?)
As others have mentioned, there were a few holes in the story, places where more background information would have helped. And Lucy seemed at times a bit too naive, even for a young woman of the eighteenth century. But the writing was lively and the book generally held my attention. Recommended for those who like their history blended with fantasy.
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LibraryThing member Romonko
This book is not the usual kind of book that I read, but I love David Liss's writing, so I persevered. It wasn't bad at all. The book is a historical romance with a very large dose of magic and the occult. Lucy Derrick is an interesting protagonist, and we see her develop and grow as she discovers
Revolution. The entire world is changing and many people do not look forward to the change. And of course there are many who wish to take advantage of people while England goes through this change. Lucy works with two very captivating men to try to stop some of the bloodshed. I found it fascinating to explore Lucy's supernatural world, and Liss makes it all so believable. If nothing else, the book is wildly entertaining and a wonderful form of escapism.
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her supernatural powers and as she finds the scattered pages of an ancient and powerful book. Mr. Liss's book is set in England during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The entire world is changing and many people do not look forward to the change. And of course there are many who wish to take advantage of people while England goes through this change. Lucy works with two very captivating men to try to stop some of the bloodshed. I found it fascinating to explore Lucy's supernatural world, and Liss makes it all so believable. If nothing else, the book is wildly entertaining and a wonderful form of escapism.
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LibraryThing member suetu
Lucy Derrick is a bad judge of character
At the age of 20, Lucy Derrick is a sadder but wiser girl. The last few years have been terrible. When she was just 16, she made an error in judgment. She eloped very briefly with Mr. Jonas Morrison, but returned before anything untoward could happen between
Does this sound more like a Jane Austen novel than your typical fantasy? It should. Novelist David Liss is well-known for intricately researched and plotted period thrillers. Here he turns his talents to something different from what we’ve seen in the past. Regency England is rendered in fine historical detail, and Lucy Derrick is the young woman that Austen’s disgraced Lydia Bennett might have matured into. But there is an even more direct link to the work of Jane Austen. One of The Twelfth Enchantment’s main characters is pulled straight from the pages of Mansfield Park.
Further, this is the first time that Mr. Liss has delved into the fantastic, and it doesn’t take long for things to get strange. Lucy is being forced into an unhappy marriage with a wealthy mill owner, Mr. Olsen. One evening a beautiful, disheveled stranger comes to her uncle’s door shouting Lucy’s name. As he collapses, he pronounces, “You must not marry him!” It quickly becomes apparent that something very extraordinary ails this man. He is cursed. So begins a new chapter in Lucy’s life. She discovers there is more to the world than she ever knew—and more to herself. Lucy is saucier, stronger, and far more talented than anyone suspected.
With the help of her new acquaintance, Mary Crawford, Lucy cures the stranger of his curse. It turns out that he is none other than Lord Byron, and he is not the only historical figure to play a role in the story. The novel has a lengthy set up. There is a large cast of characters; a time, place, and system of magic to be established; and in true Liss style, a larger socio-economic component to the tale. Liss’s characters don’t exist in a vacuum, and this was a pivotal period in British history, with industrialization taking a foothold and changing a way of life.
I can feel this review wanting to spiral out of control. I took a ridiculous number of notes and quotes as I read this novel because it is, in a word, substantive. There is a whole lot going on here, on so many levels! Janeite that I am, I absolutely LOVED the homage to her work. As you might suspect, there is a strong romantic component to this tale, and the dashing Lord Byron is only one of Lucy’s charismatic and inappropriate suitors. There is also a delightful vein of comedy balancing heavier elements of the story. As a fantasy fan, I enjoyed the system of magic and the quest that Liss constructed. It did add a little sumpin’ sumpin’ that Austen never had. And as a Liss fan, I appreciated the complexity and intelligence of the tale being told. I never feel that I have to work as I read his novels, but I will admit to hitting Wikipedia more than once to satisfy my own curiosity. I love that his novels awaken my curiosity!
More than anything, Mr. Liss is telling a good story. I joked above that Lucy Derrick is a bad judge of character. Well, so am I, because there were enough secrets, twists, reversals, betrayals, and shocking revelations to keep me constantly guessing and turning the pages late, late into the night. And when I reached the end in record time, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.
At the age of 20, Lucy Derrick is a sadder but wiser girl. The last few years have been terrible. When she was just 16, she made an error in judgment. She eloped very briefly with Mr. Jonas Morrison, but returned before anything untoward could happen between
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them. Unfortunately, her family suffered more than a scandal, because in the brief time that she was gone her beloved eldest sister died suddenly, followed a year later by her father. That left only Lucy and her older sister Martha, who sacrificed her own happiness to marry the male cousin who had inherited their home. But after the wedding, he turns Lucy out of the house. As the novel opens, she has been forced to accept the reluctant charity of a cold uncle and his abusive servant.Does this sound more like a Jane Austen novel than your typical fantasy? It should. Novelist David Liss is well-known for intricately researched and plotted period thrillers. Here he turns his talents to something different from what we’ve seen in the past. Regency England is rendered in fine historical detail, and Lucy Derrick is the young woman that Austen’s disgraced Lydia Bennett might have matured into. But there is an even more direct link to the work of Jane Austen. One of The Twelfth Enchantment’s main characters is pulled straight from the pages of Mansfield Park.
Further, this is the first time that Mr. Liss has delved into the fantastic, and it doesn’t take long for things to get strange. Lucy is being forced into an unhappy marriage with a wealthy mill owner, Mr. Olsen. One evening a beautiful, disheveled stranger comes to her uncle’s door shouting Lucy’s name. As he collapses, he pronounces, “You must not marry him!” It quickly becomes apparent that something very extraordinary ails this man. He is cursed. So begins a new chapter in Lucy’s life. She discovers there is more to the world than she ever knew—and more to herself. Lucy is saucier, stronger, and far more talented than anyone suspected.
With the help of her new acquaintance, Mary Crawford, Lucy cures the stranger of his curse. It turns out that he is none other than Lord Byron, and he is not the only historical figure to play a role in the story. The novel has a lengthy set up. There is a large cast of characters; a time, place, and system of magic to be established; and in true Liss style, a larger socio-economic component to the tale. Liss’s characters don’t exist in a vacuum, and this was a pivotal period in British history, with industrialization taking a foothold and changing a way of life.
I can feel this review wanting to spiral out of control. I took a ridiculous number of notes and quotes as I read this novel because it is, in a word, substantive. There is a whole lot going on here, on so many levels! Janeite that I am, I absolutely LOVED the homage to her work. As you might suspect, there is a strong romantic component to this tale, and the dashing Lord Byron is only one of Lucy’s charismatic and inappropriate suitors. There is also a delightful vein of comedy balancing heavier elements of the story. As a fantasy fan, I enjoyed the system of magic and the quest that Liss constructed. It did add a little sumpin’ sumpin’ that Austen never had. And as a Liss fan, I appreciated the complexity and intelligence of the tale being told. I never feel that I have to work as I read his novels, but I will admit to hitting Wikipedia more than once to satisfy my own curiosity. I love that his novels awaken my curiosity!
More than anything, Mr. Liss is telling a good story. I joked above that Lucy Derrick is a bad judge of character. Well, so am I, because there were enough secrets, twists, reversals, betrayals, and shocking revelations to keep me constantly guessing and turning the pages late, late into the night. And when I reached the end in record time, I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest.
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LibraryThing member alexann
David Liss is well-known for his fine historical novels with their extreme detail backed by his careful research. Add to that a grand mystery with both gothic and occult elements, toss in an unpredictable love story, and you have the recipe for a splendid read!
Lucy Derrick is only 19, but the last
Her life changes when a strange but beautiful young man stumbles to her home in need of medical attention, crying out "You must not marry him!" With the help of her new acquaintance, Mary Crawford, Lucy mends him and sends his on his way, certain it is the last she will see of him.
To tell more of the plot would begin to divulge secrets better left to the reader. Suffice it to say that Lucy's story is not for the faint of heart. It will, however, surely hold the reader's attention! Its intricate plot and finely tuned writing demand it.
Lucy's tale is set in 1812, when the Luddites are striving to raise a rebellion against those who would industrialize England. The debate is heard near and far, informing everything that Lucy and her friends and family do. But there is also a good deal of lightness here--Lucy's two Lotharios, her silly lady friends, and the gossip. Oh, the gossip!
Apparently this work is a departure for Liss. Although filled with fascinating historic detail, like this one, his previous titles have been more serious, dealing with espionage and double-dealing politicians. The Twelfth Enchantment has a bit of this, but more is a comedy of manners overlaid with a health dose of the occult. Highly recommended.
Lucy Derrick is only 19, but the last
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four years of her life have been made especially long by a youthful indiscretion which has badly damaged her reputation. When her father dies, and her sister's husband casts her out of the family home, Lucy takes refuge in the home of a cold, uncaring uncle, and his shrewish servant. To get Lucy out from under his roof, Uncle Lowell has arranged for her to be married to an unpleasant mill owner. Lucy spends most of her time weeping and moping--this mustn't happen!Her life changes when a strange but beautiful young man stumbles to her home in need of medical attention, crying out "You must not marry him!" With the help of her new acquaintance, Mary Crawford, Lucy mends him and sends his on his way, certain it is the last she will see of him.
To tell more of the plot would begin to divulge secrets better left to the reader. Suffice it to say that Lucy's story is not for the faint of heart. It will, however, surely hold the reader's attention! Its intricate plot and finely tuned writing demand it.
Lucy's tale is set in 1812, when the Luddites are striving to raise a rebellion against those who would industrialize England. The debate is heard near and far, informing everything that Lucy and her friends and family do. But there is also a good deal of lightness here--Lucy's two Lotharios, her silly lady friends, and the gossip. Oh, the gossip!
Apparently this work is a departure for Liss. Although filled with fascinating historic detail, like this one, his previous titles have been more serious, dealing with espionage and double-dealing politicians. The Twelfth Enchantment has a bit of this, but more is a comedy of manners overlaid with a health dose of the occult. Highly recommended.
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LibraryThing member Denise701
I can't count all the ways I loved this book much more than the Harkness book. The story was fast-moving, and the character of Lucy Derrick was engaging and sympathetic. I also liked the mystery of her friend Mary and her servant Mrs. Emmett. I've enjoyed Liss's books before (A Conspiracy of Paper
I enjoyed not only the romance of the work but also the Romantic aspects of the work, with Blake and Byron as characters. The book in many ways reminded me of Maurice Sendak's tale of the young woman who wakes to find her baby brother replaced by a changeling. In that book, Mozart makes an appearance. And so perhaps that's why I liked this book so much.
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and the book on coffee), but this was a book I thought he wrote for those fans of Austen paranormal crossovers. Of course this is not an Austen pastiche, but the notion of the plight of a near friendless young woman of particular talents is a kind of Austen trope, even if, in this case, her skills lie not in writing but in magic. I enjoyed not only the romance of the work but also the Romantic aspects of the work, with Blake and Byron as characters. The book in many ways reminded me of Maurice Sendak's tale of the young woman who wakes to find her baby brother replaced by a changeling. In that book, Mozart makes an appearance. And so perhaps that's why I liked this book so much.
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LibraryThing member justabookreader
I kept seeing this book at my bookstore and finally gave in one day when I was feeling a slight reading slump coming on. I’m glad I picked it up that day because when the slump hit, this was a perfect little book to bring me out of it. The characters are sweet, lovingly hateful, and were
Lucy Derrick comes from a good family; just a family without money now. She lives with an uncle who would prefer her to disappear and his plan to make this happen is to have her marry a man she doesn’t care for one bit. Her only companion in the house, Mrs. Quince, teases her relentlessly mentally and physically. She begins to accept that her life is going to be full of misery until a man named Lord Byron shows up at her uncle’s home saying she must not marry Mr. Olson. He then vomits pins and passes out. With the help of a new neighbor, Ms. Crawford, who knows something of the magical arts, Lucy helps Lord Byron to recover. Ms. Crawford, seeing a magical spark in Lucy, begins teaching her what she knows and Lucy understands for the first time how her life does not have to be one of misery.
The beginning of this book feels very reminiscent of Mansfield Park. A young woman far from loved ones, harassed and unwanted in the home she lives in, knowing her only way out the house is into another full of the same misery. Mansfield Park is by far not one of my favorite Austen books but this book brought back some lovely memories of it. Mostly of the hateful characters but still good memories.
The magical element is interesting and Lucy’s understanding of it happens quickly. A little too quickly if you ask me and that’s a small quibble I had with this story. She excels; exponentially fast. I’m all for magical education compounding but she’s like the magical god-child. It didn’t ruin the story for me but made me wonder at several points how she became so proficient so quickly.
When I picked this book up I was hoping for a fun and easy read and I got that. It’s entertaining, the characters are fun, some even mean, and you love to see them all make fools of themselves. The setting, England on the cusp of an industrial revolution, is interesting. If you have a thing for Victorian England with a little magic thrown it, take a look at this one.
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Austen-esque enough to make me happy.Lucy Derrick comes from a good family; just a family without money now. She lives with an uncle who would prefer her to disappear and his plan to make this happen is to have her marry a man she doesn’t care for one bit. Her only companion in the house, Mrs. Quince, teases her relentlessly mentally and physically. She begins to accept that her life is going to be full of misery until a man named Lord Byron shows up at her uncle’s home saying she must not marry Mr. Olson. He then vomits pins and passes out. With the help of a new neighbor, Ms. Crawford, who knows something of the magical arts, Lucy helps Lord Byron to recover. Ms. Crawford, seeing a magical spark in Lucy, begins teaching her what she knows and Lucy understands for the first time how her life does not have to be one of misery.
The beginning of this book feels very reminiscent of Mansfield Park. A young woman far from loved ones, harassed and unwanted in the home she lives in, knowing her only way out the house is into another full of the same misery. Mansfield Park is by far not one of my favorite Austen books but this book brought back some lovely memories of it. Mostly of the hateful characters but still good memories.
The magical element is interesting and Lucy’s understanding of it happens quickly. A little too quickly if you ask me and that’s a small quibble I had with this story. She excels; exponentially fast. I’m all for magical education compounding but she’s like the magical god-child. It didn’t ruin the story for me but made me wonder at several points how she became so proficient so quickly.
When I picked this book up I was hoping for a fun and easy read and I got that. It’s entertaining, the characters are fun, some even mean, and you love to see them all make fools of themselves. The setting, England on the cusp of an industrial revolution, is interesting. If you have a thing for Victorian England with a little magic thrown it, take a look at this one.
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LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
This was an enjoyable book. I like Liss's other historical works more, but considering how much I like Liss's other historical works, I can say that and still have enjoyed The Twelfth Enchantment quite a lot. Perhaps the Austenesque aspects made me love it a bit less than the others, since I was
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never a fan of Jane Austen. But the fact remains this was the best book featuring a tortoise attack that I read this year. Show Less
LibraryThing member BooksForDinner
Lord Byron, William Blake, the industrialization of England, magic, golems...golems?!? A departure for Liss...still in the historical fiction realm, but jumping into the hot fantasy/monsters/historical figures/Jane Austen thing. Fun, well written...could have been a disaster, but I enjoyed it. Nice
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to see an author step outside what he normally does once in a while. Show Less
LibraryThing member purlewe
I wished this had been something more. At least the ending was satisfactory. But the novel needed tightening.
LibraryThing member amanderson
Delightful literary fantasy set in Regency times, featuring an impoverished young woman lodging with cruel relatives, who encounters Lord Byron, William Blake, and supernatural forces; I'd give it four stars but I read Liss's Conspiracy of Paper and it was fabulous historical literary mystery fare.
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This isn't up to the standard of that book. So, 3 stars given what he could've written, he's so talented. However I think fans of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, A Discovery of Witches, or of Jane Austen crossed with fantasy would enjoy it. Show Less
LibraryThing member bgnbrooks
Absolutely fantastic. I loved every minute of this book. It was well written, smart, and had something very rare, a smart heroine. It is a rare book indeed that I don't at some point want to reach into the book and smack the heroine for doing something so completely stupid. I loved the magic, the
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romance, and the fact that the mystery lasted to the very last chapter. I devoured this book as fast as my schedule would allow. Others have complained that this book was not on par with others written by this author, but as this is the first book I've read by David Liss, I didn't have that problem. If the other books written by him are indeed better, I look forward to reading them! Show Less
LibraryThing member rlsalvati
Not a bad book, just that the fantasy element wasn't my cup of tea. I have a mystery I'm anxious to start and decided not to soldier through this.
LibraryThing member pierthinker
Lucy Derrick is a slightly down-at-heel young woman with a tainted past wondering where her life is going in early 19th century England and resigned to being pushed into a marriage and future over which she has little control. Then she finds out she is a witch and has a pivotal role to play in a
I initially read this as, at best, an homage to 'Jonathan Strange and Doctor Morell'. The setting, England at the turn of industrialisation, and premiss, the existence of magic in the world as a real force like heat or light, are the same and there are many paralells of characterisation and plotting. However, I think there is a little something in this book that sets it aside as just another blockbuster-bandwagon-jumper.
As the Industrial Revolution gained ground there was support across the country for the new technologies, new economic paradigms and new opportunities, but also a backlash wanting to preserve the older ways of working focusing on the human aspects of change - dignity, closeness to the land and the impacts of migration and disruption. David Lisa addresses these concerns well by not presenting a purely black-and-white view. An older, more animistic magic seeks to eliminate the new technologies through the Luddite cause. A more science oriented group promotes technology through the Roscrucians. But these perspectives are presented with complex grey edges and the battle is between characters acting in good or bad ways rather than just being god or bad. We have some sympathies for almost everyone in the book.
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major battle between light and dark forces, affecting the direction of society.I initially read this as, at best, an homage to 'Jonathan Strange and Doctor Morell'. The setting, England at the turn of industrialisation, and premiss, the existence of magic in the world as a real force like heat or light, are the same and there are many paralells of characterisation and plotting. However, I think there is a little something in this book that sets it aside as just another blockbuster-bandwagon-jumper.
As the Industrial Revolution gained ground there was support across the country for the new technologies, new economic paradigms and new opportunities, but also a backlash wanting to preserve the older ways of working focusing on the human aspects of change - dignity, closeness to the land and the impacts of migration and disruption. David Lisa addresses these concerns well by not presenting a purely black-and-white view. An older, more animistic magic seeks to eliminate the new technologies through the Luddite cause. A more science oriented group promotes technology through the Roscrucians. But these perspectives are presented with complex grey edges and the battle is between characters acting in good or bad ways rather than just being god or bad. We have some sympathies for almost everyone in the book.
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LibraryThing member justagirlwithabook
This book had a decent blend of history and magic. I fell into the story quickly and was interested to see where the main character would ultimately end up. I wanted to love it more than I did, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it!
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011-08-09
ISBN
9781455831401