Monday 18 April 2011

The 13 Secrets by Michelle Harrison

Title: The 13 Secrets
Author: Michelle Harrison
Published: Feb 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 978-0857070890
http://www.michelleharrisonbooks.com/

Rating: 4/5


The cover on this is very similar to the other two books in the '13 Treasures' trilogy.  This one is the end of the series sadly, although Michelle Harrison may write about specific characters at a later date.

The 13 Secrets expands on Rowans character, aka Red in previous books.  Rowan wants to leave the group she's been helping to swap changeling and human children for, but this isn't as easy as it seems, as her last mission is more involved than she ever could have imagined as her fears become reality.

My favourite character in this book is Sparrow, who obviously has feelings for Rowan and is very sweet around her.  As a traveller he has a lot in common with how Rowan was in the first book and slowly shares some of his history with her.  We also get to meet some of the other people behind the coven Rowen is involved in, and more secrets abound as suspicion arises when things go wrong.  

My favourite quote from The 13 Secrets is:
"Whatever the others feel, Tino didn't want to let Rowan go.  And he wasn't going to release her without a fight."


I enjoyed this overall.  I've read all of these in order and I think this one lacks some of the  communication or intervention from the fey as the other two books had, which added to the atmosphere in the first two books.  I enjoyed the relationships between those in the group, and I also didn't guess outright who was the culprit committing the murders.


Book synopsis:
Red is now living at Elvesden Manor under her real name, Rowan, and trying to put her past behind her. But staying on the straight and narrow isn't as easy as she had hoped...Hounded by fairy messengers who are trying to convince her to participate once more in the changeling trade, Rowan is haunted by dreams of the Hedgewitch's cottage and the chained-up Eldritch, who threatens revenge against her. Her past is about to catch up with her - can Tanya and Fabian prevent it consuming her altogether? 

Source - library.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Interesting review. I think your right in the sense that the characters don't really visit the fey world. The fey world comes to them through the members of the 13 Secrets.