Customer Reviews

The Red Necklace: A Novel of the French Revolution

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The novel starts in Paris, 1789. Yann Margoza is a young gypsy boy who can throw his voice as well as read minds and predict the future. He uses these talents in a magic show, with the magician Topolain and the dwarf Têtu. An imposing man with a scarred face, introducing himself as Milkeye, appears after a show and requests on behalf of his employer, Count Kalliovski, that Topolain bring his magic act to a party held at the château of the Marquis de Villeduval. Against the misgivings of Yann, Topolain is lured to the party by Milkeye's promise of payment. It is there that Yann meets the daughter of the Marquis, Sido, two years his junior at the age of 12. Sido has just returned from her stay at a convent, and is deeply hurt by the dislike which her father takes no pains to hide from her. Although their meeting is brief and followed by a long separation, it tangles Yann and his companions in a series of murders that are linked by a red necklace. With the drama of the French Revolution, mixed with political and social intrigue, "The Red Necklace" was an exciting book that I could not put down.

In Yann and Sido we have two very common clichés: the dark, handsome boy with extraordinary talents and the pale, wide-eyed girl who walks with a limp and longs for her father to love her. However, both characters seemed remarkably lifelike to me (as did all the characters), and perfectly believable. I also loved the villain(s)--thoroughly sinister and, well, villainous.

I found "The Red Necklace" to be very original in both plot and ploy. Ms. Gardner is an excellent author, and the book, at 372 pages, went along at a nice pace, without rushing things. I like her way with words. There is just a touch of magic that adds to the mix, making it even more interesting.

I don't claim to be an expert on the French Revolution, but I found nothing to fault in the events of the French Revolution as related by the author. There are some chilling scenes that do well to highlight the absolute chaos of the Reign of Terror. "The Red Necklace" is an excellent, entertaining, and enjoyable read (and the gorgeous, textured cover and uneven page edges in no way detract from this!) . Between this and "I, Coriander", Ms. Gardner has become an author of which to pay note.

Yann is one of the more appealing heros of recent Young Adult Novels. Decended from Gypsies and blessed with the ability to read minds and throw his voice, Yann lives in interesting times--in France, right at the start of the Revolution.

Called to the home of the Marquis for a command preformance, Yann witnesses the murder of his employer and is thrust into a mystery. It is here he meets Sido, the daughter of the marquis. She helps him escape but this is the last time she does anything interesting. While Yann goes off to England to get educated and mature, Sido stays with her father, an insane man obsessed with shoe buckles, and grows even more passive. Her idea of a talent is to stay silent while her father insults her.

Sido may be historically accurate but she's dull as dirt. She's beautiful but prone to making stupid decisions. When Yann returns to get her out of the city before the revolution explodes, she refuses to go with him and gets thrown in prison. When Yann shows up to bust her out, she refuses to leave without her father. (Dad is now completely insane and, when he isn't yelling at her, slaps her.)

Yann has to get evidence in the devil's own den to make her see sense and gets himself shot in the process. Sido finally wises up enough at the end of the book to let Yann rescue her.

"The Red Necklace" is a good read, I just wish the heroine had been worth all the sacrifices Yann made on her behalf.

Author Sally Gardner did her shopping well for the ingredients she chose for The Red Necklace. Everything on her list is topnotch: the orphaned 14-year-old gypsy boy who can read minds, being raised by a dwarf and a magician; the sad 12-year-old daughter of a marquis, isolated and loathed by her father; the cruel, spoiled French aristos, with their brocades, gilded buckles and pet monkeys; the chaotic bloodbath of the French Revolution; and an evil count trying to murder the boy, marry the girl, destroy the aristos and urge on the maelstrom. There are elements of magic in this rich historical adventure and the darkness of the tale and strange minor characters would please a fantasy reader. But The Red Necklace could also be read by those who like their plotlines straight; the magic seems to be based on traditional Gypsy physics of some kind unknown as yet to the western world. Gardner's storytelling skill makes this tale a pleasure to read and an easy book to recommend.

Tom Hiddleston did record this book, but it can only be found in the UK!!! Sadly, in my excitement of learning he did the audio book, and seeing his face and sound sample on this page on amazon, I didn't bother to notice this version is NOT read by Tom. My heart sank when I realized this as I put the first chapter on. Too late. Anyway, I have no interest in the book itself. I just wanted it for Tom. I would listen to 8 CDs of him reading me a phone directory. And since I know I am not alone in that, other fans HAVE and will make this mistake. Do not buy this unless you want to actually hear the book read to you and don't care who by. I do not know if its a good story or not. This review is not a commentary on the book - its a commentary on the AUDIObook. If you want Tom Hiddleston to read to you, you must get the UK version.

Personally, I think the cover screams 'chick lit' until you realize that the 'necklace' is a smear of blood. Still, it does not allude to the mystical aspects of the story at all, instead looking like many other works of historical fiction.
Mostly, the story is about a young man raised by a dwarf (no not like a magical one) who can move objects without touching them. The young man, named Yann, also has supernatural talents - he can read minds and throw his voice. They are both performers, working for a likable but stupid 'magician' who is really only an actor. When the magician is murdered by a mysterious nobleman, Yann and his mentor flee. A girl with a limp helps them; her name is Sido the neglected daughter of an aristocrat. Both of them will remember this night, even though they won't see each other again for years. Yann travels to England, where he becomes the adopted child of English aristocrats and forgets his magical abilities (which have been dormat since the murder). When he learns of the family's connection to Sido, and her engagement to the murderer, Yann learns the use of magical abilities he didn't before posess, and goes back to the city that was once his home. The book begins when Yann is fourteen, however the last half occurs when he's seventeen, so no this isn't a book about pre-teens. Also there is very little romance, none at all till the last half of the book, and then not much. That's not bad because the book is so much more about adventure and magic. It's just that it is advertised as romance.
The mystery is of course, why was there a murder? What did the magician and the dwarf know? Well it's pretty easy to put together as you read the book, and events seem a little too coincidental. However the plot is well supported and the characters well written. This story is definantly about Yann and not so much about Sido. I think she needs more development as a character. I like the gypsy magic Yann uses and how it is used on stage. The story is very exciting, bringing to life perfectly the horror of the revolution without ever overdoing it. Gardner does a great job showing how brilliant ideas and the realization that change was needed became a blood bath that didn't improve the living of or give freedom to people.
Definantly not chick lit or a run of the mill historical novel! Recommended for anyone who likes history, mystery, and adventure.

In 1789 Paris, Tetu the dwarf has raised fourteen years old full blooded Roma orphan Yann as they both assist egomaniac magician Topolain. His arrogance leads to his death at the hands of evil Count Kalliovski who wants the automaton the mage used while performing. At about the same time, Yann meets reticent affluent aristocrat Sidonie; a lonely young girl who has no friends and never tasted love even from family members. Her cold distant father loathes her so much he has sold her to the vicious Count as his wife.

The murder of Topolain leads Tetu to smuggle his ward out of France to the safety of London. However, when the Revolution begins to take over the French capital, Yann returns hoping to take the two people he cares about, Tetu and Sidonie, to London; knowing her father and her fiancé will attempt to kill him for trying.

A Tale of Two Cities with an Oliver Twist spin, a serial killer leaving garnet necklaces on the victims, and an intimation of Gypsy magic make for an entertaining young adult suspense historical fantasy. The contrast between Paris and London is startling, but both cities have blood flowing in the streets; only the former is more in the open. Yann and Sidonie is a wonderful courageous couple while Tetu is heroic in his loyalty to his ward. Whereas the villains are a bit exaggerated, fans will appreciate this strong French Revolution thriller.

Harriet Klausner

The Red Necklace is centered on a group of theater performers in Paris during the French Revolution. Yann Margoza is a young gypsy boy who knows nothing of his past and his guardian, a dwarf named Têtu, will not tell him about the magical blood that they share. The mysterious past bleeds into the dramatic present when they are summoned for a private performance by the terrifying Count Kalliovski. A simple magic show leads to a bloody death and Yann is thrust into an adventure involving a beautiful heiress and a series of unsolved murders. This book has so many plot twists and turns that it's difficult to write a synopsis. Almost every character has a secret past or shady motives, and the story sweeps through London and all over France.

I really, really enjoyed The Red Necklace. The audio version is excellent and I loved hearing the French pronunciations. This book is perfect for fans of historical fiction and it is packed with action, romance, and suspense. There are so many gorgeous scenes in this book, I wanted to read it slowly and savor it. Gardner's descriptions transport you to the cold floor of a dank prison, a mysterious secret passage in a gilded chateau, the dusty stage of French theater, and a lot more.

My only issue with this book is the lame cover. It looks so prissy and girly that I'm afraid it will turn away boys that would really enjoy it.

Oh, the joy of discovering a truly captivating and original story! I am full of total love and adoration for this book. Never mind the cover -- this is not a prissy hairstyle book. It is a menacing and magical story set in Paris and London during the Reign of Terror. The characters are Yann, an orphaned gypsy boy who uses his unusual magical gifts reading minds and making an automaton speak in a third-rate theater; and Sidonie, a motherless and unloved aristocratic girl locked away in an opulent chateau filled with secret passageways. One frigid and fateful night, the magician Yann works for is summoned to perform at the chateau. A murder is committed, and lives interlace. A wonderful historical fantasy that plunges you deep in "the fictional dream" from start to finish. A chilling villain, and a beautifully wrought vision of the excesses of the French aristocracy and the nightmare they brought down on themselves. READ THIS.

The Red Necklace is an unabridged audiobook production of Sally Gardner's novel for young adult readers age nine and up. Set in Paris in the winter of 1789, The Red Necklace follows a Gypsy boy named Yann Margoza, born with an uncanny gift for knowing what people are thinking as well as the talent to throw his voice; both skills come in quite handy while Yann works for an irresponsible magician. On the night of the magicians final performance, Yann meets Sido, a shy heiress with an aloof father. Yann must brave the wrath of a villain named Count Kalliovski for Sido's sake, and his life tumbles headlong into adventure amidst the stirrings of the French Revolution. Though The Red Necklace is suitable for young adults and teens, listeners of all ages are sure to enjoy this stellar audio performance by recording artist Carrington MacDuffie. 8 CDs, 9 hours 46 min.

Paris, 1789. A revolution is about to be born. Along the way, blood will flow. In the midst of it all is a collection of unlikely heroes: a gypsy boy with unusual talents, his mentor - a dwarf, and a girl caught in the grip of a sinister villain. And all around them, hopes of freedom are ground down into terror. How to describe the genre of this book... Paranormal? Magic? Fantasy? Mystery? Historical fiction with a touch of romance? How about all of the above, and I'll throw in `Brilliant'. Seriously. This was one of the more original books I've read in a while, with beautiful writing, poetic phrases, intriguing plot, solid characters and complete immersion into the past. I actually felt like I was in Paris in the midst of the action. In places, it reminded me of a Charles Dickens story with some magic thrown in. Think `Oliver Twist' meets `Harry Potter'. I highly recommend this book.