Customer Reviews

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The Strangely Beautiful Tale... is certainly strangely beautiful, and I had to force myself to put the book down so I could sleep. Set in an alternate Victorian England, where spirits roam the streets and six chosen people safeguard the mortal world from dangerous ghosts, this book is richly imagined and constructed, with fascinating characters and an engrossing storyline.

I think my favorite thing about this book is the incredible romantic tension that develops between meek Percy and arrogant Alexi. Have any of you seen North and South (the BBC production of Elizabeth Gaskell's novel, with Richard Armitage and Daniela Denby-Ashe, not that Civil War miniseries from the 80s)? You know how the tension between Margaret and Mr. Thornton builds and builds and builds with no release in sight, and when there finally is a release, you're practically panting even if it's just a kiss? Well, I spent every page of this book from the moment Percy met Alexi in that state. It's really a fantastic take on the destined-to-be-together storyline; I was surprised that I liked it so much because I usually don't care for that type of romance. It just worked really well in this context.

Percy is an unusual heroine for me to like, because she is very meek and uncertain. I lean toward the tough chicks, and while Percy does have incredible inner strength, she is very timid on the outside. There were a few times when I wanted to shout at her to stand up for herself, but she does come through when it really matters (and I cheered). Alexi, on the other hand, pushes all of my brooding hero buttons. I have to admit that I pictured the aforementioned Richard Armitage as Alexi; a Twitter conversation with the author revealed that she imagined Alexi as Alan Rickman when she started writing the novel. Either way, he's brooding and isolated, having devoted his entire life to seeking out the Prophecy revealed to him when he was a teenager, and he's the perfect picture of a lonely romantic hero.

I think the thing I found most fascinating about this novel was the mythology that surrounds the characters. Alexi and his five companions were chosen as young teenagers to serve as the Guard, and they were granted specific powers that would allow them to police London and send dangerous spirits packing. Alexi has spent the twenty years since that time struggling to balance his beliefs as a scientist with the memory of the goddess who appeared to them through a portal in the air. I won't give away the mythology itself, but it was well-integrated into the story and was definitely an interesting twist on what could have been a simpler ghost story.

The only complaint I have is that the end seemed to happen really swiftly, and I wish it had been drawn out a bit more. But otherwise, I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it.

It's has been awhile since I've read a gothic fantasy and I don't remember being this entertained reading a book in this genre as much as I was reading Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. I enjoyed how Ms. Hieber prose could make me feel the anticipation of that first touch and the thrill of that first kiss. I was transported to a Victorian London, during the terrible reign of Jack the Ripper. I could hear the clip-clop of the horse hooves echoing down the street, see the ghosts along the streets and feel the eeriness that always seem to accompany the evenings in London. Since I've read this book, I've even caught myself thinking in Victorian speak, it had that much of an impact on me.

It was truly a pleasure reading Ms. Hieber's tender love story with her version of Greek mythology mixed with the paranormal. The plot was well rounded and the ending gives you a nice closure but I have a few questions lingering that I hope will be answered in the next book. Your not going to find anything too terribly dark or forbidding in this book, though the evil ones were evil enough to fulfill their part in the setting of this book. It was a wonderful journey reading this book and I'm looking forward to next book in this series. Yes, I would definitely recommend this book.

If your still not sure about reading this book, I suggest that you head over to Leanna Renee Hieber's website and read the prologue and excerpts: [...]. I was hooked from reading just the prologue and I'm betting you will be too.

I'm not exactly sure what star rating to give to this book; three stars seems at once too generous and not generous enough. Perhaps it would help to simplify and break my review down into what I like and what I don't like about the book.

What I Like: The gothic spin on a traditional Victorian London setting. The dark, gloomy and terrifying atmosphere of classic gothic storytelling fits perfectly with this book, whose story takes place in the year 1888, the year of Jack the Ripper. I also liked the interpretation of the ancient tale of Persephone and her abduction by Hades, which forms the backbone of the book's storyline.

What I Don't Like: The author's repeated use of 'regal' and 'noble' to describe the appearance of Professor Alexi Rychman. 'Regal brow', 'noble face', 'regal this', 'noble that', ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Enough already, we get it, he's a handsome dude! I know Ms. Hieber is emulating the traditional gothic guidelines in describing her hero, but one or two 'nobles' or 'regals', combined with the futher descriptions of the character swooping, stalking, pacing and prowling, is quite enough for us to understand he is the hero, in all his brooding, mysterious, tormented, waiting-to-be-saved-by-his-one-true-love glory. Ease up on the descriptors and move on! I also quite dislike the book's subject, Miss Percy Parker herself. She has been raised in a convent, where modesty and self-effacement is all that, but her mewling, whining, whimpering, cowering, cringing, apologetic, servile attitude is so far beyond modesty, it creeps into the sado-masochistic realm ("please, hurt me, for I deserve no better"). Yeesh! Annoyance is not a strong enough word to describe the feeling her behavior engenders in me. We, as readers, are given to understand that the lack of self-confidence in Percy comes from her unique appearance when instead she is merely falling prey to the tired cliche of a Beautiful Heroine Unaware of Her Beauty. Her continual assumption that her snow-white hair, milk-pale skin, and near-colorless eyes brings nothing but revulsion to people grates on the nerves and, frankly, made me want to smack her. I know the Victorian era was several decades before the "Let Your Freak Flag Fly" movement was popular, but, still... Woman up and grow a backbone already! When she finally does grow a backbone, it comes so late in the tale and it's such a half-hearted attempt at confidence that it doesn't seem worth the effort. Lastly, the density of the other characters as regards to Percy and her role in the story was so frustrating, I came close to throwing the book at the wall. Despite many clues, one of which the equivalent of a ginormous neon sign, as to Percy's importance, the characters' heads remained firmly up their arses. Ostensibly, this was to create a dramatic denouement at the finale of the book, but their behavior was so unbelievable that instead of a gasp of surprise and empathy at the reveal, I blurted out "Well, duh! That's what happens when you have your heads up your butts." It was a ham-handed approach to creating dramatic tension.

However, despite all these failings, I felt a strange (strangely beautiful?) compulsion to keep turning the page. It was the kind one feels when watching a train wreck, the horrified fascination which comes when one knows something will end badly but has to watch anyway.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is refreshing, adorable, romantic and an exciting story. This book is a paranormal, historical romance, but it is written in such a way you forget about classifications. You forget spirits don't really exist, and you really are not walking around 19th century London. The story completely absorbs you and pulls you into the world and you don't want to leave.

Percy starts as such a shy creature, but that is the only way she knows to keep hidden. Leanna Renee Hieber does an amazing job writing Percy - you can feel her yearning, and embarrassment and conflicting feelings. I can't remember being on such an intimate level with another heroine. It is not until Alexi makes her show her true self, and she gains strength in that courage, that she truly shines. Although most of their courtship she is timid, and unsure of how to handle her romantic emotions, when her relationship to Alexi is threatened, she stands up for herself and fights for him. The romance is sweet, and endearing and builds ever so slowly.

The other members of The Guard were great characters as well. I hope we get more from Elijah, the smart-alec of the group - he had some of the best lines in the book and I adored his relationship with Josephine. Towards the end, when Elijah says, "Oh...that door," I couldn't stop laughing! (Out of context, not so funny) And Rebecca, Alexi's confidant, she needs someone. She has a bit of a crush on Alexi, and yet, like the others, she has to push her feelings to the side for the greater good. I believe Michael is waiting in the wings and she will find him. I am very intrigued to see what the next book brings.

I will not be able to think of Alan Rickman without Alexi Rychman coming to mind now. I could hear Alan Rickman's voice throughout the book. His brooding sidelong glances, sharp features, and the sweeping of his black coat - oh yes, Alan Rickman will play him just lovely in the movie ;)

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker will haunt me with happiness, smiles, and visions of Alan Rickman for a long time to come.

I was thrilled to recieve my pre-order of this book in the post, and dove right in. This strangely beautiful tale does start a bit slow, admittedly. There are many characters and several plot elements that mysteriously appear, one-by-one, and slowly weave into the rich tapestry that is the story. I had to focus rather intensely on each of these as the clues laid out explained how each piece fit into the puzzle. This intricacy kept me reading, wanting to learn more about The Guard, what Percy truly is, and what evil looms over London.

I felt the style of writing as well as Ms. Hieber's attention to detail really pulled me into this alternate Victorian London. The slow build of exposition really paid off as the crescendo of the story built taking me on a roller coaster of emotions. I felt the flutters of first love, the incredible sexual tension in the fashion (and with the payoff) that only Victorians are capable of, the deep, cutting pain of true love's heartbreak, and the absolute joy of fulfilling one's destiny. I felt the characters were well fleshed out with human characteristics and reasons to like them, and reasons to get angry with them. I felt myself occasionally wanting to shake some of these characters in the same fashion I've wanted to shake some of my best friends when I've felt they were doing something completely ridiculous or harmful. I latched on to each of The Guard, and could picture myself in La Belle et La Bete having a drink with them. While these characters aren't perfect and do make mistakes, they always have the best of intentions. Even the villian of the story would still guile against my better judgement in the same fashion she does with The Guard.

Ultimately, I found myself devouring this book more and more quickly as the chapters progressed. As I finished the last paragraph, I wanted to find more on the next page, or have the next book there and waiting for me to find out more of what becomes of the Guard and what lurks around the corner for this coven. I appreciated the obvious attention to detail and research that went into this novel, and look forward to what Ms. Hieber has in store.

Leanna Hieber's tale of romance and supernatural adventure weaves a fascinating tapestry against its setting of Victorian London. When the heroine, Percy Parker first comes to attend Athens Academy both she and sexy, enigmatic Professor Alexi Rychman know that she is different. Just how different, they are about to discover. Could she be the one to fulfill the prophecy? The chosen one the guard has been waiting for? Time is running out as the Ripper terrorizes the city, bringing the need for balance between dark and light more than ever. The book is amazingly written, captivating its audience from the first page. I love the mix of well constructed original characters and their interactions with the stolen ghosts of history. My favorite kind of novel! Will be waiting anxiously for the second installment!

Miss Percy Parker was always the outcast in Victorian society with her albino white hair and ghostly pallor. With no hope of marriage, she enters Athens Academy hoping the academic institution will be different than the convent, a place where being herself, visions and ghost friends included, led to a priest's attempt to destroy her very uniqueness. Miss Percy Parker knows nothing of the dark history of the academy nor the group bound together to protect the world from the encroaching evil. Many years ago, a prophecy was given to Alexi Rychman and his friends, charging them with a mission and duty to guard the boundary between dark and light and await the coming of the last member. As the world darkens with a Ripper prowling the streets murdering young women and supernatural terrors threatening all around, the now Professor Alexi Rychman awaits the fulfillment of the Prophecy. Will the last member of their group ever appear? Has his entire life been based upon a hoax or a misunderstood memory? Has he been waiting for her, the one woman whom he could love, in vain? As the darkness comes closer and closer, will he discover the answers before it is too late? When Miss Percy Parker goes to Professor Alexi Rychman for tutoring, their closeness sets in motion a path that will give her an education beyond the textbooks and lead her to the very path that marks the boundary of life and death. Will she be able to confide in others her true nature before it is too late?

THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER is an exciting, imaginative gothic romance that breaks strict genre divisions with a refreshing originality. In combining the best of paranormal and historical romance with a light touch of horror, Leanna Renee Hieber creates a romance that is bold in imagery, poetic in language, and sweet in tone despite the darkness surrounding the characters and setting. Miss Percy Parker and Professor Alexi Rychman both share a certain innocence of heart that just endears them to a reader. Although both have moments when they are not perfect (and that in and of itself is refreshing!), each has a goodness of heart that shines through their human weaknesses. Miss Percy Parker hesitates with an uncertainty born from the historical period and from her own vulnerabilities. Alexi Rychman has a dogged certainty about the Prophecy that has driven him throughout his life and about his position as professor and yet, the purity of his heart distinguishes him from the manipulative aims potential in a professor-student romance. As the story progresses, Leanna Renee Hieber avoids that possible pitfall with concrete details of Percy's characterization and the working out of the Prophecy in a most beautiful romantic ending, leaving just enough threads hanging to make a reader crave more of this strangely beautiful world in another installment.

The Victorian setting gives this romance a certain charm while the paranormal fantasy elements add a delightful twist as the forces of good and evil make the romance of greater import than just the tale of two individuals. Leanna Renee Hieber embeds the perfect amount of twists and complications to keep a reader poised on the edge, eager to discover how her characters will overcome the obstacles in the path. Beautiful imagery and symbolism create an imaginative world, and yet, with the historical setting and romantic complications, the symbolism adds to the world within the romance without becoming simplistic or dull as can often be the risk with works too heavy or difficult in their use of symbolism. Indeed, this romance blends all in just the right measure to make THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER a romance that captivates from first page to last.

This reader was captivated by the lyrical language, the characters and the setting but above all by the creative originality of this romance. THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER is a romance that will refresh the spirit, appealing especially to romance readers looking for something new and different than the typical. Hats off to Leanna Renee Hieber for this exquisitely beautiful imaginative romantic tale.

COURTESY OF BOOK ILLUMINATIONS

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I actually did. The plot, described well by others, was fresh and different, but the writing drove me a bit crazy. The language seemed more suited to a young adult novel in places, with the parts that are supposed to thrill losing something because of the slow pacing. Here's an example of the work of the Guard, which you'd expect to be fast-paced and exciting:
--
Before the horrified parents or the priest, midscripture, could react to this additional invasion, Elijah fixed each with an intent stare. The three relaxed at once, and their gazes misted contentedly over. Elijah patted each on the head, satisfied with their submission.
[...]
Alexi, his expression fierce, tossed off his black greatcoat and suit jacket and began rolling up his charcoal-colored shirtsleeves. He lifted his hands, conjuring the usual inexplicable blue flame before him. As he turned his palms outward, more fire issued forth, and he began to weave the hovering wisps into a graceful dance. A circle of flickering blue now framed the little girl's body, but a sick grey light pulsed like a heartbeat within, illuminating her skeleton and shuddering organs.
--
I wish I could put my finger better on why that seems so slow to me. But it does. In fact, the whole book seems to move incredibly slowly, even the parts with the hellhound.

The heroine started out shy, which was completely understandable given her past, but she never grew a natural backbone, just a supernatural one. She is too timid for my taste, but that could be just a matter of taste. The fact that she's too timid to really be a match for the hero is more than taste.

The hero is another problem. He feels that he is fated to fall in love with the seventh member of his group of six, who will be revealed to him at some point in the future. Very well. But then, when he starts to fall for Percy (which isn't really explained; we're just supposed to believe he feels something for her when we don't really see much in the way of romantic growth), he won't act on it because he doesn't believe his own feelings. His friends/colleagues have told him for years that the prophesy doesn't need to have a romantic element, but even that he won't believe, though he believes them on other, far more important things.

I gave this book three stars because, as I said, the plot is new and that can rack up a lot of points in today's world of recycled stories. It was a fun read that only took a few hours to get through, but it's definitely not a keeper.

Because I can't write a Summary that will do this Victorian Gothic tale justice this is from Leanna Renee Hieber's website:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria's Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent--and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death....

My take:

The Guard is a group of six who were given special powers so they could protect London from the supernatural, or at least evil spirits that lurk about causing trouble. When they were given these powers there was also a prophecy about a seventh member that would be added to their group. There were many clues that would lead them to this seventh member, and it just so happens there are two women that almost fit the prophecy. The group must chose, and if they chose incorrectly, well, very bad things will happen.

Miss Percy Parker is a lovely tale. Whenever I try to describe this book I always go back to the words "lovely" or "beautiful". Beautiful is quite fitting as it's in the title of the book, right? Percy Parker is a great heroine to follow. She knows nothing of the prophecy, and nothing about her past or the powers she holds. She only knows that she's odd, in that she sees ghosts and that she somewhat resembles them with her pale skin, hair, and eyes. When I say she is a great heroine to follow, I mean that she grows through the whole story - with the help of her Professor - and it's very nice to see this shy young lady grow stronger and into more of a woman.

Professor Alexi Rychman is a very mysterious man to those on the outside, but on the inside he's lonely, and desperate to find this seventh member. One who he believes he is supposed to be in love with. He has tough choices to make in this book, and the whole time I'm screaming to myself, "Come on Alexi! You know what to do!"

It was hard to sit on the "outside" of this book. I just wanted to jump in and help these characters out. I guess wanting to be involved in the story is a good thing right? There are more characters than Percy and Alexi, and all have their separate quirks and personalities. While reading, you can get a good feel for each one, and their likes/dislikes, desires, and powers.

Another aspect of the story was that of The Ripper. I love this twist, I've always been interested in Jack the Ripper, and had the privilege of learning more about him in a class over the summer. That's besides the point though. This part was a great addition to the story.

Leanna Renee Hieber's education on everything Victorian shines in this tale, and it was a pleasure to watch it all unravel. I look forward to many more LOVELY books from her in the future. The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker is alluring and haunting and should NOT be missed.

You can visit Hieber's website for a trailer, excerpts, and prologue.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber
Historical Paranormal Romance -Aug 25, 2009
3 stars

This book started out with an enchanting fairytale like quality that quickly attracted me. A rag tag group of youngsters are drawn together and given powers to create a new Guard to protect the city of London. They are visited by a `Goddess' who portends a great prophecy yet to be revealed. But they must wait for their last and final member to join them before their true destiny can be fulfilled. As they seek their last member the mystified crew search fruitlessly for 21 years.

But their hunt is finally coming to a close as a young, naïve orphan named Miss Percy arrives at their school with strange powers. However, they are also fascinated by a mysterious, beautiful woman named Miss Linden. Miss Linden is self-confident and seems to hold the key to their fate. But, which one is the true and real member of their Guard?

Miss Percy is clearly the star of this book and she shines. I really enjoyed the heroine's character but did not find the other characters in the story up to her level. She is treated poorly by the Guard. Petty jealously by one member and a lack of strong moral character in the hero were difficult to reconcile. Her hero betrays her trust even as he cozens up with another woman. He makes this decision because he is pressured by his friends to leave Percy. In general, I always feel the hero should recognize the heroine immediately or at least once he realizes his affection for her be determined to keep her despite all costs. For a supposedly brilliant professor he is easily manipulated.

While the beginning of this book is mysterious and intriguing it unfolds very slowly and sometimes frustratingly so. I enjoyed the writing which had a poetic style that was both dreamy and lyrical. Unfortunately, the beautiful imagery could not make up for the under developed characters and the sadly weak hero. This book and its prospective series have great potential but I feel more development of the characters besides Percy must be taken to fully engage the readers. I understand that the author plans to write a following book and would greatly like to learn more. Only sections of the mystery and origins of the Guard are mentioned as I impatiently waited to find where the book would lead and what the Guard actually did. This resulted in a story I found elusive and maddening. Overall, I felt a vague sense of disappointment with the feeling that the story was unresolved. I feel much more could be told in this story and will have to wait for I hope another book to reveal the secrets behind the Guard.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club