Customer Reviews

The Silver Blade

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In this sequel to The Red Necklace, the love story of young noblewoman Sido and magician's apprentice/Gypsy Yann continues. At this point, the French Revolution has reached its most turbulent time known as "The Terror." A time when French nobles were executed left and right by the commoner revolutionaries simply because they were aristocrats, order has turned to complete chaos, the ruling figures of the revolution turn on one another in a counter-revolution and Madame de Guillotine is the only law of the land.

Against this backdrop, Yann emerges as "The Silver Blade," a near-literal copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel, a man who helps French nobles escape to England with their heads while working in a theater and practicing magic. When his love, Sido, is kidnapped, he must balance the need to find her with protecting his identity from the revolutionary authorities. As the story unfolds, Sido is faced with trials of her own, young Yann learns the secrets of his origins and the pair must find a way to be together.

While The Silver Blade does switch between the viewpoints of Yann and Sido -this really is Yann's story. Sido fades into the background completely.
As in The Red Necklace, Sally Gardner demonstrates fabulous writing skills and a great ability to paint a compelling historical novel. The French Revolution is a perfect backdrop, though I could have done without the Scarlet Pimpernel rip-off. Plus, while I did enjoy the interesting approach to magic, etc. because of the Gypsy influence, at times it seemed to move the story onto a level of unbelievability.

I'm also a little surprised at some of the items that were included here. While I understand that this was a very violent time in the French Revolution, there were some things that felt like they were described a little too much or just went a little too far -or had no real reason to be included other than for the shock factor. There was even one moment when I thought I would lose my lunch -while I'm sure this is a tribute to Gardner's writing skills, I still doubt if this is appropriate for a YA novel.

Filled with great action, some interesting thrills and sprinkled with romance, The Silver Blade is a fun historical novel set during one of the most fascinating times in European history. I'd recommend it to older teens and adults interested in historical fiction.

Not sure if there will be a third novel or not. The ending leaves it open, but also ties up the story into a satisfying ending.

In France The Revolution rages on, claiming more victims each day. Just about anyone with royal aspirations has long since left the country or already died in its name. But there are still some left in France who are at great risk: those with titles, remote but dangerous connections to the royal family, or the air of financial success. They will do anything to get to England safely. Rumor has it that the man for the job is The Silver Blade. His clients disappear right under the noses of the Revolutionaries who are charged with their capture. In their place, the small silver blade of a child's toy guillotine appears suspended in thin air. Everyone with a need to leave the country is desperate for The Silver Blade's services. Not that anyone knows who he is, which is just how Yann likes it.

Things get a lot more magical and dark in this installment of Yann and Sido's story. Yann, himself, goes through a lot of self-doubt and darkness in his own heart, leaving Sido, T'tu and everyone else behind while he basks in his own self-pity. But he grows and becomes stronger. This is, once again, his story.

This is the second book in the series (which I don't think has a name), but it's the sequel to The Red Necklace. If you like The Scarlett Pimpernel you'll like this book:

Towards the end of the last book, Yann Margoza, gypsy assistant-magician, became the infamous and mysterious Silver Blade- a dashing hero who rescues the innocent from the guillotine. In the midst of the French Revolution he is suddenly confronted by an enemy he previously thought dead (who we know from the very end of the last book also harbors a secret about Yann). Meanwhile Sido, the marquise Yann loves and rescued from death, is living in London with her relations. But is the French Revolution enough to allow a gypsy boy to marry a marquise? If they even live through it?

I had a few issues with the book. One has to do with the way magic is written. Sometimes the magic-description gets too flow-y and distracts from what's actually happening. There's also a straight-up plagiarism of the opening scene from The Scarlet Pimpernel that isn't sitting well. I guess I'm really just peeved because I was so into Yann at the end of the The Red Necklace and so much was going on in this book that I don't know if I got into Yann's character as much. I do like that Sido finally got to stand up for herself in this book, but I would have liked to see that change developed a little more too. I would have especially like to see how she initially reacts to being trapped in a room with the hell-dog and how she manages to deal with that situation, but Gardner instead insists on leading us to believe that Sido has been killed for the billionth time. But it was an entertaining book, and I was really enthralled and HAD to keep reading so I would know what happened.

I really enjoyed The Red Necklace, so I was eager to read the sequel and rejoin the world of Sido and Yann. I particularly like the setting of the French Revolution in this book. I think it gives the story an edge.

I liked how Yann is the focus in this story. I think Sido received her closurer in the first book and if it weren't for the fact that she's tied to Yann, we wouldn't even really need to see her in the book. I liked the mystery of the silver blade. It's impressive that Yann was rescuing french aristocrats right under the noses of the national assembly. I also thought it was amusing he left a calling card. He made himself an enigma. I enjoyed how discovered who he really was and sometimes being connected to a person isn't important.

I also enjoyed the dealings with Count Kalliovski. What a creepy man! I never really understood why he wanted Sido so badly though. Except maybe for the simple fact that she got away from him and nobody ever did. Seemed like a drastic reason for making a deal with the devil. I also enjoyed his dog. It was an interesting addition to the story.

I wonder if there will be another one in this series. I think there is room for more. Yann is just understanding his powers. Plus, the revolution isn't over yet. Not sure were it could go though. But, I would read it.