“It was okay for a first novel by a young author, but it has lots of problems and was poorly edited. Harvell moves the plot right along...some terrible event or unbelievable challenge happens in almost every chapter. Then, the protagonist's continual professions of love became so saccarine and syrupy that I was really sick of it by the end of the book.
Then, there's the loose ends and unexplained symbols. Why was Amelia kissing a snake the first time that Moses meets her? What happened to her limp....always mentioned early in the book and then forgotten even as the author describes her physique and waddle in the last stages of pregnancy. What about the statement in Chapter X (last Act)...."Twice I stumbled into the wall, and remained there like an automoton..." Really??? Was "automoton" in the lexicon of the 17th century?
Finally, so unbelievable and also saccarine how willing the "Countess" was to live in such dirty accommodations and hang out with such a motley crew. At the end, all of the Moses's friends--societal outcasts all--get on board for the trip to Venice like one big happy family. Yes, they had all been portrayed favorably, but I just couldn't continue to suspend disbelief.
Finally, I am seriously in the minority. The reviews on Amazon are incredibly favorable.”
