Pandora
By Susan Stokes-Chapman
Blurb
A pure pleasure of a novel set in Georgian London, where the discovery of a mysterious ancient Greek vase sets in motion conspiracies, revelations and romance.
There is a fine line between coincidence and fate...
In London 1799, Dora Blake is an aspiring jewellery artist who lives with her uncle in what used to be her parents' famed shop of antiquities. When a mysterious Greek vase is delivered, Dora is intrigued by her uncle's suspicious behaviour and enlists the help of Edward Lawrence, a young man seeking acceptance into the Society of Antiquaries. Edward sees the ancient vase as key to unlocking his academic future. Dora sees it as her chance to restore her parents' shop to its former glory, and to escape her uncle.
But what Edward discovers about the vase has Dora questioning everything she has ever known, about her life, her family and the world as she knows it. As Dora uncovers the truth she starts to realise that some mysteries are buried, and some boxes are locked, for a reason.
Gorgeously atmospheric and deliciously page-turning, Pandora deals with themes of secrets and deception, love and fulfilment, fate and hope.
Our Review
I have always been a great fan of Greek myths and legends so you can imagine my excitement when I heard about this book. Pandora.
Firstly, let me say that the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful.
Pandora took me a few chapters to get into but once I did I didn't want it to end. I was hooked. Who could fail to love a book with a pet magpie in it?
The author has a rich, vivid writing style and I lived every moment along with Dora.
"Hezekiah Blake's Emporium for Exotic Antiquities stands out against the coffee-house and haberdasher's it sits between. It's window is large and bowed, obtrusive to passers by who often find themselves compelled to stop due to it's sheer size. But the street is where many of these passers-by stay - nowadays few linger when they realise the window with its peeling frame has nothing more exotic in it than an armoire from the last century and a landscape painting reminiscent of Gainsborogh. Once a booming establishment it now houses only forgeries and dust-furred curiousities that hold no real appeal for the public, let alone a discerning collector."
Dora is a charming character. Fierce and indendent but also with a streak of innocence and a shade of vulnerability. I loved how she developed through the book.
Our Final Rating...
Read & Shared 10 Times.
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