Release Date: 1st March 2012
A huge thank you to Random House Children’s Books for sending
me an early copy to review.
Jazz
. . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.
Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?
Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .
Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .
From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.
Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?
Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .
Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .
From debut author Jillian Larkin, VIXEN is the first novel in the sexy, dangerous, and ridiculously romantic new series set in the Roaring Twenties . . . when anything goes.
It’s
official, there are not enough books about flappers. Although ‘Vixen’ is such
an awesome one, I may just keep re-reading it in the absence of any other fab
1920s books. Ever since watching the ‘Vampire Diaries’ episode where there are
flashbacks to Chicago in the 1920s I’ve been desperate to read some good books
set there, and Random House must have heard my wishes, because what did they
send my way last weekend, but the fabulous début by Jillian Larkin and the
first book in a brilliant new trilogy.
It was a fantastic book, with a style that
reminded me strongly of Gossip Girl (which is no bad thing) and three fresh and
distinctive heroines to guide us through the roaring twenties – jazz, booze,
boys and speakeasies.
Having
three narrators gives a brilliant scope to really explore the different aspects
of the elite of Chicago. We have Gloria, straight A student and model ‘good
girl’ as she discovers there’s more to life and a whole world out there beyond
the four walls of her families mansion and the diamond rock on her engagement
finger. I loved watching her try to balance the new dark and rebellious side
with the life she already had, and for the most part succeeding – and the
thrills and people that came along with it.
Then we
have Clara, the bad girl turned good. I absolutely adored Clara she was funny,
sassy and had a better idea of the world outside compared to the other two. I
loved watching her grow into herself and discover a balance between her wild
side and the good girl she was trying to crush down. In fact her story was
perhaps the most intriguing as we discovered her past and watched her battle
her demons to carve out a new life for herself.
And then we
have Lorraine, who I will say I wasn’t all that fussed on. She was incredibly
well written, and I found her utterly fascinating, but completely broken. She
is the bad girl who has completely fallen onto the wrong side of the tracks –
needy, petty and jealous I still felt for her, and she is still redeemable, but
she left an unpleasant taste in my mouth every time she fell a little further.
The book
explores the constraints of the time, the social dos and don’ts and was utterly
fascinating. A brilliant blend of humour, heart wrenching emotion and fabulous
characters, I loved it.
The research that must have gone into the book to produce such a vivid and
detailed world is utterly mind boggling, but it’s so completely worth it as you
are pulled straight into the world and experience every little detail.
I cannot
wait to get my hands on the second book of the series and find out what happens
next. I fell in love with the characters
(yes even Lorraine) and their stories were taken on such complex journeys with
such surprising and fantastic conclusions in this book that I’m so excited to
find out where Larkin takes us next.
Its’ an
exceptionally strong debut from an author to watch out for, and a stunning new
series for the rebel flapper girl in all of us.
I'm not as convinced of the awesome of 1920s flappers, but I love your enthusiasm in this review! I shall be picking up my copy of this very soon :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THIS BOOK :D my favourite character is clara too. and the second book is called ingenue. the third book -diva- is coming out this year july!!
ReplyDeletei must say. i was starting to like lorraine after reading the second one..
HAPPY READING (: