Ivy & Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
It took some time to get in to this story, as it assumes that you know/remember a lot from the other Pink Carnation books. There wasn't a lot of intrigue, but it was a fun read, once I did get in to the flow of the story. I understand that it is hard to get into character development in a short story, and the characters had already been developed in the novels. This is a perfect read for someone who has recently read the book of Pink Carnation series, but net even sure where it fits in. I love Lauren Willig's writing. Ivy and Intrigue is the follow up novella, previously published in segments on Ms Willig’s website, to The Secret History of the Pink Carnation. If you have not read any of Ms Willig’s Pink Carnation series, I would suggest that you stop reading this review. Go out, read the first four books (The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, The Masque of the Black Tulip, The Deception of the Emerald Ring, and The Seduction of the Crimson Rose), then read Ivy and Intrigue. I believe that Ivy and Intrigue is not a good way to cut your teeth into this wonderful series, and many things will be spoiled from the previous novels just by reading this brief story. ***SPOILER FOLLOWS***Ivy and Intrigue picks up nine months after the marriage of Richard Selwick and Amy Balcourt during the holidays. It basically compresses a full Pink novel into approximately 100 pages with little character development, henceforth the spoiler warning. The story is still brimming with the wit and charm of all of the Pink novels, but because of its shortened nature, I felt that a lot of the characters were pretty glossed over.On her website, Ms Willig suggests reading Ivy and Intrigue after The Seduction of the Crimson Rose, which, honestly, I wish I had. I felt a little detached from the Pink world because I haven’t read one since The Orchid Affair came out at the end of January earlier this year. One thing is for certain, Ivy and Intrigue has whetted my appetite for The Garden Intrigue, due February 16, 2012. I cannot wait to voraciously consume it as I have the others. I LOVE this series. This is one of the rare few series of books that I will pre-order and read as soon as I get it.
What do You think about Ivy & Intrigue: A Very Selwick Christmas (2011)?
Novella that went all the way back to the Purple Gentian. Full of fun and a really quick read.
—bear
I'm just starting a Selwick Christmas... I so enjoy Ms Willig's writing.
—andrea
Enjoyable. Shockingly bouncy after Mary and Vaughn's story.
—Conor
