This is more like 2 1/2 stars.I enjoyed the first half of this book, but really struggled through the second and started getting bored. I read this because I was curious to read books set in Elizabethan England and I did enjoy the flashbacks from the present to that time period the most.The writing itself was nice, although I could tell the author is a journalist. I think I can lay claim to a fairly decent vocabulary, but I frequently encountered words in here I'd never heard before, let alone knew what they meant and sometimes it wasn't always obvious from context. I like learning new words, but too many starts to feel pretentious.My biggest reason for giving this only three stars (2 1/2?)is the premise of this story, which at its heart is a treasure hunt. Without giving anything away, the characters' belief that the treasure would even exist is preposterous and far-fetched to the point it made me not enjoy the book.The other problem was the ending which dragged on after the climactic scene with the author revealing twists that didn't surprise me at all. And the very last chapter? All I can say is WHAT??? Followed by WHY?If you want to read something with an Elizabethan setting, it is in here, but there's probably better books to read. The reveal on this slightly convoluted historical flashback novel makes you wonder what you missed. It also had the unfortunate condition of having no characters with whom to connect or like or want to succeed in any way. The protagonist is wimpy, and the other main character -- a fancy pants book collector -- treats everyone around him very badly. The most interesting parts of the book concern the secret society in question, The School Of Night, which features a cast of historical characters who may or may not be familiar to you. In the end, it doesn't match the lyricism or story-telling of The Pale Blue Eye.
What do You think about School Of Night (2010)?
4* Mr Timothy4* The Black TowerWL The School of NightMB Roosevelt's Beast
—knthsublett
So far I am having trouble getting in to this book. Not impressed yet.
—free
A fun quick read filled with history, romance and suspense.
—hannagrete
