Tom Hiddleston read this. Tom fucking Hiddleston read this. I...must listen to this audiobook. He could read me a cookbook and I'd happily and joyously listen to it. EDIT: Alas, I couldn't find the UK audiobook, but I'm reading it anyway. If anyone knows of somewhere I can listen to it, please let me know! EDIT AGAIN My good friend Sei gave me a link to the audiobook, and now I'm listening and reading it at the same time. :) Actual ReviewWell, it was okay. I love historical fiction, but I didn't exactly care for The Red Necklace. In an old theater in 1789, France, a boy named Yann Margoza had a unique talent for throwing his voice and reading people's minds. He works with two magicians, one of whom a dwarf that raised him as his own. One night, they are invited to perform in front of the Marque de Villeduval and Count Kalliovsky at the marques's home. That is the night Topolain, the magician, is murdered. Tetu (the dwarf) and Yann are next if they don't escape from the house and France immediately. Helping them get away is a young girl named Sido, the marques lonely daughter. Once out of France, Yann keeps the girl in his thoughts while learning English in London. Two years later, when news that Sido is being forced to marry the evil Count Kalliovski in order to pay off the marques's dept, Yann is determined to rescue her. But will the French Revolution and it's growing bloodbath get to her first? Tom Hiddleston is a magnificent narrater, literally the best I've ever heard, but I ended up reading the actual book because it was faster. I liked it, but it lost my attention in multiple areas and I had to force myself to read onward. It was interesting reading about the French revolution and all of the chaos and death it caused, because I hardly knew anything about it before reading this book. I must admit, I was a bit taken with Yann. He was smart, quick-witted, charming, and everything you should want in a young man. Sido, however, I found annoying. I didn't care for her in the first half, but in the second half, I wanted to smack some sense into her. Why didn't she leave her horrible father when Yann asked to take her to London? She seriously thought she'd be no better than the 'savages' in the prison if she left him. The marques ignored her for years and was about to sell her off into marriage with an old man to save his own ass, and yet she still wouldn't 'abandon' him? Another thing that was a bit frustrating was the constant switch of perspectives. It was mostly just Sido and Yann, but it would go to the Count, the marque, Aulard, etc. I wished Gardner had simply stuck to Yann and Sido. It was a decent book but I probably won't pick up the sequel.
This is not exactly a book I would have ever come across by myself or even given a chance if I had. To be honest, the only reason I gave it a go, is because Tom Hiddleston narrates the audiobook. But I'm very happy I did. I'll admit I might not have enjoyed it as much as I did if Hiddleston hadn't been the one reading it to me. He is a splendid actor and the voices he made and his way of reading certainly mirrors this. He is as talented with his voice, as with everything else. I had a brilliant time just listening to him bringing the various characters to life, sometimes even questioning if he was indeed voicing ALL the people, because it just seemed so unbelievable. That said, the book itself is pretty good as well. Much of what kept me paying attention, was Hiddleston, but obviously also the plot itself. I found myself liking this book and its characters, much more than I originally thought I would. I loved the take on gypsy magic, and found the entire plot very refreshing from what I usually read. It wasn't exactly a fast paced or complicated plot, after all it is a sort of childrens' book, but it wasn't too simple either. It was interesting.While Yann and Sodi were very likable characters and very easy to root for, I found the villain, Count Kallivoski, to be quite compelling as well (not because he's a nice person, mind you, but because he's interestingly written). He's unsympathetic, cruel and merciless enough for anyone to eagerly await his demise, but he's not simply evil either, there's a human depth to him, and it's made clear he might not always have been this way, that he might have once wanted to change. I like that, it makes him an excellent villain, because he's got reasons to act as he does, he's got passion (or lack there-of). And man-made cruelty is by far the scariest thing there is, in my opinion. While the ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel (and such a thing has already been published) it is possible to read it as a single book. I'll admit, though, that it actually left me wanting to read the next one, because while it isn't a cliffhanger, it doesn't exactly wrap things up either. Still, we'll see if I ever get around to the second one, since there's no Tom to read that one aloud to me. Other than that, it's brilliantly executed, the book never loses focus, it's got a rich and flowing language and is all in all just a really good book. I still recommend you get the audiobook if you intend to read it, Tom Hiddleston's narration made "reading" it a rather more fun and thrilling ride.
What do You think about The Red Necklace (2007)?
This book isn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but it's not one that's going to stick with me nor do I have any ambition to look into the sequel. I'll talk strengths and then weaknesses.The characters in this are generally wonderful and I think Gardner did a fabulous job capturing the atmosphere of France on the cusp of the revolution - there was obvious and real tension between the haves and have-nots with the haves being entirely frivolous and the have-nots being literally treated little more than pieces of furniture - and then also capturing the bloody massacres that followed the start of it. (It being a young adult novel, I was expecting it to be a little more sanitized in the violence.) I also think that despite the fact the romance is more than a little silly as an adult reader, it's an enjoyable plot point. It is right on par with other young adult romances though and it has a little substance to it.The most major weakness I think the story suffered from was its rather clumsy handling of suspense. The book would set you up with a mystery, but it was either given way directly or indirectly just moments after it was set-up. And to be totally honest (and end-book spoilery), I knew who Yann's father was from the moment they set it up that he only really knew his mother's identity (view spoiler)[and it goes a very cliché Luke-Vader route that's been done time and time again (hide spoiler)]
—Crystal
First of all, I don't know if my opinion MIGHT be influenced by the fact that Tom FREAKING Hiddleston read this. His voice, his WONDERFUL voice, could make a dictionary sound interesting. I've listened to audiobooks before, but nothing compared to this. Tom Hiddleston is the best narrator I've ever heard. If he narrates the sequel, I will buy it in a matter of seconds.Now, that I've raved over how wonderful Tom Hiddleston's voice is, let me talk about the book. This book had my attention from the very beginning. I liked Yann a lot; he was smart, brave and very likable. Sido... I felt very bad for her, but she was a fool in the end of the book. She should just have left the Marque (spelling?). I've always been interested in the French Revolution and when I discovered that this book was about that, WITH magic and Tom as a narrator, I had to have it. It was a thrilling experience and I loved every second of it. This is my favourite audiobook of all time; partly due to the fact that it has the best freaking narrator in the history of the planet. Seriously, he reads with different voices for the characters and it's just... wonderful.If you're planning on getting this book, which I very much recommend, please get the audio version. You won't regret it, I think. It was a very good book with an interesting plot. Though, my opinion might be partly because of the awesome narration.Did I mention that Tom is the best narrator ever? ;)
—Sofia Andersson
Really struggled to get into this one, and once I was in, I didn't want to be. It was simply the top book on a pile of to-read books I was keeping on the coffee table, but I wish I'd picked something else instead. The characters weren't interesting me at all, and the plot felt odd and disjointed. I get to certain points in books that if I'm lost, I'm lost forever. My good opinion, once lost, is lost forever, heh. However, I can see the appeal. It's dark, and there are particularly morbid scenes of death and murder. It doesn't hold back. Of course, I only managed 150 pages before giving up, so it may get even more so. Plenty of people will enjoy the no holds approach. I'm sure also lots of people will enjoy the writing, it just wasn't for me. Moving on again, and I'm stuck in a rut of bad books. What will save me, as I fall ever behind on my goodreads challenge because nothing is capturing my interest?
—Kirsti
