The first book in the thrilling YA sequence, Order of Darkness. The year is 1453, and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old, Luca Vero, is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom, and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions, walking in their sleep, and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and all the evidence points to Isolde's criminal guilt. Outside in the yard they are building a pyre to burn her for witchcraft. Forced to face the greatest fears of the medieval world - dark magic, werewolves, madness - Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
Changeling
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About the Author
Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period and wrote the international bestseller The Other Boleyn Girl, which became a major film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson. She has written several bestselling novels set in the Tudor period and The Cousins' War series which is to be a major TV production. This book is the first of a new series of novels set in medieval Europe: Order of Darkness. Philippa's other great interest is the charity that she founded nearly twenty years ago: Gardens for The Gambia. She has raised funds and paid for 160 wells for the primary schools of this poor African country. A former student of Sussex University, and a PhD and Alumna of the Year at Edinburgh University, her love of history is the hallmark of her writing. She lives with her family on a small farm in Yorkshire. She welcomes visitors to her site www.PhilippaGregory.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This has been a hard book to review, not because of the subjects tackled within but because I felt that the book was below what I expected from Philippa's writing skills. Don't get me wrong it's a complete story but one that I've noticed with her adult writing is that when it's based on a well-documented person it works wonderfully, yet when left to writing based on the authors imagination, it sadly falls apart and as with the recent Cousin's War series a lot of repetition between each title.
What this book brings to the table is a farfetched story with so coincidences alongside flaws that had it not had the authors name attached I'm not sure it would have made it to the shelves. The characters are confusing, there's no real direction with them and events seem to have been woven by strength of author rather than feeling natural. Add to this a story that feels like the pace is all over the place, characters that don't feel rounded but thrown into a different timeline to suit the authors purpose and with a convoluted plotline that feels that additional ideas have been wedged in to fit the word count and all in I was disappointed with the overall product.
Don't get me wrong; had it been a debut author, a lot of the errors within could have been forgiven as over zealousness alongside lessons that needed to be learned, but from a multi title writer these should never have occurred.
What this book brings to the table is a farfetched story with so coincidences alongside flaws that had it not had the authors name attached I'm not sure it would have made it to the shelves. The characters are confusing, there's no real direction with them and events seem to have been woven by strength of author rather than feeling natural. Add to this a story that feels like the pace is all over the place, characters that don't feel rounded but thrown into a different timeline to suit the authors purpose and with a convoluted plotline that feels that additional ideas have been wedged in to fit the word count and all in I was disappointed with the overall product.
Don't get me wrong; had it been a debut author, a lot of the errors within could have been forgiven as over zealousness alongside lessons that needed to be learned, but from a multi title writer these should never have occurred.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By Eleni
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Hardcover
This is the first book in the new young adult historical fiction series by Philippa Gregory.
In 1453 Italy, seventeen-year-old Luca Vero, although accused of heresy, is assigned by the Order of Darkness to investigate any mysteries, heresies or sins that Pope Nicholas V considers a threat to the church and the future of Christendom. As Luca is trained for his assignment, seventeen-year-old Lady Isolde of Lucretili is robbed of her inheritance by her brother and forced to become an Abbess. Luca and Isolde are brought together when the young inquisitor is asked to investigate strange visions and bleeding wounds that torment the nuns in her care and throw suspicions of witchcraft on Isolde and her friend Ishraq.
I thought that a historical novel set in medieval Europe for young adults is an excellent idea, and even more so, when it is written by such an experienced, established author like Philippa Gregory. Sadly reading it, I couldn't possibly believe that it was indeed written by Gregory and not by some novice author, whose awkward writing and many blunders show only minimum promise for the future. The idea is interesting, but the plot is all over the place, the dialogues repetitive and simplistic, characterization, which usually is Gregory's strongest quality, here is practically nonexistent, and atmosphere and historical detail are nowhere near her usual standards.
I don't believe that writing for young adults is an excuse for inferior literature. Young adults are not second rate citizens, they are not less intelligent or perceptive, and they definitely do not deserve this treatment. On the contrary, being the readers of tomorrow, they deserve encouragement, gratitude and respect, which I don't think that Philippa Gregory gives them, with this sloppy amateurish book, so shockingly unlike her other excellent work.
In 1453 Italy, seventeen-year-old Luca Vero, although accused of heresy, is assigned by the Order of Darkness to investigate any mysteries, heresies or sins that Pope Nicholas V considers a threat to the church and the future of Christendom. As Luca is trained for his assignment, seventeen-year-old Lady Isolde of Lucretili is robbed of her inheritance by her brother and forced to become an Abbess. Luca and Isolde are brought together when the young inquisitor is asked to investigate strange visions and bleeding wounds that torment the nuns in her care and throw suspicions of witchcraft on Isolde and her friend Ishraq.
I thought that a historical novel set in medieval Europe for young adults is an excellent idea, and even more so, when it is written by such an experienced, established author like Philippa Gregory. Sadly reading it, I couldn't possibly believe that it was indeed written by Gregory and not by some novice author, whose awkward writing and many blunders show only minimum promise for the future. The idea is interesting, but the plot is all over the place, the dialogues repetitive and simplistic, characterization, which usually is Gregory's strongest quality, here is practically nonexistent, and atmosphere and historical detail are nowhere near her usual standards.
I don't believe that writing for young adults is an excuse for inferior literature. Young adults are not second rate citizens, they are not less intelligent or perceptive, and they definitely do not deserve this treatment. On the contrary, being the readers of tomorrow, they deserve encouragement, gratitude and respect, which I don't think that Philippa Gregory gives them, with this sloppy amateurish book, so shockingly unlike her other excellent work.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Do not be fooled into buying this book because of the author's famous name, or the savvy cover text. The characters are flat, the dialogue is forced, and the story clunks from one improbable and convenient (co)incident to the next without actually getting anywhere. There's no magic, no tension, and no development. There isn't even the satisfaction of a historical sense of place. I will say that I'm not particularly taken with Gregory's adult fiction, but at least it is readable. This book simply isn't. It is so infuriatingly amateurish that I literally wanted to scream at the page. Do not buy this book.
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3.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Dissapointing
I really enjoy historical Books by this Autor but didn't enjoy this Book at all. There was Not the usual depth that there normally is to her Books and the end just Left me Feeling... Read more
Published 6 days ago by Sweetie
3.0 out of 5 stars
Changeling
I did not find this novel as interesting as Philippa Gregory's others. This is probably because the plot was too slow and seemed at times a little unbelievable.
Published 25 days ago by Mrs Pamela Y Burdett
5.0 out of 5 stars
Changeling
I really enjoyed this book. It was different from Phillippa Gregory's usual books. However was still a good read. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tracy Harvey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Different kind of story from the usual.
Enjoyed it very much - may read next in series when I find when it is coming out & what it will be called.
Published 1 month ago by Shirps
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good short read
I always like Phillipa Gregory's books and this was no exception, A bit different to the Queens series but very enjoyable.
Published 1 month ago by Picky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent from start to finish
Really good read if somewhat different from her other novels as it is pure fiction. Looking forward to the next novel in the series!!
Published 1 month ago by Sarah M
3.0 out of 5 stars
Light and pleasant
Okay, but nowhere near as good as the Cousins' Wars series, which I think is Philipa Gregory at her best
Published 1 month ago by J2oh
2.0 out of 5 stars
My wife didn't like it
My wife didn't like the style of writing and found the story line very odd as well. Hope that helps
Published 1 month ago by Christopher Turner
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wife liked it
This was bought for my wife, She enjoyed it and is hoping to get others by Philippa Gregory to listen to.
Published 1 month ago by Martin F Jones
3.0 out of 5 stars
Personal Review
Have found this book hard going, not in the same league as her other books, but will persevere to the end
Published 1 month ago by Teresa K. Watson
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