The Silver Blade

Again, I return to the French Revolution and Terror that struck it. Or as Iago, the character parrot, would say "vive la Revolutión!". I went back to this series by both reading and listening to this last and sequel book. In this audio version, we pick up with almost 2 years later as Yann has begun to focus in on specializing his powers to help desperate aristocrats escape the guillotine. He has secretly become the vigilante, The Silver Blade, and also pantomiming magic on the stage as Harlequin. The devious Count Kalliovski has returned more powerful with a deal made with the Devil. In this book we gather together more characters of the theater helping Yann in his smuggling out of endangered "émigrés". Several named after the Commedia dell'arte. The Count has also gathered his henchman, new and old. Great way to end it with Yann growing and accepting the obstacles that are set before him. Though I won't lie his melancholic moments did irk me sometimes. On audio differences, it was more detailed and closer connected to the novel edition. This was both helpful, but also cumbersome at times. Its pacing seemed slower though it was less jumping paragraphs when going along with the book. Though an exception again can be made with some secondary character's dialogue getting cut shorter (Trippen family moments again). Also I enjoyed Janet Suzman's take on narrating, but some voices I still held more kudos towards Tom Hiddleston's performance in the first book (e.g. Yann, Count Kalliovski, Auland, and Mr. Trippen). I kind of wish it had been duo narrators brought on with Hiddleston holding on to the most of the male, and Suzman taking on the female voices. Mark me when I say she did a good job of all characters, but I miss the growling twinge of darkness in the Count's voice and Milkeye's Northern European tones from the first audio. It threw me a bit at first, and I found myself getting use to the characters again. Overall, even though their stories here are done, I would love to see what other magics await new characters the author may someday explore.

I really enjoyed The Red Necklace, so I was eager to read the sequel and rejoin the world of Sido and Yann. I particularly like the setting of the French Revolution in this book. I think it gives the story an edge.I liked how Yann is the focus in this story. I think Sido received her closurer in the first book and if it weren't for the fact that she's tied to Yann, we wouldn't even really need to see her in the book. I liked the mystery of the silver blade. It's impressive that Yann was rescuing french aristocrats right under the noses of the national assembly. I also thought it was amusing he left a calling card. He made himself an enigma. I enjoyed how discovered who he really was and sometimes being connected to a person isn't important.I also enjoyed the dealings with Count Kalliovski. What a creepy man! I never really understood why he wanted Sido so badly though. Except maybe for the simple fact that she got away from him and nobody ever did. Seemed like a drastic reason for making a deal with the devil. I also enjoyed his dog. It was an interesting addition to the story.I wonder if there will be another one in this series. I think there is room for more. Yann is just understanding his powers. Plus, the revolution isn't over yet. Not sure were it could go though. But, I would read it.

I was very eager to get to this book after I finished The Red Necklace and once it came, I finished it in two days. We have all the old Characters, and a few new faces added to the mix, with Yann becoming the "Silver Blade", the man who saves innocent people from murder, with the help of Cordell, and Citizen Aulard and his Theatre business. The story was good, but there were a few problems that I had.One: I felt that the writing quality wasn't as good as the first one, it fell a little bit short.Two: Kalliovski had more depth to him in The Red Necklace than he does in this book. He didn't have the same feel to him as before, and I didn't get as much backstory as I wanted on him. Or on Tetu for that matter.Three: there is another villain introduced and at first he seemed like he would really add a lot to the evil side of things, but he turned out to be a bit of a let down.Four: more Gypsy magic and legend came into play here and I was hoping for the opposite. A lot of it was rather ridiculous.Five: Miss Gardner does not give explanations as to how things are accomplished in the way of magic, and I was a bit confused by some of it. I know this isn't a Fantasy Novel, but I would've liked more details and explanation as to how Kalliovski did what he did, and how he planned to do what he wanted to do. (trying not to spoil anything :D)I was happy with the ending, the development of Yann and Sido, and as far as Sequels go it was better than some I've seen. As for a third book, I don't think we really need one. It's wrapped up quite nicely.

I admit I only cottoned to this series due to the audio book as read by Tom Hiddleston. I was surprised to be so taken by Yan and Sido and thrilled to discover a sequel that nicely tied up the loose ends from the previous installment. The setting from within the chaos of the French Revolution was exciting in and of itself and I enjoyed the snippets of 'the Silver Blade's escapades as much as the primary conflict with Count Kalliovski. It is by no means a perfect book, the Anselm character felt unnecessary and a bit too 'evil for the sake of being evil' for my tastes and Kalliovski himself was a lot more of a nefarious super villain this time around, (complete with minions!), but it was still a very well done story set in an interesting time with unique and relatable characters that capture your imagination and, more importantly, your heart. Excellent.

My only regret regarding this book and the first of the series is that there aren't more! Sally Gardner has crafted an incredibly well written mixture of historical fiction and gypsy lore!! I can't wait for her to write more!!!!

This is supposed to be aimed at teenagers but I found it very readable as an adult, so don’t let that put you off! This is the follow up to the earlier book, The Red Necklace, and follows the same characters. It’s got suspense, supernatural elements and a cracking story line as well as being historically very informative. There were lots of things about the French Revolution here that I didn’t know and I had to keep googling some of the historical characters to find out what happened to them once the book finishes. I would recommend this and the earlier book.

I really enjoyed reading The Red Necklage so I bought this book wanting to know how the story ended. The author tries to explain at the beginning a little of what happened on the previous book, but I do recommend to read the other one first, as it so good and also because it is hard to understand the plot just by reading this one.Yann is more mature here, except when he is in love, moments when he seems like any teenage boy. The rest of the time he is a heroe saving people from the guillotine in the Reign of Terror after the French Revolution.The action is fast and the characters interesting, all that happens in Paris is action-packed and full of adventures, the parts in London are not so good, although necessary. I didn't like the change of attitude in the aunt, it was a bit out of character, and the fact that Sido does very little in the novel but wait. Okay, that was what she did as well on the first novel, but for some reason, she was more of a presence in the novel, while here she is more like a pretty shadow.I think that anyone who has loved the first novel should read this one.

After reading the red necklace I was hooked and literally could not wait for this book to arrive. You pick up where they left off Yann is now nearly a man and his life has changed. That spark of courage has become a mission and the tender love he has for Sudo cross with the devils own plans. Kalliovsky is back with a vengance.Another one I couldn'tput down. It had me spell bound from beginning to end.

I usually love Sally Gardener's books but this one was just too much. Like the first one it takes a long time to really get into this book but unlike the first one it's not worth even trying. It has lost all the magic and spirit of the first book. It jumps from character to character until you just completely switch off altogether. In the first book there were some real can't-put-this-book-down moments whereas in this book any action that there might have been is completely lost as you are just skimming pages and not really taking it in. Maybe I haven't given this book a real chance but it is so heavy and dull that I wouldn't even bother picking it up.

This finished the tale started in the Red Necklace. Could be read as a stand alone, but it really does finish the tale off nicely and our hero continues his work as a sort of junior Scarlet Pimpernel from the increasing dangerous and ill-advised mobs in Paris. Exciting - I loved both books.