Book Review: The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter

The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a mix of romance and supernatural elements. The supernatural concept of this book very intriguing and new to me at least, although it's origins and inspiration are old.

The initial third or so of the book was superbly done. It pulled me right in. The author takes us into Ava's world and introduces the supernatural elements of the Irin very well.

It was interesting that we don't get the heroine's direct point of view until a few chapters in, but Hunter did an excellent job of introducing Ava to the reader through other character's eyes while still keeping a little bit of mystery about her.

The audiobook narrator was excellent, although I was skeptical whether a man was an appropriate narrator for a typical romance novel. It helps that this isn't your typical romance novel, and all of my doubt was erased by end of the first chapter.

During the last half of the book, once the "will they or won't they tension fades" and the romance begins to blossom, it felt like Hunter had trouble balancing the romance with the other elements, and I felt a little lost. However, the story was still good enough that I might go back and listen to or read those parts again just to figure it all out.

SPOILER WARNING

Some romance readers might be disappointed to find that there isn't a typical HEA at the end of this book. Some might feel the ending is just the opposite. Knowing it was a series, I expected the author to shift the romance to another couple in the next book, but I'm not sure that is what's happening here. I don't like it when the couple finally finds their happiness only to be ripped apart again for the sake of conflict. This ending has me wondering if I even want to read the second one.

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