Author: Jeannie Lin
Publisher: Harlequin
Publish Date: March 1, 2012
Source: I own this one.
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You like historical romances.
- You like exotic locales.
- You like short stories and novellas.
From Goodreads.com: "Musician Jia needs a valuable book of poems by a famous courtesan to buy her freedom...and she believes Luo Cheng has taken it. Her attempt to steal the book from him fails, but the tall and powerful scholar unexpectedly offers to help her quest! But when they finally find the book—and the arousing poems and artwork inside—Jia's longing for freedom is replaced with a new kind of desire for Cheng."
My Two Cents:
Capturing the Silken Thief is a historical romance novella that takes place in 823 A.D. during the Tang Dynasty in China. I wasn't sure how I would like the novella format. I like historical romance but I was sort of unsure whether or not you could tell a good story, let alone a good romance (love takes time usually!), in such a short amount of space. But I really like Jeannie Lin's writing and thoroughly enjoyed The Dragon and The Pearl so I tried to have faith. And you know what, it all turned out just fine!
I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick read with it being a novella and all. I was impressed with how much detail Lin was able to get in with so little space to work with. Jia is a great character. She's trying to buy her freedom, which was a great cost for a woman at that time. She's brave and cunning. She goes to steal a book of poems of an infamous courtesan from Luo Cheng, a gentleman studying to take a test to become a government official (a process that I found sort of fascinating). Things don't turn out the way Jia plans and she and Luo Cheng end up falling for each other hard and quickly. Hotness and passion ensues!
One reason that I love historical fiction of all stripes is that the books have the ability to take you to someplace that you've never been before. Lin gives the reader a great sense of what life was like during the Tang Dynasty. You can definitely imagine that you're there.
Bottom line: this is a perfect book for those wanting to break their fear of novellas. Great stories really can be told in fewer words.
GREAT REVIEW ,,, I also like historical books but i have never read one placed in china ,,, my favorite are Julia Quinn books :) Happy you enjoyed it
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've heard of Julia Quinn before. I should look her up. Do you have a favorite one of her books that you recommend?
DeleteI'm kind of like you about novellas. Not sure they can tell a good story in that amount of time/space. But I don't know much at al about that period of time, so this sounds like it maybe be a good one to try.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it's a good one to try. For me, it definitely made me more open to trying more novellas in the future!
DeleteI don't normally read novellas, but I would like to read this one. I really enjoy cultural history, and China is one of my favorite places to read about.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading a lot more about China recently. It's definitely a fascinating place!
DeleteI love a good historical romance and I really want to read something by Jeannie Lin (as I've heard lots of praise). Maybe I'll start with this since it's a novella. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteI love her writing and I also love that her books don't take place in some place that I read about all the time!
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