More like: 4.5 stars!
I put reading Jane Eyre off for years for no reason other than I will sometime!! I wish I read it before but also I'm glad it didn't take me any longer.
This wasn't what I was expecting!! I was acquainted with "the mad woman in the attic" storyline and of the love story, however the dialogues and their philosophical nature and conservations on Christianity, Jane's childhood, the chapters after the discovery of Bertha Mason, these are glossed over, or perhaps I had a quite surface-level knowledge of the book.
If it were a love story, I don't think I'd give it any more than 3 stars. I actually think the relationship dynamics (and were they dynamic!) are one of the most interesting in classical literature, but what made me admire Jane Eyre and why I wouldn't consider it solely a romance is that: even the last words of the book isn't dedicated to the fervor of love and never-ending happiness but other aspects of life, other relatives and characters, without losing the sense of contentment it gives. It is written as a real life or love should be, with its ups and downs (however normally downs SHOULDN'T include a mad wife kept in the attic!), blindingly beautiful and less pleasant aspects of life are presented together, a woman isn't solely a graceful being who is sent from heavens, neither are men dashing gallant youths.
The characters, from main to supporting to minor, have a life, a character and thoughts of their own and it is what made Jane Eyre a very special read for me.
I loved this book! Most importantly, the diligent research that was involved inspires awe, moreover unlike many novels set in the Victorian period, it felt pretty faithful to the period and the little informative details the readers were offered were really great.
I also liked the characters. Sometimes, none other than De Quincey stood out a lot, but it's like that in real life too, isn't it? What mattered more was that they all had genuine, consistent reasons behind their actions.
My only complaint (thought it is small) would be about the instances where characters themselves were educating some other character, mostly Emily because then the dialogues had a scripted air to them, but other than that, I had nothing to dislike and I definitely recommend that book to anyone who is interested in murder mysteries or Victorian London.
And here we are! The (possibly) final book! I can't express how much I loved it. And since I never wrote a review for any of the previous books (I chose to, instead, mention how great they were to any friend who would listen!) this is going to be an overall review.
I've read all the books in this series with equal love, interest and amusement and they are one of my favorite book series and the main character, a necromancer of some little infamy, and his brother, a monster by some authorities a good chap by all the rest, will be among my favorite characters for a long time !
The fifth installment, which is possibly the last (though I hope not!) is good as ever, original, amusing, and packed with adventures that are new!
It was also great to see the characters grow or get to know them better throughout the series. In this book, none of the main cast, Cabal, Horst, Leonie or Zerenyia, were who they had been at their first apparence without distinctly departing or going against their personalities. Who would have guessed Johannes' character arc would include learning to appreciate his friends in his own unique way!! And who has read the series wouldn't love good-hearted Horst to become more than that nice vampire fellow?
I loved the dark humor that was always present, the beauty of the writing and the action packed plots against the backdrop of a worthy, almost impossible and admirable pursuit.
Read this series, it is definitely worth it!