Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommendation : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Disclaimer – I received a free digital download of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Khayyam Maquet, mixed race, ‘failing’ art historian aspiring teenager spends August in París where she comes across ‘Alexandre Dumas’ and after a faux pas finds that he is in fact related to The Alexandre Dumas – the subject of her crash and burn essay for the Young Scholar Prize. Has fate thrust Alexandre into Khayyam’s life for a reason or is there something more sinister at work?
Leila, the forgotten woman behind the Giaour poem by Lord Byron and artwork by Delacroix braces the pages of this book. Providing an interesting outlook on Leila’s opinion through chapters that alternate between Khayyam’s narrative and that of Leila’s. Drawing out the happenings from over 150 years ago, Leila’s story is surrounded in mystery and heartbreak that will no doubt have you page turning to discover what exactly happened to this Raven-haired Beauty.
If I could have given this book more than 5 stars I would. It was an absolutely enchanting read from the very first page. Not only was it steeped in intrigue and history, but the underlying story of a young teenage girl growing into herself and discovering her worth and what she truly deserves has made this a book I truly wish I’d been able to read as a teenage girl. The author seems to know a great deal around her subjects of choice and has done an impressive amount of research. The book has a wonderful storyline that really draws you in to the potential mystery and makes you truly invested in the outcomes for the main characters.
A truly exceptionally written book by a very talented writer. I’m not sure who’s story I found myself wanting to unravel more – Khayyam’s or Leila’s. One of my favourite reads so far in 2020!
