I can't let a one star review stand without an explanation. I have never rated a book with only one star and I realize this is probably more a function of disappointment rather than a valid literary evaluation. I have LOVED all of the other books by David Liss. This stew pot of magic, real historical individuals and literary homage to Jane Austen, just did not work for me. For a lesser author I would have stopped reading after the first few chapters when I realized the supernatural aspects were a serious plot ingredient. I read on to the end, but never could appreciate the mishmash. David Liss...please come back! The magic was not magical. Absolutely fantastic. I loved every minute of this book. It was well written, smart, and had something very rare, a smart heroine. It is a rare book indeed that I don't at some point want to reach into the book and smack the heroine for doing something so completely stupid. I loved the magic, the romance, and the fact that the mystery lasted to the very last chapter. I devoured this book as fast as my schedule would allow. Others have complained that this book was not on par with others written by this author, but as this is the first book I've read by David Liss, I didn't have that problem. If the other books written by him are indeed better, I look forward to reading them!
Do You like book Twelfth Enchantment, The (2011)?
Did not finish - very little action and mean-spirited people dominated the characters.
—ccma412
"Failed" 1/3 way through. Tried to like it but it's mundane.
—kenzie
Very clever combination of Jane Austen and magic fiction.
—robweiss
A cross between Jane Austen and a fantasy novel.
—sasha002
