- #1
Admittedly this novel initially comes off as Marianne being ordinary surrounded by extraordinary people while also being "not like other girls" but I think it's a disservice to write off this novel as just that.Marianne can be annoying with her insistence on being ordinary and her subtle distaste for nobility. She maintains this stubborn distance from her new stepbrother and hates standing out but as the novel plays out, it kind of explains her mentality and when she does acknowledge their sibling relationship, she does try to get along more.There's actual plot that begins to occur and it's pretty clear there's a conspiracy that ties Marianne and her three friends deeply together and also influence how each of them act. The conspiracy and emerging plot is quite intriguing so far.Marianne's mother also has more to her than meets the eye. I wouldn't call her a good mother but I don't think she's a vapid as she appears. The few deeper interaction Marianne and her have make it apparent she keeps tabs on Marianne and knows how to influence her.This novel isn't perfect. Marianne can be appear to be "not like other girls/nobels" but I also think the novel isn't trying to discredit women in general. Marianne's mother is a very easy target to be written badly but I think she's handled well.If you can get through the initial annoyance of Marianne being stubborn Vs her new family, I think this novel is worth a read.