Changeling (Order of Darkness Book 1)

This is Gregory's first venture into the world of Young Adult. I know she can write adult historical fiction novels I love, so I decided to give her Young Adult novel a try and see if she could write that genre as well. As it turns out, she can.17-year-old Luca has grown up in the monastery, but when he starts asking questions, he's cast out and accused of heresy. He is recruited by a mysterious order to travel and investigate the evils and dangers people are seeing in the world around them. He must do as he is told and not question his orders, although in his role of inquisitor he will be asking many questions of others. He agrees to become a part of the order; understanding that he is one step away from death and this is his salvation.Isolde is only 17 when her father dies, leaving her to her brother's care. Despite being raised to know how to run the home just as well as any man, upon his death her father had changed his will to say she would either marry or be sent to the nunnery. She choses to be sent to the nunnery, but as soon as she arrives, strange things begin to happen that make everyone in the nunnery frightened.It is these strange occurrences that bring Luca to Isolde, but it is a respect for each other and the truth that keeps them together. I'm glad there's a slow build between these two. I think anything else wouldn't feel right, especially given the time period in which the story takes place. I think I can see where this relationship is going and I think I'm going to like it.The plot is interesting and has me drawn in. I want to see where Luca and Isolde travel and what they face. There were only a couple inquisitions in this novel, but Luca clearly has a level head and thinks things out before taking action. He might be serving the Pope, but he is not going to let emotions cloud his judgment. It will be interesting to see where Gregory takes these characters next.Changeling is Gregory's first Young Adult novel, but not her first historical fiction. I knew she'd be able to get the historical feelings across, and I'm happy to say she can write Young Adult just as well as she writes for adults. Gregory has proved, once again, why she's one of my favorite authors to read.

This would be a great book for people interested in history and interested in the world view of those who lived it. Luca Vero has been kicked out of his monastery for being too smart, too beautiful, and too curious. He is recruited into a secret order founded by Pope Nicholas V. His charge is to investigate the strange occurrences that are becoming common in 1453. The Pope is convinced that mankind is nearing the ends of days. He sends Luca out to make a map of the fears of the world.In his first investigation, Luca, his clerk Brother Peter, and his servant Frieze are sent to investigate an abbey where the nuns seem to be going mad. The new Lady Abbess is Isolde who should be the heiress to the Castle of Lucretili but her brother forced her out after her father's death saying that her father changed his will and left everything to his son after all. Isolde and her servant Ishraq, Moorish and brought home from the Holy Land as a child, are sent to the abbey but Isolde is still grieving for her beloved father and isn't able to take charge with all the plots surrounding her.While Luca does solve the mystery at the abbey, it is too late for Isolde who has been convicted of witchcraft and disowned by her "grieving" brother. She and Ishraq manage to flee before they are burned at the stake. They meet again on the road and decide to travel together until their paths part. Luca to investigate as he is commanded and Isolde to travel to Hungary to ask her godfather to help her regain her inheritance.The historical detail was wonderful. The characters spanned a broad spectrum of medieval society and thought. But this didn't feel like a novel. It is clearly the beginning of a series of books that will have further adventures of Luca, Isolde, and crew as they wend their way through medieval Europe. This was just the first two episodes of that greater journey.

this was a nice read for an afternoon. I was frustrated for most of it because the main character, Luca, who is supposed to be such a logical bright thinker is incredibly dumb. He finds the clues that solve the mystery yet believes the woman who makes eyes at him. (such a boy!) I found his friend and man servant smarter and nicer. and anyone with half a brain knows Isolde's brother is a lyer and a jerk, yet she does as she is told. what happened to that enlightened upbring she had? blah. there are spots of mystery still to be resolved, is luca a changling? is Ishraq a witch? how did they get out of that prison? this is the start of a series where 5 folks travel around solving "mysteries". not a good mystery writer, as even the "were wolf" is figured out in the very beginning. and again Luka doesn't get it , it is his servant that figures it out. did the auther intentional make luka and Isolde slightly dumb? of course, maybe she doesn't like her hero and heroine. who knows. I would like to read the second book, just to see if the love affar between her secondary characters, Ishraq and Freise comes to anything.

Philippa Gregory's excursion into novels for young adults is, on this evidence, a very felicitous one. She makes few concessions to the youth of her intended readership, employing her usual pithy, often poignant prose style. The story itself is a delight - fully to be enjoyed by older adults, and magical in its deftness of touch: if you like a fairy-tale, this is for you! There is a complete absence of vulgarity, though the occasional oath is uttered. Luca is a real hero, with all the fragility that one might expect from a young man laden heavy with responsibility. Freize, his young friend and helper is a delightful character - fully drawn and characterized.All in all, then, I cannot think of a lovelier novel for a young adult, but I hope this does not deter older folk from reading it. At 69 years of age, I enjoyed every page, and look forward to reading the sequel in short order.

I have read several of her (excellent) historical fiction novels set in the tudor period, which are meticulously researched and totally believable, to the point where they feel like a true historical account.By contrast, this is complete fiction set in the 12th or 13th century. This period provides precious little in the way of contemporary sources to support her research. Because of this, the characters are wooden caricatures of something from the worst kind of 1960's hollywood productions set in Ye Olde Englande. The story is chaotic, and significantly less believable than an episode of Scooby Doo.Philippa Gregory has indulged her desire to write a work of complete fiction, and has demonstrated that her talent is not here.

This just has to be one of those books that actually the storyline isn't absolutely outstanding, the writing isn't perfect, the characters are not intelligent, witty, funny, unique or anything but as soon as you start reading you'll go from cover to cover in a day. Why? Because it's entertaining, for some reason it draws you in. I feel like this book has been written (and I know it's not) as a tester series for the topics, the historical content isn't quite accurate as other people have said but that really does not bother me in the slightest.The characters? They are very dim, they are obsessive, the treatment of women is horrendous and the only person with any talent or brain power is the 'slave girl'.The book does not progress all that far but I'm hoping when I read the sequel now 'stormbringer' that it gets further, it's good enough to buy the sequel as it draws you in without being difficult or tiring, it is a very good read and it's easy going and great for anyone of any age.

I am so very disappointed in this book. I have read all the Phillipa Gregory historical novels such as the Tudors, the Rivers, Cousins War, etc. I have also read the Wideacre Trilogy and many others - ALL of which I loved and enjoyed. However, this left me thinking I had somehow got the wrong book. Surely this could not have been written by the same author? Sad to say, it was. The book is extremely short in length and totally lacking in a credible plot. It hurries along, and I almost got to the end, but when a talking beast was introduced, I ditched it and gave up! I won't be buying the next ones in this series.

It started really well but went down hill towards the end . It felt like only part of a book . Very disappointing as I love all the historical novels but won’t bother with any more like this .