Hello Everyone!
Overview (Non-Spoilery Section)
ARC provided through Netgalley and Disney Hyperion in exchange for an honest review.
While I was searching for ARCs recently, Seraphina and the Black Cloak grabbed my eye. As a child, I was all too entranced by the history and the beauty of the Biltmore Estate. It only made sense, therefore, to give Seraphina and the Black Cloak a whirl. It was totally worth it. Robert Beatty crafted a magical and refreshing read that the current me, and my younger self, fell in love with. From the witty cast of characters to the evident research and little hint of magic, Seraphina and the Black Cloak was a wild ride to the tune of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for an easy read or an enthralling tale.
***Spoilers***
I had a lot of this book figured out by the beginning of the book, though it didn’t spoil the experience. I loved Seraphina and her Pa. She was so determined from the beginning to do the right thing and save the children. Seeing her put the pieces together with Braeden reminded me of Nancy Drew. It was really cool to see a piece of history that I know so well, especially in an area that I live in, come to life in a totally new light. I also enjoyed the relationship between Braeden and Seraphina. Having two friends that were totally supportive of each other and didn’t want to jump down each other’s throats was a relief. I put together the pieces of Seraphina’s mother and her being a catamount rather close to the beginning. The catamount twist was incredibly well done and didn’t seem cheesy in the least. Robert Beatty must have spent a significant amount of time figuring out the events of the night that Seraphina’s mother was taken because the idea of her human form being taken into the Cloak and her lioness half staying in the world made a great deal of sense. I think I also figured out who was the Man in the Black Cloak pretty early on, especially with the aid of Mr. Bendel’s questions, which Robert Beatty crafted to lead the reader in this specific train of thought. The work got gritty in some parts, especially during the graveyard scene in the end, but that would expand the age range of this novel to include some upper middle grade readers.
Overall
5 out of 5
94% out of 100%
-Jaime