Book Review: A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
#1 in the Unbound series
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Kensington
Pages: 342
Received: ARC from author and publisher
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Summary

From Goodreads:

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

Review

Why you can't just look at the rating

My ratings are my personal, subjective reaction to the book I read. It's a measure of how much I enjoyed it, or not. My ratings are NOT objective critiques on the worthiness of a book.

So that's why it would be a really bad idea to look at my 3.5 rating here and think A Breath of Eyre is only a slightly above average book. It's not. It's a good, solid book and I do recommend it.

It's just not really MY kind of book.

What I was expecting

I gravitate toward time travel (book travel?) stories like this because I like to laugh and I automatically assume this plotline will come with a hefty dose of sarcasm, funny observations, and "fish out of water" hilarity.

Barring that, I was expecting to get caught up in the Gothic romance of Jane Eyre. Which, to be honest, is probably me setting myself up for a fall because I've, um, neveractuallyreadJaneEyre. So I really don't think I was in a position to have accurate expectations.

But either way I figured I'd spend a chapter or two in the modern world before Emma was whisked into the pages of Jane Eyre where I would then spend the rest of the story.

And of course all my expectations were completely wrong.

What I got

First off, the vast majority of the book takes place in modern times. Jane Eyre is more of a metaphor that helps Emma deal with the events in her real life. It is NOT the focal point of the story (though if you haven't read the original, prepare yourself for massive spoilers).

And that humor I was expecting? Definitely NOT there. The meat of the story is Emma's real life relationship with her father, her two friends, and her maybe crush. All of these relationships are fraught with Serious Issues like the specter of dead mothers, suicide, depression, mental illness, death, classism, insecurity, and racism.

Heavy, right? For a contemporary issues reader, this book will be a treasured gem. But for me, I was lost. I'm not an issues reader, and these issues are all WAY too heavy for me. I may have even teared up a little at one point.

So why didn't I just DNF?

Honestly, I was tempted. For me, reading issues books is like wearing an itchy wool sweater. Everything feels forced and uncomfortable.

But narrator Emma was like a pair of super comfy fuzzy socks and that is why I kept reading. There was something about her that felt right and made me want to be her friend. She's shy and unsure and sort of floundering around, but she has a strength to her that made me proud. I could relate to Emma's fears and her desire to conquer them.

The pacing was also sort of slow, but there was interpersonal stuff going on all the time and I was curious to see how it would all unfold. I was antsy in the beginning because it takes a long time before Emma gets sucked into the book, but that's mostly because I was expecting a different sort of book at that time.

The narrative then bounces back and forth with Emma traveling from our world to Jane's, back to ours, then back to Jane's, and then back to ours again. The biggest surprise to me was that I actually enjoyed the parts in our world more than those in Jane's. I was completely caught up in Emma's interpersonal growth and her friends' various dramas.

Do you have to read Jane Eyre first?

I don't know. I didn't. I'm sure I missed a bunch of nods to the original (which was a bummer because that's one of my favorite parts of retellings), and I know I got a ton of spoilers.

Overall though, I think it's not necessary to have read the original. I never felt lost or left out for having not read Jane Eyre. Emma's journey stands well on its own, and if her growth takes a cue from Jane, it does not diminish Emma's triumphs.

Bottom line

This isn't my kind of book at all, so the fact that I read it cover to cover, loved the narrator, and actually found enjoyment is saying something. Contemporary issues readers should like it a whole lot more and will probably really appreciate the way Jane Eyre was used to guide Emma.

Eve Marie Mont's sensitive handling of intense issues, beautiful writing, creativity, and ability to craft well-developed characters make her a welcome addition to the ranks of YA authors. There will be two more books in this series as Emma gets sucked into The Scarlet Letter and The Phantom of the Opera. I'm not really sure how that will work given Emma's mode of travel in A Breath of Eyre, but I have faith that Eve Marie Mont will pull it off.

Explanation of rating system: Star Rating Key 

Do you have any questions about A Breath of Eyre that I haven't addressed?
Feel free to ask in the comments!


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Author Interview + Giveaway: A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont! (US)

Back in November during the Historical Fantasy Jubilee, I had the pleasure of interviewing debut author Eve Marie Mont and getting my first taste of the windswept moors and certain hazel eyed boy with a haunted past found in A Breath of Eyre.

I've since read A Breath of Eyre and while I'll restrain my gushing today (tomorrow I'll gush), I am delighted to be able to offer a finished paperback copy for giveaway, courtesy of the publisher!


I've re-posted the interview below to help whet your appetite!

Please Welcome Eve Marie Mont!

Eve Marie Mont is the author of the upcoming A Breath of Eyre, where a modern girl finds herself sucked into the classic story and inhabiting Jane's body! Every time I see another hint, snippet, or beautiful piece of A Breath of Eyre swag, I get a little bit closer to "barely containable excitement."        

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads 

Q: Which one of your characters would you most want to kiss?

A: Hands down, it would be Gray. He’s a swimmer and lifeguard with sad, hazel eyes and a haunted past. How could he possibly be a bad kisser? Is it weird to have a crush on an 18-year-old fictional character?

Q: Which one of your characters do you most want to slap or give a verbal tongue lashing to?

Elise Fairchild is everything her name suggests: fair and lovely and blueblood and, as it happens, a real b-----! She is nemesis and rival to my protagonist, Emma, and she was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But don’t despair: there are a few satisfying scenes in which Emma yanks that spoon right out!

Q: If you were transported into your book, which scene would you most want to reenact?

Um, hello? Read question #1. No, seriously, I’d want to reenact one of the scenes in which Emma is stuck in Jane Eyre, wandering over the moors, falling in love with Mr. Rochester, and trying to solve the mystery of how to get back home.

Q: Which one of your character’s brains would you like to pick the most?

Emma’s best friend, Michelle, lives with her Aunt Darlene in a section of Boston that’s sort of a “Little Haiti.” Darlene practices voodoo and interprets dreams AND runs her own bakery, so I’d definitely want to spend an afternoon with Darlene talking about philosophy and religion over pastries and Cremas.

Q: Which scene do you think will surprise readers the most?

Without giving spoilers, there’s a scene at the end of the book in which two characters realize they are far more connected than they first realized. What follows is dramatic, intense, romantic, and a little bit scary. And it’s also loosely based on a scene from Jane Eyre!

Get lost in a good book. Literally.
 
Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre… 
 
Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

 

Have I teased you enough? Want to enter to win? Ok!

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Just fill out THIS FORM and cross your fingers!

Info for the giveaway:

• What you can win: A finished paperback copy of A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont
• As always, you do NOT have to be a follower
• You must have a US mailing address
• You must be 13 years of age or older
• One entry per person
• Your address is not required, but including it will help with sending the book out to you sooner
• I will contact the winner through email and the winner will have 24 hours to reply before a new winner is chosen 
• This giveaway closes on April 3rd

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Cover Review: First Impressions (1)

If I saw these books on the shelves, I would totally want to read them based on their prettiness alone. But a pretty cover doesn't always tell you what the book is actually about, does it?

Initial thoughts: Oooh pretty! I want that dress. And that fan. And that gold shawly-thing. And that headband jewelry thing. And what do I need to do to get my hair to look like that? Want, want, want!

What I expect: Court gossip, scandal, and juicy secrets. Just look at the way she's peering over that fan! She is totally up to something.

Magic? Never would have guessed by the cover alone.

Historical? Oh yeah, that's obvious.

Reality: A light romp through Disney-sweet romances and magical fun. There is court intrigue, but it is not nearly as scathing as I originally expected.Oh, and it's about twin sisters, which I never would have guessed based on the cover.

Initial thoughts: Can I get a print of that to hang on my wall? I could stare at this cover for hours. 

What I expect: I have no clue. Fairy tale retelling, maybe? Fairies? A touch of romance?

Magic? Probably, though I'm not really sure what kind. I'm leaning toward the fairy godmother, witches, or fairies type of magic though.

Historical? Maybe, or maybe just the "generic medieval-like village" found in fantasies.

Reality: I don't know exactly since I haven't read the book yet, but it is described as a "Snow White tale filled with magic and intrigue during the early twentieth century in Appalachia," so pretty close to my initial impressions.

Initial thoughts: I like the flowers in her hair, and you can never go wrong with swirly fonts. The colors are pretty. I'm intrigued.

What I expect: She looks a little, erm, loose for an historical gal--is that what's wicked? I don't really know what to expect, but I want to find out more. I get a strong feeling that there will be some kissing going on!

Magic? The branches at the bottom and her eyes make her look a little witchy, but it's a very subtle vibe. The subtitle at the top that says "The Cahill Witch Chronicles" is a bigger tip off.

Historical? Her clothing makes me think no (a skirt that high? That's a little more daring than showing a bit of ankle), but the cover has a "not of this time" feel to it, so maybe?

Reality: Again, I haven't read this yet, but I know it takes place during the 1890s in an alternate New England and includes witches. So a moderately accurate cover, but definitely effective at catching my eye.

Initial thoughts: Pretty purple dress! A pun! I love puns, and purple, and pretty dresses. I'm sold! Also, she looks like Rachel Lee Cook and now I feel like I need to re-watch She's All That.

What I expect: Honestly, I don't. I'm still stuck on the pretty to give much thought to plot. Maybe it's a biography about Jane Eyre, like that movie Becoming Jane was for Jane Austen? Except, Jane Eyre is a fictional character, so that doesn't work. I don't know, can I just keep looking at the pretty?

Magic? Her dress does seem to have a magical glow to it, but no, I don't get strong magic vibes. 

Historical? Yep, I fully expect an historical story with all of the balls, courting, and manners that entails.

Reality: Haven't read this yet either, but I do know it's about a modern girl who finds herself sucked into the story of Jane Eyre (and into Jane's body!). I haven't read Jane Eyre yet, but she's a governess, right? So I'm not so sure how many balls there will be, but I do know there's probably a hot brooding guy!

When you look at these covers, what are your first impressions? How do they line up with what the book is actually about?

What's Ruby up to today? Check out our Historical Fantasy Jubilee full schedule of events and giveaways!

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