Month of Love ARC Review: When Maiden’s Mourn by C.S. Harris
Author: C.S. Harris
Book: When Maiden’s Mourn
Release: March 6, 2012
Series: Sebastian St. Cyr #7
Reviewer: Noa
Source: Publisher
Purchase: – Book DepositoryWhen Gabrielle Tennyson is murdered, aristocratic investigator Sebastian St. Cyr and his new reluctant bride, the fiercely independent Hero Jarvis, find themselves involved in an intrigue concerning the myth of King Arthur, Camelot, and a future poet laureate…
A conversation between two sisters:
Noa: Will you be able to bring the new Sebastian St. Cyr book back with you from the states? I’m getting a review copy.
Big Sis: *Squee* Yes! This way I can read it first!
Noa: But I need to review it.
Big Sis: You’ll get to review it…I’ll get it to you ASAP…after I read it
Another conversation between two sisters:
Little Sis: Whatcha reading?
Noa: the new Sebastian St. Cyr, I’m reviewing it for Month of Love…
Little Sis: OMG! I’m so excited!!! Yes! Sebastian! Yay! When can I read it????
Ten minutes after we finish reading it: How long do we have to wait for the next one????
Is it any wonder we need multiple copies of this series in my family? The beauty of C.S. Harris’ Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series is that it manages to enthral each of us. Yes, enthral. Each of these books (this being No. 7) just captures you from the get go and doesn’t let go even after you’ve closed the beautiful cover.
This instalment was no different; picking up from where we left off in the last book, Sebastian and Hero are starting off on married life together and while it seems that there is a kind of understanding between them, the wall created by the fact that Hero’s father and Sebastian still can’t seem to see eye to eye (understatement of the century) is still there.
Their enmity puts Hero in a very difficult position as in this book she keeps asking herself – who comes first, her father or her husband. Reading about how Hero deals with these issues, with her changing role gives the reader a new view of Hero’s character. She is so complex and when you put that together with Sebastian and his issues…well, wow!
Sebastian also has a lot to deal with – his love for Kat, his feelings for Hero, impending fatherhood, his own father…And then there is the ongoing mystery surrounding his mother’s whereabouts. Oh, and who is this man who seems to have Sebastian’s eyes? ;)
Sebastian needs to discover why Gabrielle Tennyson was murdered – was it because of something she discovered on a dig at the site she had believed was Camelot of old, was it because she was an independent woman who refused to accept the conventions of 19th century England, or was it something to do with Sebastian’s father in law Lord Jarvis… and what does Hero know? Sebastian is racing against time on this one as two children are missing and they may already be in the hands of a killer.
When Maiden’s Mourn also shares new information about Sebastian’s background and while it may not be shocking, it does raise even more questions. I am very happy to say that C.S. Harris does not fall into the trap that often captures authors writing a series – there is no treading water and yet, there are also no forced plot devices used to extend the drama. There is no need. The drama in this series keeps unfolding and like a maze, you take one step froward only to find you need to make a different turn to find the center. I love it!
This installment in the Sebastian St. Cyr series was as usual, a pleasure to read, The romance, conflicts, mysteries… I simply cannot get enough. Totally worth waiting a year. Now if only March 2013 would just get here already…
Happy Reading!
I’ve been very disappointed with the direction of this series. So much so that I’ve given up on it.
I feel that the marriage plot was rushed.The author boxed herself in with the original love match between Kat and Sebastian, so it feels as if she threw in a pregnancy just to allow for a new pairing. Also, the last few books have some serious flaws: First, there was the possible incest storyline that everyone could see was a red herring; then the aforementioned rushed pregnancy plot as the only way to permanently separate Sebastian and Kat; then an over-the-top storyline with Hero fighting off several villains. The latter felt particularly forced. It was as if the writer wanted all the readers to see what she did in Hero, so she made her superwoman. My final thought is that originally, Hero was portrayed as a woman who values her independence and wanted a different kind of life. So what happens? Instead of remaing a bit of a suffragette, she winds up taking the traditional route of marriage and a baby.