Reviewed by lindsey on
As a fan of Les Misérables, both the novel and the musical, I was so excited when I first heard about this book. I featured it as my very first Waiting on Wednesday post, and I was thrilled when I saw it was available on Edelweiss. I literally squealed with delight when I received the email letting me know I was approved to read the ARC.
This is Eponine's story. It's Les Misérables told from her perspective, and it is masterfully done. I love companion novels when they're done well. Even if the original author doesn't write them, as in this case, I still feel like I've gleaned new information about a character. It can round out a story even more if the author is true to the original, and respectfully tells the tale from another character's point of view.
Those familiar with Les Misérables will know some of Eponine's back story, but it was interesting to see it all unfold from her point of view. Her story is heartbreaking, and even though I knew how things would end, I was still hoping it would turn out differently this time. I love how the author showed her as such a complex character - the good and the bad, her flaws and her hopes. She makes mistakes, but she is ultimately a good person.
I finished this book on my lunch break at work, and I shed a few tears, which is something I usually refrain from doing whilst reading at the office.
Beautifully written, with wonderful imagery, this is an excellent companion to Les Misérables, and I would highly recommend it.
View full review on my blog.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 17 July, 2015: Finished reading
- 17 July, 2015: Reviewed