Zaremba

by Michelle Granas

[Lianne]

I received a review copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Zaremba is a charming novel despite of some of the serious themes that the story touches on: issues of corruption, political systems, black ops, bureaucracy and trust in government. The charm lies in the characters and their interactions. Cordelia was a great character; she’s led a fairly sheltered and secluded life but isn’t afraid to stand her ground, especially when things get mad. I enjoyed her rapport with Zaremba and, in turn, Zaremba's interaction with her odd but intriguing family.

I did not find the second half of the novel as interesting as the first. Despite the blurb, I did not expect the international scope of the political storyline. I was also not as invested in the second half of the novel because it removed Cordelia and Zaremba from Cordelia's family setting, which I was more interested in.

Nonetheless, I thought the novel was charming and the setting interesting and I recommend this book to readers who are interested in a contemporary story set in a unique European country.

My complete review of the title was originally posted at caffeinatedlife.net: http://www.caffeinatedlife.net/blog/2013/07/07/review-zaremba-or-love-and-the-rule-of-law/