Rating: B-
Let me preface this entry into my review by saying I absolutely adore this series, but I absolutely did NOT enjoy this visit into the lure of The Pink Carnation. The plot was stale and boring and far too much woe is me for my liking.
This series starts with THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE PINK CARNATION which I had a bit of trouble getting through as well, but the 2nd, 3rd and 4th books of this series were just Amazing and I couldn’t recommend this series enough.
This is a series where the author bounces between time periods, and I usually have a problem with that but how Willig weaves the stories with each other it doesn’t feel like it changes. It flows seamlessly. However, where Willig usually impresses me is with her characters, but the characters of Charlotte and Robert were so bothersome. There truly was no chemistry between them, it felt forced and uncomfortable and drab. As characters they were never brought to life, and that led their chemistry to pale in comparison to most all the other characters that Willig has created in this series.
However, the story line was intriguing and would have garnered a better result, if there was a different set of characters chasing the adventure.
I’m sorry to say that Robert and Charlotte bored me to tears, and I hope that the next installment will bring me back to the series that I love.