Reviewer (text)
Thien-Kim H., Teen Board Member
“Good lord, I’m stuck in an episode of Downton Abbey.”
Raven Weathersby, an orphaned teenager and talented artist, has been commissioned to design clothing for an enigmatic and powerful millionaire named Gideon Maddox --- a millionaire who happens to be a young adult, too. And he lives alone, in a giant Gothic mansion, surrounded by his eccentric and bumbling housekeepers. Sound familiar? If you are currently impatient for that live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast coming in a few years, Julie Reece’s novelized adaptation might be just the thing for you.
We meet Raven as she is literally sewing up her friend Dane’s arm. The shop she lives in with her cat Edward and stepfather Ben is roach-infested and cramped, but she isn’t eager to leave it. Raven is selfless without being preachy, and her primary motive is Ben’s well-being. When he turns up drunk and disoriented, with an angry note from a G. N. Maddox, things aren’t looking too good for Ben. Raven's decision to leave home and design clothes for already-wealthy Gideon to pay back her stepdad’s debt is done out of a good heart --- she claims, “What sacrifice is too great when you love someone? I decided there was none—the day I gave my freedom away.”
Unlike many of her fictional peers, who at the same age are apt to possess unearthly wisdom or damsel-like histrionics, Raven acts like and is treated like a normal teenage girl, and it’s an undeniable relief.
Raven’s voice is candid and lighthearted; reading her narrative is akin to perusing a diary. Unlike many of her fictional peers, who at the same age are apt to possess unearthly wisdom or damsel-like histrionics, Raven acts like and is treated like a normal teenage girl, and it’s an undeniable relief. She approaches dark situations with humor (“I stop my mind before it wanders into an ugly episode of Law and Order: SVU’), puts herself into trouble for some peanut-butter cookies and even calls her cat a “fatty.” Her voice can sound a bit immature and tween-ish at times, but it’s refreshing, especially because she never complains if her life gets difficult. As we are complete strangers to this mysterious house, so is she. Raven is very relatable and down-to-earth with quips like "if a fire breaks out in this tinderbox, color me crispy fried bacon” and “I can’t pretend I don’t enjoy the attention."
I was a little disappointed that the novel was not as dark and Victorian as I’d expected. The Corpse Bride vibe we expect at the beginning sort of dies away, and it turns out that most of the Gothic aspect is in Raven’s personality rather than the setting. It’s clear the setting is in modern times, but even so, the pop-culture references Raven dishes out feel like anachronisms. The world-building was a bit lacking, and I wasn’t sure what kind of atmosphere the author was going for. In Raven’s southern world, towering greenhouses are casually haunted and engravings on gates shapeshift into creepy Latin phrases, so it’s a bit jarring to shift to mentions of college plans and flying to New York fashion shows. At some parts, the emotion is overdone and the supernatural element is cartoonish.
Raven focuses highly on her school friends, Dane and Maggie, and their relationship is well-handled and realistic --- the friends finally have as much personality as the protagonist. Gideon is an intense and dynamic partner for Raven, although his character development leaves a bit to be desired. He can be truly sweet and charming underneath the rude and socially awkward exterior, but his attitude oftentimes came off as irritating and spoiled rather than endearingly guarded or Mr. Darcy-esque. But nonetheless, the twist on why he’s a “beast” is unique, and the chemistry between him and Raven is very nicely written. There were so many adorable and surprising moments between them that the bar was really set high for the ending. Unfortunately, the resolution and redemption arc fell flat for me, as the last few chapters were rushed and the entire end sequence felt unfinished. I’m also not sure I am a fan of the way the conflicts were tied up, but it does try to stay loyal to the original tale.
This book started out strong, with a lot of promise and intrigue, but it felt repetitive and hurried by the end. THE ARTISANS is a quick and enjoyable read for fans of Marissa Meyer, with an unpretentious narrator and quirky characters. Even the cat (don’t worry, he can’t speak) has a great presence, and you’ll be entertained from start to finish.
Teaser
In this dark southern gothic novel, a young woman meets a man who may be more than he seems. After the death of her mother, 17-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands. To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day. Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.
Promo
In this dark southern gothic novel, a young woman meets a man who may be more than he seems. After the death of her mother, 17-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands. To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day. Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox.
About the Book
In this dark southern gothic novel, a young woman meets a man who may be more than he seems. After the death of her mother, 17-year-old Raven Weathersby gives up her dream of becoming a fashion designer, barely surviving life in the South Carolina lowlands. To make ends meet, Raven works after school as a seamstress creating stunning works of fashion that often rival the great names of the day. Instead of making things easier on the high school senior, her stepdad’s drinking leads to a run in with the highly reclusive heir to the Maddox family fortune, Gideon Maddox. But Raven’s stepdad is drying out and in no condition to attend the meeting with Maddox. So Raven volunteers to take his place and offers to repay the debt in order to keep the only father she’s ever known out of jail. Gideon Maddox agrees, outlining an outrageous demand: Raven must live in his home for a year while she designs for Maddox Industries’ clothing line, signing over her creative rights. Her handsome young captor is arrogant and infuriating to the nth degree, and Raven can’t imagine working for him, let alone sharing the same space for more than five minutes. But nothing is ever as it seems. Is Gideon Maddox the monster the world believes him to be? And can he stand to let the young seamstress see him as he really is?
