Sovay (2008)

Very disappointing, considering how good Rees usually is. Flat characters, lots of weirdly loose plot lines, haphazard action, and an implausible villain made this a painful slog. ( )

I picked three French Revolution novels from the library catalogue, two YA and one historical fiction, and I have to say that Celia Rees' fast-paced and well researched story, about a daring young woman who follows her father to revolutionary Paris, beats the 'adult' novel into a cocked hat. If there is one way to lure teens into reading about history, Celia Rees knows the answer - dress up the dry dates and boring social customs in adventure and only give young readers time to think after finishing the story!

Sovay Middleton is a brave and forthright young heroine, both sympathetic and inspiring. I must admit to being a little apprehensive of the initial premise - Sovay turns highway robber in a bid to test her lover's affections - but Rees meets the challenge with humour and high spirits. Based on a traditional ballad - 'Sovay, Sovay, all on a day/She dressed herself in man's array' - Rees' Sovay does find out if her spineless fiance is 'a man or no', but that, fortunately, is only the beginning of the story. What opens as a girls' own adventure quickly develops into a gripping tale of spies, revolution and betrayal, with gothic castles, hot air balloons and a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. Sovay uses her masculine alter ego to set right a few personal grievances, but also to access places normally denied to young women in late eighteenth century London, like the seedier underworld of the city. The appropriately revolutionary themes of liberty and equality are weaved throughout the narrative with subtle skill by the author, who uses Sovay's frustration to highlight the double standards of the times, but never at the cost of the heroine. Nor did I feel like I was being beaten over the head with the feminist manifesto, which so often occurs when writing about women in historical novels - but as Celia Rees writes in her notes, 'It is a common assumption that, to have the ring of authenticity, an eighteenth century heroine has to a passive, stay at home kind of girl, but these were turbulent times'. To tread that thin line between realism and revision is no mean feat, and I admire the author for getting the blend just right - Sovay knows her place, and various male relatives and associates insist on trying to 'protect' her throughout, but circumstances ultimately force her to act outside of gender, class and society, though never out of character.

What really made Sovay such an enjoyable read for me, and a vast improvement on the other French Revolution novel I tackled this week, was how lively and engrossing the story was. I believed in Sovay and the other characters, and even the scenery came to life for me, thanks to Celia Rees' vivid descriptions of London and Paris. The Revolution is also recounted fairly, with hope for the future, but despairing of the many atrocities committed in the name of freedom: 'What is happening now is an anomaly. It is a diversion, not part of that great movement of change. It has to stop. In the name of the Revolution. All this killing has to stop.'

Definitely recommended, to readers of all ages! Teens will love the action and intrepid young heroine, older readers will enjoy the fantastic plot, which is melodramatic and improbable, but good fun! Sovay's highwayman disguise put me in mind of the old Gainsborough film The Wicked Lady, with Margaret Lockwood and James Mason, while Dysart the cackling villain reminded me of Orczy's Chauvelin. ( )

What would you do if your family was in trouble but because of who you were, and you couldn't help them?
Sovay is a young girl living during the time of the French Revolution. Her family is very involved in the politics of England and France. Being involved in the politics leads to Sovay's brother and father to have gone missing. With no mother this leaves Sovay in charge of the house and in charge of finding her missing brother and father, but Sovay is a girl.
Sovay needs to figure out a way to find out what happened to her brother and father. She dresses up as a highway man and goes out to find clues on what happened to her family. After one innocent act of a highway man she keeps repeating the crime. Sovay winds up making enemies with a very influential man in England.
Sovay finds her brother and they find out where their father is. They can't go home because Sovay's enemy is waiting for them. Sovay has to put everything on the line to save her father, even love.
I give Sovay by Celia Rees three stars. The book was thrilling and adventurous, but it was also stretched out and confusing.
The beginning of the story was confusing. There were so many different people that it was hard to follow who was who. The beginning didn't give a clear explanation of who people were. Once I hit the climax I started to understand the people a little bit better, but not completely. The characters that I could follow were very realistic and portrayed very well.
The story plot was hard to follow. I think the beginning was dragged out too long. I think there was too much side story and description. If you cut out have of the description it still would be just a little too much. All the description made parts of the book very boring to read. Once I hit the climax the story became easier to follow and more interesting.
Sovay fell in love during the book. I love books with romance in them, but this romance again was hard to follow. I didn't really understand who it was that Sovay liked until the end of the novel. I think the author could have been a little clearer on Sovay's feelings regarding love.
The story was thrilling! I loved the idea of it, sneaking around and leading double lives. I also like how it was historical fiction. I think the author did a good job describing the historical parts, but could have been a little clearer on them.
Over all Sovay by Celia Rees was a good book with it's few downfalls. It was like a good looking and smelling pizza with a burnt bottom. ( )

I picked this audio book up because I desperately needed something to listen to on a long drive and it had the words French and England in the description. What I didn't realize is that Sovay would be a much darker book that would make me cry several times. I initially found it hard to get into, but I grew used to the reader and completely fell in love with the characters. I don't know if I'll look for any more of Rees' books, but this was such a good book that I might. I don't know much about the French Revolution nor about England's involvement, so I can't say how historically accurate it was, but for my purposes, it kept me completely hooked the whole way through. ( )

Listened to audiobook - great reader. ( )