Lorie Langdon

A rather engaging exploration of what a Brigadoon land might really be like. I especially enjoyed the way several non-Scottish cultures and peoples were brought in...and that the Christian elements, though essential, were handled deftly and lightly.

Veronica and Mackenna were pleasant contrasts and complements to one another and did the majority of the day-saving. In fact, were it not for Jamie, Veronica's love interest, this probably would've been a four-star read. Pro tip: if your hero is show more described as pulling an "Edward Cullen routine," it's generally a very good idea for him to be as little actually like Edward Cullen as possible. show less

As an avid reader of Dickens' works, I was prepared to hate this book as much as the movie currently in theaters entitled, Sherlock Gnomes. I shudder to think of it. How can anyone slaughter a classic in such a way?

Thankfully readers of Lorie Langdon's Olivia Twist do not have to worry about the story being diluted by nonsense and slap-happy gnomes. In fact, this reimagined tale is almost a tribute to the characters that Charles Dickens created and modernizes many aspects that can be better show more understood through the eyes of current readers, especially in that of the witty and independent Olivia. Also, the tale is not as bleak as the original classic, but still depicts the plight of women and the poor in 1800s London.

Orphaned as an infant, Olivia grew up as a London street rat, hiding under the guise of being a boy. She knew early on that a woman on the streets of London has a far less chance of making it than a man. Now under the protection of her long-lost uncle, she has left her life of thieving behind... well, mostly. When she recognizes a handsome gentleman at a society party as none other than the Artful Dodger, she is swept into an adventure of turns and literal Twists.

I absolutely adored this book. Loved the characters, the scenery, the plot! My only regret is that this book ended too soon! I ordered it off Amazon and the day it arrived, I read it in one sitting. Hah! Well, I guess I'll just have to read it again. Here's hoping Lorie Langdon writes more reimagined classics!

Readers from Young Adult and up will enjoy this reimagined classic full of adventure, a smidge of romance, and a wicked awesome heroine. show less

https://iwriteinbooks.wordpress.com/2018/05/05/olivia-twist-lori-langdon/

If my little kid self could have written fan fiction, it would be this book.

I was obsessed with Oliver Twist when I was little and was then in Oliver! the musical in high school. It’s definitely a dark story so I expected something similar going into Olivia’s retelling. It certainly delivered on that end.

The premise is built on the foundation of the original but in the reimagining, Oliver is born female. She is show more immediately an orphan and her caretakers are advised to raise her as a boy in the event she ends up on the streets.

Years later, she is adopted into a family that ranks pretty high up in London society, living a completely different life, this time as a girl.

It seems like a dream come true until she runs into an old comrade, The Artful Dodger, of course, whose own life has changed just as much.

Both of the, now young adult, friends have gained much but have also come into their own heaps of trouble. Between secrets, lies, and hidden identities, they may be the ones to undo each other or the only ones who can save the other.

It’s basically what I wanted to happen when I read and watched the story as a kid. I always had a crush on Dodger, but I also wanted to be one of the parentless boys in the crew. This is pretty gloriously perfect.

Oliva is done so well, as a genderfluid rendition of the original character. Both she and Dodger have street smarts and tough exteriors but they each have their soft, sweet spots, especially when it comes to protecting the little boys who are living the life they once knew. One of my favorite parts of the book was that unyielding vulnerability that manages to sing softly throughout.

If you haven’t picked this one up, yet, do it, soon. You won’t regret it! show less

More often than not the sequel is worse than the first book, and unfortunately Destined for Doon by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon is testament of this. Instead of taking previous critiques into account, the authors decided to continue with their initial plan by adding on to their immature characters and upping the amount of useless references to plays that doesn't do much for the plot other than add words. Veronica, now queen of the Doon, has no personality whatsoever anymore and frankly I show more found her dull queenly routine and power struggle with Jamie (the ex-king of Doon) tiring. As for MacKenna ... at one point I wished the witch would come back and kill her, because God knows that girl can whine, not to mention she can't make up her mind, and it's truly a futile technique of word-adding. Duncan can do so much better!

Destined for Doon was a disaster. Again, the time inconsistencies annoyed me, not to mention the general feel of the book. I mean, at the end of Doon, every bloody Doonian was cheering for their new queen, and now there's unrest. It's been two and a half months in Doon, surely they didn't expect an American teenager with shit for brains to suddenly know how to run a freaking kingdom?!

The tropes, metaphors, similes and colloquialisms also got under my skin. I mean, isn't authors supposed to learn out of their mistakes through critique? Surely I'm not the first one to bring up these problems with the books?

All in all, if you're looking for something set in Scotland - after your Outlander binge - this is not the series you want to get into. It'll just piss you off. Sorry, but it's true.

Review originally posted at:
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