The Changeling

This was my first dip into trying Philippa Carr (or Victoria Holt, for that matter), and it was hit and miss for me. On one hand, I enjoyed the characters and the historical element--it felt a bit like a predecessor to VC Andrews, who I used to read in high school, if a more mature version in some ways. At the same time, a lot of the drama felt forced and manufactured in a way that took away from the believability of it, even given the expected melodrama, and there were more than a few times when I couldn't help rolling my eyes at the characters' behavior or the way the plot progressed.

So, for what it is, I enjoyed it well enough, but it was something I had to be in the mood to pick up, and it was rarely the page-turner I'd been led to show more expect the author's works to be. I imagine I'll try another at some point--I've got a whole stack that a friend gave me--but it might be a while. show less

“The Changeling” is a refreshing change after the continual use of repeated themes in the past few books in the Daughters of England series. We don’t get the adulterous affairs, and the love story – which is usually the focal point – is a subplot. Family relationships are more prominent in this novel, largely owing to the main character Rebecca being a child when the story opens.

One thing this author was very good at was creating child characters, and Lucie & Belinda are believable and vivid, as is the young Rebecca. I like these three characters and Oliver the most.

This author, including her works as Victoria Holt, has a tendency to have her heroines refer to one of the male characters by both names, which really irritates show more me. This novel has several characters referred to by both names, as shown is the quoted dialogue exchange below:

“Oh … ups and downs,” said Justin Cartwright. “I am sure you know as much about the mining world as I do … only I suppose tin isn’t gold.”
“There must be a difference,” said Benedict Lansdon. “But my close connection with all that ended long ago.”
“Ah, yes, of course,” replied Justin Cartwright.
“I’m going into politics again,” said Benedict Lansdon, looking at my mother.

Most annoying of all is the number of times Oliver Gerson is referred to by his full name. No other character’s first name is Oliver, & no other character’s surname is Gerson, so why not call him by one title or the other? Really bugs me!

Another of this author's annoying traits is the overuse of reported speech:

>“How did the wedding go?”
I told them that all had gone according to plan.It was a happy Christmas, even for me … the last I was to know for a long time. show less

When the title is The Changeling and there are two babies born the same day, not too hard to suss out something happened. The interest in the story was mostly that is was told by Rebecca as she grows so she is the narrator from about 8 to about 20. It was an interesting development, she is a pretty petulant child but it is good to see her finally grow a bit in the last few chapters. The plot was pretty clear from the start but there were a few twists and turns to make a basic but satisfying read.