Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed

Review of Cinders and Sapphires

Title & Author:
Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
Publisher:
Disney Hyperion
Publication Date:
January 22, 2013
Pages:
400
Source:
ARC from Publisher

One house, two worlds…

Rose Cliffe has never met a young lady like her new mistress. Clever, rich, and beautiful, Ada Averley treats Rose as an equal. And Rose could use a friend. Especially now that she, at barely sixteen, has risen to the position of ladies’ maid. Rose knows she should be grateful to have a place at a house like Somerton. Still, she can’t help but wonder what her life might have been had she been born a lady, like Ada.

For the first time in a decade, the Averleys have returned to Somerton, their majestic ancestral estate. But terrible scandal has followed Ada’s beloved father all the way from India. Now Ada finds herself torn between her own happiness and her family’s honor. Only she has the power to restore the Averley name—but it would mean giving up her one true love . . . someone she could never persuade her father to accept.

Sumptuous and enticing, the first novel in the At Somerton series introduces two worlds, utterly different yet entangled, where ruthless ambition, forbidden attraction, and unspoken dreams are hidden behind dutiful smiles and glittering jewels. All those secrets are waiting . . . at Somerton. – Goodreads

Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed is the kind of drama-filled historical fiction I have been craving lately – and it totally lived up to my expectations for it, and even surpassed it.

I’m that lame-o who still has never seen Dowton Abbey (although I know I would love it). But if Downton Abbey is anything like Cinders and Sapphires, I need to start watching it ASAP.

I thought Leila Rasheed’s writing style was excellent. The tone of Cinders and Sapphires, as well as all the descriptions, were spot on – but not in a way that kind of drags on. The story and the description in Cinders and Sapphires just flowed beautifully and really engaged me. I can’t remember being bored at all.

I totally loved all the scandal in Cinders and Sapphires – and let me tell you, it had it in spades. While Ada and Rose were the two protagonists, we also got to see the stories of a lot of other characters, which was really interesting (although at times a bit confusing). And yes, the scandal in Cinders and Sapphires is fairly predictable, but it didn’t detract from my reading experience at all.

If you’re looking for a historical fiction that will keep you riveted and entertained, definitely pick up Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed. I closed the book craving the second book in the At Somerton series, a bit of tea (and I don’t even like tea), and an awesome British movie. Cinders and Sapphires is a well-done debut with an accessible but descriptive writing style and scandal that will have you giggling nervously.

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