Guest Review: The Flappers: Vixen

Title: Vixen

Series: The Flappers #1 

Author: Jillian Larkin

Publisher: Corgi Childrens

Publication Date: 1 Mar 2012

Synopsis from Goodreads

Jazz . . . Booze . . . Boys . . . It’s a dangerous combination.

Every girl wants what she can’t have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle—and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she’s engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago’s most powerful families, Gloria’s party days are over before they’ve even begun . . . or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria’s goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch—but Clara isn’t as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she’ll do anything to keep hidden. . . .

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria’s social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria’s shadow. When Lorraine’s envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone’s going to be very sorry. . . .

GUEST REVIEW BY BETH OF THE PIECES OF ME

This novel can only be described as fabulous and that’s not a word I’d usually use but it’s the only word which is in keeping with the mood and atmosphere created in this work. The 1920s Flapper girls have always intrigued me, as has the whole jazz music/prohibition ‘scene’ in the States but it’s not something I’ve ever known much about. After reading this novel I wouldn’t say I know a lot more about the period but I am spurred on to looking into it from a cultural/socio-historical perspective as the plot and characters in this work made it all seem so exciting and dangerous.

The three main characters in the novel are brilliant crafted. At first, I took an instant dislike to Gloria, despite her role as the ‘golden girl’ of the novel. This lessened towards the end but was never fully dealt with, she’s still not a particularly likeable character from my point of view. Her best friend, Lorraine is deeper and potentially more interesting but turns out to be even more despicable and goody-two-shoes Clara turned out to be my absolute favourite. Clara’s character is complex and interesting and there’s much more than meets the eye with her. The female characters are surrounded by a cast of males whose roles as the good guy and bad guy seem to interchange as much as the females. It’s really interesting that Larkin manages to keep the reader guessing throughout as to who the heroes and villains really are.

The plot itself quickens in pace as things become more complex and dangerous and some of the seemingly wholesome characters begin to show their true colours. The ending is absolutely brilliant and is a perfect beginning to what looks to be a really thrilling series. I don’t know how many novels out there cover this period but if this is anything to go by, more should.