Oh Eva Ibbotson, no

[nineveh_uk]

'A Company of Swans' is reminding me why I never finished it the first time round. Ibbotson at her best is wonderful, but this, though it has her knack for description, for glorious sense of place, for good but not dull heroines, goes over the top on her weaknesses for overbearing heroes, annoying misunderstandings, and evil bitches who try to spoil the fated romance. Worst of all, the second half is lacking in humour. It shall go into the charity shop bag and I shall try her take on Manaus in 'Journey to the River Sea' instead.