My Five Word TL:DR Review: A Perfectly Fitting Final Instalment

Well, the door isn’t totally closed, there may be more books in the future, or at least one can but hope.

I was so pleased to have an advanced review copy of A Waltz of Sinister Import by Stephanie Burgis. This series has been an absolute delight to read with it’s prickly central character who just so happens to be the leading expert on anything that goes bump in the night, by which I mean supernaturals.

First things first. This is the third in series and so I feel I should mention the possibility of spoilers lurking in this review, although I do my utmost to not drop clangers. Secondly, if you haven’t read the first two books I suggest you do so first. I suppose you could crash into this series at the final hurdle but you would deprive yourself of two very good books, which clearly you wouldn’t want to do, and also your knowledge of Lady and Lord Riven would not be as well grounded – in my opinion that is. Basically, be good to yourself and read all three. They are delicious – strangely enough there is also plenty of mention of tea and cakes so come prepared.

In this final instalment Margaret and her ever so patient vampire husband, Lord Riven, have swapped the Black Forest for the ballrooms of Vienna. A very unpleasant exchange in Margaret’s opinion. She’s not a lover of high society, dislikes all the pomp and ceremony of balls and finds it hard to blend into this so called polite society who are actually more vicious than a pack of wild animals. The couple long to return to the Black Forest but needs must, war is but a hair’s breadth away and Margaret needs to solve the latest mystery before everything goes to hell in a handcart.

I’m not going to say anything more about the story. It’s really well written and a wonderful read. It manages to bring to us magical balls – of the kind that you wouldn’t want to be invited to – political intrigue and, for me at least, unknown folklore in terms of the introduction of a totally fascinating new character.

What I love about this series. It begins with a marriage of inconvenience before quickly becoming obvious that Margaret and Lord Riven were made for each other. Their relationship is the key element in these books, especially in that certain conventions are turned on their head. Margaret, a woman of good standing and wealth, doesn’t like to socialise and has no time for niceties, she’s somewhat to the point, calls a spade a spade and is genuinely surprised if people are affronted. Lord Riven, on the other hand is a well spoken man about town. He has no problem talking and socialising with anybody and he does his best to step up and put himself into the fray in order for Margaret to not have to do so. This is one of the best married couples that I’ve read. They feel so caring and thoughtful of each others needs and emotions – which isn’t to say that Margaret doesn’t put herself in danger without a care in the world and that Lord Riven is nearly driven to distraction.

I actually enjoyed the switch of setting and in fact that’s something else I enjoy about this series. Each instalment brings a different setting, mystery and usually the introduction to something new in terms of fantasy folk and critters.

The dialogue is really good, something I feel Burgis really excels at. There is simmering romance, new friendships and a really fitting ending. Yes, its always a bittersweet feeling coming to the end of a series that you’ve enjoyed but there remains a tiny glimmer of light that we might see Margaret and Lord Riven in the future. Never say never.

I received a copy courtesy of the author, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

My rating 4.5 of 5 stars