To be published 27/01/2022…
Blake’s Emporium for Exotic Antiquities is a rundown shop of fakes; a mockery of the lustre and status it once held. Hezekiah Blake is to blame of course, him and his greed, but if her Uncle choses to run her dead parent’s legacy into the ground then there is not much more that Dora can do but watch. Watch and mourn and plan her escape. When the ancient Greek urn first arrives in the shop Dora sees it only as an inspiration for her jewellery designs. Little does she know that it will be the catalyst for the discovery of a lifetime and the shattering of her world as she knows it. Where did Hezekiah find the urn and why does he keep it hidden away behind a locked door? These are just the tip of the iceberg for the questions that Dora isn’t sure she really wants the answers to. But one way or another she will find out.
All of the characters in this novel have very strong personalities. Dora in particular has a fierce independent streak, coupled with a determination to achieve her dreams no matter what anyone else has to say about it. The fact that her dreams are slightly unorthodox for a woman, and she has no money or formal training, does not seem to faze her in any way. This bold combination, along with the quirky and loveable pet bird, makes her into an idealised strong female protagonist who is easy to like and to support. Similarly, Edward, despite his mistakes and ambition, is made into an endearingly loveable character by his loyalty, honour and silent determination. They make the perfect pair and it is impossible not to root for them at every step of the way.
In contrast Hezekiah is an easy villain who is given no redeemable qualities to sway the reader’s support in his direction. Instead he only grows more and more villainous throughout the novel as more and more of his secrets are revealed. It makes a good metaphor to see his mind and disposition fester into something evil, matching pace with the festering of his physical wound. As the novel progresses he becomes a monster both inside and out.
Considering that the Greek urn is the centrepiece of this novel, in multiple ways, its own mystery is merely hinted at and never fully solved. It runs through the novel as an undercurrent whilst more powerful forces take centre stage. I love how so many things rely on its presence; everything is interwoven and connected with the urn at the root of it all. Is this magic or coincidence? The reader is left to decide this for themselves.
Escape to the Bookshelf 