The Secrets of Montresor By: Michael Stolle

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• Title: The Secrets of Montresor (The French Orphan #2)
• Author: Michael Stolle
• Publisher: Createspace
• Publication Date: November 27, 2012
• Pages: 298
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Recommended Age: 15+
• First Read: 2013
• Source: Goodreads Giveaway
• Rating: 4.0 / 5.0 stars

Overall, I quite thought this book was an interesting and fun historical fiction read. The details are very loosely based on actual history, with a great amount of creative filling in with details. The book started out pretty slow and lagged some places, but overall, it was an interesting read. If one really likes getting into the details of 17th century life, then this is the book for them, but I feel that more impatient readers would tire of the details quickly. But I liked the details and the richness that it lent to the overall plot of the story.

The blurb of the book promised a continuation of Pierre's journey as the author sort of left the reader hanging in the first book, but if readers were hoping for a quick ending to the quest that Pierre was promised, then they will be a little disappointed. This book really focuses on Pierre's misadventures as he continues on his journey, mostly at his newly acquired chateau of Montresor, as the book is aptly named. A large part of the book is concentrated at the chateau, but eventually it moves on, picking up the pace of the book once again. I felt that the blurb was a little misleading because the true quest that was alluded to in the first book is not really described in depth again until the last fifty or so pages of the book. But I guess that is what a third book is for, right?

With the adventure and historical context, of course comes the romance associated with France, nobility, and rich teenage boys in 17th century Europe. The romance in this book is not overwhelming, but does add a nice little subplot to the overall themes of the book. It is adorable, and at times on the border of scandalous to 21st century eyes, but is authentic to the atmosphere of the book. Armand especially, would be the nightmare of most fathers today: a dashing, charming, and short attention spanned young man.

I did like this book, though it got a little long sometimes. But I am extremely glad that I finally finished it, after receiving the book quite some time ago! I await the third installment of Pierre and Armand's adventures!