Book: Changing of the Guard

Changing of the Guard (Pomp and Poverty Book 1)
James Farner
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“I thought my parents were killed when two runaway packhorses threw off their loads at the Ebonson Carrying Company…I was wrong.”

Queen Victoria ascends the throne in 1837 and heralds in a new era of prosperity for the British Empire. Whilst the great Norlong and Ebonson families fly the flag for the British Empire, Edward Urwin spends his time scratching pieces of art into the cobblestones of Birmingham.

Life is straightforward for Edward until a strange old man approaches him in the street. With the help of Henry Beechworth, Edward learns to read and use his special talents to win a place at St. John’s Boarding School.

But it isn’t all down to good fortune. Edward doesn’t realise he’s under control of forces far more powerful than him. Forces that are determined to shape him in their image. Forces that are determined to bury the mystery of the demise of the Urwin family for good…

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It was quite an interesting plot. I understand what the author was trying to do with all the perspective and time period jumps. However, actually reading the book was a little on the painful side. Coming to think of it, I think the book started with a first person perspective of the main character talking about his childhood, but in the end it ended into a third person perspective of someone narrating about the main character. It kind of felt like something disconnected in the middle, or the ending wasn't really the ending yet.

Plot twist was interesting, but by the end everything felt rushed. Still, it was an interesting enough read.