I was sucked into the world of Rachael King's writing from the very first page. I know that many readers have commented on the way the beginning takes off somewhat slowly, but that wasn't a problem for me, as I like slow-moving novels. Anyways, the story starts to take off until it's a whirlwind of intrigue and subtle tension. I've seen numerous glowing reviews praising the richness of both her narrative and her descriptions, and every word of them I found to be true. The story shifts from the staid and strict world of small-town Edwardian England to the hot and sultry jungles of the Amazon, throbbing with mystery and corruption. Once again, I cannot praise the worldbuilding enough.
The characters are complex and at times even relatable. I was wholly drawn in by the portrait of Thomas Edgar, a promising young scientist almost driven to madness by his obsessive search for the mysterious black and yellow butterfly.
Obsession, murder, beauty and pain await in this thrilling, gripping novel.