Thursday, May 26, 2011

Review: Wrapped by Jennifer Bradbury

Wrapped
by Jennifer Bradbury
Publication Date: May 24th 2011
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781416990079
Source: e-ARC

Where to Buy:
B&N | Amazon | The Book Depository | BAM | Simon & Schuster

Agnes Wilkins is standing in front of an Egyptian mummy, about to make the first cut into the wrappings, about to unlock ancient (and not-so-ancient) history.

Maybe you think this girl is wearing a pith helmet with antique dust swirling around her.

Maybe you think she is a young Egyptologist who has arrived in Cairo on camelback.

Maybe she would like to think that too. Agnes Wilkins dreams of adventures that reach beyond the garden walls, but reality for a seventeen-year-old debutante in 1815 London does not allow for camels—or dust, even. No, Agnes can only see a mummy when she is wearing a new silk gown and standing on the verdant lawns of Lord Showalter’s estate, with chaperones fussing about and strolling sitar players straining to create an exotic “atmosphere” for the first party of the season. An unwrapping.

This is the start of it all, Agnes’s debut season, the pretty girl parade that offers only ever-shrinking options: home, husband, and high society. It’s also the start of something else, because the mummy Agnes unwraps isn’t just a mummy. It’s a host for a secret that could unravel a new destiny—unleashing mystery, an international intrigue, and possibly a curse in the bargain.

Get wrapped up in the adventure . . . but keep your wits about you, dear Agnes.
-Goodreads


I really enjoyed reading Wrapped. It was definitely not what I expected, after reading the summary. But I was pleasantly surprised that the book was really good. There was a lot of Egyptology involved, and I found it to be quite fascinating. There is a lot of stuff I didn’t know about Napoleon.

I love the main character, Agnes. Although she wants to do what’s right by her family, be the perfect wife and marry well, she also longs for a life of adventure. She’s smart and funny, and she loves ‘A Lady’, (Jane Austen). Of course, she falls for the underdog, Caedmon, who she knows that she cannot be with. Caedmon is smart and handsome, and is trying to pull himself out of poverty by working in the museum. I really liked him. I kept picturing him as James McAvoy, it was a wonderful picture!

The book was a bit predictable, I had most of it figured out pretty early on. That didn’t stop me from enjoying it though. The storyline was very interesting, and very well written. The book has a lot of history in it, as well as some action and a bit of romance. The ending was pretty much left wide open, so I’m wondering if maybe this will be a series? One can hope.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this via the Galley Grab!

12 comments:

  1. I am really glad to hear that you enjoyed this one. I just recently got it and I am always a bit skeptical, but it's nice to see good reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds good. Thanks for the review!

    I like books with a bit of history so maybe this is one I'd enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have this in my S&S Galley Grab too but I don't think I have enough time to read it though. It's a little sad that this was predictable.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I can totally picture James McAvoy as Caedom! I thought it was very predictable too, though that did affect my enjoyment. I'm glad you liked it!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm glad you liked this book .. I haven't read many good reviews on it but yours really makes me want to buy it !! Thank you :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Even when a book is predictable, I still have to finish it so I can see if I was right.

    Also, Christy, PLEASE consider trading me blogs. I love your to pieces. I haven't been here in a while so this is my first time to see the new design and I LOVE it so much! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. We really need some answers!! I need to go back and read the other series. I think they are suppose to combine eventually.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I passed this a couple of times but once I see the word Egypt(ology) I'm hooked. Up until last year I was dead set on continuing with my MA to become an Egyptologist so that's my biggest love FDSFDSJK.

    Sort of excited, even if it is a bit predictable. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, I've heard such lovely things about this little book and can't wait to read it. Yay for another awesome summer read to add to my TBR pile! Thanks for the great review!
    Mary
    The Book Swarm

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love the cover of this and I've heard great things about it! I'm happy you liked it!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I picked up this book from Galley Grab, but then never had the opportunity to read it. Darn! Sounds like it was pretty good. However, it may have just a little too much historical stuff in it for me to totally enjoy it, though. Thanks for the informative review.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'm glad you liked this. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews about it. I like the idea of Egyptology in a book. I'm curious.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by! :)