The Pale Assassin

by: Patricia Elliott
Genre: YA Historical Fiction
Grade: Writing: A
Plotting: D
Characterization: D
Overall Grade: C-

Given all the elements that make up a book I am often breathless at how many authors can stir them up together to create a fantastic product. To me even a C book is one that shows a lot of talent. Maybe it is missing the elements that make something brilliant but given how difficult the product is to make, I am impressed by those who succeed in putting it together without getting egg on their face.

In the case of this book the writer is able to do all the basic elements of actually setting words to paper very well. She is not choppy. Does not go on and on with needless descriptions nor rely on endless adverbs or exclamation points to get her ideas across. She is not overly simplistic in presentation. She keeps a good handle on the story and doesn't meander from it or lose track of it. In short, she writes well, smoothly and interestingly. The problems come up with the story she wishes to tell.

The tales begins with Raoul Goullet, who suffered the duel humiliation of losing everything at cards to the Marquis of Chevais and then being caught cheating and sent into the street in only his under garments. He attempts to kill the Marquis later that evening and of course learns his lesson, buckles down to hard work and becomes a better man for it. Oh, don't be silly! This is naturally our villain and even though his life is spared he vows undying revenge on the Marquis and his family.

Jump ahead ten years. The Marquis dies in utter impoverishment and his children are at the mercy of their guardian. Fortunately he is very merciful but he is also elderly and sick and getting his affairs in order. To that end he fires young Eugenie's governess, engages her to Raoul Goullet (because only the reader is familiar with the family history) and sends her off to live in a convent. Her brother, Armand, is to continue on at law school until he can earn a living for himself.

As a side note, Eugenie herself is never told of the engagement and her brother makes a silent vow to see it broken. He can not like Goullet, who is known about town as La Fantome aka the Pale Assassin.

Then the revolution begins and Eugenie finds herself back in Paris. Eugenie, only fourteen years old, longs for the life she should have led -- with fancy parties, lovely dresses and handsome beaus. She chases after it with all the ardent determination of her young soul. But as the revolution grows ever more violent she finds herself forced , as the dust jacket says, " to dust off her lightly used brain and rise to the challenge of survival".

Eugenie is one of those whip lash characters who is making bad decisions one minute, heroine of every encounter the next. We never see her change or learn what enabled her to suddenly become so adept. The person credited for a great many of her skills is never even named but known simply as "her groom" (as in horses, not weddings). Really, someone who taught you to shoot, to ride without a saddle, to fight would be so distant from you he never had a name?

She is not the only character to undergo a whip lash transformation. One person, the brains behind a clandestine group of Royalists, is a genius at the start and slowly becomes a mutton head who requires endless aid of Eugenie by the end. Several people who hated Eugenie suddenly develop a conscience and aid her in her hour of need. Her loyal brother becomes enmeshed in other plans and ignores her. The list could go on but I won't bore you. Suffice it to say that few in this book maintain a consistent character. That is human nature and can definitely be made to work but the subtleties that make humans go from one step to the next must be captured and that was missing here.

The ending was also chock full of coincidences. Seriously, it was like a Disney movie with all the right people loving and trusting them and coming to their aid in just the nick of time.

On a personal note I was grossed out by the grown men who lusted after 14 year old Eugenie. It would have worked, perhaps, had she not been an internal as well as external fourteen but given her youthful behavior it grossed me out some. I am well aware things were different back in the day but one of those differences was that a 14 year old acted like a woman, not child. Take that away and you leave me with 20 to 50 year olds panting after a kid. That has name in our society and it is not a good one.

I would love to recommend this one but really can't. It just wasn't that enjoyable a book.

Tea: Don't bother warming a cup up for this one.