In The Last Leprechaun, June Calvin infuses a traditional Regency with a touch of charming fairy magic. Unfortunately, while at times it is a fun and whimsical tale, the uneven plotting turns what could have been a very unique story into a rather average read.
Since returning from the war against Napoleon, John Blayne has distanced himself from his family and lost himself in a life of debauchery. However, one night his cousin and childhood friend Elizabeth Longford turns up on his doorstep begging for help.
Elizabeth's father is a dissolute gambler and drinker and a very bitter man. He is also the current holder of entailed estate lands that will go to John upon his death. Currently, he is bent upon destroying the old forests on these lands - actions which will cause financial damage to John as the heir presumptive. This horrifies Elizabeth, who loves the family woodlands
and has devoted her time to studying the many plants and creatures who live there.
Eizabeth is also upset about her father's plan since a childhood encounter convinced her that the very last of all the leprechauns lives in that forest. Therefore, Elizabeth now seeks to awaken
John's conscience and convince him that the forest is worth saving. In doing so, she also finds herself being drawn to her childhood companion.
Parts of this book really do work. First of all, John's reaction as he learns how Elizabeth and her mother suffered at her father's hands is very effectively rendered. The mixture of protectiveness, admiration of Elizabeth, and sheer human decency makes John appealing indeed.
Additionally, the interactions between John and Elizabeth throughout the middle of the book are very well-drawn. The dialogue is strong and the development of the subplot involving the existence of the leprechaun is magical without being treacle-y.
In contrast, both the beginning and the ending of this book suffer from unevenness. While John is a sympathetic character for most of the book, he most certainly isn't in the book's opening chapters and his sudden turn from debauchery to virtue does not entirely ring true. The
constant references to leprechauns and fairies also start to become more than a bit silly at times. While this leprechaun tale initially adds something interesting to the novel, as the book wears on this subplot seems to be used as an overly convenient device to tie up loose ends. Taking the fairytale too far in this manner detracts from the initial charm of the legend and ultimately makes the story fall flat.
While the idea of adding a touch of magic to a traditional Regency is not a bad one, the execution could have used a bit more finesse. In the end though, on some levels Ms. Calvin's story is essentially an appealing one and there are certainly worse ways to while away the day.
-- Lynn Spencer
Order this book from Amazon Books
To comment about any of these reviews on our reviews forum
