Review of First Lessons

Post by **Jennifer Coxon** » 02 Jul 2022, 17:11

[Following is a volunteer review of "First Lessons" by Lina J. Potter.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Aliya Skorolenok is a modern-day straight-A medical student with her whole life and career ahead of her, heading home to see her family. Countess Lilian Elizabeth Mariella Earton is a petulant ignorant woman, prone to tantrums, living in a medieval world where her husband, the Earl, has left her to her own devices on their remote estate while he enjoys himself in the capital. Both women happen to effectively die at the same time, Aliya in a car accident when driving home with her parents and Lilian during a complicated childbirth. However, Lilian’s devoted childhood Nanny is unwilling to lose her, and is given a potion by a witch to save Lilian.

Aliya wakes up confused and dazed, not recognising the people around her and disgusted by the filth and “pinkness” of the place. She discovers she is in Lilian’s body, still weak from the effects of childbirth and massively overweight and unhealthy, something Aliya is not used to being. When Aliya has worked through her self-pity and realised that she has a second chance, she is motivated to make something of her life, starting with herself and the estate she is living on.

First Lessons by Lina J. Potter is a great story for those who enjoy a bit of historical fiction mixed with a bit of sci-fi, and a strong intelligent heroine who is willing to take control. Aliya is strong willed and reading her story motivated me to get on and just get things done, however, also put me to shame. I really liked the character development though, and Aliya is the person you would hope to be when dropped somewhere foreign and new, rather than just fading away and wasting her second chance.

The only negative I have about the whole book, is that as Book 1 in the series this is more of a scene-setting book which opens several plot lines to be resolved in future instalments. These are all very much left hanging at the end of this book, leaving me with so many questions and wanting to move straight on to Book 2. That is not to say that Aliya didn’t accomplish lots during the book, just that what she accomplished only increased the number of questions for the plot lines by the end of the book.

I have rated this book four out of four stars due to the enjoyable storyline and characters, and the quality of the editing which appears to be of a professional standard with only four grammar / typo points spotted. A very enjoyable book: pass me the next one!

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First Lessons
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fire_spice · Post by **fire_spice** » 08 Sep 2022, 15:18

I love it! It sounds like the very novel I would love to curl up to

. I like historical fiction with a strong heroine. I can already see the positive changes Aliya must have made to her new environment. Great review!

Post by **Jennifer Coxon** » 08 Sep 2022, 21:04

fire_spice wrote: ↑08 Sep 2022, 15:18 I love it! It sounds like the very novel I would love to curl up to. I like historical fiction with a strong heroine. I can already see the positive changes Aliya must have made to her new environment. Great review!

It really is good. I want to find the next instalment to read as I know there is just so much more to come.