Review: "Viper Wine" by Hermoine Eyre

This is a very interesting story about Venetia Stanley and her search to stay beautiful. It takes place during 1632-1633. The story is based on actual events that took place during her life. Venetia was known as a beautiful, ravishing woman during her youth but as she is approaching 30, her beauty starts to fade. She is desperate to regain her reputation and will go to any length to become the famous beauty again. She goes to a well-known alchemist named Lancelot Choice who sells her his secret beauty elixir, Viper Wine. Although she regains her youth and vitality, it comes at a terrible price.

I found sections of this book fascinating. The power of beauty and extent people will go to become and stay beautiful is timeless and this book showcases this fact brilliantly and is worth reading for this reason. I did have a hard time becoming interested in the storyline though. I found the whole story confusing with the flash forwards to the present and then back to the past.

Throughout history, the siren call of beauty and the attempt to keep it has been the downfall of many women. Pick up this book for a thought-provoking look at this fascinating subject.