contemporary fantasy that Booklist calls "a must for V.E. Schwab and Katee Robert fans" and was named an Amazon Editor's Pick. Her historical novels include In the Garden of Monsters (longlisted for a MassBook Award and selected as an Amazon Editor's Pick), The Chef's Secret, and Feast of Sorrow (longlisted for the Center for Fiction's First Novel Prize). King's writing is fueled by a love of history and a passion for the food, language, and culture of Italy.
She applied the Page 69 Test to The Happiness Collector with the following results:
On page 69, historian Aida Reale is settling into her dream job at MODA in Italy when she hears unsettling gossip about her predecessor, Johannes, who died suddenly of a heart attack. Ilario and Pippa, who work in the kitchen at the palazzo where she's staying, discuss the man with concern that hints at something darker beneath the surface. The conversation reveals cryptic details about individuals at MODA, including their mysterious boss Mo, and Trista, Aida's prickly aide.Visit Crystal King's website.
Does the Page 69 Test Work?
This test works somewhat well for The Happiness Collector. While page 69 won't tell you that Aida's employers are gods or that she's collecting happiness for divine purposes, it captures the book's central tension: something is very wrong with this too-good-to-be-true job. The mention of a predecessor's death, the cryptic comments about crossing their snarky boss, and Aida's growing unease all signal that her Italian dream is actually a nightmare in disguise.
What the page does reveal accurately is the book's atmosphere of mystery. Aida is clearly picking up on strange undercurrents in conversations around her. The dialogue gives you a taste of the Italian setting and the dark humor that runs through the narrative. You get a sense that Aida is smart and observant but a bit in the dark about her employer.
What you won't get from this page is the mythological framework that makes The Happiness Collector more than just a mystery. You won't know that Aida and her colleagues are pawns in a game between gods, or that the places that Aida visits as part of her work are starting to disappear. But you will understand that Aida has stumbled into something dangerous and that her perfect new life is built on secrets that might destroy the world as we know it.
Still, for readers who love contemporary fantasy with a slow-burn reveal, page 69 does its job: it raises questions, hints at danger, and makes you want to keep reading to find out what everyone is hiding.
The Page 69 Test: Feast of Sorrow.
Writers Read: Crystal King (March 2019).
The Page 69 Test: The Chef's Secret.
My Book, The Movie: The Happiness Collector.
--Marshal Zeringue
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