When I saw that this one was sporting a blurb by Sarah Waters on the cover I knew I had to read it!
Louise is a young dairy maid on a prosperous farm when she's chosen to become lady's maid for the master's niece far away in a seaside town. Her mother, wary of her daughter's proximity to the dangerous waters after losing a husband and a son to ship life, begrudgingly consents to her new task. Rebecca, the lady in question , is far different than anything Louise ever expected and threatens to change her life completely. While Louise takes to her new position, Luke, a young man, finds himself aboard a naval vessel with men that have been taken into the sea life by force. Faced with a new way of living, Luke must learn the ways of the pack quickly in order to survive. A gritty tale of sea life and its dangers, readers will feel like they stepped back in time.
First, let me say that I really enjoyed this novel despite having a few issues overall. It's official that I'm less fond of stories told in the style of alternating between two characters. It can really break up the story and make it a bit more confusing than a straight narrative. I also found I was much more taken with one narrative in the book than the other and had a harder time reading the chapters that weren't as engaging. However, each character had their own distinct voice which made this style successful in the end. I could see the similarities in the two writers' styles shortly after beginning the novel. While Waters has had far more time to perfect her craft, Worsley will not disappoint with this debut novel. Bits of dialogue reminded me very much of Waters's Fingersmith, and were at times a little too similar, but enjoyable nonetheless. All and all, it's a great novel that is perfect for those who enjoy detailed stories with multiple characters.
**Readers beware! There are some pretty distressing subjects in this book. While they aren't necessarily discussed in gory detail, subjects are strongly alluded to and could be distressing for some readers.
Oh! and guess what?? TLC Book Tours is offering one lucky reader a copy of this beautiful book!
Enter below for a chance to win:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wow, a Waters quote is a powerful thing for me too. This book looks and sounds great, so thank you for hosting the giveaway. I've read a lot of duel narrator books lately and I'm a little burnt, but with some time, this is one I'd love to jump into.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I'm not really a fan. Although it really just depends on the storyline and other elements. I think my love for Waters borders on obsession. If you love her, you'll probably love this.
DeleteThis cover totally grabbed my attention from the first time I saw it and I've been curious to see what the reviews would be like. I have a copy of Fingersmith headed my way from PaperbackSwap right now, too!
ReplyDeleteShannon,
DeleteI hope you love Fingersmith. It's one of my favorites! Very good. Fans of Waters will probably love this. Try both and let me know what you think.
The cover is very beautiful. This book should be a great addition to my summer collection.
ReplyDeleteI know you would love to win it, Sriti! Good luck :)
DeleteLove the cover thanks for review and for calling my attention to the book.
ReplyDeleteRhonda,
DeleteThe cover art is great! Definitely an eye catcher. Hope you enjoy!
This is the first time I've heard of this one and it certainly sounds intriguing. Thanks for the giveaway! (slinks off to finally read some Sarah Waters...)
ReplyDeleteGood luck! I think you would really like Sarah Waters and would be interested to see what you think if you do!
DeleteI just read my first Sarah Waters book - Fingersmith, and I think at your urging if I remember correctly? - and I'm sort of in love. Like you and some of the other commenters, I'm a bit fatigued with duel narrators, but there are certainly instances where it is done particularly well and/or the story requires it (Fingersmith comes to mind, actually!).
ReplyDeleteFingersmith is SO wonderful. My favorite of her work yet. Have you seen the BBC version on netflix? The music is hard to sit through but the film is gorgeous. Let me know if you do!
DeleteI'm a huge Sarah Waters fan so I can totally understand wanting to read any book that she blurbed.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this overall. Thanks for being a part of the tour!