Tautly constructed and beautifully written,I was gripped from the first page. Not for the faint-hearted, Clements writes about her era with honesty and does not flinch from the more unsavoury details of everyday life. Her characters are believable and compelling. There are plot twists I did not predict for a moment, and I pride myself on being able to spot a good twist a mile off! We follow the protagonist through some harrowing events and will her to triumph in the end. The historical context is so well wrought, I could see, hear and smell my way through Civil War England. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes a great historical page-turner, yet also appreciates accomplished patterns of imagery and other advanced literary techniques. It is also a fascinating examination of friendships and love. Overall, a winner. Well done to the author! I predict great success…
