Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta

Book Blurb

The year is 1838, and seventeen-year-old Julia Elliston’s position has never been more fragile. Orphaned and unmarried in a time when women are legal property of their fathers, husbands, and guardians, she finds herself at the mercy of an anonymous guardian who plans to establish her as a servant in far-off Scotland.

With two months to devise a better plan, Julia’s first choice to marry her childhood sweetheart is denied. But when a titled dowager offers to introduce Julia into society, a realm of possibilities opens. However, treachery and deception are as much a part of Victorian society as titles and decorum, and Julia quickly discovers her present is deeply entangled with her mother’s mysterious past. Before she knows what’s happening, Julia finds herself a pawn in a deadly game between two of the country’s most powerful men. With no laws to protect her, she must unravel the secrets on her own. But sometimes truth is elusive and knowledge is deadly.

Review

I want to make clear from the outset that this Gothic novel is well written with some touching emotions and deep internal conflict of the heroine, Julia. The idiosyncrasies of the early Victorian era and society’s restrictions are well detailed, and the needle sharp dialogue of the two older ladies in the cast is masterful as well as cringe-making in its acerbity.

The novel quickly takes a sinister turn, beginning with her unspeakable hostess, Mrs Windham, who showers Julia with insults while professing to care for her. Then she tries to ‘sell’ Julia to a matchmaker, finally striking a deal with the elderly Lady Foxmore, a woman who would terrify Lady Catherine de Burgh, to find Julia a husband.

When Edward Auburn, Julia’s secret betrothed makes an appearance, she is horrified to discover he has been ordained into the church which victimised her cruelly for her father’s atheist beliefs.

Edward ends their betrothal, and Julia is invited to a magnificent mansion called Eastbourne, Lady Foxmore comes along, but reluctantly and it soon evolves that she and its mysterious owner, Mr Chance Macy have some history. The house party is comprised of enigmatic, hostile characters, some of whom bear some sort of grudge against Julia. They utter damning statements before rushing from the room or lapse into brooding silence, until I am convinced they are there with the sole purpose of driving poor Julia mad.

Julia is still suffering the effects of her mother’s suicide, and events carry her along on a wave of deception, misinformation and downright lies. The patronising Macy treats Julia like a charming pet, professes love within days, then compromises her in front of the other house guests by staying in her room all night before disappearing on one of several unexplained errands - only to return and begin his weird courtship all over again. The way he keeps calling her ‘darling’ is particularly creepy.

Julia doesn’t handle the situation well, and spends most of her time blushing, shaking her head or burying her face in whichever male chest is closest [Macy’s or Edwards-she conflicted] Julia’s best friend, Elizabeth Windham, who is [secretly of course] betrothed to Edward’s brother, Henry, joins this atmosphere of hostility and the general refusal to communicate deteriorates into everyone glaring at each other at mealtimes.

Ms Dotta certainly keeps the reader guessing as Julia is pulled about from pillar to post by those whose motives are unclear. Is Macy a dashing suitor and protector, or is he the villain of the piece with his own agenda? Is Julia’s guardian really bent on ending her life when they have never met, or is he trying to rescue her from the villainous Macy? Will Edward discard his dog collar to win Julia, or does he expect her to preside over his parish teas and pretend a faith in a higher power for his sake?

This is an intriguing read, despite my frustration with the simpering Julia. I accept her character was dictated by the fact sheltered Victorian girls weren’t known for their assertiveness. There are two more stories in this series to come, so maybe the loose ends left by this novel will be made clear in the next. 

I will have to read them as I'm worried about what happened to Nancy!

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Children of the Jacaranda Tree & Author Interview

Review by:

Mirella Patzer

Synopsis:

A COUNTRY DIVIDED BY REVOLUTION A PEOPLE UNITED BY LOVE

Neda is born in Tehran’s Evin Prison, where her mother is allowed to nurse her for a few months before the arms of a guard appear at the cell door one day and, simply, take her away. In another part of the city, three-year-old Omid witnesses the arrests of his political activist parents from his perch at their kitchen table, yogurt dripping from his fingertips. More than twenty years after the violent, bloody purge that took place inside Tehran’s prisons, Sheida learns that her father was one of those executed, that the silent void firmly planted between her and her mother all these years was not just the sad loss that comes with death, but the anguish and the horror of murder.

These are the Children of the Jacaranda Tree. Set in post-revolutionary Iran from 1983 to 2011, this stunning debut novel follows a group of mothers, fathers, children, and lovers, some related by blood, others brought together by the tide of history that washes over their lives. Finally, years later, it is the next generation that is left with the burden of the past and their country’s tenuous future as a new wave of protest and political strife begins.

Children of the Jacaranda Tree is an evocative portrait of three generations of men and women inspired by love and poetry, burning with idealism, chasing dreams of justice and freedom. Written in Sahar Delijani’s spellbinding prose, capturing the intimate side of revolution in a country where the weight of history is all around, it is a moving tribute to anyone who has ever answered its call.

My Review: 

This book starts with a gripping first chapter. A pregnant woman in labour is blindfolded and transported to a prison hospital to have her child. She must not deliver until she gets there. It is a shocking start for the book which progresses with more vignettes that often left me flabbergasted. After a short while in the women’s care, these babies, born in custody, are stripped from the mother and sent to relatives and friends to be raised. The novel focuses on what happens to these children as they grow to adulthood amid the political unrest and turmoil of Iran. The story spans for several decades.

The writing is beautiful and very compelling. Because the novel focuses on the children, their caregivers, and their parents, I found there to be quite a lot of characters. Further, the stories often jumped from the past to the current time. At first, this confused me, but I persevered and soon found that the book wasn’t written like a typical plot driven story, but rather like an anthology of connected short stories or vignettes. After that, I worried less about remembering who was who and I was able to enjoy the individual stories of hardship, imprisonment, or suffering.

Beyond reading for entertainment, this novel sends a powerful message, educating readers with the dreadful terror the characters experience that mirror the truth about Iran and its people. Rich descriptions, unforgettable characters, unbelievable injustice, and victory grace the pages of this fascinating novel. All in all, a most fascinating novel!

The Highlander (The Rise of The Aztecs Series, Book 1) by Zoe Saadia

Born in the Highlands, Kuini thought his life was simple. You hunt and you fight, defending your towns against the raids of the Lowlanders and then raiding their lands in turn. His father was the Warriors' Leader, and he wanted to be just like him.

Yet, Texcoco, the mighty Capital of the Lowlands, seemed incredibly beautiful, sparkling, its pyramids magnificent. A friendship with the Lowlander boy, the First Son of the Texcoco Emperor, seemed harmless in the beginning. They were just boys, and their clandestine meetings were always fun, providing great entertainment. 

However, on the day Kuini agrees to finally enter the magnificent city, it would all change. He expected to get into trouble, but he could not foresee the extent of the trouble and, worst of all, he did not expect to uncover hidden secrets concerning his own family.

The Highlander is a novel set in the ancient Aztec world. It is about two young men from opposing tribes, Kuini and Coyotl, who accidentally meet and become friends. Coming from different backgrounds and social statuses, the two learn and share with each other. When Kuini finds himself in Coyotl’s noble world, he finds danger at every corner, especially when Kuini meets his Coyotl’s sister who is forced into an unwanted marriage as part of a deal struck with a rival leader.

From pyramids, to temples, to palaces, this novel is rich in historical detail. Excellent, easy to read prose and an intriguing storyline kept me hooked to the very end. There were plenty of conflicts hampering the lives of all the well-drawn characters. It is a rich novel about Pre-Columbia South America that is sure to please.

The Roots of Betrayal by James Forrester

Book Description   Your Choice. Your Faith. Your Fate.
1564: Catholic herald William Harley, known as Clarenceux, guards a highly dangerous document. It's a manuscript he'd rather not have—destruction and death have followed in its wake. But things get much worse when the document is stolen, and he plunges into a nightmare of suspicion, deception, and conspiracy. As England teeters on the brink of a bloody conflict, Clarenceux knows the fate of the country and countless lives hang in the balance. The roots of betrayal are deep and shocking, and the herald's journey toward the truth entails not just the discovery of clues and signs, but also of himself.

In this brilliant new Elizabethan conspiracy from the internationally acclaimed author of Sacred Treason, faith and fear stir up a powerful story of loyalty, lies, and secrets.

 

Review

 

Roots of Betrayal is the second book in a trilogy about a Catholic herald named William Clarenceux, also known as William Harley, however, it is not necessary to read the first book, titled Sacred Treason, in order to enjoy this novel. The story takes place in the 16^th century known as the Elizabethan era. The protagonist, William, is a talented young man whose expertise is creating coats of arms, crests and mottos for the nobility. When one of Queen Elizabeth’s top advisors entrusts him with the safekeeping of a document entitled Catholic Treasure, he is not happy with the responsibility, but will do his utmost to keep good care of it. As the political world around him swirls with trouble caused by the civil unrest between the Catholics and Protestants, he realizes that the document he holds will fuel civil war between the two factions. Poor William! Despite all his efforts to protect the secret document, it is stolen and he is held responsible. Ultimately, he is imprisoned and suffers harsh conditions and torture.

Impressively researched, this novel is filled with plenty of exciting plot twists and historical detail that depict the brutality of the era. Well written and evocative, this is a suspense thriller set to entertain. Even though this book stands alone, I am definitely interested in reading the first book in the series which achieved bestseller status when it was released. Read one of James Forrester’s novels and you will be hooked!

Union Station by Ande Parks and Eduardo Barreto

Union Station is the story of the Kansas City Union Station Massacre of 1933. I’m not normally a reader of American History, but since I live less than thirty minutes from the story’s setting and visited Union Station many times, I had a personal interest in this graphic novel.

The story is about the investigation following the murder of four officers and one fugitive and is filled with violence, intrigue and conspiracy.

 Ande Parks (writer) and Eduardo Barreto (illustrator) make the historical and fictional characters real and sympathetic – even the villains. The story is an absorbing read and well worth the hour it will take from your afternoon. However, I strongly recommend reading the footnote pages at the end of the book before reading the novel. I suspect it will help the reader keep the characters straight as there are a lot. The footnotes are also fascinating if you enjoy history.