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2.95 AVERAGE
2.95 AVERAGE
tense
medium-paced
Imagined history supposing the British princesses were evacuated to Ireland during the Blitz. Told mainly from the perspectives of an Irish detective and a female MI5 agent guarding the pair, with contributions from an impish Princess Margaret who complicates matters. A leisurely tale with a bit of action at the end.
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I was fascinated by the blurb but unfortunately the story didn't met my expectations. It's well written but quite slow and I couldn't connect to the characters.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
sad
slow-paced
This could be labeled historical fiction, but the plot of the novel is not based on historical facts. Black imagines the two English princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, have been sent to Ireland for the duration of the London blitz. They arrive at the rundown "big house" of a minor Anglo Irish aristocrat. It is an odd choice for their evacuation, but has the advantage of being in the middle of nowhere, and a couple of miles from a small village. However, in Ireland, especially in the 1940's, there were few places that were totally cut off, even in the countryside. Small towns have big eyes and ears, and the British security services who planned this location failed to consider this when sending the princesses here.
The house and its surroundings are bleak, and existence is very boring. Black succeeds in conveying this, but as a result, as a reader, I was bored for the first third or so of the book. I considered DNFing the book, but persevered. The pace and plot picked up, and it became more interesting, with, of course, a climactic ending.
I am rating this three stars which reflects a book that is perfectly fine, but not a compelling read.
The house and its surroundings are bleak, and existence is very boring. Black succeeds in conveying this, but as a result, as a reader, I was bored for the first third or so of the book. I considered DNFing the book, but persevered. The pace and plot picked up, and it became more interesting, with, of course, a climactic ending.
I am rating this three stars which reflects a book that is perfectly fine, but not a compelling read.
Mystery about the evacuation of the British Royal Princesses during WWII to the countryside – and troublesome events that followed. Well written and based, to some degree, on actual events.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pointless book. Such lack of tension and character for a story with great potential.
slow-paced
This book started out a little slow, but it soons builds momentum. London is undergoing The Blitz. It's early in WW2 and the royal family wants their daughters, Elizabeth and Margaret, out of harm's way. So they work out a deal with an Anglo Irish Duke to have them stay at his somewhat moldy old estate using assumed names. They are known as Ellen and Mary but it soon is obvious to many members of the staff who they really are. The book spends a lot of time talking about Ellen/Elizabeth and her proper behavior which annoys her younger sister, Margaret/Mary. Celia Nash has joined the MI5 looking for adventure. She's not happy with the assignment as posing as the girls' governess. Strafford is a Protestant living in the relatively new Irish Republic who is unsure of his own role in the new Irish Republic and the Garda, the Irish Police Force.
Most of the book goes along slowly until Margaret/Mary spills the beans as to who she really is and Tom Clancy, aka the Boss, who fancies himself as an Irish Republic fighter, event though those days are behind him. He fancies himself as a member of the movement to unit the remaining six counties that are still part of Northern Ireland and under British control.
All of the action is at the end when thugs from Northern Ireland come with the plan to kidnap the princesses and hold them captive. This was an interesting and fun book to read. Benjamin Black aka John Banville says that he has been told that the princesses did, indeed, spend some time in Ireland. It's an interesting and fun yarn but it has it's dark moments as well.
Most of the book goes along slowly until Margaret/Mary spills the beans as to who she really is and Tom Clancy, aka the Boss, who fancies himself as an Irish Republic fighter, event though those days are behind him. He fancies himself as a member of the movement to unit the remaining six counties that are still part of Northern Ireland and under British control.
All of the action is at the end when thugs from Northern Ireland come with the plan to kidnap the princesses and hold them captive. This was an interesting and fun book to read. Benjamin Black aka John Banville says that he has been told that the princesses did, indeed, spend some time in Ireland. It's an interesting and fun yarn but it has it's dark moments as well.