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per_fictionist's review against another edition
5.0
The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea, is a poignant tale of two identical sisters set in an isolated island of Orkneys at the backdrop of World War II. Before I begin with my review, I would like to put out that, historical fiction as a genre is really special to me. I am really picky with what I eventually pick up as I don't want one mediocre book to ruin the experience of the genre for me. For me, getting lost in the realities mixed with fictionalized stories of the past is an unparalleled experience and no other genre gives me the same amount of serotonin. And with, Metal Heart, I could feel the contentment of reading a story that brings grief and little moments of unbounded joy at equal measure.
Dorothy and Constance, twins who have never known separation from each other since birth has to face the fate-altering choice between holding on or letting go of the ones they hold dear. The lyricism of Lea's prose keeps you on your feet as you immerse yourself in the mundane affairs of life at Selkie Holm where on one side Italian prisoners-of-war are at work building a barricade between the islands and on the other siblings Dot and Con live in harmony with nature away from the community at Kirkwall, after an incident that initiates them to separate from the mainland. With the arrival of the Italian war captives, changes slowly begin to transpire and what the readers experience is an unravelling of a story imbued with the strength of love, the fragility of a human life and a tale of colossal heartbreak.
Historical fictions usually tread with soft edges that burrows into your soul but with Metal Heart the twists that I admit are rather unpredictable till the very end, it enthralls you like the last sip of caffeine. I was honestly not expecting to be so deeply engaged by a love story but I couldn't stop praying for Dot, Con and Cesare and their well-being!
What a wonderful and mesmerizing book! It perfectly justifies that stunning cover!
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the copy!
Dorothy and Constance, twins who have never known separation from each other since birth has to face the fate-altering choice between holding on or letting go of the ones they hold dear. The lyricism of Lea's prose keeps you on your feet as you immerse yourself in the mundane affairs of life at Selkie Holm where on one side Italian prisoners-of-war are at work building a barricade between the islands and on the other siblings Dot and Con live in harmony with nature away from the community at Kirkwall, after an incident that initiates them to separate from the mainland. With the arrival of the Italian war captives, changes slowly begin to transpire and what the readers experience is an unravelling of a story imbued with the strength of love, the fragility of a human life and a tale of colossal heartbreak.
Historical fictions usually tread with soft edges that burrows into your soul but with Metal Heart the twists that I admit are rather unpredictable till the very end, it enthralls you like the last sip of caffeine. I was honestly not expecting to be so deeply engaged by a love story but I couldn't stop praying for Dot, Con and Cesare and their well-being!
What a wonderful and mesmerizing book! It perfectly justifies that stunning cover!
Thank you @michaeljbooks for the copy!
per_fictionist's review against another edition
4.0
Before I begin with my review, I would like to put out that, historical fiction as a genre is really special to me. I am really picky with what I eventually pick up as I don't want one mediocre book to ruin the experience of the genre for me. For me, getting lost in the realities mixed with fictionalized stories of the past is an unparalleled experience and no other genre gives me the same amount of serotonin. And with, Metal Heart, I could feel the contentment of reading a story that brings grief and little moments of unbounded joy at equal measure.
The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea, is a poignant tale of two identical sisters set in an isolated island of Orkneys at the backdrop of World War II.
Dorothy and Constance, twins who have never known separation from each other since birth has to face the fate-altering choice between holding on or letting go of the ones they hold dear. The lyricism of Lea's prose keeps you on your feet as you immerse yourself in the mundane affairs of life at Selkie Holm where on one side Italian prisoners-of-war are at work building a barricade between the islands and on the other siblings Dot and Con live in harmony with nature away from the community at Kirkwall, after an incident that initiates them to separate from the mainland. With the arrival of the Italian war captives, changes slowly begin to transpire and what the readers experience is an unravelling of a story imbued with the strength of love, the fragility of a human life and a tale of colossal heartbreak.
Historical fictions usually tread with soft edges that burrows into your soul but with Metal Heart the twists I admit are rather unpredictable till the very end, it enthralls you like the last sip of caffeine. I was honestly not expecting to be so deeply engaged by a love story but I couldn't stop praying for Dot, Con and Cesare and their well-being!
What a wonderful and mesmerizing book! It perfectly justifies that stunning cover!
The Metal Heart by Caroline Lea, is a poignant tale of two identical sisters set in an isolated island of Orkneys at the backdrop of World War II.
Dorothy and Constance, twins who have never known separation from each other since birth has to face the fate-altering choice between holding on or letting go of the ones they hold dear. The lyricism of Lea's prose keeps you on your feet as you immerse yourself in the mundane affairs of life at Selkie Holm where on one side Italian prisoners-of-war are at work building a barricade between the islands and on the other siblings Dot and Con live in harmony with nature away from the community at Kirkwall, after an incident that initiates them to separate from the mainland. With the arrival of the Italian war captives, changes slowly begin to transpire and what the readers experience is an unravelling of a story imbued with the strength of love, the fragility of a human life and a tale of colossal heartbreak.
Historical fictions usually tread with soft edges that burrows into your soul but with Metal Heart the twists I admit are rather unpredictable till the very end, it enthralls you like the last sip of caffeine. I was honestly not expecting to be so deeply engaged by a love story but I couldn't stop praying for Dot, Con and Cesare and their well-being!
What a wonderful and mesmerizing book! It perfectly justifies that stunning cover!
windy_witch's review against another edition
5.0
When I saw the initial reviews of this book, it was likened to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. This statement had me interested as this is story I really love. I can confirm The Metal Heart is written in similarity to Captain Corelli’s Mandolin.
Set in World War II on the Scottish island of Orkney, five hundred Italian prisoners of war are sent to work and help fortify the island from attack. What follows is a story of love and courage amongst the viciousness of the situation.
The is such a thing as the metal heart and around it a story of love. The author has beautifully captured this in her own novel. Having read and enjoyed The Glass Woman previously, I enjoyed this novel also.
kenautica's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
sadiereadsagain's review against another edition
4.0
I had forgotten that I'd requested a copy of this, and when I saw the cover (the one with the woman looking out to sea) I honestly thought there had been a mistake. It looked like a generic romance, which is really not my thing. But reading the blurb refreshed my memory - this book is set in Orkney, and I'm a sucker for books set in my own country. I am glad the book now seems to have a new cover (the one with the lighthouse), I think that will have wider appeal.
This is the story of twins Dorothy and Constance, who have left Orkney for a bothy on an isolated island across the water after losing their parents. Constance has suffered a further trauma, one which we don't fully understand at first, but which has left her feeling like an outcast and unable to trust anyone but her sister. But their solitude is disturbed by the encroaching war, and the arrival of hundreds of Italian prisoners of war who are to be incarcerated on their island. With the camp comes the arrival of someone that Constance really doesn't want to have near her, and the outrage of the Orkney population at having their limited resources spread even further to support the prisoners as they construct sea barriers to prevent enemy ships accessing the water. When Dorothy volunteers to work in the camp infirmary, and feelings develop between her and a prisoner - Cesare, who builds and decorates a chapel for the prisoners - tensions build, with a devastating result.
I was really surprised with this book, from my initial low expectations. Yes, this involves a romance, but it is much more than that. This book looks at the treatment of prisoners, the danger of giving power to bullies, the impact of war and some Orcadian history. Though, I'll caveat that last part, as the author is open about how she changed details and rearranged timelines to fit her story. And as this isn't written by a native of Scotland, there are some issues with authenticity when it comes to the language. But overall, I found this a fascinating look into the history, and I really enjoyed the storyline. Lea has a really lovely writing style which invokes the atmosphere, and the characters felt well-rounded. I even enjoyed the romance, it didn't feel forced or unrealistic even given the situation. And the twists at the end were fantastic, it left me wanting to know what happened after the book closed.
I received a Netgalley of this title from Penguin Michael Joseph UK in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
This is the story of twins Dorothy and Constance, who have left Orkney for a bothy on an isolated island across the water after losing their parents. Constance has suffered a further trauma, one which we don't fully understand at first, but which has left her feeling like an outcast and unable to trust anyone but her sister. But their solitude is disturbed by the encroaching war, and the arrival of hundreds of Italian prisoners of war who are to be incarcerated on their island. With the camp comes the arrival of someone that Constance really doesn't want to have near her, and the outrage of the Orkney population at having their limited resources spread even further to support the prisoners as they construct sea barriers to prevent enemy ships accessing the water. When Dorothy volunteers to work in the camp infirmary, and feelings develop between her and a prisoner - Cesare, who builds and decorates a chapel for the prisoners - tensions build, with a devastating result.
I was really surprised with this book, from my initial low expectations. Yes, this involves a romance, but it is much more than that. This book looks at the treatment of prisoners, the danger of giving power to bullies, the impact of war and some Orcadian history. Though, I'll caveat that last part, as the author is open about how she changed details and rearranged timelines to fit her story. And as this isn't written by a native of Scotland, there are some issues with authenticity when it comes to the language. But overall, I found this a fascinating look into the history, and I really enjoyed the storyline. Lea has a really lovely writing style which invokes the atmosphere, and the characters felt well-rounded. I even enjoyed the romance, it didn't feel forced or unrealistic even given the situation. And the twists at the end were fantastic, it left me wanting to know what happened after the book closed.
I received a Netgalley of this title from Penguin Michael Joseph UK in return for a review. All opinions are my own.
westanpotatoes's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Rape, Grief, and War
Moderate: Xenophobia
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
Italian prisoners of war are being held on an Island off Orkney, inhabited by two sisters escaping the mainland after tragic events leaving one sister traumatized. The island is said
to be bad luck, with disappearances, people driven mad, and strange creatures drawing people to their deaths in the waters below. Despite how dark the story is against the backdrop of WW2, there’s an underlying message of hope!
I was pulled in right away by the prologue. Despite the long chapters, I devoured this book! I loved The Glass Woman and it’s safe to say Carolien Lea is now officially an auto buy author 💗
I was pulled in right away by the prologue. Despite the long chapters, I devoured this book! I loved The Glass Woman and it’s safe to say Carolien Lea is now officially an auto buy author 💗
The novel is split into 5 parts spanning from January to September 1942. Sections within each chapter contain switching POVs focusing on Cesare, Dorothy, and Constance. Plus the occasional third person sections looking at the community as a whole. I loved getting glimpses at what was happening within the community as well as getting inside each character’s mind!
The characters are well written and developed. Lyrical writing as always from Lea-I have many pages marked with quotes that I loved 🥰 I also liked the mysterious/spooky vibe surrounding the setting and ghost stories weaved throughout the story. Just like The Glass Woman, Lea does an excellent job of writing a dark and complex story of a small community!
The characters are well written and developed. Lyrical writing as always from Lea-I have many pages marked with quotes that I loved 🥰 I also liked the mysterious/spooky vibe surrounding the setting and ghost stories weaved throughout the story. Just like The Glass Woman, Lea does an excellent job of writing a dark and complex story of a small community!
The plot twists were incredible!! My jaw was on the floor and I loved how well written and unexpected they were. I didn’t think I could love a book from Lea more than The Glass Woman but wow this story has me floored 😍
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, War, Sexual assault, Grief, and Rape
Moderate: Death, Confinement, Xenophobia, and Abandonment