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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Isabel Allende has written another captivating historical novel with a strong woman at its center. This time, the backdrop is the Chilean Civil war of 1891. It is also about one young woman's struggle to become an important story teller in her own right, under her own name.
Emilia is an unusually smart and brave young woman, who must behave more assertively than most women of her time, to become a journalist in the San Francisco of the 1880s. When war breaks out in Chile, she actually succeeds in becoming a war correspondent. It does help that she speaks Spanish.
There are multiple stories housed in this novel. There is also the story of Molly Walsh, her mother, which will inform a large part of Emilia's life. After a loving childhood and an excellent education aided by her kind adopted father, Emilia is still not prepared to see war in a distant country, let alone be in the midst of battle.
The Chilean Civil War comes terrifyingly alive in these pages. It's a brutal, sad story that almost kills its heroine and does end many who she has come to care about. In the end, Emilia struggles to come to herself again and make her own decision about what comes next for her.
I enjoy Isabel Allende's writing and her stories, and this one was memorable. My reservations about this latest novel are minimal. That it did not spell out Emilia's next chapter is a perfectly good decision, even if it surprised me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction novel.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Isabel Allende's latest novel.
Emilia is an unusually smart and brave young woman, who must behave more assertively than most women of her time, to become a journalist in the San Francisco of the 1880s. When war breaks out in Chile, she actually succeeds in becoming a war correspondent. It does help that she speaks Spanish.
There are multiple stories housed in this novel. There is also the story of Molly Walsh, her mother, which will inform a large part of Emilia's life. After a loving childhood and an excellent education aided by her kind adopted father, Emilia is still not prepared to see war in a distant country, let alone be in the midst of battle.
The Chilean Civil War comes terrifyingly alive in these pages. It's a brutal, sad story that almost kills its heroine and does end many who she has come to care about. In the end, Emilia struggles to come to herself again and make her own decision about what comes next for her.
I enjoy Isabel Allende's writing and her stories, and this one was memorable. My reservations about this latest novel are minimal. That it did not spell out Emilia's next chapter is a perfectly good decision, even if it surprised me. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good historical fiction novel.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Isabel Allende's latest novel.
Reading Progress
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Recommend
3.5 stars
This novel had the usual beautiful writing by Isalbe Allende, but the character development and storyline didn't work for me. This novel is more about the Chilean Civil War of 1891 than about Emilia. The description of the book was not what I expected at all. It was all about the war, which was devastating, horrific, and ugly.
If you REALLY like Isabel Allende or her writing, this book may work for you. The graphic war descriptions are gruesome and were too much for me. I prefer more character-driven novels, and this novel missed the mark on that aspect.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/03/review-my-name-is-emilia-del-valle.html
3.5 stars
This novel had the usual beautiful writing by Isalbe Allende, but the character development and storyline didn't work for me. This novel is more about the Chilean Civil War of 1891 than about Emilia. The description of the book was not what I expected at all. It was all about the war, which was devastating, horrific, and ugly.
If you REALLY like Isabel Allende or her writing, this book may work for you. The graphic war descriptions are gruesome and were too much for me. I prefer more character-driven novels, and this novel missed the mark on that aspect.
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/03/review-my-name-is-emilia-del-valle.html
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Colonisation, War, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Genocide, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Sexual violence
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
We should all journey like Emilia to truly find ourselves at least once in our life.
Dare I say, I expected more from Isabel Allende?
Dare I say, I expected more from Isabel Allende?
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Emilia de Valle is a female force. Set in the 1890s, Emilia is one of a few female journalists in the world. During the Chilean civil war she volunteers to go to the front lines to report on the war, but also to reconnect with her Chilean family. Hers is a story of strength and bravery and the power of women.
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emotional
tense
medium-paced
Very realistic portrayal of the war and the consequences of it. Loved the articles included and the overall history of Chile
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I have only read a few of Allende’s books, but this didn’t pull me in quite the same as the others I’ve tried. It felt a little disjointed and the characters lacked depth. This book covers the Chilean civil war, a love story, lost and found family, and a little bit of everything in between. So much happened, and I think it would’ve been richer with a little less happening in more detail. It was enjoyable nonetheless.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While the writing was beautiful and I always enjoy reading about historical events I am unfamiliar with, this book missed the mark for me. Despite the high stakes of the situation the characters were in, I felt like this book moved a bit too slowly to hold my interest. I found the descriptions of the Chilean Civil War harrowing and enticing, and my heart broke for those involved; that being said, the characters themselves felt a bit underdeveloped, and with so many names involved in the conflict, it would have been nice to flesh them out a bit more.
All that being said, I would still recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, and those who enjoy reading about strong women pioneering their own path. While this specific book wasn't necessarily for me, I'm open to reading other works by Isabel Allende, since I did really enjoy her writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC! Publication date May 5, 2025.
All that being said, I would still recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, and those who enjoy reading about strong women pioneering their own path. While this specific book wasn't necessarily for me, I'm open to reading other works by Isabel Allende, since I did really enjoy her writing style.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine Books for the ARC! Publication date May 5, 2025.
adventurous
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Torture, War
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
~ I received an ARC copy of "My Name is Emilia Del Valle" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~
While Ms. Allende's reputation and writings have received critical acclaim, I've never once read her works until now. My Name is Emilia del Valle is a pleasant introduction into Ms. Allende's world building and writing styles. Her development of Emilia, a half-Chilean, half-American journalist in the late 19th century describes a character who experiences growth and humility through pursuing her passion of writing. Allende builds Emilia del Valle's story around the Chilean Civil War which led to the deaths and persecution of hundreds and not thousands and resulted in a government overthrow.
Allende paints a beautiful picture of the Chilean landscape while being unapologetic in the realities of war and its casualties. Emilia is not a vain character, but inexperienced in the beginning of her journey and grows as a writer and as a person throughout the story.
While Ms. Allende's reputation and writings have received critical acclaim, I've never once read her works until now. My Name is Emilia del Valle is a pleasant introduction into Ms. Allende's world building and writing styles. Her development of Emilia, a half-Chilean, half-American journalist in the late 19th century describes a character who experiences growth and humility through pursuing her passion of writing. Allende builds Emilia del Valle's story around the Chilean Civil War which led to the deaths and persecution of hundreds and not thousands and resulted in a government overthrow.
Allende paints a beautiful picture of the Chilean landscape while being unapologetic in the realities of war and its casualties. Emilia is not a vain character, but inexperienced in the beginning of her journey and grows as a writer and as a person throughout the story.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Yes