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clamacchia's review against another edition
The writing bothered me. There would be a flow of dialogue, and then the author would take over and disrupt the flow to summarize what was being said for the next two pages instead of it just being dialogue between the characters.
Also the random chapter breaks were not always obvious, leading to confusion. There were many times I thought I skipped a page because a section of a chapter ended so quickly and abruptly.
The only character story I was interested in as Mathinna’s and they don’t have much of her story as the focus. So it wasn’t with reading it imo
Also the random chapter breaks were not always obvious, leading to confusion. There were many times I thought I skipped a page because a section of a chapter ended so quickly and abruptly.
The only character story I was interested in as Mathinna’s and they don’t have much of her story as the focus. So it wasn’t with reading it imo
margardenlady's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Fascinating story combining several aspects of the British colonialism in Australia. In one storyline we have an indigenous girl taken in and tokenized by a British family. And the main storyline follows women who were ‘transports’ from En G land into a penal colony in n Australia. I really cared about the characters and was glad to see stories resolved rather than left hanging.
jansbookcorner's review against another edition
4.0
Eye opening historical fiction covering a period of history that isn’t covered much. This was an interesting story told in a descriptive way that made me feel as if I were there.
tsukibunny68's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
amy_j18's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.5
carturnright's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
xenlinde's review
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jessica_artichoke's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, Grief, Alcoholism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Physical abuse, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Medical content
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Drug use
messydepressy's review against another edition
3.0
This book was, at times, very interesting to read. Other times, just too much description. I didn't like how neat and tidy the story finished at but overall, it was a good book.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Caroline Lee
3.5***
Historical fiction that looks at the issues of “transport” wherein women convicted of crimes were sent to Australia territories to “work off” their sentences. Kline also deals with the issues surrounding colonialist’s treatment of the indigenous population, with the story of Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of an Aboriginal chief, who is taken in by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land (now known as Tasmania).
Evangeline, a governess in a “respected household”, is arrested on a trumped-up charge when her pregnancy is discovered. Hazel, a skilled midwife and herbalist who has had to live by her wits from a young age, is arrested for stealing a silver spoon. Hazel is canny and a seasoned survivor, while Evangeline is naïve despite her education, and unprepared for motherhood. On the journey aboard a former slave ship the unlikely pair form a friendship.
Meantime, Mathinna is being educated to be shown off to the governor’s associates as a “triumph” of Western education and values. She is little more than a living doll to the governor’s wife. But she never loses sight of her origins.
Eventually these two storylines intersect. The treatment these women endured was brutal and dehumanizing, but Kline’s characters band together to support one another and triumph. I was interested from beginning to end, and learned a bit more about this episode in history.
Caroline Lee does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. There are a lot of characters to handle and she was up to the task.
3.5***
Historical fiction that looks at the issues of “transport” wherein women convicted of crimes were sent to Australia territories to “work off” their sentences. Kline also deals with the issues surrounding colonialist’s treatment of the indigenous population, with the story of Mathinna, the orphaned daughter of an Aboriginal chief, who is taken in by the new governor of Van Diemen’s Land (now known as Tasmania).
Evangeline, a governess in a “respected household”, is arrested on a trumped-up charge when her pregnancy is discovered. Hazel, a skilled midwife and herbalist who has had to live by her wits from a young age, is arrested for stealing a silver spoon. Hazel is canny and a seasoned survivor, while Evangeline is naïve despite her education, and unprepared for motherhood. On the journey aboard a former slave ship the unlikely pair form a friendship.
Meantime, Mathinna is being educated to be shown off to the governor’s associates as a “triumph” of Western education and values. She is little more than a living doll to the governor’s wife. But she never loses sight of her origins.
Eventually these two storylines intersect. The treatment these women endured was brutal and dehumanizing, but Kline’s characters band together to support one another and triumph. I was interested from beginning to end, and learned a bit more about this episode in history.
Caroline Lee does a fine job of narrating the audiobook. There are a lot of characters to handle and she was up to the task.