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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really enjoyed the dual pov of this book but the ending was a little rushed and sometimes the quest felt too easy
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Mapmaker's Daughter by Clare Marchant is a historical novel with a dual timeline and just a dash of magical realism. The historical timeline is set in 1569 and the other timeline is in present day.
Present day- after a terrible tragedy seven years ago, Robyn moved home to help her father in his map shop in Hay. She has only a few months to make a big decision that will help her to move on from the tragedy, but she struggles to heal from the tragedy seven years ago. When she discovers a very unusual map from the 16th century, she knows she has to find out the origin of the map.
1569 - Frieda had to flee her home in Amsterdam after her parents were killed by the Spanish. Starting over in London she works with her cousin as a mapmaker. Now married to a sea captain, with a small son, she enjoys her simple life and has found she’s a talented mapmaker now. Soon, Elizabeth I, learned of her skills and gives her a commission to make a special map for Sir Frances Drake. Next starts an adventure and Frieda is once again fleeing to save her life and the life of her family.
I enjoyed this extensively researched book very much. I preferred the 1569 timeline the most and thought Frieda was a strong, courageous, and relatable woman and was my favorite character. I enjoyed all the historical details the author included for this timeline, and I felt like I was there with Frieda making maps and sailing on ships. I liked the beautiful descriptions of the Court of Queen Elizabeth I as well, as well as the characters in the court including the queen. I liked the time period as well as learning more about the Spanish Inquisition.
The present-day timeline was okay, but just not as exciting as the past timeline. I liked Robyn and could understand why she was stuck. I enjoyed her enthusiasm for the map and her dedication to finding the origin.
I highly recommend The Mapmakers Daughter to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Present day- after a terrible tragedy seven years ago, Robyn moved home to help her father in his map shop in Hay. She has only a few months to make a big decision that will help her to move on from the tragedy, but she struggles to heal from the tragedy seven years ago. When she discovers a very unusual map from the 16th century, she knows she has to find out the origin of the map.
1569 - Frieda had to flee her home in Amsterdam after her parents were killed by the Spanish. Starting over in London she works with her cousin as a mapmaker. Now married to a sea captain, with a small son, she enjoys her simple life and has found she’s a talented mapmaker now. Soon, Elizabeth I, learned of her skills and gives her a commission to make a special map for Sir Frances Drake. Next starts an adventure and Frieda is once again fleeing to save her life and the life of her family.
I enjoyed this extensively researched book very much. I preferred the 1569 timeline the most and thought Frieda was a strong, courageous, and relatable woman and was my favorite character. I enjoyed all the historical details the author included for this timeline, and I felt like I was there with Frieda making maps and sailing on ships. I liked the beautiful descriptions of the Court of Queen Elizabeth I as well, as well as the characters in the court including the queen. I liked the time period as well as learning more about the Spanish Inquisition.
The present-day timeline was okay, but just not as exciting as the past timeline. I liked Robyn and could understand why she was stuck. I enjoyed her enthusiasm for the map and her dedication to finding the origin.
I highly recommend The Mapmakers Daughter to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A fascinating dual time line story set in the present day and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
The story is well plotted and well researched, I like the two strong female characters and the mix of history, personal story, and intrigues.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The story is well plotted and well researched, I like the two strong female characters and the mix of history, personal story, and intrigues.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Avon Books UK for approving me for an ARC of this book. I have read Clare’s two previous book and love her writing style so I couldn’t wait to get stuck into this one.
This is a dual timeline story told by two women, Robyn and Frieda. Robyn’s story is set in the present day, where she stumbles across a map that her father never knew was hiding in his shop. This mystery proves to be the perfect distraction whilst Robyn is coming to terms with a difficult decision. Frieda’s story is set in the 1500’s during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Whilst constantly fearing for her life Frieda finds herself being invited to court to carry out a task for the Queen.
Whilst we flip back and forth between these two women’s stories we learn many things about cartographers, life at sea, Huguenots and so much more. I was fascinated with Frieda’s story from the first chapter. She came from shocking circumstances and I had nothing but sympathy for her when her fears manifested in her adult life too. She was clearly a compassionate and lovely women who just wanted a simple life away from fear and trepidation. As her story unravelled and more was revealed about her husband’s final task I felt the fear leaping from the pages.
I loved being back in the royal court, especially Queen Elizabeth’s as her reign is infamous. I almost wish we had been there more as with Clare’s previous books I’ve felt there was more focus on that aspect. Learning about our Royal history is fascinating to me and the introduction of Francis Drake certainly piqued my interest.
This was brilliant storytelling, filled with history and adventure. Clare Marchant has the knack for drawing her readers in and keeping them on tender hooks until the very end.
This is a dual timeline story told by two women, Robyn and Frieda. Robyn’s story is set in the present day, where she stumbles across a map that her father never knew was hiding in his shop. This mystery proves to be the perfect distraction whilst Robyn is coming to terms with a difficult decision. Frieda’s story is set in the 1500’s during Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Whilst constantly fearing for her life Frieda finds herself being invited to court to carry out a task for the Queen.
Whilst we flip back and forth between these two women’s stories we learn many things about cartographers, life at sea, Huguenots and so much more. I was fascinated with Frieda’s story from the first chapter. She came from shocking circumstances and I had nothing but sympathy for her when her fears manifested in her adult life too. She was clearly a compassionate and lovely women who just wanted a simple life away from fear and trepidation. As her story unravelled and more was revealed about her husband’s final task I felt the fear leaping from the pages.
I loved being back in the royal court, especially Queen Elizabeth’s as her reign is infamous. I almost wish we had been there more as with Clare’s previous books I’ve felt there was more focus on that aspect. Learning about our Royal history is fascinating to me and the introduction of Francis Drake certainly piqued my interest.
This was brilliant storytelling, filled with history and adventure. Clare Marchant has the knack for drawing her readers in and keeping them on tender hooks until the very end.
I love a good story with a dual timeline and The Mapmaker’s Daughter is a brilliant example.
Freida is the daughter of a Dutch mapmaker and is forced to escape to London during the Spanish persecution of Huguenots in the 16th century. There she carries on her family tradition of mapmaking and her skills come to the attention of Queen Elizabeth. In the present day, Robyn is working in her father’s antique map and bookshop in Hay on Wye when she discovers an old map.
The story of Robyn’s investigation into the map while trying to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband runs in parallel with Freida’s life in London. She is given a commission by Queen Elizabeth but this brings her to the notice of the Spanish Ambassador and her life and that of her young son are in danger.
The majority of the book is concerned with Freida and the descriptions of life in London, Elizabeth’s court and the people she comes into contact with such as Doctor Dee and Sir Francis Drake are marvellous. I also loved the technical aspects of mapmaking and Freida’s love for what she does is clear. The threat of the Spanish is always present and the sense of danger is vividly portrayed.
I also loved the present day timeline. Robyn isn’t such a vivid character as Freida but her story was still compelling and her research into the map was fascinating.
I would definitely recommend this book to any lovers of historical fiction. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC. This review is purely my own thoughts and opinion.
Freida is the daughter of a Dutch mapmaker and is forced to escape to London during the Spanish persecution of Huguenots in the 16th century. There she carries on her family tradition of mapmaking and her skills come to the attention of Queen Elizabeth. In the present day, Robyn is working in her father’s antique map and bookshop in Hay on Wye when she discovers an old map.
The story of Robyn’s investigation into the map while trying to come to terms with the disappearance of her husband runs in parallel with Freida’s life in London. She is given a commission by Queen Elizabeth but this brings her to the notice of the Spanish Ambassador and her life and that of her young son are in danger.
The majority of the book is concerned with Freida and the descriptions of life in London, Elizabeth’s court and the people she comes into contact with such as Doctor Dee and Sir Francis Drake are marvellous. I also loved the technical aspects of mapmaking and Freida’s love for what she does is clear. The threat of the Spanish is always present and the sense of danger is vividly portrayed.
I also loved the present day timeline. Robyn isn’t such a vivid character as Freida but her story was still compelling and her research into the map was fascinating.
I would definitely recommend this book to any lovers of historical fiction. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for my ARC. This review is purely my own thoughts and opinion.
emotional
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Can just tell that there’s going to be historical inaccuracies...
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Historical fiction that flashes between two women: a mapmaker who is in the favor of Queen Elizabeth I in 1580 London & Amsterdam; and a woman in present day, 2022 London who finds a beautiful medieval map and is trying to discover its history.
Very entertaining, and I got to learn a bit of Dutch history which was neat as I just visited Holland for the first time recently.
Very entertaining, and I got to learn a bit of Dutch history which was neat as I just visited Holland for the first time recently.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Murder