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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
very rambling, drawn out, not very descriptive. I had a very hard time getting into this read
This book was fantastic. I was a little annoyed when it jumped 20 years ahead halfway through the book but the latter half did explain what happened in the meantime, which I appreciated.
I really enjoyed this. It sat in my kindle for AGES. I'm glad I finally picked it up. It was a quick and easy read. The characters were compelling; and, while many things were predictable, I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure.
Digital ARC provided by NetGalley.
Average romantic historical fiction: not bad, not great. A good book for a quick, summer read.
Average romantic historical fiction: not bad, not great. A good book for a quick, summer read.
Fun historical fiction about an adventurous British woman and her life in 19th century Morocco.
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
The Lioness of Morocco Provides an interesting story and a welcome appreciation of Arabic and Berber culture. This is a well-researched book, with evocative descriptions of Mogador (modern day Essaouira). There was much that I appreciated about the book and its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of lives of women in harems to the unique lives of Berber women. I definitely felt as if the Drostens both understood, and loved, Morocco. I felt they see the beautiful county I've been lucky to see several times. I also enjoyed Sibylla's openness to Arabic culture and language, a characteristic certainly bound to be rare in a Victorian lady. Her embrace of the world she built for her family was what kept my enjoyment of the book strong.
My greatest problem with the book lies at the heart of whether some of the relationships described, particularly one at the end of the book, could truly have occurred with so few familial and social repercussions in that era and in an Arabic culture. By the end, one has to suspend belief and just go with this being a historical romance with a splash of mystery. I was also frustrated by what I can only assume were inconsistencies in the editing of either the initial German text or in the translation, such as "He paid little heed to her (Aynur's) tears and laments" and two paragraphs later "She (Aynur) made sure he never saw how she cried with exhaustion or loneliness." Sorry, but this stuff just irks me and there were other similar instances in the book. That's bad editing, and the husband and wife team comprising Julia Drosten deserve better.
4.5 Stars
The Lioness of Morocco Provides an interesting story and a welcome appreciation of Arabic and Berber culture. This is a well-researched book, with evocative descriptions of Mogador (modern day Essaouira). There was much that I appreciated about the book and its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of lives of women in harems to the unique lives of Berber women. I definitely felt as if the Drostens both understood, and loved, Morocco. I felt they see the beautiful county I've been lucky to see several times. I also enjoyed Sibylla's openness to Arabic culture and language, a characteristic certainly bound to be rare in a Victorian lady. Her embrace of the world she built for her family was what kept my enjoyment of the book strong.
My greatest problem with the book lies at the heart of whether some of the relationships described, particularly one at the end of the book, could truly have occurred with so few familial and social repercussions in that era and in an Arabic culture. By the end, one has to suspend belief and just go with this being a historical romance with a splash of mystery. I was also frustrated by what I can only assume were inconsistencies in the editing of either the initial German text or in the translation, such as "He paid little heed to her (Aynur's) tears and laments" and two paragraphs later "She (Aynur) made sure he never saw how she cried with exhaustion or loneliness." Sorry, but this stuff just irks me and there were other similar instances in the book. That's bad editing, and the husband and wife team comprising Julia Drosten deserve better.
The descriptions of Mogador and Morocco were so vivid, I felt as if I was visiting myself. The character development was wonderful and their deep personalities made me feel like I was a part of their family. Throughout the entire novel, I laughed with them and cried with them. I feel like much of the time Sibylla got the short end of the stick, but then again: all's well that ends well.
I gave this book 4 stars because it really was a 3 for plot, characters, etc. The setting and culture that were so carefully researched and detailed in the book were marvelous! Interesting to write it from the viewpoint of a foreigner (British) learning about and adapting to the people, language, culture, traditions of some of the mixture of people who live in Morocco. I also enjoyed learning more details about the shipping industry in the 1860's and about how they illegally transported and sold slaves. The phrasing was somewhat simplistic and awkward at times, perhaps because of the translation (although I read that the translator is quite good). I wouldn't recommend it for a historical fiction romance as much as a peek into history. It took my a long time to get to this Kindle first e-book, and took a while to engage me. But I am glad I read it!