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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Apparently the second novel in a series. Perhaps I could have connected better with characters if I had read the first. The ending definitely sets up another book and resolved nothing.
Recently I read Santa Montefiore's The Daughters of Ireland, the sequel to The Girl in the Castle. You can read my glowing review of The Girl in the Castle on my blog. For some reason these books have been repackaged and retitled in the UK and here in the States: The Girl in the Castle is now Songs of Love and War in the UK and The Irish Girl in the US. Also, Book 2 in the series is entitled Daughters of Castle Deverill in the UK, and here in the US it's The Daughters of Ireland. Book 3 is already out in the UK, The Last Secret of the Deverils (I have no idea what the title will be once it's released here). I'm concerned about the publisher's shenanigans because I really don't want all the title changes to discourage readers; this is an excellent series. The story is so much better than Downton Abbey. I don't know if the series has been optioned yet, but it would make an incredible miniseries.
First of all I want to emphasize that this is not a standalone novel. If you are looking for a series, then you've come to the right place: I highly recommend it! This family drama is entertaining, and I love the County Cork setting. Plus, this book is set just after the Irish War of Independence during the Roaring Twenties and ensuing Great Depression. There are some very surprising plot twists: This is not a formulaic historical romance or chick lit book at all. It's gritty, and Montefiore doesn't shy away from violence in this novel just like she didn't in the first.
This installment is a little slow to develop, but once I reached page 75, I couldn't put it down until I finished. Kitty takes a backseat to Celia and Bridie in Book 2. Bridie spends most of her time in The Hamptons (so reminiscent of The Great Gatsby's setting) partying and trying to forget her many losses. Celia travels around the world to restore her family's name. Both Celia and Bridie develop into much more likable women, especially Celia who morphs from silly and vapid to conscientious and courageous. She is my new literary hero; Celia has a strength of will and determination I admire. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Jack O'Leary; he's lost his moral compass and his mind, apparently.
If you enjoy family dramas, novels set in Ireland, strong female characters, and a little bit of the paranormal thrown into the mix (there are ghosts), then you will love this series. I can't wait for Book 3!
First of all I want to emphasize that this is not a standalone novel. If you are looking for a series, then you've come to the right place: I highly recommend it! This family drama is entertaining, and I love the County Cork setting. Plus, this book is set just after the Irish War of Independence during the Roaring Twenties and ensuing Great Depression. There are some very surprising plot twists: This is not a formulaic historical romance or chick lit book at all. It's gritty, and Montefiore doesn't shy away from violence in this novel just like she didn't in the first.
This installment is a little slow to develop, but once I reached page 75, I couldn't put it down until I finished. Kitty takes a backseat to Celia and Bridie in Book 2. Bridie spends most of her time in The Hamptons (so reminiscent of The Great Gatsby's setting) partying and trying to forget her many losses. Celia travels around the world to restore her family's name. Both Celia and Bridie develop into much more likable women, especially Celia who morphs from silly and vapid to conscientious and courageous. She is my new literary hero; Celia has a strength of will and determination I admire. Unfortunately the same can't be said for Jack O'Leary; he's lost his moral compass and his mind, apparently.
If you enjoy family dramas, novels set in Ireland, strong female characters, and a little bit of the paranormal thrown into the mix (there are ghosts), then you will love this series. I can't wait for Book 3!
I didn't enjoy this second novel in the trilogy as much as I enjoyed the first novel. The first half of the book dragged too much for me. However, the last half of the book held my attention more.
Currently I am thinking of nothing but these books. That says a lot. I love books that utterly consume you and draw you in so that you can think of nothing else. The Deverill family feel as close to me at the moment as some of my dearest friends. I find that I am silently routing for them to succeed and praying the outcome is a happy one!
My review of the first book really says it all and I this one reflects that also. I did knock it down a star though as I felt there was not as much going on in this one. It focused more on the characters developing into adulthood rather than the drama surrounding them. It was slightly more morose than the first one.
I am so excited to see what happens to these adoring characters and I am hoping the series finishes on a bang but a nice bang if that is possible.
My review of the first book really says it all and I this one reflects that also. I did knock it down a star though as I felt there was not as much going on in this one. It focused more on the characters developing into adulthood rather than the drama surrounding them. It was slightly more morose than the first one.
I am so excited to see what happens to these adoring characters and I am hoping the series finishes on a bang but a nice bang if that is possible.
I was pulled in by a pretty cover and few positive reviews on IG/GR. I slugged through this one and even finished. Then realized I'd lost some hours of my life over a book that reads like an Irish telenovela. So much angst over love, unrequited love, adulterous love, jealousy over misunderstandings that could easily be cleared up with a conversation, shady business dealings involving South African diamonds, and half hearted revenge plots x 2. I just found it to be lacking in substance. The characters were so shallow I honestly didn't care what happened to them in the end. Which is good; because she sets up for an equally soap opera-esque follow up book involving twins. I won't say more.
One positive note. This can be read as a stand alone. This was a second book in a trilogy and I had no idea. So if how I described it may be something you'd like to try or do like; read without worrying you had to start with book one.
One positive note. This can be read as a stand alone. This was a second book in a trilogy and I had no idea. So if how I described it may be something you'd like to try or do like; read without worrying you had to start with book one.
First of all, I don't understand the cover art. It appears to be clothing from a different era entirely.
It's an easy albeit a big long of a read. I wanted to know what happened but I wasn't really invested in any of the characters. I spent 500+ pages hoping to find out if all the story lines come together.
It's an easy albeit a big long of a read. I wanted to know what happened but I wasn't really invested in any of the characters. I spent 500+ pages hoping to find out if all the story lines come together.
Spoiler
They don't! Or at least we don't "witness" it. I'm usually fine with books that don't tie everything up in a bow. But because this book leaned so much in the way of bow-tying, I was disappointed. Also, the curse was never lifted?! I thought for sure Jack O'Leary would somehow get the castle or something like that. Nope. We just get to hear about how the bastard Deverill raped a "witch" and his successors had to deal with the "curse".
3.5 Stars
Still enjoying this. It is like the sadder version of Outlander where nothing ever works out for the characters. I found this book was a bit repetative from the first in the series, reusing a lot of the same plot points. I still like this as an atmospheric historical fiction to continue with the third one. Though I want to slap both Birdie and Kitty. Cecilia is kick ass though.
Still enjoying this. It is like the sadder version of Outlander where nothing ever works out for the characters. I found this book was a bit repetative from the first in the series, reusing a lot of the same plot points. I still like this as an atmospheric historical fiction to continue with the third one. Though I want to slap both Birdie and Kitty. Cecilia is kick ass though.
Siento que me demoré media vida en terminar este libro y es que la vida se ha puesto difícil. Por su parte, el libro tiene cierto toque de profundidad y dobles lecturas que no era posible pasar con rapidez. Sin embargo, se mantiene la tensión y las ganas de saber más sobre la historia de esta familia.
Ahora solo queda esperar el siguiente
Ahora solo queda esperar el siguiente
Really enjoyed it as it was something quite different. A few too many characters but some were able to have some light relief from some of the other stories that were a bit heavier.