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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
I’d like to thank NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for approving me for an ARC of this book. I buddy read this with Wendy from my book club and we both thoroughly enjoyed chatting about it.
The story follows Eliza, a young woman, desperately trying to discover what happened to her father when he didn’t return from sea. Eliza as a main character was brilliant. I admired her determination and bravery throughout the story. She stood up to those who tried to stop her and her clever, quick thinking often got her out of a tight spot or two. To help Eliza on her quest she had Knife and Axel, two very different and interesting characters. I was a little gutted that things didn’t work out differently for Axel but I still appreciated all that he did for Eliza and her family.
Whilst Eliza was on her discovery for truth we were also given a glimpse into her childhood and the traumatic events that took place. I had nothing but sympathy for Eliza and what she faced during those times and it was quite clear that she harboured a lot of guilt over those events.
Set against the beautiful Australian backdrop this atmospheric read was beautifully descriptive and engrossing from cover to cover. I could feel the tension and often found myself holding my breath in several moments of Eliza’s journey.
The story follows Eliza, a young woman, desperately trying to discover what happened to her father when he didn’t return from sea. Eliza as a main character was brilliant. I admired her determination and bravery throughout the story. She stood up to those who tried to stop her and her clever, quick thinking often got her out of a tight spot or two. To help Eliza on her quest she had Knife and Axel, two very different and interesting characters. I was a little gutted that things didn’t work out differently for Axel but I still appreciated all that he did for Eliza and her family.
Whilst Eliza was on her discovery for truth we were also given a glimpse into her childhood and the traumatic events that took place. I had nothing but sympathy for Eliza and what she faced during those times and it was quite clear that she harboured a lot of guilt over those events.
Set against the beautiful Australian backdrop this atmospheric read was beautifully descriptive and engrossing from cover to cover. I could feel the tension and often found myself holding my breath in several moments of Eliza’s journey.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just ok for me. It wasn't spectacular, but it wasn't awful either. The missing father storyline was enough to keep me mildly interested, though there were times when I wanted to DNF it just from lack of interest. It just seemed to drag on sometimes and it seemed like there was a lot happening that didn't add anything to the story. Almost like when your teacher assigned you a 1,000 word essay and you could only make it to 800 so you just throw in random stuff to get your word count. I was terribly confused by the way one aspect of the story ended. It almost felt like a sucker punch because I thought the book was leading somewhere else entirely and then all of sudden the carpet is pulled out from under you. The one thing I did really enjoy about the book was Min. I felt like she was a much more interesting character than Eliza and felt myself being drawn to Min and wanting to know more about her. If we got a sequel about Min and her further adventures, I'd be there for that. I was attracted to this book because of my love of pearls, but I don't think that was enough for me. If you want your historical fiction to be more than "boring, old war stories", than I would definitely recommend this book for you. It takes place in a time and area that I feel is rarely touched upon, and does appear to be backed up in true history, based on the information the author provides at the back of the book. As for me, I'm headed back to my WWII historical fiction where I'm happiest so please don't let my judgement sway you away from this book if you're comfortable in other eras.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Colonisation
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Historical fiction with a bit of mystery. Set in the late 19th century, Eliza is the Pearler's Daughter, and her father has disappeared. After returning from months out to sea, no one had answers to what has happened, an innocent man is being accused of a crime, and Eliza decides it is up to her to find her dad, dead or alive.
Atmospheric and engrossing. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the world of pearl diving and the seedy underbelly of what happens when shady folks get involved.
I enjoyed Eliza and her fierce nature. The story was good, nice balance of plot and character. The metaphorical writing was a bit much for me. That's just a preference issue though and doesn't distract from the ability of the author.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy
Atmospheric and engrossing. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the reader into the world of pearl diving and the seedy underbelly of what happens when shady folks get involved.
I enjoyed Eliza and her fierce nature. The story was good, nice balance of plot and character. The metaphorical writing was a bit much for me. That's just a preference issue though and doesn't distract from the ability of the author.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
This is closer to 2.5 stars for me. I really struggled with how unrealistic the story was, the over the top excessive descriptions, and how often we needed to read about insects. There are bugs in Australia! I get it! And at some points the detailed descriptions got out of hand. I like an atmospheric novel that sets the stage for the story and at times I marveled with the beautiful language, but this almost felt like the author had written a book that was a little too long to be considered a short story but not long enough to be a full novel so was told to go back and add stuff. The result was a slowly moving book that might have worked if it weren't about a woman trying to solve a mystery and find her missing father. There are parts that I still question and the ending didn't seem to follow the flow of the rest of the book. Does it need editing or is this the first novel and we can expect improvement in future offerings?
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
[Thank you to Simon & Schuster for an ARC of Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter, available everywhere on June 14th, 2022].
Western Australia, late 19th century. After an investment turns sour and all of their money is lost, Eliza and her family flee London for Bannin Bay at a new start at life. There, her father and brother become ingrained in the pearl diving industry where the potential for tremendous wealth (at the expense of the Aboriginal people) grows higher and higher every day. For a decade, Eliza lives a sheltered existence, unaware of the industry's dark belly. It's not until her father doesn't return home from a trip at sea that she realizes she might have never known Bannin Bay at all. Headstrong and willful, she knows it's up to her to find out the person behind her father's disappearance. The deeper she dives into the townsfolk -- pun intended -- the less likely she'll like what she finds.
Despite the two different timelines and the multiple points-of-view, it was easy to follow everything. It helped that the plot moved along at a brisk pace. There were some brief scenes that didn't add anything, especially since the events were brought up again in following chapters. The author did a very good job of setting the scene and building up the tension for the father's disappearance. I enjoyed the build-up to the reveal, though was left feeling unsatisfied by what felt like a happy ending to me.
What I also didn't love was the romance subplot, if you can call it that. It was evident that Eliza was not interested in pursuing a relationship and for one of the characters to proclaim a DECLARATION OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE, oh c'mon. There was nothing there. It was unnecessary.
It's evident how well-researched it was. I was glad that the author didn't sugarcoat or leave out how the Aboriginal people were mistreated and dehumanized during this period. Her author's note provided some additional context into the time and the basis for the characters as well. Some of the writing was heavy-handed, especially when it came to the metaphors, but there were a few beautiful descriptions that caught my attention.
A strong debut.
Western Australia, late 19th century. After an investment turns sour and all of their money is lost, Eliza and her family flee London for Bannin Bay at a new start at life. There, her father and brother become ingrained in the pearl diving industry where the potential for tremendous wealth (at the expense of the Aboriginal people) grows higher and higher every day. For a decade, Eliza lives a sheltered existence, unaware of the industry's dark belly. It's not until her father doesn't return home from a trip at sea that she realizes she might have never known Bannin Bay at all. Headstrong and willful, she knows it's up to her to find out the person behind her father's disappearance. The deeper she dives into the townsfolk -- pun intended -- the less likely she'll like what she finds.
Despite the two different timelines and the multiple points-of-view, it was easy to follow everything. It helped that the plot moved along at a brisk pace. There were some brief scenes that didn't add anything, especially since the events were brought up again in following chapters. The author did a very good job of setting the scene and building up the tension for the father's disappearance. I enjoyed the build-up to the reveal, though was left feeling unsatisfied by what felt like a happy ending to me.
What I also didn't love was the romance subplot, if you can call it that. It was evident that Eliza was not interested in pursuing a relationship and for one of the characters to proclaim a DECLARATION OF LOVE AND MARRIAGE, oh c'mon. There was nothing there. It was unnecessary.
It's evident how well-researched it was. I was glad that the author didn't sugarcoat or leave out how the Aboriginal people were mistreated and dehumanized during this period. Her author's note provided some additional context into the time and the basis for the characters as well. Some of the writing was heavy-handed, especially when it came to the metaphors, but there were a few beautiful descriptions that caught my attention.
A strong debut.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Living in Western Australia, I was instantly drawn to this 19th-century setting in the arid northern part of the state. From the outset, I absorbed the vivid descriptions, felt the dust clinging to my skin and was kept on my toes as the mysteries continued to unfold.
Eliza's father is a respected pearler who is away at sea for long periods of time with his loyal crew and Eliza's older brother. In anticipation of their return, Eliza goes to greet the boat but can tell quickly that something is wrong - her father is missing, presumed lost at sea. Presumed dead. This puts a local crewman and close friend of Eliza's family in danger, suspected of murdering her father. Unwilling to accept this, Eliza investigates with the help of a visiting German man and a pastor's apprentice who doubles as a keen sailor. Armed with a boat, they head out into the unforgiving waves, determined to find the evidence needed to free the innocent man and save her father.
Let's start by acknowledging how brilliant the heroine, Eliza Brightwell, is in this book. She defies all the conventions of a typical woman living in the 1880s. She cares little for her appearance, wants nothing less than a man to whisk her away, and will put herself in danger for the sake of saving her family. She is headstrong, tenacious, and likeable - the perfect female protagonist.
The book twists and turns through many a scenario, with different perspectives woven into the narrative to give a broader view of the story. I especially loved the excerpts from Eliza's father's diary - these descriptive accounts of marine and insect life helped paint the picture of Australia as well as provide some interesting context.
It was clearly well-researched which was another huge tick in the box for me. As an avid historical fiction reader, I appreciate learning about history through books and this was a topic I had no prior knowledge in. I would have liked a little more exploration into the pearling trade and Eliza's early years in the country, especially after reading the author's note which expanded on the former and some other elements of time and history that I would have liked to learn more about in the book itself.
Back to the plot; I didn't love the motives which felt a little weak in parts (no more said on this to prevent spoilers). I thought too much of the story centred around the revelations and was expecting something a bit more complex. I still really enjoyed the story overall though and would definitely recommend. It was certainly a great way to put Western Australia and its history on the map.
Rating breakdown
Eliza's father is a respected pearler who is away at sea for long periods of time with his loyal crew and Eliza's older brother. In anticipation of their return, Eliza goes to greet the boat but can tell quickly that something is wrong - her father is missing, presumed lost at sea. Presumed dead. This puts a local crewman and close friend of Eliza's family in danger, suspected of murdering her father. Unwilling to accept this, Eliza investigates with the help of a visiting German man and a pastor's apprentice who doubles as a keen sailor. Armed with a boat, they head out into the unforgiving waves, determined to find the evidence needed to free the innocent man and save her father.
Let's start by acknowledging how brilliant the heroine, Eliza Brightwell, is in this book. She defies all the conventions of a typical woman living in the 1880s. She cares little for her appearance, wants nothing less than a man to whisk her away, and will put herself in danger for the sake of saving her family. She is headstrong, tenacious, and likeable - the perfect female protagonist.
The book twists and turns through many a scenario, with different perspectives woven into the narrative to give a broader view of the story. I especially loved the excerpts from Eliza's father's diary - these descriptive accounts of marine and insect life helped paint the picture of Australia as well as provide some interesting context.
It was clearly well-researched which was another huge tick in the box for me. As an avid historical fiction reader, I appreciate learning about history through books and this was a topic I had no prior knowledge in. I would have liked a little more exploration into the pearling trade and Eliza's early years in the country, especially after reading the author's note which expanded on the former and some other elements of time and history that I would have liked to learn more about in the book itself.
Back to the plot; I didn't love the motives which felt a little weak in parts (no more said on this to prevent spoilers). I thought too much of the story centred around the revelations and was expecting something a bit more complex. I still really enjoyed the story overall though and would definitely recommend. It was certainly a great way to put Western Australia and its history on the map.
Rating breakdown
- Plot/narrative - 3.5
- Writing style/readability - 3.9
- Characters -4.2
- Diverse themes - 4.2
- Ending - 3.6
Overall - 3.9
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for sending me a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Moonlight and the Pearler’s Daughter is a debut novel by London author Lizzie Pook. In it we follow Eliza who is the daughter of a respected Master Pearler in Australia in the late 1800s. When Eliza’s father doesn’t return with his ship, Eliza won’t believe her father is dead. She is used to him leaving her clues for imaginary missions while he is gone on lengthy trips and she now treats this disappearance as a mystery to solve.
There is no doubt that the imagery in this novel is beautiful. Every page has flowery descriptions of the setting,and birds in particular, of North West Australia. The author travelled to this area and her research of the terms used in the pearl diving industry and those of the birds is clearly detailed and thorough.
As for the plot, I found it a little lacking in structure. The adventure that Eliza and a man she hardly knows set off on seemed too simple and convenient in many ways. I could see how the author wanted to include certain scenes which, on their own, were very interesting but together seemed strung with knots.
I would have enjoyed a deeper look at a part of Eliza’s character that doesn’t come out until the end of the book and seems opposite to her actions for almost the whole story.
Reminding me of all the dangerous sharks, crocodiles, spiders etc. that exist in Australia did not have me wanting to visit. I did enjoy learning a little more about the history of the aboriginal people of Australia. Coming from Canada where we have our own poor history with Indigenous peoples, I think it is important to recognize the harms of colonization.
Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. Moonlights and the Pearler’s Daughter comes out June 7, 2022.