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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you to NetGalley as well as Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
*3.5 stars
Now seems like the right time to admit that I often begin reading books based almost entirely on their titles and covers, with the actual book summary taking a backseat in my mind. With that out in the open, I will add that I thought Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter would be a more whimsical, magical novel than it was in reality. Granted, there were elements of magical realism thrown in (which is probably why some readers have shelved it as "fantasy"), but everything ends up being explained away with facts. Meaning there wasn't any magic in the first place.
Expectations aside, this was a page-turner. Eliza's staunch belief that her father could not possibly be dead instigated her search for the truth behind his disappearance, leading to the discovery of several long-buried secrets and underhanded deals making up the society of late 1800s West Australia. The plot unfurled steadily; the writing was descriptive without being over-the-top, bringing the world of Bannin Bay to life in a reader's mind. The romantic subplot is never too intrusive to overshadow the main storyline, and it—along with the vocabulary used in dialogue—reminded me often of popular Victorian-era novels I've read over the years.
*3.5 stars
Now seems like the right time to admit that I often begin reading books based almost entirely on their titles and covers, with the actual book summary taking a backseat in my mind. With that out in the open, I will add that I thought Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter would be a more whimsical, magical novel than it was in reality. Granted, there were elements of magical realism thrown in (which is probably why some readers have shelved it as "fantasy"), but everything ends up being explained away with facts. Meaning there wasn't any magic in the first place.
Expectations aside, this was a page-turner. Eliza's staunch belief that her father could not possibly be dead instigated her search for the truth behind his disappearance, leading to the discovery of several long-buried secrets and underhanded deals making up the society of late 1800s West Australia. The plot unfurled steadily; the writing was descriptive without being over-the-top, bringing the world of Bannin Bay to life in a reader's mind. The romantic subplot is never too intrusive to overshadow the main storyline, and it—along with the vocabulary used in dialogue—reminded me often of popular Victorian-era novels I've read over the years.
'Miss, I may not have been here long, but I do know a woman in Bannin is not afforded the same privileges as a man.' His look feels like a challenge. 'I would say it's fair to assume you are leered at in most establishments. Perhaps ushered quickly out of the door. In others you will be measured and found worthy for nothing but your female parts.'
That being said, there were certain aspects of the novel I wasn't quite so keen on. Axel's overly understanding speech quoted above, coupled with his almost too timely instinct that Eliza would need a male escort in order to gain access to specific establishments to find out what happened to her father, were a bit too on-the-nose for my liking. Then there's the matter of the title: Moonlight is first introduced about 70% of the way into the novel, and isn't exactly a major player in the proceedings except in a few instances. I feel like a sequel to this book, following Eliza's adventures after this one's ending, would have been far more aptly named Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter than this was.
At the end of the day, there was more to like than there was to dislike. Billy's subplot, though given less screentime than I would have liked to see, was wonderfully written, and there's a speech near the end of the novel which would melt any romance lover's heart—alongside a response to said speech which I personally enjoyed far more.
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It is 1886 and the Brightwell family has sailed from England to make their new home in Western Australia. Ten-year-old Eliza knows little of what awaits them in Bannin Bay beyond stories of shimmering pearls and shells the size of soup plates – the very things her father has promised will make their fortune.
Ten years later, as the pearling ships return after months at sea, Eliza waits impatiently for her father to return with them. When his lugger finally arrives however, Charles Brightwell, master pearler, is declared missing. Whispers from the townsfolk point to mutiny or murder, but Eliza knows her father and, convinced there is more to the story, sets out to uncover the truth. She soon learns that in a town teeming with corruption, prejudice and blackmail, answers can cost more than pearls, and must decide just how much she is willing to pay, and how far she is willing to go, to find them.
What a beautifully written debut novel; I was truly transported back to the late 1800’s and loved Eliza’s gutsy character.
I found comparisons in the story to life today - where women were expected to take on the jobs of men when they were at sea, but reverted back to domesticity once they returned. Similarly as we find today, women can do many jobs that men do, but the raising of children and running a home are something we tend do as well as a full time job. So I empathised with these women when they were expected to slot back in to what they were doing before the men shipped out.
The excerpts from her father’s diary were really interesting as they highlighted some of nature’s dangers that you would come across living in Australia; from the sea and onshore. Such an interesting way to break up the story and to bring something different to the novel. I found this fascinating.
Overall a great book and one that will stay with me for a while.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Rating: 4 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a giveaway from their website earlier this month!!
This was my first time reading a book by Lizzie Pook so i wasnt sure what to expect and i have to say i think i would of liked it more if the timeline's hadnt gone back and forth so much in each chapter.
The Characters were intriguing and interesting to read about. I loved Eliza's character and how determined she was to find out what really happened to her father 10 years earlier.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Bannin Bay, Australia while reading.
Overall a good Historical Fiction Novel about The Pearling Industry!! Event tho it annoyed me with the back and forthness of the timelines, i do plan to check out more books by Lizzie in the future!!
Review:
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for picking me to win this FREE ARC COPY in a giveaway from their website earlier this month!!
This was my first time reading a book by Lizzie Pook so i wasnt sure what to expect and i have to say i think i would of liked it more if the timeline's hadnt gone back and forth so much in each chapter.
The Characters were intriguing and interesting to read about. I loved Eliza's character and how determined she was to find out what really happened to her father 10 years earlier.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in Bannin Bay, Australia while reading.
Overall a good Historical Fiction Novel about The Pearling Industry!! Event tho it annoyed me with the back and forthness of the timelines, i do plan to check out more books by Lizzie in the future!!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Moonlight and the Pearler's Daughter is a wonderful debut that drew me in from the very beginning. Set in Australia at the end of the nineteenth century, this is one of those books that I loved not just for its characters and plot, but also for the setting and the chance to learn something new.
Eliza was a really compelling main character, with her fierce devotion to her family and the steely determination allowing her to keep rising up in the face of adversity and to continue pushing on in her quest to find her father. She is complex and flawed and ready to fight hard for her space in a world that doesn't really consider women all that much. The rest of the characters felt a bit flat by comparison, but Eliza is the centre of the show so it didn't really bother me all that much overall.
The setting and the historical period stole the spotlight a little, as they were both drawn in amazing detail. I was rather ignorant of the whole pearling business, so this was an excellent chance to be introduced to it and learn something new! I particularly appreciated how the author acknowledged native people and the harm caused to them by settlers. I felt like I also had a clear sense of social structures by the end of the book, and characters' choices and behaviours mostly made sense within those.
Eliza's search for her father pretty much takes up the whole book, and my enjoyment of it definitely came more from the setting and historical traits than from the plot itself. There were a few chapters set in the past, at the time of the Brightwell family's arrival in Bannin Bay, which I hoped would continue throughout, but they were limited and the majority of the action took place at the time of Eliza's father's disappearance. This still made for an interesting read, but as it progressed it was at times not quite as engrossing as I'd have liked. I found the resolution slightly underwhelming, but that's just personal taste! I really enjoyed seeing Eliza come into her own by the end of the book so that made up for any other minor disappointment.
Overall, this is a really great read and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more of Lizzie Pook's work in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Death of parent
Moderate: Sexism, Police brutality
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
emotional
informative
slow-paced
adventurous
hopeful
informative
mysterious
relaxing
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
The atmosphere in this book is incredible! I was instantly transported into 1886 Australia. I could smell the sea breeze and feel the nature around me! The descriptions of nature, fauna and flora and in particular aquatic life was just mesmerising and whimsical. The setting, habits and manner of speech were all very well done and I could feel the 19th century climate.
I cannot believe this is a debut novel! It is brilliant in the writing and the atmosphere!
The chapters are short and to the point with beautiful descriptions and nostalgic elements were necessary without being stretched out or overly detailed.
The father’s diary entries were really what sold it to me. They were realistic and informative, yet so magical and well woven into the story. He would mostly describe marine life, which really added to the atmosphere, by being poetic and appreciative of nature and yet real and even tragic at times.
The father-daughter relationship was really nice to witness. I just wish a few more of those nostalgic childhood moments were included in the story to really understand their relationship but it was nonetheless touching.
The story itself was well paced and the ending wrapped up very well all the plot lines. I really appreciate all the research done by the author whether it is in the creation of her characters or the geographical depictions. All of it feels so real, as it’s based on real places and people, while being completely fictional. I love it.
Would I change anything?
I don’t think so. I wish it was longer and that we spent more time at sea and navigating the islands! I also think that the eerie Victorian era ambience could have been upped a notch, but that’s just a personal preference as I love the fascination with spiritualism in those times (I’m referring to one specific moment in this book, so if you’ve read it you know what I mean. I just wish there was more than one of those instances but honestly it’s just me nitpicking right now).
Overall, an amazing book if you want something atmospheric, whimsical, and mysterious. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and nature (more particularly aquatic life or sea(side) settings), this one is definitely for you!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book and discovering this new author! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her next book! (Also, on my way to purchase a physical hardcover copy as I need it on my shelves!)
I cannot believe this is a debut novel! It is brilliant in the writing and the atmosphere!
The chapters are short and to the point with beautiful descriptions and nostalgic elements were necessary without being stretched out or overly detailed.
The father’s diary entries were really what sold it to me. They were realistic and informative, yet so magical and well woven into the story. He would mostly describe marine life, which really added to the atmosphere, by being poetic and appreciative of nature and yet real and even tragic at times.
The father-daughter relationship was really nice to witness. I just wish a few more of those nostalgic childhood moments were included in the story to really understand their relationship but it was nonetheless touching.
The story itself was well paced and the ending wrapped up very well all the plot lines. I really appreciate all the research done by the author whether it is in the creation of her characters or the geographical depictions. All of it feels so real, as it’s based on real places and people, while being completely fictional. I love it.
Would I change anything?
I don’t think so. I wish it was longer and that we spent more time at sea and navigating the islands! I also think that the eerie Victorian era ambience could have been upped a notch, but that’s just a personal preference as I love the fascination with spiritualism in those times (I’m referring to one specific moment in this book, so if you’ve read it you know what I mean. I just wish there was more than one of those instances but honestly it’s just me nitpicking right now).
Overall, an amazing book if you want something atmospheric, whimsical, and mysterious. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and nature (more particularly aquatic life or sea(side) settings), this one is definitely for you!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book and discovering this new author! I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her next book! (Also, on my way to purchase a physical hardcover copy as I need it on my shelves!)