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A review by historic_chronicles
The Blue by Nancy Bilyeau
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
There are times when historical fiction truly captures your attention immediately from the beginning and sets the bar that much higher for all the other books you will read in the future.
This is one of those times.
Set in 18th Century London with the war with France ever looming on everyone's minds, Genevieve, a descendant of Huguenot refugees longs to be taken seriously for her skill as an artist over her sex when she meets Sir Gabriel Courtenay and is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Her mission? She is to become a spy and in the Derby Porcelain Works where a chemist is rumoured to be creating the most beautiful shade of the colour blue that has ever been known.
Riveting and incredibly well researched, I learned much from the book and was utterly fascinated by the history of porcelain.
With prose true to the time period, Bilyeau performs a remarkable job of interweaving real historical figures and events with that of her fiction and I was truly immersed in Genevieve's world.
The author is clearly a skillful and compelling storyteller and has created an enthralling blend of religious tension, espionage and romance that leaves you feeling as though you are a part of the story.
This is one of those times.
Set in 18th Century London with the war with France ever looming on everyone's minds, Genevieve, a descendant of Huguenot refugees longs to be taken seriously for her skill as an artist over her sex when she meets Sir Gabriel Courtenay and is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Her mission? She is to become a spy and in the Derby Porcelain Works where a chemist is rumoured to be creating the most beautiful shade of the colour blue that has ever been known.
Riveting and incredibly well researched, I learned much from the book and was utterly fascinated by the history of porcelain.
With prose true to the time period, Bilyeau performs a remarkable job of interweaving real historical figures and events with that of her fiction and I was truly immersed in Genevieve's world.
The author is clearly a skillful and compelling storyteller and has created an enthralling blend of religious tension, espionage and romance that leaves you feeling as though you are a part of the story.