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readinginmagnolia 's review for:
The Ghost Ship
by Kate Mosse
This is the third book in The Joubert Family Chronicles which follows a multi-generational family from the 1560s to the 1620s with a tangled history to the Huguenots a group of French Protestants in conflict with the Catholic Church and settings from Carcassone, France to Paris, Amsterdam and now The Barbary Coast. This is my fourth read by this author and as always, I am thoroughly impressed with the extensive research into the time periods integrated into fantastic plots rich with religious-political entanglements.
This book can be read as a standalone and is told in third person primarily following the life of Louise Reydon-Joubert, who was raised by her maternal grandparents Minou and Piet, main characters in the previous books. I enjoy the brave and adventurous character of Louise and it was good to revisit Minou and Piet later in their lives.
While the religious conflict is lesser in this story, Louise still faces the life of a woman during these times which is only seen as meaningful if she is a dutiful wife and mother. Women who do not follow these rules are “unnatural”. Louise has the means to support herself and no intentions to marry. She dreams of a life at sea as captain of her own ship but is told no man will follow a woman at sea. Amidst these dreams hovers the possibility that her finances may not be as settled as she thought and there may be another heir to her family fortune.
The story also follows the character of Gilles Barenton. After the death of his twin, Gilles is sent by his manipulative mother to become his uncle’s heir. He is conflicted between his affection for the uncle who has taken him in, mentored and treated him with respect and his duty and fear of his abusive mother and her machinations. In a moment of weakness, he confides in Louise who only wishes to help and their story becomes entwined by actions that will follow them as they journey to sea together and fight for the rights to live their lives by their own will.
I especially enjoyed the story of the Ghost Ship and how they came to be entangled in the myth of the story of a ship that liberates slaves. This was probably my favorite of the series. Recommended to readers who enjoy reading about the historical struggles of women.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.
This book can be read as a standalone and is told in third person primarily following the life of Louise Reydon-Joubert, who was raised by her maternal grandparents Minou and Piet, main characters in the previous books. I enjoy the brave and adventurous character of Louise and it was good to revisit Minou and Piet later in their lives.
While the religious conflict is lesser in this story, Louise still faces the life of a woman during these times which is only seen as meaningful if she is a dutiful wife and mother. Women who do not follow these rules are “unnatural”. Louise has the means to support herself and no intentions to marry. She dreams of a life at sea as captain of her own ship but is told no man will follow a woman at sea. Amidst these dreams hovers the possibility that her finances may not be as settled as she thought and there may be another heir to her family fortune.
The story also follows the character of Gilles Barenton. After the death of his twin, Gilles is sent by his manipulative mother to become his uncle’s heir. He is conflicted between his affection for the uncle who has taken him in, mentored and treated him with respect and his duty and fear of his abusive mother and her machinations. In a moment of weakness, he confides in Louise who only wishes to help and their story becomes entwined by actions that will follow them as they journey to sea together and fight for the rights to live their lives by their own will.
I especially enjoyed the story of the Ghost Ship and how they came to be entangled in the myth of the story of a ship that liberates slaves. This was probably my favorite of the series. Recommended to readers who enjoy reading about the historical struggles of women.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.