Susan Lanigan

This is such a great read. The author really draws you into the world of the book and the characters are so vivid and real I actually missed them and kept thinking about them after I'd finished. Not many novels manage to combine family drama, boarding school hi-jinks, a passionate love story, early 20th-century feminism, gory battle scenes and the reality of the frontline of World War One all in one book - the fact that the story contains all that and doesn't feel at all overloaded but instead flows along nicely is, in my opinion, an amazing achievement. This is an intelligent, beautifully written novel that is also a rollicking great story. Hope it gets the chance to be adapted for film or TV, it'd be perfect for it. Definitely recommended!… (mais)

An excellent sequel-of-sorts to White Feathers, this book also addresses the terrible cost of war, repression and abuse of power, but from a different perspective. Lucia's story draws in all those themes, as well as the ever-present oppression of racism. The use of music as a linking thread throughout the many twists and turns of the plot works very well - Lucia's passion for her art is never in doubt. The world of Black intellectuals in early 20th century London, which is not as well-known as it should be, is vividly drawn and the (no doubt extensive) research is worn lightly. Although Lucia's experiences are quite different from those of Eva, Sybil, Lilian and other White Feathers characters who reappear in the book, she nevertheless has in common with them a spirit of independence and unwillingness to be crushed by the suffocating forces of respectability. There's a reason all these characters find each other! A wonderful story of passion, vengeance, love, loss and music.… (mais)

This is a great book!
Set in the early 1900's and encompassing the First World War, it is the story of Eva Downey and her love for Christopher Shandlin, her teacher, whom she meets while at finishing school.
Amid the destructive and corrosive family dynamics between Eva, her stepmother and her step sister, Eva is emotionally blackmailed into publicly giving Christopher a white feather when he refuses to enlist. The ramifications of this act of betrayal are set to be shocking and far reaching - and Eva has little idea how much this act will alter the course of their lives forever.
The story deftly covers the sensitive and highly charged issues of that era - conscientious objection, sexuality, infidelity, shell shock, votes for women and the marital role of women.
My only negative comment about this book would have to be about the ending which I thought disappointing. The book seemed to end somewhat abruptly and all of a sudden when I felt the plot had lots more to deliver. Having said that, this in no way detracted any enjoyment from this brilliant debut novel. At times hard hitting and brutally traumatic but always vibrant and riveting, its characters credible and three dimensional.
Great story, brilliant plot and an excellent read! Highly recommended.… (mais)