Reviews

The Daughters of Ironbridge by Rebecca Mascull, Mollie Walton

thebooktrail88's review

5.0

visit the locations in the novel


A lovely start to what I’m sure is going to be an interesting saga. This is the first book of a trilogy and I love books which look deep into the heritage and culture of a place. Here, a place on the map, Ironbridge gets a nice mention and its history and heritage jump from the page. It’s not somewhere I’d heard off much so to get a book set in the heart of its history was a real thrill.

I do love these saga novels. Sometimes they get a bad rep as books for older readers, and the covers aren’t always great, but the contents are really quite something. Fascinating stories and the history of people and places, working class people with real issues and struggles. Brilliantly written too in this case. Easy to read and fascinating with it.

You can tell the author has taken great pains to get the history right. She does mention a few museums in the credits which are on TheBookTrail map, but it’s the people behind them, the character of the working iron factory etc, the daily noise and smells that really where this novel shines. Each characters is as carefully modelled as that iron – no set moulds but people with real flaws and real lives. Amy in particular was a favourite of mine – she might not have had the best start in life, but she saw her future as improving herself rather than completely escaping her past.

The industry and life depicted in the novel is one I knew little about but I feel that I’ve stepped back in time and got a real sense of that time period and got to understand people then and their motivations. In keeping with the time and setting, I would say that this is a meat and two veg kind of novel – lots to chew over but ultimately satisfying. Can’t wait for the next course!

jessie_pea90's review

3.0

A very different read for me, I’ve never read stories that fit into the ‘Saga Fiction’ category however I know the author of this particular book and love her Historical Fiction (written under a different name) so thought I would give this a go.

And I have to say I actually got really invested in the characters and their story.
Yes it was a little predictable, but it was also believable and I think that’s what I found the most charming about this read.

I know the author puts a lot of effort into her research and it shows. I’ve heard Saga Fiction often gets a bad reputation and is even classed as a ‘lesser form of literature’, but this book really does not deserve that stigma. The author hasn’t skimped at all.
The characters and world are fleshed out and I feel their representations are very true to history.
The representation of women in this period is a standout for me, especially in the case of Anny and although I was a little disappointed in her ultimate fate I understand the character development behind it.

Overall it’s a very pleasant read if a bit formulaic for my tastes but I would read the sequels when in the mood for something light, not mentally taxing but expertly written.

tinalynsmith123's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0

The start of a story about friendship and love for the different classes - didn’t feel like an ending but it is a book 1, but possibly not a standalone