readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Frankly, I’m surprised I had the patience for this book, because I am not lately a reader who appreciates slow-moving, thoughtful, atmospheric writing. Yet I was propelled toward the ending somehow, almost against my will. And when the quiet, reflective resolution came, I was strangely satisfied, even though part of me was hoping for a thunderclap of a finish. What sorcery is this?
The Wildling Sisters is a story of a summer heat wave that brought with it something weird and sinister, and how the twisted and tragic events of that summer reverberate into the future. It’s about two families living in the same estate in the English countryside half a century apart. It’s not, as I initially thought, a ghost story. There’s a creepy house, but it’s not haunted except by sad memories. And it’s only barely-kinda-maybe a murder mystery. Mostly, it’s about sisters and the bonds between them, which proves to be something that hasn’t changed much through the years.
So I guess you could say I grudgingly recommend this one. It won me over despite my typical preferences and expectations. Maybe the arrival of fall is making me contemplative. Maybe the book is just that good. The more I ponder it, the more I’m leaning towards the latter.
I should note that a sizeable portion of my enjoyment came from the quality of the audio version, fantastically read by two very distinct but equally talented narrators. It’s no trouble to keep track of alternating timelines when the narrators trade off; the voices signal to you which year you’re in. And of course, it goes without saying that British accents are dreamy AF.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
The Wildling Sisters is a story of a summer heat wave that brought with it something weird and sinister, and how the twisted and tragic events of that summer reverberate into the future. It’s about two families living in the same estate in the English countryside half a century apart. It’s not, as I initially thought, a ghost story. There’s a creepy house, but it’s not haunted except by sad memories. And it’s only barely-kinda-maybe a murder mystery. Mostly, it’s about sisters and the bonds between them, which proves to be something that hasn’t changed much through the years.
So I guess you could say I grudgingly recommend this one. It won me over despite my typical preferences and expectations. Maybe the arrival of fall is making me contemplative. Maybe the book is just that good. The more I ponder it, the more I’m leaning towards the latter.
I should note that a sizeable portion of my enjoyment came from the quality of the audio version, fantastically read by two very distinct but equally talented narrators. It’s no trouble to keep track of alternating timelines when the narrators trade off; the voices signal to you which year you’re in. And of course, it goes without saying that British accents are dreamy AF.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
chelsea_hunt's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
A beautiful story that I know will stay with me. Well developed, evolving characters and relationships. Spooky, gothic setting. Mystery in both timelines that keeps you wondering and hoping.
mcczaw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
reyes_sf's review against another edition
4.0
Thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph and NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book
This is my second book by Eve Chase (the first one was Black Rabbit Hall, which I loved) and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed this a lot. I found that the split present/past narrative disrupted the pace a lot in the first half of the book, but in the second half things picked up and I finished it in one go. I loved the exploration of female relationships here - mother/daughter, stepmother/stepdaughter, sisters, cousins/friends... all of them different and all of them rich and deep. My biggest "but" here is that the ending was too perfect for my liking, after a whole book of complex relationships and seemingly unsolvable obstacles everything was tied up too nicely to be believable. Still a very recommendable book - fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase is one author to keep your eye on!
This is my second book by Eve Chase (the first one was Black Rabbit Hall, which I loved) and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed this a lot. I found that the split present/past narrative disrupted the pace a lot in the first half of the book, but in the second half things picked up and I finished it in one go. I loved the exploration of female relationships here - mother/daughter, stepmother/stepdaughter, sisters, cousins/friends... all of them different and all of them rich and deep. My biggest "but" here is that the ending was too perfect for my liking, after a whole book of complex relationships and seemingly unsolvable obstacles everything was tied up too nicely to be believable. Still a very recommendable book - fans of Kate Morton, Eve Chase is one author to keep your eye on!
savagemommy's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
frenchiebookworm's review against another edition
I dnf'ed this book after 100 pages. I just can't get into the story. It's just slow and uninteresting for me.
sonham's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
booksmoving's review against another edition
4.0
Eve Chase is the Queen of endings. She knows the sweet spot-- just enough sad and just enough happy to leave the reader feeling satisfied. She also is an absolute wizard with writing relationships. The dynamic between the Wilde sisters was so intricately woven and it seemed so authentic. The relationship between Jessie and Bella was a heart-tugger.
nicoleanaisx's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
take pride and prejudice but make it a 1950s mystery. it dragged on wayyyy too much and i didn’t find it that interesting. didn’t feel that mysterious, i think it was something to do with the writing. not for me.
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
"Houses are never just houses, I'm quite sure of this now. We leave particles behind, dust and dreams, fingerprints on buried wallpapers, our tread in the wear of stairs. And we take bits of the houses with us. In my case, a love of the smell of wax polish on sun-warmed oak, late-summer sun light filtering through stained glass. We grow up. We stay the same. We move away but we live for ever where we were most alive."
The Summer of 1959 becomes one of more tragedy for the Wilde family, four daughter's staying with their aunt and uncle at Applecote Manor in the Cotswolds. There's ethereal Flora, determined Pam, 'Strange Margot' (called 'Margot-A-go-go' by her late Pa) and little Dot, the youngest sister. Aunt Sybil and Uncle Perry (their Pa's brother)'s lives have stagnated since their daughter Audrey disappeared five Summers before.
Present day and Jessie, mother to toddler Romy and disgruntled stepdaughter Bella, purchases Applecote Manor with her beloved, new husband Will, having fled London for some peace. Peace is not what they find in this rural idyll, which is hiding secrets.
Reminding me of the glorious and nostalgic writing of Kate Morton, this is glorious, historical, mystery fiction. Told from likeable Margot's perspective, the metaphorical presence of their missing cousin hangs over her and her sisters during this languid summer, where they start to become women. In the present day, Jessie feels she is competing with Bella's late mother, dispairing that Applecote is not the escape she longed for her blended family.
There is tragedy but also family, hope and love to be found in these beautiful and rural Cotswolds. Spellbinding and atmospheric, this is a mysterious tale of secrets and sisters, which will definitely result in me seeking out the author's other novels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Sexual content and Sexual assault