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emmavardy2's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
Wonderful love story set during true historical events during WW2 on the Scottish Island of Orkney.
loribeth1961's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Set during the Second World War, "The Metal Heart" by Caroline Lea is based on the true story of an Italian prisoner-of-war camp on one of the Orkney Islands off the coast of northern Scotland, and the beautiful chapel the inmates built there (which you can still visit today).
Orphaned twin sisters Dot & Con (Dorothy & Constance) flee their home in Kirkwall to the small, fabled island of Selkie Holm, where they live in isolation in a ramshackle hut... until 550 Italian POWs arrive, commissioned to build stone wall barriers around the islands to thwart attacks by German ships and submarines.
A romance develops between Dot and one of the POWs, a sensitive artist named Cesare whom she saves from drowning -- while Con desperately tries to avoid one of the local men, a guard at the camp, for a very good reason...
I've always liked novels set during the war, but I'm not sure I would have found or chosen to read this one myself (it was this month's pick for one of my online book clubs). It's a romance, but almost a bit of a thriller, too. There's a dark, tense, foreboding air hanging over everything. Living conditions on the isolated islands are primitive, exacerbated by the deprivations of war. Ancient legends and dark superstitions lurk in the background. The winters are dark and cold, rations are meager, and the townspeople are on edge with the arrival of the enemy aliens. I found it hard to put the book down as I got closer to the end -- and yet part of me was almost afraid to keep reading, waiting for the other shoe to drop (even if I wasn't quite sure what that shoe would look like...!).
Overall, it was a good read. I'll be thinking about it for quite a while...
4 stars.
Orphaned twin sisters Dot & Con (Dorothy & Constance) flee their home in Kirkwall to the small, fabled island of Selkie Holm, where they live in isolation in a ramshackle hut... until 550 Italian POWs arrive, commissioned to build stone wall barriers around the islands to thwart attacks by German ships and submarines.
A romance develops between Dot and one of the POWs, a sensitive artist named Cesare whom she saves from drowning -- while Con desperately tries to avoid one of the local men, a guard at the camp, for a very good reason...
I've always liked novels set during the war, but I'm not sure I would have found or chosen to read this one myself (it was this month's pick for one of my online book clubs). It's a romance, but almost a bit of a thriller, too. There's a dark, tense, foreboding air hanging over everything. Living conditions on the isolated islands are primitive, exacerbated by the deprivations of war. Ancient legends and dark superstitions lurk in the background. The winters are dark and cold, rations are meager, and the townspeople are on edge with the arrival of the enemy aliens. I found it hard to put the book down as I got closer to the end -- and yet part of me was almost afraid to keep reading, waiting for the other shoe to drop (even if I wasn't quite sure what that shoe would look like...!).
Overall, it was a good read. I'll be thinking about it for quite a while...
4 stars.
mazza57's review against another edition
5.0
There must be thousands of WWII historical fiction books and for me it is important that the ones I read stand out from the crowd in just the same way as this one did.
Set in the remote and often forbidding landscape of the Orkney Islands this book follows the lives of the Orcadians as the respond to the sinking of a British ship by a german submarine. Decisions are made to create barriers to entry into their waters where many British Ships anchor. In order to do this Italian prisoners of War are transported to the virtually unoccupied Island of Selkie Holm.
The author has captured the character and superstitions of the natives as well as the prisoners. The narrative has more personal themes woven into it including that of the twin sisters who lost both parents suddenly a year ago. The brutality of some of the Islanders in guarding the POWs and the determination of the POWs to gain some acceptance of their struggles to create something that would make the war easier for their enemies.
I breezed through this book in an afternoon some of the scenes depicted made me laugh, cry or gasp in Horror but all were used so well to create an entrancing whole. This author is going onto my must read again list
Set in the remote and often forbidding landscape of the Orkney Islands this book follows the lives of the Orcadians as the respond to the sinking of a British ship by a german submarine. Decisions are made to create barriers to entry into their waters where many British Ships anchor. In order to do this Italian prisoners of War are transported to the virtually unoccupied Island of Selkie Holm.
The author has captured the character and superstitions of the natives as well as the prisoners. The narrative has more personal themes woven into it including that of the twin sisters who lost both parents suddenly a year ago. The brutality of some of the Islanders in guarding the POWs and the determination of the POWs to gain some acceptance of their struggles to create something that would make the war easier for their enemies.
I breezed through this book in an afternoon some of the scenes depicted made me laugh, cry or gasp in Horror but all were used so well to create an entrancing whole. This author is going onto my must read again list
thebooktrail88's review
5.0
Visit the literary locations of The Metal Heart
Transport yourself to the island of Orkney and a true story…
This book drew me in the moment I saw Caroline Lea’s name on that fantastic cover. She’s a writer I just have to read. Then, I discovered that this was inspired by a true story about Italian men who built a chapel on the island during the war.
Well, that made me want to read it immediately so I did. Pretty much finished it in one day – snatching moments to return to Orkney with these fine characters and fascinating story.The author has really done her research and although, she admits that there is fiction mixed with some fact, this is a captivating read.
The novel is at once hopeful and sad. The war is ongoing and the fear of these outsiders is real and raw. The two main characters however were wonderful to get to know. Two very different souls brought together in trauma but joined by love. Ah, I felt their feelings too. I feel compelled to head to Orkney as soon as I can to visit this chapel and recapture at least some of that magical feeling I have from this novel.
The scene setting is quite frankly, wonderful. This is an author who crafts her words with care, ladles them with love and places them to complement each other on the page. Her characters come to life and give the story life and that ending? Aaah Caroline!
What a remarkable story and this novel really pays homage to that and more. It’s a story in its own right too and comes highly recommended from me.
In the author note, the author talks about her research process and mentions the Orkney Library and their fantastic twitter account. Seems like the Orkney magic is alive and well, albeit in a different form today.
thereadingparamedic's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful book about love in the time of war. Also, running alongside, is a story of sisterly love & the sacrifices made for love & family.
Caroline Lea is a brilliant writer & I found the Orkney backdrop beautifully described. The Metal Heart is clearly very well researched & I’ve been following Caroline’s journey through Orkney on Twitter with interest.
Recommend!
Caroline Lea is a brilliant writer & I found the Orkney backdrop beautifully described. The Metal Heart is clearly very well researched & I’ve been following Caroline’s journey through Orkney on Twitter with interest.
Recommend!
iina's review against another edition
4.0
This was a solid and lovely historical fiction novel, set during WWII. The setting is the island of Orkney in Scotland, and as Italian prisoners of war are brought along to the island, The Metal Heart begins to explore the tensions this influx of strangers has on a small island community.
There is romance, hope, and tragedy, all of which combined make this a book fans of (slightly but not overly) romantic historical fiction will surely enjoy. I’m not one for romance myself but here I quite enjoyed the slow unfurling of the feelings the Orkney native Dot and Italian prisoner Cesare develop for each other. The ending isn’t overly sweet, but rather melancholy and bittersweet, which feels far more real than an all-round happy ending.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance review copy of this book.
There is romance, hope, and tragedy, all of which combined make this a book fans of (slightly but not overly) romantic historical fiction will surely enjoy. I’m not one for romance myself but here I quite enjoyed the slow unfurling of the feelings the Orkney native Dot and Italian prisoner Cesare develop for each other. The ending isn’t overly sweet, but rather melancholy and bittersweet, which feels far more real than an all-round happy ending.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advance review copy of this book.
thewoollygeek's review against another edition
5.0
Visually stunning, atmospheric, and beautifully described. This moves between the POVs of different characters which gives a better an insight into the characters. An absolutely beautiful novel by Caroline Lea. Full of tense and anxiety ridden moments , ‘The Metal Heart’ had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Spellbinding and beautiful, this is highly recommended
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
azebrareads's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
katerina273's review against another edition
i may have read an entire other book right in the middle of this one. I would not describe this as particularly fun and fresh other than the very unique (and real) set up. like it took some real turns at the end and that was good but would've appreciated being fed a bit *more* ya know.