dismantlethepatriarchy23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ppetra1020's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? Yes
4.5
kitkatkick's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
hoosgracie's review
4.0
Enjoyable historical fiction set during World War Two with flashbacks via a diary to the 1600s.
the_sassy_bookworm's review
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- I am all kinds of in love with this cover!
This was such a heartwarming mother & daughter story. ❤️ A leisurely told historical fiction that takes place during the second world war and which pulls from the stories of the lost colony of Roanoke and the Dare stones. It was beautifully written. Overall, it was well paced. However, I found that sometimes the story slowed to a snail's pace. That said, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting. It was very atmospheric, and the author did an amazing job of immersing you into that setting. The characters were all likable and had depth. What more can I say? Yours truly is giving this one, two solid thumbs up!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
This was such a heartwarming mother & daughter story. ❤️ A leisurely told historical fiction that takes place during the second world war and which pulls from the stories of the lost colony of Roanoke and the Dare stones. It was beautifully written. Overall, it was well paced. However, I found that sometimes the story slowed to a snail's pace. That said, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I loved the setting. It was very atmospheric, and the author did an amazing job of immersing you into that setting. The characters were all likable and had depth. What more can I say? Yours truly is giving this one, two solid thumbs up!
**ARC Via NetGalley**
emilyfrombookmarq's review
4.0
If you liked Where the Crawdads Sing or anything by Alice Hoffman, this is the book for you!
Toward the end of WW2, Alice and her daughter Penn find themselves reeling in grief after a string of painful passings in their family, forcing Alice to return to Evertell, the home she has hidden for a decade. Alice must revisit a past she thought she escaped, reliving the trauma of her childhood as she finally shares the family history she shielded her daughter from. It's not all darkness and grief, as Evertell possesses a mythical, otherworldly quality that just might nurture and heal decades old wounds.
This is a book for mothers and daughters who constantly redefine their relationship, for families working through the residual trauma of their ancestors, for mental health survivors, for proud southerners. You will be transported to a different time through characters you wish could help solve your problems. There is a gentleness Brock writes with that tells us it's ok to not be ok and encourages us to lean on those going through similar cycles of grief. In times of loss, our greatest strength is our community, and by the end of this book, you'll wish you were a member of Evertell.
Toward the end of WW2, Alice and her daughter Penn find themselves reeling in grief after a string of painful passings in their family, forcing Alice to return to Evertell, the home she has hidden for a decade. Alice must revisit a past she thought she escaped, reliving the trauma of her childhood as she finally shares the family history she shielded her daughter from. It's not all darkness and grief, as Evertell possesses a mythical, otherworldly quality that just might nurture and heal decades old wounds.
This is a book for mothers and daughters who constantly redefine their relationship, for families working through the residual trauma of their ancestors, for mental health survivors, for proud southerners. You will be transported to a different time through characters you wish could help solve your problems. There is a gentleness Brock writes with that tells us it's ok to not be ok and encourages us to lean on those going through similar cycles of grief. In times of loss, our greatest strength is our community, and by the end of this book, you'll wish you were a member of Evertell.
ink_and_pennington's review against another edition
3.0
This book was okay, but it wasn’t what I was expecting given the title and summary. I saw this in a bookshop in Corolla, NC while on vacation and I was excited to dive into historical fiction about Eleanor Dare and the Lost Colony of Roanoke. Parts of this story I really enjoyed – such as the coming-of-age story around the character Penn, the stages of grieving and acceptance by the main character Alice, and the legacy of the Dare family women. The setting, atmosphere and ambiance of the story reminded me of “Where the Crawdads Sing” – a definite plus for me.
Other parts, however, were extremely slow and I found it very difficult to get invested in the story. The Lost Colony barely plays any part in this novel; the sections that take place in the 1500s feel disjointed from the main story, and unfortunately did not add much to the main story either. This was disappointing for me, as I was really looking forward to this aspect of the novel (the only reason I picked it up, really). I struggled through portions of this book, and at over 400 pages long, I wish the story was more gripping.
Other parts, however, were extremely slow and I found it very difficult to get invested in the story. The Lost Colony barely plays any part in this novel; the sections that take place in the 1500s feel disjointed from the main story, and unfortunately did not add much to the main story either. This was disappointing for me, as I was really looking forward to this aspect of the novel (the only reason I picked it up, really). I struggled through portions of this book, and at over 400 pages long, I wish the story was more gripping.
musingsfromamandalyn's review
4.0
This book was not what I was expecting based on the description, but it was still very good. I was expecting a lot more focus on the legend of Eleanor Dare, the colony of Roanoke, and the stone. There was definite mention of these topics, but it was more an undertone to Alice surviving through loss and finding love again, Penn coming of age and understanding who she is, and the mother-daughter relationship between them. Given the immense secrecy/unknown facts about what really happened at Roanoke and the fact that many have proved the stones to be false, Brock did a good job of weaving the theme into her story, nonetheless.