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A review by scrollingbooks
The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley by Sean Lusk
4.0
What is it they say about starting a novel at the point of change? Well, this is the second book in a row I've read that starts with a character's birth. For the eponymous Zachary, this is a significant moment because it is his birth that causes his mother to die, leaving him with a father who is ill-prepared to look after a baby/ And so enter two significant characters, Zacharey's wet nurse and his eccentric Aunt Frances. But the baby grows into an unsettlingly bright child, who has the eerie ability to tell fortunes at a touch.
This is an absorbing story that touches on gender identity in the 18th century, and same sex relationships. This is done by observation of the way things should be (acceptance) rather than preaching or the characters coming to harm. This is the 'warm fuzzy' world in that respect, far removed from reality. And yet in the world of this book - which verges on historical fantasy - it works.
This was an enjoyable read, a step above a beach read and yet not heavy or battering you over the head with its message (love conquers all - be that son for father, son for friend, or aunt for family.)
This is an absorbing story that touches on gender identity in the 18th century, and same sex relationships. This is done by observation of the way things should be (acceptance) rather than preaching or the characters coming to harm. This is the 'warm fuzzy' world in that respect, far removed from reality. And yet in the world of this book - which verges on historical fantasy - it works.
This was an enjoyable read, a step above a beach read and yet not heavy or battering you over the head with its message (love conquers all - be that son for father, son for friend, or aunt for family.)