Lake Union Publishing, August 4, 2015.
Three Stars
Gabriel’s novel follows the three Redcliffe sisters
in the years leading up to World War II. Beginning during the Spanish Civil War,
two of the sisters are trapped in rural Spain, while one remains in England.
Isobel is the oldest, separated from her wealthy Spanish husband after the
death of their child. Her youngest sister Felicity is only nineteen, and she
has recently decided to join a convent back in England as a nun. When Isobel’s
mansion is requisitioned by the Republican army, one of their soldiers decides
to escort the women across the country so they can find safe passage back to
England.
The soldier, William Willoughby, features throughout
the sisters’ lives for many years to come. Although Felicity has a crush on
him, his rejection solidifies her decision to become a nun. Isobel travels from
Spain to Germany in a show of support for the Fascist cause, but when she reverses
her politics after witnessing the persecution of Jewish citizens during
Kristallnacht, she ends up in the arms of Willoughby. Isobel is strong and
domineering, but even loving sister Felicity is shocked by the ensuing events.
Meanwhile, middle sister Chiara is relatively safe in
London, living a fun and carefree life at dances and on dates, until she meets
a much older man who refuses to commit to her. At the same time, London becomes
more dangerous for everyone as bombs drop with increased frequency. Each sister
grows up under the shadow of WWII, and it brings them together and drives them
apart in shocking ways.
The novel is episodic, broken into long chapters that
almost stand on their own – in fact, they were originally released individually
as separate short stories. Each chapter does enhance the others, as we see overlapping
events through the eyes of another sister. Although they care deeply for each
other, they are just as likely to cause each other pain when they make
difficult decisions.
I found the historical aspects very interesting,
especially Isobel’s uneducated support of Hitler’s Nazi regime and her shock
and disappointment when she learns the truth about the government’s agenda. I
liked that none of the sisters were all good or evil – they were well-rounded,
complicated individuals. What I did not enjoy was the stiff, unrealistic and
often silly dialogue. The sisters’ emotional responses seemed real, but their
ability to realistically express themselves was lacking. There was also an
issue with the unresolved ending, which may be leaving room for a sequel. There
were plenty of loose ends for the Redcliffe sisters to resolve in the future.
I received this novel from Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley
in exchange for an honest review.
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