Review by Karen (retired Bookseller); I found I was very quickly immersed in this delightful historical novel.
The action takes place in London between the Frost Fairs on the River Thames between 1789 & 1814. This Regency period comes to vibrant life with the authors brilliant writing on the culture, fashion, architecture and underbelly of London.
Themes of the supernatural, weather, science, womens roles, gender, love, lose & devastation all make this novel so engrossing.
A unique cast of characters, who I found totally captivating, combine to make this novel entertaining & a joy to read.
The rich and atmospheric new novel from prize-winning author Sally Gardner, set in the 18th century between the two great Frost Fairs.
Neva Friezland is born into a world of trickery and illusion, where fortunes can be won and lost on the turn of a card. She is also born with an extraordinary gift. She can predict the weather.
In Regency England, where the proper goal for a gentlewoman is marriage and only God knows the weather, this is dangerous. It is also potentially very lucrative. In order to debate with the men of science and move about freely, Neva adopts a sophisticated male disguise. She foretells the weather from inside an automaton created by her brilliant clockmaker father. But what will happen when the disguised Neva falls in love with a charismatic young man?
It can be very dangerous to be ahead of your time. Especially as a woman.
Now Neva must find a way to disguise her true identity from those who would destroy her.
Historical fiction, Romance, Fantasy
Paperback
Sally Gardner
496 pages
H: 229mm W: 148mm