As I'm always fascinated by the reverberating effects down the generations of long-held family secrets, with their often corrosive effects on the lives of everyone involved, the promise of discovering the secrets why Vicky, now in her early twenties, is only just meeting a grandmother she knows nothing about was one of the reasons I felt drawn to reading this novel. I admired the way in which the author only gradually revealed the dark, complex reasons behind Clemence's decades-long estrangement from her family and the impact this had had, not only on her own life but also on theirs. That she had survived so much brutality was a tribute to her inner-strength but it was clear that she had also paid a high personal price for keeping her secrets by never allowing herself to commit to any long-lasting personal relationships. She was definitely my favourite character: I loved and admired her many strengths (not least her sharp-shooting ability!) but also felt saddened by all the losses she has endured. I enjoyed the relationship which developed between her and Vicky and how this, although it exposed them both (and others) to danger, ultimately allowed for past losses to be properly mourned, and for interfamilial rifts to be healed.
Although I've never been to Marrakech, the author's beautifully descriptive narrative evoked a powerfully atmospheric sense of the exotic nature of the old city, with its network of labyrinthine streets, swarming crowds and sense of mystery, as well as the beautiful Kasbah du Paradis in the Atlas mountains where Clemence lived. Able to almost feel the intense heat, smell all the different scents of flowers and herbs in her garden, as well as the spices in the souk, to see the beautiful silks, traditional carpets and furnishings in the market, I felt totally transported to this very different world.
As I hadn't read the first two novels in the author's 'Daughters of War' trilogy, I had wondered whether, not knowing the characters' backstories, I'd find it difficult to feel fully engaged with the story. However, although there were moments early on in my reading when I felt a bit confused because I didn't understand the interrelationships between some of the characters, the author's impressive storytelling skills quickly drew me into what became a truly page-turning story, one full of tension and danger, but also of the power of love. In her note to readers she explained that the inspiration for this concluding part of her trilogy came from two distinct sources. The first from watching a Michael Palin documentary which involved him taking a night train to Marrakech; the second from her discovery that Yves Saint Laurent was living there in the 1960s, hence her decision to make Vicky a young fashion designer ... a decision also influenced by the fact that in her younger days she too had studied fashion design.
Although I've never been to Marrakech, the author's beautifully descriptive narrative evoked a powerfully atmospheric sense of the exotic nature of the old city, with its network of labyrinthine streets, swarming crowds and sense of mystery, as well as the beautiful Kasbah du Paradis in the Atlas mountains where Clemence lived. Able to almost feel the intense heat, smell all the different scents of flowers and herbs in her garden, as well as the spices in the souk, to see the beautiful silks, traditional carpets and furnishings in the market, I felt totally transported to this very different world.
As I hadn't read the first two novels in the author's 'Daughters of War' trilogy, I had wondered whether, not knowing the characters' backstories, I'd find it difficult to feel fully engaged with the story. However, although there were moments early on in my reading when I felt a bit confused because I didn't understand the interrelationships between some of the characters, the author's impressive storytelling skills quickly drew me into what became a truly page-turning story, one full of tension and danger, but also of the power of love. In her note to readers she explained that the inspiration for this concluding part of her trilogy came from two distinct sources. The first from watching a Michael Palin documentary which involved him taking a night train to Marrakech; the second from her discovery that Yves Saint Laurent was living there in the 1960s, hence her decision to make Vicky a young fashion designer ... a decision also influenced by the fact that in her younger days she too had studied fashion design.