I loved the first chapter - the way colour was used to bring to life an era which can often be thought of as grim and drab was excellent and reminded me more of F Scott Fitzgerald's 20s than a time soon to face the Great Plague. This was a wonderful contrast to how creepy I found the trespasser to be. I thought that the rabbits nicely hinted at witchcraft without being in your face as well as misdirection. A woman named Mary Toft once became famous for giving birth to rabbits which, if intentional, would be a very clever connection between the themes of mistrust of women and pregnancy in the novel.
Unfortunately, I was not so blown away by the second chapter. I felt that it became much more typical of recent popular historical fictions with a paranormal element with straightlaced men and women threatening to derail.
However, I did enjoy that sometimes the protagonist would bite back at certain remarks and I did not find the dialogue as stilted as I have in other historical fiction novels. I would hope that this side of the novel would pick up as the mysterious woman was so intriguing. I would like to pick up the novel just in case the plot is as intricate as the cover.
Unfortunately, I was not so blown away by the second chapter. I felt that it became much more typical of recent popular historical fictions with a paranormal element with straightlaced men and women threatening to derail.
However, I did enjoy that sometimes the protagonist would bite back at certain remarks and I did not find the dialogue as stilted as I have in other historical fiction novels. I would hope that this side of the novel would pick up as the mysterious woman was so intriguing. I would like to pick up the novel just in case the plot is as intricate as the cover.