One of the reasons I was drawn towards this book was because of the cover. The ornate pattern, the red and the gold make it eye catching.
I very quickly found myself immersed in the story. Stacey Halls has a way of painting a picture with words - I could really vividly picture each scene and location. I could feel the chill that Josephine and Annie felt in the prison, and I could hear the silence in the cottage that tormented Martha at the start of the story.
The characters seem an interesting and motley bunch. In particular, I want to know more about Annie - why was she removed from her station by the prison warden? Who is she, and why doesn't Josephine know her as well as she thought she did?
Overall, I found this a very solid and gripping opening to what I am sure will be a richly descriptive and layered tale of a group of young women making their way through the minefield of Victorian society. I hope to be reading more soon!
I very quickly found myself immersed in the story. Stacey Halls has a way of painting a picture with words - I could really vividly picture each scene and location. I could feel the chill that Josephine and Annie felt in the prison, and I could hear the silence in the cottage that tormented Martha at the start of the story.
The characters seem an interesting and motley bunch. In particular, I want to know more about Annie - why was she removed from her station by the prison warden? Who is she, and why doesn't Josephine know her as well as she thought she did?
Overall, I found this a very solid and gripping opening to what I am sure will be a richly descriptive and layered tale of a group of young women making their way through the minefield of Victorian society. I hope to be reading more soon!