My Thoughts:
This reader has a confession to make. I didn’t want to read this book. Gasp!
Romance? Time travel? Psychic abilities? Those topics are out of my comfort zone, to put it mildly.
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| This WAS me. |
Imagine my utter surprise when I cracked this open and actually LIKED IT.
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| This is me NOW! |
Now wait, before you think I’ve gone ga-ga for romance let me set you straight. I could have lived without the modern love story. On the other hand, the historical relationship made me feel all swoon-y and sigh-y.
Speaking of the historical sections? The author nailed it. The research must have been intense. Kearsley doesn’t cut a single corner. Historical fiction turns my crank. This one was spinning it!
The Firebird is the 2nd book in a series but absolutely works as a stand-alone read. Hints to the past history of the characters helped with that. I could tell there was more to the story. But it wasn’t irritating or distracting.
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| I KNOW! |
I judged this book before I opened it and I was flat out mistaken. There’s a lesson in there don’t you think?
I was wrong about you Firebird! Forgive me?
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| Photo: Ashleigh Bonang |
As a former museum curator, Susanna Kearsley brings her own passion for research and travel to her novels, weaving modern-day and historical intrigue. She won the prestigious Catherine Cookson Fiction Award for her novel Mariana, the 2010 Romantic Times Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Historical Fiction novel for The Winter Sea, was shortlisted for a 2012 RITA Award for The Rose Garden, and was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from the Canadian Crime Writer’s Association for Every Secret Thing. She lives outside Toronto, Canada.
The Relentless Reader 
Ha! Was it Rebecca's? I know she was NOT a fan, lol. I'm usually crazy ocd about starting at the beginning of a series. But I was obligated to read this and had NO time to read the first book. Thankfully this worked on its own. Then, Michelle told me above that this is actually a companion book, not really a sequel. (Which makes total sense)
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LOL, all of those things can totally go wrong! But they didn't in this one, at least for me. Her research would knock your socks off Leslie. You can tell she takes it VERY seriously!
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I'm glad you liked it! I agree with you – I liked the historical relationship(s) much more than the modern day one. And I had a bit of a crush on Captn Jamieson and did not see *that coming!
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I almost always like this historical settings more when I read something like this. I don't know why exactly. Hmm.
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Wonderful review, Jennifer. Don't you love it when a book defies your expectations by being better than you thought it would be? I'm really glad you enjoyed this, and I definitely want to read it. Kearsley has been on my I-really-want-to-read-her-but-other-books-keep-getting-in-the-way list for far too long. Somehow, I've got to find a way to fit at least one of her books in by the end of the year.
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Thank you! Yes! I DO love that. I'm so glad that I read this. I hope you'll find time for something by her soon. She has a great style.
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Nice to have good surprises, isn't it? I like historical novels myself.
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You sound like you had a fulfilling week of reading. And yes, your review had me move The Firebird further up on my wishlist :). I have only read one book by Kearsley, but remember enjoying it greatly. Thanks for the tip and enjoy your week of reading.
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It was a wonderful surprise! I love historical novels as well but I thought this one would be WAY out of my comfort zone. Who knew!? 🙂
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I really did, thanks! I'm glad you've moved this one up, it's a great read Rita!
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I so LOVE this review .. the .gifs work so well to make your points. I'm with you; not really into romance, but definitely into historical fiction! I think this one goes on the to-buy list!
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Thanks so much Julie! 😀 This was a great read!
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