Susanna Kearsley

In 1707, Adam Williamson arrives in Edinburgh to stay with an army friend and is offered a job investigating a young widow. Lily has come forward to claim her late husband’s wages, but only has an irregular marriage certificate to prove her relationship.

The story alternates between Adam and his co-investigator Gilroy’s inquiry in 1707, and a third-person account of Lily’s life, beginning in 1683 when Lily was seven and living with her grandmother on the estate of the Laird of show more Inchbrakie.

While I cared more about Lily’s story than about Adam’s, the framing narrative of the inquiry served to make her story all the more interesting, turning it into a mystery. I had questions! If Lily married her childhood friend Jamie Graeme, why then didn’t his family know about it? Why didn’t her own family know? How did she know the friends who witnessed her wedding?

The historical context was also intriguing -- the late 17th century apparently being a tumultuous time in Scotland, with the Jacobite Risings and conflict between Presbyterians, Episcopalians and Catholics (and possibly other factors I don’t now fully remember and likely didn’t fully understand to begin with!).

Lily’s story is bittersweet, full of joy and found family but also grief and disappointments. I was beginning to doubt that it could be concluded satisfactorily -- but I loved how the pieces all fell into place! It left me wanting to go back to certain scenes, to reconsider them now I knew the full story, which was a bit cumbersome to do with an audiobook. (Cue lots of skipping through chapters, trying to find the bits I wanted.)

I loved how it’s a hopeful ending.

“Tell me when I’ve lied.”
I found that an irritating challenge because he had been so clever with his words I could not find a single instance to reply with, so instead I took a new approach. “You did not tell me everything the last time I was here, nor yet the time before that.”
“Ah.” He sat back, and indicated I should do the same. “Well, that’s a different thing from lying, surely? All men do leave pieces out when they tell tales, it is no crime.”
I could not argue with that.

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While the official title of The Firebird indicates that it is the second book in the Slains series, rest assured that, based on Susanna Kearsley’s own website, it is not a sequel. Rather, it is a companion book. This means that anyone can pick up this charming novel and enjoy Nicola’s search for the mysterious Anna without losing anything to a lack of knowledge or understanding. References to the first book might exist but in no way hamper a reader’s ability to understand the current show more story. Therefore, others should not let the “Slains #2” affect the decision to read it or not.

In fact, you should read The Firebird. It is obvious that Ms. Kearsley has done her research. Even better, she shares all of her research, including pictures of key buildings and locales, on her website, so readers do not have to look up the Summer Gardens or the old Summer Palace. Her descriptions are spot-on, and those who are interested will derive great pleasure in realizing just how accurate she is. Those who are not interested can take comfort in the fact that the mental images created from her descriptions are going to be as fairly close to the real thing as one can get from mental images. Yes, Ms. Kearsley definitely did her research, but more importantly, she was able to convey that research in such a way that adds dimensionality to flat descriptions.

Then there are the characters. Nicola may be the medium for Anna’s introduction, but Anna is the true heroine of the novel, and Rob is most definitely the hero of the modern sections. Nicola is the tie that connects the two, but she is the weakest of the three characters. Anna has a vibrancy to her that overshadows Nicola’s indecisiveness and unwillingness to test out her skills. Rob is just fun. With his Scottish burr and careful control over his (still obvious) emotions, he allows Nicola to shine a little brighter. Without him, she is too broody and too negative to be thoroughly enjoyable.

What makes The Firebird so special, though, is the story – specifically Anna’s story. Her journey from Scotland to Russia is fascinating, while her experiences in St. Petersburg are historically enlightening. This is especially true when one realizes how many of the people with whom Anna interacts are real historical figures, something Ms. Kearsley carefully details in her Author’s Notes. A reader cannot help but sympathize with Anna and cheer her on through her journey as she showcases a determination and courage that belies her age. The relationship between the exiled Jacobites and the Russian nobility is equally absorbing, and fans of the Outlander series will enjoy making connections between the two books. Any issues over the idea that Anna’s story only comes to light through paranormal skills rapidly loses strength as Anna endears herself to Nicola and Rob and just as swiftly to the reader.

The Firebird is a great example of a successful cross-genre novel. The historical fiction elements are most excellent – enlightening and entertaining, while the mystery behind Anna’s past as well as of the origins of the Firebird figurine remain intriguing. The paranormal element is the linchpin of the story and provides a great message about not being afraid to showcase any given talents. The characters are lively, and the story pulses with a vitality that has everything to do with Ms. Kearsley’s ability to pen a sentence as it does to the vibrant historical setting. Easy to read and quick to devour, The Firebird is a great selection for a fun and enjoyable romantic summer read. show less

As an 18th century reenactor portraying the time during the Seven Years War, or as we in the states know it, The French and Indian War, I was drawn to this story which is partly set in 1759 Long Island with the rest in current day. Author Susanna Kearsley has drawn upon the history and stories passed down through her family as well as upon her extensive historical research, to render a compelling and mysterious story. She deftly weaves a tale of honor, duty, courage, and at its heart, a slow show more burn romance.

Kearsley's prose is exquisitely rendered. Her settings are visually rich and atmospheric. Her historical research is Herculean and meticulous. This was my first book of Susanna Kearsley, and I assure you that it won't be my last. show less

First Line: I lost my only sister in the last days of November.

A devastated Eva Ward is given her sister's ashes by Katrina's husband, Bill, with the proviso that Eva take them to the place where his wife was happiest. Momentarily confused, Eva suddenly remembers Trelowarth House, a centuries-old manor house high on a hill overlooking the sea in Cornwall. She and her sister had been happy visiting there as children, and Katrina's first love lived there still.

Welcomed to Trelowarth, Eva show more decides to spend the summer there, intending to find a local cottage to rent in the autumn, but almost immediately she finds herself seeing paths where none had existed and hearing voices in the adjacent room when no one is there. When she actually finds herself in Trelowarth House in 1715 and meeting its owner, Daniel Butler, Eva has to admit that these aren't simple hallucinations. Daniel, a successful smuggler, is secretly planning to join in a rebellion against the newly crowned King George. As he and Eva try to come to terms with Eva's time traveling, they fall in love. Eva has a decision to make: in which time does she truly belong?

For me, Susanna Kearsley is the queen of romantic suspense. Her Cornish setting is wonderful and the perfect backdrop to both time periods. Twenty-first-century and eighteenth-century secondary characters add richness to the story, and have the added bonus of helping to tug the reader in both directions. When I was reading a modern segment, I wondered what was happening to the characters in the eighteenth century, and when I was back in their time, I wondered about the modern characters. Every chapter was engrossing.

In some books featuring time travel, one period always seems to be stronger and more interesting than the other, but not in Kearsley's books. She knows how to keep a reader's interest throughout her story. I'm not known to read many novels in which a strong element of romance is present because too many writers think they have to include steamy sex scenes to convey how strongly the characters are in love. Kearsley knows how to convey strong emotions and physicality without having anything throb or glisten or heave.

If you're in the mood for a story with a strong sense of place, a cast of wonderful characters, a plot with surprises, time travel and romance, I have just one piece of advice: Seek out The Rose Garden, and when you're done reading it, seek out the rest of Susanna Kearsley's novels. show less