Marina Maxwell
  • Home
  • MMMusings
  • Blogs
  • About Me
  • My Books
  • Book Reviews
  • FAMILY TALES

Reviews

Categories

All


I read and review both historical fiction and non-fiction, but also enjoy biographies, crime and some contemporary fiction.
​ 

Please note that unless stated that I have received these books directly from the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review, I either purchase my own copies or source them from my local library service. 

​Links to Amazon, Book Depository or Dymocks Australia are only for the reader's reference.
(Due to some poor experiences recently with Booktopia, from 2023 I will no longer link to them.)

My reviews for Historical Novels Review, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society, can be found online here
​

Echoes of War

25/8/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
.
​There has been a plethora of World War II historical novels in recent years and most of them have similar covers, titles and settings – often featuring England, France or Germany. Unless there is something unusual about the story it can be difficult to remember one from the other, so when I read the synopsis of this one, that it was set in Italy, I looked forward to learning something about one of the less-written-about battle fronts.

Giulia is one of five children, the daughter of a Calabrian farmer, but has ambitions to do something more with her life other than become a wife and mother and work on farms. She yearns to be a herbalist and healer like her grandmother, but her father is set against what he considers to be witch’s work and it is only through the encouragement and connivance of other women that she gets the chance to study at a monastery when she learns about herbs and medicine. Her father, however, is furious and remains determined to marry her off to a suitable husband.

Meanwhile, the clouds of war are forming over Italy as the fascist leader Mussolini seeks to build an empire and aligns himself with Hitler. Giulia’s brother and his friends become soldiers and when her father is also called up, the farm is run by the women left behind. In increasingly dangerous circumstances and struggling with personal loss and tragedy, Giulia is finally able to practise her skills and find true love in the process.

The history is well-researched and presented, but there are over-written and tedious passages that can slow the pace. The novel is partly based on the author’s own family background which is detailed in the notes at the end. Giulia’s temperamental and antagonistic behaviour towards those who love her is a bit of a puzzle at times and doesn't always present her in the best light. In fact, some of the lesser characters have more warmth than she does, but that doesn’t detract from a mostly entertaining read that should have a wide appeal for readers looking for a WW2 novel with a different setting.

With many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.
 
Three-and-a-half stars.
 
Booktopia
 
Amazon.com.au

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    See
    Historical Novel Society
    ​
    for my reviews of historical fiction
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • MMMusings
  • Blogs
  • About Me
  • My Books
  • Book Reviews
  • FAMILY TALES