Genre: Historical Fiction

My rating: 3/5 stars

Bookshelf page

Danny Pulbrook is a handsome and rebellious young man. Born the bastard son of a minor royal and orphaned at birth he is determined to find a new life far beyond his “pre-ordained oblivion”. His only way out – a forced enlistment into the army brings him to an inevitable confrontation with his own demons in the cauldron of the first world war.

Rose Quayle is a beautiful and confident hazel-eyed housemaid who, like her mother and her mother’s mother is employed in service at Meaford House – an expansive vice-regal estate near Tunbridge Wells. Like Danny she longs for a life beyond the tyranny of the rigid class system that defines her humble destiny.

Their chance meeting becomes the catalyst that changes both of their lives forever.

This book was kind of a hot mess. Not a lot, but a little. There were so many characters it was impossible to keep them straight, and I could have done without seeing points of views from minor characters.

Danny is pretty unsympathetic for most of the Story as well, which is really frustrating. I don’t like him that much at all when he joins the Canadian army and even though I like him more when he’s talking with his men, I don’t even recognize him from the lovable bad boy presented in the first few pages.

However, he does have a great dynamic with his comrades. The banter between them, and the story of how they took the Pimple is great. I also loved his story with Grace, even with its truly heartbreaking end.

I like Rose better than Danny, but she frustrates me, too. I admire the strength she shows by taking a job and the support she shows Gillian, but she is mostly a very undeveloped character. Unlike the dramatic character arc Danny takes, she barely has one. She just turns slightly less bitter.

This story could deal with a lot more editing. It’s not a first draft, but it’s not as polished as a final draft. Storylines need to be cut so the main storyline can shine better. While eventually it could be amazing, right now, it’s mildly entertaining and only worth about three stars.