Starting off in 1896, we follow a young woman, our heroine Florence Granger, as she finds herself a bookbinder position in Rose Hall, the home of Lord Belfield. Florence immediately starts investigating the mysterious death of Lord Belfield’s late wife, Lady Persephone, at night while restoring the priceless collection of books in the Belfield library during the day. She makes friends with the footman, Wesley, and attempts to make conversation with the cook, Baxter, which falls flat. While she settles in, we learn about her difficult past with her father who taught her bookbinding but threw her out of her home when he found her in a compromising situation, leaving her completely to her own devices. We also get to know Lord Belfield’s brother, Sir Chester, and his wife, Lady Violet, who are not always who they seem to be. A fascinating story with interesting, multi-dimensional characters that really bring this time period alive, along with all the taboos high society can only talk about behind closed doors. There is more than one scandal to be found, some interesting turns to the story when we get to meet Lady Persephone’s handmaid, who is black, and further delve into this story of gender identities, racial tension and political insights whilst we keep circling back to the mystery that started it all.
I really loved reading this book, it fully pulled me in and I struggled to put it down long enough to eat and sleep. There are a lot of heart-warming scenes, especially between Florence and Wesley, as he braids her hair while she reads to him or tells him stories, and Florence looking to replace the mother figure she never had. A hefty dose of tragic romance highlights the difficulties of finding love outside what was considered proper in the late 19th century, and we have a wide cast of queer characters that drive the story forward and help bring it to a satisfying conclusion. There are heavy themes of sexual assault and unwanted pregnancy, and no shying away from describing more consensual sexual acts, although mostly kept brief enough to not overpower the writing. The tone changes between heavy and light depending on the heroine’s feelings, and she has many exciting adventures like horseriding lessons, which was a personal highlight for me. I love Florence’s fiery temper, mixed with her naivety and occasional inability to see the trees for the forest, which made for a very entertaining personality.
All in all, a cosy book that makes you want to sit by the fire on a stormy winter night, with a cup of tea nearby, and then draws you in with its complexity, lovable characters and interesting twists.
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