Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Obtained from: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Read: October 29, 2013
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At first, I wasn't sure what to make
of Deborah Swift's A Divided Inheritance. She'd come highly recommended, but a
hundred pages in I couldn't help wondering when I was going to be swept off my
feet. It took a while, but somewhere around the midpoint I began to really
appreciate this story and by the end, was lost in the world she'd created
within these pages.
Despite the straightforward
jacket description, A Divided Inheritance is a multilayered and elaborate fiction that touches on
a wide variety of complex concepts and intrigue. The massive scope is
mind-boggling, but when all is said and done, I think Swift does an impeccable
job pulling the various elements of the narrative together.
Historically speaking, I was
fascinated with the story of Moriscos in Spain and how it contrasted with
that of the Catholics in England. As a reader, I really admired Swift's
unprejudiced and gentle handling of the material, how she was able to tackle
something as personal as religion without overwhelming her audience with
spirituality and ritual.
I was similarly drawn to the detailed
descriptions of swordplay. The fight scenes are not overdone, yet still
illustrate the many nuances of the craft. From the stance a fighter must retain
to the advantage gained by a particular style of blade, Swift was able to
convey a real understanding of vocation and what it took to master the art of
fencing.
I don't mean to downplay
Swift's characters, their turbulent emotions and convoluted relationships
make excellent reading material, but it was the detailed descriptions - the
bustle of London's merchant class and the competitive rivalries that burned
with such ferocity in the streets of Seville - that I will remember
when I look back on this piece.
Elegantly written, A Divided
Inheritance brings the uncertainty of the seventeenth gloriously to life in an
engaging tale of determination, tenacity and family loyalty.
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════════════════════════════ ❧ ════════════════════════════Hugh continued, not noticing her discomfort, ‘if I were your father, I would have done exactly the same. It is a man’s place to take these responsibilities, not a woman’s. Your cousin and I will get along fine, you’ll see."
Check out all the stops on Deborah Swift's A Divided Inheritance Virtual book tour
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