BOOK REVIEW - The Wine-Dark Sea by Victoria Hislop

  

 WHAT THE PUBLISHER SAYS:

Beloved, bestselling author Victoria Hislop explores the turbulence of the post-war era in Greece in this unforgettable and riveting new novel that will delight those fans who cherish The Island and The Figurine.

During three years of brutal civil war in Greece, thousands of children were caught in the chaos that swept across the country. Huge numbers were orphaned, many found themselves imprisoned alongside their mothers and others were left to fend for themselves. The Wine-Dark Sea follows the travails of a mother, searching for both a daughter who has been kidnapped and taken behind the Iron Curtain and a boy who, unbeknown to her, has been sold into adoption.

It's time to discover why 10 million readers worldwide love Victoria

'Glorious Greek setting and rich historical detail' Woman & Home
'She brings Greek history to compelling life' The Sunday Times
'Fascinating and moving ... Hislop writes unforgettably' The Times

 Expected publication September 24, 2026

 

MY REVIEW:

I’m a long-time fan of Victoria Hislop’s novels and enjoy the way she explores history through complex personal stories. However, I’m more commonly found reading (shorter!) literary fiction, and historical fiction – and/or books over six hundred pages long – do not appear often in my TBR pile. Hislop’s novels are an exception, and I particularly enjoy them as a holiday read when I have more time to get to grips with a longer story.

Her books usually grab me from the very beginning, and although I found The Wine-Dark Sea ultimately compelling, I did find it a little harder than usual to become immersed at the start. And as with any book of length there were a few times when the plot felt a little loose etc, but nothing to spoil the overall enjoyment of the journey.

The novel is set mainly in Greece, and follows the period after WWII and the fate of families torn apart by the civil war. Hislop’s love of Greece always shines through in her work, the sense of place is vivid and palpable, her characters are memorable, and her research is extensive and meticulous. She rarely tackles easy subjects, and her books continuously examine the courage, strength and resilience needed in dark times. The Wine-Dark Sea is no exception, and this is an emotional read which follows the fortunes of Fotini, detained in a prison camp with other women from her village, as she and others struggle to find their families again after they are released. 

It is a story of endurance, loss, and great sadness, but also hope. Lovers of carefully crafted historical fiction – and long-time VH fans – will not be disappointed!

(Many thanks to Headline for my review copy)

 

 

 

Book Review - Dwell by Rue Baldry

 

 

Out June 2026 - pre-order here! 

Book Review – Rose & Renzo by Carolyn O'Brien

 

 ROSE & RENZO by CAROLYN O'BRIEN

My Review:

Rose & Renzo is a captivating page-turner which drew me in from the very first chapter. This is historical fiction at its best, with gorgeous writing, a vivid sense of place, taut plotting, a compelling love story and relatable characters. 

As well as portraying Rose and Renzo’s passionate relationship, Carolyn O’Brien’s second novel also explores the liberating power of art and evocatively depicts everyday life in working class Manchester in the 1930s – including the fight against the ugly rise of fascism. 

A beautifully written and totally absorbing read.  (Thanks to Northodox Press for the ARC.)

 

The Blurb:

Manchester 1936

Fascism looms in Europe, and Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts are on the rise.

After the death of their father, two sisters arrive in Manchester's vibrant 'Little Italy': creative misfit, Rose, and her much older sister, Ivy. Fearing Rose's impulsiveness, Ivy seeks to control Rose, forcing her to give up her cherished place at art school.

Frustrated and desperate to pursue her passion, Rose meets Renzo, a painter arrived from Europe. Their connection is instant and powerful. Yet as their feelings deepen, Renzo's past in Mussolini's Italy remains a mystery.

As Blackshirts march across the city, Rose is drawn to the fight against fascism, even as she's compelled to face the devastating question: just which side is Renzo on?

You can pre-order a copy here 

Book Review – Paper Sisters by Rachel Canwell

 

 

 

 PAPER SISTERS by RACHEL CANWELL

My Review:

I read this immersive novel in one sitting. Haunting, well-paced, and beautifully written, Paper Sisters follows the story of three women at the start of WWI whose lives are anchored by ghosts and mired in the isolation of the Lincolnshire Fens. A brave, dark, unflinching tale of love and war, grief and hope.

The Blurb

Lincolnshire, 1914. As the First World War approaches, three women are living, trapped between the unforgiving marsh, the wide, relentless river, and the isolation of the fen.

Their lives are held fast by profound grief, haunted by the spectres of the past. Trapped by the looming presence and eerie stillness of a hospital that has never admitted a single patient.  

Eleanor longs to escape. To make a life with the man she loves, leaving her sister, and all her ghosts behind. Clara's marriage is crumbling and violent and she yearns for peace and security for both herself and her innocent children. Meanwhile, Lily, a formidable force of will, stands resolute against the relentless tide of change. She will stop at nothing, no matter the devastating cost, to ensure that life, and her family, remain frozen in an unyielding embrace of the past.

The author, Rachel Canwell, grew up with the story of this forgotten hospital. Isolated, stocked weekly and cleaned daily but never admitting a single patient. The hospital was real, tended by her family for over sixty years and set against the ethereal beauty and loneliness of the Fens, is the inspiration for her novel.

You can buy a copy here