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knitnetic's review
4.0
A simple Quaker woman, Maddy Timms is content to stay at home with her blind father, helping with his mathematical work. Unfortunately, that brings her into company with the reckless, scandalous Duke of Jervaulx. Unrighteous though he may be, he is also a mathematical genius and immensely helpful to her father.
After one of the best nights of Mr. Timms' career, on which he and Jervaulx prove the existence of a non-Euclidean geometry, the Duke suffers an attack. Left alone, speechless, and deprived in a lunatic asylum, he thinks his life has come to an end. When Maddy shows up to nurse him, he at last sees one bright spot in life. Together, can they bring him back to himself?
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When you ask romance readers to name the best historical romances of all time, Flowers from the Storm is often among the top ten. When the Kindle edition went on sale, I had to buy it. I will say, however, that this probably did not help the book's rating in the long run. It was good, but I was expecting a greatness that I didn't get.
Furthermore, the book was written in the early 90's, a time when family sagas were the historical romance subgenre du jour. The plot of this book is sprawling and intricate; to be honest, it felt like there was enough plot for two or three normal-length books: the stroke, the mathematician's helper, the marriage-under-pressure, Jervaulx's daughter. I think the book would have been better if there had been about 100 fewer pages and at least one fewer plotline.
That being said, the plotlines that were present were interesting, novel, and well-executed. While both Jervaulx' and Maddy's speech (his the result of his stroke, hers the result of her Quaker background) were a bit distracting, it gave Kinsale the opportunity to tell this story in a new and different way.
I think this is a good, solid book, especially for the time period from which it comes. Don't have too high of expectations going in, and you should enjoy it immensely.
After one of the best nights of Mr. Timms' career, on which he and Jervaulx prove the existence of a non-Euclidean geometry, the Duke suffers an attack. Left alone, speechless, and deprived in a lunatic asylum, he thinks his life has come to an end. When Maddy shows up to nurse him, he at last sees one bright spot in life. Together, can they bring him back to himself?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
When you ask romance readers to name the best historical romances of all time, Flowers from the Storm is often among the top ten. When the Kindle edition went on sale, I had to buy it. I will say, however, that this probably did not help the book's rating in the long run. It was good, but I was expecting a greatness that I didn't get.
Furthermore, the book was written in the early 90's, a time when family sagas were the historical romance subgenre du jour. The plot of this book is sprawling and intricate; to be honest, it felt like there was enough plot for two or three normal-length books: the stroke, the mathematician's helper, the marriage-under-pressure, Jervaulx's daughter. I think the book would have been better if there had been about 100 fewer pages and at least one fewer plotline.
That being said, the plotlines that were present were interesting, novel, and well-executed. While both Jervaulx' and Maddy's speech (his the result of his stroke, hers the result of her Quaker background) were a bit distracting, it gave Kinsale the opportunity to tell this story in a new and different way.
I think this is a good, solid book, especially for the time period from which it comes. Don't have too high of expectations going in, and you should enjoy it immensely.
gossamerwingedgazelle's review
Just didn't work for me. The characters are appealing, and the story is interesting. However, it got so bogged down (IMHO) in the hospital that I lost interest. Also, depressing doesn't do it for me.
justinkhchen's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars
Not the most 'romantic' romance, nevertheless it is still an engaging literary journey with two rarely depicted protagonist archetypes — 100% worthy of its well-loved stature.
Even though it's published over 30 years ago, Flowers from the Storm still gets a check mark for the most unique hero/heroine combination — a rakish hero (who's obsessed with math and chocolate) suffering from post-stroke complications, and a devoted Quaker heroine who's committed to her religion's way of life.
Like most older releases of this genre, Flowers from the Storm feels like an epic literary buffet, packing to the brim with genre-crossing materials: there is the expected romance, but it also dives deep into friendship and family drama, as well as societal politic and discrimination, not to mention scenes of action, and a little bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. For today's readers who are looking for something more focused, they might react to Flowers from the Storm's all-encompassing narrative as meandering and overlong. While I agree this is most definitely NOT a fluffy, read-in-one-sitting type of material, it is still quite digestible (and enjoyable) without verging into flowery redundancy (like reading a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss' today).
I almost wish this isn't a historical romance, because the genre's requirement for happy ending doesn't quite ring true here. The book sets the stake high with two widely different individuals, not just in social class, but also in belief, as well as in health. And it is fascinating reading the reasoning behind their point of view, and why it is in conflict with the other. Even though I believe an ultimate harmony is achievable, the last couple chapters brushed aside a lot of the obstacles, all in the name of a happy resolution. The book mentions we live in a world of grays, instead of black and white, yet this arbitrary ending (because we have to have it) betrayed its own principle, and undid the methodical amendments performed by the characters prior.
While it's not a new favorite, Flowers from the Storm remains high on my list simply due to its commitment to be different, and achieve at telling an immersive, passionate story about two individuals who could've easily comes across as unredeemable or overly stuffy. I also really enjoy Laura Kinsale's writing, and will continue seeking out her books!
**Historical Hellions Book Club | July 2021 Selection**
Not the most 'romantic' romance, nevertheless it is still an engaging literary journey with two rarely depicted protagonist archetypes — 100% worthy of its well-loved stature.
Even though it's published over 30 years ago, Flowers from the Storm still gets a check mark for the most unique hero/heroine combination — a rakish hero (who's obsessed with math and chocolate) suffering from post-stroke complications, and a devoted Quaker heroine who's committed to her religion's way of life.
Like most older releases of this genre, Flowers from the Storm feels like an epic literary buffet, packing to the brim with genre-crossing materials: there is the expected romance, but it also dives deep into friendship and family drama, as well as societal politic and discrimination, not to mention scenes of action, and a little bit of supernatural thrown in for good measure. For today's readers who are looking for something more focused, they might react to Flowers from the Storm's all-encompassing narrative as meandering and overlong. While I agree this is most definitely NOT a fluffy, read-in-one-sitting type of material, it is still quite digestible (and enjoyable) without verging into flowery redundancy (like reading a Kathleen E. Woodiwiss' today).
I almost wish this isn't a historical romance, because the genre's requirement for happy ending doesn't quite ring true here. The book sets the stake high with two widely different individuals, not just in social class, but also in belief, as well as in health. And it is fascinating reading the reasoning behind their point of view, and why it is in conflict with the other. Even though I believe an ultimate harmony is achievable, the last couple chapters brushed aside a lot of the obstacles, all in the name of a happy resolution. The book mentions we live in a world of grays, instead of black and white, yet this arbitrary ending (because we have to have it) betrayed its own principle, and undid the methodical amendments performed by the characters prior.
While it's not a new favorite, Flowers from the Storm remains high on my list simply due to its commitment to be different, and achieve at telling an immersive, passionate story about two individuals who could've easily comes across as unredeemable or overly stuffy. I also really enjoy Laura Kinsale's writing, and will continue seeking out her books!
**Historical Hellions Book Club | July 2021 Selection**
sorfyreads's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
gillianw's review against another edition
It’s Sunday night and I have stayed up well past my bedtime to finish a book that made me laugh, cringe, yell, sigh and I don’t know what else, while I initially listened to and then subsequently read it. Now it’s over and I don’t what else to do with my life. The final page was just so...final.
There is no way I’m committing to any sort of coherent review this late at night, but let me just say this was my first Laura Kinsale book and it very well may be my last, because I don’t think anything else she wrote could come close to how this one made me feel. Despite being alternately amused, enthralled and annoyed, I was 100% invested in this story, and that level of engagement has been a rare thing for me lately.
I can’t even rate this book properly! It seems almost undignified to even assign it a star rating. All I know is that I was riveted from start to finish. Even when I had to walk away while I muttered to myself about what this book was doing to me, there was never any doubt that I was enjoying it immensely.
I would highly suggest reading this on audiobook first, even if you eventually end up getting the book halfway through because 18 hrs of audio is a long, fucking time and WHO CAN POSSIBLY WAIT THAT LONG TO GET TO THE HEA?? Hearing Nicholas Boulton masterfully voicing Jervaulx is everything. He makes that character come alive in the most gut-wrenching, heartfelt way. It’s amazing.
Now that I know how it all ends, I’m going to go back to where I left off on the audiobook and listen to it - without my heart in my throat thankyouverymuch - and enjoy Nicholas Boulton’s delicious voice in my ear as I fall asleep.
eliseletters's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
merdenerde's review
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This has been recommended loads and I've avoided it because the description in the kindle store gave nothing away. But it was so good. So interesting seeing Jervaulx struggle to be understood. would have been nice if there was an explanation for what actually happened to him. I thought at the start that he'd been poisoned and it would come out later in the story, but it never did. What happened to him? Did he have a stroke??
paigedonarum's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
marscandy37's review
4.0
This was a wonderful book, but for one flaw. The heroine was so self-righteous, it began to grate on me. She became very annoying, very quickly. Thus the 4 stars. She was just that bad that I had to knock down a whole star. Otherwise a marvelous story, unique and interesting throughout. Plus Christian was perfect. He is an example of the resilience of the human spirit. Overall really recommend this book to anyone, just be prepared to want to shove the heroine from the highest building you can find.