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red1176's review against another edition
5.0
I loved the story and especially loved the narrator! I can't believe it's taken me this long to discover such wonderful author and book series!
lisawreading's review against another edition
4.0
Demelza is book #2 in the Poldark series. I started reading the books after watching the first couple of episodes of the PBS/BBC TV production... but now I'm hooked on the books! The writing has an old-fashioned feel to it (the books I've read so far were written in the 1940s), and is just quite lovely when it comes to describing the seascapes, the ballrooms, and the countryside.
I love the story of heroic Ross Poldark and his wife Demelza, the copper companies and their wheeling and dealing, the upper class snobs and the lower class workers. There's drama, romance, intrigue, and tragedy.
The book ends on such a dark note that I'm tempted to move straight into the 3rd book in hopes that there will be a ray of sunshine -- but I'm going to force myself to hold off for a bit rather than start reading nothing but Poldark books for the next several months.
Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction. And yes, it's worth reading these books even if you watched the TV show already. The TV storyline is mostly faithful to the books, but the books provide a lot more detail and really bring out the supporting characters in a much stronger way.
I love the story of heroic Ross Poldark and his wife Demelza, the copper companies and their wheeling and dealing, the upper class snobs and the lower class workers. There's drama, romance, intrigue, and tragedy.
The book ends on such a dark note that I'm tempted to move straight into the 3rd book in hopes that there will be a ray of sunshine -- but I'm going to force myself to hold off for a bit rather than start reading nothing but Poldark books for the next several months.
Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction. And yes, it's worth reading these books even if you watched the TV show already. The TV storyline is mostly faithful to the books, but the books provide a lot more detail and really bring out the supporting characters in a much stronger way.
coyotesprite's review against another edition
4.0
Before picking this up, I came to terms with the time period in which it was written and I decided to overlook the issues I had with the first book. At this point Ross and Demelza are both of age, and very much in love.
That being said, this book was pretty bleak. At this point, Ross has withstood about as much as a single person can possibly take. Even a man of breeding and military background has a breaking point. He’s genuinely a good man who cares about his employees, tenants, and his family. This puts pressure on him and his desperate need to provide for those under his care.
I would also like to say that I love Demelza. What a selfless, brave and flawed character. This author doesn’t spend much time writing inner monologue, so I wish Demelza could be fleshed out a little more, but I’m impressed with her growth in this book. Several times, she puts herself in compromising positions to help those she cares about.
Some new characters are introduced in this book, along with some old enemies from the last one. There’s a lot of gambling, mining, and smelting business talk. There’s also some murder and illness. The last bit of this book is tragic, and I’m ready to see what happens next.
mareeta_rose's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gonza_basta's review against another edition
3.0
So it seems this series gives a serious addiction problem....Demelza is the second one in the Poldark series and even if I slightly prefer the first one is a good reading anyway. She is a nice strong character and in a "Gone with the wind" sort of way, the best between Poldark's love, as a matter of fact I found Elizabeth totally useless as a woman and as a wife, but in the plot she has her reason to be of course.
Quindi mi sembra piuttosto chiaro che questa serie dia seri problemi di dipendenza. Demelza é il secondo volume e anche se il primo mi é piaciuto un pochino di piu, anche questo volume é piacevole. Lei é un personaggio forte che avevamo giá apprezzato nel primo libro e anche se a volte sembrava di leggere "Via col vento" io la preferisco di gran lunga ad Elizabeth che é la tipica gatta morta, che peró ai fini della trama é decisamente funzionale.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SOURCEBOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
Quindi mi sembra piuttosto chiaro che questa serie dia seri problemi di dipendenza. Demelza é il secondo volume e anche se il primo mi é piaciuto un pochino di piu, anche questo volume é piacevole. Lei é un personaggio forte che avevamo giá apprezzato nel primo libro e anche se a volte sembrava di leggere "Via col vento" io la preferisco di gran lunga ad Elizabeth che é la tipica gatta morta, che peró ai fini della trama é decisamente funzionale.
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND SOURCEBOOKS FOR THE PREVIEW!
chelleyrenee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
ruthieduthie's review against another edition
5.0
What can you say? It's a wonderful period novel: a cracking good plot and a real feel for the time and place - no fear of anachronisms here! More recent historical novelists should take note.