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coryanderson_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Rape, Violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Physical abuse, Grief, and Gore
Minor: Animal cruelty and Suicide attempt
Much of the book takes place in occupied Belgium during WWI and WWII and the horror, fear, and violence that entails for the civiliansjennifer_pinkley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book is about a young woman who is a teenager during the brutal German occupation of Belgium during WWI. It's a story about her life as she navigates the challenges of living under occupation and trying to survive that war. There are two other main settings, her experiences during WWII, then events two years after that war. The characters are complex and so well written, and the story is expertly woven between these three time periods. Because war is the focus of much of the story and the main character was so young during WWI, she experiences some awful things and suffers from PTSD, as do some of the other characters. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Gun violence, and War
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Child death
jhbandcats's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I have loved the Maisie Dobbs series and was happy to see there’s a new book by Winspear even if it isn’t Maisie.
I just finished reading the first three books of a poorly written trilogy by a different author - I should have quit after the first. So from the first page of The White Lady I was happy knowing I was in Winspear’s capable hands. Her writing is smooth and informative without being didactic, her characters are often endearing, and her plots are inevitably intriguing.
The sections on the Great War and WWII were especially strong, the postwar story not as much. The ending seemed very unlikely; there were other ways it could have gone which would have been more realistic within the context. That said, I’ll read anything Winspear writes - she’s that good.
So, I’d recommend this novel but with a caveat about the last few chapters.
I just finished reading the first three books of a poorly written trilogy by a different author - I should have quit after the first. So from the first page of The White Lady I was happy knowing I was in Winspear’s capable hands. Her writing is smooth and informative without being didactic, her characters are often endearing, and her plots are inevitably intriguing.
The sections on the Great War and WWII were especially strong, the postwar story not as much. The ending seemed very unlikely; there were other ways it could have gone which would have been more realistic within the context. That said, I’ll read anything Winspear writes - she’s that good.
So, I’d recommend this novel but with a caveat about the last few chapters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Sexual assault, War, Classism, Suicide attempt, Child death, Animal death, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, and Violence
vireogirl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
More troubled than Maisie but still a strong female forged in the two world wars. Lots of struggling with grief and trauma.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Self harm, War, Gore, Suicide attempt, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit
More troubled than Maisie but still a strong female forged in the two world wars. Lots of struggling with grief and trauma.troxelm's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Gun violence, Child death, Rape, Animal cruelty, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
naluju's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and War
Moderate: Child death
kimveach's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I eagerly awaited the next Maisie Dobbs mystery, so I was disappointed to learn this story had a different protagonist. However, I enjoyed this book so much. Miss White is an intriguing character, and the various timelines (WWI, WWII, 1947) were equally interesting. This book didn't have some of the depth I'm used to from some Maisie Dobbs stories, but it still had plenty of emotional moments. This book could stand alone or be the start of a new series. I will read more if this series continues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Murder, War, Death, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Forced institutionalization, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Suicide attempt, Violence, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Child death, Classism, Genocide, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Grief, and Gun violence
carireadsbooksandtarot's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
In 1947, Elinor White is finally resting in her grace-and-favor house in the woods of Kent. However, she is constantly on guard, unable to move beyond the feeling of danger she is so used to after serving under cover roles in both world wars. When a new family moves in to a cottage close by, peace is threatened by the family’s connection to a London crime family, the Mackies. Elinor finds she can’t stand by when the family’s little girl could be in peril.
In this dual timeline narrative, we follow Elinor as she gathers information on the Mackie family in 1947 and travel back in time to learn of her covert involvement in both world wars, first as a child in Belgium, then as an army operative again based in Belgium. Her past haunts her in the present day as she tries to protect the young family down the road.
I love Jacqueline Winspear’s writing and will always read her fiction. However, I found this to be a bit slow-moving. I missed Maisie and the other characters from the Maisie Dobbs series that I have grown to love so much. I could see myself becoming attached to Elinor should we encounter her in further novels but as a stand-alone, I don’t think this novel will stand out in my memory. I also feel like I missed something in the resolution of the present-day situation, I didn’t quite understand the ending. My enjoyment and continued engagement was in large part due to the excellent narration of Orlagh Cassidy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, War, Child death, and Suicide attempt
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