Reviews

Dnfed but still considered read for all the time I invested in it
I can't really pinned point what didn't work for me. Maybe the altering point of view? I wasn't invested in what was happening to the characters, i thought they were rather flat and forgettable. The writing was fine, it has a sort of rich and flowery language that supposed to bring us back in the 19th century. The plot was slow, sometimes i read three or four chapters and looked back on it without being able to really said how they had moved the plot further. I wouldn't say the book is bad, it would be unfair, but it definitely didn't do it for me.
One thing that didn't disappoint me : the voice of Katie McGrath ! Gosh, her voice was absolutely perfect, low and grave when necessary, light and soft or sensual and deep when needed. It was beautiful to listen to.

ruthlemon08's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.5

I'm a big Tremain fan in general, and I really enjoyed this book. Being just up the road from Bath made it extra fun.

There's a lot of exploration of power threaded through these storylines. Valentine Ross is giving off mega incel vibes and is desperate to have power over people. Leon is also seeking power, prestige, money. Ralph Savage's relationship with Leon is interesting too - clearly Leon is powerless to say no to Savage, in many ways, and there is some muted, subtle exploration of the impact of Imperial power on colonised countries and communities. Julietta has a captivating power over Jane, and seemingly this is reciprocated. Jane is also seeking independence and the power (money, thanks to Victorian England's attitudes to women) to establish her own path in life. So, plenty of power dynamics at work here.

I was sad to leave these characters behind, which feel like a mark of a very good book, and one which will be with me for a long time.

smyth21's review against another edition

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4.0

Review for Katie McGrath narrative alone. It was a decent listen, not something I would go out of my way to read myself but listening to this was nice. It had a decent story, set in 1800’s Bath and follows an young Irish woman so the narrative by Katie is undoubtedly perfect.

bibliolinde's review against another edition

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2.0

Islands of Mercy is a story of vibrant locations and colourful characters. Set in 1860s Bath and Borneo, with some snippets of London, Paris, and Dublin, Rose Tremain captures the spirit of the times with ease. I enjoyed the character development of Jane and the heartfelt sections about motherhood, art, and love. The other plot, though, in Borneo, despite its interesting look into colonial and naturalists’ endeavours, was a little less exciting to me. Perhaps this would have worked better as more of a subplot, or in a tv-series, as it often felt like a distraction from the main plot, left behind on an unnecessary cliffhanger. The end of the novel is wonderfully hopeful and comforting, though it only comes after a rather late climax (which makes the middle of the novel a little stagnant). All in all, however, a pleasant summer read with an engaging story neatly tied up in the end. (3.5)

Also will say that Tremain manages to keep the representation of men quite balanced, despite the heavy dose of Dr Valentine Ross, who is selfish and mean.

[TWs: miscarriage, illness, some violence]

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