Here are a couple of recent reviews posted on amazon.co.uk which I’d like to share with you.
Bluebell Polka This review is from: Sisters of the Bruce 1292-1314 (Kindle Edition)
This is a fine novel which for the first time (to my knowledge) projects the woman’s perspective in relation to the Scottish Wars of Independence. It was actually quite a shock to me to realise that there were five Bruce sisters, and that they had played such a central role in Bruce’s rise to the throne. There are scores of books about Robert and his brothers, as well as the political and military background to the struggle, but almost all previous books effectively diminish the Bruce women and cast them as victims or bystanders, which I am now prepared to admit was probably very far from the truth. It is not often that a novel enables one to see things from a different perspective — especially a topic as well known as this one. This book will appeal to all those who are interested in Scottish history or in re-evaluating the role of women in history for these sisters are active participants in this fact-based novel. The story is driven by historical events, but some of the characters are true to any age. It is also a book which has resonance in present-day Scotland, — although the complexity of relationships across borders is well portrayed in the novel. The device of telling stories through several narrators is one common to authors such as Jodi Picoult and enables this author to give a voice to all the Bruce sisters. I very much look forward to the next novel which I hope will allow the author to unveil further the characters’ stories.
jimbo conk “jimbo conk” (Scotland) This review is from: Sisters of the Bruce 1292-1314 (Paperback)
I normally read historical novels mostly fact and some fiction and the Wars of Independence are my favourite period of history. History is normally written from the man’s perspective and rarely do we hear about history from the woman’s point of view. The most recent was Phillipa Gregory’s books about Elizabeth Woodville and Anne Neville which I admit I did not read the books but watched the TV series. This caught my attention because I had never considered how women were used as pawns by their families and no matter how high their status they were still chattels to be used and discarded. So when I got “The Sisters of the Bruce” I was hoping to get a different insight into a period I know well. I was not disappointed; the characters were believable and I felt the closeness between the younger Bruce siblings and their relationship with their parents fascinating. This is a well researched book and a dammed good read. Thanks to the author for extending my knowledge of the Bruces.
Sisters of The Bruce 