Hello and welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I have read two very different books this week. One was a slight disappointment, sadly, the other was very different, which was interesting.

The first book was The Ghost Ship. Kate Mosse’s final book in her trilogy: The Joubert Family Chronicles. This is the blurb:

“Piracy. Romance. Revenge. Across the seas of the seventeenth century, two seafarers are forced to hide for their lives. The sequel to The City of Tears , The Ghost Ship is the third novel in The Joubert Family Chronicles from bestselling author Kate Mosse.

The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water. It is known only as the Ghost Ship. For months it has hunted pirates to liberate those enslaved by corsairs, manned by a courageous crew of mariners from Italy and France, Holland and the Canary Islands.

But the bravest men on board are not who they seem. The stakes could not be higher. If arrested, they will be hanged for their crimes. Can they survive the journey and escape their fate?

A sweeping and epic love story, ranging from France in 1610 to Amsterdam and the Canary Islands in the 1620s, The Ghost Ship is a thrilling novel of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes and hidden secrets on the High Seas.”

Here is my response to the book from the Goodreads website:

The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There was much to enjoy in this book: the historical setting, the breaking of customs for women in the 17th century, action and adventure on the high seas, etc. As usual, Kate Mosse has written a well-researched and interesting tale. However, this third book in the trilogy did not reach the high standards of the previous two. There were parts that dragged and I became quite bored; other sections were too repetitive.

Some aspects of the earlier books were simply dropped for this one. I also found the relationship between Louise and Gilles irritating and why was the latter always referred to with masculine pronouns?

I hope Mosse’s next book is a lot bette than this one and that she returned to her excellent writing.

View all my reviews

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I must say, having read all of Kate Mosse’s books to date, that I would love to be able to visit Carcassonne. It always seems like a wonderful place!

OK, now on to the next book…

I chose my second book at random from the Library’s ebook collection: The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray. First, we have the blurb:

“In a disintegrating and increasingly lawless Britain, a young man is travelling north.

Ben is a young painter from the crowded, turbulent city. For six months his fiancée Cara has been living on a remote island known as Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Now she has decided to break off their engagement, and stay there.

Ben resolves to travel to the island to win Cara back. But the journey there is a harsh and challenging one, and when he does arrive, a terrible shock awaits him.

As Ben begins to find his way around the island, he knows he must also work out – what has made Cara so determined to throw her old life away? And is Sanctuary Rock truly another Eden – or a prospect of hell?”

This book was intriguing as well as enjoyable. These are my comments on Goodreads…

The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read and I am glad that I chose it. Although slow in places, it built up gradually, with a noticeable development in the main character. The final third was exciting and surprising in turn, with a nice sting in the tail (tale?). I will certainly look out for more by this author.

View all my reviews

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I am not sure what I am going to choose for my next read. Younger Son is visiting, so the house is full with male bodies and voices! Will I even have time or the space to read? My time will be given over to hugs, talking and listening and, perhaps, we might even manage a short excursion! Who knows?

Happy Reading to you all!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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