Skip to main content

Review: "The Wolves of Andover" by Kathleen Kent



From Goodreads:  In the harsh wilderness of colonial Massachusetts, Martha Allen works as a servant in her cousin's household, taking charge and locking wills with everyone. Thomas Carrier labors for the family and is known both for his immense strength and size and mysterious past. The two begin a courtship that suits their independent natures, with Thomas slowly revealing the story of his part in the English Civil War. But in the rugged new world they inhabit, danger is ever present, whether it be from the assassins sent from London to kill the executioner of Charles I or the wolves-in many forms-who hunt for blood. A love story and a tale of courage, The Wolves of Andover confirms Kathleen Kent's ability to craft powerful stories of family from colonial history.

My Thoughts:  I picked this up because I read The Heretic's Daughter a few years ago and really enjoyed it.  It wasn't until I was well into the book that I realized it is a prequel to The Heretic's Daughter (I may have to reread it now!).  The Wolves of Andover takes place in the 17th century and bounces between London and the Massachusetts colony.  It follows the story of Martha, a woman who is sent to work as a servant in her cousin's house.  Martha is such a strong female lead.  She is 'older' (23) and unmarried and pretty feisty.  As the story progresses, the reader finds out that she has overcome some pretty serious abuse which explains some of her behavior.  Her cousin is not very useful so she has to jump in and take care of the house, children and the hired help.  Thomas is one of the hired men working on the farm.  Honestly, as a character Thomas kind of made me swoon.  He was a lot older than Martha and not much is known about his past (until the end) but he seemed to always say and do the right things while still being so humble.  This is a love story but it is so subtle that it's not sappy or overpowering to the rest of the story.

I really like reading about colonial America and this book made me want to read more.  Kent paints a fantastic picture of colonial life; her descriptions of farm life and the trappings of a colonial household make this story that much more interesting.  I also loved how Kent blended the story of the execution of Charles I with Martha's story by drawing from the legends passed down in her family.  She is a descendant of one of the women executed in the Salem witch trials and she uses her family history as an inspiration for her books.  Overall, this was a completely unique story and a great read.  4 stars.

  Quotes I loved: 

-“Oh fer Christ's bloody sake Martha I didna' raise ye to be well regarded. To be liked. Any puny weak-waisted slut can be liked. I raised ye to be reckoned with.” 

-“You ask me what makes a woman comely?" He tapped one finger lightly against her temple and said, "Thoughts, missus. It's thoughts that make a woman so.” 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review and Giveaway: "Distant Signs" by Anne Richter

Synopsis: Distant Signs is an intimate portrait of two families spanning three generations amidst turbulent political change, behind and beyond the Berlin Wall. In 1960s East Germany, Margret, a professor’s daughter from the city, meets and marries Hans, from a small village in Thuringia. The couple struggle to contend with their different backgrounds, and the emotional scars they bear from childhood in the aftermath of war. As East German history gradually unravels, with collision of the personal and political, their two families’ hidden truths are quietly revealed. An exquisitely written novel with strongly etched characters that stay with you long after the book is finished and an authentic portrayal of family life behind the iron curtain based on personal experience of the author who is East German and was 16 years old at the fall of the Berlin Wall. Why do families repeat destructive patterns of behaviour across generations? Should the personal take precedence over

Top Ten Books I Recommend The Most

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish . This week's topic:  Top Ten Books I Recommend the Most 1.) The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons   2.) Outlander by Diana Gabaldon           If you read my blog at all, you know I love these two books so much!  I am not afraid to suggest them to anyone who I think might enjoy them. 3.) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - I was definitely recommending this book left and right when the first movie came out. 4.) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 5.) A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin           These are two books that I just recently started recommending but they are books that can appeal to anyone so they are easy picks when someone asks for a recommendation. 6.) Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead  - I get a little embarrassed when I recommend this book to people but seriously, just because it has vampires does not mean it is like Twilight. 7.) The Giver by Lois

Book Blog Hop (11)

The Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jen at Crazy for Books .  It's a way to meet other bloggers and check out some cool new blogs. This week's question is:  "Highlight one book you have received this week that you can't wait to dig into!" Okay, I have a confession to make.  I have been so busy this week that I have not had time to get any new books.  I have several waiting for me at the library but I won't be able to pick them up until this weekend.  : ( Did you all get any exciting new books this week?