Wildthorn -- Jane Eagland
When Louisa Cosgrove's carriage arrives at its destination, she realizes almost immediately that something isn't right. When the people there insist that her name is not what she believes it to be—that she is confused about her very identity—she knows that there has been a grave mistake.
Because her name is not Lucy Childs. And she does not belong in an asylum for insane women.
In alternating chapters, Jane Eagland tells the story of Louisa Cosgrove's past—what brought her to Wildthorn—and of her present, and her attempts to escape it.
Although the character development isn't particularly strong, most of the secondary characters are two-dimensional at best, and the plotting required some pretty serious suspension of disbelief, the writing is capable (in that it didn't make me roll my eyes or anything—while sounds a bit damning-with-faint-praise-ish, but I really don't mean it that way), the pacing is strong, and the story took a few turns that I didn't expect. I certainly think that it'll be a good pick for fans of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle books (despite this being a straight historical, rather than a historical/fantasy), as well as a good pick for readers who'd like a Girl Up Against The Odds-type historical/romance.
I don't think that the following is really a spoiler, because anyone who has read (or watched the miniseries) I'm about to mention will have already have seen the parallels, and anyone who hasn't... won't. But I thought I'd give you some warning anyway.
The following is purely personal. Fair or not, while reading, rather than looking at Wildthorn alone, I kept comparing it to Sarah Waters' Fingersmith. And, in my defense, there are some pretty obvious parallels. So, for me, Wildthorn read like a really, really diluted Fingersmith—it was missing the atmosphere, the passion, the subtlety, the complexity, the flair. Also, the tagline Treachery locks her away. Love is the key. gave away a good chunk of the storyline and a couple of Louisa's more closely-guarded secrets—but again, people who haven't read¹ the Sarah Waters book probably won't have that problem. But, like I said. Personal issue, I think.
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¹You should get on that. Seriously. Do it. DO IT!
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Wildthorn: Amazon | Indiebound.
Fingersmith: Amazon | Indiebound.
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Book source: Review copy from the publisher.