Hello everyone! 🙂 I am so sorry for not having posted as much recently. I have had so much going on, but I have finally managed to sit down and write a review. Today’s post will be a review on one of my 2020 reads, which was sent to me by NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group (thank you, both!). It is called The Many Lives of Heloise Starchild by John Ironmonger. I hope you enjoy…
“REMEMBER ME WHEN THE COMET COMES…
On the day the comet came, a girl named Heloise was born. She would live a fine life, and inherit a fortune, but would meet a cruel, untimely death.
Years later, strange dreams plague Katya Nemcová, a teenager burdened with a rare and curious gift. Memories come to Katya in her dreams – images and stories from a past that isn’t her own. Are these ghosts real? And what of the memory she seems to have of Heloise’s treasures, two centuries old?
A novel that spans the history of Europe – from revolutionary France to the world wars, the Prague Spring, post Brexit Britain, and beyond – this is the irresistible, adventurous and affectionate story of a quite extraordinary woman, her exceptionally talented ancestors and the curious memories they share.” (Goodreads).
This book is completely different to any other I have read for a number of reasons. It is a story that goes through different generations and memories that haunt the lives of a woman’s descendants. That woman is Heloise Starchild (hence the title of the book). The only direct descendants that are born with these memories are the female members of the family, i.e. daughters, granddaughters, etc. The female has these memories until they give birth to a daughter, which is when they are passed on. All of the memories of the previous women, up to Heloise Starchild, are what the female inherits. The reader learns about all of these memories and stories, with one being mentioned more than others. That is the fortune of Heloise Starchild, which she hides when she flea’s the French Revolution. The trouble is, all of these women have attempted to find her fortune by returning to France during their lifetimes, but all have failed, until now. The story begins with the current female descendant of Heloise, whose name is Katya Nemcová. Katya is a teenager who lives in Slovakia during the Iron Curtain era. With her mother no longer around due to childbirth complications, and with her father only being able to give as much information as he knows, Heloise struggles to understand her memories and dreams of her previous female family members. The story continues from there, with Katya attempting to find Heloise’s fortune.
The plot is the main thing that pulled me towards this story. It is so unique and so captivating that I couldn’t resist reading it. Due to having received it as an ARC, I believe that this is a novel that should get the praise and popularity it deserves, which is one of the reasons why I am reviewing it. If you are a reader that is looking for something completely different to read, something that will take you to a different place, or something that will get your adrenaline running, look no further. This is the book for you. It is one that is spectacularly written and has the reader gripped from the first page. It is a tale that integrates the events of the past with the possibilities of the future. Ironmonger provides a story filled with adventure, torment, curiosity, and strength. It certainly will not disappoint.
This book is now available to buy, so please do read it. You will not regret it. I have rated this book 4 out of 5 stars,
I hope you enjoyed my review for The Many Lives of Heloise Starchild by John Ironmonger. If you have any thoughts or comments, please leave them below. Happy Reading! 🙂
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