Firelight Rising

by Johanna Craven

Holy Island of Lindisfarne
England, 1715

Twenty years after fleeing Holy Island, Eva Blake and her siblings return to their dilapidated family home in an attempt to piece together their tattered lives. But a new Jacobite Rising is gaining momentum, and as outsiders from London, the Blakes find themselves under suspicion from the villagers.

When conflict with the locals comes to a head, Eva finds herself escaping to the nearby island of Longstone, where the reclusive Finn Murray keeps a makeshift shipping beacon burning on the shore.

Alone on Longstone, Eva and Finn find themselves drawn to each other, despite his attempts to keep her at a distance. But long-buried secrets are beginning to resurface, and Eva can’t help but fear she has made a grave error in opening her heart to Finn.

All she knows is her life is in danger, and she must confront the past if she is to survive.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Scotland

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2023

About the author

A lover of old stuff, folk music, and dance, Johanna Craven bases her books around little-known true events from the past, often set in bleak and beautiful places. She divides her time between Australia and the UK, and can very easily be persuaded to tell you about the time she accidentally swam with seals on Holy Island.

Find out more at www.johannacraven.com.

Reviews

[Anita Dent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, which is surrounded in mystery and a desire to know what has happened in the past. Eva Blake returns from London to her family home on Holy Island following the breakdown of her relationship. This home is a place which her whole family had fled from many years ago , when she was a child and holds a lot of unanswered questions for her. She finds herself involved in conflict with her neighbours, which results in her seeking refuge on the nearby island of Longstone. Long buried secrets begin to unfold and Eva has to make some tough decisions.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the Lindisfarne Series

Th Blake’s return to the home they fled on Lindisfarne 20 yeare ago. To the island where the inhabitants mostly treat them with disdain and distrust.
It is the time of the upcoming Jacobite uprising but not all the islanders are of the same ilk.
Can Eva really settle there, can Harriet find contentment and Nathan is he going to find peace from his secrets. Enter the dashing, mysterious and wild Finn Murray and there is no going back.
A good read.

[Shelley Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, I was captivated by the characters and wanting to know more about them. I felt sorry for Eva at first, being rejected by Matthew Walton, but then it turned out for the best because she meets Finn. The relationships of the Blake family are very frustrating, honestly just talk to each other. Ha Ha I know this is correct for the time no one ever said how they were honestly feeling, and it would have removed the very well woven tensions from the book if they did open up.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book, just have to catch up on my book club reads first.

[Sam Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. The author transports you back to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (which I didn't even know existed!) in 18th-century England. The characters are incredibly complex and well-developed - each comes with their own secrets/backstories, and I ended up being intrigued by every single one of them (including the "bad" ones, who are so often overlooked). The story is the perfect blend of mystery, danger, and romance. I can't wait for the sequel!

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

From the very first chapter, this book drew me into the story of Eva, her family and Finn. The characters are well drawn and the scenic descriptions are amazing. I could feel the rain, the cold and the wind as I was reading. I am so glad that this is just the beginning. Looking forward to following Eva and Finn through more adventures. Definitely recommended!

[Kat Drennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling opening to what I expect will be another fantastic series by Johanna Craven (I clicked on the Pre-Order for Book 2, can't wait). As Eva and Finn's soul-crushing secrets are slowly revealed we know there is no way in this watery, storm-tossed world they should be together, and yet, they are irreversibly drawn. It has all the makings of a great historical saga with Craven's usual impeccable characters and atmospheric settings. I could not put it down.

[Lily Style · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping story

It was a relief to find this story truly gripping after reading three duff books in a row. The setting is early 1700s Lindisfarne. The characters have back story and there’s delightful moodiness in the author’s descriptions

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

I visited Lindisfarne and the Farne Islands this summer so it was interesting reading a book based there. There was lots of drama and secrets but I felt there were lots of inconsistencies too. I was not sure if I liked any of the main characters or not.
3.5 stars

[Jane Featherstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging start to this series against the backdrop of the Jacobite uprisings, with strong characters and themes, also reflecting the period and setting up the next book.

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got to about 15% and just wasn't feeling it. It is very atmospheric, but the characters seem a little too "stock".