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Fiona
Fiona McIntyre enters the halls of Landfall, where she is to be governess to her cousin, with a strong premonition of danger
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
96 people are currently reading
335 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gaskin
94 books71 followersCatherine Gaskin (2 April 1929 – 6 September 2009) historical fiction and romantic suspense.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
She was born in Dundalk Bay, Louth, Ireland in 1929. When she was only three months old, her parents moved to Australia, settling in Coogee, a suburb of Sydney, where she grew up. Her first novel This Other Eden, was written when she was 15 and published two years later. After her second novel, With Every Year, was published, she moved to London. Three best-sellers followed: Dust in Sunlight (1950), All Else is Folly (1951), and Daughter of the House (1952). She completed her best known work, Sara Dane, on her 25th birthday in 1954, and it was published in 1955. It sold more than 2 million copies, was translated into a number of other languages, and was made into a television series in Australia in 1982. Other novels included A Falcon for the Queen (1972) and The Summer of the Spanish Woman (1977).
Catherine Gaskin moved to Manhattan for ten years, after marrying an American. She then moved to the Virgin Islands, then in 1967 to Ireland, where she became an Irish citizen. She also lived on the Isle of Man. Her last novel was The Charmed Circle (1988). She then returned to Sydney, where she died in September 2009, aged 80, of ovarian cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
February 15, 2020
"Try it my friend-try just one day working the cane under that sun and under a whip, and you will know what a damnation slavery is. You will rise up in your thousands and demand that Parliament pass the Emancipation act-'
Fiona by Catherine Gaskin
This is one of my favorite books of all time.
It is historical fiction mixed with a bit of Gothic. Actually it is mixed with a lot of Gothic. Because of the description of the book, some people may think it’s purely a slave saga and while slavery definitely plays a role in the book, the subject matter encompasses much more than that.
This book is about Fiona, a nanny who goes to work for a family simmering with secrets. Fiona has the ability to see into the future but only partially so she can see things and see images of what will happen or what might happen, but it doesn’t ever tell the complete story. She has to put the rest together herself.
As Fiona acclimates into the household she’s pulled into the life of this family including Fergus, one of the family members with whom she falls in love. I really don’t want to say too much more as this is a hauntingly beautiful novel that it is best to go into not knowing alot about.
There are some beautiful characters in this book and as mentioned, slavery is one of the aspects of this book particularly a couple of beautiful souls who are slaves that Fiona befriends.
I should mention that this book takes place in the West Indies. The setting is absolutely beautiful and tropical. Everything about the book is lovely.
I read this book so many times it turned into a joke with my dad. I first read it in childhood and I reread it every few years.
It is a breathtakingly beautiful haunting atmospheric work of historical fiction that unfortunately has a terrible title. ( Really, does "Fiona" tell you anything?) I actually amused myself once by coming up with alternative titles for the book and I came up with "shadows of the soul" as the winning title.
I would really urge anyone who is a fan of Historical and/or Gothic fiction to check this book out. It should have far far more reviews than it does as the beauty of the book definitely rises to five stars. There is beauty, there is triumph of spirit, there is tragedy and there is joy. Read this book and love it as I do
Fiona by Catherine Gaskin
This is one of my favorite books of all time.
It is historical fiction mixed with a bit of Gothic. Actually it is mixed with a lot of Gothic. Because of the description of the book, some people may think it’s purely a slave saga and while slavery definitely plays a role in the book, the subject matter encompasses much more than that.
This book is about Fiona, a nanny who goes to work for a family simmering with secrets. Fiona has the ability to see into the future but only partially so she can see things and see images of what will happen or what might happen, but it doesn’t ever tell the complete story. She has to put the rest together herself.
As Fiona acclimates into the household she’s pulled into the life of this family including Fergus, one of the family members with whom she falls in love. I really don’t want to say too much more as this is a hauntingly beautiful novel that it is best to go into not knowing alot about.
There are some beautiful characters in this book and as mentioned, slavery is one of the aspects of this book particularly a couple of beautiful souls who are slaves that Fiona befriends.
I should mention that this book takes place in the West Indies. The setting is absolutely beautiful and tropical. Everything about the book is lovely.
I read this book so many times it turned into a joke with my dad. I first read it in childhood and I reread it every few years.
It is a breathtakingly beautiful haunting atmospheric work of historical fiction that unfortunately has a terrible title. ( Really, does "Fiona" tell you anything?) I actually amused myself once by coming up with alternative titles for the book and I came up with "shadows of the soul" as the winning title.
I would really urge anyone who is a fan of Historical and/or Gothic fiction to check this book out. It should have far far more reviews than it does as the beauty of the book definitely rises to five stars. There is beauty, there is triumph of spirit, there is tragedy and there is joy. Read this book and love it as I do
March 12, 2018
This relatively short gothic romance feels longer than it is -- partly because of tiny typeface, & partly because the pacing is off. It starts with a bang & then putters around, kicks into higher gear before idling in neutral, & then sets off the fireworks with a pair of great climaxes, but splutters between said explosions with a long, LONG reveal of the villainy herein. It also lacks sufficient follow-through on Fiona's 'sight'; while the opening lays groundwork for her discomfort with this unwanted perception (& given the era, her worries are legit re: shabby single ladies who flaunt their specialness), her burden is barely mentioned during her time on the island except for a very brief scene.
Spoiler paragraph below.
As for the hero, Fergus... *facepalm* His actions in the finale are too extra for belief. My jaw dropped, because not two chapters after literally throwing the secondary hero away from Fiona's cot when he tried to WIPE FEVERED SWEAT OFF HER FOREHEAD during a hurricane while everyone was trapped in the same room, Fergus suddenly runs into a burning building full of murderous, rampaging slaves to rescue the cheating, bitchy villainess after she screws everyone over...& did I mention he used to sleep with this woman? All after proclaiming Fiona his salvation from said villainess leading him around by his dick, because now Fiona herself has the direct line to said appendage?! But nope. He dies while trying to save his bitch ex who didn't deserve squat. *headdesk* If you ask me, Fiona's better off with the other dude.
End spoiler paragraph.
...Anyway. I did enjoy it, despite my gripes. The setting -- historical island plantations -- is a favorite of mine. Something about sticky, oppressive tropical life lends itself to gothic fiction. :D Despite Fergus' failings, I cottoned to other characters like Andrew, Charity, & Samuel, & also liked that the touches of paranormal (Fiona's sight, Juanita's voodoo) weren't just explained away. And while consistent suspense is lacking, there's still a thick haze of tension that permeates the story as a whole.
4 stars for atmosphere, strongly written setting, & overall concept.
Spoiler paragraph below.
As for the hero, Fergus... *facepalm* His actions in the finale are too extra for belief. My jaw dropped, because not two chapters after literally throwing the secondary hero away from Fiona's cot when he tried to WIPE FEVERED SWEAT OFF HER FOREHEAD during a hurricane while everyone was trapped in the same room, Fergus suddenly runs into a burning building full of murderous, rampaging slaves to rescue the cheating, bitchy villainess after she screws everyone over...& did I mention he used to sleep with this woman? All after proclaiming Fiona his salvation from said villainess leading him around by his dick, because now Fiona herself has the direct line to said appendage?! But nope. He dies while trying to save his bitch ex who didn't deserve squat. *headdesk* If you ask me, Fiona's better off with the other dude.
End spoiler paragraph.
...Anyway. I did enjoy it, despite my gripes. The setting -- historical island plantations -- is a favorite of mine. Something about sticky, oppressive tropical life lends itself to gothic fiction. :D Despite Fergus' failings, I cottoned to other characters like Andrew, Charity, & Samuel, & also liked that the touches of paranormal (Fiona's sight, Juanita's voodoo) weren't just explained away. And while consistent suspense is lacking, there's still a thick haze of tension that permeates the story as a whole.
4 stars for atmosphere, strongly written setting, & overall concept.
June 6, 2013
This is my favourite book EVER! When I get really depressed with my life, you will know, because I will have this by my bedtable, reading it. My Mum gave me this book when I was about ten years old, and through the years I have read it, and re-read it, over and over again. I love, love, love the story (even the ending). Why has it never been made into a movie??
December 4, 2015
This was the first book I ever read by Catherine Gaskin and it is still my favorite. I read it when it was first presented as a Reader's Digest Condensed Book and then I had to get my hands on a hardback copy. That started me on gothic romances--Gaskin, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, etc. Great story that I like to pick up every now and then.
August 15, 2016
This book has a lot of the requirements of a gothic romance, but I missed the most important one: suspense. However, there are a lot of dangers: from the main characters, from the weather in the form of a giant hurricane and finally from a slave uprising.
It's 1833 in Scotland. The heroine, Fiona, is a governess who at 23 already has been fired from three positions because she cannot hide the fact that she has the second sight. Even though she prevented the death of one of her charges, her employers couldn't handle her gift, or curse as it's also called. Then Fiona gets the chance to travel to distant relatives who have a sugar plantation in the West Indies to take care of their 7 year old son. The family situation is explained early on and doesn't add to any kind of mystery. The mistress of the house does behave like perhaps she's having an affair, though. Both the older, illegimate son of her employer and a visiting family relative present possible love interests for Fiona.
The first half of the book was decidedly boring. I almost put it away unread, but fortunately it picked up its pace in the second half. A huge amount of text was spent on the revelation of the bad person and his/her motivation, not unworthy of Mr. Hercule Poirot himself.
I wondered why the author needed this second sight for our heroine and assume it's her way of making us curious. Victoria Holt tantalizes the reader all the time with just a few well-placed words, which is so much better. But who can equal Ms. Holt?
I've got a few other complaints. The author should have picked her names better. While reading I usually don't spell out the names all the time, just seeing its shape is enough. But having Andrew and Alister and Fiona and Flora together is confusing. Why the book was called Fiona is beyond me, as well. If she wanted to name the book after the most intriguing person, it wouldn't have been Fiona's but the name of the mistress of the house she should have picked, which unfortunately was Maria. Bummer. Maria is from a proud Spanish family and has two sisters: Katarina and Joanna. Ummm... Joanna? Shouldn't that have been Juana? No, but one of the house slaves is called Juanita.
I also came to hate the repeated use of the word "sweat" in the book. Thirtythree times it appeared. (Perspiration: five times). One morning the heroine arises early to leave her sweat-soaked bed. Gross!
The book could have used an epilogue. The ending isn't very happy and it would have been nice to learn how the heroine fared in, say, a year or ten.
It's 1833 in Scotland. The heroine, Fiona, is a governess who at 23 already has been fired from three positions because she cannot hide the fact that she has the second sight. Even though she prevented the death of one of her charges, her employers couldn't handle her gift, or curse as it's also called. Then Fiona gets the chance to travel to distant relatives who have a sugar plantation in the West Indies to take care of their 7 year old son. The family situation is explained early on and doesn't add to any kind of mystery. The mistress of the house does behave like perhaps she's having an affair, though. Both the older, illegimate son of her employer and a visiting family relative present possible love interests for Fiona.
The first half of the book was decidedly boring. I almost put it away unread, but fortunately it picked up its pace in the second half. A huge amount of text was spent on the revelation of the bad person and his/her motivation, not unworthy of Mr. Hercule Poirot himself.
I wondered why the author needed this second sight for our heroine and assume it's her way of making us curious. Victoria Holt tantalizes the reader all the time with just a few well-placed words, which is so much better. But who can equal Ms. Holt?
I've got a few other complaints. The author should have picked her names better. While reading I usually don't spell out the names all the time, just seeing its shape is enough. But having Andrew and Alister and Fiona and Flora together is confusing. Why the book was called Fiona is beyond me, as well. If she wanted to name the book after the most intriguing person, it wouldn't have been Fiona's but the name of the mistress of the house she should have picked, which unfortunately was Maria. Bummer. Maria is from a proud Spanish family and has two sisters: Katarina and Joanna. Ummm... Joanna? Shouldn't that have been Juana? No, but one of the house slaves is called Juanita.
I also came to hate the repeated use of the word "sweat" in the book. Thirtythree times it appeared. (Perspiration: five times). One morning the heroine arises early to leave her sweat-soaked bed. Gross!
The book could have used an epilogue. The ending isn't very happy and it would have been nice to learn how the heroine fared in, say, a year or ten.
June 8, 2011
This book was pretty good. There was romance in it so it was good. I thought it was sweet how Fiona and Fergus were going to end up together, but I thought that Fiona and Alister were going to end up together (which they did) because Fiona felt more comfortable and he made her feel safe. I'm sad that Maria ended up with Fergus, but happy that Fiona and Alister got together and they get to parent Duncan together. Riona is like the perfect wife for Alister because she is strong and all the things that Alister had wanted in a wife because he was going to be a politician. Fiona could support Alister like what he wanted. I'm sad that Samuel had to die. He was nice to Fiona and the African slave had to kill him when he was getting Duncan to safety.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2010
Well I enjoyed this up until the end, when I felt a little cheated. But I wasn't devastated about Fergus dying - clearly I wasn't really that invested in him as a character (though he was hot, phwoar!), and Fiona didn't really react that much, so I took it rather well. The character of Maria was great, not likeable, but awesome, she positively leaped off the page with all her poise and beauty and scheming. I did think though, that the whole 'sight' thing wasn't utilised very well. It was all that was talked about at the start, when Fiona was still in Scotland, and in the space of a week Fiona 'sees' things at least twice, and then not again for the rest of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2010
I finally hunted this book down. I loved this one-- very spooky, and I learned a lot as well. I loved the characters and the whole story. I need to read more by Gaskin. It has been years, and this one stuck in my mind. I have finally tracked it down again. :)
December 29, 2011
Wonderful - set in the West Indies during the time of slaves, their uprising and the resulting chaos. Deals with a woman with "second sight" which she is trying to hide, in that time and place.
February 14, 2017
Im in love with this novel. I read it almost 10 years ago and its still stuck in my mind and in a good sort of way. The ending always makes me sad though...
February 22, 2019
I read this book over 20 years ago, it stayed with me and I enjoyed it once again. A beautiful story, descriptively written.
August 7, 2021
A plantation novel. It was like a cross between Jamaica Inn and Gone with The Wind and so well-written that I could feel the tension between the characters and a sense of impending doom. I learnt a bit about emancipation in the British colonies. I did not see that ending coming. A good read. I'm glad I bought this book at a thrift store.
April 7, 2016
Catherine Gaskin, RDC-B, V2, 1970, 6/87. Fiona travels to the West Indies to become governess to her cousin, but feels danger immediately with the restless slaves striving for emancipation from their white owners and hurricanes threatening the island. Good.
February 5, 2016
One of those that one distinctly remembers having read some over three decades ago, but has no clue as to which particular story it is that one may remember as well! Do remember liking it, for some reason -
May 6, 2017
It my favorite book of all times. Closest to my heart. priceless.
August 21, 2018
Slow to start, but richly textured and, once it started, the story was great. Lots of twists and turns right up the end. I recommend this one, if you can find it.
February 12, 2025
The writer lived on one of the Virgin Islands for a short time in later life and the island in this book reminded me both of St Kitts and of Nevis, with which islands I am familiar, and which are not far from the Virgin islands. I loved the details about the island's natural environment and descriptions of the contrasts between the Atlantic and Carribbean sides of the island were evocative .
The characterisation in the book was strong and the plot had me gripped with its twists and turns. We see the island and its situation largely through the eyes of the main character of Fiona, a white Scottish woman and we are given a glimpse into the complex situation on the island as 'emancipation' arrives.
Catherine Gaskin was ahead of her time when she wrote this - her strongest character is arguably the enslaved Samuel (read the book and you will see why). She's not always what we in 2025 might consider politically correct and yet she is sometimes very much so in terms of her research. Frankly, her white Spanish characters tend to be rather stereotypical villainesses, whereas her portrayal of the enslaved black people tends to be sympathetic, except when voodoo machinations enter the plotline and she gets a bit carried away.
This was a better written her/historical romantic novel than I expected and I am keen to read more books by this writer.
The characterisation in the book was strong and the plot had me gripped with its twists and turns. We see the island and its situation largely through the eyes of the main character of Fiona, a white Scottish woman and we are given a glimpse into the complex situation on the island as 'emancipation' arrives.
Catherine Gaskin was ahead of her time when she wrote this - her strongest character is arguably the enslaved Samuel (read the book and you will see why). She's not always what we in 2025 might consider politically correct and yet she is sometimes very much so in terms of her research. Frankly, her white Spanish characters tend to be rather stereotypical villainesses, whereas her portrayal of the enslaved black people tends to be sympathetic, except when voodoo machinations enter the plotline and she gets a bit carried away.
This was a better written her/historical romantic novel than I expected and I am keen to read more books by this writer.
December 4, 2022
Šotimaal sündinud ja kasvanud Fiona McIntyre'l on kõhedusttekitav võime õnnetusi ette näha, isegi kui need toimuvad kauges tulevikus. Ootamatult pakutakse talle võimalust elupaika vahetada ja oma noore nõbu koduõpetajannana Lääne-India saarestikku sõita. Fiona võtab pakkumise rõõmuga vastu, kuid oodatud rahu asemel leiab ta eest suhkrurooistanduse valgete isandate ja mustade orjade vahelised pinged ning varjatud kired, mis ei tõota midagi head...
Minu kommentaar: Esialgu ei olnud selle raamatu lugemine üldse paeluv ja kippus venima. II pooles läks sündmustik põnevamaks. Kokkuvõttes päris huvitav ja hästi kokku sõlmitud lugu. Minu jaoks jäi natuke puudulikuks peategelase selgeltnägemise teema, millega lugu Šotimaal arenema hakkas, aga näis, nagu oleks see võime Lääne- India saarestikus katkenud. See jäigi lõpuni käsitlemata, kuigi jäi mulje, et Fionaga kaasas käiv needus on romaani keskne teema.
Minu kommentaar: Esialgu ei olnud selle raamatu lugemine üldse paeluv ja kippus venima. II pooles läks sündmustik põnevamaks. Kokkuvõttes päris huvitav ja hästi kokku sõlmitud lugu. Minu jaoks jäi natuke puudulikuks peategelase selgeltnägemise teema, millega lugu Šotimaal arenema hakkas, aga näis, nagu oleks see võime Lääne- India saarestikus katkenud. See jäigi lõpuni käsitlemata, kuigi jäi mulje, et Fionaga kaasas käiv needus on romaani keskne teema.
July 18, 2019
Love, hate, jealousy, envy, sorrow and joy. Review by Jeana
Fiona possesses "the sight" and has no premonition before what will be revealed to her as a vision takes her unaware. She travels from Scotland to the West Indies believing that if she takes her resisters place as Governess to a small child she will save her half brother Duncan from a vision she had. She finds a nearly perfect replica of her half brother in another Duncan that she has been brought to teach. She also finds herself immersed in the intrigue of love, hate, jealousy, envy, sorrow and joy as she strives to find her way, knowing her vision was of the Duncan she has to protect and save from her vision of the future.
Fiona possesses "the sight" and has no premonition before what will be revealed to her as a vision takes her unaware. She travels from Scotland to the West Indies believing that if she takes her resisters place as Governess to a small child she will save her half brother Duncan from a vision she had. She finds a nearly perfect replica of her half brother in another Duncan that she has been brought to teach. She also finds herself immersed in the intrigue of love, hate, jealousy, envy, sorrow and joy as she strives to find her way, knowing her vision was of the Duncan she has to protect and save from her vision of the future.
February 19, 2025
I’d not read any books by this author before. It was an interesting read to be sure. Fiona is our main character and the book describes what happens to her when she leaves Scotland to go to the West Indies to be a governess for a richer branch of her family. The cane plantation she goes to live at is able to function due to black slave labour. There is a strange and tense atmosphere at Landfall and events play out in a violent way. The story and characters were good but I was disappointed with the ending of the story as it just stops. It needed an epilogue. Also, Fiona has the gift of sight which is emphasised at the beginning of the book and yet is under used when she gets to Landfall where she could have done with it.
October 3, 2025
Durch einen glücklichen Zufall fiel mir dieses Buch in die Hände – und es erwies sich als genau jene Geschichte, nach der ich schon so lange gesucht hatte. Sie beginnt in den nebelverhangenen Highlands Schottlands und führt bis in die fernen Küsten Westindiens, hinein in die letzten Tage der legalen Sklaverei. Zugleich trägt die Geschichte den unverwechselbaren Schwung einer klassischen Gothic Romance: dunkel, geheimnisvoll, von Leidenschaft durchdrungen und voller schicksalhafter Schönheit, die mich von der ersten Seite an gefesselt hat
March 24, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. It had all the elements for escape: romance, a beautiful, brave heroine, an exotic locale, a villainess, an historic moment in history, lovely descriptions, a complicated plot, and complex characters. I am not giving out any spoilers… just enjoy.
March 30, 2023
Definitely one of the best I've ever laid my eyes on. Its description is perfectly flawless, the build-up to the plot twist at the end is truly captivating, and the themes of romance, betrayal and redemption mark this book as one of my all-time favourites.
February 25, 2020
This is probably my least favourite of Catherine Gaskin’s novels. But considering how much I love her writing it is by no means bad.
February 1, 2022
I have read this book about five times, I love it, I first read it when it was first published when I was young. I recommend it.
February 2, 2022
Read this book over 40 years ago & still enjoyed as though I was reading it for the first time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2022
Great book! One of my favorites. The book is not predictable and I like that very much in a book.
August 21, 2023
4★彡 What a loaded book—the 'second sight,' slavery in the Caribbean, a knotty love story. That ending should've made me jolly because I was rooting for Alister and disliked Fergus—but you couldn't help but feel sad just because Fiona is sad lol. The novel has a haunting gothic backdrop and explores themes including slavery with a profound and unsettling touch. Evocative as well as unforgettable.
February 20, 2024
that loser fergus i never liked him. loved when she stroked across his face with a whip he deserved that.
August 16, 2012
Amazing
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews