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Isabella Rockwell #1
Winter's Bite
Is your worst enemy the one looking back at you from the mirror?
Fifteen year old Isabella Rockwell’s bones ache with homesickness. But home is eight thousand miles away in northern India, and Isabella is imprisoned in the bitter winter of nineteenth century London. Sent to England after her father goes missing in a violent battle, Isabella runs away from a life of drudgery and hardship. Rescued from death by a gang of street urchins, Isabella finds the shelter and love she so desperately craves. As an accomplished trickster, she starts to save for her passage home with the money she makes from swindling the rich. After a moment of heroism which surprises even herself, Isabella wakes in Kensington Palace. This is an opportunity too good to miss. If she can steal one of the glowing, priceless paintings, she and her gang will have enough to keep out searing cold and gnawing hunger for the rest of their lives. If Isabella plays her cards right. What she hasn’t reckoned with is her growing fondness for the Princess Alixandrina Victoria Hanover, a kind and lonely girl her own age, and heir to the British throne. Despite the richness of her surroundings, Alix’s life is harsh and without love. When someone tries to poison Isabella, Isabella realises it is Alix’s life which is under threat. At first Isabella suspects Prince Ernest, a hardened general, and next in line to the throne. Or is it John Conroy, a powerful schemer, in love with Alix’s beautiful spendthrift mother, and desperate to get his hands on Alix’s inheritance? Either way, Isabella’s feelings of responsibility for Alix and her loyalty to the gang who saved her life, are tearing her apart. Instead of taking advantage of Alix, will Isabella puts her own needs aside and cast herself into mortal danger to save her friend? Only the harsh lessons of Isabella’s past can help her decide if she should leave Alix to her fate - a fate tied up with Isabella’s own. A fate which will have consequences far beyond those she could ever have imagined.
Fifteen year old Isabella Rockwell’s bones ache with homesickness. But home is eight thousand miles away in northern India, and Isabella is imprisoned in the bitter winter of nineteenth century London. Sent to England after her father goes missing in a violent battle, Isabella runs away from a life of drudgery and hardship. Rescued from death by a gang of street urchins, Isabella finds the shelter and love she so desperately craves. As an accomplished trickster, she starts to save for her passage home with the money she makes from swindling the rich. After a moment of heroism which surprises even herself, Isabella wakes in Kensington Palace. This is an opportunity too good to miss. If she can steal one of the glowing, priceless paintings, she and her gang will have enough to keep out searing cold and gnawing hunger for the rest of their lives. If Isabella plays her cards right. What she hasn’t reckoned with is her growing fondness for the Princess Alixandrina Victoria Hanover, a kind and lonely girl her own age, and heir to the British throne. Despite the richness of her surroundings, Alix’s life is harsh and without love. When someone tries to poison Isabella, Isabella realises it is Alix’s life which is under threat. At first Isabella suspects Prince Ernest, a hardened general, and next in line to the throne. Or is it John Conroy, a powerful schemer, in love with Alix’s beautiful spendthrift mother, and desperate to get his hands on Alix’s inheritance? Either way, Isabella’s feelings of responsibility for Alix and her loyalty to the gang who saved her life, are tearing her apart. Instead of taking advantage of Alix, will Isabella puts her own needs aside and cast herself into mortal danger to save her friend? Only the harsh lessons of Isabella’s past can help her decide if she should leave Alix to her fate - a fate tied up with Isabella’s own. A fate which will have consequences far beyond those she could ever have imagined.
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2012
156 people are currently reading
1828 people want to read
About the author
Hannah Parry
4 books95 followersHannah Parry trained as a paediatric nurse in the UK.
Her first novel Winter's Bite, won first prize in the 12+ section at the Winchester Writers' Festival in June 2012. Fever Quest, the sequel, won the Write Historical Fiction Monthly Masterpiece and was longlisted for the MSLexia Children's Novel prize in 2016.
The Mechanics' Institute Review, Halfway Down the Stairs, The Doubleback Review and The Junction published her short fiction. In 2021 she was longlisted for the BBC Short Story Award.
Her latest book is an adult thriller, Breathing for Both of Us, published in December 2023.
The Baby Exchange, a book club fiction novel for adults will be published in July of 2025.
The third in the Isabella Rockwell trilogy will be published in December 2025.
Her website can be found at https://www.hannahparry.com/
Her first novel Winter's Bite, won first prize in the 12+ section at the Winchester Writers' Festival in June 2012. Fever Quest, the sequel, won the Write Historical Fiction Monthly Masterpiece and was longlisted for the MSLexia Children's Novel prize in 2016.
The Mechanics' Institute Review, Halfway Down the Stairs, The Doubleback Review and The Junction published her short fiction. In 2021 she was longlisted for the BBC Short Story Award.
Her latest book is an adult thriller, Breathing for Both of Us, published in December 2023.
The Baby Exchange, a book club fiction novel for adults will be published in July of 2025.
The third in the Isabella Rockwell trilogy will be published in December 2025.
Her website can be found at https://www.hannahparry.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 22, 2014
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Isabella Rockwell's War by Hannah Parry stars Isabella who is a courageous twelve year old in a bad position. She lives in India but because of terrible circumstances, she is forced to leave by herself to go to England, a cold, harsh place she's never known. Her choices as she arrives are thus: either become a street runaway and have independence or stick around and be sent to an orphanage where she'd work as a servant. She decides to run away and the group of kids she meets and a beautiful girl she saves changes her life forever.
I admit that I got behind on my reading and so I didn't pick up this book until a few days ago. I'm hitting myself, because this is one of the gems in the self publishing world. The tone of the book reminds me of a mix of The Secret Garden and The Little Princess. It's been a while since I read a middle grade book, but this is one that doesn't dumb down the story for its readers. The pacing is great, and I really liked Isabella as a protagonist, who carries the story with her spunkiness. The twists are great too-- I definitely didn't suspect the right person!
The only thing I would suggest is having us meet Alix a little quicker since she is even mentioned in the synopsis. Otherwise, I think this is a very strong debut.
Overall, a really great middle grade read that I'll definitely suggest to that age group to read.
Isabella Rockwell's War by Hannah Parry stars Isabella who is a courageous twelve year old in a bad position. She lives in India but because of terrible circumstances, she is forced to leave by herself to go to England, a cold, harsh place she's never known. Her choices as she arrives are thus: either become a street runaway and have independence or stick around and be sent to an orphanage where she'd work as a servant. She decides to run away and the group of kids she meets and a beautiful girl she saves changes her life forever.
I admit that I got behind on my reading and so I didn't pick up this book until a few days ago. I'm hitting myself, because this is one of the gems in the self publishing world. The tone of the book reminds me of a mix of The Secret Garden and The Little Princess. It's been a while since I read a middle grade book, but this is one that doesn't dumb down the story for its readers. The pacing is great, and I really liked Isabella as a protagonist, who carries the story with her spunkiness. The twists are great too-- I definitely didn't suspect the right person!
The only thing I would suggest is having us meet Alix a little quicker since she is even mentioned in the synopsis. Otherwise, I think this is a very strong debut.
Overall, a really great middle grade read that I'll definitely suggest to that age group to read.
July 26, 2014
Short and Sweet:
I absolutely adored this! Bursting with beautiful writing and insanely lovable characters, Isabella Rockwell's War is perfect for anyone who enjoys historical middle grade! I desperately want to read more from this author.
To Elaborate...
When news of her beloved father's death reaches her, Isabella is determined to go find his missing body. Soon after she leaves, she gets more news that the kind woman who was like a mother to her died as well, and Isabella is sent from her home in India to London. There, she lives on the streets until she finds a gang of orphans who share a house. Soon, they become like family to her, but after saving the Princess's life, she will have to figure out where exactly her home is.
Incredible historical detail? Check.
Top notch character development that includes some serious heart-warming scenes? Check.
Really awesome and suspenseful plot line? Check and check.
Isabella is such a great protagonist, and I love, love, love her story. The grief she experiences, the trials she faces, and the home she misses make her into a wonderfully complex character who's just searching for a place to belong again. I love her interactions with Midge, Ruby, and the gang she meets in London and how close they all get. I admit, I was dying for some romance between her and Zach, but 3 or 4 years down the road (since they both are young and kind of have, ya know, a focus on surviving and whatnot) I could see their relationship really sparking.
I also really love the friendship between Alix and Isabella. Alix, who is surrounded by people who want to be her friend for royal benefits and a mother who just wants money, is in desperate need of a real friend. Likewise, Isabella can use someone just like Alix who is the opposite of her in many ways but shares a kind heart. The plot behind the danger Alix is in unfolded so well and was absolutely gripping. I bounced around with who I thought was behind it, but I never suspected the full story of what was really going on.
All in all, this is an excellent story to curl up with and get lost in. I really, really hope that there is more to come, whether it's a sequel to this story, or just another wonderful book from this amazing author.
5 Hearts!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2...
I absolutely adored this! Bursting with beautiful writing and insanely lovable characters, Isabella Rockwell's War is perfect for anyone who enjoys historical middle grade! I desperately want to read more from this author.
To Elaborate...
When news of her beloved father's death reaches her, Isabella is determined to go find his missing body. Soon after she leaves, she gets more news that the kind woman who was like a mother to her died as well, and Isabella is sent from her home in India to London. There, she lives on the streets until she finds a gang of orphans who share a house. Soon, they become like family to her, but after saving the Princess's life, she will have to figure out where exactly her home is.
Incredible historical detail? Check.
Top notch character development that includes some serious heart-warming scenes? Check.
Really awesome and suspenseful plot line? Check and check.
Isabella is such a great protagonist, and I love, love, love her story. The grief she experiences, the trials she faces, and the home she misses make her into a wonderfully complex character who's just searching for a place to belong again. I love her interactions with Midge, Ruby, and the gang she meets in London and how close they all get. I admit, I was dying for some romance between her and Zach, but 3 or 4 years down the road (since they both are young and kind of have, ya know, a focus on surviving and whatnot) I could see their relationship really sparking.
I also really love the friendship between Alix and Isabella. Alix, who is surrounded by people who want to be her friend for royal benefits and a mother who just wants money, is in desperate need of a real friend. Likewise, Isabella can use someone just like Alix who is the opposite of her in many ways but shares a kind heart. The plot behind the danger Alix is in unfolded so well and was absolutely gripping. I bounced around with who I thought was behind it, but I never suspected the full story of what was really going on.
All in all, this is an excellent story to curl up with and get lost in. I really, really hope that there is more to come, whether it's a sequel to this story, or just another wonderful book from this amazing author.
5 Hearts!
Originally posted at I Heart YA Fiction: http://iheartyafiction.blogspot.com/2...
June 6, 2013
Isabella is devastated when her father disappears on a regimental mission in India. She lives in India and loves the culture. By many she is considered a native, and likes to think of herself that way also.
She is shipped off to England after a failed attempt to find her father. She is to learn a trade in as some sort of a servant, but she doesn't go along with the plan. Almost immediately she runs away after setting feet in England. She finds refuge with street children and learns a new way of life, not completely honest. While scoping out a wealthy neighborhood she is in the right place at the right time and saves the life of Princess Alexi.
I knew this book was historical fiction, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of an heir to the throne named Alexandrina Hanover. So I googled it! Her middle name is Victoria, Queen Victoria. For some strange reason, that made the book a little more fun for me.
Isabella finds herself thinking like a soldier, remembering all that her father taught her to unravel a plot to kill the Princess. I had to keep reminding myself that Isabella is twelve. She is a very smart young woman with a great head on her shoulders. She also saves the day.
This book has a great cast of characters. I really liked the street kids. I wish that there would have been a little more of them, even when she was staying with Alexi.
One thing that I love about a historical fiction book for kids, is that it may lead them to want to know more about history. You never know, they may want to find out if there was a Princess named Alexi? Then they could learn about Queen Victoria.
She is shipped off to England after a failed attempt to find her father. She is to learn a trade in as some sort of a servant, but she doesn't go along with the plan. Almost immediately she runs away after setting feet in England. She finds refuge with street children and learns a new way of life, not completely honest. While scoping out a wealthy neighborhood she is in the right place at the right time and saves the life of Princess Alexi.
I knew this book was historical fiction, but for the life of me, I couldn't think of an heir to the throne named Alexandrina Hanover. So I googled it! Her middle name is Victoria, Queen Victoria. For some strange reason, that made the book a little more fun for me.
Isabella finds herself thinking like a soldier, remembering all that her father taught her to unravel a plot to kill the Princess. I had to keep reminding myself that Isabella is twelve. She is a very smart young woman with a great head on her shoulders. She also saves the day.
This book has a great cast of characters. I really liked the street kids. I wish that there would have been a little more of them, even when she was staying with Alexi.
One thing that I love about a historical fiction book for kids, is that it may lead them to want to know more about history. You never know, they may want to find out if there was a Princess named Alexi? Then they could learn about Queen Victoria.
Read
March 23, 2021A little princess redux.
This is well told and enhanced, but closely reflective of a classic tale. Oddly it will be up to how well the rest of the story goes for me. I may well need to upgrade my rating.
This is well told and enhanced, but closely reflective of a classic tale. Oddly it will be up to how well the rest of the story goes for me. I may well need to upgrade my rating.
March 12, 2013
Deliciously improbable serendipity
I can’t wait to read this delicious tale full of improbable twists and turns to my grandchildren when they visit next time. The main character, Isabella, cavorts through the plot making plausible decisions often based on her late father’s advice. Cast on to the streets of London, after having been orphaned in her homeland, India, Isabella uses her cultural smarts to build a life for herself. Demonstrating the riding skills of an adult soldier, she rescues Princess Adri from certain death. Happenstance finds this brilliantly conceived young woman mixing equally with royals and commoners, charming them all with her bag of tricks. What might be considered predictable conclusions flower often inauspiciously enhancing the storyline. Though I do not know the detailed historical context, it is very believably portrayed in research-magnified details. All in all, I could not put down this crisply written tale. A great read. Pick it up. I did a non-reciprocal review with a gifted copy and am under no obligation to review it positively. It is worth every penny.
I can’t wait to read this delicious tale full of improbable twists and turns to my grandchildren when they visit next time. The main character, Isabella, cavorts through the plot making plausible decisions often based on her late father’s advice. Cast on to the streets of London, after having been orphaned in her homeland, India, Isabella uses her cultural smarts to build a life for herself. Demonstrating the riding skills of an adult soldier, she rescues Princess Adri from certain death. Happenstance finds this brilliantly conceived young woman mixing equally with royals and commoners, charming them all with her bag of tricks. What might be considered predictable conclusions flower often inauspiciously enhancing the storyline. Though I do not know the detailed historical context, it is very believably portrayed in research-magnified details. All in all, I could not put down this crisply written tale. A great read. Pick it up. I did a non-reciprocal review with a gifted copy and am under no obligation to review it positively. It is worth every penny.
August 23, 2013
I received this book from the author and have done an honest review. Isabella Rockwell is only twelve years old when her life falls apart. Her parents are dead, her beloved caretaker dies of cholera, and she is sent away from India, where she has lived all her life, to live in cold, wet London, with no friends and no money. She is able to survive only because of all the unusual skills she has acquired in her short life, and because she has the ability to make good friends. In her efforts to stay alive and somehow make enough money to go back to India, Isabella soon finds herself involved in royal intrigue. I really enjoyed this book. It was well written. Isabella was a likeable, resourceful character. At first I was surprised at how many things she knew how to do, but each skill is explained in the story and becomes believable. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing until the end. The settings, in India and England, were richly described, and I felt as if I was there. I hope there will be a sequel.
Read
March 15, 2025Started Off Well
For the first few chapters, I found this book excellent, although there were a LOT of formatting issues with the Kindle edition that I read. There were some small editing errors; missing words in a few cases that made sentences read poorly, and paragraphs that jumped all over the page. These distracted from the enjoyment of the book.
But I found the early chapters set in India to be fascinating, and the initial Dickensian sequence regarding the band of homeless trickster children, scraping by for a living, to be quite interesting. However, from that point on, the whole story went downhill into fairy-tale nonsense that went far beyond mere serendipitous situations.
On a final note, I stopped counting the number of times that the then-Princess Victoria was addressed as "Your Majesty". That form of address is reserved only for the King or Queen. As a princess, Victoria would have been addressed as "Your Highness". This glaring error really irritated me.
I gave up on the book halfway through, and will be deleting it from my Kindle.
For the first few chapters, I found this book excellent, although there were a LOT of formatting issues with the Kindle edition that I read. There were some small editing errors; missing words in a few cases that made sentences read poorly, and paragraphs that jumped all over the page. These distracted from the enjoyment of the book.
But I found the early chapters set in India to be fascinating, and the initial Dickensian sequence regarding the band of homeless trickster children, scraping by for a living, to be quite interesting. However, from that point on, the whole story went downhill into fairy-tale nonsense that went far beyond mere serendipitous situations.
On a final note, I stopped counting the number of times that the then-Princess Victoria was addressed as "Your Majesty". That form of address is reserved only for the King or Queen. As a princess, Victoria would have been addressed as "Your Highness". This glaring error really irritated me.
I gave up on the book halfway through, and will be deleting it from my Kindle.
September 8, 2025
Winter’s Bite pulled me in from the very first page with its haunting atmosphere and sharp, lyrical prose. The characters are rich and complex, and the plot twists kept me turning pages late into the night. It strikes a perfect balance between suspense and emotion, with just enough mystery to keep you guessing. Highly recommend for fans of dark fantasy or atmospheric thrillers — this one lingers long after the last page!
March 3, 2018
Free via Good Reads.
A little slow to get into but I thoroughly enjoyed this towards the end wondering where the "war" was coming from. A lovely, heart-warming story with charming characters and full of hope.
A little slow to get into but I thoroughly enjoyed this towards the end wondering where the "war" was coming from. A lovely, heart-warming story with charming characters and full of hope.
November 3, 2024
An Admirable Heroine!
Isabella had very impulsive qualities, but she always tried to be her own best version of herself, and in the end, that is what made her character one not soon forgotten.
Isabella had very impulsive qualities, but she always tried to be her own best version of herself, and in the end, that is what made her character one not soon forgotten.
August 22, 2024
Exciting story
What a tale! I enjoyed every bit of it and what a contrast in settings! From the warmth of India to the slums of London, to the palace! Wonderful story!
What a tale! I enjoyed every bit of it and what a contrast in settings! From the warmth of India to the slums of London, to the palace! Wonderful story!
October 29, 2024
I loved this historical fiction book. The unusual setting and references to India set it apart from other similar stories.
November 11, 2024
great book
This was a heart breaking story.well worth the read. I cried before the book ended. So much heartache for such a young woman to bear.
This was a heart breaking story.well worth the read. I cried before the book ended. So much heartache for such a young woman to bear.
May 1, 2025
very good book. Isabella, India, England at time of King Edward and Alexandria, who became Queen Victoria in later years in the real world.
April 14, 2013
Isabella Rockwell’s War is a novel that was submitted to me for review from the author and it was a very surprising and fun read. The characters were all solid and real, Sophie is an inspirational heroine, who I would indeed love to meet. The most important thing about this novel is the strong message about survival and the motivation that even in the harshest of times you can go on and turn your life around. For a children’s novel this is spectacular and very enjoyable. Even adults will adore reading this fresh historical novel.
Isabella Rockwell’s War begins with Isabella running off in search of her missing father who is believed to be dead. He was one of two soldiers sent out on a mission and neither returned. Desperate, Isabella runs away to find him but gets lost in the Indian desert and starts to dehydrate. Luckily some soldiers find her and take her back to base. It’s here she learns that her nanny has also died and the only thing the army can do is send her back to England until she is of age. In England she discovers that things aren’t as they seem so she escapes to live on the streets but things are really tough out there. She knows she needs to find shelter and food or it will all be too late and she will never return to her beloved India. On the streets she meets a gang of homeless children who are kind to her but somehow she gets mixed up with the royal family and her dreams seem further away than ever. Time is running out and Isabella knows something isn’t right.
I really loved the character of Isabella. She was strong and determined and had the will power to go on even when things were severely tough and hard. She was rather inspirational in the way she wouldn’t give up. She was a very strong character and one that should inspire all young girls. Isabella was a smart girl with knowledge of herbs and medicine and also the ability to protect herself. She had a great survival instinct; she thinks about things so far in advance that even the reader must keep up with her quick intellect and wit. In the novel she’s not just a girl trying to survive, she’s a girl who tries to help her friends and even becomes a protector to one and saves her life. She is a force to be reckoned with and I was pleasantly surprised at the strong fleshed out character that is Isabella Rockwell. I will miss reading about her and the troubles that follow her every step.
We have many secondary characters throughout the novel and even they were very well fleshed out, none of them were flat which is great. The author must have put a lot of time into shaping these characters to be what they are in the finished product. My particular favourites being: Midge, another homeless boy who was particularly attached to Isabella. Zachariah who I wanted Isabella to end up with but alas it didn’t. He was the leader of the group and was very protective of his little sister. It was great seeing the soft and sensitive side to his character. You could easily see that she was his whole world. And of course there is Alix. The royal Princess who Isabella saves from severe injury. It’s her kindness that brings Isabella back into the world and together they are the best of friends. She’s a very strong character too. She may seem childish and spoilt at first but you soon see that she is indeed fit to be a queen.
The historical aspects to the novel were really interesting, I loved the whole look into the royal family and the way Alix’s mother would use her to get money. This was indeed the case back then and it was great to see the author pick up on these things. You can easily tell that she has done her research. There’s action and adventure throughout the novel as Isabella battles to survive and then saves Alix’s life. While Isabella also plays detective in such a professional fashion, you can’t help but root for her from the very start. There are so many little things in this novel that make the overall book so good.
I’m really surprised at how much I loved this book and really enjoyed reading it. Isabella Rockwell’s War is a really powerful novel with an inspirational young heroine. It is definitely a book I recommend for young girls as Isabella is very inspiring. Nevertheless adults can and will enjoy it just as much. I would like to thank the author, Hannah Parry for offering me the chance to review her book in exchange for an honest review.
Isabella Rockwell’s War begins with Isabella running off in search of her missing father who is believed to be dead. He was one of two soldiers sent out on a mission and neither returned. Desperate, Isabella runs away to find him but gets lost in the Indian desert and starts to dehydrate. Luckily some soldiers find her and take her back to base. It’s here she learns that her nanny has also died and the only thing the army can do is send her back to England until she is of age. In England she discovers that things aren’t as they seem so she escapes to live on the streets but things are really tough out there. She knows she needs to find shelter and food or it will all be too late and she will never return to her beloved India. On the streets she meets a gang of homeless children who are kind to her but somehow she gets mixed up with the royal family and her dreams seem further away than ever. Time is running out and Isabella knows something isn’t right.
I really loved the character of Isabella. She was strong and determined and had the will power to go on even when things were severely tough and hard. She was rather inspirational in the way she wouldn’t give up. She was a very strong character and one that should inspire all young girls. Isabella was a smart girl with knowledge of herbs and medicine and also the ability to protect herself. She had a great survival instinct; she thinks about things so far in advance that even the reader must keep up with her quick intellect and wit. In the novel she’s not just a girl trying to survive, she’s a girl who tries to help her friends and even becomes a protector to one and saves her life. She is a force to be reckoned with and I was pleasantly surprised at the strong fleshed out character that is Isabella Rockwell. I will miss reading about her and the troubles that follow her every step.
We have many secondary characters throughout the novel and even they were very well fleshed out, none of them were flat which is great. The author must have put a lot of time into shaping these characters to be what they are in the finished product. My particular favourites being: Midge, another homeless boy who was particularly attached to Isabella. Zachariah who I wanted Isabella to end up with but alas it didn’t. He was the leader of the group and was very protective of his little sister. It was great seeing the soft and sensitive side to his character. You could easily see that she was his whole world. And of course there is Alix. The royal Princess who Isabella saves from severe injury. It’s her kindness that brings Isabella back into the world and together they are the best of friends. She’s a very strong character too. She may seem childish and spoilt at first but you soon see that she is indeed fit to be a queen.
The historical aspects to the novel were really interesting, I loved the whole look into the royal family and the way Alix’s mother would use her to get money. This was indeed the case back then and it was great to see the author pick up on these things. You can easily tell that she has done her research. There’s action and adventure throughout the novel as Isabella battles to survive and then saves Alix’s life. While Isabella also plays detective in such a professional fashion, you can’t help but root for her from the very start. There are so many little things in this novel that make the overall book so good.
I’m really surprised at how much I loved this book and really enjoyed reading it. Isabella Rockwell’s War is a really powerful novel with an inspirational young heroine. It is definitely a book I recommend for young girls as Isabella is very inspiring. Nevertheless adults can and will enjoy it just as much. I would like to thank the author, Hannah Parry for offering me the chance to review her book in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2013
I was sent a paperback copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I was contacted by Hannah Parry, the author of Isabella Rockwell’s War, asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing her novel. At first I was a little hesitant, mainly because; if any of you follow my blog, you’ll know that I’m not a huge fan of Historical Fiction. I’ve never really been sure of the reason why this is - I find that I’m not a fan of films that are set back in time either. However, the synopsis of Isabella Rockwell’s War looked really intriguing and interesting – and I was willing to give it a shot. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that, not only did I read this book quite quickly, but I also thoroughly enjoyed it as well!
Isabella Rockwell was raised in India in the 1820’s until she hears the terrible news of her father early death. Isabella is then shipped off to London, England until she turns sixteen and is able to claim her father’s pension money. Unfortunately, things aren’t as they seem and Isabella ends up on the streets of London, cold and alone. As Isabella tries to scrape together enough money to make it home to India she can’t seem to shake the creeping feeling that something is not right; that something threatens not only her new best friend, but the throne of England itself.
When I first started reading this book, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be captured by the story. The first few chapters of the book were a little slow and I started to think that it wasn’t going to pick up. However, all of a sudden the book picked up its pace and started getting really interesting and I’m so glad that I continued to push on and continue reading it. The ending of Isabella Rockwell’s War completely took me by surprise, but I believe it was done perfectly. Whilst reading the book I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next, but I was always wrong – which made it even more fun to read – I find overly predictable books tend to get boring at times. Hannah Parry’s writing style is beautiful and so down to earth that it’s easy to get sucked into her story world and be absorbed by her wonderful characters.
I loved Isabella – she was such an inspirational and lovely character. I usually tend to read novels with characters that are quite a bit older – mainly because I find very immature characters a bore and really irritating. However, Isabella is quite the opposite! She’s strong-willed, smart, kind and independent. All of these characteristics blended together to create the amazing character that she is – I envied her strength and determination to carry on and live with the hand that she’s been dealt. Isabella was just a very likeable and interesting character that everyone will love – and she’s quickly become one of my favourite young characters.
There are other, secondary characters that we meet throughout this novel. Although it doesn’t go into deep detail about all of them, you can tell they were all really well thought through. Each had their own different, interesting and quirky personalities which I loved. Out of all of them, however, my favourite had to be Alix – even though she’s a princess and has always gotten whatever she wanted; she was not at all conceited or rude. All Alix ever wanted was the love and affection of her mother, and all her mother wanted was more and more money. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned out to be a spoilt, uncaring brat – but she was quite the opposite.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read with an inspirational and strong message about survival and how good things can happen, even when things look bleak. I would recommend it not only for the younger readers, but adults as well. I’m so glad that I decided to give this novel a try despite my previous misgivings. I believe the 4/5 star rating is a perfect fit due to the reasons I have stated above. I’d like to thank Hannah for sending me her novel for review; this book has completely changed my perspective of Historical Fiction. I can’t wait to be able to read more from Hannah Parry, I can’t believe she’s not more widely recognised - she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for!
I was contacted by Hannah Parry, the author of Isabella Rockwell’s War, asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing her novel. At first I was a little hesitant, mainly because; if any of you follow my blog, you’ll know that I’m not a huge fan of Historical Fiction. I’ve never really been sure of the reason why this is - I find that I’m not a fan of films that are set back in time either. However, the synopsis of Isabella Rockwell’s War looked really intriguing and interesting – and I was willing to give it a shot. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that, not only did I read this book quite quickly, but I also thoroughly enjoyed it as well!
Isabella Rockwell was raised in India in the 1820’s until she hears the terrible news of her father early death. Isabella is then shipped off to London, England until she turns sixteen and is able to claim her father’s pension money. Unfortunately, things aren’t as they seem and Isabella ends up on the streets of London, cold and alone. As Isabella tries to scrape together enough money to make it home to India she can’t seem to shake the creeping feeling that something is not right; that something threatens not only her new best friend, but the throne of England itself.
When I first started reading this book, I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be captured by the story. The first few chapters of the book were a little slow and I started to think that it wasn’t going to pick up. However, all of a sudden the book picked up its pace and started getting really interesting and I’m so glad that I continued to push on and continue reading it. The ending of Isabella Rockwell’s War completely took me by surprise, but I believe it was done perfectly. Whilst reading the book I was constantly trying to guess what would happen next, but I was always wrong – which made it even more fun to read – I find overly predictable books tend to get boring at times. Hannah Parry’s writing style is beautiful and so down to earth that it’s easy to get sucked into her story world and be absorbed by her wonderful characters.
I loved Isabella – she was such an inspirational and lovely character. I usually tend to read novels with characters that are quite a bit older – mainly because I find very immature characters a bore and really irritating. However, Isabella is quite the opposite! She’s strong-willed, smart, kind and independent. All of these characteristics blended together to create the amazing character that she is – I envied her strength and determination to carry on and live with the hand that she’s been dealt. Isabella was just a very likeable and interesting character that everyone will love – and she’s quickly become one of my favourite young characters.
There are other, secondary characters that we meet throughout this novel. Although it doesn’t go into deep detail about all of them, you can tell they were all really well thought through. Each had their own different, interesting and quirky personalities which I loved. Out of all of them, however, my favourite had to be Alix – even though she’s a princess and has always gotten whatever she wanted; she was not at all conceited or rude. All Alix ever wanted was the love and affection of her mother, and all her mother wanted was more and more money. I wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned out to be a spoilt, uncaring brat – but she was quite the opposite.
Overall, I thought this was a fantastic read with an inspirational and strong message about survival and how good things can happen, even when things look bleak. I would recommend it not only for the younger readers, but adults as well. I’m so glad that I decided to give this novel a try despite my previous misgivings. I believe the 4/5 star rating is a perfect fit due to the reasons I have stated above. I’d like to thank Hannah for sending me her novel for review; this book has completely changed my perspective of Historical Fiction. I can’t wait to be able to read more from Hannah Parry, I can’t believe she’s not more widely recognised - she’s definitely an author to keep an eye out for!
January 26, 2013
** I received this book through Goodreads First Reads. This in no way affects my review. **
India 1820 – Isabella, 12 years old, finds herself orphaned and alone after hearing the news of her father’s death. She’s shipped off to London to work until she can claim the money that’s rightfully hers when she turns sixteen. Things, however, are not as they seem.
Let me start by saying that I loved Isabella. For a 12 year old, she was so mature, independent and strong. I noticed early on in the book that this was a character I was going to love.
I loved how clear her thoughts were, how much will power she had, even as a child. Next to this strong girl, there were a few other characters that I really liked: Alix’ kindness, Midge’s little puppy dog behavior, Ruby’s caring side, and even Zachariah. Underneath his tough act, there was a boy who got hurt beyond prepare. Trying to look after his little sister and trying to take care of everyone. He built this little den for all those kids to feel safe. They stuck together as a family.
I really admired their will to keep each other safe, to survive on the streets and to build a home for themselves even when they had nothing left to lose.
Next to these great characters there is an amazing plot that begins with Isabella’s loss and her fight to escape London to go back to her homeland, India. Along her journey she saves Alix, or should I say: Princess Alixandrina Victoria Hanover. The two girls turn toward each other and become best friends. Alix takes Isabella under her wing, saving her from the hard life on the streets. And in the mean time, Isabella is trying to figure out the mystery around all those “accidents” that seem to happen when Alix is most vulnerable. Is someone trying to kill the heir to the throne? And will they succeed? Well, I guess you have to read the book to find out.
I really liked this book, there were a few errors in spelling and name writing, but those are easily forgotten. Ms Parry’s descriptions were wonderful and made the book very real. She developed everything so well in this novel; I have nothing bad to say about it. I have to admit, I’m a sucker for happy endings and let’s just say that the last fifty or so pages had my heart racing until I could finally breathe when I read the last paragraphs. As a first novel, this is terrific and I honestly can’t wait for the sequel to come out. Ms Parry: Job well done!
And then I’ll just end this review with a quote of the book that I really loved:
“Pull yourself together Rockwell. You’re a soldier’s daughter.”
India 1820 – Isabella, 12 years old, finds herself orphaned and alone after hearing the news of her father’s death. She’s shipped off to London to work until she can claim the money that’s rightfully hers when she turns sixteen. Things, however, are not as they seem.
Let me start by saying that I loved Isabella. For a 12 year old, she was so mature, independent and strong. I noticed early on in the book that this was a character I was going to love.
She felt as if a bucket of freezing water had been poured over her head. How could she have been so naïve? Of course there wasn’t any money. She’d been an inconvenience and they’d had to get rid of, so they’d sent her back to England, not even having the decency to let her starve in her own country. (…) She was a worthless nuisance, nothing more.
I loved how clear her thoughts were, how much will power she had, even as a child. Next to this strong girl, there were a few other characters that I really liked: Alix’ kindness, Midge’s little puppy dog behavior, Ruby’s caring side, and even Zachariah. Underneath his tough act, there was a boy who got hurt beyond prepare. Trying to look after his little sister and trying to take care of everyone. He built this little den for all those kids to feel safe. They stuck together as a family.
Isabella was amazed. “What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.”
“But you’ve never done that before.”
Zachariah shrugged. “Never wanted to before.”
For once Isabella had nothing to say.
(…)
Midge gestured with his head. “She was homesick, I think she wanted to talk Indian like she did with ‘er family.”
Zachariah nodded, his face peaceful as he walked with Midge along the wall to the warehouse. A gull called in the distance, the sound travelling over the lapping water of the incoming tide.
“Well, we’re her family now, aren’t we?” Midge looked up and nodded at Zachariah.
I really admired their will to keep each other safe, to survive on the streets and to build a home for themselves even when they had nothing left to lose.
Next to these great characters there is an amazing plot that begins with Isabella’s loss and her fight to escape London to go back to her homeland, India. Along her journey she saves Alix, or should I say: Princess Alixandrina Victoria Hanover. The two girls turn toward each other and become best friends. Alix takes Isabella under her wing, saving her from the hard life on the streets. And in the mean time, Isabella is trying to figure out the mystery around all those “accidents” that seem to happen when Alix is most vulnerable. Is someone trying to kill the heir to the throne? And will they succeed? Well, I guess you have to read the book to find out.
I really liked this book, there were a few errors in spelling and name writing, but those are easily forgotten. Ms Parry’s descriptions were wonderful and made the book very real. She developed everything so well in this novel; I have nothing bad to say about it. I have to admit, I’m a sucker for happy endings and let’s just say that the last fifty or so pages had my heart racing until I could finally breathe when I read the last paragraphs. As a first novel, this is terrific and I honestly can’t wait for the sequel to come out. Ms Parry: Job well done!
And then I’ll just end this review with a quote of the book that I really loved:
“Pull yourself together Rockwell. You’re a soldier’s daughter.”
May 17, 2013
"Isabella Rockwell's War" begins in India in the 1820's. It's the story of a young girl who is sent to England by her father's commanding officer after his death. Acquiring no money from her father's pension and sensing animosity from the orphanage's custodians Isabella Rockwell escapes to the streets of London where she's adopted into a family of destitute children and earns a living performing in the market. When she rescues, a royal named Alix near the palace, her life changes but a mystery waits to be solved that could mean life or death for the Princess. Like one of Charles Dicken's rags to riches novels, ones that also looked at the stark reality of life in Britain in that period, Isabella climbs from poverty to living in the royal palace with the Crown Princess and her family. It's a heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and love not only for friends and within a family, but the memory of a country that cannot be forgotten. I loved the characters; Midge, the passionate young urchin who takes Isabella under his wing;Zachariah, fierce and unwavering in his love for his sister and the children in his care; Alix, the kind and compassionate Princess who values Isabella's friendship, and Isabella, the determined young heroine whose skill in Indian dialects and horsemanship will help save a life. Even the minor characters are memorable; Abhaya with her motherly devotion and love of healing; Ernest, Alix's gruff uncle, a soldier and brother of King Willam; and Ruby loving mother to the urchins in her care. In this colorful narrative the reader can almost smell Abhaya's herbs and hear the roar and tumult of London's streets and marketplace. The novel is filled with mystery and adventure and I highly recommend it.
August 19, 2013
I finished this in a day....a young girl finds herself orphaned and sent from the only home she's known in India back to London. She was told she would be trained in a skill and when she turns 16 she can return to India and collect her father's military pension.
After an 8 week journey on a ship, she overhears that there will be no pension nor training and she decides to run away. She ends up on the streets of London as one of the many starving orphans and eventually becomes part of a "family" made up of other street kids.
One evening as luck would have it she saves the life of the future Queen of england and they become close friends
The story continues as someone is trying to eliminate the princess, the young girl once again saves her life and there is a surprising ending as to whom is responsible and how the young girl and most of her "family" end up on their way back to India...
Really holds your attention
After an 8 week journey on a ship, she overhears that there will be no pension nor training and she decides to run away. She ends up on the streets of London as one of the many starving orphans and eventually becomes part of a "family" made up of other street kids.
One evening as luck would have it she saves the life of the future Queen of england and they become close friends
The story continues as someone is trying to eliminate the princess, the young girl once again saves her life and there is a surprising ending as to whom is responsible and how the young girl and most of her "family" end up on their way back to India...
Really holds your attention
February 1, 2017
I started reading this a couple months ago but forgot to read it. The book itself is good, it’s just too young for me. I received it free from amazon. Our main character lived her whole 12 or so years of her life in India, but when tragedy strikes, she is orphaned and ends up on the streets of London. She finds a family of friendly kid thieves and they all try to help each other, and she tries to gain passage back to India that she loves. When she saves a royal girl, she gets caught up in a plot there and must make some choices. This is the first in a historical fiction series set back in the 1800s. I did not quite finish it, but I am giving it three stars and would recommend this for any child in their tweens or a young teen. This is a sort of book I would enjoy reading with my niece or nephew, but not the sort a mid to older teen would enjoy on their own, and certainly not an adult. Get this for the kids in your life!
August 4, 2013
I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. I found this book an easy read full of intrigue, mystery and a plot that i couldn't get to the bottom of. It was well written and is well suited to a young teen audience. For me it lacked the feel of an historical novel but still hit the mark. I loved the strength and resilience of the characters especially Zach and Isabella and I really felt for the situations they had found themselves in. The author did a good job in writing a book where I could almost see the locations from the vivid decriptions included in the story and seemed she was very knowledgeable when it came to aspects of the story (such as the uses of herbs and indian culture) which added a certain depth which all good books need. All in all a well written book by a good author and one I am happy to recommend it to a younger audience.
December 31, 2015
******I received this book as part of a Goodreads giveaway, so many thanks to Goodreads and the author. This does not affect my review *******
What a great book to end the year on! I really enjoyed the story, and fusing Indian and British history made for a compelling read. The characters were well thought out and unique from one another, and the author makes it easy to warm to Isabella. The reader is sent on a journey, feeling a mixture of emotions. Although I guessed part of the ending, this did not spoil the book for me as there was a lot of depth to the hows and whys. Short and sweet, it may have been nice stretch the story out a little, spending a bit more time in India. I look forward to reading more from this author.
What a great book to end the year on! I really enjoyed the story, and fusing Indian and British history made for a compelling read. The characters were well thought out and unique from one another, and the author makes it easy to warm to Isabella. The reader is sent on a journey, feeling a mixture of emotions. Although I guessed part of the ending, this did not spoil the book for me as there was a lot of depth to the hows and whys. Short and sweet, it may have been nice stretch the story out a little, spending a bit more time in India. I look forward to reading more from this author.
March 4, 2014
It was all right. It wasn't my favorite book, but Ms. Parry had an interesting concept. I felt like the book needed better editing, the writing style wasn't quite to my taste, and the plot didn't seem realistic to the time period, but it was a fun book to read, and it kept me interested. I felt she did a good job in researching the British royal family at the time, though I was confused that the book stated it took place in 1820 while the royal family cast would not have actually been such until later (I feel this may have been a misprint though, the research on the family was well done as far as I could tell, and would fit with a time ten years later). I feel this series has potential.
December 28, 2015
Isabella Rockwell, twelve years old is orphaned and removed from India the country she has lived in, to London only to overhear promises made are not going to happen. To escape this, she runs away to live on the streets and after rescuing a boy that is being beaten by bullies, she is taken to their hide-out. She finds a family here for her and living on her wits helps to provide for the younger ones. This is a very riveting novel so much that I read it in one day. Her life changes rapidly after she saves the to be queen someday who is around her own age, from a runaway horse.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
April 19, 2017
I was given this book from the author in exchange for an honest review:
Mystery, culture, intrigue, plots and the strength of family. It has taken me awhile to read this book, even considering its short length. I love how the ending is not what you imagine. Although the book starts out slow, it then becomes an avalanche of events. This book is mostly targeted for middle school readers, and is not my usual type of book I would pick up. Even considering all that it was well written and I really love the strength of the main character! It's also set up for a sequel, if it does come out I wouldn't rush to read it, because I like the way it ended thus far.
Mystery, culture, intrigue, plots and the strength of family. It has taken me awhile to read this book, even considering its short length. I love how the ending is not what you imagine. Although the book starts out slow, it then becomes an avalanche of events. This book is mostly targeted for middle school readers, and is not my usual type of book I would pick up. Even considering all that it was well written and I really love the strength of the main character! It's also set up for a sequel, if it does come out I wouldn't rush to read it, because I like the way it ended thus far.
January 4, 2015
In the first book of a trilogy, we are introduced to Isabella Rockwell, a young girl who is orphaned at 13. The story moves at a fast pace and we are introduced to vivid images of both life in India and London. Isabella’s adventures start almost immediately as she discovers her fate as an orphan. We have a strong character in Isabella and the descriptions of the other characters are well done. The story is a real page turner. I have ordered the second novel and can’t wait to start reading. Thank you GoodReads for the book.
March 24, 2013
Of all the free books I won, I have actually finished reading this one so that says a lot! It was by no means terribly insightful but it was entertaining and I stayed up all night to finish it. I was a little disappointed by the ending, I thought it was too predictable and not enough follow through or closure. Also, the "heroine" starts off as a bad ass shooting a gun and trekking in the desert so I think I expected more of her throughout the book than we actually got.
April 30, 2016
Won from goodreads
In 1820 12 year old Isabella has lost her soldier father her mother died years ago and she is all alone. Isabella is sent to London where they have a work placement for her but she can't wait to get the money when she turns 16 so she can return to India.
The story about this young girl and the people she meets poor and rich , how she changes their lives and helps keep a young girl safe .
Thourghly enjoyed this book good read for all ages couldn't put it down hence 5 stars
In 1820 12 year old Isabella has lost her soldier father her mother died years ago and she is all alone. Isabella is sent to London where they have a work placement for her but she can't wait to get the money when she turns 16 so she can return to India.
The story about this young girl and the people she meets poor and rich , how she changes their lives and helps keep a young girl safe .
Thourghly enjoyed this book good read for all ages couldn't put it down hence 5 stars
March 2, 2016
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I can't wait to read the second book! This was such a quick read and never once did I find myself bored with the story. I actually found myself wanting to know who was doing all the bad stuff, so I would read faster but I didn't want the book to end. And the person who was doing the bad stuff, never expected it! So of course it came as a major shock which I so loved. Have I mentioned I want to read the second book?
First off, I can't wait to read the second book! This was such a quick read and never once did I find myself bored with the story. I actually found myself wanting to know who was doing all the bad stuff, so I would read faster but I didn't want the book to end. And the person who was doing the bad stuff, never expected it! So of course it came as a major shock which I so loved. Have I mentioned I want to read the second book?
October 6, 2015
I found the story good but, I think there was potential for more. I was hoping for a greater development of the political and social situation in India or England, but found that it was focused more on the development of the heroine Isabella who is just not real of how good and crafty she is. All in all a good book that could have been a great book.
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