The Aziola's Cry

by Ezra Harker Shaw

Love, tragedy, and the pursuit of literary greatness intertwine in a tumultuous journey that defies societal norms and tests the resilience of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Bysshe Shelley.

In the year 1814, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, a gifted teenager born into a family of literary brilliance, falls deeply in love with the youthful rebel, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Defying societal conventions, they embark on a daring escapade, accompanied by Mary's step-sister Claire, leaving behind their respective families and Percy's wife and children. However, their journey proves to be far from an idyllic romance, for it is fraught with tumultuous challenges.

In their quest for freedom and expression, Mary and Percy immerse themselves in experimental notions of free love and join forces with the enigmatic and infamous Lord Byron. Amidst these thrilling encounters and adventures, the young lovers are confronted by heart-wrenching tragedies that test their resilience and resolve.

Driven to elude the strict laws of England, which threaten to separate them from their own children, Mary and Shelley embark on a nomadic existence, wandering through the captivating landscapes of Italy while constantly evading their haunting past. As their circumstances become increasingly dire, their shared passion for writing emerges as the sole lifeline that binds them together. Through their literary endeavors, they become each other's guiding force, ultimately crafting timeless masterpieces that will etch their names into the annals of literary history.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

372 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful work of historical fiction depicting the unique relationship between Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin (Mary Shelley) and Percy Bysshe Shelley. It was obvious that the author, Ezra Harker Shaw did a tremendous amount of research prior to writing this well written and well thought out, captivating book.

In 1814 Mary, an intelligent and brilliant teenager, fell in love with Percy Shelley. He was a married man, and she was sixteen years old living with her family. Both went against societal norms and family demands and expectations and ran away with Mary’s stepsister Claire. They lived an unconventional life, full of romance, debt, challenges, tragedy, loss, adventures, good friends, and free love.

Both had a shared passion for writing and enjoyed their relationship with Lord Byron. Both will go on to become brilliant writers and authors. Mary will write the literary classic, Frankenstein: by Mary Shelley and Percy will write Poetry and essays.

I enjoyed how this book was broken up into different titled parts. Readers are given a glimpse in these literary giant’s lives, their love, their tragedies, their pain, their conquests, their travels, and their wandering lifestyle. I enjoyed the writing, the drama, the descriptions, the characterization of the writers/authors in this book, and their romantic yet tragic lives together.

Beautifully written, impressively researched, and expertly presented.


Thank you to Colin Mustful, History Through Fiction | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very good! I don't know much about the Shelley's and I was interested in learning more. I definitely was surprised by some of the things I learned about Mary Shelley, and her family. This was a bit slow to start but the drama and history drew me in. 5 ⭐!

[Jillian Forsberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew little to nothing about Mary Shelley or Percy Shelley before I picked this up. This masterful biographical fiction is heartbreaking, beautiful, eerily otherworldly. I am enchanted and it will stay with me for a long time.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding piece of Historical Fiction and my favorite read of 2024 thus far.

Even if you’re familiar with the lives of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley, this is an opulent and evocative portrait of their lives, and a fascinating window into how they collaborated and interacted with one another’s work.

Ezra Harker Shaw has done an incredible job of piecing together thorough and accurate research on their subjects and integrating it with imagined dialogue and musings of their own. It’s an impressive and successful attempt to get inside the heads of the Shelley’s, most specifically in terms of what inspired their writing and how they inspired and influenced one another.

The Shelleys’ story is a heartbreaking one, but it’s also a gorgeous story of devotion, mutual respect, and perseverance. And while we know they were both stunningly gifted writers, I think we can now safely say that Harker Shaw is a gifted writer in their own right as well.

This reads unusually quickly for the genre, doubly so when you factor in all the lush description that really makes the novel feel immersive. It’s my understanding that Harker Shaw is working on a follow-up project to this one about Mary’s life after Bysshe’s tragic death, and I absolutely cannot wait to read it.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[˖ ࣪ ‹ seri ; ⁺ ⸝⸝ · Rating 5 out of 5]

🦭 ꒰ 메모 ꒱ ۪ ݁ 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬

my thoughts while reading this book: why was this so romantic yet so tragic? how can something be so sad and be so beautiful at the same time? when was the last time i read an excellent book?

i’m actually going insane, i just finished the book as i’m writing this review. it shattered my heart into pieces.

the aziola's cry is a historical fiction about the tragic love story of Mary Shelley (author of Frankenstein) and her husband Percy Shelley (author of Mont Blanc) as they seek to express themselves freely while also striving for literary greatness. it discusses about motherhood, and the effect of literature on one's intellect, soul, and existence. It's about forbidden love, passion, death, resilience, and more. this book made me feel strongly attached to the characters; it was sweet but tragic, something that makes it such a good and devastating piece of literature.

THE WRITING!! I would marry every prose and poem in this book if I could. the writing was so lyrical, romantic, brilliant, adventurous, and captivating. I adore it so much. the writing made the book a hundred times better for me; I annotated a lot of prose, quotes, poems, and passages! I believe that if you delight in classics and/or specifically Frankenstein, you will love this because this book also mentions Mary Shelley's inspirations in creating a masterpiece. this book felt like a classic to me, and if possible, I would love to see it shelved alongside other classic literature.

i'll be ending this review here as I don't want to say much about it yet because it's an ARC, and I'd love for you to read it for yourself when it comes out on May 7, 2024! i’ll definitely get a physical copy of this book. I'll annotate it and maybe think as to how a story can be written with so much thought and effort, making it so magnificent.

a big thank you and congratulations to Ezra Harker Shaw for this stunning book ! as well as NetGalley! i can’t wait for it to be published and be loved by other readers like me!

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book!

I absolutely adore the poets from the Romantic era, so I was intrigued by this book which is a work of historical fiction about Mary Godwin and Percy Shelley.
It’s clear that the author put a lot of research into this book and captured the gothic melancholy surrounding these two writers. But I have to be honest, this book just wasn’t for me.
I was difficult for me to connect to the characters and I think that was largely due to the pacing. I felt like I was being pulled along and told the story of what happened rather than experiencing it alongside the characters.

[Shelbie1199 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suffering is for the living .

I loved this! You can really tell that the author took time in researching about the Shelley’s and it shows. The way grief is discussed and shown through the book, is amazing every character has a unique way of expressing their feelings. I was really surprised at how much I felt for this family. I would recommend this book if you love Frankenstein as much as I do.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

NetGalley Review-Thank you

[Kamilė | cobwebshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

“shelley created a witch, a mad, ethereal thing, for a poem. this lady never slept– this line tormets her. shelley’s line dances round her head as she rises from the curtained bed. his Witch. she lay in fountains and viewed the world through waterfalls. perhaps that is all mary is doing. existing in some half-waking world, for at night time she does see clearer.”

tw: graphic description of stillbirth

mary wollstonecraft godwin was marked by death from the time she entered this world. her mother died soon after birthing her — a fate mary herself nearly succumbed to with her own pregnancies — her sister, much like herself, was prone to depression and took her own life. her children, all but one, left the world before long.

but the worst curse of her life, the deepest mark left in ink in, was her love for percy bysshe shelley.

“the aziola’s cry” is a beautiful look into the short-lived relationship between mary and shelley, their lives as lovers and writing partners. taking inspiration from the correspondence between the shelleys and their work, interspersing poetry between the chapters, shaw breathes life into their little dialogues, the budding passion they shared, the match they found in each other.

shaw’s writing is atmospheric, painting the beauty of southern europe as effortlessly as they sketch the dark lines of mary’s psyche. there is a clear thread between percy and mary’s points of view, but they remain distinct enough — percy in his yearning for recognition and the self-consciousness he feels around lord byron, mary in her love and fear and grief, the shadow of death always trailing closely behind.

“frankenstein” has always been one of my favourite classics and “the aziola’s cry” has reignited my love for romanticism. it’s beautiful, tragic, and truly a gift in balancing historical accuracy with the imagination of what may have happened behind the curtain of this ill-fated union.

initially received as an arc thanks to netgalley and history through fiction.

[Bebo Saucier Carrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a classics fan, there was much about this novel I enjoyed. I liked all the little things this novel taught me about the Shelley's life, particularly in regards to their writing collaboration. It was clearly meticulously researched, and I enjoyed the author's end note discussing their writing process as this project morphed from a more academic piece to a full fledged historical novel.

Unfortunately, the writing style was not for me, largely because it was written in present tense. For whatever reason, using present tense and full names for the characters for the first few chapters made the novel feel impersonal and difficult to visualize. However, putting aside my personal biases, this novel is clearly a formidable feat, both academically and literarily, and I'd like to give a hats off to Harker Shaw for all the work they put into this piece.

Publication Date: May 7, 2024

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this fictional tale of Percy and Mary Shelley. The writing was beautiful and the tale was interesting. It wasn't a page turner by any stretch and did take me longer to read than would be typical. I have heard of both Shelleys but haven't actually read any works by either so I may not have connected as much as someone who loves either of these authors. I do know that now that I have read this I am interested in finding out was fact and what was fiction as well as reading some of their publications. I would definitely recommend this if you are interested in the literary world of the Romantic era or are a historical fiction fan. I received a copy through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program in exchange for a review.

[RjS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and heartbreaking.
Lush and immersive writing.
Loved it!
Looking forward to a possible continuation covering the rest of Mary’s life.

[B.J. Sikes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more. The subjects are fascinating historical figures but the way their story was told here didn't captivate me. The pace is slow and meandering and although told in present tense, it felt very distant.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Aziola’s Cry by Ezra Harper Shaw tells the story of Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin and Percy Bysshe Shelley and their unconventional relationship. The story begins with their meeting when Mary is 16 and ends with Shelley’s drowning in Italy. It follows them through their broken relationships with family, financial troubles resulting from those relationships and a society that loathed the unconventional ideas espoused by Shelley and His circle of friends and fellow poets, and through the personal tragedies that Shelley and Mary experienced in raising a family. The writer’s treatment of their complexities takes the readers through laughter, disbelief, and sorrow at the hardships they endure.

Harper Shaw’s writing is worthy of the Romantic writers with their emotional, detailed, and realistic imagery. The novel is a trip through England , the continent, and then finally Italy , all the while in the company of sympathetic characters with beautiful settings.

I am grateful to NetGalley for this copy of The Aziola’s Cry in return for an honest review.

[Charlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative and realistic-feeling presentation of the lives Mary Godwin Shelly and Percy Shelly. I've long been fascinated with the origins of Frankenstein and Lord Byron's connection to the Shelly's. This book provided an intimate view of their lives and of the tragedies that Mary endured. I was particularly struck by the very clear and concise descriptions of the natural world, particularly in the second half of the book. I understand that the author may be writing a sequel that presents the rest of Mary's life. I certainly hope so.

My thanks to NetGalley for an advance readers copy.

[Nix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thoroughly well researched, with beautiful and elaborate writing, but rather slow moving.

I suspect this would be perfect for those loving the Shelley's, their history and slow, descriptive prose, but this just wasn't my cup of tea.

I received two ARCs - one via Netgalley and one directly from the publishers, History Through Fiction.

[Leslie K Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetic prose for Romantic poetic icons

The infamous lives and lifestyles of the scandalous Romantic poets have long fascinated the reading public. The names of the Shelleys and Byron are well known outside of high school reading list for their notoriously unconventional choices and the volumes of words they left behind. Leaving more than the words they crafted as a mark upon the world is what was, (I suspect), what the Shelleys’ were ultimately after.

The consequences of their choices in life have come to overshadow much of the work they left us, and certainly obscure their intent. This is where Aziola’s Cry by Ezra Hawker Shaw opens a window into the turbulent existence of those inspired rule-breakers seeking to brave the headwinds of social convention and push literary boundaries.

In language and scene-setting as lush as the language of the Shelleys’ own time, a path is fleshed out for Mary Godwin, inheritor and embodiment of her mother’s legacy, as she rushes into the arms of a like-minded Percy Shelley. The story weaves it way at a slow pace, twining it tendrils into the forces that gave rise to the couple’s written words, as their often tragic circumstances test the limits of their beliefs, convictions and each other.

Hawker Shaw serves up both halves of the story - Mary and Percy - alternating perspectives with oft unspoken inner struggles, alongside their poetic results. Nevertheless, the reading frequently felt as though the characters, unable to express their thoughts to each other, also constructed a distance from the reader, leaving a lingering ghost-like presence of both of the Shelleys on the page, haunting the same paths frequently tread.

Perhaps reanimating the lives of the Shelleys was less the objective of Dr. Hawker Shaw’s intent for Aziola’s Cry; rather, the well-crafted story’s is perhaps meant to inspire a deeper understanding of the creative forces reaching up from the graves of dead poets and writers, and inspire the still-living in seeking balance between cynicism and faith, and to come away from the shadows the world casts upon us.

An enjoyable read, recommended for those who enjoy exploring the world of the early 19th C personalities, who also appreciate that the real people suffered in the world of their own creation.
I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book for review purposes.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1814, Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin fell in love with family friend, Percy Bysshe Shelley. Mary is a teenager and Percy is married with a young child. Mary's father and stepmother are completely against the idea. Nevertheless, Mary and Percy run off together with the help of Mary's stepsister, Claire. Together, the couple struggles as finances suffer and their families refuse to recognize them. The couple and Claire take to moving around, meeting a host of new friends and writers including Lord Byron, whom Claire falls for. Their journey, while filled with love and excitement, is also fraught with a series of tragedies. While spending time with Lord Byron and a request for a ghost story contest, Mary begins writing Frankenstein, flushing out the story as events in her life begin to influence her writing.

The Aziola's Cry is a fictionalized story of Mary and Percy Shelley's romance and writing careers. The writing brings Mary, Percy, Claire and their friends and family to life through their eyes, reflecting the Shelleys' moods, observation and gothic undertones. I was constantly amazed by Mary's boldness in life, through the good and the bad that she endured. I had to constantly remind myself that Mary was still a teenager as she ran away from home, dealt with tragic losses, published works and travelled around Europe. It was interesting to learn about the Shelleys' ideals of free love and interactions in society. The depression that seemed to run through Mary's family was also poignantly highlighted with her mother, her sister Franny and Mary herself. As Mary's life became increasingly marked by tragedy, she was simultaneously writing "Frankenstein." The novel effectively illustrates how these events shaped her story, with Mary's character herself stating that "Frankenstein" was a condemnation of herself. The Aziola's Cry is a unique and insightful look into the lives of two extraordinary authors.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin” “…what an extraordinary young woman you are.”

I’ve read both Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelly’s work, and as a result, I’ve loved English literature throughout grad school. I considered focusing my thesis on Mary Shelley, I ended up writing Dante and Rodin.

Most of what I’ve studied was the literary canon. I latched onto “Frankenstein” like a dog to a bone. I also read Mary Wollstonecraft ``A Vindication of The Rights of Women”. I actually found portions of the essay humorous.

I'm not a reader that enjoys romance novels. Yet, Mary and Percy’s love was a pleasure. I enjoyed this novel very much. A great deal of emotions were felt throughout the novel. Plus, the couple lived an unconventional lifestyle.

I appreciated that the novel was well researched, and the reader does not have read the works of Mary and Shelley. Perhaps the reader will become curious about their works. There was so much information for readers who are not familiar with Mary Shelley. But not too much backstory for the Frankenstein fans.

I enjoyed this novel very much, I appreciate that the novel was well researched. There was much information for readers who are not familiar with Mary Shelley. But too much for the Frankenstein fans.
Much emotion throughout the novel

I admired Ezra Harker’s storytelling. The author created a novel that appeals to readers that reads this novel as historical fiction and the reader that are familiar with ‘Frankenstein’.

Thank you Ezra Harker Shaw, OpenBookDesign.Biz, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the novel and I’ve written an honest review.

[Sarah Ravellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aziola’s Cry is a stunning debut novel, dramatizing author Mary Godwin’s marriage to the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. The author weaves an imagined story based on real events from well-researched primary sources. It is careful to give equal focus to Mary and Percy, not favouring one over the other. Byron is an ever-present figure, influencing both Mary and Percy, although I thought he seemed a somewhat sanitized version with no mention of his relationship with his half-sister or interest in men.
The present tense gives a feeling of being right there in that moment of history, especially when deployed with wonderful similes such as “the words march force like a battalion across the room, stopping short before husband and child with weapons raised.” The strength of feeling Percy has for Mary is likened to “the power that draws the compass needle.”
The main characters are illustrated well, showing their powerful emotions of love, loss, and depression. Moments of humour arise too. I loved the wise Mrs Mason who had the measure of Claire. “By the end of the afternoon Claire is talking animatedly about being a free woman who can earn her own way, quite as if it were her idea.”
Needless to say, there is lots of delightful poetry quoted throughout the book. The author’s own writing is lyrical and observant and a joy to read. I’m looking forward to the author’s next book based on Mary’s life after Shelley.
I received a free copy of this book via The Niche Reader

[Hannah Gallacher · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A story full of heartbreak, genius, and madness, this book left me eager to read more of Mary Shelley’s work with this new understanding of her life. Before diving into Shaw’s novel I knew nothing of Mary Shelley other than having read "Frankenstein". So I devoured this book with ferocity once it became clear from the first page that her life was somehow even more macabre than her magnum opus. I love when a book is able to personalise larger than life historical persons, and because Mary’s life was full of connections to other authors and thinkers, this book did so tremendously. Her relationship with fellow author and husband Percy Bysse Shelley was a cacophony of love and resentment and staged both of their bodies of work in such an interesting way. I felt so deeply for both Mary and Shelley: joy, wonder, resentment, frustration, which all compounded to leave me distraught at Shelley’s death, Mary’s bereavement, and their inability to escape tragedy.
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[R Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have an interest in either Mary or Percy Bysshe Shelley, you will love this book. It is an intimate portrayal of their relationship from their first meeting until PBS’s untimely death, bringing to life the attitudes and experiences of society surrounding them. The book is really well researched and honest in how these two characters and those surrounding them are depicted. There is also a generous portion of their writing illustrating their reaction to each other and the events they encounter. But there is more to take from the book as well. I was surprised to see the depth of tragedy Mary in particular faced, her mother dying after giving birth to her, losing three children, seeing a sister commit suicide, estrangement from her family, seeing her husband have several affairs before he died in a sea accident, all before she was 25. Wow, what a lady! Altogether, a read that many will find inspirational

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novel, and it was almost a 5 for me.

I absolutely loved the portrayals of Percy Bysshe Shelley and of Mary Shelley. Because I used to teach British Authors, I knew some of the tragedies of Mary Shelley's life, and many of the terrible things that happened were not a surprise. However, they were still written in such a gut-wrenching way that I cried and cried. After I finished the book, it haunted me for a few days. I couldn't stop thinking about it.

What kept it from a 5 for me was the jump from France back to Britain (I would have liked to see more of this interlude), and some scenes in Italy that felt rushed and thus underdeveloped.

[A.F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly delightful and lyrical historical novel. The book wove a fascinating narrative of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley’s relationship without painting it in rose-coloured tints or favouritism. I loved the underlying love of literature that shone in the prose, and the author gave a distinct feel of the time period. The book was captivating and immersed me as a reader within the world created on the pages.
It is also clear the author well-researched the subject matter and did a fine job in balancing the facts and the fiction.
I highly recommend this book.

[Diana Mack · Rating 4 out of 5]

A novel of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley
This is a family saga set in the 1700's but with topics still around today. Affairs, babies, societal demands, money issues and unexpected deaths.
Claire is Mary's annoying sister. Jane is the spinster. Harriet is the spurned wife.
A lot of research placed in an extremely readable novel. Highly recommended
Copy received via The Niche Reader

[Naughty · Rating 5 out of 5]

An old curse simply says, "May you live an interesting life." The fascinating lives of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley were fraught with both tragedy and triumph. The author gloriously depicts their unusual circumstances, intermingling the couple's own words. This book combines star-crossed romance, lyrical prose, and a history lesson. I highly recommend it!
I received an ARC copy of the book from The Niche Reader.

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

would give this 2.5! i felt like the story had a lot of potential and lovability from other readers & i really wanted to dive into it, but at the end it felt like rushing to finish it and not getting quite familiar with the writing tone - i bet this has a targeted reader out there and maybe to another life point, i’ll enjoy it more :)

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched book that explores the nuances of the Shelleys’ relationships in a believable way. Harker Shaw has a beautiful writing style and unique voice, and the book has a perfect vibe for autumn/winter reading!

[Alex Sandberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful and tragic novel about love, creativity, and devastating loss. Keep tissues on hand!

I only knew very little about Mary and Shelley before reading this novel but I believe people with no knowledge of them can enjoy this novel, especially so if you like historical fiction.

[Katherine Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. I learned a lot of history . I also loved the look into their writing relationship and their individual pursuits. But this book is heartbreakingly sad. Oh, how I wanted to get poor Mary some anti-depressants.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5

Review to follow.