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Wild Wood
For fans of Diana Galbaldon’s Outlander series comes a gripping and passionate new historical novel. Intrigue, ancient secrets, fairy tales, and the glorious scenery of the Scottish borders drive the story of a woman who must find out who she really is.
Jesse Marley calls herself a realist; she’s all about the here and now. But in the month before Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 all her certainties are blown aside by events she cannot control. First she finds out she’s adopted. Then she’s run down by a motor bike. In a London hospital, unable to speak, she must use her left hand to write. But Jesse’s right-handed. And as if her fingers have a will of their own, she begins to draw places she’s never been, people from another time—a castle, a man in armor. And a woman’s face.
Rory Brandon, Jesse’s neurologist, is intrigued. Maybe his patient’s head trauma has brought out latent abilities. But wait. He knows the castle. He’s been there.
So begins an extraordinary journey across borders and beyond time, a chase that takes Jesse to Hundredfield, a Scottish stronghold built a thousand years ago by a brutal Norman warlord. What’s more, Jesse Marley holds the key to the castle’s secret and its sacred history. And Hundredfield, with its grim Keep, will help Jesse find her true lineage. But what does the legend of the Lady of the Forest have to do with her? That’s the question at the heart of Wild Wood. There are no accidents. There is only fate.
Jesse Marley calls herself a realist; she’s all about the here and now. But in the month before Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 all her certainties are blown aside by events she cannot control. First she finds out she’s adopted. Then she’s run down by a motor bike. In a London hospital, unable to speak, she must use her left hand to write. But Jesse’s right-handed. And as if her fingers have a will of their own, she begins to draw places she’s never been, people from another time—a castle, a man in armor. And a woman’s face.
Rory Brandon, Jesse’s neurologist, is intrigued. Maybe his patient’s head trauma has brought out latent abilities. But wait. He knows the castle. He’s been there.
So begins an extraordinary journey across borders and beyond time, a chase that takes Jesse to Hundredfield, a Scottish stronghold built a thousand years ago by a brutal Norman warlord. What’s more, Jesse Marley holds the key to the castle’s secret and its sacred history. And Hundredfield, with its grim Keep, will help Jesse find her true lineage. But what does the legend of the Lady of the Forest have to do with her? That’s the question at the heart of Wild Wood. There are no accidents. There is only fate.
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
90 people are currently reading
1947 people want to read
About the author
Posie Graeme-Evans
8 books240 followersPosie Graeme-Evans has worked in the Australian film and television industry for the last twenty-five years as an editor, director, and producer on hundreds of prime-time television programs, including McLeod's Daughters and Hi-5. She lives in Sydney with her husband and creative partner, Andrew Blaxland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
May 12, 2015
Somewhere along the way I did not quite click with this book. I was okay with the two story lines and neither one outclassed the other so that was not an issue. The characters were reasonably drawn and I had an interest in how they would turn out. However the first two thirds of the book seemed very slow and there was no real link between the two stories. I admit to wishing the whole thing would hurry up. Towards the end it did and I had great hopes of a fantastic conclusion which would knock my socks off. Not so, as it drifted into a rather over imaginative finale which was not completely satisfying. It was all okay but nothing to raise it above average. Only three stars for me.
April 3, 2015
It’s 1981 and Jesse arrives in London amidst the lead up to the wedding of Charles and Diana. Jesse is on a quest to find out who she really is. A quest which takes her from Sydney, Australia to the wilds of the English borderlands!
1831. Bayard and Maugris return from battle to find their older brother has wed and is ruling the estate, Hundredfield, with a cruel hand.
A hauntingly captivating story spanning centuries. Steeped in superstition, the supernatural, myth and legend it takes the reader from the 14th century to the 20th century.
The style of writing changes as the story moves back and forth between 1831 and 1981. The present told in third person whilst the past is in first person narrated by Bayard Dieudonne. I liked the different styles and found the change easy to adapt to. It also helped set the two stories apart.
I loved Bayard; he is very sensitive and guards his true feelings from those around him. It wasn’t a time of sensitive men. He quite often bares his soul and you will find yourself on his side. I could have quite happily read a whole story on Bayard alone.
Jesse’s side of the story started slow and confusing which was a reflection of Jesse’s state of mind. As one side of the story gathers pace so does the other therefore, not leaving one side flat.
Some chapters left me breathless as they battled against raiders and harsh winters, a constant battle to stay alive. These people were devout Christians and the description of the 14th century Christmas dinner was marvellous.
Some readers may work out the twists and family secrets but I’m never good at that so I had no clue to the final revelations. Well I though I had a clue but I was completely wrong!
As the story evolved the pace quickened and I could almost feel Graeme-Evans exhaustion as the books ends. She has put a lot into this story. It’s very draining emotionally. Although, it’s not all high drama! There are elements of underlying humour and I laughed out loud as Graeme-Evans slips a fart joke in amongst the drama.
I recommend this book to everyone, no matter what genre you read I am sure you will enjoy “Wild Wood”.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy to read and review.
1831. Bayard and Maugris return from battle to find their older brother has wed and is ruling the estate, Hundredfield, with a cruel hand.
A hauntingly captivating story spanning centuries. Steeped in superstition, the supernatural, myth and legend it takes the reader from the 14th century to the 20th century.
The style of writing changes as the story moves back and forth between 1831 and 1981. The present told in third person whilst the past is in first person narrated by Bayard Dieudonne. I liked the different styles and found the change easy to adapt to. It also helped set the two stories apart.
I loved Bayard; he is very sensitive and guards his true feelings from those around him. It wasn’t a time of sensitive men. He quite often bares his soul and you will find yourself on his side. I could have quite happily read a whole story on Bayard alone.
Jesse’s side of the story started slow and confusing which was a reflection of Jesse’s state of mind. As one side of the story gathers pace so does the other therefore, not leaving one side flat.
Some chapters left me breathless as they battled against raiders and harsh winters, a constant battle to stay alive. These people were devout Christians and the description of the 14th century Christmas dinner was marvellous.
Some readers may work out the twists and family secrets but I’m never good at that so I had no clue to the final revelations. Well I though I had a clue but I was completely wrong!
As the story evolved the pace quickened and I could almost feel Graeme-Evans exhaustion as the books ends. She has put a lot into this story. It’s very draining emotionally. Although, it’s not all high drama! There are elements of underlying humour and I laughed out loud as Graeme-Evans slips a fart joke in amongst the drama.
I recommend this book to everyone, no matter what genre you read I am sure you will enjoy “Wild Wood”.
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for my copy to read and review.
March 26, 2015
4.5 stars
In 1321 in the Scottish Borderlands, the de Dieudonne brothers, Maugris and Bayard were fighting with their men in the woods surrounding their home, Hundredfield castle. Their elder brother, Godefroi was back at the Keep, having recently married the Lady Flore. But the people of Hundredfield were uneasy – there was something about the Lady Flore they distrusted; there was hate and unrest all around the villages…
1981 in London, Jesse Marley had just arrived from Sydney, Australia – distraught and filled with tension, she had just discovered her whole life had been lived on a lie. She was adopted, and had only just found it out. Plus not even her birth date as she knew it was correct. She felt betrayed and was desperate to discover who she really was. Her new birth certificate showed her place of birth as Jedburgh in Scotland so she knew she needed to go there to find answers.
In her distressed state she stepped into the path of a motor bike and was run down. The subsequent events; from her meeting of Dr Rory Brandon, neurologist, at the hospital in London to her eventual arrival in Hundredfield in Scotland; there were strange and unsettling things happening to Jesse. Why did she feel she knew the old castle? Who was the woman she continued to see in her dreams? And could she find her birth mother and find out about her past?
This historical fiction novel by Aussie author Posie Graeme-Evans is full of intrigue and tension. The story is told by Jesse in 1981 and Bayard in 1321 and switches from past to present with ease. I thoroughly enjoyed Wild Wood and have no hesitation in recommending it highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
In 1321 in the Scottish Borderlands, the de Dieudonne brothers, Maugris and Bayard were fighting with their men in the woods surrounding their home, Hundredfield castle. Their elder brother, Godefroi was back at the Keep, having recently married the Lady Flore. But the people of Hundredfield were uneasy – there was something about the Lady Flore they distrusted; there was hate and unrest all around the villages…
1981 in London, Jesse Marley had just arrived from Sydney, Australia – distraught and filled with tension, she had just discovered her whole life had been lived on a lie. She was adopted, and had only just found it out. Plus not even her birth date as she knew it was correct. She felt betrayed and was desperate to discover who she really was. Her new birth certificate showed her place of birth as Jedburgh in Scotland so she knew she needed to go there to find answers.
In her distressed state she stepped into the path of a motor bike and was run down. The subsequent events; from her meeting of Dr Rory Brandon, neurologist, at the hospital in London to her eventual arrival in Hundredfield in Scotland; there were strange and unsettling things happening to Jesse. Why did she feel she knew the old castle? Who was the woman she continued to see in her dreams? And could she find her birth mother and find out about her past?
This historical fiction novel by Aussie author Posie Graeme-Evans is full of intrigue and tension. The story is told by Jesse in 1981 and Bayard in 1321 and switches from past to present with ease. I thoroughly enjoyed Wild Wood and have no hesitation in recommending it highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy to read and review.
April 16, 2015
Wild Wood by Posie Graeme The Evans
With thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for my copy to read and review.
Told in two time frames, across historical borders this story does not disappoint!
Australia 1981 and Jesse Marley has just discovered she was adopted at birth in the UK and raised in Australia.
Against her parent's wishes, she makes plans to travel to the UK to find her birth mother. Anomalies on her Australian birth certificate raise suspicions so she uses the information she has so far gleaned to order a British birth certificate, which she doesn't get to see until she arrives in the UK.
Upon her arrival in London things soon start to go pear shaped for Jesse when she is quite suddenly and accidentally struck down by a motorbike whilst crossing a road, then, after some confused wanderings she finds herself in a pretty serious condition in hospital, suffering from broken bones and a head trauma.
Now Jesse's life seems to take on a direction of its own as she is propelled along by forces she can't seem to control.
As one thing leads her to another she finds herself embroiled in a history she had no prior knowledge of, and...since the accident, an unusual talent has manifested in her, as well as what seems to be a memory recall which confounds both her and her doctor, Neurological Surgeon, Rory Brandon.
Now Jesse finds she has become a patient of special interest to Dr. Rory Brandon, who wants to continue her treatment in private, and on a different level. Dr. Brandon has recognised some of the information that Jesse has unwittingly recalled and wishes to pursue it further by taking Jesse away with him for awhile, to a location which he believes is significant to them both, to assist in her recovery and to facilitate his psychological evaluation of her condition, which he believes is unique.
1321, and the de Dieudonné brothers, Godefroi, Maugris and Bayard are meeting at the Hundredfield Castle on the Scottish/English Borderlands.
Godefroi is the eldest of the brothers and now rules this Norman built stronghold with his new wife, much to the chagrin of his followers. It would seem that Godefroi has been overspending on renovations to the castle and has left his people to go without. There is much unrest in the village as the lease holders struggle to survive and slowly desert their ruler by leaving the village in search of a better living.
When Maugris and his younger brother arrive at Hundredfield to visit their brother, they are surprised and concerned about the current situation. Things appear to be spiralling into rapid decline.
This story is told by the youngest brother Bayard.
What is the connection between Jesse and Hundredfield? And where does Dr. Rory Brandon fit in?
Skillfully blending history and legend with myth, as the Lady of the Forest of Hundredfield is brought into play and the two stories begin to show similarities across time, Posie Graeme Evans has done a marvelous job in weaving all threads of the stories in concert with one another.
The language between cultures changes realistically as the story flows between the centuries, and the wonderfully graphic descriptions, and depictions of 13th century life in the borderlands are easy and glorious to visualise.
The characters were well rounded and aptly presented in all their various complexities.
I was thoroughly immersed in this book and even enjoyed where it was switching between time frames as the story progressed. It was a real page turner that kept me spellbound to the end.
Another great read from Posie Graeme Evans. Highly recommended for all readers. 5*s
April 4, 2015
Australian woman Jesse Marley is in London in 1981, at the height of England’s celebrations for the upcoming marriage between Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. A month earlier, her world had been turned upside down by the discovery that she was adopted.
With her emotions running high, she steps into the path of a motorcycle. Pretending she is fine, she bumbles her way into an old church and comes across a waitress named Alicia Donne, who arranges for a doctor friend, Rory Brandon, to help Jesse find treatment for her injuries.
Fate has conspired to bring these three together and they must all deal with the repercussions of Jesse’s head injuries which unlock the secrets to her own past, and Alicia and Rory’s as well.
The past bleeds into the present.
In 1321, in the borderlands between England and Scotland, the Norman stronghold of Hundredfield is owned by Bayard Dieudonné’s older brother Godefroi who has taken a new wife. Flore cannot speak and is pregnant with the heir to Hundredfield. The local people identify her as a witch, and Hundredfield comes under attack. Bayard must defend his family and protect a strange secret that will change the course of his life.
At first I had difficulty in understanding how the two timelines would come together. The fourteenth century storyline was such a contrast to the more modern timeline, but by breaking it up it kept the interest level high.
I normally struggle with books written in multiple viewpoints, but I didn’t have any difficulty in working out who was speaking, acting, or thinking here; I believe it added to the overall story.
My only complaint is that Alicia, Rory and Jesse weren’t developed enough as characters. I had difficulty in understanding Alicia’s mindset until closer to the end and I could never quite understand Rory’s. His stuffy nature was explained away as a result of his past, but that didn’t satisfy my curious mind. I did, however, feel quite sorry for him by the end. Jesse was a very emotional character, and I can’t say I clicked with her. Mack was by far my favourite, the perfect gentlemen.
The characterisation in 1321 was exceptional. Bayard was the perfect choice as the protagonist in that period and The imagery in this novel was very well done. I could see, smell and almost feel Hundredfield.
This was a lovely read and I recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction.
With her emotions running high, she steps into the path of a motorcycle. Pretending she is fine, she bumbles her way into an old church and comes across a waitress named Alicia Donne, who arranges for a doctor friend, Rory Brandon, to help Jesse find treatment for her injuries.
Fate has conspired to bring these three together and they must all deal with the repercussions of Jesse’s head injuries which unlock the secrets to her own past, and Alicia and Rory’s as well.
The past bleeds into the present.
In 1321, in the borderlands between England and Scotland, the Norman stronghold of Hundredfield is owned by Bayard Dieudonné’s older brother Godefroi who has taken a new wife. Flore cannot speak and is pregnant with the heir to Hundredfield. The local people identify her as a witch, and Hundredfield comes under attack. Bayard must defend his family and protect a strange secret that will change the course of his life.
At first I had difficulty in understanding how the two timelines would come together. The fourteenth century storyline was such a contrast to the more modern timeline, but by breaking it up it kept the interest level high.
I normally struggle with books written in multiple viewpoints, but I didn’t have any difficulty in working out who was speaking, acting, or thinking here; I believe it added to the overall story.
My only complaint is that Alicia, Rory and Jesse weren’t developed enough as characters. I had difficulty in understanding Alicia’s mindset until closer to the end and I could never quite understand Rory’s. His stuffy nature was explained away as a result of his past, but that didn’t satisfy my curious mind. I did, however, feel quite sorry for him by the end. Jesse was a very emotional character, and I can’t say I clicked with her. Mack was by far my favourite, the perfect gentlemen.
The characterisation in 1321 was exceptional. Bayard was the perfect choice as the protagonist in that period and The imagery in this novel was very well done. I could see, smell and almost feel Hundredfield.
This was a lovely read and I recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction.
November 8, 2021
Have a few reviews to catch up too. I've read/listened to a bit more then i thought in my semi hiatus.
I picked this up solely on the fact that it was compared to outlander series but sadly it didn't quite compelled me as that series did. 2.5 stars. Wasn't bad, just not for me
I picked this up solely on the fact that it was compared to outlander series but sadly it didn't quite compelled me as that series did. 2.5 stars. Wasn't bad, just not for me
March 21, 2015
Growing up in Australia Jesse Marley was shocked when she accidentally discovered that she was born in England and adopted at birth. When her parents refuse to tell her anything about her birth or original family, she travels to the UK to find out the truth herself. However, after an accident results in a head injury and hospitalisation, Jesse finds herself listening to a strange inner voice and drawing detailed pictures of a castle and place she has never seen.
This story is told in two time frames, Jesse's quest to find more about her birth in 1981 and that of the Norman family Dieudonné in 1321. That there is a link between the events that nearly destroyed the Dieudonnés and their family seat Hundredfield, and Jesse's tale in current times becomes clear as the stories progress.
Both stories are engrossing and filled with great characters. In 1321 Hundredfield is ruled by the oldest Dieudonné brother, Godefroi who is proud and arrogant but totally smitten with his new wife, the middle brother Maugris, a fighter and strategist and the youngest Bayard, the narrator, who is more caring and sympathetic to the plight of the peasants in the village who are slowly starving to death. Hundredfield is surrounded by ancient woods and superstition and ancient tales such as those of the wild faery Hunt and the Lady of the Forest who appears when she is most needed are deeply ingrained in people's beliefs in the 14th century. They also still linger in modern times when Jesse finds herself visiting Hundredfield in her quest to unlock her family secrets.
The writing was very evocative, giving a real feel of the harshness of 14th century life in a cold stone castle and the wildness of the woods and countryside. The two interwoven stories were told in different narrative styles which made it easy to follow the changes between the two threads and switching between the two parallel stories also helped to maintain the tension in each story. Definitely a page-turner!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and review
This story is told in two time frames, Jesse's quest to find more about her birth in 1981 and that of the Norman family Dieudonné in 1321. That there is a link between the events that nearly destroyed the Dieudonnés and their family seat Hundredfield, and Jesse's tale in current times becomes clear as the stories progress.
Both stories are engrossing and filled with great characters. In 1321 Hundredfield is ruled by the oldest Dieudonné brother, Godefroi who is proud and arrogant but totally smitten with his new wife, the middle brother Maugris, a fighter and strategist and the youngest Bayard, the narrator, who is more caring and sympathetic to the plight of the peasants in the village who are slowly starving to death. Hundredfield is surrounded by ancient woods and superstition and ancient tales such as those of the wild faery Hunt and the Lady of the Forest who appears when she is most needed are deeply ingrained in people's beliefs in the 14th century. They also still linger in modern times when Jesse finds herself visiting Hundredfield in her quest to unlock her family secrets.
The writing was very evocative, giving a real feel of the harshness of 14th century life in a cold stone castle and the wildness of the woods and countryside. The two interwoven stories were told in different narrative styles which made it easy to follow the changes between the two threads and switching between the two parallel stories also helped to maintain the tension in each story. Definitely a page-turner!
With thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read and review
January 30, 2015
‘Advice from the dead, recommended by a stranger. That fits.’
When Jesse Marley applies for her first adult passport in 1981 as part of planning a surprise trip home to the UK from Australia with her parents, she finds there is a discrepancy about her birth registration. She asks her parents why, and finds that she was adopted. Jesse is devastated, and travels to the UK to see if she can find who her birth mother was, and why she was given up for adoption. Once in London, she has an accident. And in hospital, temporarily unable to speak, forced to use her left hand instead of her right, Jesse starts drawing places and people she’s never seen. Her Doctor, Rory
Brandon, is intrigued. Especially once he recognises the castle.
Thus begins Jesse’s journey: to a place called Hundredfield built a thousand years earlier by the Normans near the border with Scotland. What is Jesse’s connection to Hundredfield? Can Rory help her find the answers she is seeking?
The story moves between the present in which Jesse is trying to seek information about her past, and a period some hundreds of years earlier when the marriage of a mysterious woman to a lord of Hundredfield seems to initiate a series of inexplicable events. How are these two stories connected?
‘Of course. There’s always an explanation.’
I enjoyed this story, and kept turning the pages trying to work out how (and through whom) Jesse was connected to Hundredfield. There’s mystery, a hint of romance, as well as some interesting characters and events. The shifts between past and present maintained the tension and kept my interest. There are a number of twists and turns, and plenty of surprises.
I’ve read Ms Graeme-Evans’s earlier works of historical fiction and found them thoroughly entertaining.
Note: My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia)
for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
When Jesse Marley applies for her first adult passport in 1981 as part of planning a surprise trip home to the UK from Australia with her parents, she finds there is a discrepancy about her birth registration. She asks her parents why, and finds that she was adopted. Jesse is devastated, and travels to the UK to see if she can find who her birth mother was, and why she was given up for adoption. Once in London, she has an accident. And in hospital, temporarily unable to speak, forced to use her left hand instead of her right, Jesse starts drawing places and people she’s never seen. Her Doctor, Rory
Brandon, is intrigued. Especially once he recognises the castle.
Thus begins Jesse’s journey: to a place called Hundredfield built a thousand years earlier by the Normans near the border with Scotland. What is Jesse’s connection to Hundredfield? Can Rory help her find the answers she is seeking?
The story moves between the present in which Jesse is trying to seek information about her past, and a period some hundreds of years earlier when the marriage of a mysterious woman to a lord of Hundredfield seems to initiate a series of inexplicable events. How are these two stories connected?
‘Of course. There’s always an explanation.’
I enjoyed this story, and kept turning the pages trying to work out how (and through whom) Jesse was connected to Hundredfield. There’s mystery, a hint of romance, as well as some interesting characters and events. The shifts between past and present maintained the tension and kept my interest. There are a number of twists and turns, and plenty of surprises.
I’ve read Ms Graeme-Evans’s earlier works of historical fiction and found them thoroughly entertaining.
Note: My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher Simon & Schuster (Australia)
for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
March 24, 2015
Wild Wood is a dual narrative that draws you in from the very beginning and I was entranced by the hulking presence and history of Hundredfield; located on the Scottish borderlands. Jesse is the key to the past and her narrative in the 1980s is read alongside that of Bayard, a male character in the 1300s. I'll readily admit that I didn't want to leave Bayard's chapters at all, and each time I had to leave for one of Jesse's chapters I cried out nooooo in my head. I wanted to stay with this battle-hardened warrior and was desperate to find out what was going to happen to him, his brother Maugris and strange, mute wife.
My interest in Jesse's part of the tale steadily crept up on me and I couldn't wait for the story to meet in the middle so to speak. I love to read novels by authors who believe that the past bleeds into the present, and Posie definitely belongs to this category; as does fellow Australian author Kate Morton, and recently discovered author Kate Riordan.
By the time I finished reading Wild Wood, I felt as though I'd wandered some of the rooms of Hundredfield but was hungry for more. I particularly wanted to know more about the character of Hawise.
Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to interview Australian author Posie Graeme-Evans and put all of these questions - and more - to her, click here to read it: http://www.carpelibrum.net/2015/03/wi...
My interest in Jesse's part of the tale steadily crept up on me and I couldn't wait for the story to meet in the middle so to speak. I love to read novels by authors who believe that the past bleeds into the present, and Posie definitely belongs to this category; as does fellow Australian author Kate Morton, and recently discovered author Kate Riordan.
By the time I finished reading Wild Wood, I felt as though I'd wandered some of the rooms of Hundredfield but was hungry for more. I particularly wanted to know more about the character of Hawise.
Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to interview Australian author Posie Graeme-Evans and put all of these questions - and more - to her, click here to read it: http://www.carpelibrum.net/2015/03/wi...
October 5, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up to three.
Okay. The writing? Good. The setting? Also good.
But ugh, the characters. Rory was overall annoying af. Alicia came across as "meh" to me, in that most of the time it felt forced.
Jesse was incredibly irritating and at times, it felt as though she. Whined. Constantly.
I can see how this got compared to Outlander, I really can. But though it had potential it did not live up to what I hoped it would be.
I feel bad because I really wanted to like this book more than I did.
But in almost 500 pages? It honestly felt like nothing happened.
Maybe, one day, I might do a re-read.
But I highly doubt it.
Okay. The writing? Good. The setting? Also good.
But ugh, the characters. Rory was overall annoying af. Alicia came across as "meh" to me, in that most of the time it felt forced.
Jesse was incredibly irritating and at times, it felt as though she. Whined. Constantly.
I can see how this got compared to Outlander, I really can. But though it had potential it did not live up to what I hoped it would be.
I feel bad because I really wanted to like this book more than I did.
But in almost 500 pages? It honestly felt like nothing happened.
Maybe, one day, I might do a re-read.
But I highly doubt it.
March 23, 2016
WILD WOOD is a dual timeline narrative that moves between the Scottish Borderlands in the 14th century and an unhappy young woman in the 1980s who finds herself compelled to draw the same Scottish castle over and over again.
I love stories with parallel timelines, particularly with a good dash of romance, history and magic added in, and I love books set in Scotland, so all the ingredients were in place for a really wonderful read.
I must admit I loved the scenes set in the past more – the story of the mute fairy wife, the battle-hardened warrior and the medieval castle were all so intriguing.
The contemporary scenes did not work quite so well for me, perhaps because the 1980s is not a decade that really inspires me.
However, the story of Jesse and her eerie connection with the past eventually drew me in, and the story really began to gallop along.
I love stories with parallel timelines, particularly with a good dash of romance, history and magic added in, and I love books set in Scotland, so all the ingredients were in place for a really wonderful read.
I must admit I loved the scenes set in the past more – the story of the mute fairy wife, the battle-hardened warrior and the medieval castle were all so intriguing.
The contemporary scenes did not work quite so well for me, perhaps because the 1980s is not a decade that really inspires me.
However, the story of Jesse and her eerie connection with the past eventually drew me in, and the story really began to gallop along.
May 11, 2022
3 stars--I liked the book.
Things I loved: The Scottish setting, the old-ways cult (especially disguised as Christianity), the (first person) chapters set in the past.
What I didn't like: The third-person, present-day chapters were weirdly written, with passive, unlikable characters and some really upsetting plot points.
Things I loved: The Scottish setting, the old-ways cult (especially disguised as Christianity), the (first person) chapters set in the past.
What I didn't like: The third-person, present-day chapters were weirdly written, with passive, unlikable characters and some really upsetting plot points.
June 22, 2018
Posie Graeme-Evans' Wild Wood is a gripping parallel narrative set in the border lands between Scotland and England. The prologue begins with the Norman Fulk's conquest of local Saxons and the building of Hundredfields Keep on top of a sacred spring. The narrative then splits between the modern story - set in 1981 just before Dianna and Charles wedding - , where Jesse Marley begins her search for her birth parents, and the fourteenth century when the three Dieudonne brothers desperately defend Fulk's holdings against the disgruntled peasants and underling rievers. Woven through both stories is the legend of the lady of the forest.
I found both narratives gripping, though a bit slow at the beginning. In the modern story, Jessie, the urbane doctor Rory Brandon, the chatelaine of the failing Hundredfields Alicia Donne, and Rory's half-brother Mac, are all great characters, each with their agendas as 'the past bleeds into the present.' The older narrative is perhaps even more gripping as life, limb and keep are on the line in a brutal unforgiving time. Bayard, despite a man of blood, is a complex and likable 'hero' due to his tenderness and ability to see other perspectives. I found the mystery and legend thread less gripping - a strange mix of 'mother goddess' worship pitted against a very shallow, hollow form of Catholicism, heavily invested in holy relics and ritual. The benevolence of the Lady of the Forest seemed strained especially when it came to . But that did not detract from a fantastic read that kept me turning the pages.
I found both narratives gripping, though a bit slow at the beginning. In the modern story, Jessie, the urbane doctor Rory Brandon, the chatelaine of the failing Hundredfields Alicia Donne, and Rory's half-brother Mac, are all great characters, each with their agendas as 'the past bleeds into the present.' The older narrative is perhaps even more gripping as life, limb and keep are on the line in a brutal unforgiving time. Bayard, despite a man of blood, is a complex and likable 'hero' due to his tenderness and ability to see other perspectives. I found the mystery and legend thread less gripping - a strange mix of 'mother goddess' worship pitted against a very shallow, hollow form of Catholicism, heavily invested in holy relics and ritual. The benevolence of the Lady of the Forest seemed strained especially when it came to . But that did not detract from a fantastic read that kept me turning the pages.
April 15, 2015
4.5 stars
I fell in love with Posie Graeme-Evans' writing almost 10 years ago after reading her War of the Roses trilogy. The cover of Wild Wood called my name, blessed by the cover fairies with what looks to me like Eilean Donan Castle. Then of course I noticed the author's name and when I finally read the synopsis, I was sold. And not disappointed ... this Australian author's writing has evolved over the years and Wild Wood is a beautifully refined story, compelling and evocative.
"The past bleeds into the present."
A dual narrative, separated by centuries, distinct but slowly merging as the threads of past and present unlock long-held secrets ...
1321 in the borderlands, the story unfolds at the Norman stronghold Hundredfield, held by Godefroi, eldest of the three Dieudonné brothers. The story is narrated by the youngest, Bayard. I loved his character; battle-hardened knight, his strength, compassion and sensitivity endearing traits.
1981 Jesse Mayard's world is rocked when she learns she is adopted and leaves her home in Sydney, Australia determined to discover the truth, and herself. Heading for Jedburgh in Scotland, fate intervenes bringing Jesse and Alicia and her neurologist friend Rory Brandon together, setting Jesse on the path to Hundredfield.
In a dual time line story I normally find one story appeals more than the other but with Wild Wood I was equally intrigued by both. I was immediately hooked on Bayard's narration, page-turning, breath-holding reading, the setting and times, violent, harsh and unforgiving. Jesse's narration was a quieter pulling, until Hundredfield exerted its influence.
Wild Wood has its faults but maybe visiting Scotland gave the story and Hundredfield a whole lot more 'feel' ... history literally seeps from the walls of these ancient castles and ruins, it can be quite emotionally overwhelming. It was lovely to revisit that feeling with Wild Wood.
History, dark secrets, legend and superstition create a haunting tale. And now I look forward to the author's new writing venture ... The Outer Sea. Write faster Posie :)
Cover: I'm in love.
I fell in love with Posie Graeme-Evans' writing almost 10 years ago after reading her War of the Roses trilogy. The cover of Wild Wood called my name, blessed by the cover fairies with what looks to me like Eilean Donan Castle. Then of course I noticed the author's name and when I finally read the synopsis, I was sold. And not disappointed ... this Australian author's writing has evolved over the years and Wild Wood is a beautifully refined story, compelling and evocative.
"The past bleeds into the present."
A dual narrative, separated by centuries, distinct but slowly merging as the threads of past and present unlock long-held secrets ...
1321 in the borderlands, the story unfolds at the Norman stronghold Hundredfield, held by Godefroi, eldest of the three Dieudonné brothers. The story is narrated by the youngest, Bayard. I loved his character; battle-hardened knight, his strength, compassion and sensitivity endearing traits.
1981 Jesse Mayard's world is rocked when she learns she is adopted and leaves her home in Sydney, Australia determined to discover the truth, and herself. Heading for Jedburgh in Scotland, fate intervenes bringing Jesse and Alicia and her neurologist friend Rory Brandon together, setting Jesse on the path to Hundredfield.
In a dual time line story I normally find one story appeals more than the other but with Wild Wood I was equally intrigued by both. I was immediately hooked on Bayard's narration, page-turning, breath-holding reading, the setting and times, violent, harsh and unforgiving. Jesse's narration was a quieter pulling, until Hundredfield exerted its influence.
Wild Wood has its faults but maybe visiting Scotland gave the story and Hundredfield a whole lot more 'feel' ... history literally seeps from the walls of these ancient castles and ruins, it can be quite emotionally overwhelming. It was lovely to revisit that feeling with Wild Wood.
History, dark secrets, legend and superstition create a haunting tale. And now I look forward to the author's new writing venture ... The Outer Sea. Write faster Posie :)
Cover: I'm in love.
March 25, 2015
Lose yourself in this outstanding tale of love, loss and the power of fate.
Aussie Jesse Marley’s search for her British roots is cut short when an accident sends her to St. Bart’s Hospital with a broken clavicle and concussion. Unable to communicate and forced to use her left hand to write, Jesse unlocks a talent for drawing; something she’s never mastered before now. But it’s what she draws that brings her closer to the secret of her birth. It’s a secret that echoes deep into the medieval past of the Scottish Borders and entwines her in the life of the two people she was fated to meet.
Though Jesse is the catalyst for all that unfolds in Wild Wood, this is essentially a story of place—the medieval stronghold of Hundredfield. Drawing on pagan mythology, history and a multifaceted plot, Graeme-Evans creates two captivating storylines. As Jesse discovers her own past, the events of six hundred years ago begin to emerge. These events are narrated by Bayard, lord and knight of Hundredfield in 1321.The risk with such a structure is that one storyline or character dominates the other. Bayard’s world is less familiar and so richly described that it could dominate Jesse’s more contemporary story, and lovers of historical fiction may discover a preference. I was as equally interested in Jesse’s story as I was in Bayard’s. At the end of each day it was a pleasure to escape into the world of Hundredfield and its mysteries.
Graeme-Evans is a wonderful storyteller. Wild Wood is a seamless blend of mysticism, romance and history, richly imagined and beautifully executed.
April 3rd, 2015–Join me and Posie Graeme-Evans on Writers Block as we discuss Wild Wood and learn more about Posie. http"//www.rowenaholloway.com
Thanks to Anna O'Grady at Simon & Schuster Australia for my ARC of Wild Wood.
Aussie Jesse Marley’s search for her British roots is cut short when an accident sends her to St. Bart’s Hospital with a broken clavicle and concussion. Unable to communicate and forced to use her left hand to write, Jesse unlocks a talent for drawing; something she’s never mastered before now. But it’s what she draws that brings her closer to the secret of her birth. It’s a secret that echoes deep into the medieval past of the Scottish Borders and entwines her in the life of the two people she was fated to meet.
Though Jesse is the catalyst for all that unfolds in Wild Wood, this is essentially a story of place—the medieval stronghold of Hundredfield. Drawing on pagan mythology, history and a multifaceted plot, Graeme-Evans creates two captivating storylines. As Jesse discovers her own past, the events of six hundred years ago begin to emerge. These events are narrated by Bayard, lord and knight of Hundredfield in 1321.The risk with such a structure is that one storyline or character dominates the other. Bayard’s world is less familiar and so richly described that it could dominate Jesse’s more contemporary story, and lovers of historical fiction may discover a preference. I was as equally interested in Jesse’s story as I was in Bayard’s. At the end of each day it was a pleasure to escape into the world of Hundredfield and its mysteries.
Graeme-Evans is a wonderful storyteller. Wild Wood is a seamless blend of mysticism, romance and history, richly imagined and beautifully executed.
April 3rd, 2015–Join me and Posie Graeme-Evans on Writers Block as we discuss Wild Wood and learn more about Posie. http"//www.rowenaholloway.com
Thanks to Anna O'Grady at Simon & Schuster Australia for my ARC of Wild Wood.
February 7, 2015
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The beginning of this intriguing novel transports the reader to the windswept northern borderlands. It’s 1068 and William the Conqueror’s Norman bullies are spreading through the country, quelling rebellion wherever they find it. We witness the harsh stamping of their authority through the eyes of a frightened child. Hers is an important task; she must run to the sacred pool and make an offering to The Lady of the Forest. To plead for her protection. But the soldiers come and with their leader, Fulk, desecrate the holy place just as they plan to violate the women praying in the village.
From this bleak starting point Posie Graeme-Evans weaves together two narratives separated by hundreds of years. In 1321 Bayard Dieudonné returns home to his family’s imposing castle after two years fighting border reivers. He finds a new addition to the household; a bewitchingly beautiful young woman. Enigmatic, silent, pregnant.
Then we meet Aussie abroad, Jesse Marley. It’s 1981 and the whole of London (the whole of the world) is anticipating the Royal Wedding. But Jesse is too preoccupied to speculate about what the dress will be like; she is struggling to find her emotional foundation again after making a shocking discovery. The Dieudonnés are descended from Fulk but where does Jesse belong?
These disparate tales are told extremely well and the author has a deceivingly gentle, engaging style. She puts a spell on you and then cranks up the pace. You want to find out what happens to the main protagonists, to uncover the secrets of this haunting part of the world. So full of history, mystery, scandals and regrets.
The beginning of this intriguing novel transports the reader to the windswept northern borderlands. It’s 1068 and William the Conqueror’s Norman bullies are spreading through the country, quelling rebellion wherever they find it. We witness the harsh stamping of their authority through the eyes of a frightened child. Hers is an important task; she must run to the sacred pool and make an offering to The Lady of the Forest. To plead for her protection. But the soldiers come and with their leader, Fulk, desecrate the holy place just as they plan to violate the women praying in the village.
From this bleak starting point Posie Graeme-Evans weaves together two narratives separated by hundreds of years. In 1321 Bayard Dieudonné returns home to his family’s imposing castle after two years fighting border reivers. He finds a new addition to the household; a bewitchingly beautiful young woman. Enigmatic, silent, pregnant.
Then we meet Aussie abroad, Jesse Marley. It’s 1981 and the whole of London (the whole of the world) is anticipating the Royal Wedding. But Jesse is too preoccupied to speculate about what the dress will be like; she is struggling to find her emotional foundation again after making a shocking discovery. The Dieudonnés are descended from Fulk but where does Jesse belong?
These disparate tales are told extremely well and the author has a deceivingly gentle, engaging style. She puts a spell on you and then cranks up the pace. You want to find out what happens to the main protagonists, to uncover the secrets of this haunting part of the world. So full of history, mystery, scandals and regrets.
February 6, 2016
Wild Wood is an incredibly engaging read, but also a very slow read. It took me 4 days to get through it's 400-odd pages. It's also the rare novel where I found myself enjoying - and preferring - one storyline over the other: Bayard's tale was fascinating and I couldn't wait to return to it. While I wish there would have been more of a time travel element (especially since it's shelved as such on GoodReads) the expectation of one was completely my fault in not reading the summary properly. Posie Graeme-Evans is a new-to-me author and my introduction to her work couldn't have been lovelier. Wild Wood is a novel to savor, to really sink into when it's blistery cold outside and you've got a cozy blanket and hot cup of tea. Though slow going, I enjoyed it immensely and look forward to reading more of her books!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
For the full review and more, head over to The Pretty Good Gatsby!
April 19, 2015
What we have here is a book within a book. Unfortunately the story within the story is more interesting than the original story. I'm sorry, was that confusing?
It was good until about half way through. Unfortunately the past was too awkwardly tied to the present and the mirror plot felt redundant. I feel that if the author had set the book either entirely in the 1300s or entirely in the present day it would have made for a much better flow of the story.
So in short, borrow from a library.
It was good until about half way through. Unfortunately the past was too awkwardly tied to the present and the mirror plot felt redundant. I feel that if the author had set the book either entirely in the 1300s or entirely in the present day it would have made for a much better flow of the story.
So in short, borrow from a library.
did-not-finish
April 21, 2017I had high hopes for this one - medieval Scotland! I haven't found a lot of authors who write historical fiction set in the middle ages that doesn't revolve around royalty. This is my second book by Ms. Graeme-Evans (the first was also set in medieval Scotland), and as much as I loved her t.v. series McLeod's Daughters, her books just haven't done much for me. A hundred pages in and I don't really care about any of the characters - they just bug me! When I'm not looking forward to picking up the book again, that's when it's time to put it up!
July 27, 2015
I really loved this book. I didn't know how I would handle the 14th century part of it but, as I love a story in split time zones, as the story proceeded I became more absorbed the complete story, in both times. if anything, this book has created a fascination for me in the history of earlier centuries that I will continue to follow. my particular interest and fascination in earlier times has so far limited me to my favourite period in time...the first decades of the 20th century.
August 18, 2015
Really good Fabulous narration...
...more to come
...more to come
June 1, 2015
I WILL be reading more from this terrific Australian writer, oh yes indeed!
July 7, 2016
Do not read if you expect something like Outlander. Nothing like it. It was a bit "meh".
April 26, 2015
WILD WOOD
By
Posie Graeme-Evans
Synopsis
REVIEW
I love historical fiction. I can get lost in the pages of a well written book and I found myself lost in just such a book when I opened the pages to WILD WOOD, by Posie Graeme-Evans. This gem is a historical fiction with an overlay of not time travel, but not really fantasy either. It is a mix of folklore, historical fiction and an interesting current time mystery with just a touch of a love story to keep the love forlorn interested and turning the pages wondering who is going to get the cute young doctor.
The old country in the north of England and in the south of Scotland is riddled with ancient sites. There are many moldery castles hanging on, despite the fact that they should have long since collapsed in a heap of rubble. Posie took this magical setting to use as a backdrop as she began to weave a story of an adopted young lady, Jesse, looking for her birth parents, a young and brilliant psychiatrist, Rory, who takes her under wing after an unfortunate accident leaves her with a head injury and a lot of unanswered questions. He whisks her off to one of these moldery castles up near the Scottish border. After they arrive, her dreams of the past intensify, about the very castle that they are staying in and she discovers that she has already met the owner of the castle, Alicia just before she landed in the hospital in London. The oddities just continue and grow more complex with the unwinding of the story.
The mystery of the story that Jesse continues to reveal through the dream sequences of the Hundrefield during the 1400s is a wonderful historical fiction story, unto itself. It is well written, the characters multi-dimensional, and you can live, breath and smell the very essence of what it would be to live in Hundredfield with the Donnes during that time period.
It is the very magic and essence of the Ancient Ones, especially the ”Lady of the Forrest”, that binds the two stories across the centuries, as she draws Jesse, Rory, and Alicia (the owner of the castle) into a more and more complex mystery in the present, even as the story progresses and becomes more poignant in the past. Each of the storylines stands well alone, as a wonderful mystery and love story.
WILD WOOD is the masterful weaving of the two stories together, and the surprising, but logical conclusion of this book makes this complex novel a worthy read. Though at times not an easy read and at times it seems to bog down. History is not all excitement either. It is the hunger for the “answers” that kept me moving forward, for I knew that even these few sections would offer logical reason on retrospect at the end.
Posie paid attention to detail in the development of her story, for each detail had a purpose and came back to answer an unsolved question later in the story. The face Jesse kept drawing, places in the castle Jesse knew about or could draw in detail that were pictures in old books in the castle library, these are small examples. There were little details like a white lock of hair in a character’s otherwise black locks. All of these small details were clues, they all had reasons. Small though they seemed, each was of some significance in the plot and storyline. Following those types of details and trails through a novel makes for exquisite reading. In this case it came to a true love affair with the story and characters between the pages.
WILD WOOD by Posie Graeme-Evans is literary work of potential significance in this reviewer’s opinion. With a FIVE STAR rating, I hope that she gains the attention of the reading public. I highly recommend her work for the serious historical fiction, historical mystery, historical folk lore, adult literary fiction, and historical romance readers. The book is not a light read, but is worth the relaxing diligent read of someone ready to enjoy a well written literary work.
By
Posie Graeme-Evans
Synopsis
REVIEW
I love historical fiction. I can get lost in the pages of a well written book and I found myself lost in just such a book when I opened the pages to WILD WOOD, by Posie Graeme-Evans. This gem is a historical fiction with an overlay of not time travel, but not really fantasy either. It is a mix of folklore, historical fiction and an interesting current time mystery with just a touch of a love story to keep the love forlorn interested and turning the pages wondering who is going to get the cute young doctor.
The old country in the north of England and in the south of Scotland is riddled with ancient sites. There are many moldery castles hanging on, despite the fact that they should have long since collapsed in a heap of rubble. Posie took this magical setting to use as a backdrop as she began to weave a story of an adopted young lady, Jesse, looking for her birth parents, a young and brilliant psychiatrist, Rory, who takes her under wing after an unfortunate accident leaves her with a head injury and a lot of unanswered questions. He whisks her off to one of these moldery castles up near the Scottish border. After they arrive, her dreams of the past intensify, about the very castle that they are staying in and she discovers that she has already met the owner of the castle, Alicia just before she landed in the hospital in London. The oddities just continue and grow more complex with the unwinding of the story.
The mystery of the story that Jesse continues to reveal through the dream sequences of the Hundrefield during the 1400s is a wonderful historical fiction story, unto itself. It is well written, the characters multi-dimensional, and you can live, breath and smell the very essence of what it would be to live in Hundredfield with the Donnes during that time period.
It is the very magic and essence of the Ancient Ones, especially the ”Lady of the Forrest”, that binds the two stories across the centuries, as she draws Jesse, Rory, and Alicia (the owner of the castle) into a more and more complex mystery in the present, even as the story progresses and becomes more poignant in the past. Each of the storylines stands well alone, as a wonderful mystery and love story.
WILD WOOD is the masterful weaving of the two stories together, and the surprising, but logical conclusion of this book makes this complex novel a worthy read. Though at times not an easy read and at times it seems to bog down. History is not all excitement either. It is the hunger for the “answers” that kept me moving forward, for I knew that even these few sections would offer logical reason on retrospect at the end.
Posie paid attention to detail in the development of her story, for each detail had a purpose and came back to answer an unsolved question later in the story. The face Jesse kept drawing, places in the castle Jesse knew about or could draw in detail that were pictures in old books in the castle library, these are small examples. There were little details like a white lock of hair in a character’s otherwise black locks. All of these small details were clues, they all had reasons. Small though they seemed, each was of some significance in the plot and storyline. Following those types of details and trails through a novel makes for exquisite reading. In this case it came to a true love affair with the story and characters between the pages.
WILD WOOD by Posie Graeme-Evans is literary work of potential significance in this reviewer’s opinion. With a FIVE STAR rating, I hope that she gains the attention of the reading public. I highly recommend her work for the serious historical fiction, historical mystery, historical folk lore, adult literary fiction, and historical romance readers. The book is not a light read, but is worth the relaxing diligent read of someone ready to enjoy a well written literary work.
February 3, 2015
(Much thanks to Anna O’Grady of Simon & Schuster Australia, for offering me this opportunity to review an advance hard copy of Wild Wood.)
Hundredfield! Does it exist? It just has to, somewhere.
Posie Graeme-Evans’ description of Hundredfield castle is painted so vividly in my mind that it now breathes a life of its own…
I just love how the author managed to weave back and forth through time in such a way that it never lost connection with the reader. What link could Hundredfield, built in 1068 by a brutal Norman warlord, possibly have with the young Jesse Marley, who lives almost one thousand years later in the year 1981? Jesse has travelled all the way from Australia to England to find her birth mother. When she is struck down by a motorcyclist, her quest takes a back seat, or so it seems.
Bed ridden with severe head trauma and her right arm in a sling, Jesse is right handed but must try to communicate with her left hand. When the young neurologist Dr Rory Brandon discovers pictures drawn perfectly in Jesse’s left hand, Jesse has no recollection of ever drawing them. Truth be told, she can’t even draw. The pictures of people from another time and a tower brooding over a castle are the least familiar to Jesse, but not to Dr Brandon. In fact, he knows this castle well.
What prompts Rory to start hypnotising Jesse from her pictures alone? Why is it imperative that he take his patient all the way to the Scottish border? Is Jesse prepared to play a part in the unravelling of hidden truths imposed by such a mysterious and magical place and its surrounds? What is her connection to the lady of the Forest? And most of all, will she ever find the one person she has come all this way to meet?
Although I was unfamiliar with Norman warlord history, I was indeed fascinated by the clever way Posie used this as the effective backdrop to the storyline. The characters held their presence well. I even found myself googling and educating myself about the Normans and how they came to be. For a novel of over four hundred pages, I found Wild Wood an entertaining read. When I thought I had the story worked out, there was a twist around certain corners that had me scratching my head until the very end. Well done Posie and well researched. Although I may never have the opportunity to travel to England and Scotland, my mother’s birth place, you certainly took me there for a time, and I thank you. Off to the library to borrow another of Posie’s books, and looking forward to getting lost in future books written by the author.
Hundredfield! Does it exist? It just has to, somewhere.
Posie Graeme-Evans’ description of Hundredfield castle is painted so vividly in my mind that it now breathes a life of its own…
I just love how the author managed to weave back and forth through time in such a way that it never lost connection with the reader. What link could Hundredfield, built in 1068 by a brutal Norman warlord, possibly have with the young Jesse Marley, who lives almost one thousand years later in the year 1981? Jesse has travelled all the way from Australia to England to find her birth mother. When she is struck down by a motorcyclist, her quest takes a back seat, or so it seems.
Bed ridden with severe head trauma and her right arm in a sling, Jesse is right handed but must try to communicate with her left hand. When the young neurologist Dr Rory Brandon discovers pictures drawn perfectly in Jesse’s left hand, Jesse has no recollection of ever drawing them. Truth be told, she can’t even draw. The pictures of people from another time and a tower brooding over a castle are the least familiar to Jesse, but not to Dr Brandon. In fact, he knows this castle well.
What prompts Rory to start hypnotising Jesse from her pictures alone? Why is it imperative that he take his patient all the way to the Scottish border? Is Jesse prepared to play a part in the unravelling of hidden truths imposed by such a mysterious and magical place and its surrounds? What is her connection to the lady of the Forest? And most of all, will she ever find the one person she has come all this way to meet?
Although I was unfamiliar with Norman warlord history, I was indeed fascinated by the clever way Posie used this as the effective backdrop to the storyline. The characters held their presence well. I even found myself googling and educating myself about the Normans and how they came to be. For a novel of over four hundred pages, I found Wild Wood an entertaining read. When I thought I had the story worked out, there was a twist around certain corners that had me scratching my head until the very end. Well done Posie and well researched. Although I may never have the opportunity to travel to England and Scotland, my mother’s birth place, you certainly took me there for a time, and I thank you. Off to the library to borrow another of Posie’s books, and looking forward to getting lost in future books written by the author.
March 19, 2015
The Scottish borders is the ideal backdrop for Posie Graeme-Evans sixth novel Wild Wood, which contains a beautiful blend of history and myth. The story opens in June 1981 (in the weeks just prior to Prince Charles wedding to Diana Spencer,) with Jesse Marley, a young, Australian woman who has just discovered that she is adopted and has travelled to Scotland to discover more about her birth. Meanwhile, another narrative tells of the same place in a different time in history. Bayard Dieudonne is a young man fighting for both family honour and to understand his new sister-in-law, a young mute woman who is despised by many. As Bayard's story goes deeper and deeper, we learn more about the history and a haunting local legend--which may just be brought to life right in front of Bayard's eyes.
A twist of fate, in the form of a motorcycle accident, leaves Jesse in hospital and with some strange new abilities--such as her being able to draw with her left hand people and places that she has never seen before. Neurologist Rory Brandon is intrigued, particularly when Jesse starts drawing pictures of a castle that he knows quite well. But what does the castle, and a certain local legend have to do with Jesse?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Wild Wood from start to finish and watching as the duel narratives of Bayard and Jesse unfolded. Poor Bayard has his hands full with defending his family homestead (and putting up with an idiotic older brother,) while the mystery of Jesse's behaviour is quite interesting. Is she going insane? Is there something deeper at work? And does Alicia, the owner of the castle have the right to be suspicious?
It was interesting to see how the duel stories connected--and they do eventually in quite a pleasing way. I loved seeing the history of The Borders being brought to life in such way and blended with a legend that was totally appropriate to the story. Maybe it is my family history--my ancestors are from the Borders--but I felt a real connection, or perhaps a pull, toward this story. I think that the author has a real knack for slowly drawing readers in and causing them to feel very involved with the story.
I highly recommend this one to readers who want something historical ... with a twist.
Thank you to Anna O'Grady from Simon and Schuster Australia for my ARC.
This review also appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
A twist of fate, in the form of a motorcycle accident, leaves Jesse in hospital and with some strange new abilities--such as her being able to draw with her left hand people and places that she has never seen before. Neurologist Rory Brandon is intrigued, particularly when Jesse starts drawing pictures of a castle that he knows quite well. But what does the castle, and a certain local legend have to do with Jesse?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Wild Wood from start to finish and watching as the duel narratives of Bayard and Jesse unfolded. Poor Bayard has his hands full with defending his family homestead (and putting up with an idiotic older brother,) while the mystery of Jesse's behaviour is quite interesting. Is she going insane? Is there something deeper at work? And does Alicia, the owner of the castle have the right to be suspicious?
It was interesting to see how the duel stories connected--and they do eventually in quite a pleasing way. I loved seeing the history of The Borders being brought to life in such way and blended with a legend that was totally appropriate to the story. Maybe it is my family history--my ancestors are from the Borders--but I felt a real connection, or perhaps a pull, toward this story. I think that the author has a real knack for slowly drawing readers in and causing them to feel very involved with the story.
I highly recommend this one to readers who want something historical ... with a twist.
Thank you to Anna O'Grady from Simon and Schuster Australia for my ARC.
This review also appears on my blog, Kathryn's Inbox.
March 19, 2015
Wild Wood is an intriguing story of one family’s existence through the ages. A family with a folklore that is living to ensure their continuity & maybe even prosperity. The novel spans 6 centuries of secrets hidden in a little town by the Scottish borders.
This tale is told from 2 perspectives: Jesse in 1981 and Bayard in 1321. Jesse had recently found out that she was adopted and is in doubt of her identity. She is looking for her birth parents and by several incidents, she got to Hundredfield where it all unfolded. Jesse is likeable enough though I don’t feel there was anything special about her. Her story felt pretty average to me –a bit slow to develop and not one character to really grab me except maybe one minor character. The twist about her family didn’t surprise me one bit either. I could see it coming a long way.
Bayard’s story is the one that appeals to me in this novel. He was a man of war –that was his lot, being the youngest son of three. And yet, in the midst of battle-hardened men, he was considerate and surprisingly, gentle. His is a tale of brutality of the age, of superstition, and also, of love. I was quite happy with this perspective which really is the highlight of this novel for me.
Expectations! It can easily wreck a book for you. I feel that this is what mostly let me down in Wild Wood. It has not got any time travel nor does the time-slip work out to be such. So, there is a bit of “magic” (of folklore) but it didn’t quite grab me. I like the premise of it but I don’t think the origin of it was explored enough –just that it’s there and how what happened in 14th century related to what’s happening now. It turned out to be a pretty average read as it was slow to develop, twists which didn’t catch me by surprise, and my inability to connect with the ‘contemporary’ characters.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster (Australia) for copy of eARC via NetGalley
This tale is told from 2 perspectives: Jesse in 1981 and Bayard in 1321. Jesse had recently found out that she was adopted and is in doubt of her identity. She is looking for her birth parents and by several incidents, she got to Hundredfield where it all unfolded. Jesse is likeable enough though I don’t feel there was anything special about her. Her story felt pretty average to me –a bit slow to develop and not one character to really grab me except maybe one minor character. The twist about her family didn’t surprise me one bit either. I could see it coming a long way.
Bayard’s story is the one that appeals to me in this novel. He was a man of war –that was his lot, being the youngest son of three. And yet, in the midst of battle-hardened men, he was considerate and surprisingly, gentle. His is a tale of brutality of the age, of superstition, and also, of love. I was quite happy with this perspective which really is the highlight of this novel for me.
Expectations! It can easily wreck a book for you. I feel that this is what mostly let me down in Wild Wood. It has not got any time travel nor does the time-slip work out to be such. So, there is a bit of “magic” (of folklore) but it didn’t quite grab me. I like the premise of it but I don’t think the origin of it was explored enough –just that it’s there and how what happened in 14th century related to what’s happening now. It turned out to be a pretty average read as it was slow to develop, twists which didn’t catch me by surprise, and my inability to connect with the ‘contemporary’ characters.
Thank you, Simon & Schuster (Australia) for copy of eARC via NetGalley
March 31, 2015
Running on dual time lines Wild Wood is true escapism.
In 1981 when Jesse Marley accidentally finds out she is adopted, she cuts all ties with her adoptive parents and travels to England to find her birth mother. While there she is involved in an accident and suffers a head injury. Her doctor, Rory Brandon becomes intrigued when he discovers she has drawn some pictures of which he recognises the castle. He convinces her to undertake some hypnotherapy to discover what is happening and also to come with him to the place that she has drawn.
In the 14th Century the inhabitants of Hundredfield are spooked when Lord Godefroi marries Lady Flore, She is a woman whom Godefroi found in the forest who does not speak. They believe she is possessed but Godefroi is utterly captivated by her. This narrative is told by the Godefroi's youngest brother Bayard.
I really enjoyed the two time frames. I'm not a great historical lover, so I'm always more intrigued with the contemporary story line. But both of these were written smoothly and I my attention was held in both narratives. This had a bit of everything....supernatural, mystery, romance, small town secrets and I really enjoyed seeing how all of these came together. I could see where the story line was going but at the end there was one surprise that made me smile.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review
In 1981 when Jesse Marley accidentally finds out she is adopted, she cuts all ties with her adoptive parents and travels to England to find her birth mother. While there she is involved in an accident and suffers a head injury. Her doctor, Rory Brandon becomes intrigued when he discovers she has drawn some pictures of which he recognises the castle. He convinces her to undertake some hypnotherapy to discover what is happening and also to come with him to the place that she has drawn.
In the 14th Century the inhabitants of Hundredfield are spooked when Lord Godefroi marries Lady Flore, She is a woman whom Godefroi found in the forest who does not speak. They believe she is possessed but Godefroi is utterly captivated by her. This narrative is told by the Godefroi's youngest brother Bayard.
I really enjoyed the two time frames. I'm not a great historical lover, so I'm always more intrigued with the contemporary story line. But both of these were written smoothly and I my attention was held in both narratives. This had a bit of everything....supernatural, mystery, romance, small town secrets and I really enjoyed seeing how all of these came together. I could see where the story line was going but at the end there was one surprise that made me smile.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review
August 20, 2015
This was a good read. (ha ha, get it?) Similar in style to Susanna Kearsley's books which I love, this one also alternated time periods between 1981 and the 14th century in the same location - Hundredfield, Scotland. Parallel stories, mysteries, family secrets, it's all there. Add a bit of romance (not much really), a head trauma that brings out latent talents, and of course, the Lady of the Forest, and you have a nice little semi-historical fairy tale. The characters are not fully fleshed out in my opinion, though, and I never got fully immersed in either storyline - it took a while for them to merge. However, this author is the writer of one of my favorite trilogies (The Innocent, The Exiled, and The Uncrowned Queen) so I gave it a shot. I liked it, but the others were much better. I would still read her other book called The Island House, and I did read The Dressmaker a while back which was very different and also enjoyable, so that would complete my Posie library!! If you have kids and ever heard of or watched Hi-5, she is the producer of that show too. And I think she is more famous for her work on the TV show MacLeod's Daughters. Varied career!
February 1, 2015
Importantly this book is nicely written, with skillful use of language to create two geographically identical worlds, but worlds apart in time. The key characters are engaging and make you care. The author keeps the threads of each story buzzing along in an enjoyable, hard to put down manner.
The modern leading lady is sympathetically presented, and the light romance is enjoyable and feels right. I would have liked a little more information about Margeuritta, as I felt she had potential to be somewhat more of a character.
As a fantasy fan, I found the hints of 'other' enticing and while I am happy with over the top fantasy, the restraint here enhances the story. I also finished the book feeling myself wanting the modern day cast knowing more of what happened in the past and more certainty for them about the fantasy element. However on reflection I feel that the author has left the reader thinking about what may happens and what the modern cast will make of it all, after we have closed the book for the last time.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ebook.
The modern leading lady is sympathetically presented, and the light romance is enjoyable and feels right. I would have liked a little more information about Margeuritta, as I felt she had potential to be somewhat more of a character.
As a fantasy fan, I found the hints of 'other' enticing and while I am happy with over the top fantasy, the restraint here enhances the story. I also finished the book feeling myself wanting the modern day cast knowing more of what happened in the past and more certainty for them about the fantasy element. However on reflection I feel that the author has left the reader thinking about what may happens and what the modern cast will make of it all, after we have closed the book for the last time.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ebook.
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