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Kauri-Trilogie #1

Toward the Sea of Freedom

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In mid-nineteenth-century Ireland, charming Kathleen and dashing Michael harbor secrets and dreams. Imagining a life beyond the kitchen and fields of the wealthy family they both work for, they plot to leave their homeland, marry, and raise the child Kathleen is secretly carrying. The luck of the Irish, however, is not on their side. Soon, they find themselves swept up in circumstances they never could have fathomed. Kathleen is forced to marry against her will and immigrate to New Zealand. Michael is imprisoned for rebellion and exiled to Australia. As time passes and their new lives march on, they long for those stolen moments in the lush green fields of their native land. And they both still dream of escape, with no idea of how close fate will eventually bring them.

555 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2016

1332 people are currently reading
2521 people want to read

About the author

Sarah Lark

83 books831 followers
Christiane Gohl (* 1958 in Bochum) ist eine deutsche Autorin. Gohl veröffentlicht ihre Romane auch unter den Pseudonymen Ricarda Jordan, Sarah Lark und Elisabeth Rotenberg. Neben Kinder- und Jugendbüchern rund um das Thema Pferde veröffentlicht Gohl auch Romane für Erwachsene.

Sie studierte Pädagogik und arbeitete als Fachjournalistin und Werbetexterin. Neben ihrer Tätigkeit als Autorin betreibt Gohl eine kleine Pferdezucht in Spanien.

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5 stars
2,653 (43%)
4 stars
2,356 (38%)
3 stars
830 (13%)
2 stars
141 (2%)
1 star
63 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
Profile Image for Maria Espadinha.
1,162 reviews518 followers
November 14, 2019
The Cloud in the Silver Lining


Freedom and Sea — this couple of words in a book title had the effect of a magnet 🧲 in my neurons. After meeting those two words in a title, reading the corresponding book was not an option 😉
However, since in a book there’s more than a title, right now I’m supposed to tell you if the story has been equally pleasurable.
Well... yes, but not in that idyllic way I was dreaming about...
Let me just tell you that every silver lining frames a cloud, and leaving the title to step into the story, was like parting from the lining into the cloud ⛅️😉. But you can sweep all your worries, cos the cloud I’m talking about, although a bit darker, it’s also silver ...
Profile Image for Cititor Necunoscut.
476 reviews95 followers
May 7, 2020
După trilogia În țara Norului Alb eram tare curioasă să descopăr Aurul maorilor, pe care o aveam acasa de doi ani, dar nu mă încumentam să mă apuc de ea, din cauza lungimii romanului. Dar la fel ca la prima trilogie, paginile zboară, pe măsură ce te afunzi în povestea personajelor. Sarah Lark reușește să creeze personaje memorabile, de care te poți atașa ușor, diferite și complexe. Mi-a plăcut atmosfera pe care autoarea reușește să o creeze, indiferent dacă este una tensionată sau una fericită. Scenele create de ea îți captivează atenția și nu dorești să te oprești din citit.
Profile Image for Maria Espadinha.
1,162 reviews518 followers
July 29, 2019
Quase Assim

Do casamento de Grace Kelly com o Príncipe Rainier, esperavam-se filhas lindas como a mãe e filhos charmosos como o pai, e foi quase assim que aconteceu! 😉
Por analogia 😜, se Mar e Liberdade surgem num título, só pode esperar-se uma história extasiante , fluida, arrebatadora... e ... foi quase assim que aconteceu ... 😉 😍
Profile Image for Ann.
149 reviews3 followers
February 5, 2016
This is Sarah Lark's most recent book about the settling of New Zealand. As a New Zealander, I appreciate the detailed research into our country's background with both the Maori and pakeha cultures. One again there are strong female characters in her story line. I wonder if I would have survived the hardships that families, and women in particular, found upon arrival in NZ during those times. This book is set in time of the gold rush days in Otago. I am a fan of Sarah Lark's books and have read all or most of them. I enjoyed this one tremendously.
Profile Image for Ivy.
1,205 reviews58 followers
March 7, 2019
Wieder ein tolles Buch von Sarah Lark. Und wieder so wie man es von ihr kennt.
Voller Drama, Liebe, Konflikte und schicksalhafter Wendungen. Dazu zwei beeindruckende Frauen und tolles historisches Setting. Dazu lebhafte, detaillierte Beschreibungen von Landschaften, Lebensumständen und gut gezeichnete Figuren.

Alles zusammen schafft eine tolle Atmosphäre und lässt voll in die Story abtauchen. Man reist, hofft, bangt und leidet total mit. Die Geschichte ist flüssig und angenehm zu lesen und zeigt auch die harten Seiten auf ohne Schönrederei. Immer wieder gibt es Situationen, in der man Figuren richtig hasst.

Kathleen ist schwanger, heimlich mit dem mutigen aber leichtsinnigen Michael verlobt und die beiden wollen zusammen Irland verlassen. Aber dann wird Michael verhaftet und nach Australien abgeschoben, wo er die junge Prostituierte Lizzie kennenlernt. Kathleen muss den Widerling Coltrane heiraten, der sie misshandelt und mit ihm nach Neuseeland auswandern.

Michael und Kathleen sind, über all die Jahre, total auf den jeweils Anderen fixiert. Aber Lissy ist wirklich beeindruckend. Sie hat Träume ist aber vor allem kämpferisch und pfiffig. Kathleen dagegen ist zurückhaltend aber entschlossen und macht über die Zeit eine unglaubliche Entwicklung.

Obwohl das Buch einem ähnlichen Schema folgt, wie Andere der Autorin ist es eigen und doch anders. Vor allem vom Ende war ich diesmal begeistert. Anders als gedacht, viel weniger kitschig und natürlicher. Ich freue mich jetzt auf Band 2!
1,387 reviews8 followers
April 4, 2016
Mixed bag, this one. I very much enjoyed the vivid Australian and New Zealand historical setting and the obvious wealth of research. The main characters, though, drove me to distraction. I wanted to shake them all by the shoulders and tell them to grow up and move on.
Profile Image for Amy.
829 reviews170 followers
January 28, 2019
It was a fortunate accident to run across this series while looking up the trees of New Zealand. While the series is named after the kauri tree, it’s actually a work of historical fiction by a German author. It's about a couple who are separated during the Irish potato famine—the man ending up imprisoned on Van Dieman’s Land in Australia and the woman ending up in the middle of the New Zealand gold rush. Throughout the book, they move both closer and farther apart from each other, and the reader keeps hoping for their reunion as much as they do.

I like how the author doesn’t sugar coat the reality of the poor at the time of the Irish potato famine. There’s an interesting interplay in this book which constantly blurs the lines between what is good and what is bad. It’s all contextual. There are many things that you might not want to do that you have to do when you and your family are hungry:
“Your mother takes sin money?” Kathleen marveled.

Michael arched his eyebrows. “Rather than burying her children.”


And when you’re comparing reasons for why you're both on a prison ship:
“I stole some bread,” she admitted. “I was hungry. And you?”

“Three sacks of grain,” said Michael. “Our whole village was hungry.”

I enjoyed the history, storyline, and characters of the novel. The author hooks the reader from the first chapter and never really lets go. There are some really harsh themes in the book, but life can sometimes be harsh. I like that the females in the novel are capable and self-sufficient despite the negative situations thrust upon them. I also love that the ending of the book is the ending that the reader needs even if it might not be the ending that the reader wants.

Whenever I’m in the mood again for historical fiction set in New Zealand, I’ll definitely pick up the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Debby *BabyDee*.
1,481 reviews79 followers
October 22, 2018
This is the first book in the trilogy by Sara Lark. Continuing with my series reads in the month of October. I think I loved her Long White Cloud Saga better.

This is a very nice story spanning over time. It is set in Ireland and England and is a story of a young girl, Mary Kathleen who is very much a beautiful lass who falls in love with Michael who has all the words that makes her feel good and handsome to boot. Although he has good intentions, unfortunately he gets her pregnant and is arrested trying to make a living the best way he knows..one that would cost him his freedom. He is given a 10-year sentence because of his refusal to participate with officials and the judge. Before going to jail, he leaves Mary Kathleen a some of money and promises to come back for her before he is put aboard a ship and is carted away to an afar off land. Although they will be separated, they both vow to love one another and hopefully one day find each other again. Ashamed of their daughter, her parents find the money given to her by Michael and they use it as a dowry to pay off the first man that would marry her. Unfortunately, due to her circumstances she is forced into a marriage with someone she distrusts and doesn't love and is taken away to New Zealand to start a new life. He husband is a violent and ends up treating her like a whore and learns all too quickly how to carry herself in the presence of her husband when she is around other men. Mary Kathleen is subjected to verbal and physical abuse at the hands of her new husband.

Later in the story, it introduces Lizzie a young prostitute in England who takes care of two children because their mother is unable to do so. She finds out that her mother's boyfriend has taken the little bit of morsel that was to be breakfast for the children before she heads out to the docks to work for more money to survive. Her circumstances takes a turn when she is arrested for stealing. When Hannah, the children's mother comes to court to attest to her story, she lies and Lizzie is sentence to 7 years in Austrailia.

Because they are both incarcerated, Lizzie and Michael are somehow thrown together and escape to New Zealand. Lizzie falls in love with him and hopes for a future, however Michael does not return her affections and is only determined to earn enough money to go back to Ireland to get Mary Kathleen. Although the pace moves a bit quickly, it details a variety of scenes over the spand of 17 years. Unfortunately, the story does not end with a HEA for Michael and Mary Kathleen. I think all the M/Cs have their share of hardships and being stuck somewhere in their lives where they can't move forward.

The author does a good job detailing the conditions of the times, and the details of Ireland and England. I was very impressed on her research and she managed to pull and tie all the story together. The only drawback I had with this story was that is was too lengthy and could have been shortened, thus my 3-Stars instead of 4.

3-Stars
Profile Image for Ana Stanciu-Dumitrache.
967 reviews110 followers
March 7, 2019
Iata ca si Aurul maorilor isi face loc in sufletul meu, nu ca un roman cu actiune memorabila, ci ca un alt roman de atmosfera scris de Sarah Lark, de stare si de frumos. M-am indragostit de felul in care autoarea scrie si prezinta Noua Zeelanda odata cu In tara norului alb si nu m-a dezamagit nici de data aceasta. A fost exact asa cum ma asteptam, si cu partile bune si cu cele rele. Poate mult prea lunga si incarcata de detalii, ca si in cazul primei serii, dar cu povesti de viata frumoase. Poate previzibila pe alocuri, dar plina de sentimente. Iar punctul forte consta, si de data aceasta, in personaje. Am intalnit din nou doua femei puternice, pe care soarta le aduce impreuna la final, ale caror destine se implatesc in mod tragic, care se maturizeaza si se transforma din copilele inocente in femeile decise sa isi schimbe viata, curajoase si demne. Le-am iubit pe amandoua, dar le-am si judecat pentru ca s-au multumit cu putin de atat de multe ori, ca nu au stiut sa se puna pe primul loc, sa isi vada valoarea si sa o foloseasca in interesul lor, sa nu mai accepte langa ele un barbat imatur si incapabil sa le iubeasca asa cum merita. L-am detestat pe Michael de la inceput pentru inconstanta si lasitatea lui si nu mi-a placut calea usoara pe care autoarea a ales-o pentru el. Dar aici nu este vorba nici despre el, nici despre altii. E vorba despre puterea de a o lua de la capat, de fiecare data cand e nevoie. De a spera si a-ti pastra vie iubirea, de a avea rabdare si a starui in decizii, de a-ti asuma riscuri si a cauta echilibrul in viata, de a afla cine esti cu adevarat. Recunosc ca mi-a placut mai mult Lizzie pentru zvacul pe care l-a avut, pentru personalitatea ei. Kathleen e genul de femeie care nu imi place: mereu docila, gata sa faca ce ii spun ceilalti, sa se multumeasca cu putin, tematoare sa iasa din zona de comfort. Insa m-a surprins placut, pentru ca si-a vazut greselile si a stiut sa faca schimbarile necesare si sa infrunte ce i-a scos viata in cale. M-am atasat de ea si de povestea ei. Cel mai mult mi-a placut insa atmosfera si ideea in jurul careia a fost construita povestea. Cred ca si-ar pierde farmecul daca as include un rezumat in aceasta recenzie. Nu e genul de roman care sa te atraga prin intriga si ar putea parea plictisitor ca si poveste, insa trebuie sa ii dai sansa sa te poarte pe acele taramuri si cu siguranta ii vei intelege esenta. E lung, dar cred ca merita, pentru starea pe care ti-o ofera si pentru intalnirea cu aceste femei, care iti vor intra in suflet, mai ales in aceasta luna dedicata lor. :)
Profile Image for Monse Turijan.
338 reviews
July 13, 2024
DRAMA TOTAL

Si si..drama y más dráma!!!

Me la pase esperando un acontecimiento y cuando ocurrio dije aja y luego...nunca esta conforme uno con nada... jajaja

Si la idea de un libro es que te haga sentir, este cumplió el cometido, me enojé, sufrí, indigné, tonteee y me enanore y desenamoré.

Hay de todo un poco pero mucho patán!!! Dos rescatables.

Aunque me pareció que ya habia leido esa historia solo qur con nombres diferentes, pero entiendo es la pluma de Sara...
Profile Image for Steffi.
3,275 reviews182 followers
August 28, 2018
Ich lese die Reihen von Sarah Lark eigentlich ziemlich gerne und weiß gar nicht, warum ich die immer so lange vor mir herschiebe. Vermutlich schreckt mich auf den ersten Blick der Umfang ab, aber dann sind sie doch immer ratzfatz gelesen.

"Das Gold der Maori" begleitet Kathleen und Michael, die sich als Teenager in Irland zu Zeiten der Hungersnot kennen und lieben lernen. Doch das Leben schickt sie in verschiedene Richtungen und wir begleiten die beiden auf ihren Wegen sowie die Engländerin Lizzie.

Die Geschichte wird wieder sehr unterhaltsam erzählt und auch wenn es immer ein wenig dauert bis ich in der Geschichte drin bin, bin ich dann immer sehr schnell gepackt und möchte unbedingt wissen was die Charaktere so erleben. Zudem ist das Setting in Neuseeland immer wieder großartig und es macht einfach Spaß bei der "Entstehung" des Landes dabei zu sein.

Kathleen habe ich als starke Frau ermpfunden, die sich zwar zunächst in ihre Rollen fügt, aber an diesen wächst und selbstbewusster wirkt. Michael war für mich eher der Typ, der zwar viel erreichen will, aber es nicht so richtig schafft wirklich anzupacken und sich eigentlich gar nicht so sicher ist was er eigentlich will. Er war für mich oft mehr Schein als Sein.
Lizzie musste ebenfalls viel durchmachen in ihrem Leben, gibt sich nach außen als hart und unabhängig, sehnt sich dann aber doch nach einem Mann an ihrer Seite.

Das Buch konnte mich gut unterhalten und ich habe die Geschichte der Drei sehr gerne verfolgt. Den nächsten Teil habe ich dieses Mal schon bereit gelegt, der muss definitiv nicht so lange warten.
Profile Image for Carla Marques.
540 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2020
Opinião:
Para mim foi um livro muito bom de se ler, apesar de ter começado com muito medo, pois além de grande costuma ter personagens a mais e eu ando feita tonta de um lado para outro para perceber quem é quem.
Neste caso não aconteceu isso, a autora conseguiu introduzir as personagens de uma maneira perfeita e cada vez ficava mais agarrada à história, imaginar as paisagens e a relação entre os dois povos foi simplesmente estimulante.
Opinião completa em: https://aviciadadoslivros.blogspot.co...
Profile Image for Lisa Hart.
199 reviews2 followers
June 2, 2017
Interesting setting and history, but it could have been about 150 pages shorter. There were a few times I had to push myself through some sections.
Profile Image for Andrei Bădică.
392 reviews10 followers
July 30, 2021
O călătorie prin țări minunate și foarte îndepărtate: Australia și Noua Zeelandă. Lark stăpânește foarte bine arta descrierii atmosferei, crearea misterului și creionarea unor personaje frumoase. Aurul maorilor nu este doar povestea lui Mary Kathleen O'Donnell și a lui Michael Drury, ci și a lui Ian Coltrane sau Lizzie Owens. Dincolo de aventură, romanul vorbește despre minciuni, invidii, disperare și fapte necugetate. A fost o provocare pe anul acesta (peste 700 de pagini), deoarece mi-am făcut puțin curaj să abordez și Călătoarea Dianei Gabaldon.

"- Nici nu-ți vine să crezi, micuțo, de câte lucruri e în stare un om!"

"- Nu e nicio binecuvântare să întemeiezi o căsnicie care nu mai poate fi îndeplinită, îi scrisese el părintelui O'Brien."
Profile Image for The Reading Violet 🌸.
213 reviews13 followers
October 5, 2022
Privind acum în urmă, după finalizarea trilogiei, constat că acesta a fost cel mai reușit volum.
Povestea debutează cu Kathleen și Michael, doi tineri care se luptă cu foametea în Irlanda. Băiatul va fi deportat în Australia, iar tânăra rămasă singură și însărcinată va fi forțată să se căsătorească cu Ian Coltrane, cu care va emigra în Noua Zeelandă.
Michael o întâlnește pe Lizzie, și ea deportată in Australia, iar cu ajutorul acesteia reușește să ajungă și el în țara norului alb.
De aici pornesc aventurile celor patru în noua patrie, fiecare in direcția lui, iar despre reîntâlnirea celor doi indragostiți de la inceputul cărții vă las pe voi să descoperiți ce, când, cum și în ce fel..
Profile Image for Sindy Castellanos.
941 reviews86 followers
January 20, 2020
Fascinante novela que, con un estilo ágil, realista y seductor, relata situaciones que se dan en las parejas y familias, particularmente cuando emigran: el sufrimiento, las alegrías y la capacidad que tiene la mujer de superar casi cualquier obstáculo, fortalecida por el amor.
__________
Fascinating novel that, with an agile, realistic and seductive style, refer situations of couples and families, particularly when they emigrate: the suffering, the joys and the ability of women to overcome almost any obstacle, strengthened by love.
Profile Image for Mara Vernon.
421 reviews9 followers
April 10, 2016
I thought this book had potential, and also felt it could have been a lot shorter. The flip flopping in behavioral and moral character of the characters in the book left me feeling like they were all bipolar. The setting and history of the book I liked. The character development and backsliding from deep to shallow I did not like.
Profile Image for MK.
279 reviews70 followers
April 6, 2016
Wonderful

Sigh .... Done. Fabulous, I am falling in love with New Zealand, through the work of Sarah Lark (historical novels) and Rosalind James (romance novels). Truly, it seems like a one-of-a-kind, fabulous place.
Profile Image for Patricia Ayuste.
Author 0 books296 followers
Read
June 15, 2024
Los paisajes de Australia y Nueva Zelanda, un matrimonio por compromiso y la lucha por sobrevivir en el nuevo mundo.

Irlanda, 1846. Cuando Kathleen queda embarazada, planea la manera, junto a su amado Michael Drury, de empezar una nueva vida en el Nuevo Mundo. Sus planes se rompen cuando Michael es condenado por robo y enviado a Australia, mientras que Kathleen se ve obligada a desposarse con un comerciante de ganado junto al que emigra a Nueva Zelanda.

Londres. Lizzi Owens es una huérfana que se ha criado en la calle. Entre mentiras, prostitución y robos, Lizzi sigue adelante como puede, hasta que es condenada a abandonar el país por el hurto de unos panecillos. En el barco que la lleva a Australia, conocerá a Michael.

Sarah Lark teje, en esta prima entrega de la "Trilogía del árbol Kauri" una historia de superación personal protagonizada por dos mujeres, Kathleen y Lizzi, que no lo tendrán fácil y que aprenderán a ser fuertes a través de duros golpes. Una historia repleta de acción, aventuras, mentiras, pillaje, amor, sentimientos y destino.

✔️ Puntos fuertes: estilo fresco de la autora, descripción de la cultura maorí, narrativa fácil de leer, las intrigas de las diferentes subtramas, la ambientación y los paisajes, los personajes bien definidos.

❤ Te gustará si: busca una novela landscape o romántica, te gustan las historias protagonizadas por mujeres fuertes o has disfrutado con otras novelas de Sarah Lark.
Profile Image for Amanda.
1,500 reviews
February 13, 2017
Sweeping sagas spanning time and place are all the rage right? This sweeping saga is set first in Ireland and then in Australia and New Zealand and the history of the novel -- history I have never really been acquainted with -- makes it worth the read.
The reason for my 3 (possibly 3.5) star rating is the length. I am never one to complain about long books if the length is necessary to advance the plot. Once I got to Lizzie and Kahu I was pretty well done. Additionally, I am somewhat tired of characters for whom everything goes wrong. Weak characters almost. I can handle one, maybe two people stuck in dire circumstances because, life. But four MCs who can never get ahead and who can't seem to advance past their rough seasons of life? Not reality. Michael was a bore and, honestly, flat ridiculous. Possibly an opportunity for some discussion of mental illness or PTSD, but never really explained which made him seem to be an oaf. By association then Lizzie becomes a mere tool. Also, the advancement of time was odd. Big things happened and then time passed with nothing? Very strange.
For the history alone I enjoyed this book. I even liked Kathleen and Peter but both needed more character development. Was it all bad? Of course not. I enjoyed thoroughly the threads of loyalty throughout and the representation of the human spirit fighting against all odds.
While Lark tried to tie up loose ends and give the reader a sense of satisfaction at the end she left a number of questions unresolved, for me the most important being Colin.
Don't think I'll read this author again, but for a free book it was a fine read.
Profile Image for Anca Adriana Rucareanu.
498 reviews69 followers
May 6, 2018
Aurul maorilor este o saga impresionantă, o succesiune de alegeri, acțiuni și momente dramatice. Caractere imperfecte, personaje care impresionează prin poveste și destin. Vieți alcătuite dintr-o serie de piedici, compromisuri și greșeli în numele iubirii. Ambiții, orgolii, adevăr neșlefuit despre toate păturile societății, o societate avidă după control și un trib care se lasă cucerit pentru un trai mai bun. Un trib care se ghida după reguli vechi și stricte, maori care nu cunoscuseră dorința de posesiune și înavuțire, oameni simpli care respectau pământul și tot ce le dădea el, oameni care se închinau și își implorau zeii pentru iertare înainte de fiecare jertfă. 

https://ancasicartile.wordpress.com/2...
Profile Image for phyllis piasecki.
12 reviews
February 1, 2025
Enjoyed it

I liked this book because of all the places they went. I liked all the different personalities Michael and Elizabeth I liked the best. I will read another of Sarah Lark's books.
Profile Image for Oliviana Georgescu.
315 reviews27 followers
March 11, 2019
Un roman de o complexitate şi o frumuseţe extraordinare! Dacă vă plac călătoriile, cărțile de aventură, cărțile de ficțiune istorică, dacă vă place să visați cu ochii deschiși la tărâmuri îndepărtate și exotice, această carte vă va încânta! E o carte care m-a impresionat prin complexitate, documentarea minuțioasă, modul de scriere cursiv și ușor de urmărit şi impresionanta galerie de personaje, o carte pe care o recomand călduros!
Primul tablou al cărții ne prezintă Irlanda anilor 1846 - 1847. Ne aflăm în ținutul Wicklow și facem cunoștință cu Mary Kathleen Donely și cu Michael Drury, doi tineri îndrăgostiți, dar a căror dragoste părea fără speranță, având în vedere sărăcia lucie în care se zbăteau, ca și împotrivirea părinților ei.
Romanul, scris la persoana a treia, urmărește alternativ mai multe fire ale acțiunii, aducând pe rând în prim plan diferite personaje, ale căror povești vor găsi moduri surprinzătoare de a se împleti, soarta având un rol important.
A doua parte a cărții ne poartă din Anglia, de la Londra, la Van Diemen’s Land și Noua Zeelandă - Port Cooper și Canterbury Plains, între anii 1847 – 1850. În acest punct al poveștii, ne este prezentat un alt tablou al cărții, cu mahalaua Whitechapel a Londrei în fundal. Aici facem cunoștință cu Lizzie Owens, o fată de șaptesprezece ani care locuia într-o dărăpănătură din Whitechapel, prostituându-se pentru a avea din ce trăi. Amețită de foame, a fost de ajuns să pună mâna pe o pâine și un cozonăcel pe care nu a avut cu ce le plăti, și astfel a ajuns la închisoarea Newgate. Iar sentința a fost... deportarea! Mai multe detalii: https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/aur...
Profile Image for Petra.
74 reviews1 follower
June 27, 2018
3.5 *
I loved all the historical information you got. As I've read books about prisoners who were sent overseas for petty crime was not new to me and also not the hardship they had to endure on the ships wasn't new to me. The woman perspective was though and I also liked the difference of the transit between Lizzy and Kathleen.
But for one or other reason I didn't like the Lizzie character and I honestly don't know why. Maybe 'cause her introduction was less interesting and shorter of that of Kathleen, that I wanted to read more about her instead of someone new? I didn't have that problem with Claire though...
Even though I didn't like her that much, I have to admit that Lizzie was a much more interesting character than Kathleen, her friendship with the Maoiri was very compelling and she was a real fighter who never gave up. This made for me the love story a bit less realistic, a strong woman as she was would never have tolerated the way she was treated like that, she should have kicked him out several times!
Kathleen development was also interesting but a bit less adventures than the one of Lizzie and in a way a bit more convincing. The hardship she had to endure 'cause she had to marry someone she didn't love and didn't care about her was very realistic. Her throwback into religion and guilt was hard to understand though...
And then we have of course Michael. I just don't understand why such a childish, proud, unpractical, stubborn and selfish person could make people so loyal to him in love. For me he was the only person who din't evolve at all and I do hope he doesn't play a major role in the other parts of this series
Profile Image for Bladelor.
1,369 reviews29 followers
July 16, 2024
L'histoire débute à l'hiver 1846 en Irlande, lors de la grande famine. Kathleen et Michael sont jeunes et amoureux, insouciants ; ils veulent partir en Amérique pour y chercher fortune. Malheureusement, leur rêve va tourner court alors que Michael est arrêté pour vol, et envoyé au bagne en Australie. Kathleen, enceinte de lui, se retrouve alors dans une situation délicate et va être plus ou moins contrainte d'accepter la demande en mariage de Ian Coltrane, un vendeur de bétail. Une fois mariés, les deux jeunes époux vont partir pour la Nouvelle-Zélande.

De prime abord, cette nouvelle série semble très proche de la précédente. Le récit se déroule en Nouvelle-Zélande à la même période et l'on retrouve donc les mêmes thématiques : la ruée vers l'or, l'élevage de moutons, la culture maorie. Au début, j'ai un peu boudé mon plaisir, ayant l'impression de replonger dans un univers que j'avais certes, beaucoup aimé, mais dont l'attrait s'était un peu tari.

Finalement, Sarah Lark a encore fait mouche et nous propose une histoire à part entière avec des personnages travaillés en profondeur et une intrigue haletante et passionnante. Alors oui, on a une légère impression de déjà vu, mais au final ce roman se dévore et on brûle d'en connaître la suite.

Un premier tome excellent autour d'une nouvelle saga familiale en Nouvelle-Zélande.
Profile Image for Sidonia.
343 reviews52 followers
January 13, 2020
Sarah Lark e absolut minunata, scrie cu atata maiestrie incat nu ai cum sa mai lasi cartile ei din mana. Imi pare rau ca nu pot citi imediat urmatorul volum al trilogiei, mi-a placut Aurul maorilor nespus. Pentru mine Elizabeth a fost personajul principal al cartii, nu am mai savurat de mult asa un personaj, un cameleon, neobosita, neinvinsa de nimeni, o luptatoare, cum ar spune maorii: o persoana cu multa mana. Micuta Lizzy, care isi vinde trupul pe strazile Londrei pentru supravietuire, se transforma intr-o femeie absolut remarcabila si uimitoare in Noua Zeelanda, m-a impresionat mult parcursul ei.
Sarah Lark tese o poveste minunata si da nastere unor personaje pe care nu ai cum sa nu le indragesti sau sa le judeci, mi-a placut la inceput si Kathleen insa pe parcurs m-a dezamagit, dar cumva mi-a placut pentru ca e nevoie de echilibru, iar Michael, pur si simplu nu mi-a placut bipolaritatea lui, uneori naiv, alteori impulsiv, insa mereu nehotarat, Lizzy l-a tinut mereu pe linia de plutire. De asat spun ca ea este nucleul romanului.
Va recomand aceasta carte care va va plimba pe meleaguri putin stiute, cu peisaje si descrieri superbe, cu povesti de dragoste si tradari, o poveste neaparat de aflat!
Profile Image for Ana Garcia.
149 reviews2 followers
Read
January 4, 2016
As always, Sarah Lark has fascinated me with another story overseas.
It has the same elements of her previous novels, a romance gone wrong, new romances blooming, a new land, lot of hard work, sheep, horses (in this case) and, I'm afraid, some rape as well.
I haven't found yet a book by this woman better than The White Cloud, that's my favourite.

In this book you see how people evolve, and, although we would like it to be otherwise, how your first love can no longer be the same one once time has passed.

I'd recommend this book as all her others. It's easy and entertaining, not quite gripping as other might be though.
Profile Image for Mary Barrett.
809 reviews11 followers
October 17, 2017
Great read!

I love historically based novels. I had absolutely no knowledge of New Zealand, other than it is near Australia and that my kids music teacher had immigrated from there in the 1970's.
I loved how intense the feelings ran when the story started in Ireland during the Potato Famine . You could almost feel as the characters felt. The English deportation of prisoners for as little as stealing a loaf of bread and the prison ships transporting them to Australia. All through this tragic time in history is woven the tail of a young lovers torn apart by theft, transportation to Australia. Very well written. I love learning while being entertained.
Profile Image for Mariiine.
325 reviews34 followers
September 15, 2019
3,5 ⭐

Même si c'était un véritable plaisir de retrouver la Nouvelle Zélande avec Mme Lark, je dois bien m'avouer que le coup de cœur n'est pas là.
L'histoire est ,certes, intéressante mais je n'ai pas réussi à m'attacher à certains personnages principaux. Michael m'a soûlé à trainer son malheur partout sans se rendre compte que c'était lui qui le provoquait, l'histoire de Lizzie était bien trop redondante et finalement la seule histoire que j'ai réellement apprécié est celle de Kathleen.

Je suis curieuse de voir ce que la suite me réserve quand même.
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