The Gate of Dawn

by M.J. Neary

Welcome to 1880s Vilnius, a volatile Northeastern metropolis where Balts, Germans, Poles, Russians, and Jews compete for a place in the sun. After sustaining fatal burns in a fire instigated by his rivals, textile magnate Hermann Lichtner spends his final days in a shabby infirmary. In a hasty and bizarre deathbed transaction he gives his fifteen-year-old daughter Renate in marriage to Thaddeus, a widowed Polish farmer who rejects social hierarchy and toils side by side with his peasants.
Renate's arrival quickly disrupts the bucolic flow of life and antagonizes every member of the household. During an excursion to the city, Renate rekindles an affair with a young Jewish painter who sells his watercolors outside the Gate of Dawn chapel. While her despairing husband might look the other way, his servants will not stand by and watch while their adored master is humiliated.
Taking us from the cobblestone streets of old Vilnius, swarming with imperial gendarmes, to the misty bogs of rural Lithuania where pagan deities still rule, The Gate of Dawn is a folkloric tale of rivalry, conspiracy, and revenge.

418 pages, Paperback

Published May 18, 2016

Reviews

[Kim Rendfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

In “The Gate of Dawn,” Marina J. Neary masterfully weaves two stories. One is about Renate, the price she pays for the mismatched marriage thrust upon her, and her rebellion against it. The other concerns Renate’s friend Aurelia, who is trying to find out why Renate disappeared, figure out her place in the world, and understand whom she loves.

In this dark, disturbing, and complex tale, Ms. Neary provides three-dimensional characters and portrays vivid settings, from the diverse, cosmopolitan, and sometimes tense, Vilnius, to farms and bogs in Lithuania. She addresses the deeper issues of identity—such as religion, class, and ethnicity—within these settings, and she is true the history and the culture.

Highly recommended.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book and I was able to identify with Renate, in so many ways. She is a independent young woman, who wants nothing to do with the silliness of the rest of the society and their norms. She wants to be left alone to help her father in his textile factory and take over the business. When her father is murdered however, her life is abruptly taken into a very different direction and she has to come to terms with her new life. This story is not however just about Renate, it is also about Benjamin, a young Jew who is in love with her, about Sebastian, the family lawyer who has suddenly lost his best paying customer and Sebastian’s sister, who plays at being detective, trying to figure out what all happened and who did it and why.
An intriguing story and plot. I couldn’t put this book down and as said truly enjoyed the story and the characters. The author does a great job in bringing the characters with all their flaws to life.

[Renee Spicuzza · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Gate of Dawn,” is M J Neary’s late 1800s novel that shows the social issues of the times. The book uses a historical base (staying true to the explanation of their traditions and culture) to explain the social standards that surrounds Renate and her newly found husband, Thaddeus. Renate is young, so she ends up divulging in an extramarital affair and while Thaddeus is not one to confront her about it, the people that work for her husband cannot stand for the way she mistreats him. The story reminds me a bit of “Downtown Abbey” in the way that the servants are actively incorporated into the plot and how it is not just the rich and powerful that are followed. I love reading historical fiction and the drama that that time period incurred and this book did not let me down in fulfilling the need to read such an invigorating spectacle.

[Julius Blitzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s so much to talk about this book that this absolutely stunning.
A lot the effort of the author on describing everything, you just travel back to that time while reading this book, the characters are alive and all feels like part of something bigger, they are not secondary characters with just a few interactions, not at all.
Set in 1880 in Vilnius, a volatile metropolis, after everything described above is incredible that the author takes that effort into detail much further, and reflects the historical situation from that time to the one the world is facing nowadays, because you know, a place where Germans, Russians and Jews live and compete is nothing compared to the whole ‘diverse’ debate the world is having right now (sarcasm).
An engaging story with lots of thing to enjoy here, from conspiracy to revenge, there’s no way you could turn this book down, not even after you finished, a masterpiece from the very first word until the last.

[Maranda Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marine J Neary’s “The Gate of Dawn” is an unusual historical novel. First of all, I can’t remember reading many historical novels that focus specifically on this time period and in this particular area of history. I found the melting pot of Balts, Germans, Poles, Russians, and Jews provided much ready-made drama and tension for the storyline. During this time period there certainly were many issues between all these groups and a striving for all of them to be on top and grasp more of the power and wealth of the area.

As for the story itself, the characters were interesting and multi-dimensional, and the emotions running throughout the story were strong and felt genuine related to the twists and turns of the plot. The book is sad in many ways, but that is mostly due to the realistic look it takes at prejudice, tribal mentality, and the often depressing superficiality of human nature.

[Valery · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gate of Dawn by M.J. Neary is a highly original folkloric tale. The reader gets a taste of a little known era in history in a place not often explored, Lithuania. Here in the 1880's after the Russians have taken over the story begins. The title itself refers to a gate that acted as fortification to protect the only city left standing. It's always fascinating to learn of history that one has little knowledge of, and Neary is a master at accurately portraying and describing little nuances of periods in history. Not only does Neary cover this aspect of writing well, but her character's are well described and full of fine details themselves. The relationship between Renata and her husband, as well as her lover, are well thought out and realistically presented with ample levels of complexity and complications. Neary seems to do the impossible by vividly describing historic events while giving the story human emotion, and depth. This makes for a compelling and compulsive reading experience. Highly recommend for a fully immersive reading experience.

[Gordon Mott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gate of Dawn is set during the dying days of the 19th century and revolves around characters connected to the rural estate of ‘Raven’s Bog’. The author brings those characters alive – from peasant to lord, it’s hard to put this book down. You never quite know what tragedy will befall them next.

[E.G. Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A goodly portion of my school days was spent completely ignoring the books we were meant to be reading and instead devouring any sort of literature I could get my hands on. Usually it was from the 19th century, but occasionally from other periods. Since then, my literary tastes have expanded dramatically to include…just about everything, frankly. But I still hold a soft space in my heart for literature, especially that with a satiric or historical bent. So I was thrilled to read Marina J Neary’s The Gate of Dawn.

1. Thoughts on the plot
This book takes place in the midst of unrest in the Baltic region of Vilnius in the 1880s, a place where Russians, Germans, Jews, Poles and Balts live. It follows several characters, though it primarily follows Renate, a young German heiress who is married to a Polish farmer by her dying father. Renate’s presence is disruptive to the quiet countryside farm, both for her and the peasants who work the land. Disillusioned, she flees back to Vilnius, but life there is just as harsh as in the country, and there are some things that one cannot escape.
This book is definitely on the fascinating end of the literature spectrum. Each detail is introduced so casually, yet ends up being essential to the characters and the direction of the story. The plot itself unfolds without haste, yet pulls you along as you try to see what the characters are going to see or do next. And the ending? Oh, my!

2. Thoughts on the characters
Renate, Sebastian, Aurelia and all the others are characters that are not only depicted with a well-honed sense of realism, but are products of their time. They would not be people you might encounter in modern day society; in their place of history, though, they are perfect examples. It is intriguing to be able to see the history so clearly though these characters. They have such realistic details: a dislike of the way certain clothes fit, or foods taste, or how people behave. Yet they are almost impossibly true to the history. I found Renate the most intriguing of the characters, even including the ending, possibly because she was so dispassionate about certain things and fiery about others. A truly volatile mix, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

3. Favourite part
Part of me wants to say the ending of the novel was my favourite part, just because it made perfect sense, yet came about so suddenly that it was nearly shocking. However, I think that the fact that every single aspect of this novel came about through one dying man’s decision was what really made this story work. Truly well woven.

4. Critique
Honestly, I haven’t really got a critique for this novel. The prose is done in a matter-of-fact style which befits the story perfectly. The characters are cynical or naive or both, and I enjoyed all of them. The plot was thought provoking. I really enjoyed the whole thing.

Overall, I would say that The Gate of Dawn was a truly exceptional example of an historical literature piece, taken from a volatile portion of history and displayed openly for the world to see. An excellent book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

.This story reminded me of a twisted and gender flipped Cinderella. Renate is the wealthy princess married off to poor peasant. It’s like a look into the epilogue of the fairy tale we all know and love. Neary also has a complex and extremely well fleshed out cast of characters. I found myself interested in ALL of their stories and felt like all of her characters were important and not just mere sidekicks.

Neary is an excellent writer. She has a dark sense of humor which I appreciate and it comes out in her writing. While this isn’t a comedy, I found myself smiling as much as I grimaced.

“Her latest novel, “The Gate Of Dawn” is set in 19th century Lithuania, the land of her paternal ancestors. The gruesome events described in the novel took place in her ancestral estate on the border of Lithuania and what is now northwestern Belarus” ( Source: The Gate Of Dawn in the About The Author Section)

I read that tidbit and my eyes bulged out of my head, granted my eyes are a bit bulgy anyway but, this time they were even more bulgier. Honestly, how does this not make the story you just ingested even more interesting? Seriously, still digesting that part. I gladly give this book a 5 out of 5 Stars! I would recommend it those who enjoy Horror, Historical, and those who prefer novels on the darker side. I loved it. It has some gruesome acts and some sexual content, but nothing too graphic so I would feel comfortable PERSONALLY letting older teens read this; say 15 and up.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most unique books I have every read. It is set in the 1880s, mostly in Vilnius, Lithuania, which was under the control of Imperial Russia. This area was a virtual melting pot, with Germans, Poles, Russians, and Jews. Neary touches on the various economic and/or political struggles of the city’s inhabitants. Her characters are very original. Several characters are also revengeful and greedy.
Part of the story is set in the bogs of rural Lithuania where Catholicism was practiced but many, particularly the peasants, still believed in Pagan deities and traditions. Neary paints a detailed picture of how it was like to live then and doesn’t shy away from discussing negative aspects of its history, such as, the atrocities of serfdom.
The story was completely unpredictable and even shocking in some parts. It is not a light hearted book but it is a page turner!
I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot of stuff going on in this book, which led to many different plot lines at the same time. Much of the commentary was devoted to handling issues of slight intolerance of different faiths and religions, various ways people live their lives, and other minor prejudices. There was also other stuff going on throughout the book, like horrifying moments and a bit of gore. One thing that I enjoyed was the character of Renate. She was pretty hard to figure out, since she isn’t really a happy go lucky character. In fact, there are no real happy characters in this book, as it is full of tales that have less than fairy tale endings. If you want to check out a story that is full of regret, missed opportunities, and provides a sense of duality the whole time, this is one that will really make you think.