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The Mourning Ring
Sixteen-year-old Charlotte Bronte lives to tell stories. She longs to improve her fortunes through her writing. Charlotte’s father expects her to leave behind her childish fantasies in order to set an example for her three younger siblings.
But the Bronte children hold a secret in their veins—a smidgeon of fairy blood that can bring their words to life.
When Charlotte discovers that the characters from their childish stories exist in an alternate world called Glass Town, she jumps at the opportunity to be the heroine of her own tale.
The city of Angria teeters on the brink of civil war and Charlotte and her siblings must use their magic and their wits to save its people from a tyrant with magic abilities. But entering the fictional world means forfeiting control of their own creations. If they fail, the characters they have come to know and love will be destroyed.
Charlotte is determined to save the city and characters she loves, but when the line between creator and character becomes blurred, will she choose her fantasy or her family?
But the Bronte children hold a secret in their veins—a smidgeon of fairy blood that can bring their words to life.
When Charlotte discovers that the characters from their childish stories exist in an alternate world called Glass Town, she jumps at the opportunity to be the heroine of her own tale.
The city of Angria teeters on the brink of civil war and Charlotte and her siblings must use their magic and their wits to save its people from a tyrant with magic abilities. But entering the fictional world means forfeiting control of their own creations. If they fail, the characters they have come to know and love will be destroyed.
Charlotte is determined to save the city and characters she loves, but when the line between creator and character becomes blurred, will she choose her fantasy or her family?
350 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2016
307 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Parke
5 books16 followersSarah Parke writes historical fantasy and romantic comedies (sometimes at the same time).
She loves all things British, cats, and gluten-free baked goods.
She loves all things British, cats, and gluten-free baked goods.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 2, 2017
THE MOURNING RING by Sarah Parke is a fantastical tale of the Brontë siblings during their childhoods and how they found out they had fairy blood running through their veins. When they discover that the characters in their imaginary kingdom of Angria are in trouble, the foursome take a magical journey to save the day.
This is Sarah Parke's debut novel and I can only hope that she continues down this road. The story is imaginative and well told, suitable for youngsters and adults alike--especially those like me who have a bit of Peter Pan in them. It was interesting to envision the Brontë's as teenagers as I usually view them as adults. I was especially happy to learn of Tales of Angria, a book written before their more famous works as it gives me something new to read by some of my favourite authors.
With the perfect mix of historical fiction and fantasy, I give THE MOURNING RING 4 stars ****.
This is Sarah Parke's debut novel and I can only hope that she continues down this road. The story is imaginative and well told, suitable for youngsters and adults alike--especially those like me who have a bit of Peter Pan in them. It was interesting to envision the Brontë's as teenagers as I usually view them as adults. I was especially happy to learn of Tales of Angria, a book written before their more famous works as it gives me something new to read by some of my favourite authors.
With the perfect mix of historical fiction and fantasy, I give THE MOURNING RING 4 stars ****.
April 20, 2017
I was biting my nails on this one. I was not sure what Charlotte would choose family or characters. I was not sure which one I wanted her to choose. The characters were so rich, engaging, and hers/theirs. Her siblings were her blood, family, loved ones. Each set created a connection to Charlotte and throughout the read you find a reason to hold or to let-go of one or other. Charlotte’s connection to her family, well sibling was the stories she weaved and the way she shared them. This was not a read that you could just take lightly. If you have read Brontë’s works before you know that her characters were rich and complex, yet engaging and life altering.
There was an element of darkness, danger, conflict, sadness, pain, sorrow, and joy. They each had a place in this read and they each filled that void needed to propel the story further. This was a wonderful adventure. It captivated me and held me. I found the richness filling. I found this to be a wonderful adventure to take the youngest of minds on an adventure to be remembered. I enjoyed this read so much that I have started reading it again with my children. We take it one chapter every Wednesday evening after dinner. The children are so excited and anticipates what’s to come next.
I certainly recommend this read to anyone that loved to read young adult fantasy and adventure. It may be set in a time that most children know nothing about but it will still captivate them to explore their own minds and seek out the possibilities of it all.
There was an element of darkness, danger, conflict, sadness, pain, sorrow, and joy. They each had a place in this read and they each filled that void needed to propel the story further. This was a wonderful adventure. It captivated me and held me. I found the richness filling. I found this to be a wonderful adventure to take the youngest of minds on an adventure to be remembered. I enjoyed this read so much that I have started reading it again with my children. We take it one chapter every Wednesday evening after dinner. The children are so excited and anticipates what’s to come next.
I certainly recommend this read to anyone that loved to read young adult fantasy and adventure. It may be set in a time that most children know nothing about but it will still captivate them to explore their own minds and seek out the possibilities of it all.
February 15, 2017
I received an email from Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours asking if I was interested in reviewing "The Mourning Ring" by Sarah Parke. In a previous blog post, I mentioned that last year my absolute favorite genre was historical fiction. After reading the description of this particular book, I knew that I had to review it. "The Mourning Ring" was published October 19th 2016 and is available for purchase here.
Sarah Parke is a a new author for me, and upon looking up some info on her, it turns out "The Mourning Ring" is her debut novel. All I can say prior to giving my review: Wow, what a way to start out in the book world!
Most people are familiar with Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre". Personally, I have never read it. I know (knew) little about Charlotte Brontë, however when I received my e-mail asking if I would be interested in reviewing "The Mourning Ring" two things caught my eye. One was of course the cover. It's dark, and it caught my eye. And after a few of the previous books I read, it looked like it would break up the monotony of reading the same genre. Secondly, the book's description. I'll admit when I signed up for the blog tour I didn't read the description. . .I rarely ever do. Upon receiving my copy of the book, I knew without a doubt this book was going to be cherished on my bookshelf.
Stories serve as more than just stories. Stories can make us laugh, make us cry, there can be healing words, as well as hurting words. To Charlotte Brontë, stories were her lifeblood. While she was a child, her older sisters were sent home from school due to an outbreak of typhoid. The girls were kept separate from the family in a sick room to avoid any other outbreaks. Fearless Charlotte would always sneak into the room to tell stories to her sisters, after all, it is the stories that connects Charlotte to her siblings. What she wasn't expecting to find while sneaking into her sister's sick room was her fairy grandfather. Having never met him before, Charlotte is taken aback to find him in the sick room as well. According to her grandfather, he is there to take Charlotte's sisters, Maria and Elizabeth to a place where they will feel better. And with that, Charlotte heard her sisters laugh for the last time. Before leaving entirely, her grandfather gifted her a mourning ring; a traditional ring back in the day, containing strands of hair from a deceased person. This ring will help Charlotte find doors to the other world.
Once Charlotte learns of her fairy heritage it is her mission, along with her remaining siblings, to learn how to harness their power. Luckily for the Brontë siblings, their Aunt is there to help teach them all about fairy magic. Between lessons and writing stories of worlds far away, Charlotte receives a mysterious note regarding the state of peril Angria is in. Now to anyone else, it's a completely normal but urgent note. To Charlotte, and the rest of the Brontë children, it could be laughable. Angria is a land completely made up around the Brontë's dining room table. From people all the way down to government, everything is played out, written down, and figured out. So how could an anonymous stranger seek help for a land that does not exist? Intrigued, Charlotte goes against her better judgment to meet this stranger in a tavern. To her surprise, her family's intricate story is at a table staring her in the face. And the only way to help Angria is for the Brontë siblings to travel there and fix what happened.
How do the siblings get to Angria? How is it possible to go from ideas on paper to a full fledged functioning city? You'll have to read "The Mourning Ring" to find out. . .and trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Lovers of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Oz, The Magicians, Inkheart, and others, rejoice! We found another book to fall in love with a land we may never visit. I can't tell you how much I enjoy getting lost in a world. And I can't even BEGIN to tell you how effortlessly and flawless Sarah Parke writes this book. Even now, writing this blog, I can't begin to tell you how absolutely brilliant Parke's own story writing is. There were times I was reading at a rapid pace, slowing down to enjoy a moment in the book, literally, laughing out loud, and smiling like a complete fool whilst reading "The Mourning Ring". I would happily read any new works written by Sarah Parke.
Digging a bit deeper into researching Sarah Parke, I find that she is working a new project. . . still historical, still fiction as she changes the history of Napoleon. You can find some of the sparse (yet exciting) details on her blog.
"The Mourning Ring" is a fast paced read anyone will enjoy. If you need a quick, yet satisfying read, please don't hesitate to pick this up and give this new author a chance. You won't be disappointed.
For this and other reviews, please visit: https://quitterstrip.wordpress.com/
Sarah Parke is a a new author for me, and upon looking up some info on her, it turns out "The Mourning Ring" is her debut novel. All I can say prior to giving my review: Wow, what a way to start out in the book world!
Most people are familiar with Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre". Personally, I have never read it. I know (knew) little about Charlotte Brontë, however when I received my e-mail asking if I would be interested in reviewing "The Mourning Ring" two things caught my eye. One was of course the cover. It's dark, and it caught my eye. And after a few of the previous books I read, it looked like it would break up the monotony of reading the same genre. Secondly, the book's description. I'll admit when I signed up for the blog tour I didn't read the description. . .I rarely ever do. Upon receiving my copy of the book, I knew without a doubt this book was going to be cherished on my bookshelf.
Stories serve as more than just stories. Stories can make us laugh, make us cry, there can be healing words, as well as hurting words. To Charlotte Brontë, stories were her lifeblood. While she was a child, her older sisters were sent home from school due to an outbreak of typhoid. The girls were kept separate from the family in a sick room to avoid any other outbreaks. Fearless Charlotte would always sneak into the room to tell stories to her sisters, after all, it is the stories that connects Charlotte to her siblings. What she wasn't expecting to find while sneaking into her sister's sick room was her fairy grandfather. Having never met him before, Charlotte is taken aback to find him in the sick room as well. According to her grandfather, he is there to take Charlotte's sisters, Maria and Elizabeth to a place where they will feel better. And with that, Charlotte heard her sisters laugh for the last time. Before leaving entirely, her grandfather gifted her a mourning ring; a traditional ring back in the day, containing strands of hair from a deceased person. This ring will help Charlotte find doors to the other world.
Once Charlotte learns of her fairy heritage it is her mission, along with her remaining siblings, to learn how to harness their power. Luckily for the Brontë siblings, their Aunt is there to help teach them all about fairy magic. Between lessons and writing stories of worlds far away, Charlotte receives a mysterious note regarding the state of peril Angria is in. Now to anyone else, it's a completely normal but urgent note. To Charlotte, and the rest of the Brontë children, it could be laughable. Angria is a land completely made up around the Brontë's dining room table. From people all the way down to government, everything is played out, written down, and figured out. So how could an anonymous stranger seek help for a land that does not exist? Intrigued, Charlotte goes against her better judgment to meet this stranger in a tavern. To her surprise, her family's intricate story is at a table staring her in the face. And the only way to help Angria is for the Brontë siblings to travel there and fix what happened.
How do the siblings get to Angria? How is it possible to go from ideas on paper to a full fledged functioning city? You'll have to read "The Mourning Ring" to find out. . .and trust me, you won't be disappointed.
Lovers of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Oz, The Magicians, Inkheart, and others, rejoice! We found another book to fall in love with a land we may never visit. I can't tell you how much I enjoy getting lost in a world. And I can't even BEGIN to tell you how effortlessly and flawless Sarah Parke writes this book. Even now, writing this blog, I can't begin to tell you how absolutely brilliant Parke's own story writing is. There were times I was reading at a rapid pace, slowing down to enjoy a moment in the book, literally, laughing out loud, and smiling like a complete fool whilst reading "The Mourning Ring". I would happily read any new works written by Sarah Parke.
Digging a bit deeper into researching Sarah Parke, I find that she is working a new project. . . still historical, still fiction as she changes the history of Napoleon. You can find some of the sparse (yet exciting) details on her blog.
"The Mourning Ring" is a fast paced read anyone will enjoy. If you need a quick, yet satisfying read, please don't hesitate to pick this up and give this new author a chance. You won't be disappointed.
For this and other reviews, please visit: https://quitterstrip.wordpress.com/
March 15, 2017
Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, so it is no surprise that I enjoyed this book. It is very well written and has a nice balance of history and fantasy with an added touch of adventure to keep the reader guessing.
March 5, 2017
I wasn't sure what I would think going in. Neither historical fiction nor fantasy are my favorite genres. In the end, the book developed robust characters in a complex world. It turned into a page turner. A "just one more chapter before bed" kind of story. This book presented a fun premise and developed it into a story of intrigues, plots, double-crossing, and Shakespearean style disguises. It was not simply the "kids go on a magical adventure" story you might expect from the book's description or early chapters.
January 13, 2017
Great Storyteller
This is an absorbing story with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. Before they wrote Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, Charlotte Bronte and her sisters and brother spent much of their childhood writing stories based on fanciful worlds they created. In The Mourning Ring the author explores the idea of what would happen if these worlds came to life and the creators had to become the saviors.
While written for young adults the story will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
This is an absorbing story with well-rounded characters and an intriguing plot. Before they wrote Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, Charlotte Bronte and her sisters and brother spent much of their childhood writing stories based on fanciful worlds they created. In The Mourning Ring the author explores the idea of what would happen if these worlds came to life and the creators had to become the saviors.
While written for young adults the story will be enjoyed by readers of all ages.
May 5, 2017
What if the Bronte's were part fairy? That's what you get with The Mourning Ring. This is the kind of book that you want to devour. I wish I could have sat down with it and just read it straight through, but life didn't let me do that.
Its the story of young Charlotte and her siblings and the alternate world that she's created.
This is a young adult novel, but definitely one that fans of Bronte and just about anyone that loves a good story will enjoy, because its just that well written.
I love what the mourning ring actually is, as you will find out in the first pages of the book. (I always like when we know why an author chose a particular title...
The Glass Town all have root in Bronte history. I think that is really what makes this book so wonderful, the fantasy is there, but there's so much that was part of these people's lives.
In some ways this book reminded me of a Doctor Who episode..slipping through doors, trying to change things. I found the way that the Bronte's controlled The Glass Town through storytelling to be fabulous and even more the part where the young boy was healed by a story.
I highly recommend this book especially if you like books like Jane and The Damned with a wonderful mixture of real life and fantasy.
I will admit to having not read any of the Bronte's novels, but this book definitely made me want to break into that pile of classic novels I've been meaning to read for years.
Its the story of young Charlotte and her siblings and the alternate world that she's created.
This is a young adult novel, but definitely one that fans of Bronte and just about anyone that loves a good story will enjoy, because its just that well written.
I love what the mourning ring actually is, as you will find out in the first pages of the book. (I always like when we know why an author chose a particular title...
The Glass Town all have root in Bronte history. I think that is really what makes this book so wonderful, the fantasy is there, but there's so much that was part of these people's lives.
In some ways this book reminded me of a Doctor Who episode..slipping through doors, trying to change things. I found the way that the Bronte's controlled The Glass Town through storytelling to be fabulous and even more the part where the young boy was healed by a story.
I highly recommend this book especially if you like books like Jane and The Damned with a wonderful mixture of real life and fantasy.
I will admit to having not read any of the Bronte's novels, but this book definitely made me want to break into that pile of classic novels I've been meaning to read for years.
November 15, 2018
A great story for adults and young adults alike!
January 11, 2017
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I didn't dislike this book, but I didn't love it either. I think the story could have done with a bit more polishing and editing. The fact that the four siblings in the book were the Bronte children was nothing more than a side note. The potential was there, but it fell a little flat.
February 1, 2017
I found this book very entertaining! Delightful characters and an interesting story line!
April 18, 2017
As a young woman returning from school, 16 year old Charlotte Bronte can't wait to jump back into the make believe world of Glass Town and her favorite activity to share with her siblings, storytelling. Together, the remaining Bronte siblings- Charlotte, Branwell, Anne and Emily have created the alternate world of Glass Town and keep meticulous written records of the events there. However, when a strange sleepwalking occurrence happens, a memory of Charlotte's meeting with her fairy grandfather and the strange gift he gave her resurfaces. The siblings begin to learn about their fairy bloodlines from their Aunt and attempt to learn the magic that has been brewing in their bones. Meanwhile, things are not going well in the city of Angria in the sibling's alternate world. Thanks to Branwell's imagination, there is a new King and a civil war is on the brink. When the former King crosses worlds to ask for Charlotte's aid in retaking the throne, she is more than ready to cross realms and step into the world of their creation.
I have always wanted the chance to step into the worlds from certain books, and I would definitely take the opportunity to visit a world of my own creation and talk to the people there! Aimed at young adults, but an absolute pleasure to read as an adult, The Mourning Ring is a magical and whimsical story that serves as a wonderful introduction into the world of the highly imaginative and revered storytellers themselves, the Bronte's. I was pleased to find out that the four siblings really did create these worlds in their youth and served as a start to the three sister's writing careers. With the addition of the fairy blood, the story was able to be brought into the fantasy world. The adventures in Glass Town were the highlight of the story, rich descriptions of the land, the dress and the characters that the Brontes loved made Glass Town just as real to me. I was excited when each sibling had the chance to interact with the character of their making and had to come to terms with that character's features and flaws. The trouble in Glass Town also parallels Branwell's future true-life troubles, however, in the story the siblings must work together to reinstate their former King Zamora and not become too entangled within the land of their own creation. Overall, a unique look into the early lives of four extraordinary siblings and the creative process that fueled their imaginations.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
I have always wanted the chance to step into the worlds from certain books, and I would definitely take the opportunity to visit a world of my own creation and talk to the people there! Aimed at young adults, but an absolute pleasure to read as an adult, The Mourning Ring is a magical and whimsical story that serves as a wonderful introduction into the world of the highly imaginative and revered storytellers themselves, the Bronte's. I was pleased to find out that the four siblings really did create these worlds in their youth and served as a start to the three sister's writing careers. With the addition of the fairy blood, the story was able to be brought into the fantasy world. The adventures in Glass Town were the highlight of the story, rich descriptions of the land, the dress and the characters that the Brontes loved made Glass Town just as real to me. I was excited when each sibling had the chance to interact with the character of their making and had to come to terms with that character's features and flaws. The trouble in Glass Town also parallels Branwell's future true-life troubles, however, in the story the siblings must work together to reinstate their former King Zamora and not become too entangled within the land of their own creation. Overall, a unique look into the early lives of four extraordinary siblings and the creative process that fueled their imaginations.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
May 3, 2017
This book has received a Discovering Diamonds Review:
"a great job of blending history and magic into a single compelling reality."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
"a great job of blending history and magic into a single compelling reality."
Helen Hollick
founder #DDRevs
May 3, 2017
This review was originally written for the Discovering Diamonds review site.
The Mourning Ring, by Sarah Parke, is a work of historical fantasy. Authentic details from the lives of the Brontë sisters, and their brother Branwell, are blended with a magical alternate setting. But this other place is not purely imaginary: rather it is the creation of the Brontës themselves. As children, the four of them had collaborated in the creation of an imaginary world. Rather than being kept secret, we know about this one through diaries and other records. Sarah has mined this store of information to reconstruct a credible and persuasive reality.
At its heart, The Mourning Ring is exploring the peculiar relationship between author and book. Probably most of us know the powerful urge to think of stories as real. One of the mysterious appeals of reading fiction is that situations which once existed only in the mind of the author assume tangible form for other people. So, how would it be to enter into such a created world? To be subject to its vagaries and limitations, but also to know it so well that you can manipulate events in ways that seem magical or serendipitous?
In the case of the Brontës, two complicating factors are stirred in. First, the world was created when they were children. Several years have passed since its beginnings, and in many ways it reflects an immature view of life. At first, as I read this book, I wondered why the characters seemed rather simplistic - almost stereotypes. Then abruptly it came to me: how else could they be, given who had created them? The teenage Brontës are meeting the products of their own childish minds.
The second factor is that of sibling rivalry. While the original creation of this world might have been harmonious and collaborative, each of the children has changed since then. They no longer necessarily see eye to eye, and the conflicts are worked out in this imaginary setting. But the emotional traffic goes both ways, and the fictitious world exposes something of the real difficulties these young people would experience as adults.
I did feel that some very early scenes, supplying one description of the links between this world and the other, didn’t integrate smoothly with later explanations in terms of imagination and creativity. However, this is a minor issue and readers should not let this detract from the whole.
I very much enjoyed The Mourning Ring, and recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different from their historical fiction. Sarah has done a great job of blending history and magic into a single compelling reality.
The Mourning Ring, by Sarah Parke, is a work of historical fantasy. Authentic details from the lives of the Brontë sisters, and their brother Branwell, are blended with a magical alternate setting. But this other place is not purely imaginary: rather it is the creation of the Brontës themselves. As children, the four of them had collaborated in the creation of an imaginary world. Rather than being kept secret, we know about this one through diaries and other records. Sarah has mined this store of information to reconstruct a credible and persuasive reality.
At its heart, The Mourning Ring is exploring the peculiar relationship between author and book. Probably most of us know the powerful urge to think of stories as real. One of the mysterious appeals of reading fiction is that situations which once existed only in the mind of the author assume tangible form for other people. So, how would it be to enter into such a created world? To be subject to its vagaries and limitations, but also to know it so well that you can manipulate events in ways that seem magical or serendipitous?
In the case of the Brontës, two complicating factors are stirred in. First, the world was created when they were children. Several years have passed since its beginnings, and in many ways it reflects an immature view of life. At first, as I read this book, I wondered why the characters seemed rather simplistic - almost stereotypes. Then abruptly it came to me: how else could they be, given who had created them? The teenage Brontës are meeting the products of their own childish minds.
The second factor is that of sibling rivalry. While the original creation of this world might have been harmonious and collaborative, each of the children has changed since then. They no longer necessarily see eye to eye, and the conflicts are worked out in this imaginary setting. But the emotional traffic goes both ways, and the fictitious world exposes something of the real difficulties these young people would experience as adults.
I did feel that some very early scenes, supplying one description of the links between this world and the other, didn’t integrate smoothly with later explanations in terms of imagination and creativity. However, this is a minor issue and readers should not let this detract from the whole.
I very much enjoyed The Mourning Ring, and recommend it to anyone who wants something a little different from their historical fiction. Sarah has done a great job of blending history and magic into a single compelling reality.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews