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The Lioness of Morocco
Independent-minded Sibylla Spencer feels trapped in nineteenth-century London, where her strong will and progressive views have rendered her unmarriageable. Still single at twenty-three, she is treated like a child and feels stifled in her controlling father's house.
When Benjamin Hopkins, an ambitious employee of her father's trading company, shows an interest in her, she realizes marriage is her only chance to escape. As Benjamin's rising career whisks them both away to exotic Morocco, Sibylla is at last a citizen of the world, reveling in her newfound freedom by striking her first business deals, befriending locals…and falling in love for the first time with a charismatic and handsome Frenchman.
But Benjamin's lust for money and influence draws him into dark dealings, pulling him ever further from Sibylla and their two young sons. When he's arrested on horrible charges, the fate of Sibylla's family rests on her shoulders, as she must decide whether she'll leave him to his fate or help him fight for his life.
When Benjamin Hopkins, an ambitious employee of her father's trading company, shows an interest in her, she realizes marriage is her only chance to escape. As Benjamin's rising career whisks them both away to exotic Morocco, Sibylla is at last a citizen of the world, reveling in her newfound freedom by striking her first business deals, befriending locals…and falling in love for the first time with a charismatic and handsome Frenchman.
But Benjamin's lust for money and influence draws him into dark dealings, pulling him ever further from Sibylla and their two young sons. When he's arrested on horrible charges, the fate of Sibylla's family rests on her shoulders, as she must decide whether she'll leave him to his fate or help him fight for his life.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2017
5847 people are currently reading
10219 people want to read
About the author
Julia Drosten
25 books157 followersHorst and Julia Drosten write together using the pseudonym
Julia Drosten. They live in the picturesque Münsterland region, Germany.
of Germany and have always wanted to write books. They find
the research to be almost as much fun. For Das Revuemädchen
they have flown in a historic biplane and for Die Seidenrose they
have been pampered by an aesthetician. Before writing Die
Honigprinzessin, they became beekeepers; for The Girl with the
Golden Scissors, they traced the streets of 19th century Vienna,
and for The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter, they visited Sri Lanka to
spend time with wild elephants.
Many books were bestsellers on Amazon.
House of the Stolen Children won the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award 2021 in Germany.
Books authored by Julia Drosten:
The Lioness of Morocco
The Girl with the Golden Scissors
The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter
Land Beyond the Horizon
House of the Stolen Children
Denn die Hoffnung endet nie
Meine Seele schreit so laut
Der Duft von Zimtblüten
Das Mädchen mit der goldenen Schere
Die Elefantenhüterin
Die schwarze Taube von Siwa
Die Honigprinzessin
Die Löwin von Mogador
Die Seidenrose
Das Revuemädchen
Julia Drosten. They live in the picturesque Münsterland region, Germany.
of Germany and have always wanted to write books. They find
the research to be almost as much fun. For Das Revuemädchen
they have flown in a historic biplane and for Die Seidenrose they
have been pampered by an aesthetician. Before writing Die
Honigprinzessin, they became beekeepers; for The Girl with the
Golden Scissors, they traced the streets of 19th century Vienna,
and for The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter, they visited Sri Lanka to
spend time with wild elephants.
Many books were bestsellers on Amazon.
House of the Stolen Children won the Amazon Kindle Storyteller Award 2021 in Germany.
Books authored by Julia Drosten:
The Lioness of Morocco
The Girl with the Golden Scissors
The Elephant Keeper’s Daughter
Land Beyond the Horizon
House of the Stolen Children
Denn die Hoffnung endet nie
Meine Seele schreit so laut
Der Duft von Zimtblüten
Das Mädchen mit der goldenen Schere
Die Elefantenhüterin
Die schwarze Taube von Siwa
Die Honigprinzessin
Die Löwin von Mogador
Die Seidenrose
Das Revuemädchen
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 886 reviews
May 4, 2017
Good plot, poor writing
I was intrigued by the plot, however I kept getting distracted by the simplistic and heavy handed writing style. I don't know if it was due to poor translation, or if the original is awkward as well.
I was intrigued by the plot, however I kept getting distracted by the simplistic and heavy handed writing style. I don't know if it was due to poor translation, or if the original is awkward as well.
February 6, 2017
+Digitalcopy gently provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review+
Reto 2017 - #11:autor que use seudonimo
Sybilla es la hija de una familia de un comerciante acaudalado en Inglaterra de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. Le gusta leer, y tiene ideas bastantes definidas que no incluyen asentarse sin ver el mundo como el resto de sus pares. Pero pronto ve que como soltera nunca dejará de ser tratada como una niña que nunca es escuchada en casa de su padre. ¿Su solución? Se casa con un empleado de su padre que ve claramente no será muy dificil , y arregla que sean enviados a Marruecos, especificamente al puerto de Mogador donde se efectua todo el comercio.
Como comentaba esto me recuerda esas miniseries de los 80s, con la historia de una familia, viajes exoticos, aderezado con un toque de romance y algo de peligro.
Entretiene. Las descripciones son interesantes., pero nunca llega a demostrar más allá de la superficie. Conflictos de la época entre gobernantes y gobiernos europeos por el control de la zona apenas son mencionados como hechos escuetos.
Remember: the worst man is he who accepts no apology, forgives no sin, and excuses no mistake.”
Lo mejor: sin duda su amistad con las mujeres locales,y darnos un vistazo del harem, a pesar de que no sé cuan veridico sea.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sybilla is the daughter of a wealthy merchant in England in the second half of the 19th century. She likes to read, and she has quite definite ideas that do not include sitting down without seeing the world like the rest of her peers. But soon she sees that as a single maid she will never cease to be treated like a child who is never heard in her father's house. Her solution? She marries an employee of his father who sees clearly will not be very difficult to deal, and arranges for them to be sent to Morocco, specifically to the port of Mogador where the whole shipping trade takes place.
As I commented, this reminds me of those miniseries of the 80s, with the history of a family, exotic travel, seasoned with a touch of romance and something of danger.
Entertains. Is easy feel simpathy for Sybilla. The descriptions are interesting, but never goes beyond the surface. Conflicts of the time between rulers and European governments for the control of the zone are scarcely mentioned more than facts.
The best: pass the Bechdel test - her friendship with the muslim women is the best (and the glimpses in the harem); and other women too.
Reto 2017 - #11:autor que use seudonimo
Sybilla es la hija de una familia de un comerciante acaudalado en Inglaterra de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. Le gusta leer, y tiene ideas bastantes definidas que no incluyen asentarse sin ver el mundo como el resto de sus pares. Pero pronto ve que como soltera nunca dejará de ser tratada como una niña que nunca es escuchada en casa de su padre. ¿Su solución? Se casa con un empleado de su padre que ve claramente no será muy dificil , y arregla que sean enviados a Marruecos, especificamente al puerto de Mogador donde se efectua todo el comercio.
Como comentaba esto me recuerda esas miniseries de los 80s, con la historia de una familia, viajes exoticos, aderezado con un toque de romance y algo de peligro.
Entretiene. Las descripciones son interesantes., pero nunca llega a demostrar más allá de la superficie. Conflictos de la época entre gobernantes y gobiernos europeos por el control de la zona apenas son mencionados como hechos escuetos.
Remember: the worst man is he who accepts no apology, forgives no sin, and excuses no mistake.”
Lo mejor: sin duda su amistad con las mujeres locales,y darnos un vistazo del harem, a pesar de que no sé cuan veridico sea.
------------------------------------------------------------
Sybilla is the daughter of a wealthy merchant in England in the second half of the 19th century. She likes to read, and she has quite definite ideas that do not include sitting down without seeing the world like the rest of her peers. But soon she sees that as a single maid she will never cease to be treated like a child who is never heard in her father's house. Her solution? She marries an employee of his father who sees clearly will not be very difficult to deal, and arranges for them to be sent to Morocco, specifically to the port of Mogador where the whole shipping trade takes place.
As I commented, this reminds me of those miniseries of the 80s, with the history of a family, exotic travel, seasoned with a touch of romance and something of danger.
Entertains. Is easy feel simpathy for Sybilla. The descriptions are interesting, but never goes beyond the surface. Conflicts of the time between rulers and European governments for the control of the zone are scarcely mentioned more than facts.
The best: pass the Bechdel test - her friendship with the muslim women is the best (and the glimpses in the harem); and other women too.
August 12, 2017
4 "Charting Her Own Course" Stars for the story and 4.5 Stars for the narration.
The Lioness of Morocco is a book that defies convention. It reads mostly like historical fiction detailing the saga of one family over a number of decades with some mystery/suspense and romance elements thrown in. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most was the historical aspect of this novel, as there aren't too many books that give you a picture of what it was like to live in Morocco as an English woman in the nineteenth century. Additionally, the talented narration by Henrietta Meire makes this a good title to experience in audiobook format.
Before delving into the background which will necessarily need to be short so as not to spoil the story for you; and as I mostly listen to romances, I feel a note of caution is merited. I would be remiss not to mention that for the typical romance listener there will definitely be some disappointments along the way, as this is not your typical romance. However, I encourage you to listen to the very end, as rest assured there is a HEA.
Sibylla Spencer is practically an old spinster at the age of 23 as she is still a single woman at the age of 23 living in 19th century England. As the daughter of a rich merchant, however, her interest for leading her own business has been sparked, and she is less concerned with societal conventions than most women of her age and time. Instead she dreams of being able to explore her own mercantile ventures. So when an ambitious employee of her father's saves her from a near drowning, she finally capitulates to his courting overtures, and before long they are wed. However, sadly for her, her new husband Benjamin seems to be much more attracted to the wealth she brings to their marriage than her.
Then Benjamin is offered an opportunity to lead a merchant trading venture in Morocco, an opportunity that Sibylla wholeheartedly endorses. Before long, their lives have completely changed both culturally and businesswise as even Sibylla finally launches her own clandestine business venture trading with the wives and concubines of the Moroccan leaders.
But as things begin to change, Benjamin's greed and apathy towards Sibylla put into play a series of events that lead to a complete change in their lives, including the uncovering of an embezzling scheme and Sibylla's discovery of a man who shows her what it feels like to truly feel love. Just how will this story end? Will Benjamin take down Sibylla with his own greedy exploits? Will Sibylla finally get to experience what life can be like with a man who truly loves her?
The narration by Henrietta Meire is well done which was not an easy feat with this subject matter. This is a difficult audiobook to narrate because of the multitude of accents to create--from the heroine's English accent to the Moroccan accents and even a French accent--Ms. Meire's skill with switching between accents is important to lending credibility and sense of genuineness to this story. She also varies her pitch appropriately so that you can distinguish the gender between the numerous male and female characters that play a part in this story.
Ms. Meire also does a good job with timing her delivery. She is able to create a sense of suspense in the applicable passages as well as vary her speed to match the scene being enacted.
All in all, I'm glad I listened to The Lioness of Morocco. This was definitely a book that was completely different from most of my more typical listens, so it provided an opportunity for introspection and reflection. Additionally, it also made me appreciate just how far women's independence has come.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
The Lioness of Morocco is a book that defies convention. It reads mostly like historical fiction detailing the saga of one family over a number of decades with some mystery/suspense and romance elements thrown in. Perhaps what I enjoyed the most was the historical aspect of this novel, as there aren't too many books that give you a picture of what it was like to live in Morocco as an English woman in the nineteenth century. Additionally, the talented narration by Henrietta Meire makes this a good title to experience in audiobook format.
Before delving into the background which will necessarily need to be short so as not to spoil the story for you; and as I mostly listen to romances, I feel a note of caution is merited. I would be remiss not to mention that for the typical romance listener there will definitely be some disappointments along the way, as this is not your typical romance. However, I encourage you to listen to the very end, as rest assured there is a HEA.
Sibylla Spencer is practically an old spinster at the age of 23 as she is still a single woman at the age of 23 living in 19th century England. As the daughter of a rich merchant, however, her interest for leading her own business has been sparked, and she is less concerned with societal conventions than most women of her age and time. Instead she dreams of being able to explore her own mercantile ventures. So when an ambitious employee of her father's saves her from a near drowning, she finally capitulates to his courting overtures, and before long they are wed. However, sadly for her, her new husband Benjamin seems to be much more attracted to the wealth she brings to their marriage than her.
Then Benjamin is offered an opportunity to lead a merchant trading venture in Morocco, an opportunity that Sibylla wholeheartedly endorses. Before long, their lives have completely changed both culturally and businesswise as even Sibylla finally launches her own clandestine business venture trading with the wives and concubines of the Moroccan leaders.
But as things begin to change, Benjamin's greed and apathy towards Sibylla put into play a series of events that lead to a complete change in their lives, including the uncovering of an embezzling scheme and Sibylla's discovery of a man who shows her what it feels like to truly feel love. Just how will this story end? Will Benjamin take down Sibylla with his own greedy exploits? Will Sibylla finally get to experience what life can be like with a man who truly loves her?
The narration by Henrietta Meire is well done which was not an easy feat with this subject matter. This is a difficult audiobook to narrate because of the multitude of accents to create--from the heroine's English accent to the Moroccan accents and even a French accent--Ms. Meire's skill with switching between accents is important to lending credibility and sense of genuineness to this story. She also varies her pitch appropriately so that you can distinguish the gender between the numerous male and female characters that play a part in this story.
Ms. Meire also does a good job with timing her delivery. She is able to create a sense of suspense in the applicable passages as well as vary her speed to match the scene being enacted.
All in all, I'm glad I listened to The Lioness of Morocco. This was definitely a book that was completely different from most of my more typical listens, so it provided an opportunity for introspection and reflection. Additionally, it also made me appreciate just how far women's independence has come.
Source: Review copy provided for review purposes.
June 20, 2017
This is really 2.5 but since I'm nice, I'm rounding it up to 3 stars. I got this for free from the Amazon Kindle First program. I use it to try books or genres I may otherwise not. I chose this one because I like historical fiction and I was intrigued by the setting. Having just visited Africa, I thought it would be fun to go back and experience another part of the continent.
Good things: the setting. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Morocco, the customs, the scenery, and the food. I liked learning a little about the history. It made me want to go there and eat the food. I also liked the little bit in England.
Not so good: the plot was really predictable. The description given for the book only covers the first half. Then it jumps forward 20 years and feels like a different book because it focuses on different characters. After reading two pages of the second half, I knew exactly how it would end. And I was 100% accurate. Also some of the dialogue was all exposition.
The bad: I never understood why the main character and her love interest liked each other. They went from introductions (while she was in labor!) to seeing each other 2 years later and confessing their love for each other, having had no contact in the meantime. huh?
Also didn't enjoy the love scenes but they were sparing.
The bad stuff would have made this a 2 star, but the place descriptions and learning more about the time period were fun, so it gets 2.5
Good things: the setting. I really enjoyed the descriptions of Morocco, the customs, the scenery, and the food. I liked learning a little about the history. It made me want to go there and eat the food. I also liked the little bit in England.
Not so good: the plot was really predictable. The description given for the book only covers the first half. Then it jumps forward 20 years and feels like a different book because it focuses on different characters. After reading two pages of the second half, I knew exactly how it would end. And I was 100% accurate. Also some of the dialogue was all exposition.
The bad: I never understood why the main character and her love interest liked each other. They went from introductions (while she was in labor!) to seeing each other 2 years later and confessing their love for each other, having had no contact in the meantime. huh?
Also didn't enjoy the love scenes but they were sparing.
The bad stuff would have made this a 2 star, but the place descriptions and learning more about the time period were fun, so it gets 2.5
March 27, 2017
Morocco. I am so happy that I finally got to read a book set in Northern Africa, Morocco! This has to be one of the most exotic countries in our continent. Even the name sounds striking. Having only been to countries in East Africa, I have always been intrigued by the Western and Northern countries especially and the Southern..okay, all of Africa intrigues me and I want to travel everywhere. I remember my friend visiting Morocco in 2013 and telling about the food and culture. It sounded like quite a beautiful place. Morocco makes me think about veiled belly dancers, the desert and spiced tea. The setting of this book is the first thing that I saw and it’s the reason why I decided to read The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten . I have never read any books set in Morocco and I couldn’t miss the chance to read about the country and especially the culture.
I didn’t know that this was historical fiction until I read the first page and saw that the story was set in the 1800s. It begins with Sibylla in England. Right from the first chapter, she is portrayed as a conspicuous woman. Not just in the looks department but also due to her strong personality. The world at that time was male dominated but SIbylla still found a way to make her voice heard. Soon after her marriage, she finds a way to convince her father to let her move to Morocco with her husband to oversee his business interests in the country.
Morocco portrayed in this book is just as I imagined. The rich culture of the Arabic and Berber people came alive in the story. I liked the descriptions of the ethnic groups and their dressing. Especially the veiled Arab women who only revealed their faces behind closed doors or in company of other women. I liked the idea of harems. A house where the Muslim women spent time together. Islam is the main faith in the country and the religion was at the backdrop of the story. For instance, Muezzin calling Muslim faithful for prayers was constantly mentioned. Then there was the tea and even shisha. And to my delight, the belly dancers were also mentioned. I really liked the setting of this book. The authors did an amazing job with describing it so vividly that I was transported there. The only thing that I didn’t like was the slavery. I understand that slaves were part of history but I still cringed whenever the word was used.
Medina-of-Essaouira.rend.tccom.966.544
Morroco 1
I have seen images of Eassaouira(Mogador in this book). I didn’t know about the Moroccan town until reading this book.Interesting, my imagination was almost on point this town. The town is as I imagined it as I read the book. Especially in the first image.
The book covers a longtime frame. It spans over a period of almost 25 years. This means that we get to meet different generations and also get to see the setting change over time. The characters were well developed and memorable. I especially liked the female characters. Sibylla is a one to admire. Her strength and wisdom earned her the title lioness of Morocco. That and plus the fact that she had blonde hair which the locals compared with a lion’s mane. Different women in the book were portrayed as being quite brave. For instance; when mixed religion marriages were forbidden, it took the strength of women to fight against this ‘taboo’. I liked this portrayal of women especially given the setting of the book where male dominance was revered. However, these ladies showed bravery and were able to change things whenever change was needed.
The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten is a book that I recommend to everyone. The setting is amazing and the authors did a fantastic job with developing the story against this exotic backdrop. In addition, they had carried out a lot of research hence making the setting quite realistic. For instance; the characters live at Magador which is a modern day, Coastal town known as Essaouira. Some of the historic events that took place in the town are part of this story. The storytelling is impeccable. The events are vividly described, characters well developed; there is conflict, an unforgiving desert, a little romance (and tea and dancers). I just loved everything about this book.
I didn’t know that this was historical fiction until I read the first page and saw that the story was set in the 1800s. It begins with Sibylla in England. Right from the first chapter, she is portrayed as a conspicuous woman. Not just in the looks department but also due to her strong personality. The world at that time was male dominated but SIbylla still found a way to make her voice heard. Soon after her marriage, she finds a way to convince her father to let her move to Morocco with her husband to oversee his business interests in the country.
Morocco portrayed in this book is just as I imagined. The rich culture of the Arabic and Berber people came alive in the story. I liked the descriptions of the ethnic groups and their dressing. Especially the veiled Arab women who only revealed their faces behind closed doors or in company of other women. I liked the idea of harems. A house where the Muslim women spent time together. Islam is the main faith in the country and the religion was at the backdrop of the story. For instance, Muezzin calling Muslim faithful for prayers was constantly mentioned. Then there was the tea and even shisha. And to my delight, the belly dancers were also mentioned. I really liked the setting of this book. The authors did an amazing job with describing it so vividly that I was transported there. The only thing that I didn’t like was the slavery. I understand that slaves were part of history but I still cringed whenever the word was used.
Medina-of-Essaouira.rend.tccom.966.544
Morroco 1
I have seen images of Eassaouira(Mogador in this book). I didn’t know about the Moroccan town until reading this book.Interesting, my imagination was almost on point this town. The town is as I imagined it as I read the book. Especially in the first image.
The book covers a longtime frame. It spans over a period of almost 25 years. This means that we get to meet different generations and also get to see the setting change over time. The characters were well developed and memorable. I especially liked the female characters. Sibylla is a one to admire. Her strength and wisdom earned her the title lioness of Morocco. That and plus the fact that she had blonde hair which the locals compared with a lion’s mane. Different women in the book were portrayed as being quite brave. For instance; when mixed religion marriages were forbidden, it took the strength of women to fight against this ‘taboo’. I liked this portrayal of women especially given the setting of the book where male dominance was revered. However, these ladies showed bravery and were able to change things whenever change was needed.
The Lioness of Morocco by Julia Drosten is a book that I recommend to everyone. The setting is amazing and the authors did a fantastic job with developing the story against this exotic backdrop. In addition, they had carried out a lot of research hence making the setting quite realistic. For instance; the characters live at Magador which is a modern day, Coastal town known as Essaouira. Some of the historic events that took place in the town are part of this story. The storytelling is impeccable. The events are vividly described, characters well developed; there is conflict, an unforgiving desert, a little romance (and tea and dancers). I just loved everything about this book.
May 7, 2017
Country, Culture, Religion, Reconciliation
Having spent some time in Morocco, I doubly appreciated the author's ability to communicate the beauty of this country, its inhabitants of varied cultures and religions, and business/political situations. I recommend it to readers who travel, who appreciate and honor the people and cultures they meet and experience. To those who travel from their armchair, take a trip to Morocco vicariously as you read this beautiful book.
Having spent some time in Morocco, I doubly appreciated the author's ability to communicate the beauty of this country, its inhabitants of varied cultures and religions, and business/political situations. I recommend it to readers who travel, who appreciate and honor the people and cultures they meet and experience. To those who travel from their armchair, take a trip to Morocco vicariously as you read this beautiful book.
June 5, 2017
I was torn between giving this three or four stars, and actually changed my rating a few times before settling on 3 stars. The world of "The Lioness of Morocco" is fantastic--the descriptions of harbors and caravans and city life in a Muslim-majority country in the 1800s is thrilling and what kept me reading. This is the key to historical fiction, for me--being able to have a vibrant idea of what life was like in that historical time period, and being able to believe that the characters in the story could have actually existed in that time. This book is well-researched and comes alive.
The story itself, however, falls a little flat, and like others have mentioned, I'm not sure if some tone or subtlety got lost in translation. My biggest complaint is that it just. Keeps. Going. There's a clear beginning, middle, and what could be a good place for the story to wrap up, but it just keeps charging forward into a 16 or 17 year timeskip, and the characters themselves don't seem to know why the reader should care to keep reading about them. Towards the end, one character laments along the lines that "The last 17 years in hiding were for nothing, then," and I can't agree more--I got no new insights to the characters in the second half of the book that I didn't already get from the first half. Most perplexingly to me, the first half of the book is full of characters marvelling at the "woman with hair like a lioness," which is where the book's title comes from. In the second half of the book, not only does the main character take a total backseat to the plot, no one seems to refer to her as a lioness, or spectacular, or key to the plot she's a main character of--just felt weird, like I was reading a half-hearted sequel to the book whose first half I thoroughly enjoyed.
The story itself, however, falls a little flat, and like others have mentioned, I'm not sure if some tone or subtlety got lost in translation. My biggest complaint is that it just. Keeps. Going. There's a clear beginning, middle, and what could be a good place for the story to wrap up, but it just keeps charging forward into a 16 or 17 year timeskip, and the characters themselves don't seem to know why the reader should care to keep reading about them. Towards the end, one character laments along the lines that "The last 17 years in hiding were for nothing, then," and I can't agree more--I got no new insights to the characters in the second half of the book that I didn't already get from the first half. Most perplexingly to me, the first half of the book is full of characters marvelling at the "woman with hair like a lioness," which is where the book's title comes from. In the second half of the book, not only does the main character take a total backseat to the plot, no one seems to refer to her as a lioness, or spectacular, or key to the plot she's a main character of--just felt weird, like I was reading a half-hearted sequel to the book whose first half I thoroughly enjoyed.
March 1, 2024
4/5⭐️
Šį kart knygos pagalba galėsime persikelti į rytus. Marokas, jo kultūra, gyvenimo būdas, papročiai bei visa spalvinga rytietiška atmosfera tiesiog užburianti. Taip pat užsienietės bandymas pritapti svetimame krašte.
Sibilė yra anglė kartu su vyru išvyksta į egzotiška Šiaurės Afriką plėsti savo tėvo prekybos verslo bei tikisi kad gyvenimas čia tūkstantį kartų geresnis nei kitokiu klimatu dvelkiančioje Europoje.
Svetimame krašte šviesiaplaukė moteris bando ne tik įsitvirtinti, auginti vaikus, bet ir pelnyti vietinių pagarbą.
Sibilės pateiktas personažas lyg liūtės, kuri kovos iki pergalės, nes moteriai netrūks susidurti su apgaule bei skaudžiais gyvenimo kirčiais.
Pati istorija, pagrindinė veikėja tiesiog užburia, tačiau tų melodramų gal buvo kiek per daug, kas truputėlį slopino entuziazmą kuo greičiau perskaityti knygą. Kam patinka stiprios moters personažas bei rytietiška kultūra ši knyga kaip tik Jums.
Šį kart knygos pagalba galėsime persikelti į rytus. Marokas, jo kultūra, gyvenimo būdas, papročiai bei visa spalvinga rytietiška atmosfera tiesiog užburianti. Taip pat užsienietės bandymas pritapti svetimame krašte.
Sibilė yra anglė kartu su vyru išvyksta į egzotiška Šiaurės Afriką plėsti savo tėvo prekybos verslo bei tikisi kad gyvenimas čia tūkstantį kartų geresnis nei kitokiu klimatu dvelkiančioje Europoje.
Svetimame krašte šviesiaplaukė moteris bando ne tik įsitvirtinti, auginti vaikus, bet ir pelnyti vietinių pagarbą.
Sibilės pateiktas personažas lyg liūtės, kuri kovos iki pergalės, nes moteriai netrūks susidurti su apgaule bei skaudžiais gyvenimo kirčiais.
Pati istorija, pagrindinė veikėja tiesiog užburia, tačiau tų melodramų gal buvo kiek per daug, kas truputėlį slopino entuziazmą kuo greičiau perskaityti knygą. Kam patinka stiprios moters personažas bei rytietiška kultūra ši knyga kaip tik Jums.
June 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book while I was reading it, and it's only sitting down to write this review that I'm thinking of the issues I really had with it. I'm one of those readers who's usually content to be along for the ride, and unless something seriously jumps out at me, I don't tend to think too critically as I'm reading.
First of all, I should have read the description of the book before starting it! I thought the book would be about a Moroccan woman, rather than a British woman living in Morocco. All the characters who are Moroccan (or non-European in general) are secondary/periphery characters, and the most prominent of these characters only becomes important in the last 1/3 of the book or so. So, if you're looking for a book about a strong-willed, independent WOC, this is not the book you're looking for! Again, it didn't bother me much while I read it, aside from the initial surprise from Sibylla, the main character, being British. But looking back, it is pretty crappy that the book was set in an ~exotic location without putting the inhabitants of that location in the front and center of the story.
Other than that gripe, it was a fairly enjoyable story, if a bit predictable. I guessed the ~twist very early on...not sure if I'm getting better at guessing twists, or if it was just that obvious. Though I'm not super into romance, I did appreciate some of the more romantic parts of the book, even though that too was pretty predictable and a bit half-baked. Love at first sight tropes are always kind of cringeworthy, and it played up the star-crossed lovers bit too much in my opinion. Though, somehow, I was still rooting for the couple, so I suppose the book did its job?
What I really enjoyed, however, was the historical background of the book, as well as some of the business dealings that took place. I'm surprised talk of Sibylla's company didn't go further over my head, but it was talked about in a fairly approachable way so it was pretty easy to understand.
Overall, it was okay. I actually lowered the star rating from 4 to 3, but I'll say 3.5 stars. I think the story was really interesting, but the more I think about the issues I've already said, as well as Sibylla's pretty cookie-cutter "independent woman" personality*, the more I'm disappointed.
*To clarify, I LOVE independent, forward-thinking women in my fiction. However, I felt like her characterization was pretty basic in those terms. Yes, she was independent because she ran the portion of her father's company, did what she liked despite propriety, and wore non-traditional (for Brits) clothing, but all of these things are pretty typical of the "independent woman" trope. I just wanted more from her.
First of all, I should have read the description of the book before starting it! I thought the book would be about a Moroccan woman, rather than a British woman living in Morocco. All the characters who are Moroccan (or non-European in general) are secondary/periphery characters, and the most prominent of these characters only becomes important in the last 1/3 of the book or so. So, if you're looking for a book about a strong-willed, independent WOC, this is not the book you're looking for! Again, it didn't bother me much while I read it, aside from the initial surprise from Sibylla, the main character, being British. But looking back, it is pretty crappy that the book was set in an ~exotic location without putting the inhabitants of that location in the front and center of the story.
Other than that gripe, it was a fairly enjoyable story, if a bit predictable. I guessed the ~twist very early on...not sure if I'm getting better at guessing twists, or if it was just that obvious. Though I'm not super into romance, I did appreciate some of the more romantic parts of the book, even though that too was pretty predictable and a bit half-baked. Love at first sight tropes are always kind of cringeworthy, and it played up the star-crossed lovers bit too much in my opinion. Though, somehow, I was still rooting for the couple, so I suppose the book did its job?
What I really enjoyed, however, was the historical background of the book, as well as some of the business dealings that took place. I'm surprised talk of Sibylla's company didn't go further over my head, but it was talked about in a fairly approachable way so it was pretty easy to understand.
Overall, it was okay. I actually lowered the star rating from 4 to 3, but I'll say 3.5 stars. I think the story was really interesting, but the more I think about the issues I've already said, as well as Sibylla's pretty cookie-cutter "independent woman" personality*, the more I'm disappointed.
*To clarify, I LOVE independent, forward-thinking women in my fiction. However, I felt like her characterization was pretty basic in those terms. Yes, she was independent because she ran the portion of her father's company, did what she liked despite propriety, and wore non-traditional (for Brits) clothing, but all of these things are pretty typical of the "independent woman" trope. I just wanted more from her.
August 14, 2023
Įtraukianti , skaitėsi iki galo su malonumu. Istorinė,nuotykių ,bei meiles knyga. Kad su geriu gali toli nueiti .
September 14, 2023
Jautri stiprios moters istorija. Patekusi į svetimą šalį visomis išgalėmis stengėsi įsilieti į čionykštį gyvenimą, tik likimas jai vis mesdavo išdaigas, kurios kartindavo jos kasdienybę. Gimusi su dideliu užsispyrimu, nepasidavė išbandymams, net kai iš jos buvo atimta meilė, kurios taip troško jos širdis.
Nuostabi knyga atskleidžianti moters jėgą ir stiprybę.
Nuostabi knyga atskleidžianti moters jėgą ir stiprybę.
June 13, 2017
The Lioness of Morocco was an enjoyable novel, but a little different to what i was expecting. Sibylla was a strong character which I love, but wasn't expecting so much romance. I have been to Morocco and it did bring back some memories. I love to read books about the markets, the culture and way of life etc, especially when the story is based on many years ago. In this novel it was around the mid 1800's.
On the whole, a really good book and one that I would recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
On the whole, a really good book and one that I would recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.
December 31, 2023
Istorinės knygos tikrai ne visada patinka, nes kai kada primena istorijos vadovėlius, o visai ne to tikiuosi skaitydama grožinės literatūros knygas. Šiuo atveju likau sužavėta, kaip įdomiai pateikta arabų kultūra, kaip gražiai aprašytas Š. Afrikoje esantis Mogadoras, kokie unikalūs personažai sukurti.. Buvo neįmanoma nesižavėti Sibile, bet Andrė gautų sprigtą į kaktą 😏 egzotiška pasaka suaugusiems.
October 21, 2023
Knygoje du geri dalykai: gražus viršelis ir Marokas. Pasakojimas daug žadantis, veikėjai įdomūs. Tada prasideda plokšti dialogai, šokinėjimas per laiką į priekį, skubėjimas pasakoti siužetą, o ne plėtoti personažus. Antra knygos dalis didelis šaršalas, kuris yra lengvai nuspėjamas. Knygos formatas nepatogus.
February 6, 2017
I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 Stars
The Lioness of Morocco Provides an interesting story and a welcome appreciation of Arabic and Berber culture. This is a well-researched book, with evocative descriptions of Mogador (modern day Essaouira). There was much that I appreciated about the book and its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of lives of women in harems to the unique lives of Berber women. I definitely felt as if the Drostens both understood, and loved, Morocco. I felt they see the beautiful county I've been lucky to see several times. I also enjoyed Sibylla's openness to Arabic culture and language, a characteristic certainly bound to be rare in a Victorian lady. Her embrace of the world she built for her family was what kept my enjoyment of the book strong.
My greatest problem with the book lies at the heart of whether some of the relationships described, particularly one at the end of the book, could truly have occurred with so few familial and social repercussions in that era and in an Arabic culture. By the end, one has to suspend belief and just go with this being a historical romance with a splash of mystery. I was also frustrated by what I can only assume were inconsistencies in the editing of either the initial German text or in the translation, such as "He paid little heed to her (Aynur's) tears and laments" and two paragraphs later "She (Aynur) made sure he never saw how she cried with exhaustion or loneliness." Sorry, but this stuff just irks me and there were other similar instances in the book. That's bad editing, and the husband and wife team comprising Julia Drosten deserve better.
4.5 Stars
The Lioness of Morocco Provides an interesting story and a welcome appreciation of Arabic and Berber culture. This is a well-researched book, with evocative descriptions of Mogador (modern day Essaouira). There was much that I appreciated about the book and its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of lives of women in harems to the unique lives of Berber women. I definitely felt as if the Drostens both understood, and loved, Morocco. I felt they see the beautiful county I've been lucky to see several times. I also enjoyed Sibylla's openness to Arabic culture and language, a characteristic certainly bound to be rare in a Victorian lady. Her embrace of the world she built for her family was what kept my enjoyment of the book strong.
My greatest problem with the book lies at the heart of whether some of the relationships described, particularly one at the end of the book, could truly have occurred with so few familial and social repercussions in that era and in an Arabic culture. By the end, one has to suspend belief and just go with this being a historical romance with a splash of mystery. I was also frustrated by what I can only assume were inconsistencies in the editing of either the initial German text or in the translation, such as "He paid little heed to her (Aynur's) tears and laments" and two paragraphs later "She (Aynur) made sure he never saw how she cried with exhaustion or loneliness." Sorry, but this stuff just irks me and there were other similar instances in the book. That's bad editing, and the husband and wife team comprising Julia Drosten deserve better.
April 7, 2017
Full review available on my blog: https://aimeedawes.wordpress.com/2017...
Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this book because I was a bit tired of the same-old historical romances set in medieval England (I'm looking at you, Phillipa Gregory) and I was looking forward to something different.
This book is nothing like Gregory's, mostly because it has a whole load of one-dimensional characters, a twenty-year romance that's not entirely believable, and anachronistic language (such as slang terms like 'slut' and 'brat') that completely breaks the immersion. There is very little in the way of actual plot; instead, page after page is dedicated to boring conversations where the characters go into minute detail about trade agreements or the quality of saffron. A couple of these were useful for the reader to get an idea of the nature of Sibylla's business, but it got tedious after a while and I would have traded them all in for a few paragraphs about how the characters are feeling or what they are thinking.
The redeeming feature is the stunning descriptions of Morocco that really made me want to get on a plane in an instant. The writers have obviously spent time in Morocco and their love for the country comes through in beautiful prosaic descriptions of the landscape, the smells, the atmosphere of the souks and the colours of the buildings. This bumped my rating up a little bit, although to be honest I think it is still quite a generous score given the book’s many faults.
Disclosure: I received a free digital copy of this book via NetGalley, in return for an honest review.
I had high hopes for this book because I was a bit tired of the same-old historical romances set in medieval England (I'm looking at you, Phillipa Gregory) and I was looking forward to something different.
This book is nothing like Gregory's, mostly because it has a whole load of one-dimensional characters, a twenty-year romance that's not entirely believable, and anachronistic language (such as slang terms like 'slut' and 'brat') that completely breaks the immersion. There is very little in the way of actual plot; instead, page after page is dedicated to boring conversations where the characters go into minute detail about trade agreements or the quality of saffron. A couple of these were useful for the reader to get an idea of the nature of Sibylla's business, but it got tedious after a while and I would have traded them all in for a few paragraphs about how the characters are feeling or what they are thinking.
The redeeming feature is the stunning descriptions of Morocco that really made me want to get on a plane in an instant. The writers have obviously spent time in Morocco and their love for the country comes through in beautiful prosaic descriptions of the landscape, the smells, the atmosphere of the souks and the colours of the buildings. This bumped my rating up a little bit, although to be honest I think it is still quite a generous score given the book’s many faults.
July 19, 2017
Very few books set in a foreign land have been able to so immerse me into a culture. Several times, I forgot I was reading a book and felt like I was looking out my window and seeing a whole New World.
Not only did the setting make me fall in love with Morocco but the characters in the conflict enveloped me in a story I didn't want to leave. I love the main character, Sibylla, who grew emotionally during the story. But every woman in the story evolved during this epic family saga.
In addition, I have a greater understanding of how trade impacted countries from an economic standpoint as well as an environmental and social standpoint. The story itself had everything you want in a book: adventure, war, heartache, and love. While this book will appeal to many who read romance novels this goes far beyond just a romance and truly shows the historical value of one little plant, the saffron. The Lioness of Morocco is exactly what historical fiction should be.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a free copy but voluntarily reviewed.
Not only did the setting make me fall in love with Morocco but the characters in the conflict enveloped me in a story I didn't want to leave. I love the main character, Sibylla, who grew emotionally during the story. But every woman in the story evolved during this epic family saga.
In addition, I have a greater understanding of how trade impacted countries from an economic standpoint as well as an environmental and social standpoint. The story itself had everything you want in a book: adventure, war, heartache, and love. While this book will appeal to many who read romance novels this goes far beyond just a romance and truly shows the historical value of one little plant, the saffron. The Lioness of Morocco is exactly what historical fiction should be.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
I received a free copy but voluntarily reviewed.
June 10, 2017
I'll first say that it wasn't drudgery reading this book. Why 2 stars then? The two main characters could have been developed a little further before we delved right into the action. I kept on having questions about the characters and motivations for doing things while I was reading it. The clincher was the Scooby-Doo mystery ending. I almost started eye-rolling when I was reading this. Without spoiling the ending, one could see this coming from a mile away. I was almost waiting for all the characters at the end to rip open a mask and shout in unison the bad guy's name.
At the back of the book, it was explained that this book was translated from I think German? Kept on thinking maybe the translator left some things out!
At the back of the book, it was explained that this book was translated from I think German? Kept on thinking maybe the translator left some things out!
June 15, 2017
I went back and forth between 3 and 4 stars and finally decided on 3. The book is enjoyable to read. I like the parts that describe Morocco - the land, the culture, the people. The story is interesting too, but I felt it was a bit predictable and some of the characters didn't really come across as believable or authentic. I thought the book was a historical fiction, but now I'm not so sure. I think the historical part of it would be the descriptions of the time period in Morocco not the characters. Overall, it was still a fun book to read - easy and engaging.
January 4, 2017
I was sent a kindle copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Although it is only the beginning of the year, this book is already one of my favorite reads of 2017. This book was truly one of the most beautiful that I have ever read. This book exceeded all of my expectations!
Read my whole review on my blog Lunainthestacks
Although it is only the beginning of the year, this book is already one of my favorite reads of 2017. This book was truly one of the most beautiful that I have ever read. This book exceeded all of my expectations!
Read my whole review on my blog Lunainthestacks
May 19, 2017
Wonderful
Beautifully written. This was also a very educational and interesting read. I enjoyed it immensely. Descriptions of various locations, local customs and people is well done. I learned quite a bit and appreciate the 19th century setting. All characters are well described and developed. Very highly recommend.
Beautifully written. This was also a very educational and interesting read. I enjoyed it immensely. Descriptions of various locations, local customs and people is well done. I learned quite a bit and appreciate the 19th century setting. All characters are well described and developed. Very highly recommend.
June 6, 2022
4,25 stars - English Ebook
The Lioness of Morocco is an incredibly interesting story and a well-researched book . I have to admit I was intrigued by the cover.I really appreciated about the book is its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of the lives of women in harems.
This book is about Sibylla Spencer, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who has aspirations of travelling the world. Of course, set in the 1800's, Sibylla is too modern thinking for her time. At the very ripe age of 23 years old Sibylla decides to take matters into her own hands and find a husband who won’t try to dominate her....Enter Benjamin Hopkins, her father’s shady purchasing agent who will do anything to improve his position in life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set largely in Morocco, the story follows the exploits of Sibylla, as she and her husband, Benjamin, live in Morocco during the 1800s. Get ready for an emotional ride following Sibylla on her many adventures! She becomes a powerful businesswoman rubbing elbows with the very powerful and maneuvering lucrative deals with Moroccan Sheikhs.
Sibylla morphs into an incredible woman - amazing mother and later grandmother ... doing the best she can for her family and friends. This book includes love, loss, secrets, and drama spread over more than twenty years... It is intense reading at times and I am not sure of the historical accuracies but nonetheless I think this is a great read.
The Lioness of Morocco is an incredibly interesting story and a well-researched book . I have to admit I was intrigued by the cover.I really appreciated about the book is its lovely descriptions of Moroccan culture especially from the perspective of the lives of women in harems.
This book is about Sibylla Spencer, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who has aspirations of travelling the world. Of course, set in the 1800's, Sibylla is too modern thinking for her time. At the very ripe age of 23 years old Sibylla decides to take matters into her own hands and find a husband who won’t try to dominate her....Enter Benjamin Hopkins, her father’s shady purchasing agent who will do anything to improve his position in life.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Set largely in Morocco, the story follows the exploits of Sibylla, as she and her husband, Benjamin, live in Morocco during the 1800s. Get ready for an emotional ride following Sibylla on her many adventures! She becomes a powerful businesswoman rubbing elbows with the very powerful and maneuvering lucrative deals with Moroccan Sheikhs.
Sibylla morphs into an incredible woman - amazing mother and later grandmother ... doing the best she can for her family and friends. This book includes love, loss, secrets, and drama spread over more than twenty years... It is intense reading at times and I am not sure of the historical accuracies but nonetheless I think this is a great read.
November 3, 2020
The Lioness of Morocco is historical fiction about Sybilla Hopkins, a strong-minded Englishwoman who in the 1830s moves with her husband from London to Morocco to be merchants. The story follows her trials and tribulations and the building up of her new life. It was written by a pair of German authors and translated into English, so my thoughts on this book may not be reflective of the original. I found it an okay read, a bit shallow, but also interesting.
The opening chapters, the ones set in England, I rather disliked. The characters were very flat and unconvincing and the prose was very simplistic. Once the characters arrived in Morocco, however, my interest perked up. Maybe I got used to the style, or it improved, or the setting was just that much more interesting
So the good. Well, it held my interest and it was quick read. The main character was mostly sympathetic. Although some of her experiences may have been melodramatic, she herself was refreshingly free of angst. The setting was interesting. It's a part of the world I know little about, so that's always fun.
Now the not so good.
Style-wise, I felt it could have done with a few more rewrites. The point-of-view mostly stays with Sibylla, but not always. Another chapter might be from a different character's perspective, which would be all right. Sometimes that is indeed necessary. In this particular novel, though the point-of-view sometimes switches between different characters in the same paragraph! Not good.
The pacing is also odd and it sometimes feels as though we are jumping from "Important" scene to "Important" scene and skipping everything in between. We end one chapter with Sibylla giving birth to her firstborn on the desert. We open the next with her the mother of two toddlers. Then some more plot happens and we skip two decades later. There are way too many unnecessary flashbacks, explaining the things that happened in the time skips, things we should have seen as they occurred.
The romance subplot was kind of boring and nothing that hasn't been done before. Then the reason that Andre and Sibylla did not get together (the standard "misunderstanding" that tears the lovers apart just as they are on the verge of getting together), was just dumb and unlikely, not tragic.
I don't think it quite understood what kind of story it wanted to tell. A romance in an exotic land with a handsome stranger? The story of a stalwart woman making it on her own? A historical epic of culture clashes? It wants to be all three, but I also feel as though there are pieces missing.
The characterization often falls somewhat flat. Benjamin Hopkins suffers especially. I never got a handle on his character. Sometimes, it seems like we are meant to pity his character. He's a petty, conventional Englishman dealing with homesickness and a bold, unconventional wife. He's out of his depth, and unpleasant, but he does care about his children. [SPOILERS AHEAD] Then again, every single thing he says or does is only to underscore that he is a bad, bad man. "I'm a racist!" he says. "I'm sexist" he says, or he might as well have. His actions are t hat of a cartoon super-villain: slave-trading, threatening children, faking his death, having a secret money hole, etc. Then again, if he really is a cartoon super-villain, why didn't he slap Sibylla around? Did he care about her or did he not? I don't know.
Sibylla and some of the other characters came off better, but I'm still not sure I ever knew her. Why were her marriage vows so important to her? Why did her grandchildren like her so much? Why did Emily get so angry at her mother? Why did Aynur not want to marry the sultan but was okay with Andre? There are explanations, sure, but they never felt all that real.
In order to be the kind of epic story it wanted to be, Lioness of Morocco should have had so much more. It should not have skipped over several decades just to get to the second generation's romantic entanglements. We should have spent time with the second generation as they grew up, getting to know them. It would have meant so much more. We should have seen Emily longing for her father. We should have seen Sibylla building her business. If you wanted us to sympathize with Aynur, then we needed more than a rushed rehash of her backstory.
I'm moaning a lot, and that's not fair. This novel was fine. It's only that it had the potential to be more and that's kind of disappointing. I did like it.
The opening chapters, the ones set in England, I rather disliked. The characters were very flat and unconvincing and the prose was very simplistic. Once the characters arrived in Morocco, however, my interest perked up. Maybe I got used to the style, or it improved, or the setting was just that much more interesting
So the good. Well, it held my interest and it was quick read. The main character was mostly sympathetic. Although some of her experiences may have been melodramatic, she herself was refreshingly free of angst. The setting was interesting. It's a part of the world I know little about, so that's always fun.
Now the not so good.
Style-wise, I felt it could have done with a few more rewrites. The point-of-view mostly stays with Sibylla, but not always. Another chapter might be from a different character's perspective, which would be all right. Sometimes that is indeed necessary. In this particular novel, though the point-of-view sometimes switches between different characters in the same paragraph! Not good.
The pacing is also odd and it sometimes feels as though we are jumping from "Important" scene to "Important" scene and skipping everything in between. We end one chapter with Sibylla giving birth to her firstborn on the desert. We open the next with her the mother of two toddlers. Then some more plot happens and we skip two decades later. There are way too many unnecessary flashbacks, explaining the things that happened in the time skips, things we should have seen as they occurred.
The romance subplot was kind of boring and nothing that hasn't been done before. Then the reason that Andre and Sibylla did not get together (the standard "misunderstanding" that tears the lovers apart just as they are on the verge of getting together), was just dumb and unlikely, not tragic.
I don't think it quite understood what kind of story it wanted to tell. A romance in an exotic land with a handsome stranger? The story of a stalwart woman making it on her own? A historical epic of culture clashes? It wants to be all three, but I also feel as though there are pieces missing.
The characterization often falls somewhat flat. Benjamin Hopkins suffers especially. I never got a handle on his character. Sometimes, it seems like we are meant to pity his character. He's a petty, conventional Englishman dealing with homesickness and a bold, unconventional wife. He's out of his depth, and unpleasant, but he does care about his children. [SPOILERS AHEAD] Then again, every single thing he says or does is only to underscore that he is a bad, bad man. "I'm a racist!" he says. "I'm sexist" he says, or he might as well have. His actions are t hat of a cartoon super-villain: slave-trading, threatening children, faking his death, having a secret money hole, etc. Then again, if he really is a cartoon super-villain, why didn't he slap Sibylla around? Did he care about her or did he not? I don't know.
Sibylla and some of the other characters came off better, but I'm still not sure I ever knew her. Why were her marriage vows so important to her? Why did her grandchildren like her so much? Why did Emily get so angry at her mother? Why did Aynur not want to marry the sultan but was okay with Andre? There are explanations, sure, but they never felt all that real.
In order to be the kind of epic story it wanted to be, Lioness of Morocco should have had so much more. It should not have skipped over several decades just to get to the second generation's romantic entanglements. We should have spent time with the second generation as they grew up, getting to know them. It would have meant so much more. We should have seen Emily longing for her father. We should have seen Sibylla building her business. If you wanted us to sympathize with Aynur, then we needed more than a rushed rehash of her backstory.
I'm moaning a lot, and that's not fair. This novel was fine. It's only that it had the potential to be more and that's kind of disappointing. I did like it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 16, 2017
In 1835, Sibylla is rescued from a near-drowning accident at the London docks by Benjamin, a conniving clerk in her father’s shipping company. At 23, Sibylla is attractive but still single, plus she’s headstrong and has progressive views—she’d even boxed one impudent suitor’s ears! She’s attracted to Benjamin, and with encouragement from her parents, they marry. At Sibylla’s prompting, her father selects Benjamin to fill a vacancy as the company’s agent in Mogador, Morocco, and she accompanies him there. Sibylla happily escapes the confines of pre-Victorian England to exotic Morocco, where she relishes in her freedom. They establish their new home and start a family. She appreciates the Berber culture and even starts a successful business of her own. Benjamin loves wealth more than he loves Sibylla, however, and, feeling neglected, she grows enamored of a handsome French soldier. Benjamin recklessly enters into shady deals and is arrested. Sibylla must decide whether to assist Benjamin or to leave him.
The Lioness was an Amazon bestseller in Germany. Although the English translation could use some structural and stylistic improvements, the story’s premise is alluring. The portrayal of Sibylla as a strong-willed woman who travels willingly to a foreign country instead of living a life of luxury, and who runs a flourishing trading business, is depicted well. While Benjamin isn’t interested in Arab culture, Sibylla’s open-mindedness to all things Moroccan, her business acumen, and willingness to take risks, all propel the novel forward. Through Sibylla’s travels and dealings with local people, we learn a fair amount about Morocco, its land, and the culture, cuisine, and philosophy of Berber society. Although light on coverage of world events, the novel is a thought-provoking historical romance.
This review first appeared in the Historical Novels Review Issue 80 (May 2017)
The Lioness was an Amazon bestseller in Germany. Although the English translation could use some structural and stylistic improvements, the story’s premise is alluring. The portrayal of Sibylla as a strong-willed woman who travels willingly to a foreign country instead of living a life of luxury, and who runs a flourishing trading business, is depicted well. While Benjamin isn’t interested in Arab culture, Sibylla’s open-mindedness to all things Moroccan, her business acumen, and willingness to take risks, all propel the novel forward. Through Sibylla’s travels and dealings with local people, we learn a fair amount about Morocco, its land, and the culture, cuisine, and philosophy of Berber society. Although light on coverage of world events, the novel is a thought-provoking historical romance.
This review first appeared in the Historical Novels Review Issue 80 (May 2017)
June 24, 2017
The writing itself was fairly clunky, and I'm not sure if it's the translation of the actual writing. Some of the plot points were also very predictable and heavy-handed, but the overall story was enjoyable to read and it was clear that if anything, the authors did their research. I can enjoy a book that's not written well if the plot runs smoothly and the characters are rounded and the story itself is well-researched. The former is up for debate, but I'm confident in the latter. I enjoyed reading it.
May 10, 2017
This is the best book I've ever read. The female main character is strong-willed and independent. I loved the descriptions of Moroccan life and culture. It was all-consuming to read, so I'm not sure I would ever read it a second time, but I highly recommend it! I read it every spare second I had and my husband was relieved when I finished.
November 15, 2018
While the description gave me hope for an interesting read, I found the dialogue flat, the characters lifeless, and the plot predictable. It was quite a tedious read for me. The most interesting character was Aynur, who unfortunately wasn't featured prominently. This book had lots of potential for an exciting story, it just wasn't realized.
February 28, 2019
A romance novel. It’s just not my cup of tea. It’s full of the usual cliches. Did not finish this one. I was rolling my eyes to much.
April 3, 2024
Where do I even start?! I guess I should start off by saying how I was genuinely invested in every page! The story takes place in Morocco (who would've thought) and is about 30 or so years of the adventures of Sibylla and her family. The way the story flows from multiple years of hardship to a perfect and heartfelt ending can only done by a few. It was well written to the point that I felt like I was living in the 1800s with this family. I also happened to realize as I finished the book that it was translated from German! Along with that, as a Muslim myself, I thought the way that Moroccan, Arab, French, and Islamic culture were described was quite fascinating and beautifully celebrated (as it should be). I believe that THESE are the books that should go trending, because these types of books are the ones that allow us to understand, learn, and even appreciate the diversity around us. Instead we drown ourselves with hate and romance books that aren't even good. Anywhoo, this book will be #1 for 2024 until further notice...
November 3, 2024
omg loved !!!!!! go off queen
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