What do you think?
Rate this book
Women of the Dunes
A beautifully told and intriguing mystery about two generations of Scottish women united by blood, an obsession with the past, and a long-hidden body, from the author of The House Between Tides.
Libby Snow has always felt the pull of Ullaness, a headland on Scotland’s sea-lashed western coast where a legend has taken root. At its center is Ulla, an eighth-century Norsewoman whose uncertain fate was entangled with two warring brothers and a man who sought to save her. Libby first heard the stories from her grandmother, who had learned it from her own forebear, Ellen, a maid at Sturrock House.
The Sturrocks have owned the land where Ulla dwelled for generations, and now Libby, an archaeologist, has their permission to excavate a mysterious mound, which she hopes will cast light on the legend’s truth. But before she can begin, storms reveal the the century-old bones of an unidentified man. The discovery triggers Libby’s memories of family stories about Ellen, of her strange obsession with Ulla, and of her violent past at Sturrock House.
As Libby digs deeper, she unravels a recurring story of love, tragedy, and threads that bind the past to the present. And as she learns more of Rodri Sturrock, the landowner’s brother, she realizes these forces are still at work, and that she has her own role to play in Ulla’s dark legend.
Libby Snow has always felt the pull of Ullaness, a headland on Scotland’s sea-lashed western coast where a legend has taken root. At its center is Ulla, an eighth-century Norsewoman whose uncertain fate was entangled with two warring brothers and a man who sought to save her. Libby first heard the stories from her grandmother, who had learned it from her own forebear, Ellen, a maid at Sturrock House.
The Sturrocks have owned the land where Ulla dwelled for generations, and now Libby, an archaeologist, has their permission to excavate a mysterious mound, which she hopes will cast light on the legend’s truth. But before she can begin, storms reveal the the century-old bones of an unidentified man. The discovery triggers Libby’s memories of family stories about Ellen, of her strange obsession with Ulla, and of her violent past at Sturrock House.
As Libby digs deeper, she unravels a recurring story of love, tragedy, and threads that bind the past to the present. And as she learns more of Rodri Sturrock, the landowner’s brother, she realizes these forces are still at work, and that she has her own role to play in Ulla’s dark legend.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2018
697 people are currently reading
6565 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Maine
9 books431 followersSarah Maine was born in England and emigrated to Canada with her family at the age of ten. A small northern Ontario community was home for the next two years before the family moved south, and Sarah went to high school in Toronto. She returned to England to study archaeology, stayed on to do research and work, married there and has two sons.
Books were always important. She grew up on a diet of Arthur Ransome and Robert Louis Stevenson but also the classics, Jane Austen and the Brontés and, of course, Daphne du Maurier - but now enjoys a wide range of contemporary fiction.
She has publlished three books - The House between Tides, Beyond the Wild River and Women of the Dunes and is currently working on her fourth, set partly in New Zealand.
Books were always important. She grew up on a diet of Arthur Ransome and Robert Louis Stevenson but also the classics, Jane Austen and the Brontés and, of course, Daphne du Maurier - but now enjoys a wide range of contemporary fiction.
She has publlished three books - The House between Tides, Beyond the Wild River and Women of the Dunes and is currently working on her fourth, set partly in New Zealand.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
October 31, 2018
Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine is a 2018 Atria Books publication.
“Perhaps that’s what a legend is, a memory preserved over many generations”
What a fascinating and thought- provoking Scottish tale spanning centuries and generations, examining legends, the truth behind them, and the way history tends to repeat itself.
Libby and her university team have arrived on Ullanessm Island for the summer to work on an excavation project. For Libby, the trip is just as personal as it is professional. Her great- great grandmother once lived on Sturrock estate, as a service worker.
The past timelines, beginning in the 9th century, reveal adultery, scandal, trials of faith, forbidden love, and the makings of legends. Those legends, passed down through the years, has an enormous impact on Ellen, a servant girl in the 19th century. Once more a love triangle emerges, and a man of God questions his faith, while more doubt is cast on lineage and heritage, and eventually leads the reader to Libby. As Libby works closely with the Sturrock family, she finds herself embroiled in their unconventional family dramas, where once more, scandal, lies, and greed brings the legends and myths of old, full circle, while adding and creating their own contemporary legends, sure to be pondered on and investigated by future generations.
While the pacing of the story slowly connects the three timelines, it is seamless and easy to follow, and so full of drama, angst, and tension it was hard to put the book aside for any length of time. The vivid Scottish scenery helps to create the rich atmosphere of the novel, combining historical details in with present day analogies.
I love legends, myths, folklore, and stories that are passed down from generation to generation. As is demonstrated here, the stories don’t always represent the whole truth, but, they allow us a portal to the past, and has a way of connecting families. But, one must wonder at the validity of the legends, how much truth is blended with embellishments, or if the legends were censured or exaggerated to conceal a scandal, or to protect someone, thus adding a quality of mystery and intrigue to be guessed at and debated for many generations to come.
4 stars
“Perhaps that’s what a legend is, a memory preserved over many generations”
What a fascinating and thought- provoking Scottish tale spanning centuries and generations, examining legends, the truth behind them, and the way history tends to repeat itself.
Libby and her university team have arrived on Ullanessm Island for the summer to work on an excavation project. For Libby, the trip is just as personal as it is professional. Her great- great grandmother once lived on Sturrock estate, as a service worker.
The past timelines, beginning in the 9th century, reveal adultery, scandal, trials of faith, forbidden love, and the makings of legends. Those legends, passed down through the years, has an enormous impact on Ellen, a servant girl in the 19th century. Once more a love triangle emerges, and a man of God questions his faith, while more doubt is cast on lineage and heritage, and eventually leads the reader to Libby. As Libby works closely with the Sturrock family, she finds herself embroiled in their unconventional family dramas, where once more, scandal, lies, and greed brings the legends and myths of old, full circle, while adding and creating their own contemporary legends, sure to be pondered on and investigated by future generations.
While the pacing of the story slowly connects the three timelines, it is seamless and easy to follow, and so full of drama, angst, and tension it was hard to put the book aside for any length of time. The vivid Scottish scenery helps to create the rich atmosphere of the novel, combining historical details in with present day analogies.
I love legends, myths, folklore, and stories that are passed down from generation to generation. As is demonstrated here, the stories don’t always represent the whole truth, but, they allow us a portal to the past, and has a way of connecting families. But, one must wonder at the validity of the legends, how much truth is blended with embellishments, or if the legends were censured or exaggerated to conceal a scandal, or to protect someone, thus adding a quality of mystery and intrigue to be guessed at and debated for many generations to come.
4 stars
March 22, 2018
4 fascinating Scottish stars to Women of the Dunes! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
The description of this book captivated me. My alter ego in college enjoyed archaeological digs, so I’m up for anything with an excavation, multiple timelines, and history.
Women of the Dunes is told in three timelines, including a Norsewoman in the 9th century, a 19th century woman, and a contemporary archaeologist, Libby. A Scottish island, Ullanessm, draws people to it with its ancient stories and myths, including the main characters. How the three timelines intersect is natural and fulfilling.
The author has clearly done impeccable research, and her own background in archaeology shows. In the end, this is an interesting tale of betrayal, murder, love, and redemption, shrouded in a cozy, easy-to-read, comforting historical mystery.
Thank you to Sarah Maines, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the copy.
The description of this book captivated me. My alter ego in college enjoyed archaeological digs, so I’m up for anything with an excavation, multiple timelines, and history.
Women of the Dunes is told in three timelines, including a Norsewoman in the 9th century, a 19th century woman, and a contemporary archaeologist, Libby. A Scottish island, Ullanessm, draws people to it with its ancient stories and myths, including the main characters. How the three timelines intersect is natural and fulfilling.
The author has clearly done impeccable research, and her own background in archaeology shows. In the end, this is an interesting tale of betrayal, murder, love, and redemption, shrouded in a cozy, easy-to-read, comforting historical mystery.
Thank you to Sarah Maines, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the copy.
July 18, 2018
Women of the Dunes is a beautifully written historical tale about treasures, mysteries, murder, and even a little bit of a romance.
The story is told in three alternating viewpoints which includes a Norsewoman in the 9th century, a 19th century woman, and Libby who is an archaeologist. The story slowly but beautifully connects the three timelines together.
The author effortlessly builds upon her research and experience in this historical tale which heightens the story even more.
And.. let me just say how much I want to go to Scotland now! The metaphors and visualization in this novel is amazing!
In all.... this was an enjoyable read with a cozy mystery at it's finest! I read this in a day... so that must tell you something ;).
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria for the advanced arc in exchange for a honest review.
Published to GR: 7/17/18
Publication date: 7/24/18
The story is told in three alternating viewpoints which includes a Norsewoman in the 9th century, a 19th century woman, and Libby who is an archaeologist. The story slowly but beautifully connects the three timelines together.
The author effortlessly builds upon her research and experience in this historical tale which heightens the story even more.
And.. let me just say how much I want to go to Scotland now! The metaphors and visualization in this novel is amazing!
In all.... this was an enjoyable read with a cozy mystery at it's finest! I read this in a day... so that must tell you something ;).
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Atria for the advanced arc in exchange for a honest review.
Published to GR: 7/17/18
Publication date: 7/24/18
July 25, 2018
The first book I read by Sarah Maine was THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES and I was blown away by the wonderful story and the atmospheric setting. I was eager to find out if WOMEN OF THE DUNES would be as good. And it was!
To be able to effortlessly write a book with three different storylines without confusing or making any of the storylines less interesting than the others is a gift and I think that Sarah Maine has this gift. I'm so used to dual storylines that getting one with three storylines feels like an oddity, in a good way.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
To be able to effortlessly write a book with three different storylines without confusing or making any of the storylines less interesting than the others is a gift and I think that Sarah Maine has this gift. I'm so used to dual storylines that getting one with three storylines feels like an oddity, in a good way.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
July 23, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
Well, I was quite excited to receive this story after being refused a copy of Sarah Maine's earlier book, The House Between Tides. Whoever designs the covers for Maine's books should know they are stunning and suit her stories well. However I am feeling(surprisingly) lukewarm over my reading experience. The writing is strong, the multi narrative, an intriguing story, but the pace was slow and the pagan story was probably the most fascinating and yet often played second fiddle to the contemporary storyline and that of 1890 which didn't always hold my full attention. Maybe it is me, the heat, or my itchy bug bites, but this was a real hit and miss.
Well, I was quite excited to receive this story after being refused a copy of Sarah Maine's earlier book, The House Between Tides. Whoever designs the covers for Maine's books should know they are stunning and suit her stories well. However I am feeling(surprisingly) lukewarm over my reading experience. The writing is strong, the multi narrative, an intriguing story, but the pace was slow and the pagan story was probably the most fascinating and yet often played second fiddle to the contemporary storyline and that of 1890 which didn't always hold my full attention. Maybe it is me, the heat, or my itchy bug bites, but this was a real hit and miss.
July 20, 2018
Scotland, back and forth in time, murders, illegitimate children, missing jewels, secrets, buried treasures, legends, a permitted excavation, authentic characters, and an old estate all greet us in WOMEN OF THE DUNES.
We follow Libby as she and her university team have gotten permission to excavate the estate of Hector Sturrock and an estate where Libby's great grandmother worked as a servant.
Libby's grandmother told her of the legend of Ulla that was part of the estate and the town of Ullaness. Libby had always enjoyed the legend and liked to hear it every time she visited her grandmother.
When Libby joined the team for the excavation, she had to decide if she would tell what her grandmother had told her and what her great grandmother had kept from the estate.
The legend began with a ship coming into a harbor where a monk named Odrhan lived. Ulla was pregnant with her husband’s brother’s child, but when the husband found out about the baby, he badly hurt his brother, Harald, so Ulla sailed away with the injured Harald and sailed to Odrhan for help.
As generations continued so did the legend and its people. The most interesting aspect was that Libby was the current generation of the women involved, and there were many secrets kept by them all.
WOMEN OF THE DUNES was captivating simply because of the lifestyle of the original family as well as those who lived in the Sturrock estate today.
The women of all generations had stories to tell, the estate’s castle-like home still kept its charm, and the legend made WOMEN OF THE DUNES enticing.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the land and the house. Going back in time and hearing a story re-created is something I always love to read about.
The two stories - present and past - connected, came full circle, and brilliantly meshed together as mirrored stories.
Any reader who enjoys castles, secrets, looking for clues in old documents, and re-tracing the steps of characters that lived long ago will want to read WOMEN OF THE DUNES.
WOMEN OF THE DUNES is going to be a favorite. 5/5
This book was given to be as an ARC by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
We follow Libby as she and her university team have gotten permission to excavate the estate of Hector Sturrock and an estate where Libby's great grandmother worked as a servant.
Libby's grandmother told her of the legend of Ulla that was part of the estate and the town of Ullaness. Libby had always enjoyed the legend and liked to hear it every time she visited her grandmother.
When Libby joined the team for the excavation, she had to decide if she would tell what her grandmother had told her and what her great grandmother had kept from the estate.
The legend began with a ship coming into a harbor where a monk named Odrhan lived. Ulla was pregnant with her husband’s brother’s child, but when the husband found out about the baby, he badly hurt his brother, Harald, so Ulla sailed away with the injured Harald and sailed to Odrhan for help.
As generations continued so did the legend and its people. The most interesting aspect was that Libby was the current generation of the women involved, and there were many secrets kept by them all.
WOMEN OF THE DUNES was captivating simply because of the lifestyle of the original family as well as those who lived in the Sturrock estate today.
The women of all generations had stories to tell, the estate’s castle-like home still kept its charm, and the legend made WOMEN OF THE DUNES enticing.
I really enjoyed the descriptions of the land and the house. Going back in time and hearing a story re-created is something I always love to read about.
The two stories - present and past - connected, came full circle, and brilliantly meshed together as mirrored stories.
Any reader who enjoys castles, secrets, looking for clues in old documents, and re-tracing the steps of characters that lived long ago will want to read WOMEN OF THE DUNES.
WOMEN OF THE DUNES is going to be a favorite. 5/5
This book was given to be as an ARC by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
September 29, 2018
Like her great-grandmother before her, Libby Snow is obsessed with Ullaness, a Scottish Island and the Viking Maiden Ulla whose legend gave the island its name. Libby is an archaeologist and she's excited to finally have permission to dig on the site where Ulla allegedly lived. Instead of finding artifacts relating to the legend, the dig uncovers human remains dating back to the Victorian age. The man was murdered, shot to death and his body unceremoniously dumped in a hollow. Clues to the murder bind all 3 women -- Ulla, Libby, and her great-grandmother Ellen -- together across time.
This book is so beautifully descriptive and emotional! I loved the story, the characters and the setting. I don't normally like books that alternate characters and different time lines, but for this story it worked perfectly. We get to share the story of all three women and learn how it all weaves together. Just a lovely story! The mystery and the legend are very engaging. The story kept my attention from beginning to end, with some interesting twists and surprises. Very well written!
Sarah Maine has written two other books including The House Between Tides and Beyond the Wild River. I'm definitely going to read her other books!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This book is so beautifully descriptive and emotional! I loved the story, the characters and the setting. I don't normally like books that alternate characters and different time lines, but for this story it worked perfectly. We get to share the story of all three women and learn how it all weaves together. Just a lovely story! The mystery and the legend are very engaging. The story kept my attention from beginning to end, with some interesting twists and surprises. Very well written!
Sarah Maine has written two other books including The House Between Tides and Beyond the Wild River. I'm definitely going to read her other books!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
dnf
January 10, 2019I am giving up on this one, and boy do I hate to have to give up on a book. I forced myself to read up to the 60% point, but feel I am getting very little enjoyment out of this book. Time to call it a day unfortunately.
September 20, 2025
Women of the Dunes is an atmospheric novel that beautifully blends history, mystery, and family drama. Set on the rugged coast of Scotland, it weaves together three timelines—a present-day archaeologist uncovering secrets, a Victorian woman entangled in scandal, and an ancient Pictish tale of love and betrayal. The author's descriptive writing really brought the landscape to life - it had such a haunting quality to it. I especially enjoyed the way folklore was woven into each timeline and how through each generation, these stories connect us with the past and the spirit of those who came before us. A very enjoyable novel!
February 20, 2023
First of all I have to say that by Sarah Maine I prefered "The House between Tides", because the historical timeline was more thoroughly. Here instead we have three timelines: a contemporary one, a Victorian one and an ancient one, but most of the book is about the contemporary one and few chapters about the Victorian (that I loved!).
Libby is an archeologist who's digging in a place that belongs to the estate of the Sturrocks, a family of baronets, and she discovers the tracks of a crime committed during the Victorian era: the bones of a person shot dead. Who did they belonged to, and who killed him?
We are brought in the time of Libby's ancestor Ellen, that worked for the Sturrock family as an housemaid and she's bothered by Mungo Sturrock.
Libby makes her researches to discover the truth with Rodri Sturrock, but something dark is going on in the present too...
Good final twist.
Libby is an archeologist who's digging in a place that belongs to the estate of the Sturrocks, a family of baronets, and she discovers the tracks of a crime committed during the Victorian era: the bones of a person shot dead. Who did they belonged to, and who killed him?
We are brought in the time of Libby's ancestor Ellen, that worked for the Sturrock family as an housemaid and she's bothered by Mungo Sturrock.
Libby makes her researches to discover the truth with Rodri Sturrock, but something dark is going on in the present too...
Good final twist.
September 29, 2023
Audiobook. This is a triple timeline approach where we are reminded that not all legends and stories passed down the generations are reliable. Fairly predictable plot with recurring themes of conflicting brothers, absent fathers, mistreated women and clergymen getting into a tizzy over the allure of women.
August 27, 2018
Check out all of our reviews at https://reallyintothis.com
Happy Reading, friends!
Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine Book Review
Three tales all surrounded by mythology, secrets & tradition on the western coast of Scotland. If you're wanting to leave your life behind for a bit, head to Ullaness with Sarah Maine to meet the Women of the Dunes.
An Archaeological Dig That Uncovers Secrets
Libby Snow has deep-rooted family history to the coastal sea town of Ullaness. Growing up, her grandmother regaled her with the myth & story of the mysterious Ulla. On the surface, Libby, an archaeologist, arrives in Ullaness prepared to participate in an excavation at Sturrock House. Libby's family has history & they carry secrets from this land. Yet, here Libby is, ready to slide in with the hope of uncovering some truth.
Unexpectedly, a man is found dead prior to the start of the official excavation. There's a give & take type of relationship between the landowners & the archaeologists. Libby takes on the role of appeasing the landowners while taking part in the investigation of who this man is & what he was doing in Ullaness. Quickly, emotions, history & her family's ties to this town rise to the surface.
Sarah Maine - Three Timelines, Beautiful Scenery & a Mystery.
While I can burn through a book in a day, I savored every syllable of Women of the Dunes. I honestly cannot remember reading a book that captivated me in this way. There's something about Sarah Maine's storytelling style that reels me in. Quickly I'm transported into the story, but something tells me to pace myself. This way, I understand & appreciate every morsel of the tale.
Let's All Go to Scotland
Women of the Dunes is incredibly atmospheric. While I haven't yet visited Scotland, I was THERE. I can picture Sturrock House, the water's edge, the land, the dunes & I loved every minute of Sarah Maine setting the scene. I'm ready to read another book that takes place in Scotland immediately. I need to go back!
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book. Women of the Dunes is not my typical fare & I loved reading a bit outside of my comfort zone. Women of the Dunes has layers of mystery with a historical fiction type of feel. The atmospheric writing is unbeatable & you'll no doubt be entranced by Ullaness.
Special thanks to Sarah Maine , Atria Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
Happy Reading, friends!
Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine Book Review
Three tales all surrounded by mythology, secrets & tradition on the western coast of Scotland. If you're wanting to leave your life behind for a bit, head to Ullaness with Sarah Maine to meet the Women of the Dunes.
An Archaeological Dig That Uncovers Secrets
Libby Snow has deep-rooted family history to the coastal sea town of Ullaness. Growing up, her grandmother regaled her with the myth & story of the mysterious Ulla. On the surface, Libby, an archaeologist, arrives in Ullaness prepared to participate in an excavation at Sturrock House. Libby's family has history & they carry secrets from this land. Yet, here Libby is, ready to slide in with the hope of uncovering some truth.
Unexpectedly, a man is found dead prior to the start of the official excavation. There's a give & take type of relationship between the landowners & the archaeologists. Libby takes on the role of appeasing the landowners while taking part in the investigation of who this man is & what he was doing in Ullaness. Quickly, emotions, history & her family's ties to this town rise to the surface.
Sarah Maine - Three Timelines, Beautiful Scenery & a Mystery.
While I can burn through a book in a day, I savored every syllable of Women of the Dunes. I honestly cannot remember reading a book that captivated me in this way. There's something about Sarah Maine's storytelling style that reels me in. Quickly I'm transported into the story, but something tells me to pace myself. This way, I understand & appreciate every morsel of the tale.
Let's All Go to Scotland
Women of the Dunes is incredibly atmospheric. While I haven't yet visited Scotland, I was THERE. I can picture Sturrock House, the water's edge, the land, the dunes & I loved every minute of Sarah Maine setting the scene. I'm ready to read another book that takes place in Scotland immediately. I need to go back!
THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book. Women of the Dunes is not my typical fare & I loved reading a bit outside of my comfort zone. Women of the Dunes has layers of mystery with a historical fiction type of feel. The atmospheric writing is unbeatable & you'll no doubt be entranced by Ullaness.
Special thanks to Sarah Maine , Atria Books & NetGalley for providing our copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.
December 4, 2020
A body is discovered in the dunes in Ullaness, on the coast of West Scotland. This sets the tone for the weaving together of three women and their stories. One is Ulla in 800 AD. The second is Ella, a servant girl in the 1800s and the third is Libby an archaeologist determined to uncover an age old mystery that resonates in her own family. But this is not about the remains of just one body. It ends up being far more than that.
An involving story that spans across time, I really enjoyed this and the way the stories connected. The setting is very atmospheric and characters are well portrayed. Legends, secrets, buried treasure and artefacts, family, romance, murder and betrayals are all part of this story. An amazing amount of research must have been done in the writing of this book and yet it all flows seamlessly without feeling there are information dumps. Anyone who enjoys a historical story with interesting characters and setting should enjoy this one.
An entertaining read that kept my interest throughout, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. It is beautifully written and a great read. A book I kept wanting to get back to whenever I’d had to put it down.
An involving story that spans across time, I really enjoyed this and the way the stories connected. The setting is very atmospheric and characters are well portrayed. Legends, secrets, buried treasure and artefacts, family, romance, murder and betrayals are all part of this story. An amazing amount of research must have been done in the writing of this book and yet it all flows seamlessly without feeling there are information dumps. Anyone who enjoys a historical story with interesting characters and setting should enjoy this one.
An entertaining read that kept my interest throughout, I have no hesitation in recommending this book. It is beautifully written and a great read. A book I kept wanting to get back to whenever I’d had to put it down.
October 13, 2018
Her most engaging novel so far, WOMEN OF THE DUNES by Sarah Maine toys with the reader, teasing us with mysterious tidbits until the final page.
Libby Snow’s family history is entrenched in folklore, told over and over through the generations. As an archaeologist, she jumps at the chance to assist with a dig in Scotland where her family’s history supposedly took place.
Rodri Sturrock lives at Sturrock House, acting as his brother Hector’s agent regarding the upcoming excavation. He’s adamant about what they will and will not allow, even though Libby seems to soften his rough edges every time they meet.
Sarah Maine’s talent becomes more evident with every book. It’s strange, but I feel a rhythm in her style. It’s balanced like music, sing-song-like, flowing through my head artistically. She paints beautiful landscapes with her words, making the seashore dunes come alive.
The mystery builds with captivating gradations. It made me anxious and hopeful that Libby would find the truth to her family’s history. Would it be wonderful, or were they just a pack of thieves?
I was camping when I read my digital advanced copy before release day. It held me spellbound for days, but I neglected to put down my thoughts before reading another book. Good thing, too, because it gave me a reason to read it again months later. I don’t think I could have written a deserving review without that second read, and even now I’m not sure I can explain why I love this story so much, but I’ll do my best!
The characterization and scene-setting are amazing. Maine has the uncanny ability to give such unique cues to a conversation over tea, making the characters jump off the page and into your heart. I love the nuances of our hero, Rodri, and his foodie business partners. They get on like old friends who love each other as family. They’re not even close to a normal family, so their idiosyncrasies and secrets attract Libby’s curiosity. Maine gives such good attention to details that are never boring, making the book play like a movie in my head. This novel is no less entertaining the second time through. It’s so good that I didn’t dare skim for fear of missing some exquisite detail.
The story goes through three different time periods as it solves the mysteries surrounding the archaeological dig the book centers on. The main characters are the archaeologists who want the historical discovery, the local police who want to resolve a more recently buried body, and the two brothers who own or live on the estate in question. There isn’t just one mystery, so the trail is complicated and entertaining through years of folklore and misdeeds. And, of course, there is a despicable villain who becomes more appalling toward the end.
Looking back at the history, two holy men fall in love with mysterious women, which adds to the gossip surrounding the dig. Then there are three generations of warring brothers. With several points of view to tell each generation’s truth, the present-day archaeologists are searching for these same stories among the ruins. There seems to be too much going on, in the way I describe it, but it’s so mesmerizing. Loaded with deliciously addictive prose and an equally addictive plot, WOMEN OF THE DUNES is exactly the style of fiction I love. With a bit of tender romance that makes me hopeful for a fairy-tale ending, I’m begging for a sequel to catch-up with the sons when they’re grown.
Sarah Maine has a talent for setting place and time that pulls me into her stories. I especially enjoyed the main characters this time, specifically since their stories are told bit by bit as history is discovered. Maine’s talent for characterization is progressing vividly. Especially with Rodri and his family. They were so much fun that I kept rereading their scenes.
If I had to make a comparison, I feel as though WOMEN OF THE DUNES moves much faster with the same exquisite detail as THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES and BEYOND THE WILD RIVER, but with a depiction that leaps off the page. Although I enjoyed the latter two books, WOMEN OF THE DUNES is beyond brilliant from beginning to end.
Don’t miss this Romance Junkies’ Recommended Read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***Oct. 4 mini review***
Excellent historical mystery mixed with modern day archaeology. Full review to come. Even better the 2nd time, and I took notes this time, so hopefully my review will reflect why I loved it.
Libby Snow’s family history is entrenched in folklore, told over and over through the generations. As an archaeologist, she jumps at the chance to assist with a dig in Scotland where her family’s history supposedly took place.
Rodri Sturrock lives at Sturrock House, acting as his brother Hector’s agent regarding the upcoming excavation. He’s adamant about what they will and will not allow, even though Libby seems to soften his rough edges every time they meet.
Sarah Maine’s talent becomes more evident with every book. It’s strange, but I feel a rhythm in her style. It’s balanced like music, sing-song-like, flowing through my head artistically. She paints beautiful landscapes with her words, making the seashore dunes come alive.
The mystery builds with captivating gradations. It made me anxious and hopeful that Libby would find the truth to her family’s history. Would it be wonderful, or were they just a pack of thieves?
I was camping when I read my digital advanced copy before release day. It held me spellbound for days, but I neglected to put down my thoughts before reading another book. Good thing, too, because it gave me a reason to read it again months later. I don’t think I could have written a deserving review without that second read, and even now I’m not sure I can explain why I love this story so much, but I’ll do my best!
The characterization and scene-setting are amazing. Maine has the uncanny ability to give such unique cues to a conversation over tea, making the characters jump off the page and into your heart. I love the nuances of our hero, Rodri, and his foodie business partners. They get on like old friends who love each other as family. They’re not even close to a normal family, so their idiosyncrasies and secrets attract Libby’s curiosity. Maine gives such good attention to details that are never boring, making the book play like a movie in my head. This novel is no less entertaining the second time through. It’s so good that I didn’t dare skim for fear of missing some exquisite detail.
The story goes through three different time periods as it solves the mysteries surrounding the archaeological dig the book centers on. The main characters are the archaeologists who want the historical discovery, the local police who want to resolve a more recently buried body, and the two brothers who own or live on the estate in question. There isn’t just one mystery, so the trail is complicated and entertaining through years of folklore and misdeeds. And, of course, there is a despicable villain who becomes more appalling toward the end.
Looking back at the history, two holy men fall in love with mysterious women, which adds to the gossip surrounding the dig. Then there are three generations of warring brothers. With several points of view to tell each generation’s truth, the present-day archaeologists are searching for these same stories among the ruins. There seems to be too much going on, in the way I describe it, but it’s so mesmerizing. Loaded with deliciously addictive prose and an equally addictive plot, WOMEN OF THE DUNES is exactly the style of fiction I love. With a bit of tender romance that makes me hopeful for a fairy-tale ending, I’m begging for a sequel to catch-up with the sons when they’re grown.
Sarah Maine has a talent for setting place and time that pulls me into her stories. I especially enjoyed the main characters this time, specifically since their stories are told bit by bit as history is discovered. Maine’s talent for characterization is progressing vividly. Especially with Rodri and his family. They were so much fun that I kept rereading their scenes.
If I had to make a comparison, I feel as though WOMEN OF THE DUNES moves much faster with the same exquisite detail as THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES and BEYOND THE WILD RIVER, but with a depiction that leaps off the page. Although I enjoyed the latter two books, WOMEN OF THE DUNES is beyond brilliant from beginning to end.
Don’t miss this Romance Junkies’ Recommended Read!
Review by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies. Digital ARC provided by the publisher for an honest review.
***Oct. 4 mini review***
Excellent historical mystery mixed with modern day archaeology. Full review to come. Even better the 2nd time, and I took notes this time, so hopefully my review will reflect why I loved it.
September 2, 2018
Can I give this one more than 5 stars?!?
Sometimes a book comes along and it’s like it was written just for you. I have been a huge Sarah Maine fan since reading Bhalla Strand, which is now known as The House Between Tides.
When I saw that this one was out, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to read it earlier, so I checked it out from my library and brought it with me to Seattle for vacation.
Her books are always so atmospheric and have this kind of dark romantic prose so I figured it would be an exciting vacation read.
So let’s just say that it was evident that this book was going to keep me up into the late hours of the evening. From the second I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! Like I literally had to tear myself away from this book because I didn’t want it to be over and I wanted to savor every single page!
I love the archeology parts. In another life, I planned on being Indiana Jones and I actually did take quite a few classes in college to become a Biblical archeologist, but then I loved literature and writing so much that my path went another way. But I love books with archeology in them and Maine’s knowledge and attention to detail shines in this book. I love the legend and oral tradition aspects of this story and how that played out in multiple ways in this book.
This was the most interesting angle for me and I absolutely devoured the history, legend, and archeological elements. In a word—outstanding.
Then came the characters…..a smart, yet secretive independent woman with a mysterious connection to the legend and past, double check. A handsome, yet brooding caretaker with a tragic past—-YES YES YES CHECK. I loved that the secondary characters and the alternating time period characters didn’t eclipse the two main ones. Libby and Rodri have great chemistry and carried the story without any problem. In fact, when we switched to Ellen and the other Sturrock characters, I was greatly annoyed. I wanted to keep reading just Libby and Rodri’s story however, before I knew it, I was enjoying Ellen’s portions just as much.
I think what stood out to me was the romantic angle. Ellen’s portions were clearly a love story, but Libby and Rodri’s were less obvious. Throughout the book, the chemistry and growing attraction between Libby and Rodri are hardly mentioned but the reader will easily see the subtle changes as the story goes on.
It takes a true talent to show readers a subtle romance without any real confirmation of the feelings. There isn’t some grand, let me tear your clothes off moment, to tell the reader that YES they are in love. All of a sudden about half way through this book I was like awwww they like each other—a lot. And it literally stole my heart. I loved loved loved how mature and how surprisingly romantic this approach was.
There were so many things to love about this book. The setting, the legend, the romance—-it had everything. Maine’s books always remind me a little of a modern Victoria Holt or Daphne du Maurier. I can’t get enough of her books and I am looking forward to reading the next one she puts out. Not going to lie, I wouldn’t mind revisiting these characters in other books but I know that Maine will create new characters that I will love just as much!
This was easily my favorite read of the summer, if not the entire year. I can’t remember having loved a book as much as I loved this one in a long time!
Final note—-whoever her cover designer is should get a huge shout out. Her covers are beautiful and the artist captures the essence of her books so well. I am absolutely in love with this cover and can’t get enough of it!
See my full review here
Sometimes a book comes along and it’s like it was written just for you. I have been a huge Sarah Maine fan since reading Bhalla Strand, which is now known as The House Between Tides.
When I saw that this one was out, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to read it earlier, so I checked it out from my library and brought it with me to Seattle for vacation.
Her books are always so atmospheric and have this kind of dark romantic prose so I figured it would be an exciting vacation read.
So let’s just say that it was evident that this book was going to keep me up into the late hours of the evening. From the second I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! Like I literally had to tear myself away from this book because I didn’t want it to be over and I wanted to savor every single page!
I love the archeology parts. In another life, I planned on being Indiana Jones and I actually did take quite a few classes in college to become a Biblical archeologist, but then I loved literature and writing so much that my path went another way. But I love books with archeology in them and Maine’s knowledge and attention to detail shines in this book. I love the legend and oral tradition aspects of this story and how that played out in multiple ways in this book.
This was the most interesting angle for me and I absolutely devoured the history, legend, and archeological elements. In a word—outstanding.
Then came the characters…..a smart, yet secretive independent woman with a mysterious connection to the legend and past, double check. A handsome, yet brooding caretaker with a tragic past—-YES YES YES CHECK. I loved that the secondary characters and the alternating time period characters didn’t eclipse the two main ones. Libby and Rodri have great chemistry and carried the story without any problem. In fact, when we switched to Ellen and the other Sturrock characters, I was greatly annoyed. I wanted to keep reading just Libby and Rodri’s story however, before I knew it, I was enjoying Ellen’s portions just as much.
I think what stood out to me was the romantic angle. Ellen’s portions were clearly a love story, but Libby and Rodri’s were less obvious. Throughout the book, the chemistry and growing attraction between Libby and Rodri are hardly mentioned but the reader will easily see the subtle changes as the story goes on.
It takes a true talent to show readers a subtle romance without any real confirmation of the feelings. There isn’t some grand, let me tear your clothes off moment, to tell the reader that YES they are in love. All of a sudden about half way through this book I was like awwww they like each other—a lot. And it literally stole my heart. I loved loved loved how mature and how surprisingly romantic this approach was.
There were so many things to love about this book. The setting, the legend, the romance—-it had everything. Maine’s books always remind me a little of a modern Victoria Holt or Daphne du Maurier. I can’t get enough of her books and I am looking forward to reading the next one she puts out. Not going to lie, I wouldn’t mind revisiting these characters in other books but I know that Maine will create new characters that I will love just as much!
This was easily my favorite read of the summer, if not the entire year. I can’t remember having loved a book as much as I loved this one in a long time!
Final note—-whoever her cover designer is should get a huge shout out. Her covers are beautiful and the artist captures the essence of her books so well. I am absolutely in love with this cover and can’t get enough of it!
See my full review here
September 10, 2021
Wonderful escapism, most probably because it harkens back to glorious childhood holidays spent in Scotland – and, alas, our long-awaited Scottish road trip has been aborted at the hands of COVID-19, so this was a much-needed read.
The Women of the Dunes is an interesting look at oral tradition, folklore, and legacy – and how it can all get jumbled up as it travels through the generations. The opening chapters are a little slow and clunky with exposition, but the story itself is incredibly absorbing.
I’m reluctant to say that the novel is ‘thronging’ with wonderful characters; there is a disparity between some of the best side characters and the entirely uninspiring female protagonists who lack complexity. (Give me one character trait for Libby, I dare you.) Whilst Rodri is rather dreamy in his hands-on fathering (I’ve just read that back and it sounds really wrong – to his sons I meant) and his fierce dedication to the endearingly unconventional community, the romance is rather lukewarm; it’s also a very gendered dynamic that made me a little uncomfortable at times.
Immersive and engrossing, but I think most of my enjoyment can be attributed to my love of Scotland.
The Women of the Dunes is an interesting look at oral tradition, folklore, and legacy – and how it can all get jumbled up as it travels through the generations. The opening chapters are a little slow and clunky with exposition, but the story itself is incredibly absorbing.
I’m reluctant to say that the novel is ‘thronging’ with wonderful characters; there is a disparity between some of the best side characters and the entirely uninspiring female protagonists who lack complexity. (Give me one character trait for Libby, I dare you.) Whilst Rodri is rather dreamy in his hands-on fathering (I’ve just read that back and it sounds really wrong – to his sons I meant) and his fierce dedication to the endearingly unconventional community, the romance is rather lukewarm; it’s also a very gendered dynamic that made me a little uncomfortable at times.
Immersive and engrossing, but I think most of my enjoyment can be attributed to my love of Scotland.
March 25, 2020
I saw this book through to the end because I was reading it for a book club meeting - in the end, it was cancelled (the book club, not the book).
The book is told in three different timelines (one ancient, one Victorian, one modern day) and attempts to show the thread of history linked to one wild, emotive setting on the west coast of Scotland: Ullaness. The legend of Ulla and her ness (headland) springs from events in the time of Viking raids in Scotland and Ireland and is passed down, more or less faithfully through the generations. It survives the embellishments of the Victorian era and echoes through to the present day.
Throughout time, elements of the legend are repeated - relived. There is a recurring theme of warring brothers, wronged women, children fathered by an absent parent and various complex love interests.
In summary: the setting is evocative - there are some good points made about legends - I'm sure the archaeological detail is accurate - and yet the book didn't touch me - it left me cold.
Maybe there's just not enough of the Romantic in me?
(Now where's my copy of 'It'?)
The book is told in three different timelines (one ancient, one Victorian, one modern day) and attempts to show the thread of history linked to one wild, emotive setting on the west coast of Scotland: Ullaness. The legend of Ulla and her ness (headland) springs from events in the time of Viking raids in Scotland and Ireland and is passed down, more or less faithfully through the generations. It survives the embellishments of the Victorian era and echoes through to the present day.
Throughout time, elements of the legend are repeated - relived. There is a recurring theme of warring brothers, wronged women, children fathered by an absent parent and various complex love interests.
In summary: the setting is evocative - there are some good points made about legends - I'm sure the archaeological detail is accurate - and yet the book didn't touch me - it left me cold.
Maybe there's just not enough of the Romantic in me?
(Now where's my copy of 'It'?)
April 13, 2019
enjoyed this novel which was split into 3 parts based in western Scotland and all the 3 parts are interlinked and at the end you see how all the parts fit together
August 14, 2018
This book has 3 big POVS, even if Libby is the main one.
Libby comes to Scotland for a dig. But her great grandmother was from there and she knows the legend they are to uncover.
Then there is Ellen in 1890, a servant at the big house. She loves the old legend. And the question is, why did she leave for Canada? What happened back the? Ellen had her head in the clouds. I get that she was pretty, but everyone sure went crazy for her. Also, she was not alone with her POV, the priest Oliver has a POV here too.
Which brings us to Ulla, who comes with her dying lover to this part of Scotland that will have her name. Fleeing from her husband and meeting a monk, but, it was not Ulla who had this POV. It was Oran the monk who was fine living there as a hermit before vikings comes and mess things up. Oran was so! Well you can imagine, but he was a man of his time. I did wonder about Ulla and her thoughts, but we never got those. Oh and how on earth could they speak with each other?
A dig. And uncovering what happened to her ancestor. Libby has a lot before her. And she also becomes embroiled with those who own the land. Oh he was hard to get to know, but I liked him. You will see.
A lovely book set in different times and connected to each other. In more than one way.
Narrator Ruth Urqhart
I really like her voice and she was perfect for this.
Libby comes to Scotland for a dig. But her great grandmother was from there and she knows the legend they are to uncover.
Then there is Ellen in 1890, a servant at the big house. She loves the old legend. And the question is, why did she leave for Canada? What happened back the? Ellen had her head in the clouds. I get that she was pretty, but everyone sure went crazy for her. Also, she was not alone with her POV, the priest Oliver has a POV here too.
Which brings us to Ulla, who comes with her dying lover to this part of Scotland that will have her name. Fleeing from her husband and meeting a monk, but, it was not Ulla who had this POV. It was Oran the monk who was fine living there as a hermit before vikings comes and mess things up. Oran was so! Well you can imagine, but he was a man of his time. I did wonder about Ulla and her thoughts, but we never got those. Oh and how on earth could they speak with each other?
A dig. And uncovering what happened to her ancestor. Libby has a lot before her. And she also becomes embroiled with those who own the land. Oh he was hard to get to know, but I liked him. You will see.
A lovely book set in different times and connected to each other. In more than one way.
Narrator Ruth Urqhart
I really like her voice and she was perfect for this.
August 19, 2018
I enjoyed this tale set on Scotland's western coast. Not a mystery in the traditional whodunit sense, but a story of family history, legends, and lore. Viewpoints include Libby, an archeologist seeking answers to a long-lost family secret, and an ancestor who once lived on the estate Libby is now studying. The author creates a wonderful sense of place. All in all an enjoyable read.
October 20, 2018
Sarah Maine weaves not one, not two, but three timelines together in this novel set in Scotland. Highly enjoyable, with interesting characters and an intriguing premise.
October 12, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up
This historical novel kept me entranced the entire time I was reading it. “Women of the Dunes” encompassed many of the factors I prefer in a novel. An atmospheric setting, on the coast of the west of Scotland; more than one time-line to give a broader look at the story via different roles and perspectives; and an interesting plot which in this case encompassed Scottish legend, folklore, oral tradition, and holy relics – with a love story thrown in for good measure.
I appreciated the mentions of Libby’s ties to Newfoundland in the book and liked that it showcased the close ties the eastern Canadian provinces have to Scotland.
I found this book to be an eminently readable amalgam of historical fiction and love story which retained a certain integrity to the past while not becoming sappy or unrealistic.
This is not my first read from this author, but it is certainly my favourite of hers so far. Recommended!
This historical novel kept me entranced the entire time I was reading it. “Women of the Dunes” encompassed many of the factors I prefer in a novel. An atmospheric setting, on the coast of the west of Scotland; more than one time-line to give a broader look at the story via different roles and perspectives; and an interesting plot which in this case encompassed Scottish legend, folklore, oral tradition, and holy relics – with a love story thrown in for good measure.
I appreciated the mentions of Libby’s ties to Newfoundland in the book and liked that it showcased the close ties the eastern Canadian provinces have to Scotland.
I found this book to be an eminently readable amalgam of historical fiction and love story which retained a certain integrity to the past while not becoming sappy or unrealistic.
This is not my first read from this author, but it is certainly my favourite of hers so far. Recommended!
July 27, 2020
I have been putting this review off for a long time but I can’t do it anymore. I just have to talk about this book because, to put it bluntly, it disappointed me so much. This will probably be very rambly and for that I‘m sorry, but I just have so many feelings right now and I’m struggling to put it into words. Without further ado, let’s chat about Women of the Dunes by Sarah Maine.
The Good
- The Themes: I think the themes Maine tries to tackle in this book are very interesting. She really dives deep into discussions of mythology, feminism, and what it means to be connected to a place—and I think she does all of this well. Each of the perspectives ties into these themes in a different way, which makes for a very satisfying reading experience. Each of the characters also has a unique relationship to the themes, which only further enhances these elements.
- The Writing: In addition to engaging themes, this book also has really solid writing. Its not particularly flowery or beautiful, but it does have some lovely lines sprinkled in for the particularly emotional/impactful moments. It also does a great job of capturing the story’s atmosphere and of bringing Ullaness to life. I could vividly picture myself right there on the Headlands, which goes to show you how well Maine writes scenery.
The Bad
- The Characters: I think a lot of my criticisms of this book are going to come down to “I didn’t care,” and this point is no exception. The characters in this book were either plain, boring, nice people or insane psychopaths with no sense of morality (more on this later). They were black and white, good and evil, with no variation or depth at all. They weren’t interesting or even likeable, and I had zero investment in their story. There’s not much I can say on this point other than this, they are just that boring!
- The Mystery: This book technically has four mysteries, and I kid you not when I say that all of them are dull and uninteresting. The main mystery had an incredibly obvious answer and I figured it out within the first 100 pages, which is never what you want to say about a mystery book. The other three mysteries felt like they were just there to pad out the page length, and I had no investment in seeing them resolved. The answers to these were either obvious or just outright told to the reader, with no hints provided to see if the reader could actually figure it out for themselves. None of them were engaging and I didn’t even care to find out the answers for myself because they utterly failed to grab my attention.
- The Melodrama: Now don’t get me wrong, I love melodrama, and I have loved many a melodramatic book. This, however, was not one of them. Women of the Dunes simply did not do a good job of balancing the melodramatic elements with the serious tone Maine had set up. This world is introduced to us in a very simple, grounded way. It is clearly telegraphing to us that this is meant to be a realistic story about realistic characters. However, as the book goes on you suddenly realize that everything that is happening is hilariously stupid. Everything from the way the characters are written to the actions they take are ludicrous and don’t in anyway match this grounded tone that Maine has set up. There is a literal scene where one of the characters is revealed to be a supervillain-level bad guy and then said character tries to clumsily murder three children on a boat in the middle of a major storm. I’m not kidding. That happens. And that is only one of the ridiculous things that happen in this story. Its so strange its almost surreal.
So as you can probably tell, I didn’t like this book. It is far from the worst thing I have ever read, but I feel comfortable saying that this was a frustrating book that I honestly wish I hadn’t bought at all. If you’ve read Maine’s other books maybe you will enjoy this, but as this was my first time reading her work I was rather unimpressed.
The Good
- The Themes: I think the themes Maine tries to tackle in this book are very interesting. She really dives deep into discussions of mythology, feminism, and what it means to be connected to a place—and I think she does all of this well. Each of the perspectives ties into these themes in a different way, which makes for a very satisfying reading experience. Each of the characters also has a unique relationship to the themes, which only further enhances these elements.
- The Writing: In addition to engaging themes, this book also has really solid writing. Its not particularly flowery or beautiful, but it does have some lovely lines sprinkled in for the particularly emotional/impactful moments. It also does a great job of capturing the story’s atmosphere and of bringing Ullaness to life. I could vividly picture myself right there on the Headlands, which goes to show you how well Maine writes scenery.
The Bad
- The Characters: I think a lot of my criticisms of this book are going to come down to “I didn’t care,” and this point is no exception. The characters in this book were either plain, boring, nice people or insane psychopaths with no sense of morality (more on this later). They were black and white, good and evil, with no variation or depth at all. They weren’t interesting or even likeable, and I had zero investment in their story. There’s not much I can say on this point other than this, they are just that boring!
- The Mystery: This book technically has four mysteries, and I kid you not when I say that all of them are dull and uninteresting. The main mystery had an incredibly obvious answer and I figured it out within the first 100 pages, which is never what you want to say about a mystery book. The other three mysteries felt like they were just there to pad out the page length, and I had no investment in seeing them resolved. The answers to these were either obvious or just outright told to the reader, with no hints provided to see if the reader could actually figure it out for themselves. None of them were engaging and I didn’t even care to find out the answers for myself because they utterly failed to grab my attention.
- The Melodrama: Now don’t get me wrong, I love melodrama, and I have loved many a melodramatic book. This, however, was not one of them. Women of the Dunes simply did not do a good job of balancing the melodramatic elements with the serious tone Maine had set up. This world is introduced to us in a very simple, grounded way. It is clearly telegraphing to us that this is meant to be a realistic story about realistic characters. However, as the book goes on you suddenly realize that everything that is happening is hilariously stupid. Everything from the way the characters are written to the actions they take are ludicrous and don’t in anyway match this grounded tone that Maine has set up. There is a literal scene where one of the characters is revealed to be a supervillain-level bad guy and then said character tries to clumsily murder three children on a boat in the middle of a major storm. I’m not kidding. That happens. And that is only one of the ridiculous things that happen in this story. Its so strange its almost surreal.
So as you can probably tell, I didn’t like this book. It is far from the worst thing I have ever read, but I feel comfortable saying that this was a frustrating book that I honestly wish I hadn’t bought at all. If you’ve read Maine’s other books maybe you will enjoy this, but as this was my first time reading her work I was rather unimpressed.
August 25, 2018
Legends are just that - legends. As the stories are passed down from generation to generation, pieces of the stories get lost, but other stories are added in. But what if some of the family legends had more truth than originally thought?
Libby was drawn to the area where the legend started. With an archaeological dig planned there for the summer, she is excited to get started and uncover more about the stories that Ellen used to share. As her Nan shared the stories from Ellen, Libby was drawn in as a kid. But there are some surprises that are still waiting to be discovered.
Rodri is managing the estate for his brother, the current baronet. Yet there are things on his end that still shrouded in mystery. His brother has been absent for many years, and his wife, the Lady Sturrock is obsessed with wealth and material items. She is trying to sell off the estate a piece at a time, while Rodri tries to keep it intact.
What starts as an innocent encounter, quickly turns into much more. A body is revealed, but one that is much later than the time period Libby is studying, and yet, there is so much more than archaeology drawing her time and time again to the house...
The Women Of The Dunes drew me in from the beginning. Ulla, Ellen, and Libby all draw together to bring this story that spans centuries to a thrilling and exciting conclusion.
I honestly LOVED this book. I started and finished in one sitting. I could NOT put it down! Perfect for a weekend read!
Libby was drawn to the area where the legend started. With an archaeological dig planned there for the summer, she is excited to get started and uncover more about the stories that Ellen used to share. As her Nan shared the stories from Ellen, Libby was drawn in as a kid. But there are some surprises that are still waiting to be discovered.
Rodri is managing the estate for his brother, the current baronet. Yet there are things on his end that still shrouded in mystery. His brother has been absent for many years, and his wife, the Lady Sturrock is obsessed with wealth and material items. She is trying to sell off the estate a piece at a time, while Rodri tries to keep it intact.
What starts as an innocent encounter, quickly turns into much more. A body is revealed, but one that is much later than the time period Libby is studying, and yet, there is so much more than archaeology drawing her time and time again to the house...
The Women Of The Dunes drew me in from the beginning. Ulla, Ellen, and Libby all draw together to bring this story that spans centuries to a thrilling and exciting conclusion.
I honestly LOVED this book. I started and finished in one sitting. I could NOT put it down! Perfect for a weekend read!
August 14, 2018
It's been nearly two weeks now that I finished this and it is interesting what time does to your opinion of the book. I can say that I did enjoy reading it because after all I stayed up until 2 am to finish this, but there was just one storyline too many. A Viking one, one set in Victorian time, one in present day. As much as I adore dual timeline narratives, I don't think triple timeline is really working for me, and it was the present day timeline that I was mainly interested in and that kept me reading. I also was hard pressed to accept the tenuous link between the timelines at times. Still: I liked it. Not as much as House Between Tides, but there is no doubt, that I will keep picking up Sarah Maine's books.
July 18, 2018
Well, I was quite curious about this one. Love the name and the cover.
It's a bit slowed pace for me,but I enjoyed reading it.
It's narrated through 3 different times. But I didn't really understand why sometimes in same chapter it showed to times. I didn't fell right, I read 2 similar books in terms of construction this year and I kind of compared them unconsciously I suppose.
It's a mystery.
You don't understand if there's a slow burn romance going on or just some complicity happening. It's strange.
Sure, it is a historical novel, with what seems to be a repeating pattern.
To me it was okay, although it has potential.
It's a bit slowed pace for me,but I enjoyed reading it.
It's narrated through 3 different times. But I didn't really understand why sometimes in same chapter it showed to times. I didn't fell right, I read 2 similar books in terms of construction this year and I kind of compared them unconsciously I suppose.
It's a mystery.
You don't understand if there's a slow burn romance going on or just some complicity happening. It's strange.
Sure, it is a historical novel, with what seems to be a repeating pattern.
To me it was okay, although it has potential.
August 13, 2018
3.5 stars
February 10, 2020
Written well but fairly predictable
August 8, 2022
I rather enjoyed this one, I must look out for more of Maine's books.
It's a kind of gentle, rolling historical/contemporary tale, seeing the same things repeat over different periods of history and how they play out in different ways. There's feuding brothers falling out over a woman, sometimes getting killed, sometimes not; dying women, pregnancies of questioned paternity, holy men getting muddled up in the mix and all that jazz. There's nothing here that isn't what you would expect, but really, it's often not the destination but how you get there that matters.
It's set in modern times at Ullaness, which I'm assuming is an imaginary place on the West Coast of Scotland. Libby Snow is a Canadian with secret ancestral roots to the place, and gets herself hired on an archaeological project for the summer at the site. There's a burial site, ruined church and so forth, along with local legends from back in the time of the Vikings, about a hermit monk and a Viking woman, Ulla, who ends up living with him. Libby turns up early in spring to have a look about and happens to spot a foot sticking out of the burial mound they're intending to excavate. Except this foot is a wee bit fresher.
So randomly she's asked to excavate the potential murder victim, and to be honest I think I've been reading too much Sue Black recently because my eyebrows were raised throughout that section - they're doing what now? Assuming what? My God, how amateur. Obviously I am now the expert, ha ha.
Libby's own great x2 granny, Ellen came from the village, but ran away to Canada. So as well as Ulla's story in the past, we also get Ellen's, and find out her history. And then of course there's the laird's mansion and estate, the Sturrocks, with younger son Rhodri minding the place whilst older son Hector hangs out in Norway and isn't interested. And Hector's evil wife, Laila, from Norway. Oh, I suppose you have to have a villain. I can't say I found the Rhodri-Libby thing massively convincing, but hey ho, everyone's a cynic.
Nice little read, decently written.
It's a kind of gentle, rolling historical/contemporary tale, seeing the same things repeat over different periods of history and how they play out in different ways. There's feuding brothers falling out over a woman, sometimes getting killed, sometimes not; dying women, pregnancies of questioned paternity, holy men getting muddled up in the mix and all that jazz. There's nothing here that isn't what you would expect, but really, it's often not the destination but how you get there that matters.
It's set in modern times at Ullaness, which I'm assuming is an imaginary place on the West Coast of Scotland. Libby Snow is a Canadian with secret ancestral roots to the place, and gets herself hired on an archaeological project for the summer at the site. There's a burial site, ruined church and so forth, along with local legends from back in the time of the Vikings, about a hermit monk and a Viking woman, Ulla, who ends up living with him. Libby turns up early in spring to have a look about and happens to spot a foot sticking out of the burial mound they're intending to excavate. Except this foot is a wee bit fresher.
So randomly she's asked to excavate the potential murder victim, and to be honest I think I've been reading too much Sue Black recently because my eyebrows were raised throughout that section - they're doing what now? Assuming what? My God, how amateur. Obviously I am now the expert, ha ha.
Libby's own great x2 granny, Ellen came from the village, but ran away to Canada. So as well as Ulla's story in the past, we also get Ellen's, and find out her history. And then of course there's the laird's mansion and estate, the Sturrocks, with younger son Rhodri minding the place whilst older son Hector hangs out in Norway and isn't interested. And Hector's evil wife, Laila, from Norway. Oh, I suppose you have to have a villain. I can't say I found the Rhodri-Libby thing massively convincing, but hey ho, everyone's a cynic.
Nice little read, decently written.
June 30, 2018
I wish I had read this about a month earlier during the time I was visiting Scotland because it would have made a wonderful story even better! Sarah Maine has written an engrossing tale of an old Scottish myth, complete with a dig for buried treasure, a budding romance, murder and mystery.
The story centers around Libby Snow, a young archaeologist who becomes involved in an excavation on a Scottish island that also has a connection to her own family history.
The story is told in the form of three different time periods, slowly weaving the ancient legend together and revealing the truth about the past.
I looked forward to reading this each day and it is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. It had everything to offer that I love about historical fiction. Mystery and history lovers will enjoy this as well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.
The story centers around Libby Snow, a young archaeologist who becomes involved in an excavation on a Scottish island that also has a connection to her own family history.
The story is told in the form of three different time periods, slowly weaving the ancient legend together and revealing the truth about the past.
I looked forward to reading this each day and it is definitely one of my favorite reads this year. It had everything to offer that I love about historical fiction. Mystery and history lovers will enjoy this as well.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews