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Ironbridge #1
The Daughters of Ironbridge
Perfect for fans of Maggie Hope and Katie Flynn - the first in a heartwarming new series set against an ironworks in 1830s Shropshire, by debut saga author Mollie Walton.
Anny Woodvine's family has worked at the ironworks for as long as she can remember. The brightest child in her road and the first in her family to learn to read, Anny has big dreams. So, when she is asked to run messages for the King family, she grabs the opportunity with both hands.
Margaret King is surrounded by privilege and wealth. But behind closed doors, nothing is what it seems. When Anny arrives, Margaret finds her first ally and friend. Together they plan to change their lives.
But as disaster looms over the ironworks, Margaret and Anny find themselves surrounded by secrets and betrayal. Can they hold true to each other and overcome their fate? Or are they destined to repeat the mistakes of the past?
'The Daughters of Ironbridge has that compulsive, page-turning quality, irresistible characters the reader gets hugely invested in, and Walton has created a brilliantly alive, vivid and breathing world in Ironbridge' - Louisa Treger
Anny Woodvine's family has worked at the ironworks for as long as she can remember. The brightest child in her road and the first in her family to learn to read, Anny has big dreams. So, when she is asked to run messages for the King family, she grabs the opportunity with both hands.
Margaret King is surrounded by privilege and wealth. But behind closed doors, nothing is what it seems. When Anny arrives, Margaret finds her first ally and friend. Together they plan to change their lives.
But as disaster looms over the ironworks, Margaret and Anny find themselves surrounded by secrets and betrayal. Can they hold true to each other and overcome their fate? Or are they destined to repeat the mistakes of the past?
'The Daughters of Ironbridge has that compulsive, page-turning quality, irresistible characters the reader gets hugely invested in, and Walton has created a brilliantly alive, vivid and breathing world in Ironbridge' - Louisa Treger
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 18, 2019
78 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
September 13, 2023
Anny Woodvine is far from well off financially. Her father works at the mine as his ancestors have before him .Though times are hard, her home is filled with love and laughter. Her mother has taught Anny to read and write, in the hope she is able to use such skills to better her life. When asked to run messages for the King family Anny is happy to do so. She meets Margaret King. The Kings own the ironworks. Margaret is Ralph King’s daughter. In a roundabout way, unbeknown to their parents, Anny and Margaret become friends as children. They meet and write to each other secretly.
They both plan to change their lives. But life doesn’t always happen the way people would like. As they grow older that friendship is threatened. Life has dark days ahead. Will their friendship be able to survive? Or will Margaret revert to the King family pattern?
The friendship between girls Anny and Margaret, to whom Anny gives the nickname Peggy, is a joy to read. But then life gets hard and the story turns very dark. There are some good people and others who are completely evil. And there are those caught in the middle between family and responsibility and their own survival. The story deals with some sensitive issues, regarding abuse, the treatment and lack of rights of women as well as class differences.
I enjoyed this though not as much as I had hoped. I just found it all a bit hard going towards the end. Not sure I was invested enough to want to read more if this is part of a series, which it appears to be. Could be it was just the wrong book for me in my current frame of mind. Think I need something lighter to lift the spirits.
They both plan to change their lives. But life doesn’t always happen the way people would like. As they grow older that friendship is threatened. Life has dark days ahead. Will their friendship be able to survive? Or will Margaret revert to the King family pattern?
The friendship between girls Anny and Margaret, to whom Anny gives the nickname Peggy, is a joy to read. But then life gets hard and the story turns very dark. There are some good people and others who are completely evil. And there are those caught in the middle between family and responsibility and their own survival. The story deals with some sensitive issues, regarding abuse, the treatment and lack of rights of women as well as class differences.
I enjoyed this though not as much as I had hoped. I just found it all a bit hard going towards the end. Not sure I was invested enough to want to read more if this is part of a series, which it appears to be. Could be it was just the wrong book for me in my current frame of mind. Think I need something lighter to lift the spirits.
October 17, 2019
A great read and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy. The ending of this kind of leaves you hanging and makes you wonder what's going to happen next. Quite intriguing.
May 24, 2019
I love this author's historical writing as Rebecca Mascull so I am excited to see her take on sagas.
Review to come.
Review to come.
March 14, 2019
A great book of the class divide and those caught in the middle,i have loved reading of Margaret(peggy) and Anny's friendship.Margaret's brother Cyril is mean boy with a nasty streak and he shows it to those he considers beneath him.I can highly recommend this book and look forward to the next.Well done to the Author 5*
June 2, 2019
This book appealed to me because I’ve visited Ironbridge and could well imagine the scenery and of course the famous iron bridge. The two young women concerned are from different sections of society, Anny Woodvine, the daughter of a working man, Margaret King, the timid daughter of the owner of the iron works. The two form an unlikely friendship which is pivotal to the story. When Anny rejects the attention of a Margaret’s bullying brother, she is wrongly accused of theft and ends up in prison. Margaret meanwhile has attracted the attention of an artist of dubious talent with whom Anny believes herself in love with. Although the book ends on a note of conflict, I suspect what happens next will be the subject of Molly Walton’s next book. With a somewhat different setting for a saga novel, I found this novel absorbing and look forward to the next instalment.
September 14, 2020
★★★★ 4.5 stars
There's nothing I like more than a sweeping historical saga to lose myself in away from the chaos of the world today. It also bears thinking about that if we think WE have problems, then to step back in time to how things were 100 or 200 years ago...when the classes were divided and life was harsh for the working class. And how much harder it was to cross that divide and marry between classes than it is today. Back then, life was black and white and it was harsh.
THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE by Mollie Walton, also known as Rebecca Mascull, is an engaging tale of that class divide and all those caught in the middle, highlighting the contrast between the have and the have nots in mid-19th century Shropshire.
Shropshire, 1830s: A young woman poses a sad and lonely figure as she crosses the iron bridge looming above the village of Ironbridge. Clutched to her breast is a tiny baby, barely days old. She is hungry and tired, her milk long since dried up, leaving her baby starving. In her weakened state she can barely stand...and then a figure of a man appears before her asking if he could be of assistance. She holds out her baby and pleads with him to take her as she is so tired. As soon as the man had hold of the child, the woman collapses in a heap comforted in the knowledge that her baby is safe.
1834: Twelve year old Anny Woodvine assists her mother in taking in washing to help with the family finances. Anny is a bright young girl, her mother having taught her to read and write when she was young, something that is often remiss in the lower classes as they have no need for reading and writing for hard labouring work. But Rachel, Anny's mother, always wanted something more for her daughter and teaching her to read and write would give her far more opportunities than going into service or becoming a washerwoman.
So it brings her family great pleasure when Anny's abilities are recognised by Mr Brotherton, the estate manager for the King family who own the iron works in which Anny's father works, and he offers her a job. Anny is thrilled at the prospects that are now afforded her. Working as a clerical assistant for the Kings will give her the experience for even greater things that will see her move beyond working class village life. And it is while walking through the woods on her way home one afternoon that she meets Margaret King.
The same age as Anny, Margaret King is the only daughter and youngest child of the King family. She spends her life reading her copious amounts of books or wandering the grounds of her family's large estate. But she is bored and incredibly lonely. Her father hates her, blaming her for her mother's demise whilst giving birth to her, her brother Cyril is cruel and violent towards her and unless she is doing something to draw attention to herself, Margaret is largely invisible. Only with her grandmother Queenie does she feel slightly more at ease. Life as a King is not what one deems it to be, for Margaret has no friends and is incredibly lonely.
So when she happens across young Anny one day, the two become firm friends and proof that friendship can bridge the great divide between the classes. Or can it?
Margaret's 15 year old brother Cyril is a horrid and vile young man, who takes pleasure in kicking dogs and forcing himself on the pretty young maids in the family's employ, just like his grandfather before him. But when he sees Anny in the estate office, he discovers a new objective - to make Anny Woodvine his. Not just to bed her, but to marry her. Anny, however, has seen Cyril in action with the maids and his behaviour repulses her. So when he corners her in the woods one day returning home, he declares his devotion to her and proposes marriage. Anny is repulsed by the idea of marriage to such a brute and tells him so, standing her ground when he tries to force her. But Cyril will not be refused and so he plans to take his revenge on Anny...for she will pay for humiliating him.
When artist Jake Ashford arrives in Ironbridge to sketch the iron works and its surrounds, he captures the eye of both Anny and Margaret. Both girls are enamoured with him, but which girl will win his heart?
I thoroughly enjoyed THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE and the sweeping tale of struggles and conflicts between and within the classes. We not only have one leading character but two in Anny and Margaret, whom Anny nicknames Peggy. Both girls are different yet alike in many ways bringing a vibrancy to the story that make both extremely likable. But I have to say I leaned a little more towards Anny, though I did sympathise greatly with Margaret living an empty life at Southover. However, it was Anny with whom I identified mostly with in her struggles and her ability to rise above her station to try and make a better life for herself. But the fact that Margaret came from money and privilege did not automatically make her happy and fulfilled...because she most certainly wasn't. Her story alone shows that while money may bring comfort it doesn't always bring happiness, as she was to find out.
THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE is the first in a new historical saga that is both absorbing and fascinating, rich in historical detail bringing the industrial age to life in the village of Ironbridge. The author has painted a compelling picture of the setting and the characters with the divide between the rich and the poor clearly defined. The characters are well developed, well represented and believable in both classes. While Anny and Margaret are the star attractions, the secondary characters are just as wonderful too. From the wholesome John Woodvine to the evil Cyril King, each character is well developed. But of course, I especially liked Queenie, the matriarch of the King family. She has secrets and there is a mystery about her, believing she sees the ghost of a former maid who was raped and impregnated by her husband...lending something to the whispered story of "the baby on the bridge".
A wonderful journey back in time to the early Victorian era and the industrial age of 1830s Shropshire, THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE takes you on a gentle stroll through the beautiful scenery and into the depth of the story. And when you reach the end, you just want to dive straight into the second book "The Secrets of Ironbridge" so you don't have to leave the story behind, which is exactly what I did. With all the complexities surrounding them, the story of Anny and Peggy is simple and is one that will bring tragedy, heartache, love and friendship.
Perfectly detailed, THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE is filled with love, hatred, friendship, secrets, deception, duplicity, betrayal, heartache...everything one could expect from a well written historical tale.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical sagas. For fans of Dilly Court, Catherine Cookson and Lindsey Hutchinson.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
There's nothing I like more than a sweeping historical saga to lose myself in away from the chaos of the world today. It also bears thinking about that if we think WE have problems, then to step back in time to how things were 100 or 200 years ago...when the classes were divided and life was harsh for the working class. And how much harder it was to cross that divide and marry between classes than it is today. Back then, life was black and white and it was harsh.
THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE by Mollie Walton, also known as Rebecca Mascull, is an engaging tale of that class divide and all those caught in the middle, highlighting the contrast between the have and the have nots in mid-19th century Shropshire.
Shropshire, 1830s: A young woman poses a sad and lonely figure as she crosses the iron bridge looming above the village of Ironbridge. Clutched to her breast is a tiny baby, barely days old. She is hungry and tired, her milk long since dried up, leaving her baby starving. In her weakened state she can barely stand...and then a figure of a man appears before her asking if he could be of assistance. She holds out her baby and pleads with him to take her as she is so tired. As soon as the man had hold of the child, the woman collapses in a heap comforted in the knowledge that her baby is safe.
1834: Twelve year old Anny Woodvine assists her mother in taking in washing to help with the family finances. Anny is a bright young girl, her mother having taught her to read and write when she was young, something that is often remiss in the lower classes as they have no need for reading and writing for hard labouring work. But Rachel, Anny's mother, always wanted something more for her daughter and teaching her to read and write would give her far more opportunities than going into service or becoming a washerwoman.
So it brings her family great pleasure when Anny's abilities are recognised by Mr Brotherton, the estate manager for the King family who own the iron works in which Anny's father works, and he offers her a job. Anny is thrilled at the prospects that are now afforded her. Working as a clerical assistant for the Kings will give her the experience for even greater things that will see her move beyond working class village life. And it is while walking through the woods on her way home one afternoon that she meets Margaret King.
The same age as Anny, Margaret King is the only daughter and youngest child of the King family. She spends her life reading her copious amounts of books or wandering the grounds of her family's large estate. But she is bored and incredibly lonely. Her father hates her, blaming her for her mother's demise whilst giving birth to her, her brother Cyril is cruel and violent towards her and unless she is doing something to draw attention to herself, Margaret is largely invisible. Only with her grandmother Queenie does she feel slightly more at ease. Life as a King is not what one deems it to be, for Margaret has no friends and is incredibly lonely.
So when she happens across young Anny one day, the two become firm friends and proof that friendship can bridge the great divide between the classes. Or can it?
Margaret's 15 year old brother Cyril is a horrid and vile young man, who takes pleasure in kicking dogs and forcing himself on the pretty young maids in the family's employ, just like his grandfather before him. But when he sees Anny in the estate office, he discovers a new objective - to make Anny Woodvine his. Not just to bed her, but to marry her. Anny, however, has seen Cyril in action with the maids and his behaviour repulses her. So when he corners her in the woods one day returning home, he declares his devotion to her and proposes marriage. Anny is repulsed by the idea of marriage to such a brute and tells him so, standing her ground when he tries to force her. But Cyril will not be refused and so he plans to take his revenge on Anny...for she will pay for humiliating him.
When artist Jake Ashford arrives in Ironbridge to sketch the iron works and its surrounds, he captures the eye of both Anny and Margaret. Both girls are enamoured with him, but which girl will win his heart?
I thoroughly enjoyed THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE and the sweeping tale of struggles and conflicts between and within the classes. We not only have one leading character but two in Anny and Margaret, whom Anny nicknames Peggy. Both girls are different yet alike in many ways bringing a vibrancy to the story that make both extremely likable. But I have to say I leaned a little more towards Anny, though I did sympathise greatly with Margaret living an empty life at Southover. However, it was Anny with whom I identified mostly with in her struggles and her ability to rise above her station to try and make a better life for herself. But the fact that Margaret came from money and privilege did not automatically make her happy and fulfilled...because she most certainly wasn't. Her story alone shows that while money may bring comfort it doesn't always bring happiness, as she was to find out.
THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE is the first in a new historical saga that is both absorbing and fascinating, rich in historical detail bringing the industrial age to life in the village of Ironbridge. The author has painted a compelling picture of the setting and the characters with the divide between the rich and the poor clearly defined. The characters are well developed, well represented and believable in both classes. While Anny and Margaret are the star attractions, the secondary characters are just as wonderful too. From the wholesome John Woodvine to the evil Cyril King, each character is well developed. But of course, I especially liked Queenie, the matriarch of the King family. She has secrets and there is a mystery about her, believing she sees the ghost of a former maid who was raped and impregnated by her husband...lending something to the whispered story of "the baby on the bridge".
A wonderful journey back in time to the early Victorian era and the industrial age of 1830s Shropshire, THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE takes you on a gentle stroll through the beautiful scenery and into the depth of the story. And when you reach the end, you just want to dive straight into the second book "The Secrets of Ironbridge" so you don't have to leave the story behind, which is exactly what I did. With all the complexities surrounding them, the story of Anny and Peggy is simple and is one that will bring tragedy, heartache, love and friendship.
Perfectly detailed, THE DAUGHTERS OF IRONBRIDGE is filled with love, hatred, friendship, secrets, deception, duplicity, betrayal, heartache...everything one could expect from a well written historical tale.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical sagas. For fans of Dilly Court, Catherine Cookson and Lindsey Hutchinson.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 24, 2019
This first in a new historical fiction series is a total winner! Highly absorbing, it contrasts the haves and have nots in 1830s Shropshire, England through the story of Anny — bright and spirited but from a poor family that has toiled in the ironworks forever — and unlikely friend Margaret, living a privileged life as a member of the wealthy King family.
Secrets fester, as they often do in rich households, and tragedy explodes in the ironworks. Will the girls be able to hold firm to their friendship and reach the dreams for which they desperately long? Readers will be pulled addictively through to the last page of this vivid novel that transports them fully to the 19th century and leaves them breathless ‘til the next installment. 5 of 5 Enthusiastic Stars!
I thank the author for a review copy of this compelling series starter published April 18, 2019. Opinions are all mine.
Secrets fester, as they often do in rich households, and tragedy explodes in the ironworks. Will the girls be able to hold firm to their friendship and reach the dreams for which they desperately long? Readers will be pulled addictively through to the last page of this vivid novel that transports them fully to the 19th century and leaves them breathless ‘til the next installment. 5 of 5 Enthusiastic Stars!
I thank the author for a review copy of this compelling series starter published April 18, 2019. Opinions are all mine.
April 28, 2019
Fantastic
The book is set in ironbridge and coalbrookdale Shropshire on the river severn. John woodvine his wife Rachel and daughter anny, John works 12hour shifts at the furnace in the ironworks. Margaret King is completely different her father Ralph is holding forth at the ironworks after the death of her grandfather, Cyril her brother is his fathers little prince. He has no time for Margaret and neither does her stepmother. Both anny and peggy from completely different backgrounds form a friendship. Jake Ashford an artist turn both the girls eye's. I loved reading all about the ironbridge industry fascination details are in this book from the author. This book as you read is Heartbreaking in places and both families are hit hard involving trauma and secrets. I just couldn't put it down. And was sorry to read the end.
The book is set in ironbridge and coalbrookdale Shropshire on the river severn. John woodvine his wife Rachel and daughter anny, John works 12hour shifts at the furnace in the ironworks. Margaret King is completely different her father Ralph is holding forth at the ironworks after the death of her grandfather, Cyril her brother is his fathers little prince. He has no time for Margaret and neither does her stepmother. Both anny and peggy from completely different backgrounds form a friendship. Jake Ashford an artist turn both the girls eye's. I loved reading all about the ironbridge industry fascination details are in this book from the author. This book as you read is Heartbreaking in places and both families are hit hard involving trauma and secrets. I just couldn't put it down. And was sorry to read the end.
April 18, 2019
visit the locations in the novel
A lovely start to what I’m sure is going to be an interesting saga. This is the first book of a trilogy and I love books which look deep into the heritage and culture of a place. Here, a place on the map, Ironbridge gets a nice mention and its history and heritage jump from the page. It’s not somewhere I’d heard off much so to get a book set in the heart of its history was a real thrill.
I do love these saga novels. Sometimes they get a bad rep as books for older readers, and the covers aren’t always great, but the contents are really quite something. Fascinating stories and the history of people and places, working class people with real issues and struggles. Brilliantly written too in this case. Easy to read and fascinating with it.
You can tell the author has taken great pains to get the history right. She does mention a few museums in the credits which are on TheBookTrail map, but it’s the people behind them, the character of the working iron factory etc, the daily noise and smells that really where this novel shines. Each characters is as carefully modelled as that iron – no set moulds but people with real flaws and real lives. Amy in particular was a favourite of mine – she might not have had the best start in life, but she saw her future as improving herself rather than completely escaping her past.
The industry and life depicted in the novel is one I knew little about but I feel that I’ve stepped back in time and got a real sense of that time period and got to understand people then and their motivations. In keeping with the time and setting, I would say that this is a meat and two veg kind of novel – lots to chew over but ultimately satisfying. Can’t wait for the next course!
August 25, 2019
I absolutely loved the first instalment of a new saga trilogy. The story had me gripped from the very first page. I have visited Ironbridge a few times and have a family connection to Shropshire, so I easily visualized each scene and appreciated the characters use of language. The simple story of Anny and Margaret's extraordinary friendship is only a small part of this tale, it bursts of secrets, lies and mystery, of harsh realities and historic details. Can't wait to read the next book.
May 7, 2019
It has been a while since I read a family saga, but I had heard quite a lot about “The Daughters of Ironbridge” while it was in the pre-publication phase. It piqued my interest, so I decided to buy a copy soon after the publication date. I was not disappointed!
“The Daughters of Ironbridge” by Mollie Walton is set in Shropshire in the 1830s and as the title implies, much of the story takes place in and around the ironworks at Ironbridge. Early in the novel, we are introduced to the two families who provide the backbone of the plot. They are the hardworking Woodvines and the wealthy King family. It is immediately obvious that the Woodvines are a loving family – John works in the ironworks; his wife, Rachel, takes in washing to help with finances and young Anny helps her mother. She is a bright girl of twelve, taught by her mother to read and write.
Margaret King is the same age as Anny, but her circumstances are very different. Her family owns the ironworks and lead a privileged life. However, in many ways Margaret is not as fortunate as Anny – she feels unloved and unwanted. Her mother died giving birth to her; her father dislikes her; her brother, Cyril, is actively cruel towards her. She feels slightly more at ease with her grandmother, Queenie, but finds it difficult to talk to anyone and has no friends.
When Anny’s abilities are recognised by the King’s estate manager, Mr. Brotherton, she is given a job in the estate office and it is shortly after this that she meets Margaret King. They are drawn to each other and agree to meet in secret. Their unlikely friendship grows and seems to be very strong. However, as the story of these families unfolds, events try their friendship to the limit. Will it survive, I wonder?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like Mollie Walton’s writing style; she has painted very clear pictures in my mind of the setting and the characters. The divide between the rich and poor is defined well, clearly showing the struggles and conflicts within and between the classes. The characters are well rounded and believable; I care about what happens to them and sincerely hope that the male members of the King family receive all they deserve! I also liked the fact that this novel was well researched. History was a subject that I taught, so historical novels and sagas need authenticity as far as I’m concerned.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys family sagas. Everything is contained within: love, hatred, friendship, tragedy, duplicity…… I’m looking forward to reading the next in this trilogy!
“The Daughters of Ironbridge” by Mollie Walton is set in Shropshire in the 1830s and as the title implies, much of the story takes place in and around the ironworks at Ironbridge. Early in the novel, we are introduced to the two families who provide the backbone of the plot. They are the hardworking Woodvines and the wealthy King family. It is immediately obvious that the Woodvines are a loving family – John works in the ironworks; his wife, Rachel, takes in washing to help with finances and young Anny helps her mother. She is a bright girl of twelve, taught by her mother to read and write.
Margaret King is the same age as Anny, but her circumstances are very different. Her family owns the ironworks and lead a privileged life. However, in many ways Margaret is not as fortunate as Anny – she feels unloved and unwanted. Her mother died giving birth to her; her father dislikes her; her brother, Cyril, is actively cruel towards her. She feels slightly more at ease with her grandmother, Queenie, but finds it difficult to talk to anyone and has no friends.
When Anny’s abilities are recognised by the King’s estate manager, Mr. Brotherton, she is given a job in the estate office and it is shortly after this that she meets Margaret King. They are drawn to each other and agree to meet in secret. Their unlikely friendship grows and seems to be very strong. However, as the story of these families unfolds, events try their friendship to the limit. Will it survive, I wonder?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I like Mollie Walton’s writing style; she has painted very clear pictures in my mind of the setting and the characters. The divide between the rich and poor is defined well, clearly showing the struggles and conflicts within and between the classes. The characters are well rounded and believable; I care about what happens to them and sincerely hope that the male members of the King family receive all they deserve! I also liked the fact that this novel was well researched. History was a subject that I taught, so historical novels and sagas need authenticity as far as I’m concerned.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys family sagas. Everything is contained within: love, hatred, friendship, tragedy, duplicity…… I’m looking forward to reading the next in this trilogy!
March 24, 2019
The story was set in a time when there was a vast difference between the have's and the have not's. Anny came into the second category, her family struggled to make ends meet but Anny did have an advantage over the other children in the street as her mother had taught her to read and write. This led to a job at the big house working for the family who owned the ironworks and also to a secret friendship with the Margaret the daughter of the house. All seems to be going well but then the son of the house starts to take an interest in Anny and he always gets what he wants. I enjoyed reading how the story progressed and can highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this type of historical novel.
January 18, 2020
This is my first book by this author and will not be my last it is brilliant the characters are amazing and full of how different classes of people can be friends but sadly how they have to try and keep it a secret. Very compulsive and has you wondering what will happen till the very end and can they really be friends or not.
Anny family have worked for the ironworks for years but her family did teach her to read so she's the brightest child on the road and she is asked to run errands for the king family and she jumps at the change. Margaret king has always had wealth but when doors are closed life is so different for her and margaret and Anny become friends and cha they keep it a secret but what happens when something happens at the ironworks what will happen with Lao the secrets and sadly Anny ends up in prison and blames the king family especially when she is innocent and then while in she learns of disaster and her father passes away she blames the kings even more can they work there way through this or not.
Anny family have worked for the ironworks for years but her family did teach her to read so she's the brightest child on the road and she is asked to run errands for the king family and she jumps at the change. Margaret king has always had wealth but when doors are closed life is so different for her and margaret and Anny become friends and cha they keep it a secret but what happens when something happens at the ironworks what will happen with Lao the secrets and sadly Anny ends up in prison and blames the king family especially when she is innocent and then while in she learns of disaster and her father passes away she blames the kings even more can they work there way through this or not.
March 4, 2019
What a beautiful and memorable story. The totally different lives of the very poor and the very rich are portrayed exceptionally in this story.
But riches don't necessarily bring happiness. Honesty and hard work are the mainstay of the workers at the steel works owned by the King family from the big house.
But tragedy strikes.
I loved this story and would highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read it.
But riches don't necessarily bring happiness. Honesty and hard work are the mainstay of the workers at the steel works owned by the King family from the big house.
But tragedy strikes.
I loved this story and would highly recommend it.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read it.
April 28, 2019
In the Shropshire town of Ironbridge, two girls find that despite their very different upbringing they have a natural delight in each other's company. However society doesn't look too kindly on a girl from the big house and the daughter of the iron works owner, mixing with one of the girls from the poorer side of town whose father is one of the iron foundry workers.
Anny Woodvine is a canny lass, she's bright and intelligent and her ability to read and write takes her life in a different direction that that of her contemporaries.When she is asked to run errands for the ironwork's estate manager, Mr Brotherton, Anny is thrilled to have this special responsibility. However, her clandestine friendship with the more affluent, Margaret King, will lead Anny into danger.
The Daughters of Ironbridge is a lovely historical saga which is made all the more fascinating by having two delightful lead characters who add a vibrant energy to the story. The author brings to life the chasm of social differences and shows that whilst money brings comfort, it doesn't always bring happiness, and as Margaret finds out, to her cost family secrets, which run deep can have a devastating effect on the future.
This is the author's first foray into historical saga writing and in The Daughters of Ironbridge she has made a commendable start in a story which is filled with historical detail, bringing to life just what it was like to live and work in the industrial age, and whilst it was a time of great social changes, this novel shows, that the great divide between rich and poor was still very much alive. I especially loved getting to know Anny and Margaret who each bring something rather special to this lovely story.
I think this is the start of a trilogy, and the ending of the story certainly lends itself to a further continuation. I can't wait to see what happens next 😊
Anny Woodvine is a canny lass, she's bright and intelligent and her ability to read and write takes her life in a different direction that that of her contemporaries.When she is asked to run errands for the ironwork's estate manager, Mr Brotherton, Anny is thrilled to have this special responsibility. However, her clandestine friendship with the more affluent, Margaret King, will lead Anny into danger.
The Daughters of Ironbridge is a lovely historical saga which is made all the more fascinating by having two delightful lead characters who add a vibrant energy to the story. The author brings to life the chasm of social differences and shows that whilst money brings comfort, it doesn't always bring happiness, and as Margaret finds out, to her cost family secrets, which run deep can have a devastating effect on the future.
This is the author's first foray into historical saga writing and in The Daughters of Ironbridge she has made a commendable start in a story which is filled with historical detail, bringing to life just what it was like to live and work in the industrial age, and whilst it was a time of great social changes, this novel shows, that the great divide between rich and poor was still very much alive. I especially loved getting to know Anny and Margaret who each bring something rather special to this lovely story.
I think this is the start of a trilogy, and the ending of the story certainly lends itself to a further continuation. I can't wait to see what happens next 😊
April 10, 2019
Well this is wonderful, if ever there was a book that was written that needed to be read, then it is this one! It is a beautiful story that is all about friendship, about how two completely different young girls from two different back grounds found a real friendship.
Set in the 1830’s this tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Anny Woodvine, daughter of an ironworker at the iron works and Margaret (Peggy) King daughter of the owner of the works. Anny has big dreams and as she is can both read and write she gets a job as a messenger for the King’s which is when she meets Peggy, and straight from the off they form a special friendship. But its not all plain sailing for the two friends as their friendship is tested, are they strong enough to sail the storm?
What I particularly loved about this is that the story is centred on Anny’s and Margeret’s friendship, from the moment they meet you see that here is two young girls who are from opposite sides of the social spectrum and yet they have found a true friendship together, they both are the very thing that the other needs in their lives and I found it so heart-warming watching their friendship blossom and grow as the story developed, it is a natural and organic relationship that forms between the two girls, which is based on mutual trust and loneliness.
I love the character’s in this, each one is really well researched and developed, the girls really are the star attraction but I loved the secondary character’s too, each one has been wonderfully created even the evil ones such as Cyril; Peggy’s brother – who really is a nasty piece of work – but I especially like Peggy’s grandmother ‘Queenie’ there is something a little other worldly about the old matriarch of the King family, the old bird has secrets and there is a mystery that is swirling around her like an ever present mist, I love how Ms Walton keeps the read on edge with concerns to Queenie there is just something about her that kept my attention
This is a piece of really great writing, it’s not one of those wham-bam and then we are straight into the story, this is a gentle stroll that takes the reader past beautiful scenery both natural and industrial (I bet your wondering how an industrial scene can be beautiful? Believe me, it can) past heartache as well as joy and all the human emotion’s in-between. It shows both the good and the bad of both sides of society and amongst all that you have a very simple story with Anny and Peggy. The story is a mix of sweetness and raw brutal truth’s of the era. It doesn’t hold back any punches when it comes to delving into how divided the era was, how the social divide was wider then ever.
Overall this is a great story that has real backbone, a story that takes the reader on a real journey into the past. Every scene is perfectly detailed that makes it very real, you can see Ironbridge in your mind as you read. Ms Walton has done a great job and I can’t wait to read more.
Set in the 1830’s this tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Anny Woodvine, daughter of an ironworker at the iron works and Margaret (Peggy) King daughter of the owner of the works. Anny has big dreams and as she is can both read and write she gets a job as a messenger for the King’s which is when she meets Peggy, and straight from the off they form a special friendship. But its not all plain sailing for the two friends as their friendship is tested, are they strong enough to sail the storm?
What I particularly loved about this is that the story is centred on Anny’s and Margeret’s friendship, from the moment they meet you see that here is two young girls who are from opposite sides of the social spectrum and yet they have found a true friendship together, they both are the very thing that the other needs in their lives and I found it so heart-warming watching their friendship blossom and grow as the story developed, it is a natural and organic relationship that forms between the two girls, which is based on mutual trust and loneliness.
I love the character’s in this, each one is really well researched and developed, the girls really are the star attraction but I loved the secondary character’s too, each one has been wonderfully created even the evil ones such as Cyril; Peggy’s brother – who really is a nasty piece of work – but I especially like Peggy’s grandmother ‘Queenie’ there is something a little other worldly about the old matriarch of the King family, the old bird has secrets and there is a mystery that is swirling around her like an ever present mist, I love how Ms Walton keeps the read on edge with concerns to Queenie there is just something about her that kept my attention
This is a piece of really great writing, it’s not one of those wham-bam and then we are straight into the story, this is a gentle stroll that takes the reader past beautiful scenery both natural and industrial (I bet your wondering how an industrial scene can be beautiful? Believe me, it can) past heartache as well as joy and all the human emotion’s in-between. It shows both the good and the bad of both sides of society and amongst all that you have a very simple story with Anny and Peggy. The story is a mix of sweetness and raw brutal truth’s of the era. It doesn’t hold back any punches when it comes to delving into how divided the era was, how the social divide was wider then ever.
Overall this is a great story that has real backbone, a story that takes the reader on a real journey into the past. Every scene is perfectly detailed that makes it very real, you can see Ironbridge in your mind as you read. Ms Walton has done a great job and I can’t wait to read more.
March 25, 2019
I have just finished The Daughters of Ironbridge and absolutely loved it, the way it was written brought Anny and Peggy to life and left me being able to clearly visualise them and the places described in the book.
This book highlights the differences based on social class that was experienced in 1800's and how some people didn't feel that they fitted within the class they were born into. I found this book interesting and was keen to keep reading as the story kept developing and changing course for Anny and Peggy.
A brilliant book that left me wanting to read more about what would happen to the lovely Anny and Peggy and whether their friendship could withstand the tests that had been thrown in their direction.
This book highlights the differences based on social class that was experienced in 1800's and how some people didn't feel that they fitted within the class they were born into. I found this book interesting and was keen to keep reading as the story kept developing and changing course for Anny and Peggy.
A brilliant book that left me wanting to read more about what would happen to the lovely Anny and Peggy and whether their friendship could withstand the tests that had been thrown in their direction.
April 17, 2019
Oh, what a beautifully written novel this is. Set in 1830’s Shropshire, The Daughters of Ironbridge tells the story of an unlikely and largely forbidden friendship of differing classes.
Anny Woodvine, is the daughter of an iron worker at the local iron works. Margaret King is the daughter of the owner of famous King family, the owner of the iron works. Their lives could not be more different, yet circumstance brings them together.
Anny Woodvine, although from a poor family, is well educated for both the time and her class. She is able to both read and write and upon delivering a message to the ‘Big House’ after a chance visit to her Father at the iron works is asked to be their messenger.
It is whilst running what at first are nothing more than small errands that Anny meets Margaret, the King family daughter. Margaret is desperately lonely, despite her obvious wealth, she doesn’t have a good relationship with either her Father or Brother and a chance encounter between the girls leads to a tentative friendship.
The girls both know that their friendship would be frowned upon by both their own families and society, so they begin meeting in secret and writing to each other when they are unable to meet, leaving their letters in an agreed hiding place.
Both girls believe that nothing can break their friendship, and that together they can eventually change societies ideas about their individual classes. Until disaster strikes at the iron works, their ambitions are almost believable (particularly as a modern day reader). Is their friendship about to be tested to its limits?
The Daughters of Ironbridge is the first in Mollie Walton’s Ironbridge Saga series and I cannot wait to read the next!
Anny Woodvine, is the daughter of an iron worker at the local iron works. Margaret King is the daughter of the owner of famous King family, the owner of the iron works. Their lives could not be more different, yet circumstance brings them together.
Anny Woodvine, although from a poor family, is well educated for both the time and her class. She is able to both read and write and upon delivering a message to the ‘Big House’ after a chance visit to her Father at the iron works is asked to be their messenger.
It is whilst running what at first are nothing more than small errands that Anny meets Margaret, the King family daughter. Margaret is desperately lonely, despite her obvious wealth, she doesn’t have a good relationship with either her Father or Brother and a chance encounter between the girls leads to a tentative friendship.
The girls both know that their friendship would be frowned upon by both their own families and society, so they begin meeting in secret and writing to each other when they are unable to meet, leaving their letters in an agreed hiding place.
Both girls believe that nothing can break their friendship, and that together they can eventually change societies ideas about their individual classes. Until disaster strikes at the iron works, their ambitions are almost believable (particularly as a modern day reader). Is their friendship about to be tested to its limits?
The Daughters of Ironbridge is the first in Mollie Walton’s Ironbridge Saga series and I cannot wait to read the next!
May 13, 2019
What a brilliant book.
I want want to give too much away, but the story is about Anny and her family that grew up in the village at Ironbridge, and the King family who live in the big house overlooking the village. The Kings are the owners of the local iron works, and forge and provide employment for the villagers in their house and works. The daughter of the household Margaret King forms a bond with Anny and they become friends, until disaster strikes!
I can't wait for the next instalment to be released, to follow the story further down the line.
Well done Mollie Walton aka Rebecca Mascull.
https://molliewalton.co.uk/
https://rebeccamascull.co.uk/
I want want to give too much away, but the story is about Anny and her family that grew up in the village at Ironbridge, and the King family who live in the big house overlooking the village. The Kings are the owners of the local iron works, and forge and provide employment for the villagers in their house and works. The daughter of the household Margaret King forms a bond with Anny and they become friends, until disaster strikes!
I can't wait for the next instalment to be released, to follow the story further down the line.
Well done Mollie Walton aka Rebecca Mascull.
https://molliewalton.co.uk/
https://rebeccamascull.co.uk/
June 9, 2019
I was drawn to this book because it’s set in an area I’m fond of, the Ironbridge Gorge. It’s the first book in a family saga and I’ll certainly be in the queue to read the others. There are plenty of characters, both appealing and nasty, in a busy and active story line. The writing flows beautifully and there’s lots of tension and many difficulties for the two friends, Anny and Margaret, separated as they are by class and wealth, as the story unfolds. I enjoyed it very much.
May 8, 2019
The Daughters of Ironbridge tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Margaret King and Anny Woodvine. While Anny comes from a poor background - her father works for the King family, Margaret is the daughter of the house. They keep their secret friendship going for several years but the arrival of a budding artist, keen to capture the essence of Britain's industrial revolution brings changes for both of them. There's a host of characters here. Some you like, others not so much. Margaret's father Ralph and brother Cyril are particularly unpleasant. Mollie Walton certainly puts her characters through some tough experiences before we reach the final page. The ending leaves the story wide open for the second instalment, one I can't wait to read. An entertaining and well written debut from Mollie Walton. Thank you to the writer for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2019
Ironbridge
Reading about Anny and Margaret was thrilling Anny worked hard for herself and her family .she met margaret who was above Anny in circumstances but it didn't stop them being friends but then things took a sinister turn .a fantastic read and well worth 5 STARS .
Reading about Anny and Margaret was thrilling Anny worked hard for herself and her family .she met margaret who was above Anny in circumstances but it didn't stop them being friends but then things took a sinister turn .a fantastic read and well worth 5 STARS .
May 5, 2019
3.5 stars
The Daughters Of Ironbridge is historical fiction set in Shropshire around the iron industry.
Annie is the daughter of an ironworker and is lucky; she has been taught to read and write. This enables her to gain employment in the offices of the factory owner.
Margaret is the lonely daughter of the King family. The two girls become friends and this story follows their lives, loves and losses. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eFx
The Daughters Of Ironbridge is historical fiction set in Shropshire around the iron industry.
Annie is the daughter of an ironworker and is lucky; she has been taught to read and write. This enables her to gain employment in the offices of the factory owner.
Margaret is the lonely daughter of the King family. The two girls become friends and this story follows their lives, loves and losses. See here for full review https://wp.me/p2Eu3u-eFx
October 26, 2024
A bit downtown. Though I was disappointed with the abrupt ending.
Doesn't seem finished
Doesn't seem finished
April 28, 2019
I Really enjoyed reading Daughters of Ironbridge, I am so looking forward to the next one in this saga, I couldn’t put it down it is so good and I highly recommend it. Thank you Molly😘
September 16, 2022
Not my usual type of book, but it was interesting to read about local places. A good family saga, and l shall definitely look out for the rest of the trilogy.
April 25, 2019
I was given this book free from Zaffre for a review! I really enjoyed it! This story is set in 1830s Shropshire and it about two best friends of different classes. Anny is a working girl who is bright and can read, Margaret is surrounded by privilege and wealth. A very unlikely friendship! Disaster soon looms over the ironworks, which sees Margaret and Anny surrounded by secrets and betrayal, Hopefully they can hold true to each other
April 22, 2019
Does the class divide matter. When Anny and Margaret are young girls they make friends thinking the divide means nothing to true friendship, but when circumstances change and things happen their divide is all too clear. I throughly enjoyed this book reading about the ups and downs of both girls lives.
April 20, 2019
Not my usual reading fare but I always enjoy Becca/Mollie’s stories: true and brave female characters who come to life on the page, impeccable historical research and always something to say about the bigger issues. Bring on the rest of the trilogy!
June 26, 2019
The Daughters of Ironbridge is the absorbing debut saga novel from author Mollie Walton.
Now I must confess that I haven’t read a saga novel in *sings* forever! I blame my mother for overdosing me on Catherine Cookson TV adaptations when I was younger, lol. But, one look at this cover, along with the blurb, and I wanted to know more about these two girls and the unlikely friendship that blossoms.
We are transported back to 1830s Shropshire where all life revolves around the local ironworks. It’s a testament to the author’s writing and research that I could feel the oppressing heat emanating from the furnace, feel the soot on my skin and the smell of smoke invading my lungs.
Life couldn’t be more different for Anny and Margaret...
Anny, daughter of a furnace filler, knows what it means to struggle but has never felt the want of her parents’ love. She is the apple of their eye. I loved her feistiness and her thirst for knowledge. She is a girl lightyears ahead of her time.
Margaret, daughter of the ironmaster, comes from a life of wealth and privilege. Yet, appearances can be deceiving, and there are many secrets behind the glittering facade. Margaret’s lonely existence is not a life I would wish on anyone. This girl couldn’t even spell self-esteem.
Their meeting and subsequent friendship has ramifications that neither could have envisaged in their wildest dreams. It’s like a car crash waiting to happen but you just can’t look away.
I found myself talking to the girls and those around them as I was reading (nothing new here, lol!). With cries of, “NO!”, “Don’t trust that bleep-da-bleep!”, “Are you not listening to a word she says?”, and the list goes on. Pfft, *wafts hand* you all know what I’m like by now. I apologise for nothing *snorts*
Thank goodness TDoI is the start of a new series as I was left with so many questions. From the gripping prologue to the prophetic end, this story was an engaging read where, for a time, I lived another life – the wonders that lie between the pages of a book.
Back to reality for me!
Now I must confess that I haven’t read a saga novel in *sings* forever! I blame my mother for overdosing me on Catherine Cookson TV adaptations when I was younger, lol. But, one look at this cover, along with the blurb, and I wanted to know more about these two girls and the unlikely friendship that blossoms.
We are transported back to 1830s Shropshire where all life revolves around the local ironworks. It’s a testament to the author’s writing and research that I could feel the oppressing heat emanating from the furnace, feel the soot on my skin and the smell of smoke invading my lungs.
Life couldn’t be more different for Anny and Margaret...
Anny, daughter of a furnace filler, knows what it means to struggle but has never felt the want of her parents’ love. She is the apple of their eye. I loved her feistiness and her thirst for knowledge. She is a girl lightyears ahead of her time.
Margaret, daughter of the ironmaster, comes from a life of wealth and privilege. Yet, appearances can be deceiving, and there are many secrets behind the glittering facade. Margaret’s lonely existence is not a life I would wish on anyone. This girl couldn’t even spell self-esteem.
Their meeting and subsequent friendship has ramifications that neither could have envisaged in their wildest dreams. It’s like a car crash waiting to happen but you just can’t look away.
I found myself talking to the girls and those around them as I was reading (nothing new here, lol!). With cries of, “NO!”, “Don’t trust that bleep-da-bleep!”, “Are you not listening to a word she says?”, and the list goes on. Pfft, *wafts hand* you all know what I’m like by now. I apologise for nothing *snorts*
Thank goodness TDoI is the start of a new series as I was left with so many questions. From the gripping prologue to the prophetic end, this story was an engaging read where, for a time, I lived another life – the wonders that lie between the pages of a book.
Back to reality for me!
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