UNEARTHED

by Emma Makarova

Scotland, 1849: Midwinter on the remote island of North Uist and twelve-year-old Morag has a terrifying encounter in the dark. Is it a beast or is there a more sinister threat which stalks the island? As the villagers turn to folklore to protect themselves, Maria, the wife of the landowner, arrives on North Uist longing to escape her past. But Maria’s past is catching up with her and time is running out – both for her and for the islanders.

A delight to read: a gripping Gothic historical novel. Written beautifully with real power and atmosphere.” Livi Michael, author of the Succession trilogy.

For fans of Hannah Kent’s Burial Rites or Sarah Perry’s The Essex Serpent, Unearthed is a story full of magic and wilderness which explores themes of social justice and gender which still resonate today. A novel for book clubs everywhere.

237 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2020

About the author

Emma Makarova was born in Melbourne, Australia and grew up in the Cotswolds, England. After studying Ancient History and Archaeology at The University of Birmingham she taught English in Hungary and then in Russia where she met her husband. In 2017, she gained a Masters with Distinction in Creative Writing for the manuscript of her novel. Two years ago she and her family decided to move to France for a new adventure, an experience she wrote about in her blog Femme Française. When she is not writing or teaching English, she can be found climbing a mountain or eating a lot of French cheese. Unearthed is her first novel.

Reviews

[Julie Ann]

If the definition of a great book is not being able to put it down, this one fits the bill.
If the definition of a great book is being inspired to learn more about the setting, and have a sudden desire to discover that place, this one more than succeeds.
Very well "designed": the veritable peregrination through the chapters was in itself a reason to never put the book down
Very empowering: characters that we know could have lived through many situations of injustice in so many places and historical situations in this world, we can still identify with them today and be inspired by their determination to value the essence of what they belong to and what belongs to them.
Very well researched: learning about a historical period through the lens of this captivating scenario is a fun way to feel cultured and savvy of the world....what region of the world will the author reveal to us next?

[Katie Shackles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended! Unearthed is an excellent book! It's a page turner for sure. It has a hint of spooky, a dash of romance, and imagery that will transport you! It was really like reading a movie. I enjoyed this book because it painted a story in great detail without compromising the readers imagination. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a touching story that is inspired by true events. 5 stars for Unearthed!

[Juliane Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and educational read.

I can recommend this books to fans of historical fiction, especially those who want to learn more about lesser known historical events. The book tells the heart-wrenching story of the Battle of Sollas in Scotland in 1849, when poor Highlanders were being evicted from their land following years of famine. The book is well written, with well-developed characters and evocative scenery, and the story is told in a page-turning way.

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. One of the main characters, a young girl called Morag, in particular came to life and I think she will stay with me for a long time. It's a rare thing for a character to stay with me after completing a story and is a real treasure. As well as teaching me a lot about the times, this book was thoroughly enjoyable to read and I have been recommending it to everyone I know!

[Amanda Braithwaite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The suspense made it a real page turner. I loved both the main characters and the way the stories intertwined. The history and the setting jumped to life and I was routing for both characters to overcome the obstacles of class and gender. Fantastic!

[Liz Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic! I loved reading this and I was hooked from the first page. I really enjoyed the gothic undertones and the slowly revealed mysteries. A good read.

[Samantha Nicholls · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, atmospheric novel set during the Scottish Highland clearances. Both narrative threads were equally compelling and seemlesy interwoven, gripping me to the very end.

[Sharon Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this wonderful debut novel, and am looking forward to the author's next book.

[Bobbie Kaald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of history. A story of greed and standing up against what's wrong. A story that brought tears to my eyes.

Bobbie Kaald

[Claire Bernatas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good historical fiction story - look forward to more from this new author