Daughters of Northern Shores (Blackbird Mountain Novel, #2)

by Joanne Bischof

[phyllish]

A riveting story of changed lives, good versus evil and forgiveness

Daughters of Northern Shores is a riveting continuation of the story of the Norgaard family of Blackbird Mountain that was difficult to put down. Spanning almost a year in time, though the greater part of the story takes place on Blackbird Mountain, it also brings the reader to Norway and on an ocean voyage aboard an ice ship.

I was again swept away as author Joanne Bischof poured out her heart on these pages with tender and hopeful melancholy. I was nearly brought to tears many times throughout the story, both for sadness and for joy. The beautiful prose wrapped around my heart and caused me to experience each characters' emotions, their pains, their fears, and their dreams. The biting of the Northern winds caused me to shiver; the fragrance of the apple orchards caused my tummy to rumble.

If you have not read Sons of Blackbird Mountain, you should read that before continuing this review as there are spoilers for that book here. There are no spoilers for this story in the review.

I am amazed at how one who is not Deaf so capably made me feel like I had an inkling of the kind of isolation Thor would have experienced in his deafness, despite the way his family did all they could to include him. And yet Thor is not one to be pitied. His strength of character and the love Aven has for him warm my heart.

The prodigal journey Haakon traveled as he ran away from the sure wrath of his brothers after his atrocious behavior and the certain revenge to be sought by the Sorrel family for the destruction he wrought on their property had him squandering his life and living in a way that would cause such grief to his family. And yet in his self-imposed isolation, he had a friend who was a steady, Christian influence in his life. Unlike the Prodigal Son, he returns, not out of the need for physical fulfillment but for forgiveness. And unlike the Prodigal, he has no father to return to who will welcome him with open arms; only the brother whose wife he wronged in such a terrible way.

Daughters of Northern Shores is a story of changed lives, of love of family, of good versus evil, and of forgiveness. Though I classify it as a romance, it is so much more. What is often thought of as romance finds very little place here.

The confrontation with the Sorrels is narrated in great detail. The author's description of the events of that terrible night contained in such great detail I felt like I was watching a movie. And yet despite the bullets, knives, and other weapons, it was not overly violent or bloody.

I loved learning more about the ice trade and the ways and places the ice was transported. Having read enough period novels to know that the English had ice in the summer, I always wondered how they got it. I was surprised to learn some of the other places the ice traveled.

This is a must-read book and is already on my list of candidates for Best of 2019!


Read my full review with a Preview and Guest Post at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.