She clasped her hands in front of her, a strange tension lurking behind her beautiful facade. He got the distinct impression that laughter was a friend who rarely came to call on her. What would it take to cause a genuine smile? How would it feel to be the recipient? A foreign urge ran through his veins to be the man – the only man – to make her laugh.
Don’t you just love the way the words in that paragraph were joined together? This is typical of the prose you can expect throughout The Innkeeper’s Daughter. It is so beautifully written. It brought me to a different time and place, seeing and smelling and experiencing things in a new way. Though the author’s writing style is much easier to read than his, the descriptions, especially of the characters, reminded me of Charles Dickens’ novels.
There were so many fascinating characters in this story. Mr. Nutbrown and his puppet, Nixie, were so well developed! This simple-minded man who loved yellow stockings played a fairly large role in the book. Mr. Quail and his rag-tag musicians who were perhaps tone-deaf were some more of the colorful people who brought this story to life.
I really liked the way that Alex was so conflicted about having to tell lies in order to help protect his country. He would not have been such an honorable man if that came easily to him. The way that Alex treated Johanna’s little brother, Thomas, so kindly was endearing.
The story brings readers on a journey from the dining rooms and gaming parlors of the rich to the humblest of inns, to the gaol, and to places I won’t mention so I don’t spoil the story. With more of a focus on the humbler places instead of the aristocratic ones, the story made Dover and its environs come to life. This is a rich adventure that is a pleasure to read, with some surprises along the way.
This review was originally posted on Among the Reads. Visit the post to learn more about Oak Apple Day
I would like to thank Celebrate Lit for giving me this item. My opinion and review were not influenced by this gift.