Review ~ Sisters of the Bruce 1292-1314 by J M Harvey

Troubadour Publishing
November 2013

Set in late thirteenth century Scotland, during the tumultuous time in history when the charismatic Bruce family played an important role in the rich tapestry of Scottish history, this story had so much potential. However, it was altogether lacking in political punch and I felt that the story meandered too much around inconsequential chit chat, in the form of correspondence, between the sisters. In effect, what was needed was a livelier rendition of this troubled historical period, which never actually materialised within the main body of the story. The writing mainly appears quite ‘flat’ and at times seems as though the author merely added everything she knew about the period without considering how this information would be perceived within the story itself.

It’s been a long time since I opened a book which I so wanted to like, but which in the end, I'm sad to say, left me feeling as uninspired as the narration.

My thanks to NetGalley and Troubadour Publishing for my copy of this book.