Author: Greer Macallister
Published: August 6, 2024 by Sourcebooks Landmark
Format: Kindle, Paperback, 336 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Blurb: Tearing through millions of dollars, four continents, and a hearty collection of husbands, real-life heiress Aimee Crocker blazed an unbelievable trail of public notoriety, private pain, and the kind of strong independent woman the 1880s had never seen. Her life was stranger than fiction and brighter than the stars, and she whirled through her days as if she was being chased by something larger than herself. Greer Macallister brilliantly takes us into her world and spins a tale that you won't soon forget.
My Opinion: This novel has polarized its readers, and it's easy to see why. The protagonist, Aimee Crocker, isn’t exactly a paragon of likability. Macallister’s adaptation of Crocker's memoir often leaves readers perplexed when deciphering how much of this larger-than-life character has been embellished.
The enigmatic women in white who appear throughout Aimee's story add a layer of mystery and curiosity. The explanation at the end, while bordering on the fantastical, oddly fits the overall narrative.
What starts with captivating pacing devolves into a sluggish meander. I found myself skimming through redundant sections. Aimee’s multiple marriages—some of which were not actual marriages—are woven through the narrative, creating another facet of this self-absorbed woman.
While I did enjoy some of the elements of the book, it ultimately did not measure up to Macallister's previous work, The Arctic Fury. The promise of a gripping and complex story remains largely unfulfilled, leaving readers with a sense of what could have been.
My Opinion: This novel has polarized its readers, and it's easy to see why. The protagonist, Aimee Crocker, isn’t exactly a paragon of likability. Macallister’s adaptation of Crocker's memoir often leaves readers perplexed when deciphering how much of this larger-than-life character has been embellished.
The enigmatic women in white who appear throughout Aimee's story add a layer of mystery and curiosity. The explanation at the end, while bordering on the fantastical, oddly fits the overall narrative.
What starts with captivating pacing devolves into a sluggish meander. I found myself skimming through redundant sections. Aimee’s multiple marriages—some of which were not actual marriages—are woven through the narrative, creating another facet of this self-absorbed woman.
While I did enjoy some of the elements of the book, it ultimately did not measure up to Macallister's previous work, The Arctic Fury. The promise of a gripping and complex story remains largely unfulfilled, leaving readers with a sense of what could have been.
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