Jesse BlackadderRecensioni

A powerful story of grief, love, loss and forgiveness, be prepared to have the tissues at the ready as you will need them!

A expertly told story of an accident.
An accident that tears a family apart.
An accident that shows the pain and feelings and bitterness that can result.
An accident that shows how to heal.

Story of the drowning of a child in a backyard pool. Viewed from each surviving family member's perspective. Insights into the grief, trauma, guilt, confusion and anger experienced.½

Not sure about it. Quick to read, I was interested in what would happen to them all. Don’t think anyone who has actually experienced the death of a child could go anywhere near this book.

Featured at The Review Period with Cat Ellington from 2019-04-01 - 2019-04-15, In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder has been archived for its place in the Reviews by Cat Ellington Complete Anthology book series.

• The Review Period with Cat Ellington: https://catellington.blogspot.com/

The stunning feature of IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE is its characters. Bridget, Finn, and Jarrah leap off the page, their narration raw and honest, drawing the reader into the process of grieving the unimaginable. Some subplots felt a bit underdeveloped, but I don’t think the story suffered much for it. 5⭐️ #netgalley

In the Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder is an emotionally compelling novel about a family in crisis following an unspeakable tragedy.

The Brennan family is still adjusting to their recent move from Tasmania to Murwillumbah when their lives take a heartbreaking turn. Husband Finn is an artist whose career is about to take off but in the aftermath of loss, he is unable to concentrate on his projects. Wife Bridget is the family's primary source of income and she is unable to face any of her colleagues except Chen, a young man whose caring and compassion spark an unexpected reaction in her. Fifteen year old Jarrah finds himself finally earning acceptance in school when fellow student Laura Fieldman takes him under her wing. The family is already fracturing under the strain of their unbearable grief when a shocking arrest further upends their lives. Will this shattered family find their way back one another or is it too late for them to recover from the stunning loss they have endured?

At a time when the Brennan family should turn to each other for comfort, they begin to fall apart. Bridget cannot bear to be around Finn as her grief turns to rage. Finn has lost focus and his efforts to help the family widen the gap between them. Jarrah is lost and confused and the situation between his parents just adds to his unending sadness. Will the latest shocking turn of events bring them together or will this once happy family be completely ripped apart?

In the Blink of an Eye is an engrossing novel that is a realistic depiction of a family deeply mourning a shocking loss. Each of the characters reaction to their pain is realistic and utterly heartbreaking. Jesse Blackadder has drawn on her personal history in this deeply affecting and poignant novel which provides another layer of authenticity to her characters' myriad emotions and grief. This riveting read will linger in readers' hearts and minds long after the last page is turned.

In the blink of an eye, the title of this novel, is exactly how quickly an unthinkable tragedy happens to to the Brennan family - parents Finn and Bridget and their teen-aged son, Jarrah, and toddler, Toby. After moving a year ago to Australia from Tasmania, they are without lasting friendships and family Jarrah is especially impacted by the move as he attempts to navigate his way through the complexities of adolescence in a school where relationships have already been established. The family anchor is Toby, a special, outgoing child who loves them all unconditionally.

Following the tragedy, each member of the family retreats into his/her grieving process. It takes a criminal prosecution suit and another near-tragic incident to bring them closer and to an understanding of how much they need each other. These are memorable characters and the situation is based on the author's own grief.

This is the story of a family in trauma. The central focus of the novel is the drowning of their toddler son in the family pool and the subsequent charging of the father for negligence leading to the death. This all impacts not only him but also his wife and teen son. Finn and Bridget's marriage wasn't the greatest before the son's death. The novel is told from the perspectives of the three family members. This is a solid book not a great one.

In The Blink Of An Eye
By
Jesse Blackadder

What it's all about...

Bridget and Finn and their sons Jarrah and Toby have made a huge move in their lives. Bridget was distrustful of Finn so they moved to a house by the sea complete with a swimming pool. This move took them far away from friends and family. That was What Bridget wanted. Finn is a stay at home dad and iron works artist...Bridget does something environmental. When Finn gets a huge commission Bridget decides to watch Toby until they can find childcare. This leads to a family tragedy that seems to tear this unsteady family apart.

My thoughts after reading this book...

Every member of this family is suffering. Jarrah needs to decide if he is gay. Bridget can’t forgive herself. Finn wants to move back to their home. Their lives seem to be rapidly falling apart.

What I really appreciated about this book...

The story of this family was fascinating. They fell apart so quickly that I wondered if it was possible for them to become a family again. I think I felt the most for Finn. He always wanted to protect his family but he couldn’t save them from the worst tragedy.

What potential readers might want to know...

Readers who enjoy books that have as their focus a family trying to work through a major tragedy should appreciate this book. This book contained good writing and interesting characters.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my choice to read and review it.

The Brennan’s have uprooted and moved to a totally different place. The family, Finn, Bridget, Jarrah and Toby are just working hard to adjust to a whole new environment. New jobs, new friends, new school is tough on everybody. Then the unthinkable happens. It tears the family apart.

Jarrah is a young boy coming to terms with who he is. When the tragedy strikes he has to take on an adult role he is not ready for. Bridget is so wracked with guilt and anger she makes some self-destructive decisions. Then there is Finn. He is so determined to protect and keep his family together, he loses sight of who he is.

This is an emotional story. Each person in this family deals with the heartbreak differently and it takes a huge toll on the family as a unit. This novel takes you in an emotional roller coaster. It is hard to read in places because it rips your heart to pieces.

Don’t miss this tale of love, strength, hope and forgiveness.

I received this novel from St. Martin’s Press for a honest review.

This book is personal in a way to me. My mom's one sister lost a child to drowning when they were very little. There are many drowning accidents that occur with little children.

I like how the author wrote the story making the main focal point on the family, Finn and Bridget, and their sons, Jarrah and Toby. It really brought me very close to the family and helped me to feel all of their emotions as they dealt with a devastating situation. Each family member looked and reacted to the situation in a different way. However, when it mattered the most, they were drawn to each other and supportive of one another.

What I most liked about this book is how the author didn't lay blame on one or more family members. This story truly is about the "why". Why did this situation happen? Why didn't I do more? Author, Jesse Blackadder will take you on an emotional roller coaster that shows you just how important a family bond is with fully enriched characters In the Blink of an Eye.

I received this book as a Early Release. This book is so sad and you want everyone to have a happy ending. Honestly this book is hard and very raw. Losing a child, dealing with a marriage that is hurting, grief. It’s a roller coaster. Very good story.

Thank to Goodreads and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

It was definitely a predictable book but I enjoyed it. The family falls apart due to a tragedy in their family and then they come together once again at the end.

Didn't get the epilogue of this book at all but I think I have a good understanding of what or who it may be about.

I started this book with no idea what it was about and was totally overwhelmed when tragedy struck this family. This is a heartbreaking novel that asks the question whether you can forgive not only your family members but more importantly yourself after a tragedy. It's the story of family and love and redemption and heartache. I found it incredibly sad but with a flicker of hope that life would get better for this family.

Finn and Bridget Brennan and their two sons 16 year old Jarrah and three year old Toby move to a part of Australia where they have no friends and have to start their lives over. When their routine changes and childcare switches from one parent to the other, tragedy strikes the family when three year old Toby drowns in the swimming pool. Not only does the family have to go through the tragedy but they are hounded by the press and have to deal with the police. Sixteen year old Jarrah was already being bullied at school and he had no idea how he was going to handle the additional attention. As the days pass, the family splinters into three separate people who are unable to accept and forgive each other. Will they ever find their way back to being a family again?

This is an incredible story told with love and compassion. Thanks to goodreads for a copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This is a pretty good book, I reckon. It's all about what happens when a marriage that is already stressed is subject to the trauma of the drowning of their toddler in a backyard pool. How can any person survive this? What does it do the the survivors? The fact that the author is such a survivor is probably why the characters' responses seem so realistic. I didn't give it 5 stars because I thought the final outcome was a little too commercial. But maybe I'm wrong.

3.5 stars

Alison Blackadder, a fictional character, joins the court of Mary Queen of Scots in the hope of persuading the queen to return Blackadder Castle to the family after it has been taken from them by the Hume family two generations earlier. Alison has been fostered and dressed as a boy to hide her from the long arm of the Humes. Now her preference for male attire endears her to the queen, who likes to dress as a man and mix with her subjects without being recognized.

The book covers the period beginning with the return of Mary to Scotland and ends after she flees to England. The author stayed within the boundaries of accepted historical facts, no flights of fancy here, and her characterization of Mary in particular was very good. Then again, I might feel that way because she used all the books I've read on the subject.

What I didn't like was the amount of gender confusion - Alison's sexual orientation seemed to change depending on whether she was dressed as a man or a woman, and I couldn't see any point in the resulting thrysts. The book is written in the present tense, which didn't work for me, and the same goes for her rather sparse and sometimes abrupt writing style, although others might enjoy it.

Set in Scotland during the early years of Mary Queen of Scots reign, The Raven's Heart follows Alison Blackadder on her quest to reclaim her family's castle from the powerful Scottish family that seized it a generation earlier. In a effort to keep her protected from her family's enemies, who would kill her if they knew she existed, Alison lives her life as a boy. When Mary Queen of Scots returns to her homeland from France, Alison's father, through Lord Bothwell, is able to secure her a position as one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting. Although this position affords Alison the opportunity to raise the issue of her family's lost castle with the Queen, it also means that she must cast off her male disguise and live as a young woman. Captivated by Mary from the moment she meets the monarch, Alison manages to adapt to her new role with relative ease. But Alison is keenly aware of the danger she is placed in as a member of Mary's court, and must ensure that she makes no wrong move that would either bring her to the attention of her enemies or cause her to fall from Mary's favour.

With a quick-moving plot, well-developed main characters and a strong sense of both time and place, The Raven's Heart is a thoroughly enjoyable novel. Narrated from Alison Blackadder's point of view, the reader is able to fully appreciate the desire for revenge driving her quest to reclaim her family's castle. Through Alison's eyes the reader comes to know Mary Queen of Scots, a woman used to getting her own way and one who is easily able to charm all those she comes into contact with, including Alison. While Alison's quest is at the heart of this story, it is set against the backdrop of the early years of Mary's reign. Although Alison is a fictional character, author Jesse Blackadder has seamlessly inserted her heroine into the actual events that shaped Mary's reign, including her marriage to Lord Darnley, the murder of David Rizzio, and Mary's later marriage to Lord Bothwell, a match that turned most of Scotland against her. As a result, this novel not only tells a great fictional story, it also brings 16th Scottish history vividly to life. In Alison, Jesse Blackadder has created a strong and memorable heroine. While Alison is willing to do whatever it takes to maintain the Queen's favour, and thus place herself in a position to gain back what she feels is her birthright, she acknowledges that not all of her actions are honourable. The author has also done a commendable job with the characterizations of each of the historical figures that feature prominently in this novel, most notably Mary Queen of Scots and Lord Darnley, whose portrayals are consistent with history. The only weak spot of this novel relates to Alison's short love affair with another lady of the court. While Alison is portrayed as having fallen in love, the reader learns next to nothing about the woman to whom she gives her heart, or what she has done to earn Alison's devotion. The only thing they seem to share is lust for one another and, as a result, it is difficult to believe that the affair is a great love match.

The Raven's Heart is recommended to all fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in Scottish history.

Note: A copy of this novel was provided to me by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An impressive and lengthy historical fiction debut from an author with a unique perspective, Jesse Blackadder explores and animates Scotland in the 1500's with this detailed and epic look at a family desperate for their ancestral inheritance during the time of the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. With some of the hallmarks expected from a novel looking at a treacherous Court of an unsteady Queen like betrayal, deception and unrequited love, Blackadder still manages to inject some new ideas and characters into a story well-known hundreds of years later. With a tagline of "a story of a quest, a castle, and Mary, Queen of Scots" I had a feeling this would be a novel right up my alley - and I was right. I was vastly entertained by Blackadder's vision, and found myself both eager for resolution and reluctant to end my time with such indelible characters.

The strongest aspect of the novel is without a doubt the main character and narrator of Alison Blackadder. I can honestly say that this complicated and realistic young woman is utterly unlike any other historical fiction protagonist I have ever read before. I always love reading about girls disguising themselves as boys - to spy, to learn, whatever the cause may be - and Alison's years masquerading as a young man named Robert left a mark on her character. She is androgynous, bisexual, smart, patient, and above all, authentic in all her various manifestations. There are some obvious parallels between her and her Queenly counterpart - two displaced young woman desperate to come into their own and their inheritance, one as a Queen and the other as noble without her ancestral castle - but Alison is unique, and interesting. Even more so than the Queen she loves and cannot escape, Alison commands a lot of attention. I thought her narration was consistently strong, and the benefit of having such a unique voice is not lost as the pages rapidly add up.

Alison/Robert is the strongest in a strong cast, but Blackadder extends the same believability and roundedness to her other players. Mary, the Queen, is conflicted and willful, dangerous and scared, determined and unsure; one never can know which way this Queen will turn. Her personal evolution over the six years that are covered in the novel is natural, and in tune with the historical record. It can be hard to re-imagine such a prominent figure in English/Scottish history, but Blackadder is more than up to the task, as she proves with The Raven's Heart. Her Mary is just as engaging and compelling as that from more established writers, and can stand up to similar versions like the one Margaret George rendered in Mary, Queen of Scotland and the Isles. The latter may have been the first novel about this infamous queen I had read, but Blackadder proves she can match and improve on what has been printed before.The relationship between the two central female characters is the foundation of the novel and for much of Alison's actions throughout, and I found it refreshing to have two such varied, but strong, illustrations of women in a time when those few and far between.

Blackadder's personal history with the real-world lost castle that Alison maneuvers for adds another layer to an already fresh take on the story. I loved the historical facts mixed so seamlessly into the novel, but it was Alison's fictional plot about a real castle, one that the author has legitimate ties to, that captivated me the most during my read of The Raven's Heart. Alison and her quest are imagined, but they felt real while I was reading. I invested early with this character, and through her hurts and her far-too-few triumphs, I was always hoping for the best, if not expecting things to fall how I wanted. Blackadder doesn't necessarily end the story the way one would expect, and though the frequent back-and-forth nature during the last 100 pages made me slightly dizzy, I loved how the quest came to its fruition. I could've done without a few of the turnarounds - after the third, I stopped counting - but it was well worth the wait to see how it all fell to for Alison, her father, and her future.

A unique perspective, a well-drawn and realistic main character, an involving plot and a more than well-set scene make The Raven's Heart a welcome addition to the well-known story of Mary, Queen of Scots. A rather dense novel with easy and blunt prose, this is a book that will linger in my memory. I look forward to whatever else Jesse Blackadder does in the future with her considerable talent, and also to the future rereads and fun I will have with her historical fiction debut.

Mary, Queen of Scots is one of those very intriguing figures in history. A woman, born to rule in a time when women were considered not much more than chattel. She was sent as a child to France to marry but her husband died and she was sent/invited back to Scotland to take up her crown. Was she wanted? Probably only to produce a male heir. But we will never know for sure. What we do know is that she felt entitled to the crown of England as well and factions there wanted her as she was Catholic and Elizabeth was Protestant. She is a woman about whom books could be written ad nauseum and people would read and be fascinated.

In this tale Ms. Blackadder uses her family's history as a starting point for a tale of loyalty, love and revenge. Young Robert Blackadder is the son of William, a man whose mother sent him away when the family castle was about to be raided by the powerful Hume clan. His mother knew he would be killed if he was found as there could be no heirs to the estate. William grows up bitter and vengeful about his family's loss having been constantly told he needs to get the castle back. When his relationship with the powerful Lord Bothwell causes it to be his ship that brings Mary back to Scotland William sees a way to perhaps get close to the Queen. Little does he realize that a Queen does not notice a shipowner.

The Queen does notice young Robert though but William feels that the Queen needs a lady in waiting more than a young boy so Robert - who has dressed as a boy - must return to being Alison. Alison, DAUGHTER of William who was disguised as a boy to hide her from Hume's assassins. The problem is Alison does not know how to be a girl. Her relatives teach her and she is soon off to be a lady in waiting to the Queen. There she is to get close to the Queen and gain back the family castle.

This is a somewhat long and involved book. The kind I really like to sink my teeth into but to try and break out the whole plot would take me 'til Monday. Just know that Alison's adventures truly begin once she starts to live in Mary's household. Alison is a complicated character - she is bisexual and changeable. I'm not completely sure she knows what she wants. She has lived her life in the shadow of her father's bitterness and goes into the shadow of a rather imperious woman in a dangerous court. She is never just Alison - she is, it seems, always someone's pawn. This leads to some frustration with the character. I suspect this is intentional on the part of Ms. Blackadder. Mary is also difficult but most Queens are....

The story plays out against the historical backdrop of the time using all the well documented points of Mary's life with Alison being present for all of them. The book was involving, action packed and entertaining. The last quarter of it was a bit like a tennis match though as the reader is whipped back and forth and back again as Alison learns the truth of her heritage and the ownership of Blackadder Castle is finally settled.

I loved everything about this book. The plot, the places, the people (oh, the people!), the mood, the drama -- everything. I'm not even sure where to start with this gush-fest!

Blackadder's novel grew out of her research into her surname, and while normally family-inspired novels give me the gibblies, in this case, we all win. The historical Blackadders have a story straight out of an opera or Gothic tale: widow violently married off to a vicious noble, evil stepfather marries her daughters to his brothers, and subsequent Blackadders are all murdered before they can foment rebellion against him. In this climate, surviving Blackadder William is re-invented as a merchant sea captain and his daughter Alison -- the Blackadder heir -- is transformed into his nephew, Robert Blackadder.

The novel opens in 1561, with Alison-as-Robert on the ship that is bringing Mary Stuart aka Mary, Queen of Scots, to Scotland. Although Alison has grown used to living life as a boy, her father believes they can better push their cause if Alison becomes one of Mary's ladies-in-waiting, and Alison finds herself away from the comfortable identity (and clothes) she's familiar with and struggling to embody a sophisticated lady at court.

What could be a simple story of a girl-who-dresses-like-a-boy shenanigans -- a little sapphic longing, lots of court drama -- is actually a rather meaty, dense, and evocative historical novel of Mary Stuart's court and a woman's confusing place in it. When Alison's skill at passing for a boy is discovered, it becomes her greatest asset and one that grants her unusual access and power -- and of course, increased danger. While Alison's father is driven to reclaim Blackadder Castle, Alison finds herself more drawn to her Robert persona and all it entails -- right down to romance with women.

Blackadder (the author) created a fantastic main character in Alison/Robert -- I was there, from the first page to the last -- and I fell in love with the world she evoked. Royal court hist fic is not a favorite of mine, but through Alison/Robert, the reader sees a more robust view of 16th century Scotland -- the court and the life of the non-nobles. Being unfamiliar with this era, I can't say how accurate the events are represented, but in terms of pacing, narrative arc, and character development, I was immersed. I didn't want this book to end.

THE RAVEN'S HEART is an epic historical tale of a young woman's quest to reclaim her birthright. The Blackadder Family's castle was stolen from them by the Hume clan when Alison Blackadder's father was very young. He was sent into hiding for over two decades, and Alison grew up disguised as a boy. Had the enemy clan known about her, she surely would have been kidnapped by them and forced into marriage, as was the fate of her aunts.

When Mary Stuart returns to Scotland from France to claim her throne, Alison's father William arranges for her to serve the queen. He believes that Mary will force the Humes to return Blackadder Castle to them if Alison befriends her. The hasty transition from living as a boy to becoming a lady-in-waiting is not easy for Alison, but she does so to please her father. Alison quickly finds the queen's court a treacherous place with danger lurking around every corner.

THE RAVEN'S HEART is an intriguing combination of historical fact and fiction. I love that this book came about after the author researched her family roots in Scotland. It weaves together fictional character Alison Blackadder's plight and the early years of Mary Queen of Scots' reign. The book is full of rich historical details and political intrigue of the time. Alison was a fascinating and unique character with her dual identities, getting to experience life as a man and a woman. I was rooting for her and eagerly anticipating the outcome of her story. I'd recommend this book to fans of suspenseful historical sagas.

Robin was intrigued by the author's name and enjoys historical novels. She was extremely disappointed with the book. She didn't enjoy it at all and thought it was a silly love story.
Lorita: Tried to read it twice but gave up. “Life is too short to drink bad wine” and too short to read this book! It just didn't seem to develop. Loved the cover!
Janine: I started reading with great enthusiasm but didn't enjoy it.
Norriel: Very repetitive and boring, I thought it was unrealistic. It could have been 2/3 shorter. I did finish it.
Enid: She didn't develop the characters and it wandered all over the place.
Sheena: It was spread too thin, no sense of the period. Writing not good.
Wendy: I agree with the others. It was a good idea but it was as if she had read some history but didn't develop it. There were some very odd relationships especially with the father.
Barbara: I tried twice to read it but couldn't finish it. A transvestite/lesbian relationship was a bit much and made it seem silly.
Jenny M.: Very contrived. I finished it but read it in bits between other books. A couple of 21st Century sayings jumped out ( tried to find them again but they got lost in the small print ). It has been done better before.
Ros: Same as the others. Having it in the first person meant the other characters couldn't develop.
Lynn: Boring and repetitive.

Good discussion as usual when we have a book none of us enjoyed.

Scores: Robin 4, Lorita 4, Janine 5, Norriel 5, Enid 5, Sheena 3, Wendy 3, Barbara 3, Jenny M. 3, Ros 5.5, Lynn 6 Average 4.2

Almost satisfying½

Interesting historical fiction about Mary Queen of Scots - only half way through but enjoying it. Lots of machinations from all members of the court!