Book Review: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese

by Krista

Synopsis

Isobel Gamble is a young seamstress carrying generations of secrets when she sets sail from Scotland in the early 1800s with her husband, Edward. An apothecary who has fallen under the spell of opium, his pile of debts have forced them to flee Edinburgh for a fresh start in the New World. But only days after they’ve arrived in Salem, Edward abruptly joins a departing ship as a medic––leaving Isobel penniless and alone in a strange country, forced to make her way by any means possible.

When she meets a young Nathaniel Hawthorne, the two are instantly drawn to each other: he is a man haunted by his ancestors, who sent innocent women to the gallows––while she is an unusually gifted needleworker, troubled by her own strange talents. As the weeks pass and Edward’s safe return grows increasingly unlikely, Nathaniel and Isobel grow closer and closer. Together, they are a muse and a dark storyteller; the enchanter and the enchanted. But which is which?

Rating

★★★★★

Thoughts

This book absolutely bewitched me! I love a witchy tale, and I consumed this one. Or was it the other way around? These characters are lacking in morals, but their deeply flawed nature and the exciting but toxic world in which they live captured my heart and attention. In the end I absolutely loved Hester the character and Hester the book!  

I think the author did a fantastic job of creating a beautiful historical fiction inspired by The Scarlet Letter. It’s a brilliant book that I think deserves more appreciation! My copy has found a place in my home library.

Question

Have you read The Scarlet Letter?

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