Young Llama Thoughts
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Adventurous
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Christian Friendly
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Easy Reading
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Humerous
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Youth Appropriate
Overall
Summary
Have you ever picked up a book thinking, “Ok…. I guess I’ll read this….”, and then it turned out to be the best book ever? That was how The Rose and the Thistle turned out for me.
Long story short, my sister, aka The Young Llama, received this book from Baker Book House to read and review. She was very excited to read it, but shortly after beginning the book she ran into a problem. This story takes place in Scotland, and so most of the characters have a Scottish brogue or accent. Also, the book takes place in the time of old English as well, which has significantly more complicated words to read. My sister was struggling to enjoy the book with all the unfamiliar words, so she asked me if I would give it a shot. And I am so glad that she did.
This book was incredible. I couldn’t put it down. It had romance, adventure, everything a historical fiction novel needs! To summarize, this story is about a girl from England and a boy from Scotland. Her family is threatened and she is forced to hide in Scotland with Lord Wedderburn, only…. no one can know that she is there. I loved every word of this book and I highly suggest it to everyone who loves historical fiction. But just as everything has a silver lining, so does every book have its quirks.
In my opinion, there isn’t a single thing wrong in this book. I loved it all, but I thought I would at least mention a few things to be aware of. First off, the readability. The reason I mention this is because it’s what led me to reading this book in the first place. My sister was struggling to read it and doesn’t care for Old English. I, on the other hand, had no trouble with the language or the brogue. This is sorely up to opinion and book preference. That’s why I placed Easy Reading on the Llama rating a little lower. Personally, I don’t find this an issue in the slightest and applaud the author for excellent story-writing and dialogue. Another thing I do want to mention is the age-level for this book. I would rate this story for older teens due to mention of birds and bees, alcohol use, and violence. Though the author never really explains anything in detail, I felt it was necessary to mention that in this review.
Overall, this book was a great way to start the year, and has become a new favorite of mine. I can’t wait to re-read it. The author did an incredible job and constantly kept me on my toes. Not only was this story romantic and heartwarming, it shared topics on the importance of family and inner beauty that were really inspiring. I hope you liked my review, and I highly recommend The Rose and the Thistle.
– The Tiger Reader
Pros
- Adventerous
- Romantic
- Great story on family
- Christian-friendly
- Wonderful book for older girls!
Cons
- Mention of violence
- Mention of alcohol use
- Slight birds and bees alert
- This is barely a con but some might have a harder time reading this story with the Scottish brogues and the Old English words.
In 1715, Lady Blythe Hedley’s father is declared an enemy of the British crown because of his Jacobite sympathies, forcing her to flee her home in northern England. Secreted to the tower of Wedderburn Castle in Scotland, Lady Blythe awaits who will ultimately be crowned king. But in a house with seven sons and numerous servants, her presence soon becomes known.
No sooner has Everard Hume lost his father, Lord Wedderburn, than Lady Hedley arrives with the clothes on her back and her mistress in tow. He has his own problems—a volatile brother with dangerous political leanings, an estate to manage, and a very young brother in need of comfort and direction in the wake of losing his father. It would be best for everyone if he could send this misfit heiress on her way as soon as possible.
Drawn into a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting alliances, and ambitions, Lady Blythe must be careful whom she trusts. Her fortune, her future, and her very life are at stake. Those who appear to be adversaries may turn out to be allies—and those who pretend friendship may be enemies.
