Yes, this is the first book review I’ve posted in quite awhile. And, yes, I’m reviewing a book titled The Winter Sea even though it’s springtime. I’m just wacky like that.
Hello, Tartlets! It’s been a hot minute. (An update about that will go up later this week.) Sorry it’s taken me so darn long to find my way back to this space, but I’m here and ready to resume discussing all things books, recipes, and writing with my lovely readers.
This novel by Susanna Kearsley is a wonderful blend of historical fiction, women’s fiction, and magical realism. One could even say it contains a touch of sci-fi/fantasy, depending on what you believe when it comes to past lives and genetic/ancestral memory. Whatever genre you want to place it in, The Winter Sea does a wonderful job of transporting you to winter in Scotland, both past and present.
It’s really two stories in one. First, there’s present-day Carrie, who moves onto a Scottish seaside cottage to write a book about Slains Castle. Then, there’s the historical fiction narrative about the 1700s Jacobites who inhabited Slains, and that narrative actually serves as the basis for the fictional novel that Carrie’s writing.
If you’re a history buff, you’re going to soak The Winter Sea right up. There’s tons of history in this book. TONS. Kearsley goes into quite a lot of detail about the goings-ons of early 1700s Scotland in both the present and historical timelines.
I admittedly didn’t follow all of it. I like history, but I don’t love it. When the details about royal lineage and sneaking an exiled king back into Scotland became too much, I started skimming instead of reading. Just a bit!
However, if you’re not a huge fan of history, don’t let this aspect of The Winter Sea put you off. Even with skimming the heavy historical bits, I was able to keep up with the story. And there’s plenty else to enjoy!
I adored discovering little Scottish towns around Cruden Bay with Carrie and exploring Slains Castle and its magnificant backdrop on the Scottish coast with Sophia, the main character in the historical narrative. The Winter Sea has love stories in both timelines, and you get really invested with both Carrie and Sophia’s adventures.
And, as a writer, I appreciated fictional author Carrie’s ever-present pull toward writing. I read The Winter Sea while I was drafting a novel, and Carrie’s fervor to get down her first draft only spurred on my own writing. If you’re a writer, you’re going to love this aspect of Kearsley’s novel.
Overall, if you’re just looking for a nice, thick book with a cozy, wintry feel, I don’t think you can do much better than The Winter Sea. If you enjoyed Winter Solstice, you definitely should give this one a try. It’s perfect for curling up with during the long, dark winter nights (or the upcoming chilly spring nights?) and getting lost in another place and another time.
I hope you’ll check back in soon for my The Winter Sea book-inspired recipe: Dundee Cake.
Ooh, this sounds good!! Must admit, I’m not that much into Jacobean history, I prefer medieval and earlier, but if it gave you a boost in your own writing, then I might have to give it a go too. Maybe I’ll wait for winter to draw in a little first!
I didn’t know much about Jacobean history, either, but I sure learned a lot, lol. Totally worth the read, though. And, yes, if you can wait for winter, do! I originally started reading this book on a chilly, windy, snowy winter night, and it was perfect. 🙂