A novel set in Victorian times across primarily two parts of the world ,Bath and Borneo with forays into Paris and London. Strong characters are drawn in the storyline with people seeking love in various forms and portrays the kindness and damage that can be wrought due to the vagaries of human nature. The joys and the destruction. , jealousy and survival. It is a multi layered novel with room for thought .

Jane is a tall woman ... already I love this book. Following an unwanted proposal she flees to her aunts house in a London and discovers love. Meanwhile in the forests of Borneo Sir Ralph Savage has built himself an earthly paradise. Although on opposite sides of the world Jane and Ralph’s worlds mingle. Unputdownable fiction that flits from Nineteenth century London to Borneo with cameos in Ireland and Bath.

*** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

This is my first read of one of Rose Tremain's novels and I come away with mixed reviews.

2/3rds of the book were excellent, 5 star rated, in fact. These are the parts of the book following Jane and Clorinda who are both interesting characters without us being whisked away to Borneo for what felt like a much less interesting story.

Whilst the language really set the scene for me in Bath and London, I found myself skipping over the lengthy descriptions of the house in Borneo and the characters out of disinterest. The ending pleased me greatly without revealing any spoilers.

Rose at remain is a truly astonishing storyteller. Each book is so different and she takes the reader into a totally different world every time.

I absolutely loved this story. Again, I was swept into jungles and strangeness in Borneo alongside a narrative set in mid Victorian London and Bath and Dublin slums. This is a multi layered story which works well as an adventure but explores numerous themes including the nature of love, loneliness, loss, duty. It’s complex and filled with rich and vibrant characters whose difficulties, excesses and desires I found easy to buy into. It gallops along at a pace, switching easily between the different locations and characters and kept me totally engrossed. This is what truly great literature is all about; beautifully written, a spell binding story and one that leaves you thinking. Loved it and my thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

Lots of well described characters. Trials and tribulations for everyone concerned. Loved the period in Bath, as I often visit there, the names of the streets and descriptions of the places involved, especially the thermal baths.
Jane who works with her father a doctor is perused by his assistant Ross, but refuses his offer of marriage, she is then involved in a lesbian affair which awakens her sexuality.
The other locations of the book are London where Jane stays with her Aunt and meets her lesbian lover and Borneo where Ross's brother is a botanist.
A well researched and haunting story, where a jealous and unhinged man can ruin lives.

I have really enjoyed Tremain’s historical novels in the past, especially her vibrant and absorbing Merivel novels, but this one disappointed me. The story is about Jane, a striking-looking woman renowned for her nursing skills, but who feels she is meant for another destiny. She spurns a conventional marriage for a passionate affair with a woman but later reconsiders, with brutal consequences. The other strand of the book centres on the eccentric and wealthy Sir Ralph and his uninhibited life in the wilds of Borneo. The two parts do not sit well together, the exotic nature of parts of the plot seemed incongruous for the Victorian era, and I found the writing style rather restrained and uninvolving. I did not care about the characters and struggled to maintain attention in parts. I wish I had liked it more, but I am sure lots of Tremain’s many fans will disagree. with me.

I found this historical novel really quite disappointing. It gives us a number of parallel narrative strands which are pulled together, to differing degrees, by the end. It deals with several (too many?) interesting and important issues such as gender identity, homosexuality both male and female, violence against women, female empowerment and colonialism, but in an extremely clunky way.

Clorinda Morissey moves from poverty and a menial job in Dublin to Bath, where she sells a family heirloom and uses the proceeds to set up her own tea rooms. Amongst her customers is Dr Valentine Ross, and in the course of time she witnesses his rebuffed offer of marriage to his business partner's strikingly tall daughter Jane Adeane, revered throughout town as the Angel of the Baths. Valentine's brother Edmund, meanwhile, is a naturalist who, in his quest for new species of plant and animal to send back to England, has gone to the jungles of Borneo where he encounters the eccentric but wealthy self-styled rajah Sir Ralph Savage, living in opulence and in a homosexual relationship with his native manservant who secretly despises him and has plans and ambitions of his own. Fleeing Bath for London and the company of her bohemian aunt, Jane discovers and satisfies her attraction to women, setting the stage for an exploration of the turbulence such life choices brought in Victorian England, including exposing Valentine's underlying abusive propensities. And meanwhile, the jungle in Borneo lays waste to the best laid plans of men. and in some cases, to their lives

All of this has great potential, and could have made for a profound and insightful novel. Instead, it reads like an inferior pastiche of the likes of Sarah Waters, Maeve Binchy and Anne Patchett's State of Wonder. Everything is heavily foreshadowed and woefully overstated, with no subtlety or space for the reader to bring their own engagement to the reading experience. Having heard good things about Rose Tremain I had higher expectations, but this was simply too busy, too obvious, too one-directional, like a hastily cobbled-together senior school essay. A wasted opportunity.

I haven’t ever read any of Rose Tremain’s works but having read this, I may seek them out!. This is a hugely complex story with so many interwoven characters, plots and settings that I don’t know how Tremain managed to keep on top of them all, let alone create a novel that is easy to read and compelling.

The plot largely centres around Jane Adeane, a nurse at her father’s surgery in Bath in 1865 who, due to her skills and a certain aura, is known as the “angel of the baths.” But she feels that she has a destiny to do something more with her life. What unfolds is a story full of characters who are unsatisfied with their lives but are striving (to a lesser or greater degree) to do or experience more. The book takes in issues of being a woman at that time, homosexuality, colonialism and more.

It really is an interesting book and I would recommend it. However, the side story in Borneo is definitely the weaker part and, while the characters are all linked, it didn’t feel necessary. I would’ve preferred more focus on Jane and her lover, Julietta, or the characters in Dublin who are only really brought in towards the end. Perhaps there’s the option for another story that could feature them?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The more of Rose Tremain's books I read the more I appreciate her talent for creating interesting, believable, diverse and detailed characters. Islands of Mercy is no exception.

We follow a young woman called Jane, the daughter of a Doctor and a respected nurse in her own right as she contemplates a choice between life as a spinster, hiding her sexuality and relationships with women, or marriage to a doctor working alongside her father which will enable her to conform to society's expectation of her.
We also follow a British Rajah in Borneo, Ralph, who is making choices of his own and facing the reality of his future prospects with his male lover.

The historical settings of 19th Century England and the exotic island of Borneo are both portrayed brilliantly and the dual narrative structure worked really well to keep the story engaging but also to draw some interesting parallels between the narratives.

I adored this book and think it is one of Tremain's absolute best.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

I was sent a copy of Islands of Mercy by Rose Tremain to read and review by NetGalley.
I was really looking forward to reading this book as Rose Tremain is one of my favourite authors. I have to say though, I was a little disappointed as it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While I still enjoyed the novel, I felt that the writing often seemed rather detached and matter of fact. There was a good deal of psychological explanation, or so it seemed to me, which made certain passages somewhat dry. There were still moments of the authors customary magic, where the prose was all engrossing and more in her usual style - unfortunately, not quite enough for me. I have still given a rating of four stars but I do wish I had felt it worthy of the full five.

This book I must admit I have found very hard to review as it felt like I was reading two different novels in one book. They interlink slightly towards the end but it left me a bit confused.

Firstly, the plotline involving Jane was brilliant, I loved the setting in Bath and how she had fallen in love with another woman but had the pressure to marry a man. She was such a likeable and realistic character who I really admired. One of the scenes between her and Dr Ross really shocked me. He was such a vile, arrogant man who I detested the more and more I read about him which is exactly how the author would want readers to feel. I also loved the character of Clorinda who was perceived to be a strong, independent woman who really shone in this book. Life as we all know in Victorian England for a woman wanting more in life than just getting married and raising children was frowned upon. To have a character like Clorinda with her own business was remarkable to read about. The female characters were just written brilliantly!

The parts of the story that baffled me were with Sir Ralph Savage and Dr Ross’ brother Edward in Borneo. They both didn’t bring anything to the story and when I finished the book I was left dissatisfied. The whole storyline involving them could have been cut out of this book and it would have made no major difference to events that do unfold. I just found it made the entire reading experience of this book a bit odd. However I thought the descriptions of Borneo were magnificently written and I could picture it all perfectly in my head.

Overall, this book is beautifully written, with strong female characters and a great plotline that took place in Bath. If the parts based in Borneo were taken out I probably would have rated it higher but I feel three stars is fair for this particular book.

Bath, 1865, Clorinda Morrissey has just arrived from her native Ireland and opens her tea room. Jane Adeane, the Angel Of the Baths works as a nurse with her father William Adeane and Valentine Ross, a surgeon. The story also takes us to London, where Jane’s aunt lives and where Jane meets the unforgettable Julietta. We also travel to Borneo where Edmund, brother of Valentine is doing his botanical research and where we also meet the Rajah Ralph Savage and his servant and lover Leon. All these characters are complex, searching for a direction to their life, choosing to live very differently from the norm at the time. Their emotions are violent, deep and give direction to their lives. In the middle of all these tortured souls, Clorinda and William are warm, reassuring and merciful characters I liked very much in the novel. Rose Tremain’s writing is exceptional again in this book, bringing these characters to life and immersing fully the reader into the setting, its colors, shapes, smells and atmosphere. I remained puzzled with the end of the book, and it felt as though some storylines remained hanging in the air. I enjoyed again the style of Rose Tremain, a real pleasure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK Vintage Publishing, and the author Rose Tremain for this advance readers copy of Islands of Mercy.
#IslandsofMercy #NetGalley

Islands of Mercy follows the lives of a whole cast of characters in the year 1865, from the quaint streets of Bath to the bustling social hub and London and across the oceans to Borneo.

I'm afraid that I couldn't connect to Tremain's story at all - at 30%, I still couldn't fathom where the plot was going. Just a little too slow paced for my personal tastes. I also didn't feel invested in any of her characters or their relationships.

I imagine this might suit a reader who appreciates a slow build up, or stories set in and around the 19th century.

My thanks to Random House U.K. Vintage/Chatto & Windus for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Islands of Mercy’ by Rose Tremain.

In 1865 in the city of Bath Jane Adeane serves as a nurse to her father, Sir William Adeane, a renowned surgeon. Her healing skills have gained her the title of the ‘Angel of Bath’. Her father’s new associate, Dr. Valentine Ross, courts her but Jane finds herself torn between her powerful feelings for a married woman and the security offered by a conventional marriage with Ross.

On the other side of the world on the island of Borneo, an eccentric British ‘rajah’, Sir Ralph Savage, lives in splendour with his native lover, Leon. He has plans to develop the area but these schemes are being undermined. Edmund Ross, Valentine’s brother, is a naturalist who has traveled to Borneo in order to discover new species. He falls ill with malaria and is brought to Sir Ralph’s palatial home to recover.

Tremain details these lives and others describing with her usual expressive style the landscapes and cityscapes of her settings. Jane’s visit to Paris in the company of her lover, Julietta, and Julietta’s husband, Ashton, was especially vivid.

My favourite character was Clorinda Morrisey, who had left Dublin and come to Bath to seek a better life. After selling a family heirloom, she manages to open a tea shop and comes to know the Adeane family. For me, she was very much the heart of the novel, a kind and compassionate woman determined to improve her station in a society where women have limited choices.

The novel underlines the social restrictions imposed by Victorian society and how some managed to circumnavigate them.

I found myself much more engaged by the chapters set in England and Paris. I felt the switching between those sections and events in Borneo were somewhat disruptive to the pacing, even with the lush descriptions of the jungle.

The Borneo chapters did have some echoes for me with Tremain’s 2003 novel, ‘The Colour’, also set in the 1860s and exploring the exploitation of native peoples and natural resources by colonialists.

Overall, another beautifully written work of historical fiction by this accomplished author.

In the year 1865 young Clorinda arrives in Bath from her home town of Dublin.
She opens up a small tea shop and meets the impressive Jane the Angel of the Baths.
Valentine Ross is besotted with Jane and asks her to marry him but Jane isnt in love with Valentine so turns down his proposal.
Jwne needs time away from Bath and decides to visit her aunt in London, here she meets Julietta who is married with a young son but also has many female lovers.
Jane embarks on her love affair with Julietta but also knowing that they can never be together.
Jane eventually agrees to marry Valentine but he does something that makes Jane call off the wedding.
This is a tale of love,romance and betrayal.

I have loved historical fiction and novels by Rose Tremain in the past and was looking forward to this one. At first I really enjoyed the writing, the character of Clorinda Morrissey was excellent and the Bath narrative held some interest.
Jane’s storyline was not unique, it reminded me very much of Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters (which I feel was done better).
The Borneo narrative felt like it didn’t fit and I was reading two different books. I wasn’t enjoying it and felt like skipping those chapters.
Ultimately I found it disjointed and tiresome to read. I DNF’ed at 40%

Thanks to netgalley and Chatto and Windus for my eARC.

I wish I could celebrate the publication of Islands of Mercy today with a glowing five-star review...unfortunately, I’m afraid I found the novel to be something of a disappointment.

Set in 1865, and moving between Bath, London, Borneo, Ireland and Paris, Islands of Mercy follows a vast cast of interlinked characters who each seek to make their mark and find happiness in a pitiless world. I’ve debated trying to describe the plot in more detail, but in all honestly, I’d be here all day as I found the story immeasurably disjointed. While well written, the link between the Bath side of the story involving Jane Adeane, the Angel of the Baths, a nurse who finds herself torn between a dangerous affair with a woman and a more conventional marriage with a seemingly respectable doctor, and the Borneo based story that follows the eccentricities of the self-made “Rajah,” Sir Ralph Savage and his ambitious lover Leon , was very, very, tenuous. It felt like reading two separate novels.

I’ll admit, I did enjoy some aspects of the Bath narrative. There are some great characters (namely Clorinda Morrissey) and some beautiful little insights into and observations on human nature. It just wasn’t enough to make up for the unnecessary colonial plot line and the dark and unusual direction of the story as a whole. The entire reading experience was just odd. So much so I almost didn’t finish it. It was definitely not what I was expecting when I read the synopsis and left me feeling very uneasy...I honestly wish I hadn’t wasted my time.

Content warnings: domestic abuse, child loss/miscarriage/ death, illness, suicide, sexual abuse.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to read and review a copy of this book.

Islands of Mercy is a novel of multiple characters and their stories which, although sometimes felt aimless, I didn't want to end. Such was the power of the writing and the investment in these people's lives.
There are main two settings - Victorian England and Borneo. In Victorian England Jane Adeane, helps nurse people with the healing waters of Bath. She is courted by Valentine Ross, a doctor at her father's surgery, but she rejects him as her feelings are for another woman. One of the threads explores the need to conform and marry in Victorian society, even if it takes away all of the woman's wealth and independence.
In Borneo, an Englishman, "Sir" Ralph, has a native lover, Leon, who resents his superior position and wealth over him and plots to better himself. Sir Ralph wants to improve the lot of the native Malays by building a road in the jungle, which is forever having to be repaired against the invasive jungle and torrential rain. I loved this section the most, as I love this setting and it reminded me of Joseph Conrad's Malay set novels (Tremain acknowledges Almayer's Folly as an influence). The road felt like a symbol for the path of life, where it is often struggling against outside influences to destabilise it and it finishes at a dead end.
Ultimately this novel is about how we all are individuals who should strive to help our fellow humans and treat them with unconditional compassion (as we don't always know circumstances) - let us all be Islands of Mercy.

Irish immigrant, Clorinda Morrissey sets up a tea shop in the city of Bath. There she comes into contact with Dr William Adeane, a practitioner who is tending the sick, along with his daughter, Jane, who is known, because of her compassionate nursing skills, as the Angel of Bath. Jane Adeane is a complex character, filled with a longing for something she doesn't yet know she needs. She flees the city, after a conventional proposal of marriage and goes to reside with her rather Bohemian relative in London, there she meets someone who will change her life forever.

The Borneo connection sits somewhat incongruously at first and I wasn't really sure how this would fit in with the rest of the story but it does eventually pull together and it was interesting to see the layers peeled back revealing the rather jaded lifestyle of Sir Ralph Savage. An interesting character and a marvelous place to set a story, but sadly, neither the place nor the people, held any sort of interest for me.

I wanted to like this book and after reading so many glowing reviews I expected to be blown away by it and, sadly, I wasn't. The Borneo aspects of the story was something I could very easily have skipped through and I'm afraid to say it but I found Jane to be profoundly irritating. The saving grace of the story was Clorinda Morrissey's place in it. Her strength of purpose and determination shines through in a world where so often women were greatly overlooked. She also made a great sponge cake!

Thank you for allowing me to read Islands of Mercy. Although I have very much enjoyed other books by Rose Tremain, I’m afraid that this one simply didn’t work for me. I wasn’t engaged by any of the characters and I found the narrative voice placed me at such a distance that I didn’t become involved in the story at all. I am assuming that you would rather I didn’t say this on my blog so I will not be posting a review.