I loved the story of The Island, even visited Spinalonga with its mystery and uniqueness, and I wasn't quite so transported by this sequel. I wanted to know more about the people from Spinalonga and how they coped back in the World. However, despite Anna and some others being quite one-dimensional characters, I enjoyed the book more as it went on and found it entertaining to the end.

One August Night - Victoria Hislop

My review is very unlike all the others that I have read - as (shock!) I have not read The Island - and not just that but this is my very first book ever by Victoria Hislop (I know where have I been and what have I been wasting my time reading). However I must say that this is soon to change. One August Night was such a treat of a read, it felt like a warm blanket of a book that swept me away, and this is just what was needed during the current climate.

The descriptions in the writing were phenomenal, I felt that I could picture everything and everyone. I loved the relationship between the characters, and my heartstrings were pulled this way and that throughout. I cannot wait to read more of Victoria Hislop's books (I have already purchased four to get me started!) I can certainly confirm that you do not have to have read The Island in order to thoroughly enjoy this book - I could not put it down!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in return for an honest review

I was a huge fan of The Island and often credit it as the book that got me back into reading after a long reading slump. I was therefore very excited to learn there was a sequel to it and immediately started reading as soon as I got my copy!

It was wonderful to be back with all the old characters and to see how they had changed, or not in the case of Anna, over the years. The author has created realistic stories for all of the characters which felt like a natural progression from their lives in The Island. I liked that the author doesn’t spend a lot of time recapping the story at the beginning of the book, which can be really annoying, but instead includes facts when necessary. I was actually amazed by how much I remembered from reading The Island all those years ago, it was obviously a story that stayed with me.

Once again the author’s love for Greece is evident from her fantastic descriptions that helped me to imagine the beautiful Greek setting. I loved learning more about the Greek festivals, traditions and dances that the author included in the story. I thought it was very clever how she managed to convey the emotional aspect of the dance through her descriptions so that the reader understands how the dance is meant to look without having seen it.

Overall I enjoyed this absorbing and entertaining read which I loved getting lost in for hours at a time. The story does dip a little in the middle and I was a little confused as to which way the story was going but do keep reading as the story soon picks up. My only small niggle with this book is it would have been nice to see how some of the other former Spinalonga residents get on after leaving the island but maybe that is for another book.

Huge thanks to Headline for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you were a fan of The Island then you’ll love this book!

Twelve years ago Victoria Hislop published her debut novel ‘The Island’ that became a sensational million copy best seller set on the island of Crete. It told the story two families, the Vardoulakis family and the Petrakis family, and features a poignant story set in the Leper Colony of Spinalonga. ‘One August Night’ is the sequel to ‘The Island’ and tells the story of the 25th August1957 release and closure of the Lepers exiled to Spinalonga. Anna and her rich husband Andreas Petrakis are preparing to welcome Anna’s sister Maria back home, now completely cured of Leprosy by the island’s doctor who she has married.
Lepers carried a stigma of mistrust and fear as the disease is highly contagious and unsightly. It can also be fatal if it is not properly treated. It is that iconic night in August that changes the direction of two men’s lives forever. They are both broken and devastated by the violent happenings of that night and the two families will never live down the shame, scandal and gossip generated from what happened. Manolis decides to flee from his home and build a new life for himself, never to return to his beloved island of Crete again. Andreas stays put, resigned to waiting quite alone and despondent for justice to be done. The two families are tainted by the tragedy wrought through jealousy and adultery and friendships are crushed. There will be a trial and dire consequences for the actions that occurred on one single night.
I was impressed with the way this author tied the stories together so that each historical novel can easily be read as standalones because of the seamless overlap bridging the two novels. I enjoyed meeting the characters created for ‘The Island’ once again and seeing how their lives were further developed. Once again the research was painstakingly conscientious, adding factual information that greatly enhanced the novel and gave it authenticity. I like reading novels like this one because as well as the enjoyment of the story, I learn interesting facts about historical events. I have visited Crete and seen the bewitching island of Spinalonga, but the human legacy of isolation and searching for a cure for leprosy is shameful and cruel. I received this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Review in return for an honest review. Thank you. All the opinions in my review are my own with no influence from other parties. I am happy to recommend the novel as a good read.

Victoria Hislop is one of my favourite authors. The Island in particular is in my top 10 books. When I realised I was to be given an opportunity to revisit Plaka I was thrilled. In such tumultuous year, where I, alongside many others, have been prevented from seeing our nearest and dearest, reading 'One August Night' was like coming home and being given a comforting hug by an adopted (Grecian) family. I read it in one sitting and, as with all of her novels, it was fantastic. The imagery and characters she creates are compelling, and I appreciated the authors note at the end that described the origins of the original 'The Island' novel. Thank you.

Having recommended The Island, and many of Hislop’s other titles, to more fellow readers than I can remember, I was extremely eager to read this sequel and I wasn’t disappointed.

The story of the Vandoulakis and Petrakis families continues - it’s a story of love, strength and hope in the face of adversity. Anna, the daughter of a local fisherman and husband to wealthy land owner Andreas, are preparing for the return of her sister Maria from the local leper colony, when tragedy strikes and once again their lives are changed forever. As the story unfolds, secrets from the past are revealed and we see such great acts of courage and forgiveness.

Hislop has such a wonderful talent of describing people and places in ways, often in very few words, that give the reader such vivid feelings of emotions and images. The text is so descriptive that I feel I have visited Crete and it brings back memories long forgotten of a trip to Athens almost 40 years ago. There was also a “nod” to previous titles by Hislop which was a lovely inclusion.

Whilst the story isn’t as in depth or as long as The Island it is a truly wonderful read and I’d recommend it to any reader, regardless of whether or not they’ve read the prequel.

I must admit I thought this One August Night would carry on from one of my favourite books ever The Island. I imagined I would be transported back to the leprosy colony on Spinalonga but that wasn’t the case. This book is based on the weeks leading up to the evacuation of the island and beyond, but the book is set in Crete rather than the island. Fans of The Island will immediately recognise characters from the previous book Anna, Maria, Manolis and Andreas. Anna and Manolis have embarked on a clandestine love affair, one which will end in tragedy, and divide two families.

At just 240 pages this is a short book and here’s where the problem lies, Victoria Hislop has written a book that is steeped in Greek island atmosphere, but sadly I found the characters and the plot lacked the depth I expect from this author. There was so much I wanted to know about each of the characters, but I felt the author only touched on some of their life’s on a superficial level I wanted to know so much more about them, especially Maria. I would imagine Maria as a survivor of leprosy would have faced much prejudice on her return from Spinalonga, but it’s barely touched up on. 

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed One August Night, it’s an absorbing tale of love, jealousy and forgiveness. The focus is on the characters hopes and dreams, tragedies and the terrible consequences of their actions. The rich descriptions of Crete alongside the history of the times really brought this book to life. I felt the book ended abruptly though, which I found slightly disappointing. But in the authors defence she may have written it this way to allow readers to come to their own conclusion. I think if you read and loved The Island you may be slightly disappointed with One August Night, but that’s only my humble opinion. If you haven’t read The Island I think this is the perfect read, especially for those who enjoy a family saga set in a beautiful location.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to Victoria Hislop’s ‘The Island’ and I haven’t been disappointed.

I devoured this book in two days, eager to pick up on what happened next to Manolis, Maria, Andreas and Fotini after the devastating events signalling the end of the first book.

Yet again, the rich descriptions of Crete alongside the history of the times really brought this book to life. I love the way the author writes, so descriptive and packing a punch in places.

I enjoyed the slight overlap at the start of the book, using different view points to pick up the story, which helped bring me up to date with the characters.

If you enjoyed the Island, you will love this sequel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. The Island is one of the most memorable books that I have ever read. It was lovely to read about characters that I already knew and to find out some more of their story. I was totally lost in this book from the start. I could happily have kept reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

One August Night is the Sequel to Victoria Hislop’s previous book The Island, about the Leper colony on the island of Spinalonga in Greece.
This book follows the characters and the life of the families from the first book, their hopes and dreams, tragedies and the terrible consequences of their actions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Headline and Victoria Hislop for this ARC in return for my honest review. I'm a massive fan of Victoria Hislop's books and I was so delighted to receive this early copy that I jumped straight in. Written with intimacy and compassion, this stunning portrayal of village life is a compelling read. Well drawn out characters that I found myself genuinely caring about. Immersed in empathy and warmth, a beautiful read. Just like The Island this book will definitely stay with me and it's one that I will wholeheartedly recommend.