3.5 stars rounded up

The two narrators give different perspectives on 17th century life: Lady Christian’s family are down-on-their-luck after the death of their father but she’s still incredibly privileged, so she is mostly concerned with marrying well and protecting her reputation when she starts to make scandalous decisions; Violet is a sex worker with more immediate, material concerns who spots an opportunity when a wealthy man wants to take her to his castle for a lengthier sojourn. Their interactions with the justice system make the implications of wealth and class stark, though I felt this was occasionally handled in a clumsily obvious way.

The prose was smooth and the setting was incredibly evocative, Edinburgh especially, with lots of little details that really flesh out the historical setting. The story is structured in a non-linear way to release information in a way that heightens tension, however there were a couple of times when the changing timeline combined with the changing point of view threw me off a bit, eg. The flashbacks could be a bit disjointed, making it more difficult to follow any emotional arcs.

There was a heck ton of period typical acephobia that I wasn’t expecting, and while it’s understandable within the context of the story (both from the fact that it’s ultimately a story about sex, and not feeling sexual attraction is one facet of human sexual experience, but also because it gave Christian a way to defend the adultery to herself) it was still personally uncomfortable to read - and I think it potentially tempered empathy I had for Christian’s self-criticism, which was born of her otherwise loving husband’s lack of sexual attraction to her. (I don’t know if the acephobia was mentioned in content warnings, I wasn’t able to find any at the time of reading.)

Each POV character had their own narrator, and I enjoyed both Paula Masterton and Samara MacLaren’s performances. One note on the audiobook that I’m not docking stars for because it was an ARC - it seemed like some of the stuff towards the end got replaced by a part of an earlier chapter (for reference it was section 58 and a bit at the very end of 61), but the NetGalley app was being super-glitchy because of my poor wifi, which made it difficult to check, and it could very well be have been a result of the glitchiness.

A gripping historical novel based on real events which kept me guessing til the very last chapter. It was an eye opening look into what life was like for women of different classes in Edinburgh in the past. Following their very different perspectives and relationships made for a fascinating read and the characters I had the most empathy for were not necessarily the ones I had expected to relate to. The narrator was very good and kept me immersed in the story. The different accent and intonation for the characters worked very well.

I didn't know what to expect from this book but I expected something akin to The Familiars. And I wasn't disappointed. All too often a book follows the expected narrative but this was different. Great story telling and a lot of female protagonists struggling in the 17th century. Loved this book and the narration was great too. Highly recommend.

I jumped at the chance to listen to the audiobook of The Maiden because I heard such good reviews during book club discussions of Hear No Evil by Sarah Smith. It is another excellent example of feminist fiction inspired by a historical event that gives voice to the female characters who are often underrepresented in the historical record.

Coming from different social spheres, the women in The Maiden nevertheless share a common vulnerability in the face of rich and powerful men; men with the power of the kirk behind them but no inclination to apply its strict moral standards to their own lives.

The narration was excellent and I found the characters were rounded and believable. I was rooting for them and could absolutely picture them in the various settings, particularly some of the grimmer locations in Edinburgh.

I'll be looking out for more from Kate Foster and I would particularly recommend The Maiden if you enjoyed Hear No Evil or The Familiars by Stacey Halls.

Enrapturing from the very first syllable. The opening scene is a 17th-century Scottish courtroom, pronouncing the guilt and hanging of Lady Christian for the murder of the lecherous and not so gentlemanly Lord James Forrester. The narration is expertly woven to slowly reveal the build-up to this moment. The setting is unapologetically chilling and enthralling, readily capturing life in Edinburgh in the 1600s from its highest social circles, to the whore houses and the dark deeds that occur behind closed doors. The audiobook is so well narrated to weave the backstory from the feminist view of the accused Lady Christian and also Lord Forrester's mistress and prostitute Violet. The stories of women such as Lady Christian are mere footnotes to their male counterparts, while the voiceless lower classes fade into oblivion. It is so refreshing to hear their voices portrayed in this story. I was even more captivated when I realised that the story of Lady Christian is indeed based on true experience. I loved to imagine how she might have found herself a murdereress. A fascinating listen. #themaiden #katefoster #netgalley #macmillanukaudio

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan UK audio for the advance audiobook.

The concept and blurb of the book sounded really interesting; I had read about ‘The White Lady’ before and was interested to read a book from her point of view.

I found the audiobook quite hard to listen to, it felt a lot longer than it was and I felt very little connection to the characters. In terms of historical fiction it just wasn’t as gripping.

I ended up DNF’ing the book after trying to listen to it on and off for quite a few hours.
I couldn’t get into the story even when the secondary characters POV was introduced.

I don’t know if because I had read some other historical fiction before starting this that flowed a lot better that it overshadowed how I received this book. However, even taking a break and coming back to it didn’t help.

I don’t know who I would recommend this to, but hope people enjoy it if they choose to listen or read it.

This book was a great surprise! Based on true events , we follow two women in Scotland in the 1670’s . One is a respectable lady called Christian and the other is a prostitute called Violet. Both have a relationship with James Forrester , who ends up dead. Christian ends up imprisoned and awaiting execution. Who committed the murder and why?
This was such a great book. Faced paced, full of character and a pleasure to read. I listened to the audiobook and it was expertly narrated and I was so obsessed I read it all within 24 hours. Sign of a great book!

The Maiden is a genuine masterpiece. So carefully constructed as the story weaves back and forth with a narrative from two of the central characters. I was totally gripped and I’ve raced through the audiobook in a couple of sittings. The narration throughout is superb. It captures a very particular Edinburgh lilt and it really added to my enjoyment of this title.

The story is based on fact, but this is historical fiction at its best. Every character leaps out and as subtle changes take place in relationships, their attitudes and language changes too. Lady Christine is accused of murder and we learn of her family set up and relationships ship her mother, father and sisters. Adding a very rich and ribald thread is Violet, a young lady at the other end of the social scale, living in a bawdy house and turning tricks fir her mistress, The paths of the two cross in the most unlikely way through connection with Lady Christine’s uncle.

The story is recounted in short chapters which keep the plotting and pacing sharp. I was keen to keep listening as they often ended on a cliffhanger. The author creates a real sense of social divide; privilege versus poverty, men versus women. It’s a story of live, loss, much lust, revenge and at the heart it’s a tale of female oppression. Victims of a male dominated society, their voices shout of discrimination and unfairness. It’s fast, colourful, a real sense of time and place with much attention to period detail and I absolutely loved this emotive tale. I’d give it more stars if possible.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I was really excited to be receive the e-audiobook ARC for The Maiden by Kate Foster.

It’s a work of historical fiction centred on the life Lady Christian Nimmo - who latterly became known as The White Lady. Visit the Edinburgh Dungeons and you will learn about The White Lady / Lady Christian Nimmo.

Christian married a wealthy titled man, Andrew, and became Lady Christian Nimmo. Her husband spent a lot of time travelling in Europe for his business and left her alone at their Estate. Lady Christian began to feel that she was trapped in loveless marriage and eventually took a lover, Lord James Forrester, who was her Uncle through marriage and also the Laird at the neighbouring Estate. This is 1678 and it is a very different world - not only is it a man’s world but it is a dangerous time for women. One year later, Lady Christian Nimmo is charged with the murder of Lord James Forrester.

The story moves between the perspective of two very different women Lady Christian Nimmo and Violet, a Lady of the Night. The headlines from The Calendonia Broadside punctuate the story with updates on the trial, which I really loved.

I enjoyed the way book really provided a backdrop of the conservative times where the Church exercised a great role in the lives of people. The Church policed morals and punished parishioners in a public way by forcing them to sit on the stools of repentance.

I also enjoyed the way in which minor female characters also illuminate how dangerous and frightening life was for women. Women herbalists were labelled witches and were tried and executed. Women working as servants in large houses lived in fear of sexual assault by the Laird.

The e-audiobook is expertly narrated by Paula Masterton, Samara MacLaren and Angus King, all of whom really bought the book to life.

I also want to praise the book cover’s artwork as it’s really beautiful and the elements such as the peacocks, pineapples, trees and white cloak represent key moments throughout the book.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan UK Audio, for making the e-audiobook ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. I look forward to reading other books by Kate Foster in the future.

This book is inspired by a real life case which is set in Edinburgh 1679, Lady Christian Nimmo is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover James Forrester, but what would cause her to risk her privileged lifestyle and what is the truth?
This was compelling and a real page turner, the characters are all vivid while the book has a real sense of time and place with the way women are treated.
I was gripped by the story from the first page and couldn’t stop listening. The author really keeps you guessing as to whom the murderer may have been and just when you think you know it goes a different way
I enjoyed everything about this book, the writing, the characters, the narration and the mysterious story plus it was set in Edinburgh which I always love. A cracking read

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an Advanced Reading Copy of this in exchange for an honest review.