The Stolen Hours, by Karen Swan - Clare
The second in Karen Swan's Wild Isles trilogy, The Stolen Hours had a lot to live up to! The first in the series, The Last Summer, stayed with me long after I finished it. Based on the isolated Scottish island of St Kilda and the last community to live there, the series has all of Swan's trademark empathy. Mhairi is a well crafted, likeable, yet flawed main character.
Happy on rugged and wild St Kilda, family circumstances leave her feeling pressured to accept a marriage with the seemingly dashing Alexander on neighbouring Harris. There is a sense of mystery throughout this book and a strong sense of - not too distant - history. At one point the lives of the islanders in 1929 are described as akin to the 1870's, and this is never stronger than in the vivid and horrific descriptions of the whaling industry.
I can't wait for the third installment to find out what happens to Mhairi and her friends as they face life away from St Kilda.
A highly recommended read.
Clare
