A surprising novel where i went in expecting one thing and got something else. Definitely one of those novels where you can’t really talk about it without spoiling so i will say to those who like this style of weird abstract concepts with dense prose you’ll like this a lot. it’s what i like but my tastes are not typical of others.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Good book, be prepared to spend some time with it. All encompassing, incredible characters neatly woven with historical figures and facts of 1800's Hawaii.

4☆

I have always been a big fan of adventure books and historical fiction, so this book made me really happy! I do want to say that I actually didn't find this book that hard to follow as some other reviewers stated. I really enjoyed the writing and story-telling and I like that there was enough atmosphere building but also enough character development and plot to follow. I am kind of an atmosphere over characters and plot girlie, but I felt that this book did all three wonderfully! Obviously Balzac and Mayme were wonderful, but I was little interested in the Victor and Jeraiais subplot.

Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of Isabel Allende and Abraham Verghese. It even gave me a little bit of The Count of Monte Cristo vibes meets the show Our Flag Means Death. I loved the descriptions of the Hawaiian locations and the sense of adventure throughout the book. There was humor and it mostly dry and satirical (which I love). I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

A gripping retelling of displaced Frenchmen who travel far from home to escape the revolution at home. I picked it up, sank into it, and sailed around the world.

Recommended if you like European history, French culture, and a reminder that people have always migrated and made new lives in hostile places.

It was a stunner at times. Be prepared to be immersed in the story.