'The Moon in the Water' by Pamela Belle is the first book in the 'Heron Quartet' series, set in England around 1642 during the Civil War. The story revolves around the Heron family, particularly focusing on Thomazine and Francis. As the tensions between King Charles and Parliament escalate, the family faces challenges and tragedies, with Thomazine navigating complicated relationships and societal norms of the time. The book delves into historical details, political intricacies, and the impact of war on the characters' lives, creating a rich and immersive narrative that captivates readers.

Characters:

Characters are richly depicted, especially the protagonists, who showcase depth and complexity, while some antagonists lack the same development.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by thorough historical research and evocative prose that captivates readers and grounds them in the period.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot intricately weaves a family's survival and personal relationships against the backdrop of the English Civil War, showcasing historical complexities.

Setting:

The setting is the mid-17th century during the English Civil War, exploring both societal and personal ramifications across different levels of society.

Pacing:

Pacing is slow at the commencement, gradually accelerating as the plot thickens, reflecting the intricacies of the historical setting.

Notes:

The Moon in the Water is set during the English Civil War, focusing on the Royalist perspective.

The book's primary characters are Thomazine and Francis Heron, who have a close relationship.

Pamela Belle creates vivid, believable characters and settings based on historical research.

The story includes themes of love, family dynamics, and political tension during a tumultuous period.

The author has written a total of seven books in the Heron Quartet, including prequels and fantasy novels.

The book starts slowly but gains momentum, becoming hard to put down after a certain point.

Readers appreciated the absence of explicit content, highlighting the genuine love between characters.

The book was given as a gift to a teenager, showing its appeal to younger audiences as well.

The author's writing is noted for its engaging storytelling and emotional depth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

There are medium content warnings for themes related to war, death, and familial conflict.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in The Moon in the Water, primarily focusing on the relationship between Thomazine and Francis.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

The year is 1635. A new life awaits…

When her close family are carried off by the smallpox, ferociously independent Thomazine Heron finds herself an orphan at the age of ten. Not only an orphan, but a considerable heiress.

Thomazine is sent to live with her Heron family cousins in the beautiful rose-coloured sprawling home of Goldhayes in Suffolk. She finds herself torn from all that she knows and thrown into a completely different world. However, she soon falls in love with the romantic house and the Heron family who live in it.

When Thomazine finds herself and her fortune betrothed to her cousin Dominic Drakelon while still only a child, she knows there is something she doesn't quite trust about the sly, handsome boy. And when she realises she is deeply in love with one of the Heron brothers and he with her, can she find a way of releasing herself from the engagement?

But the clouds of civil war loom on the horizon, and Thomazine's whole world - not to mention the whole of England - threatens to change forever.

The Moon in the Water is a page-turning, epic, historical romance from a skilful writer of the period.

Praise for Pamela Belle:

'A gifted storyteller…who can conjure up a period of history so that we can smell, hear and see it' - Sarah Harrison, author of The Flowers of the Field

Pamela Belle was born and bred in Suffolk, the daughter of a local prep school headmaster. She went to the University of Sussex, and went on to become a primary school teacher. The Moon in the Water is the first in the four-volume Heron saga .

1983

What can you read after
The Moon in the Water?

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The Moon in the Water

Pamela Belle

Book 1 in the series:Heron Quartet

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