Review: Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?

When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend's vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks--a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple's fledgling marriage--it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend--and once, for herself--is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom's family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It's in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland's majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own--and a heart afraid to trust again--Laine must determine how much she's willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.

Set in three time-periods--the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland's turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day--Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin's storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland's stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith--which legacy would you choose?

My Review

Such an evocative telling of three different yet connected stories. I have to admit I struggled with the triple storyline in the first book The Lost Castle, but with this one I found the setting of Ireland so compelling and loved the history I discovered among its pages. I don't remember learning about Ireland's struggle for freedom in school, and I am especially grateful to the author for bringing it to life in such a meaningful way. It made me want to learn even more and follow up with my own research... a definite sign for me of an amazing book!

While I didn't feel connected to the characters' emotions in the way that I feel them as well, they were so interesting and I was filled with compassion as I read of their struggles and strength amid adversity. This isn't a book you want to read in spurts. I did better reading it in longer sittings so I could stay immersed and keep track of the three stories easier. As I got deeper into the book the stories began to converge with small details and links through history, and I couldn't wait to see the modern day characters discover the mysteries of the castle and its previous inhabitants. By the end my heart was full and I shed a few tears as each story wrapped up. There's something so earnest about war based in revolution, and the author did an excellent job portraying that passion and desperation for freedom from oppression. Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)