This was a lovely story set in Scotland during the Jacobite Rebellion of the mid-18th century. The historical aspects of this novel were fascinating to learn about, as I knew very little about Scotland's past. The author crafted this story with current-day author Carrie McLelland writing a novel about the experiences of her ancestor, Sophia Paterson.
In my humble opinion, the literary technique of using a frame story has to be done just right in order to avoid a disconnected narrative. The timing almost necessitates perfection to pull the reader from one intriguing story into the next without making the reader feel as though momentum has been lost. A novel that achieved this balance impeccably, in my opinion, is Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. Throughout much of this particular novel, however, I found myself fully invested in the events, only to be pulled away to another moment in time. If I'm honest, it left me frustrated, and also kept me from forming an emotional bond with the characters.
Despite this, the setting was magnificent, and the author excelled at allowing the reader to feel immersed physically in the scene. In addition, the story itself was certainly compelling, and I can never turn down a good historical fiction novel - especially one in which I learn little-known facts.
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