Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor my Review
My last book of the year and one of the best! This book was an absolute JOY to read. I must confess I enjoyed it so much more than I'd even hoped to.
I was perhaps a little uncertain at first glance, as (apologies to all concerned) the cover reminds me of Mills and Boon books (which I have never liked) but the minute I received my copy, instead of adding it to my tbr pile as is usual, I opened it just to read a few pages to see if it would interest me and hours later I emerged, breathless and spellbound from the pages, wiping a tear from my eye.
This is one superbly written, time-slip romance to rival (eclipse?) Outlander, and for anyone who enjoys a dual time narrative which is vividly descriptive, completely immersive and painstakingly researched this ticks all the boxes.
In the present day we have Louise, grieving deeply for the recent passing of her grandma, with whom she was brought up. All alone in the world, her chosen medical studies on hold, she hits the bottle and in a drunken fog stumbles over a cliff edge and almost comes to grief. Convinced this was a serious suicide attempt and that she is suffering from deep depression and psychosis, she suddenly finds herself bundled off to a truly awful mental hospital from which she cannot escape.
Coldbrook Hall is a hospital located in a former stately home, now run down, badly managed and in disrepair. Despite making a couple of friendships with fellow patients Louisa is desperate to get out of there and managing to slip unnoticed into another part of the building, cordoned off for imminent demolition, she is surprised when she hears a mans voice calling for help....
Meanwhile 100 years in the past, a wounded army Lieutenant, Robert Lovett, lies in his hospital bed, blind and injured, recuperating from terrible war injuries sustained in the first world war. A talented painter he longs only to be able to see again so he can return to the battle front to aid his fellow men and to know that he will be able to paint again.
It is he who is calling for assistance and Louisa who comes to his aid, despite living a century apart, they are drawn together and so begins a seemingly impossible relationship and a deep and abiding love.
The ensuing story takes us back and forth in time, where the experiences on the battlefield are graphic and mind blowingly terrible. I don't think I've ever read such a well depicted tale of war which so clearly made me see the sheer horror of battle and men being forced to fight for their lives in appalling conditions.
The book is also a real testament to a century of medical treatments and advances, although as we see from Louisa's all too credible helplessness, once caught in "the system" modern advances don't necessarily benefit all patients and this book highlights shortcomings in todays privately run mental hospitals.
This is a magical piece of literature and a completely absorbing escape to captivate any discerning romantic reader and one I wholeheartedly recommend. If you've ever enjoyed books by Rachel Hore, Susanna Kearsley or Kate Morton do give this a try and if you're a fan of Diana Gabaldons Outlander series, this will surely enchant you.
The Blurb
Outlander meets Birdsong in this haunting debut timeslip novel, where a strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in the First World War and a young woman living in modern-day England a century later.In 1916 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall military hospital in Sussex, England. A gifted artist, he’s been wounded fighting in the Great War. Shell shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless.
A century later in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother – her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs – only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear she may have attempted suicide, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall – now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place.
Then one day, while secretly exploring the old Victorian hospital’s ruined, abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark, old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was hurt at the Battle of the Somme, a WW1 battle a century ago. And that his name is Lieutenant Robert Lovett…
Two people, two battles: one against the invading Germans on the battlefields of 1916 France, the other against a substandard, uncaring mental health facility in modern-day England. Two journeys begun a century apart, but somehow destined to coincide - and become one desperate struggle to be together.
Part WW1 historical fiction, part timeslip love story - and at the same time a meditation on the themes of war, mental illness, identity and art - Beyond The Moon sweeps the reader on an unforgettable journey through time. An intelligent read, perfect for book clubs.
Some quotes about the book
*Shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Write Your Own Love Story Prize 2018/19
"The characterization is spot-on, as is the historical time-line. Beyond the Moon is not only a page-turner but an intelligent appraisal of medicine, psychology and mental illness over the years. Historical fantasy at its very best." — Historical Novel Society
"A poignant and stirring love story... Taylor’s accomplished, genre-bending book succeeds as a WW1 historical novel and a beguiling, time travel romance... The sharply written narrative deftly moves back and forth between the past and present." — Kirkus Reviews
"A time travel romance, yet so much more than that. It is also an unflinching portrait of the horrors of war, and a look at the torturous extremes a human soul can endure. It is a sonnet to the transformative power of love, even as it is also a criticism of the futility and pointless destructiveness of war." — Shaylin Gandhi, author of By The Light of Embers
Link to the book on Amazon uk
