Cate of the Lost ColonyAuthor: Lisa Klein
Series: ---
Publisher: Bloomsbury
How Received: publisher ARC
Release Date October 14, 2010
The greatest unsolved mystery of American history--what happened to all the colonists who landed on Roanoke Island in 1587? This novel traces the fortunes and misfortunes of one Cate Archer, banished to Virginia by a jealous Queen Elizabeth because of her dalliance with Sir Walter Ralegh. What will be her fate in this dangerous New World?
My friend Megan is a Lisa Klein fangirl. Whenever I brought her name up, she had nothing but praise. So when I had the chance to read Cate of the Lost Colony, I hoped it would live up to her expectations.
I admit it: when I see a big chunk of historical related text that sets the scene, I skim it. That was the only flaw in Klein's story - her chunks of text for the background were distracting. I would have been much happier had they been spread throughout.
Besides that, though, I thought it was a fantastic story. I loved Lady Catherine Archer. She reminded me quite a lot of me - at the beginning when she was getting a handle on things, right up until the end where she realized the difference between lust and love.
I thought the rest of the characters were very well done as well - there's quite a wide variety of them, and for all of them to be captured in a way that made me believe them made me quite happy.
And Klein really does know how to capture a scene - I felt like I was sucked into the book (at least for most of the time; when the historical blocks of text appeared, I skimmed and usually got distracted by something else for a few moments.)
All in all, a solid piece of historical fiction and a nice idea for the mystery of Roanoke. I would happily read other things of hers.
Overall Rating & Final Comments: 9/10. Very good, though it would have been better had the historical stuff been spread throughout.
Cate of the Lost Colony comes out on October 14! Be sure to preorder a copy or go out and pick it up at your local bookstore - and if you come back in an hour, you have the chance to WIN a copy! DO IT.
I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but your review has captured my interest! Will definitely check this book out!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great. I have been waiting for a long time for it to come out. I noticed that a lot of bloggers have been getting it in their mailboxes the past few weeks. Makes me excited!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great! Can't wait to check it out! Great review! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the book was such a great read. For some reason, I haven't been wanting to read this, but your descriptions make it sound very interesting! :)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds great. I am intrigued to read it.
ReplyDeleteThe mystery of Roanoke is such a cool part of history, I'm surprised more books haven't been done about it! I enjoyed Lisa Klein's Ophelia so looking forward to this one too (although I do know what you mean about those historical info blocks of text, they can jolt you out of a story).
ReplyDeleteI've never even heard of the mystery of Roanoke... this book sounds like a great way to learn about it though, especially for someone like me who doesn't usually possess the attention span required to get through historical nonfiction :P
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to reading it!
I can't wait to read this one! I don't read a lot of historical fiction, even though I majored in history in university... but I've always been intrigued/obsessed with the mystery of Roanoke, so I definitely have to pick this one up. Glad you generally enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this book! Great review, I'll check it out!
ReplyDeleteSounds great--I've always been fascinated by Roanoke.
ReplyDeleteI generally hate this stuff but I'll try it.
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction! Cate of the Lost Colony has been on my to read list for a long time! Loved the review
ReplyDeleteI clapped my hands excitedly when I read your review. I annoyed my history teachers in primary schools immensely by constantly interrupting their lecture to ask, "But what happened to the people at Roanoke?". Even when they were trying to teach us about Ancient Egypt.
ReplyDeleteI love love love Historical fiction, and this sounds like a great book to read in the genre. Plus - come on. Roanoke is like one of the best historical mystery things ever. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Historical fiction! There's always so many little things to learn in them.
ReplyDeleteOhhh I love historical fiction! This looks really good. :)
ReplyDeleteBetween the cover and the genre, I'm not at all interested in this book. Still, you say it's good. As part of your review, I would have appreciated something that would hook me. You seem to like it, so I might try it based on the conviction of your review, but I'd like to know more about why I'd like it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic sounding book! I love books that have a historical background and this one sounds wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteIm not really into historical books but this one sounds really good! Nice review and very honest I like it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an interesting book. Thanks for your honesty about the long historical parts. My mind would probably wander too! :)
ReplyDeletenancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
I love reading historical fiction in the fall. This sounds like the type of book I will need to pick up soon!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review! Sounds like a really good book. I need to read it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard a lot about this book! I really want to read it and I'm glad you liked it! Great review!
ReplyDeleteSo I'm taking Ap U.S History now and we are doing the colonies. So much that my head hurts, but wierdly, I still lover history. Just the time and place of the book , makes me want to get my hand son it :]
ReplyDelete