There is such lovely and poetic prose in this novel, in spite of the subject, that I want to read it again. The author describes the smells, sounds, tastes of Sri Lanka vividly, as only a person who once called it home can. There is the same personal depth of feeling in the portrayal of the hopes, dreams and fears of the characters. There is undercurrent of grief in this novel, which eventually swells to a torrent and deeply affects the futures of the women portrayed here. This is an enlightening-and terrifying-look at civil war and the far reaching consequences in today's world. I definitely will recommend this book for both the beauty of the writing and the importance of the story it tells.

The descriptive imagery in this novel is almost lyrical. The eccentricities of the female characters and their individual motivations for rejecting traditional lives are finely drawn. The two distinct and separate tales in this novel ultimately connect in a surprising and unexpected way.

Nancy Jensen's debut novel is an emotionally weighty and melancholy portrait of two sisters forever separated by an event which ultimately reshapes their lives, characters and future. It is a well written, complex and compelling portrayal of family, unintended consequences and survival. I wanted to give this novel 5 stars, chapter by chapter, but I found it necessary to refer to the family tree quite often. Still highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this gifted author.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was disappointed. Based upon the title, The Borgia Betrayal, I expected far more detail about this infamous family than was delivered. This novel is essentially about the main character, Francesca, and her motivation to avenge her father's death through her position as the Court Poisoner for the Borgia family. There were interesting details about the duties and responsibilities of the Court Poisoner but I did not find Francesca to be a very believable or authentic 15th century character. Also, I am not certain this second novel in the Poisoner series really can be read as a stand alone book. I went back and read the first book and found myself wishing I had read it first. I am still on the fence about whether I will spend my time or money on the next book to come in this series.

Ann Napolitano has produced one of those rare novels which will pull you into another time and place- Milledgeville,Georgia and Andalusia-home of Flannery O'Connor.Like Flannery's famed peacocks perched precariously in a magnolia tree,the inhabitants teeter on the edge of normalcy,living on the periphery of each others lives while inwardly struggling with the isolation and constraints of their own.It is only after a shockingly violent and tragic event that will break your heart that they begin to really see each other and transform their own lives.
I would highly recommend this book.it is beautifully written and stayed with me long after the last page was turned.