The Companion

The Companion is almost impossible to put down. I was drawn into the story on the first page. Ms. Taylor Blakemore's writing is crisp and sharp, but she somehow manages to paint such vivid pictures with words that it is almost like watching a movie. I felt like I was in each room, could feel the cold of the brutal winter, hear the crack of ice being chipped from the well, smell the stew cooking. I'm not necessarily a fan of historic fiction, but this one has me hooked. As a child I was easily pulled into books, and The Companion brought that back for the first time in a very long time.

Abused and neglected, experienced in loss, young Lucy Blunt arrives at a prosperous manor house seeking a job and security. Both her past and her desires get in the way.In a sparse, original style that effectively evokes the period and the setting (New Hampshire, mid-1800s), Blakemore weaves a tale of desire, jealousy and longing. Her technique is inspired, conveying the inner workings of her characters, yet allowing enough ambiguity to challenge the reader. Moving easily between Lucy's time in the manor house and the prison where she awaits execution, the sad tale unfolds bit by suspenseful bit until its striking conclusion. A fine piece of writing!

This was a chilling tale of love, loss, injustice, envy, jealousy, predatory behavior and insecurity. The rights of women at this time were non-existent. This young woman was prayed upon by family, friend and foe. I found myself shocked, angry and sad throughout the tale. There are so many talking points in this book it is impossible to cover them all. Excellent story, if a bit dark. Loved it.

***An absolute must read!*** Listen, this novel had my undivided attention because I needed to know what happened next. There's so much I want to mention but I don't want give anything away unintentionally. I do however, have several questions about this book and I think this would be a perfect addition to a book club. So much is open to interpretation but I thoroughly enjoyed it anyway and the way the novel read was very engaging. I enjoy immersion reading so, I read and listened along. The narrator's voice was perfect for the vibe the storyline gave off and pulled you that much deeper in. I will say this, Rebecca got on my very last nerve as she was like a petulant child. I didn't understand why Gene never referred to her husband by his name, she simply called him husband and Rebecca called him cousin. Lucy, was quite the questionable character and the ending was truly jaw dropping. I need to get some of my friends to read this novel so we can pull it apart in discussion and see how we each perceived the goings on.

For lovers of women centered historical fiction, read Kim Taylor Blakemore's THE COMPANION. Not a full on mystery, not a HEA romance. No, THE COMPANION is so much more. It's more a deeply intense and compelling union of both. Savor each page. Linger on each nuanced word, sentence. Devour this book, then put it at the top of your "must re-read" stack. For myself, I bought the hardcover because for me, reading a good book must include the smell, touch, experience of real paper, substance. But no matter your reading preference, get a paperback, eBook, hardcover or audio. The reward will be the same.

The Companion has an interesting plot, great characters, and a wonderful setting. But what sets it apart is the beautiful prose. The author brings characters to life with her detailed, often poetic, descriptions. I could visualize each character, every room, Lucy's jail cell, etc. My only criticism is that the lush prose sometimes slowed the narrative drive, but I was still compelled to finish the novel. I will read Ms. Blakemore's next book.

What a wonderful, complex, heartwrenching story! The characters, especially Lucy, drew me in from the first page, and engaged my heart and my imagination, to the end. Like ribbons twisted around each other, Lucy’s past and present gradually revealed her whole story - I couldn’t help but sympathize with her. Likewise, Eugenie tugged at my heart as I wondered, and hoped, for the “right” ending. All of the supporting characters, good and evil, were developed just enough to contribute to the mystery, and to the completeness of this excellent book. I read it in one day!

Historical women's fiction is outside of my usual preference, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I got a suspenseful tale filled with emotional twists written in a style that was perfect for this genre. The narrator is Lucy Blunt, and through her eyes we see life as a servant in the mid-eighteen hundreds. Rough. Demeaning, and yet better than life on the streets.As the plot weaves a complex web around the members of the household, we are compelled to follow knowing that Lucy Blunt is a liar, and we suspect others in that household may be as well. This heightens the tension and keeps the reader guessing all the way to the climax.A gripping read that I found difficult to put down.

Wow. What a novel. I'm blown away by the skill of the writer, the intricate plot, the lush and mysterious writing, the forbidden love, the tragedy, the commentary on social class, sexuality, the freedom and position of women. In terms of a comp, it reminded me of Alias Grace but was unique and entirely of its place and time. Highly recommend!