RaveIrish Times (IRE)The best kind of ripping yarn: at once a love story and an illuminating historical tale. It features two likable main characters, is full of rich, detailed descriptions and an extensive cast of vivid personalities ... Nathan Harris writes with a rare sort of practical kindness that is quite remarkable. Despite the horrors endured by Coleman and June, they still find hope and eventually happiness in an overwhelmingly brutal world ... Dickensian.
Emma Donoghue
RaveThe Irish Times (IRELAND)As the rather well-weaved plot gathers momentum, it juxtaposes two family mysteries ... there is no soppy exposition of love between the old man and the boy at the end of the book, and the relationship’s development is subtle enough for us to accept that a partnership of sorts has formed. The extended generational plots that develop through the novel are complex and deeply moving, exploring how our family histories often affect the fates of unfolding generations. Akin sparkles with Donoghue’s clear, often witty style ... Donoghue’s crafted combination of historical context and current social issues make her book compelling and important, as well as delivering a well-paced and intelligent read.
