Customer Reviews

Island of the Swans

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

What a great book this was. I never expected such meat from a romance novel, but I was enthralled with the tale. From start to finish you get a real feeling of real people. The heroine, Jane, is flawed, not perfect like most cookie-cutter romance novel heroines.
I liked the ending. It was enough to know for me that they found each other.
As I read the pages of Island of the Swans, I was reminded of Wuthering Heights and Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber, as well as the triangle between Rhett, Scarlet & Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind. But Jane is much more a woman of honor than Scarlet O'Hara ever was, and Thomas Fraser more of a man than Ashley Wilkes. Although Thomas Fraser is not quite as dramatic a love interest as Healthcliff, he is sweeter and definitely manly.
I will being running out to get more Ciji Ware novels! I stayed up well into the night to read the ending of this one and I haven't done that in a LONG time.

Well done Ms. Ware!

I have to admit that I was rather distracted by my real life while reading this book. It didn't grab me and pull me in at any point, though I think the last two hundred pages or so were much more compelling that the first three hundred. I generally read a book every five days or so and this one took me two weeks. I stuck with it because the back cover made it sound so interesting and I love the period. But I didn't think it lived up to the back cover's description.
I couldn't taste the Scottish flavor and the period details seemed somewhat lacking. The writing was not bad but it wasn't very good either. There was one point that was repeated over and over and over again, I found that a bit annoying.

Relationships are what make this an interesting story and I didn't think that Ware fleshed out any of the complicated relationships very well, or as well as I would have liked. She shows us the eruptions of emotions and that she does do well but the period between those eruptions are somewhat dry and dull. The story itself seemed isolated from the history of the period until we get to the last third of the book. Jane Maxwell's rivalry with the Duchess of Devonshire is mentioned as are trips to court to see the king and queen but we don't have any vivid exchanges between the Duchesses or any details about going to court, except the one visit with Queen Charlotte at the end of the book.

There is a fair amount of sex in this book as would make sense in a story about a love triangle. I thought the sex was tastefully done but I kept wondering 'does everyone need to talk during the act?' I would categorize this novel as a romance novel because the tension in the story moves from one romantic interlude to another without much story in between. I also wanted to better understand why Thomas and Jane weren't able to move on in their lives and get past their relationship. Or rather I wanted to see it more clearly than I did.

I also would have very much liked an historical note from the author telling us what facts she based this story on. She does say she went and visited Jane's home and Gordon Castle but what was fact and what was fiction?

This would have been much more enjoyable for me if it had been tightened up with an editor. As I said before I really enjoyed the last two hundred pages and if it had all been as interesting and compelling as the ending I would have given the book a five star review.

I've only just stumbled onto Ciji Ware's work and after reading this book, went straight out to get her other titles. She is one great storyteller. It's obvious a lot of work goes into her novels, with amazing amounts of research, so that you get a great feel of what it was like in the past. And the heroine's life path in Island of The Swans makes me think about my life and what I want from it. In Ware's other works, she juxtaposes past and present excitingly. I really look forward to more of her stories.

I am a latecomer to the novels of Ciji Ware, but very impressed with her ability to richly depict characters and places. I have personally visited the Island of the Swans, and thoroughly hiked in the area in which her book is set. Ms. Ware has a historian's love of accuracy, and her descriptions of Struy, Loch an Eilean, the River Spey, Culloden House (where I have sojourned many times), etc. are absolutely perfect. I was transported, once again to that delightful corner of the world.

The story begins in in Edinburgh, Scotland. The Maxwells of Monreith are well-born but always in financial difficulty. Jane is ever the tomboy, much to the chagrin of her grasping mother who has plans to marry the blossoming beauty into a wealthy family. Jane's great friend and cohort in *crime* is Thomas Fraser and as the two grow older their friendship develops into something stronger. They hope to wed one day, although Jane's mother and Thomas' guardian Simon Fraser have other plans for the two and will resort to any means to separate the young lovers.

To avoid spoilers I'm not going into much more story detail, but word from the colonies forever changes Jane's life and heartbroken she enters into a marriage with the handsome but ever so dark and brooding Alexander Gordon, Fourth Duke of Gordon. Can Jane let go of her lost love and make a successful, happy marriage? Can Alex accept there is a part of Jane that will always love Thomas or will he allow his jealousy to run out of control? Jane Gordon led quite a life; mother to six children, she was a celebrated beauty and favorite of George III and Queen Charlotte. She meddled in politics, assisted her husband in recruiting troops for the Gordon Highlanders, and managed to obtain brilliant marriages for her daughters despite Alex's tight pocketbook.

I really enjoyed this book a lot, especially the first and last of it. Jane's antics as a young girl were priceless (loved the pig race), as well as the early days of her courtship and marriage to Alex. Things got a bit slow in the middle third as it seemed pretty much made up of strum and drang and true love denied, as well as Jane and Alex's constant arguments and reconciliations resulting in one baby after another. However, the latter part of the book definitely picked up steam when a very formidable Jane comes to London and makes her own mark on society and her tempestuous relationship with Alex continues.

I just have a few quibbles, first of which are the constant references to Alex as the Fourth Duke of Gordon. I got it the first time or two and I didn't need to be clubbed over the head with it ad infinitum, and the constant use of "tis" in the dialog also began to grate after a while. There is quite a lot of sex in this book, and while quite tame by today's standards a lot of it wasn't all that necessary, and I got a bit tired of hearing about searching between one's partner's legs for the object of one's desire. Less is more.

Lastly, as much as I love a pair of star crossed lovers, Jane and Thomas didn't quite come to life for me as much as I'd like to see in a novel. I wanted something more like Ash and Juli in The Far Pavilions - oh the pain he felt when he watched Juli being married to the old goat - if Ware could have brought those emotions into the story this would have been a solid five stars. 3.5 stars, a very good book, just not a great one.

This was another of my lucky Kindle finds -- I believe it was only available for a few days and then POOF, it's no longer available on Kindle. After 20 years, it was re-issued in its original length, and I'm SO VERY GLAD I bought it. Not only is it a passionate, amazing story, but it's a TRUE story.

My favorite books of all time are Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series, and any fans of hers will love and devour this book. First, it involves clan Fraser, and occurs right before the Revolutionary War. Thomas Fraser, godson of Simon Fraser, relation of Simon the Fox. Thomas, now titleless was close childhood friends with Jane Maxwell, who had a title but lived in poor gentility. Jane's mother was absolutely dead-set against a match between Thomas and Jane, despite the two's insistence, and looked for a higher match in order to save the penury of her family.

Thomas and Jane, secretly bethrothed, are thrown into a quandry when Thomas is called to fight in America during pre-Revolutionary skirmishes. He tries to reason with Jane that after the two year assignment, he'll have his commission and will be able to better take care of her. The two part with some harsh words (Jane wants to elope, Thomas holds fast).

Jane's mother burns all of Thomas' letters to Jane, and one day, the family is visited by a messenger who tells them that Thomas, along with two others, have been hacked to pieces by Indians. Jane falls into mourning, but her mother continues her matchmaking scheming, and after about six months, has convinced Jane to marry Duke Alexander of Gordon, an earlier rival of Thomas Fraser.

Right before Jane's wedding day, though, the tables are completely overturned when a letter arrives saying that Thomas is NOT dead, but had escaped the fray and has been convalescing in Maryland. His benefactress and nurse has fallen in love with him, though, and had hidden HIS earlier letters to Jane assuring her of his life. Jane ends up marrying Duke Alexander, Thomas arrives home, and we're set with hundreds of pages of starstruck lovers.

I won't say more, but it is SUCH a good read. Not only is the love triangle between Jane, Alexander, and Thomas a heart-rending story, but the history of the time is fascinating. Robert Burns, the poet, shows up -- William Pitt, the prime minister -- the madness of King George -- lots of court intrigues -- there's plenty to keep the pages turning. I lost a lot of much-needed sleep reading this amazing book.

This one ends up on my Favorite Books of All Time list.


Highly recommended.

I took away from this a "real life" feeling. Not a book for those that crave endings that are manufactured and "cheerfully tie up all lose ends". This one leaves us with "just enough"happening to remain a believer, and makes me feel like happiness may be about making the most of the opportunities one is handed in life...some never seen to completion, some ongoing forever, all poignant choices. If you liked this one, A Cottage by the Sea is a must read just for the surprise near the ending about these characters and their fates!

I picked up this book never expecting it to be such an entriging love story. However, when I got into it, I could not put it down. I have never been interested in the British perspective on the American Revoltution, but the story of Jane Maxwell, Thomas Fraser and the Duke of Gordon was gripping. My fasination with this story is sorting out what was real and what was fiction. I have tried, rather successfully to research Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon. I was able to pinpoint several facts in history, but haven't been too successful with the characters. Does anyone know? The author details in the back of the book her exhaustive search for her Scottish linage to Jane Maxwell, but I was just curious how much was true. Great book, I loved it and will probably reread it again.

"Island of the Swans" is based on the true life of Jane Maxwell, Duchess of Gordon, married to Alexander, the 4th Duke of Gordon. The story covers a large span of history and begins with the story of Jane Maxwell racing pigs with her sister in the streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. The pig racing is based on historical fact and documents from the time of Jane Maxwell actually performing this stunt.

I enjoyed the story, although at times, it did drag a bit because the author covers alot of historical politics in England in which Jane Maxwell actually participated.

The story is based on Jane's childhood love for Thomas Fraser that continues through her life even though she is forced to marry another. The American Revolution and the English turmoil under the reign of King George III is also covered.

A very enjoyable historical romance that covers a huge amount of history in England and France and the star crossed lovers, Jane Maxwell, Thomas Fraser and Alexander Gordon. It bogs down in some places because of the huge time span that is covered but all in all a good read.

I adored this book up until the ending. Like other reviewer's comments there was no real closure. This did not bother me because the factual history of the Duke and Duchess is rather disappointing and not at all in harmony with the potential for love this author has imbued in her telling. Knowing the history of Jane Maxwell and Alex Gordon and still spinning a beautiful fantasy of the posibilities in that relationship takes unparralelled imagination and a true romantic heart.

It's a very emotional tale of being torn betwen duty and love and settling for what you can have or reaching for what you really want. The conflict was very realistic and I may be the only person who understood Alex's complex feelings of love and jealousy and insecurity. But he was truly unlikable at the end and this disappointed me.

This book made me laugh and cry and stay up all night to finish it. My only wish is that the ending where either more conclusive or the very opposite of what it was. I had a soft spot for Alex. But Ms. Ware's ending is hamronious with the history as I understand it.

It's a great journey even though the ending sort of halts abruptly and leaves you wishing for more.