Book Blurb:
As the nation starves and resentment grows, can the people on their land be trusted?
It’s the spring of 1847 and there’s much for Quin and Alannah to look forward to. And yet, the previous years’ hardships have left their mark. The famine that’s had Ireland in its grasp for the past two seasons continues to rage unabated, with hunger and disease sweeping across the land. As thousands lie dying, dissension spreads among the Irish people, the British government’s carelessness and their landlords’ ruthlessness breeding hatred in the poor and the oppressed.
With suffering all around them Quin and Alannah hold onto what happiness they’re able to. But can they trust the people living on their estate?
Set amongst the anguish of Ireland’s most devastating time in history, Amid the Oncoming Storm is a story of hope and resilience in a land struggling to rise from the depths of despair.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/yHzxPK3
Author Bio:
Juliane Weber is a scientist turned historical fiction writer, and author of the Irish Fortune Series. Her stories take readers on action-packed romantic adventures amid the captivating scenery and folklore of 19th century Ireland. Book One in the series, Under the Emerald Sky, was awarded bronze medals in The Historical Fiction Company 2021 Book of the Year Contest and The Coffee Pot Book Club 2022 Book of the Year Contest.
Book Two in the series, Beneath the Darkening Clouds, was selected as an Editors' Choice title by the Historical Novel Society and was awarded a bronze medal in The Historical Fiction Company 2022 Book of the Year Contest.
Juliane lives with her husband and two sons in Hamelin, Germany, the town made famous by the story of the Pied Piper.
For more information, visit Juliane's website:
Editorial Review:
“As they had been for months now, the Irish people were desperate for food. So much so that riots had become commonplace, with crowds attacking bakeries and shops, governmental depots and anywhere else they might be able to snatch a life-saving morsel for themselves or their families. Imprisonment or even transport or hanging, had long since stopped being a deterrent for the enormous number of men, women and children who continued to starve across the country each day.”
“Amid the Oncoming Storm” by Juliane Weber is Book Three in the Irish Fortune series, a family saga set in 1847 in the midst of the Irish famine. Although this novel is part of a series, this reviewer read it very happily as a standalone. There is a good balance of backstory and the continuing plot throughout the narrative which provides the reader with a sense of the continuing character arcs. Weber’s gift for storytelling means that here, the description “saga” provides everything the reader may expect – romance and family drama set against a time of great social change. There is both personal and community upheaval, and Weber deftly includes historical context to give the story further depth. It is hard for the modern reader to imagine the pure desperation of those times in Ireland, which was further amplified by the stark social class structure at the time.
At the center of this wide-ranging tale are Quin and Alannah, who are expecting a baby as their relationship continues. Both Quin and Alannah are complex, well-drawn characters. Although they have clearly formed a relationship in the earlier books, “Amid the Oncoming Storm” does not stint on twists and turns, with both central characters facing external and internal challenges, despite their love for one another. The story switches between first and third person, with changes to the narrative style in each. The first-person sections from Alannah’s point of view, particularly in relation to her pregnancy, are particularly compelling, and readers may feel further first-person sections for other characters would be more immersive.
There are a wealth of secondary characters, of staff, of gentry, of friends. The author has created a comprehensive glimpse of Ireland in the 1840s, and the narrative moves around a wide cast of characters. There are some unexpected mentions – of mummies and of bog bodies – but these too would have been topics of conversation at the times, despite the famine and the concerns of daily survival. The Author’s Note also refers to these topics, and her own fascination with them. Weber has clearly undertaken a significant amount of research in order to write “Amid the Oncoming Storm”, however some readers may find there is too much focus on the workings of the estate (Glaslearg) which weighs down the pacing of the narrative with detail.
The dialogue is rich with local dialect, whether in English or in Irish Gaelic. This use of language is another way that the author illustrates the different social classes in Ireland.
“"Let the boy eat first, Rupert. He’s nought but skin and bones."
The cook, Mrs O’Sullivan, placed a steaming bowl of oatmeal in front of Emmett, having already satisfied herself that Quin would eat with Alannah when she came downstairs.
“Ye’ve travelled a long way, haven’t ye?”
Emmett looked relieved at this respite, beaming at the cook as he sat down at the table. “Oh aye. ’Twas a most arduous journey.”
“Arduous Hmph.” Rupert slid onto the bench and accepted his own breakfast. “What I want to know is why you came here in the first place.”
“Aren’t ye glad t' see me?”
“I said I was and so I am. But for you to arrive by yourself and without a word from mum and dad, it’s…well…it’s strange is what it is. So, out with it. Why have you come to Ireland?””
The addition of a crime and ensuing mystery is an especially interesting aspect of the plot that again demonstrates the wider social changes and upheaval that were occurring in Ireland, and the way that these events impacted on individuals.
“As it turned out the following day, though, it was rather difficult to convince the constable to do a little more investigating.
“We’ve got the will,” the man said, his formidable moustache quivering as he shook his head. “It proves Penhale did it.-Unless you believe it was his wife?” He raised one mocking brow.
“The will proves nothing,” Quin said through clenched teeth. “As I’ve told you, the will was changed. The man we believe actually murdered Mr Cartwright is his cousin Mr George Cartwright, who expected to inherit.”
The constable sighed, running a hand over his face. With the city overflowing with desperate citizens and revolts threatening daily the Dublin Metropolitan Police had plenty to keep them busy. Still, Quin had no intention of seeing his friend hang simply because of a lack of resources.”
The ending of “Amid the Oncoming Storm is an uplifting one which the reader will find rewarding, with all of the main plot threads resolved.
“Amid the Oncoming Storm” by Juliane Weber is a wide-ranging family saga with an absorbing storyline and cast of characters. Quin and Alannah are memorable central characters with distinct voices and personalities, facing challenges in both their personal lives and within their community. The author’s depth of research allows the reader a fascinating glimpse into one of Ireland’s most momentous and tragic times. A great read!
*****
"Amid the Oncoming Storm” by Juliane Weber receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To have your historical novel editorially reviewed and/or enter the HFC Book of the Year contest, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
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