Alchemy and Rose, Sarah Maine
Alchemy and Rose, Sarah Maine
22 Rating(s)
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Alchemy and Rose
A sweeping new novel from the author of The House Between Tides, the Waterstones Scottish Book of the Year

Author: Sarah Maine

Narrator: Toby Webster

Unabridged: 11 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/07/2021

Synopsis

1866. Will Stewart is one of many who have left their old lives behind to seek their fortunes in New Zealand's last great gold rush. The conditions are hostile and the outlook bleak, but he must push on in his uncertain search for the elusive buried treasure.

Rose is about to arrive on the shores of South Island when a storm hits and her ship is wrecked. Just when all seems lost she is snatched from the jaws of death by Will, who risks his life to save her. Drawn together by circumstance, they stay together by choice and for a while it seems that their stars have finally aligned.

But after a terrible misunderstanding they are cruelly separated, and their new-found happiness is shattered. As Will chases Rose across oceans and continents, he must come to terms with the possibility that he might never see her again. And if he does, he will have to face the man who took her . . .

(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

About Sarah Maine

Sarah Maine was born in England but grew up partly in Canada before returning to England for university. She studied archaeology and for many years worked in the profession but is now a freelance writer and researcher. Sarah's debut novel The House Between Tides (previously Bhalla Strand 2014) was re-published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2018. Beyond the Wild River (2017) is her second novel and Women of the Dunes will be published in 2018.

Reviews

Goodreads review by SadieReadsAgain on November 27, 2022

I picked this book up as I've read and really enjoyed Sarah Maine before - I read Women of the Dunes last year. I thought that book has a really great blend of mystery, a touch of modern-day romance and historical fiction. This story is completely set in the past, and has a prominent romance premise......more

Goodreads review by Jen on November 25, 2020

If it were possible to side-eye a book, Alchemy and Rose would get a full dose of it. You. I was supposed to love you. Here’s why. I am a Scot living in Edinburgh with New Zealand duel nationality who spent a lot of time scooting around gold mines whilst on a trip there. Somewhere in my mum’s attic is......more

Goodreads review by Kat on February 18, 2021

This was a slow start, for sure. It took me until about 30% in to really be interested in the characters and their journey and even then I never really felt truly invested. This is a mostly character driven story and they fell a little flat for me. The writing was well done, if a little dry at times......more

Goodreads review by Phillip on December 16, 2020

It was the book cover that first drew my attention to this novel by Sarah Maine. The foliage and flora that populate it and that image of a sailing ship in the middle of the top half echo a newly discovered lush distant land in a distant past. It’s evocative and enticing as if daring one to visit su......more

Goodreads review by Sasha ★ on January 11, 2023

To quote Patrick Verona: "What's with this chick? She got beer flavoured nipples?" This novel is set in 18th century New Zealand and follows Will McAuley and Rose, a woman washed up after a shipwreck and the relationship between them, as well as some stuff about the gold rush and Will having some mys......more

Quotes

Its portrayal of life in a gold-rush town is vivid, and Rose's story is absorbing The Times

Maine reworks the conventions of historical romance in a narrative that regularly undercuts expectations of what is to come The Sunday Times (Culture)

A gripping page-turner Woman Magazine

Worth reading for its occasional streaks of brilliance and insight Telegraph India

This feels like an epic read, and it is a beautifully written, evocative novel that I anticipate you reading and re-reading for years to come Woman's Way

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