This book is well written, and gives a wonderful account of the penal colonies in Australia. However, it is incredibly depressing. I kept hoping the author would grant some grace to her characters at some point. They went from disaster to disaster without respite. And it’s only in the final few pages that things look better, and then that assurance is summed up in a few paragraphs. I found that disappointing.

Unfortunately the characters in this novel never get a chance to bloom. It was a great idea for a book but poor executed. I would not recommend it.

As an Aussie and descendant of two convicts, I thoroughly enjoyed

Historically interesting. A good read.

But man, does it get boring quickly. Almost unreadable, it has completely missed its potential. A shame of a book