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The Faerie Tree
How can a memory so vivid be wrong?
I tried to remember the first time I’d been here and to see the tree through Izzie’s eyes. The oak stood on a rise just above the path; not too tall or wide but graceful and straight, its trunk covered in what I can only describe as offerings – pieces of ribbon, daisy chains, a shell necklace, a tiny doll or two and even an old cuckoo clock.
"Why do people do this?" Izzie asked.
I winked at her. "To say thank you to the fairies."
In the summer of 1986 Robin and Izzie hold hands under The Faerie Tree and wish for a future together. Within hours tragedy rips their dreams apart.
In the winter of 2006, each carrying their own burden of grief, they stumble back into each other’s lives and try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of 1986 so different? And which one of them is right?
With strong themes of paganism, love and grief, The Faerie Tree is a novel as gripping and unputdownable as Jane Cable’s first book, The Cheesemaker’s House, which won the Suspense & Crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition. It is a story that will resonate with fans of romance, suspense, and folklore.
I tried to remember the first time I’d been here and to see the tree through Izzie’s eyes. The oak stood on a rise just above the path; not too tall or wide but graceful and straight, its trunk covered in what I can only describe as offerings – pieces of ribbon, daisy chains, a shell necklace, a tiny doll or two and even an old cuckoo clock.
"Why do people do this?" Izzie asked.
I winked at her. "To say thank you to the fairies."
In the summer of 1986 Robin and Izzie hold hands under The Faerie Tree and wish for a future together. Within hours tragedy rips their dreams apart.
In the winter of 2006, each carrying their own burden of grief, they stumble back into each other’s lives and try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of 1986 so different? And which one of them is right?
With strong themes of paganism, love and grief, The Faerie Tree is a novel as gripping and unputdownable as Jane Cable’s first book, The Cheesemaker’s House, which won the Suspense & Crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition. It is a story that will resonate with fans of romance, suspense, and folklore.
320 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2015
11 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
About the author
Jane Cable
7 books44 followersI write emotional romances with a hint of mystery - often a little ghostly - but all the same my books are a million miles from paranormal.
It was reaching the final of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition in 2011 which made me take my writing seriously. The Cheesemaker’s House saw the light of day in September 2013 and I was delighted when it received great reviews from book bloggers and, just as importantly, from the people who bought and read it. My second novel, The Faerie Tree, came out in March 2015 and is a suspenseful romance about the tricks memory plays.
In 2017 I signed to Sapere Books for two contemporary romances looking back to World War Two, Another You and Endless Skies. My first dual timeline novel will be published by them in 2021, set in Cornwall in 1815 and 2015.
It was reaching the final of The Alan Titchmarsh Show’s People’s Novelist competition in 2011 which made me take my writing seriously. The Cheesemaker’s House saw the light of day in September 2013 and I was delighted when it received great reviews from book bloggers and, just as importantly, from the people who bought and read it. My second novel, The Faerie Tree, came out in March 2015 and is a suspenseful romance about the tricks memory plays.
In 2017 I signed to Sapere Books for two contemporary romances looking back to World War Two, Another You and Endless Skies. My first dual timeline novel will be published by them in 2021, set in Cornwall in 1815 and 2015.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
March 20, 2020
4☆ An Endearing Second Chance Romance, that has a sprinkling of Folklore and Intrigue!
The Faerie Tree is a heart warming and endearing second chance romance.
This isn't my normal read, but I'm trying to try new books and I'm so glad I did.
Izzie and Robin were briefly in a relationship 20years ago when they went their separate ways after Robin leaves.
Izzie now a widow mum to Claire and Robin after some hard times finds himself homeless.
But fate has bought them back together.
Both now adults and lived both different lives, they still recognise each other, after Izzie sees Robin on the streets.
When Izzie and Robin meet again they slowly start to uncover their past memories they shared together and how they parted.
Except for some strange reason they don't add up, they seem to recall very different memories.
But can the two find it in their hearts to love again after all this time or are they just too different now?
The Faerie Tree is an endearing story about relationships, finding your way back, love, family, loss, grief and support.
It's a story of second chances, a dash of romantic suspense, mystery, folklore and intrigue.
The characters are well developed, believable, complex, yet intriguing.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about the The Faerie Tree and its folklore tale. I find folklore tales fascinating.
If you are looking for a thought provoking romance with a difference, that combines folklore, mystery and an Engrossing plot then The Faerie Tree is the book for you!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
The Faerie Tree is a heart warming and endearing second chance romance.
This isn't my normal read, but I'm trying to try new books and I'm so glad I did.
Izzie and Robin were briefly in a relationship 20years ago when they went their separate ways after Robin leaves.
Izzie now a widow mum to Claire and Robin after some hard times finds himself homeless.
But fate has bought them back together.
Both now adults and lived both different lives, they still recognise each other, after Izzie sees Robin on the streets.
When Izzie and Robin meet again they slowly start to uncover their past memories they shared together and how they parted.
Except for some strange reason they don't add up, they seem to recall very different memories.
But can the two find it in their hearts to love again after all this time or are they just too different now?
The Faerie Tree is an endearing story about relationships, finding your way back, love, family, loss, grief and support.
It's a story of second chances, a dash of romantic suspense, mystery, folklore and intrigue.
The characters are well developed, believable, complex, yet intriguing.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about the The Faerie Tree and its folklore tale. I find folklore tales fascinating.
If you are looking for a thought provoking romance with a difference, that combines folklore, mystery and an Engrossing plot then The Faerie Tree is the book for you!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
April 3, 2015
Having really enjoyed Jane's debut novel, The Cheesemaker's House, I was really looking forward to reading this, her second book - and I wasn't disappointed.
Her writing seems to have changed slightly with this book - it's still excellent, as before, but this time its also a little bit edgier which fits perfectly with the two main characters - Robin and Izzie.
Izzie and Robin haven't had the best of lives - Izzie is now widowed at only 44 and Robin has had his share of heartbreak and loss too. When the two meet again after 20 years apart, they seem to fit together so well - and Robin finds a fan in Claire, Izzie's teenage daughter.
However there is something troubling about their stories - both have different memories of the first time they met and fell in love - why would that be, surely even after 20 years apart, you would still remember?
This is a lovely story of lost love, relationships and also grief and how it affects us all in different ways. The characters are expertly drawn - to the extent that I was sometimes shouting in my head at the older Izzie not to keep picking a fight - it isn't every author that can you make you feel about the characters and really care about them. I have to admit I fell a little in love with Robin myself and Claire, whilst being a typical teenager, was wise beyond her years in many ways and was so often the voice of common sense and reason.
Both Robin and Izzie are complex characters and both know what they want ... and don't want from a relationship. They fell in love once but can they do it again and make it work this time - or should they just admit that too much has changed between them and walk away.
Don't be put off by the folklore aspect, although this is an integral part of the story it is not overpowering and whatever your beliefs, I'm sure you will find, as I did, that this added a little bit of magic to the story. I loved the idea of children writing letters to the fairies....and that they were being answered!
I really enjoyed The Faerie Tree and was delighted to be asked to take part in Jane's recent blog tour for this book.
My thanks to the author and publisher for the copy to review via Netgalley.
Her writing seems to have changed slightly with this book - it's still excellent, as before, but this time its also a little bit edgier which fits perfectly with the two main characters - Robin and Izzie.
Izzie and Robin haven't had the best of lives - Izzie is now widowed at only 44 and Robin has had his share of heartbreak and loss too. When the two meet again after 20 years apart, they seem to fit together so well - and Robin finds a fan in Claire, Izzie's teenage daughter.
However there is something troubling about their stories - both have different memories of the first time they met and fell in love - why would that be, surely even after 20 years apart, you would still remember?
This is a lovely story of lost love, relationships and also grief and how it affects us all in different ways. The characters are expertly drawn - to the extent that I was sometimes shouting in my head at the older Izzie not to keep picking a fight - it isn't every author that can you make you feel about the characters and really care about them. I have to admit I fell a little in love with Robin myself and Claire, whilst being a typical teenager, was wise beyond her years in many ways and was so often the voice of common sense and reason.
Both Robin and Izzie are complex characters and both know what they want ... and don't want from a relationship. They fell in love once but can they do it again and make it work this time - or should they just admit that too much has changed between them and walk away.
Don't be put off by the folklore aspect, although this is an integral part of the story it is not overpowering and whatever your beliefs, I'm sure you will find, as I did, that this added a little bit of magic to the story. I loved the idea of children writing letters to the fairies....and that they were being answered!
I really enjoyed The Faerie Tree and was delighted to be asked to take part in Jane's recent blog tour for this book.
My thanks to the author and publisher for the copy to review via Netgalley.
March 18, 2015
I found it difficult to let go of this book. I sat up reading it during a power failure, with an LED headlight strapped to my forehead. I had to find out how two people who love each other so much could have such a gross misunderstanding. Can experience really be shared? There were moments when I doubted truth and love. I cared about the protagonists, both frail and flawed human beings. I valued their attempts to hold on to each other, feared for them when they failed, I couldn't wait to see how the situation resolved. In the end, the book seemed a testament to resilience, determination and love.
I received a free Kindle copy from Netgalley for the purpose of reviewing this book.
I received a free Kindle copy from Netgalley for the purpose of reviewing this book.
December 13, 2015
This book was different to my normal romance reads. I enjoyed the premise of the story with Robin and Izzie meeting after parting twenty years previously (almost before their relationship had begun). I found the circumstances under which they were reunited intriguing and wanted to know more, particularly about Robin's story. I liked Claire, Izzie's daughter, and enjoyed her growing relationship with Robin. Theirs seemed one of the most normal and positive relationships in the book. I found both Izzie and Robin similar and felt for each of them, as they both clearly needed and deserved to be happy. Both are complex characters that make you think; Robin, for example, demonstrates great strength in the way he cares for others but appears unable to find the strength to cope with trauma in his own life. Both characters have stayed with me some time after I have finished reading and this, I believe, is down to the way the author cleverly lays their lives out before you without offering concrete solutions to solving their issues.
I enjoyed the settings, all of which were brought to life with great clarity, and the concept of the Faerie tree. I would perhaps have liked to have seen more of Robin and Izzie’s early relationship in order to appreciate more fully the strength of their desire to be together many years later.
I enjoyed the settings, all of which were brought to life with great clarity, and the concept of the Faerie tree. I would perhaps have liked to have seen more of Robin and Izzie’s early relationship in order to appreciate more fully the strength of their desire to be together many years later.
March 29, 2015
This is a sweet and slow burning love story with a twist. When Izzie recognises a tramp in her home town as Robin her past love, it sets into motion a quest to find out what happened the last time they saw each other. They both seem to have different memories of why and how they are no longer together. How can that be possible?
This is a gentle family relationship drama with a difference. Set against the background of the Faerie Tree it deals with love and loss and misunderstanding. I enjoyed the authors style of writing although I found it slow moving to begin with. Her descriptions of the Faerie Tree and the role it plays in all the characters lives were beautiful and I especially enjoyed the character of Jennifer and her relationship with Robin.
A sweet tale well told.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in return for an honest review.
This is a gentle family relationship drama with a difference. Set against the background of the Faerie Tree it deals with love and loss and misunderstanding. I enjoyed the authors style of writing although I found it slow moving to begin with. Her descriptions of the Faerie Tree and the role it plays in all the characters lives were beautiful and I especially enjoyed the character of Jennifer and her relationship with Robin.
A sweet tale well told.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in return for an honest review.
April 20, 2015
The Faerie Tree by Jane Cable
The Faerie Tree is a story of second chances. The story alternates chapters between Izzie and Robin who have fallen in love but it is not to be. Twenty years later they meet and timing seems to be in their favor. Izzie, 44 and recently widowed with a teenage daughter and Robin reeling from his own losses fall back into each other’s lives. It is a story of loss, grief, depression, the healing of nature with a bit of folklore and paganism. Thought it was beautiful and loved every page. Also a very gentle easy read.
The Faerie Tree is a story of second chances. The story alternates chapters between Izzie and Robin who have fallen in love but it is not to be. Twenty years later they meet and timing seems to be in their favor. Izzie, 44 and recently widowed with a teenage daughter and Robin reeling from his own losses fall back into each other’s lives. It is a story of loss, grief, depression, the healing of nature with a bit of folklore and paganism. Thought it was beautiful and loved every page. Also a very gentle easy read.
May 4, 2015
In Hampshire Izzy is preparing for her first Christmas as a widow, wanting to make it ‘good-enough’ for her teenage daughter Claire but still unsure what form her grief will take next. One day after dealing with the probate office Izzy bumps into a man she knew years ago, from before her marriage and motherhood. The man she saw was one who had disappeared from her life, someone she never dreamt she would see again.
Izzy is curious after all the man she bumped into looks like he has been living on the streets but she manages to track him down to the local hospital where he is recovering from pneumonia and hypothermia. She visits and they begin comparing notes on their lives but their memories dramatically differ on what really happened the last time they’d seen each other.
The title refers to the Faerie tree, a place where children leave their wishes for the fairies and the ever-obliging fairies give their response. This is the place where Robin took Izzy one summer’s day all those years ago. Robin returns there in 1987 after the Great Storm and is amazed and relieved to see it still standing, complete with ribbons, toys and money left for the fairies. Returning to the tree starts a new chapter in Robin’s life, one where we get to see what kind of man he really is.
Although this book hints at folklore, this really is a footnote to the main story which is a ‘second-chance’ romantic novel, one set around two people in their forties for whom the intervening years since their brief relationship were worlds apart. With all that has happened the reader has to wonder if they can ever possibly make a go of it. Intertwined with the romantic aspect the author probes the mystery of memories, is it possible for two people to remember such a significant part of their lives in such a different way? Who has remembered correctly and why has the other equally believable narrative been constructed? This element lifts the story to something more than a simple romance to one that delves into the how our mind can play tricks on us and how hard it is to let go of these memories even when they are proved to be false.
With such a well-paced and engagingly written story populated with believable characters, even the teenage Claire was realistically portrayed, this made for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I’d like to thank the author for arranging for me to read a copy of this book for review purposes. The Faerie Tree is due to be published on 28 April 2015 by Troubador Publishing Ltd
Izzy is curious after all the man she bumped into looks like he has been living on the streets but she manages to track him down to the local hospital where he is recovering from pneumonia and hypothermia. She visits and they begin comparing notes on their lives but their memories dramatically differ on what really happened the last time they’d seen each other.
The title refers to the Faerie tree, a place where children leave their wishes for the fairies and the ever-obliging fairies give their response. This is the place where Robin took Izzy one summer’s day all those years ago. Robin returns there in 1987 after the Great Storm and is amazed and relieved to see it still standing, complete with ribbons, toys and money left for the fairies. Returning to the tree starts a new chapter in Robin’s life, one where we get to see what kind of man he really is.
Although this book hints at folklore, this really is a footnote to the main story which is a ‘second-chance’ romantic novel, one set around two people in their forties for whom the intervening years since their brief relationship were worlds apart. With all that has happened the reader has to wonder if they can ever possibly make a go of it. Intertwined with the romantic aspect the author probes the mystery of memories, is it possible for two people to remember such a significant part of their lives in such a different way? Who has remembered correctly and why has the other equally believable narrative been constructed? This element lifts the story to something more than a simple romance to one that delves into the how our mind can play tricks on us and how hard it is to let go of these memories even when they are proved to be false.
With such a well-paced and engagingly written story populated with believable characters, even the teenage Claire was realistically portrayed, this made for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I’d like to thank the author for arranging for me to read a copy of this book for review purposes. The Faerie Tree is due to be published on 28 April 2015 by Troubador Publishing Ltd
March 20, 2015
The Faerie Tree is a contemporary family relationships drama. It is primarily set in the county of Hampshire. We meet Izzie and her daughter Claire just before Christmas, this will be their first Christmas without Conner, husband and father, who died a few months ago. Everything is still very raw, both are trying to be strong for each other.
By chance Izzie bumps into a tramp in Winchester and realises it's Robin, a man she hasn't seen for twenty years. Back in 1986 Robin was an office manager and Izzie sold stationary, they were just beginning a romance when Robin disappeared from Izzie's life and left her desperate and alone.
Curious to know what happened in the intervening years Izzie searches for Robin, finding him in the hospital. When it's time for him to leave she offers him a place to stay.
Central to the plot is The Faerie tree, a tree in the woods where all sorts of people go in search of wishes being granted, they leave ribbons, messages, money and other gifts for the fairy folk. Robin took Izzie to the tree the day before disaster struck for their relationship.
After the great storm of 1987 which swept Britain, Robin returned to the Faerie tree to make sure it was undamaged and in doing so he found a friend and began a new chapter of his life. Jennifer understood that Robin was suffering from depression and she became like a Mum to him helping him build back his life.
When Izzie finds Robin's again, he's recently suffered another huge blow and has dealt with it in the only way he knows how. They try to re-build their relationship but it struggles because of the grief that they both still hold.
This is a very emotional book, with several twists and turns, at one time I thought there were gaps in the storyline which didn't add up but this all comes full circle as the story continues and you get a greater understanding of the characters. A very good read.
By chance Izzie bumps into a tramp in Winchester and realises it's Robin, a man she hasn't seen for twenty years. Back in 1986 Robin was an office manager and Izzie sold stationary, they were just beginning a romance when Robin disappeared from Izzie's life and left her desperate and alone.
Curious to know what happened in the intervening years Izzie searches for Robin, finding him in the hospital. When it's time for him to leave she offers him a place to stay.
Central to the plot is The Faerie tree, a tree in the woods where all sorts of people go in search of wishes being granted, they leave ribbons, messages, money and other gifts for the fairy folk. Robin took Izzie to the tree the day before disaster struck for their relationship.
After the great storm of 1987 which swept Britain, Robin returned to the Faerie tree to make sure it was undamaged and in doing so he found a friend and began a new chapter of his life. Jennifer understood that Robin was suffering from depression and she became like a Mum to him helping him build back his life.
When Izzie finds Robin's again, he's recently suffered another huge blow and has dealt with it in the only way he knows how. They try to re-build their relationship but it struggles because of the grief that they both still hold.
This is a very emotional book, with several twists and turns, at one time I thought there were gaps in the storyline which didn't add up but this all comes full circle as the story continues and you get a greater understanding of the characters. A very good read.
April 23, 2015
The Faerie Tree is Jane Cable’s second novel and, I think, in many ways, it is better than “The Cheesemaker’s House”.It is well written and the pace is just right throughout
This book tells the story of Robin and Izzie; of their loves and griefs and how their lives are affected by these two powerful emotions. The story begins with Izzie being recently widowed at the age of 44, left to bring up her teenage daughter, Claire, and continue her work as a teacher. When she bumps into a tramp, she discovers that this is no stranger, but someone she knew many years ago. His name is Robin and it is obvious that this is a person who meant a great deal to Izzie in the past.
The tale unfolds to tell of their earlier relationship and the development of the current one, this time also involving Claire and her teenage traumas. These three characters are well drawn and believable. There are others who play an important part in the plot, especially Jennifer, who takes on the role of a second mother to Robin.
This is not a straightforward love story. There are many times when I questioned what had actually happened and my interest was maintained throughout as answers were gradually revealed. It is also an exploration of the dramatic effect that grief can have on an individual.
I particularly enjoyed the folklore aspect of this novel. The so-called Faerie Tree itself and the way in which Jennifer and Robin celebrated the natural world were a delight to me and were an integral part of this story. I loved the atmosphere that Jane Cable evoked in her descriptions.
If you want something a little different to read and want to try a new author, I would thoroughly recommend Jane Cable’s work
March 31, 2015
I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately engaged by the story of Robin and Izzie, two people who were falling achingly and beautifully in love when tragedy struck. They come back together twenty years later, much changed and damaged people, try to put the pieces back together, make sense of what happened and see if the love is still there.
The story is quite beautifully written and perfectly paced - where The Cheesemaker's House was perhaps identifiable as a first novel, the author's style has matured tremendously. This is a book that you feel and experience rather than read - the whole emotional content is quite perfectly handled, and there were times when I physically ached for the two central characters. The author really takes the reader under their skin - you might not understand what happened any more than they do, but you feel their hurt and loss with the same intensity.
The characters are wonderfully handled, but so is the setting. The faerie tree of the title is a quite perfect central focus to the story - much of the key action in the story takes place around it, near it or focused on it. It's vividly described - with its decoration and trinkets left by people hoping for a little magic - and I love the box where children leave personal messages for the faeries. No-one should be put off by the mention of pagan themes - none of us can be averse to a little magic at times, and the story itself is very much of the modern world.
This is essentially a story about two people - two people that you grow to deeply care about - and how they deal and cope with trauma and loss, its impact on memory, and the possibility of second chances when hope seems to be gone.
I really loved it...and my thanks to Jane, the publishers and netgalley for the privilege of being one of the first to read and review it.
The story is quite beautifully written and perfectly paced - where The Cheesemaker's House was perhaps identifiable as a first novel, the author's style has matured tremendously. This is a book that you feel and experience rather than read - the whole emotional content is quite perfectly handled, and there were times when I physically ached for the two central characters. The author really takes the reader under their skin - you might not understand what happened any more than they do, but you feel their hurt and loss with the same intensity.
The characters are wonderfully handled, but so is the setting. The faerie tree of the title is a quite perfect central focus to the story - much of the key action in the story takes place around it, near it or focused on it. It's vividly described - with its decoration and trinkets left by people hoping for a little magic - and I love the box where children leave personal messages for the faeries. No-one should be put off by the mention of pagan themes - none of us can be averse to a little magic at times, and the story itself is very much of the modern world.
This is essentially a story about two people - two people that you grow to deeply care about - and how they deal and cope with trauma and loss, its impact on memory, and the possibility of second chances when hope seems to be gone.
I really loved it...and my thanks to Jane, the publishers and netgalley for the privilege of being one of the first to read and review it.
April 6, 2015
Read this book in less than 12hrs. Granted I had no distractions but I think even with distractions it wouldn't have taken long. Grabs you right from the beginning and just doesn't let go till the end. Excellent characters who you really feel that you know. Highly recommended and a good price on kindle.
March 18, 2020
4.5*
It will be Izzie and her daughter Claire’s first Christmas without husband and father, Connor. They’ve just left the probate office and the town is busy with Christmas shoppers. With her sights set on the coffee shop Claire accidentally bumps into a homeless man on the street. She is confused. Does she know this man? Somehow she thinks she does recognise him.
Twenty years ago, before marriage and motherhood, Izzie and Robin met through their jobs and began a fledgling relationship which quickly developed. When circumstances intervened and Robin disappeared, Izzie was distraught. Now, realising the homeless man was who she thought, she resolves to find him and satisfy her curiosity about what happened all those years ago. She tracks Robin down to hospital where he is suffering from pneumonia and hypothermia. Realising life on the streets was no longer a possibility Izzie offers him the use of her spare room.
Robin and Izzie are both damaged by past events and hope this chance opportunity will enable them to make sense of what happened. Perhaps a love that never quite died can be resurrected. Could they be so lucky as to have a second chance? The story unfolds from both perspectives but strangely their memories differ significantly. Whose version of events is the true one? Both seem very plausible.
The wonderfully described faerie tree, where people go to leave gifts and make wishes, is central to the story and I enjoyed the nod to folklore, paganism and the natural world and how it can help when a person is struggling. Robin and Izzie are compelling and extremely well drawn characters, two people whose lives have taken dramatically different turns since they first knew each other. The well paced narrative skips from present to past, filling in the gaps in both Robin’s and Izzie’s lives from when they originally met until the present, all the while observing the dynamics of their rekindled relationship. It was never obvious how things would play out with these two complex characters who are trying, each in their own way, to deal with grief and trauma. A very enjoyable and sensitively told story.
It will be Izzie and her daughter Claire’s first Christmas without husband and father, Connor. They’ve just left the probate office and the town is busy with Christmas shoppers. With her sights set on the coffee shop Claire accidentally bumps into a homeless man on the street. She is confused. Does she know this man? Somehow she thinks she does recognise him.
Twenty years ago, before marriage and motherhood, Izzie and Robin met through their jobs and began a fledgling relationship which quickly developed. When circumstances intervened and Robin disappeared, Izzie was distraught. Now, realising the homeless man was who she thought, she resolves to find him and satisfy her curiosity about what happened all those years ago. She tracks Robin down to hospital where he is suffering from pneumonia and hypothermia. Realising life on the streets was no longer a possibility Izzie offers him the use of her spare room.
Robin and Izzie are both damaged by past events and hope this chance opportunity will enable them to make sense of what happened. Perhaps a love that never quite died can be resurrected. Could they be so lucky as to have a second chance? The story unfolds from both perspectives but strangely their memories differ significantly. Whose version of events is the true one? Both seem very plausible.
The wonderfully described faerie tree, where people go to leave gifts and make wishes, is central to the story and I enjoyed the nod to folklore, paganism and the natural world and how it can help when a person is struggling. Robin and Izzie are compelling and extremely well drawn characters, two people whose lives have taken dramatically different turns since they first knew each other. The well paced narrative skips from present to past, filling in the gaps in both Robin’s and Izzie’s lives from when they originally met until the present, all the while observing the dynamics of their rekindled relationship. It was never obvious how things would play out with these two complex characters who are trying, each in their own way, to deal with grief and trauma. A very enjoyable and sensitively told story.
March 20, 2020
I really did not know what to expect from this book, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be fantasy or magical realism, either of which I would have enjoyed, but it is neither. It is a surprising, powerful and emotional story of relationships, family, grief, loss and the way our minds react to trauma. I found the novel profoundly moving and was hooked from start to finish.
The author draws a trio of very strong and likeable characters in the novel, in Izzie and Robin, who tell the story in a dual narrative, and Izzie’s daughter, Claire, who is both an anchor and a catalyst in the tale. The story moves easily between Izzie and Robin’s recollection of events, and between current and historic happenings – it is incredibly well constructed. I thought the premise was fascinating and deftly explored, how reliable are our memories of events and how much does our psyche alter them to protect us from ordeals that we are not emotionally equipped to survive.
The Faerie Tree of the title is symbolic, and represents people’s hopes and dreams, a place where the protagonists come to reveal their innermost wishes, offload their concerns and voice their fears in the hope someone can hear them and help them process these desires. It then represents a place of blame and haunting, when those hopes and dreams are dashed and there is no one else to inculpate. It draws the focus of the family’s pain and becomes a way of them reaching out to it, and then each other, to share and understand and come together. I thought it was a really beautiful idea that was carried off without any mawkishness or sentimentality. The author explores the ideas of our connections to nature and spirituality through gratitude to the earth and its bounty, how this is important to some but misunderstood and ridiculed by others but, in the end, it is something that is likely to be fundamental to the survival of our species and our planet. Jane does this very cleverly and subtley, without any hint of preachiness, but I felt it through the narrative and it really resonated in present times.
The core of this story though, is love and relationships, how difficult they can be when people can’t make themselves understood by one another, or really understand themselves. In the end, success really comes down to openness, open-mindedness, trust and commitment. It feels to me a very true and very resonating story, and it left me warmed and thoughtful. It also contained some gorgeous pieces of description.
I really loved this book and I hope it finds its way to a large audience because it is a thoughtful, insightful and rewarding piece of work.
The author draws a trio of very strong and likeable characters in the novel, in Izzie and Robin, who tell the story in a dual narrative, and Izzie’s daughter, Claire, who is both an anchor and a catalyst in the tale. The story moves easily between Izzie and Robin’s recollection of events, and between current and historic happenings – it is incredibly well constructed. I thought the premise was fascinating and deftly explored, how reliable are our memories of events and how much does our psyche alter them to protect us from ordeals that we are not emotionally equipped to survive.
The Faerie Tree of the title is symbolic, and represents people’s hopes and dreams, a place where the protagonists come to reveal their innermost wishes, offload their concerns and voice their fears in the hope someone can hear them and help them process these desires. It then represents a place of blame and haunting, when those hopes and dreams are dashed and there is no one else to inculpate. It draws the focus of the family’s pain and becomes a way of them reaching out to it, and then each other, to share and understand and come together. I thought it was a really beautiful idea that was carried off without any mawkishness or sentimentality. The author explores the ideas of our connections to nature and spirituality through gratitude to the earth and its bounty, how this is important to some but misunderstood and ridiculed by others but, in the end, it is something that is likely to be fundamental to the survival of our species and our planet. Jane does this very cleverly and subtley, without any hint of preachiness, but I felt it through the narrative and it really resonated in present times.
The core of this story though, is love and relationships, how difficult they can be when people can’t make themselves understood by one another, or really understand themselves. In the end, success really comes down to openness, open-mindedness, trust and commitment. It feels to me a very true and very resonating story, and it left me warmed and thoughtful. It also contained some gorgeous pieces of description.
I really loved this book and I hope it finds its way to a large audience because it is a thoughtful, insightful and rewarding piece of work.
March 24, 2020
The Faerie Tree begins just as Izzie and her teenage daughter, Claire, have said goodbye to Connor, their husband/father, who died unexpectedly. Whilst out in town one day Izzie literally bumps into a tramp who she believes is Robin, a man she had a brief but strong relationship with 20 years earlier.
They find themselves drawn back into each other's lives and for the most part this is great, but there are lots of ups and downs too, particularly considering the way in which their original relationship ended, i.e. rather abruptly. Robin's grief in the past and Izzie's grief in the present make it a bit of a rocky road for this couple.
I must admit I expected the faerie tree itself to feature more. It's a place they visited the first time around and where people come and leave letters and wishes for the faeries. But it's a lovely idea to place it in the novel.
It's a very romantic book, both in terms of the story and the style, but it also looks at serious issues too. There's definitely a love story at the heart of it though and I was hoping Izzie and Robin could work out their differences and make a go of things, not least because it felt like they were soulmates who got split up by a twist of fate. There's some really interesting stuff about the effects of grief on the mind and how it can possibly change your whole recollection of events too.
To be honest, The Faerie Tree wasn't quite what I expected. I thought there would be more of the folklore, some of what I recall of the mystery of The Cheesemaker's House, whereas it's much more of a family story, covering loss, depression, homelessness, moving on and new love. Nevertheless, it's an easy read, and a moving story, and Jane Cable has a very engaging and pleasant writing style.
They find themselves drawn back into each other's lives and for the most part this is great, but there are lots of ups and downs too, particularly considering the way in which their original relationship ended, i.e. rather abruptly. Robin's grief in the past and Izzie's grief in the present make it a bit of a rocky road for this couple.
I must admit I expected the faerie tree itself to feature more. It's a place they visited the first time around and where people come and leave letters and wishes for the faeries. But it's a lovely idea to place it in the novel.
It's a very romantic book, both in terms of the story and the style, but it also looks at serious issues too. There's definitely a love story at the heart of it though and I was hoping Izzie and Robin could work out their differences and make a go of things, not least because it felt like they were soulmates who got split up by a twist of fate. There's some really interesting stuff about the effects of grief on the mind and how it can possibly change your whole recollection of events too.
To be honest, The Faerie Tree wasn't quite what I expected. I thought there would be more of the folklore, some of what I recall of the mystery of The Cheesemaker's House, whereas it's much more of a family story, covering loss, depression, homelessness, moving on and new love. Nevertheless, it's an easy read, and a moving story, and Jane Cable has a very engaging and pleasant writing style.
April 7, 2015
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book by the promise of something a little bit magical. Both the title and cover hint at this, but somehow the magic doesn’t evolve quite as I’d hoped. The story is one of loss, grief, belief, understanding, promises made and broken, and eventually, hope.
Izzy and Claire are mourning the recent loss of their husband and father Connor, and contemplating their first Christmas without him. A chance encounter with a ‘tramp’ while in town one day reveals that this is Izzy’s lost love Robin, a man who she loved long before Connor, but who, through tragic circumstances disappeared from her life almost as quickly as he appeared in it. Izzy is determined that this isn’t going to be the case this time and makes a concerted effort to track Robin down.
Quite bizarrely, Izzy almost immediately brings Robin to live with her and her teenage daughter! And it is through shared reminiscences that they discover that their memories of their past, their brief relationship and their separation, are completely different. They backtrack, and with the help of Stephen (Robin’s benefactor Jennifer’s son) and his psychotherapist partner Gareth, they attempt to get to the bottom of what really happened.
The steadfast fixture in both their minds and indeed in Robin’s life since his original departure, is the Faerie tree of the title. A magical place where both children and adults come to give offerings and their most heartfelt wishes to the faeries in the hope that they will be granted. In his absence, Robin lived with mother-figure Jennifer, who saw herself as something of a ‘keeper of the tree’. She taught Robin everything she knew about nature, respect for the earth and all that it provides. It’s referred to as Paganism, but it’s never explained fully in the book.
Although this was a pleasant, easy read, I found that it lacked depth. I wanted more magic, and to know more about Paganism and what it truly means to those who practise it. It’s mentioned far too briefly when it should be a central element of the story. I wanted to gain more insight into Izzy and whether she was truly racked with grief or whether she did actually suffer from some sort of mental illness. For that fact, I felt the same about Robin. As lovely as he is now, why did he just leave and never return, never even contacting a soul from his past life, even though he landed up living quite close by. There just wasn’t enough clarity on anything to make this the fully-rounded, satisfying read that I wanted it to be.
I was drawn to this book by the promise of something a little bit magical. Both the title and cover hint at this, but somehow the magic doesn’t evolve quite as I’d hoped. The story is one of loss, grief, belief, understanding, promises made and broken, and eventually, hope.
Izzy and Claire are mourning the recent loss of their husband and father Connor, and contemplating their first Christmas without him. A chance encounter with a ‘tramp’ while in town one day reveals that this is Izzy’s lost love Robin, a man who she loved long before Connor, but who, through tragic circumstances disappeared from her life almost as quickly as he appeared in it. Izzy is determined that this isn’t going to be the case this time and makes a concerted effort to track Robin down.
Quite bizarrely, Izzy almost immediately brings Robin to live with her and her teenage daughter! And it is through shared reminiscences that they discover that their memories of their past, their brief relationship and their separation, are completely different. They backtrack, and with the help of Stephen (Robin’s benefactor Jennifer’s son) and his psychotherapist partner Gareth, they attempt to get to the bottom of what really happened.
The steadfast fixture in both their minds and indeed in Robin’s life since his original departure, is the Faerie tree of the title. A magical place where both children and adults come to give offerings and their most heartfelt wishes to the faeries in the hope that they will be granted. In his absence, Robin lived with mother-figure Jennifer, who saw herself as something of a ‘keeper of the tree’. She taught Robin everything she knew about nature, respect for the earth and all that it provides. It’s referred to as Paganism, but it’s never explained fully in the book.
Although this was a pleasant, easy read, I found that it lacked depth. I wanted more magic, and to know more about Paganism and what it truly means to those who practise it. It’s mentioned far too briefly when it should be a central element of the story. I wanted to gain more insight into Izzy and whether she was truly racked with grief or whether she did actually suffer from some sort of mental illness. For that fact, I felt the same about Robin. As lovely as he is now, why did he just leave and never return, never even contacting a soul from his past life, even though he landed up living quite close by. There just wasn’t enough clarity on anything to make this the fully-rounded, satisfying read that I wanted it to be.
April 1, 2015
When Izzie meets Robin again after a gap of several years, there is much about them that lays hidden. Shared memories are hidden deeply away, locked in a place where hurt can no longer find them. Both Izzie and Robin have known loss and heartbreak and both have found love but in the intervening years they have never found the passion they once felt for each other.
In The Faerie Tree, the author sensitively explores the layers of memory that bind us together and just how deeply we lock away those memories when they seek to confuse and baffle us. The Faerie Tree itself ,hidden deep in the woodland, is the place where Izzy and Robin made their memories , it’s a magical place but firmly bound in the rites and rituals of the earth. People often leave their secrets there and hope that their wishes will, one day, come true.
I was drawn into the story of The Faerie Tree from the beginning. Izzie and Robin’s story is beautifully realistic to the point where you find yourself looking with new eyes at people in the street, and wonder what their lives are like. The story is easy to read and nicely divided so that we see what’s happening from both Izzie’s and Robin's point of view, and although their memories sometime coalesce, often they don’t and once you get used to the quirkiness of the storyline, the book becomes unputdownable. Both Izzie and Robin dominate the story, they are superbly flawed and filled with so much angst and heartbreak that at times the storyline becomes almost a battle to see who hurts the most, and yet, there is a lightness to the narrative, in the shape of Izzy’s daughter Claire, who is the still small voice of calm in an often emotionally fraught situation.
To say more about the plot would be to give too much away. This is one of those rather special stories which is all the better for reading knowing nothing of what is to come.
However, by the end of the novel I was in awe of vagaries of fate and of the powerful and unshakeable bond of memories.
In The Faerie Tree, the author sensitively explores the layers of memory that bind us together and just how deeply we lock away those memories when they seek to confuse and baffle us. The Faerie Tree itself ,hidden deep in the woodland, is the place where Izzy and Robin made their memories , it’s a magical place but firmly bound in the rites and rituals of the earth. People often leave their secrets there and hope that their wishes will, one day, come true.
I was drawn into the story of The Faerie Tree from the beginning. Izzie and Robin’s story is beautifully realistic to the point where you find yourself looking with new eyes at people in the street, and wonder what their lives are like. The story is easy to read and nicely divided so that we see what’s happening from both Izzie’s and Robin's point of view, and although their memories sometime coalesce, often they don’t and once you get used to the quirkiness of the storyline, the book becomes unputdownable. Both Izzie and Robin dominate the story, they are superbly flawed and filled with so much angst and heartbreak that at times the storyline becomes almost a battle to see who hurts the most, and yet, there is a lightness to the narrative, in the shape of Izzy’s daughter Claire, who is the still small voice of calm in an often emotionally fraught situation.
To say more about the plot would be to give too much away. This is one of those rather special stories which is all the better for reading knowing nothing of what is to come.
However, by the end of the novel I was in awe of vagaries of fate and of the powerful and unshakeable bond of memories.
May 12, 2015
I have fairly eclectic tastes when it comes to reading but probably what underlies my reading choices most is a mystery. I wouldn't put this book into my usual choice category, but it did seem to have an air of mystery about it and I hoped the romance element wasn't going to be too prevalent. The title indicated to me that it was going to be a stretch of the imagination with tales of folklore and such like - how wrong could I have been.......
Wow - what a surprise this book was. I found it totally enthralling, tried to keep reading even when my eyes were closing - it takes a great book for me to do that. Right from the start of the book when Izzie sees a tramp and recognises him as someone she once knew I was hooked on so many different levels.
The story that unfolded from both the perspective of Izzie and that of Robin (the tramp) was truly amazing. I felt that I wasn't reading a work of fiction at all, so strong were the character voices and their actions that I felt like I was just watching it all happen in front of me.
It is said that there are three versions of the truth "what I think happened" what you think happened" and "what actually happened" and that I feel sums up this very clever book. There are a few twists - there is some romance, but not in a chick lit or Mills & Boon way! Basically it's a cracking story with a difference and one that I will not forget for some time. Whilst originally The "Faerie Tree" element of the book didn't appeal to me - I found myself drawn into the tales and intrigued by the beliefs.
As they say - "never judge a book by its cover" and I am so glad I didn't do that with this book as I would have missed an excellent read.
I had heard of Jane's first novel The Cheesemakers House but never got around to reading it - so many books so little time! - however, I think after this fabulous book I really must make time to read it soon.
My thanks to Netgalley, Jane Cable and Troubador Publishing for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2015
I love books that can manage a bit of magic and still seem so real. This is definitely one of those stories that makes you believe in the power of love.
I think what made me like this novel more than anything else, was the way the characters mirrored real people. The conversations didn't feel forced and I saw multiple sides of each character so by the end it was like I had known them forever. There were times during this story when I was surprised by the level of emotion the male lead character showed, and that was a nice change. Some authors seem to be afraid to show any weakness in their main character and that makes me feel like I can't get close to them, but in this story, that was not the case.
When I began reading this I sort of expected it to be an overdose of magic realism as that seems to be a trend, but by the end of the first couple chapters I was pleasantly surprised that this is a very realistic story. The magic comes from people and their relationships with one another, rather than a wand or an incantation.
This author makes you believe what you are reading and wonder what happened to the characters after her stories are complete.
I really Enjoy Jane Cable's writing. She takes the time to let her story develop, has memorable characters, and knows how to build suspense and curiosity in her readers.
Overall, this was a great book that I happily recommend to other readers.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I think what made me like this novel more than anything else, was the way the characters mirrored real people. The conversations didn't feel forced and I saw multiple sides of each character so by the end it was like I had known them forever. There were times during this story when I was surprised by the level of emotion the male lead character showed, and that was a nice change. Some authors seem to be afraid to show any weakness in their main character and that makes me feel like I can't get close to them, but in this story, that was not the case.
When I began reading this I sort of expected it to be an overdose of magic realism as that seems to be a trend, but by the end of the first couple chapters I was pleasantly surprised that this is a very realistic story. The magic comes from people and their relationships with one another, rather than a wand or an incantation.
This author makes you believe what you are reading and wonder what happened to the characters after her stories are complete.
I really Enjoy Jane Cable's writing. She takes the time to let her story develop, has memorable characters, and knows how to build suspense and curiosity in her readers.
Overall, this was a great book that I happily recommend to other readers.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2015
The Faerie Tree is not about tiny delicate beings with sparkly wings and magic wands. This is a very real tale of love, loss, grief, depression, friendship, memories, forgiveness and hope.
I loved the whole pagan concept of the faerie tree, where children could write letters to the fairies. The way it brought people together, gave children answers and others a purpose, really touched me.
I received a tiny letter from the Tooth Fairy when I was 9 years old. I had 6 teeth taken out at the dentist, and the letter explained all 6 teeth were too heavy for my fairy, Fiona to carry, and that she would be back for the remaining 2 the following night. I read that tiny letter over and over again as a child. Belief can be a beautiful thing. I wish this had played a larger part in the story.
I loved the characters, although, sometimes I had the urge to shake sense into them. It was enjoyable getting to know the characters, both in the past and present.
The story lost my attention slightly somewhere in the middle, but the pace picked up again later in the book.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy character-focussed books about love and grief and the challenges that come with it.
I would like to thank the publisher, Troubador Publishing Ltd. for allowing me a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 11, 2015
In 1986 Izzie and Robin meet, and are drawn to the Faerie Tree on the banks of the Hamble. The Faerie Tree is reputed to grant wishes, so amongst the ribbons, necklaces, and letters, Robin and Izzie wish for a life together. Just a few hours later, tragedy sets events in motion and their lives take separate paths.
In the winter of 2006, after Izzie’s husband dies, Izzie and Robin’s paths cross once again. They have each faced their own heartbreaking moments, and the tragedies of those moments have colored their memories of their last days together in different ways.
Izzie’s daughter Claire is the voice of calm in the rising tide of emotional outbursts.
This is a story of family relationships, love, and loss. A powerful telling of the events that shaped the lives of the characters, the story unfolds with sensitivity and warmth.
Author Jane Cable developed believable characters that are flawed and anguished, and yet ultimately strong and determined to get beyond their pasts and accept the love each has for the other.
The Faerie Tree was an enjoyable read from page one to the end. Once I started it, I had a hard time putting it down. I recommend it to all fans of women's contemporary fiction.
Why The Faerie Tree? You’ll have to read to find out.
A copy of The Faerie Tree was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
In the winter of 2006, after Izzie’s husband dies, Izzie and Robin’s paths cross once again. They have each faced their own heartbreaking moments, and the tragedies of those moments have colored their memories of their last days together in different ways.
Izzie’s daughter Claire is the voice of calm in the rising tide of emotional outbursts.
This is a story of family relationships, love, and loss. A powerful telling of the events that shaped the lives of the characters, the story unfolds with sensitivity and warmth.
Author Jane Cable developed believable characters that are flawed and anguished, and yet ultimately strong and determined to get beyond their pasts and accept the love each has for the other.
The Faerie Tree was an enjoyable read from page one to the end. Once I started it, I had a hard time putting it down. I recommend it to all fans of women's contemporary fiction.
Why The Faerie Tree? You’ll have to read to find out.
A copy of The Faerie Tree was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2015
This book felt like peeling an onion , unwrapping the central characters Robin, and Izzie, layer by layer with the excitement building as you get closer to their centres. Their lives intertwine over the years and the impact they make on each other comes back as a recurring theme through their relationships with other people. When their relationship is rekindled after a chance meeting it causes them to question their memories of the past and all that has been built on them.
All of the characters are beautifully drawn and very well formed. You care about them. The storyline feels original and is very enjoyable,
The book is set in Hampshire and central to the plot is the faerie tree, a place where wishes and dreams are left to be answered. This felt the least cohesive part of the story, perhaps I was just expecting more mystery or magic around it. Whilst the story kept circling back to the tree, it didn't quite seem to have done enough to justify the focus. This did not however overly detract from a very enjoyable read.
All of the characters are beautifully drawn and very well formed. You care about them. The storyline feels original and is very enjoyable,
The book is set in Hampshire and central to the plot is the faerie tree, a place where wishes and dreams are left to be answered. This felt the least cohesive part of the story, perhaps I was just expecting more mystery or magic around it. Whilst the story kept circling back to the tree, it didn't quite seem to have done enough to justify the focus. This did not however overly detract from a very enjoyable read.
April 19, 2015
I have to say that I'm bitterly disappointed with this sorry.The book had a magical premise and the blurb made it sound as though this magical theme would be explored. True the pull of the tree is central to Robin's character development and his relationship with Izzie/Bella. However, that's about it. There was little exploration of the faerie folk or description of the "pagan" rituals other than as a footnote to the story. The relationship is very fragile and the differences in the recollection of their memories could have been explored more deeply. The introduction of "Ga" (again, why couldn't they have stuck with the one name for Graham) as a psychologist was to enable this but then was left very open and utterly ambiguous. Such a shame as I was really looking forward to reading this book.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Thank you to the publisher for a free advance copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 14, 2016
Excellent book charting the lives of Izzie and robin a couple in love but circumstances mean they never get to the stage where love is easy.
Robin comes across as lovely man a kind hearted gentleman who everyone he meets seems to admire his gentle manner even as a down and out tramp.
Izzie loses touch with robin, marries and has a daughter, her husband dies leaving her free to open a new relationship and she meets robin again living rough on the streets.
anyone who loves a complicated intense love story will enjoy this book
And the 40 ish age of the characters should not put anyone off.
Robin comes across as lovely man a kind hearted gentleman who everyone he meets seems to admire his gentle manner even as a down and out tramp.
Izzie loses touch with robin, marries and has a daughter, her husband dies leaving her free to open a new relationship and she meets robin again living rough on the streets.
anyone who loves a complicated intense love story will enjoy this book
And the 40 ish age of the characters should not put anyone off.
September 1, 2015
I enjoyed this book immensely. It is such a beautiful story,though somewhat sad at times.
I borrowed this book from my daughter after she won it in a Goodreads competition. She made me read it and I'm very glad she did.
I borrowed this book from my daughter after she won it in a Goodreads competition. She made me read it and I'm very glad she did.
October 7, 2022
The Faerie Tree is an absorbing read. I have thoroughly enjoyed Izzie and Robin’s story. It’s a fascinating tale of love, loss, and acceptance of a life that is how it was meant to be. I found their differing memories of the same situation quite fascinating. It is funny how our minds can alter our memories to protect ourselves from pain.
I can’t say that I found Izzie an easily likable character, but I could certainly understand her and empathise with her. She is struggling with her own grief whilst trying to be a good mother to her sixteen-year-old daughter, Claire, and battling with her own conscience over reuniting with Robin.
Robin I warmed to much more easily. I can’t really say why, I just did. I’m not sure if it’s just me or if the author intended for him to be more likeable of the two. Either way, I think it’s a testament to his character how patient he is with Izzie.
This book is so full of raw emotion. It maintains an air of mystery throughout and I found it a very difficult book to put down.
I very much recommend!
I will be adding Jane Cable’s other books to my TBR list.
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/10/0...
I can’t say that I found Izzie an easily likable character, but I could certainly understand her and empathise with her. She is struggling with her own grief whilst trying to be a good mother to her sixteen-year-old daughter, Claire, and battling with her own conscience over reuniting with Robin.
Robin I warmed to much more easily. I can’t really say why, I just did. I’m not sure if it’s just me or if the author intended for him to be more likeable of the two. Either way, I think it’s a testament to his character how patient he is with Izzie.
This book is so full of raw emotion. It maintains an air of mystery throughout and I found it a very difficult book to put down.
I very much recommend!
I will be adding Jane Cable’s other books to my TBR list.
https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/10/0...
June 17, 2020
The Faerie Tree by Jane Cable is a story of love, loss, grief, and destiny, which captured my heart and kept me glued to the story from beginning to end. Young lovers torn apart by tragedy and the story of them finding each other again.
Jane Cable weaves this story so that the circumstances that tore the young lovers apart remains a mystery throughout the story. I really enjoy the time jumps and how memory plays a pivotal role in this plot. It’s clear Izzie and Robin recall the events of their past very differently, which leads to a very compelling story.
I found The Faerie Tree compelling and beautifully written. Two characters who very much feel real, struggling with their faults and mistakes, but still shining on as very real humans. I definitely recommend this one.
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
Jane Cable weaves this story so that the circumstances that tore the young lovers apart remains a mystery throughout the story. I really enjoy the time jumps and how memory plays a pivotal role in this plot. It’s clear Izzie and Robin recall the events of their past very differently, which leads to a very compelling story.
I found The Faerie Tree compelling and beautifully written. Two characters who very much feel real, struggling with their faults and mistakes, but still shining on as very real humans. I definitely recommend this one.
*I received a free copy of this book from Rachel’s Random Resources in exchange for an honest review on the blog tour. All opinions are my own and unbiased.*
September 11, 2022
This second novel of Jane's was just as good as the first. I was gripped by the sad story of Izzie and Robin. The themes of love and loss are strong in this book. Depression and alcoholism are also present.
I read this whist travelling around Romania, so didn't have large amounts of time to sit and read it in one sitting. However I did spend a nice hour sitting in a park in Bucharest reading this.
The characters are really brought to life. I liked and pitied them in equal measure. The only one I didn't like was Jack, I thought he was let off far too easily. Whist the book did end on a happy note it hints that Robin is destined to become a carer again.
I read this whist travelling around Romania, so didn't have large amounts of time to sit and read it in one sitting. However I did spend a nice hour sitting in a park in Bucharest reading this.
The characters are really brought to life. I liked and pitied them in equal measure. The only one I didn't like was Jack, I thought he was let off far too easily. Whist the book did end on a happy note it hints that Robin is destined to become a carer again.
February 28, 2020
The faerie tree by Jane Cable.
This was a very good read. I liked Izzie and Robin grew on me. I did find it slow in places. Well written. Only 3 and a half stars for me.
This was a very good read. I liked Izzie and Robin grew on me. I did find it slow in places. Well written. Only 3 and a half stars for me.
March 14, 2020
I loved this book from start to finish, a tender story of how two people (who should be together) are kept apart by tragic circumstances outside their control. Robin, a complex and somewhat flawed character, finds life hard to cope with in the aftermath of an unexpected family bereavement. Heartache, self-blame, depression and guilt all play a part but this does not explain the gaps in his memory. Is it a case of a broken man who walks away from his life and just keeps on walking?
Izzie on the other hand, is heartbroken by his departure. With memories of a passionate relationship, she cannot understand what went wrong. So when she recognises him 20 years later, she won't turn her back on him. Recently bereaved herself with a daughter, she reaches out and helps him back on his feet, a storyline that warms the heart. But not everything is as it seems. Izzie has her own emotional problems to deal with, which is where this story becomes a true test of relationships.
Filled with folklore, respect for nature and with beautifully woven descriptions of the coast and countryside, this is a story to be savoured. But it was the pure human dynamics that made it a truly engaging read, where I really came to care for these characters.
Izzie on the other hand, is heartbroken by his departure. With memories of a passionate relationship, she cannot understand what went wrong. So when she recognises him 20 years later, she won't turn her back on him. Recently bereaved herself with a daughter, she reaches out and helps him back on his feet, a storyline that warms the heart. But not everything is as it seems. Izzie has her own emotional problems to deal with, which is where this story becomes a true test of relationships.
Filled with folklore, respect for nature and with beautifully woven descriptions of the coast and countryside, this is a story to be savoured. But it was the pure human dynamics that made it a truly engaging read, where I really came to care for these characters.
June 4, 2015
Review: The Faerie Tree by Jane Cable Published by: Matador (28 Feb. 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1784622220
Source: Publisher, via Netgalley
Rating: 3.5*
Synopsis:
How can a memory so vivid be wrong?
In the summer of 1986 Robin and Izzie hold hands under The Faerie Tree and wish for a future together. Within hours tragedy rips their dreams apart.
In the winter of 2006, each carrying their own burden of grief, they stumble back into each other's lives and try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of 1986 so different? And which one of them is right?
With strong themes of paganism, love and grief, The Faerie Tree is a novel as gripping and unputdownable as Jane Cable's first book, The Cheesemaker's House, which won the Suspense & Crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show's People's Novelist competition. It is a story that will resonate with fans of romance, suspense, and folklore.
My Review:
I requested this book on Netgalley purely because of the title and front cover; it just seemed like my kind of read.
The Faerie Tree certainly starts out as a magical tale full of hope and dreams for Izzie and Robin, but quickly turns into something else when circumstances drive them apart. I have to admit, I was quite riveted by this point and liking the well written, complex characters of Robin and Izzie.
Following the couple's separation, I found the story didn't hold my interest quite as well and I was waiting for something to happen to arouse my interest as the start of the book had. When Izzie and Robin bump into each other again and the story continues by way of each person's recollection, I found my interest piqued again. I particularly wanted to find out Robin's story.
My favourite character is Claire, Izzie's daughter. She brings a welcome bit of light relief to the rather woeful proceedings and seems to be the only one with her head screwed on straight! Don't get me wrong, I'm not mocking the problems that Robin and Izzie have, but all the dram was just a bit much for me.
Having the introduction to the author's first book at the end of this one was a nice touch.
*Thanks to the publisher for the review copy I received via Netgalley*
ISBN-13: 978-1784622220
Source: Publisher, via Netgalley
Rating: 3.5*
Synopsis:
How can a memory so vivid be wrong?
In the summer of 1986 Robin and Izzie hold hands under The Faerie Tree and wish for a future together. Within hours tragedy rips their dreams apart.
In the winter of 2006, each carrying their own burden of grief, they stumble back into each other's lives and try to create a second chance. But why are their memories of 1986 so different? And which one of them is right?
With strong themes of paganism, love and grief, The Faerie Tree is a novel as gripping and unputdownable as Jane Cable's first book, The Cheesemaker's House, which won the Suspense & Crime category of The Alan Titchmarsh Show's People's Novelist competition. It is a story that will resonate with fans of romance, suspense, and folklore.
My Review:
I requested this book on Netgalley purely because of the title and front cover; it just seemed like my kind of read.
The Faerie Tree certainly starts out as a magical tale full of hope and dreams for Izzie and Robin, but quickly turns into something else when circumstances drive them apart. I have to admit, I was quite riveted by this point and liking the well written, complex characters of Robin and Izzie.
Following the couple's separation, I found the story didn't hold my interest quite as well and I was waiting for something to happen to arouse my interest as the start of the book had. When Izzie and Robin bump into each other again and the story continues by way of each person's recollection, I found my interest piqued again. I particularly wanted to find out Robin's story.
My favourite character is Claire, Izzie's daughter. She brings a welcome bit of light relief to the rather woeful proceedings and seems to be the only one with her head screwed on straight! Don't get me wrong, I'm not mocking the problems that Robin and Izzie have, but all the dram was just a bit much for me.
Having the introduction to the author's first book at the end of this one was a nice touch.
*Thanks to the publisher for the review copy I received via Netgalley*
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