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The Forgotten Palace
In an underground labyrinth a lost soul wanders, waiting for revenge, waiting for love…
London 1900
Alice Webster has made the worst decision of her life. When her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour she jumps at the opportunity to get away from the glare of scandal. Heading off to see the world as the century turns, Alice begins to believe her broken heart can be healed, and a chance encounter on a train bound for Paris changes everything. When their journey takes them to a Cretan house thick with history, and the world-famous dig at Knossos, stories from the past begin to echo through Alice’s life.
London Present Day
Eloise De’Ath is meant to be a grieving widow. But if people knew the truth about her late husband, they’d understand why she can’t even pretend. Needing to escape, Eloise heads to Crete and the house her father-in-law Quinn left her, and slowly Quinn’s home begins to reveal its mysteries. In his office Eloise discovers his life’s work: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Fascinated by the diaries of a young woman from the dig, Eloise is drawn into Alice’s tale of lost love and her growing obsession with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
Three women divided by time but connected by the long-hidden secrets of the past. As their stories join in a golden thread, a terrible injustice might finally be undone…
London 1900
Alice Webster has made the worst decision of her life. When her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour she jumps at the opportunity to get away from the glare of scandal. Heading off to see the world as the century turns, Alice begins to believe her broken heart can be healed, and a chance encounter on a train bound for Paris changes everything. When their journey takes them to a Cretan house thick with history, and the world-famous dig at Knossos, stories from the past begin to echo through Alice’s life.
London Present Day
Eloise De’Ath is meant to be a grieving widow. But if people knew the truth about her late husband, they’d understand why she can’t even pretend. Needing to escape, Eloise heads to Crete and the house her father-in-law Quinn left her, and slowly Quinn’s home begins to reveal its mysteries. In his office Eloise discovers his life’s work: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Fascinated by the diaries of a young woman from the dig, Eloise is drawn into Alice’s tale of lost love and her growing obsession with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
Three women divided by time but connected by the long-hidden secrets of the past. As their stories join in a golden thread, a terrible injustice might finally be undone…
365 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2023
892 people are currently reading
2795 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 31, 2023
A lovely dual time-line story. Set in Greece I loved this book it was as good as her others and the way the story unfolds is so good and interesting. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
April 12, 2023
The Forgotten Palace is an epic timeslip novel that is as intriguing as its cover. And what a wild ride it is through the pages of history that includes the real-life excavation at Knosses in Crete! There’s a fair bit of historical content utilised skilfully and beautifully on the lost civilization of the Minoans. The author weaves this through the story and makes it personal through her imagined characters plus real life persons such as archaeologist Arthur Evans who wanted to rediscover the Minoans.
Ms Walsh created Alice Webster, as the fictional Victorian England heroine, who ends up on the real dig through a chance meeting on a train, after she has accepted her Aunt’s invitation to go on a Grand Tour. She has been caught in a scandal and has shamed her family. Now she seeks a way forward by being part of the dig to find the forgotten palace. While helping it rise up from the soil to tell its story again, she escapes her own. The author has noted that her action is similar to the ‘symbolic labyrinth of despair and lost love’. It is easy to see parallels between her and the Greek classic myth. We know from history the Knosses Palace ruins were uncovered but the labyrinth was not. Many have wondered though, if the inspiration for the labyrinth myth was drawn from the building itself which had numerous maze-like compartments.
It was an effortless transition travelling back and forth between 1900 and present day with the journey starting in London, continuing to Crete and dotted by short passages of ancient Greece and the Minotaur myth. I loved how the chapters were grouped together giving us ample opportunity within each time period to get acquainted with the characters and their dramas and to obtain an encompassing feel of the settings before being shifted forwards or backwards. This format creates a gentle flow with no abrupt changes in the two storylines.
Eloise De’Ath of the current timeline has lost her husband to an unexpected death but although onlookers expect her to be grieving, she is relieved. She has had a very difficult marriage and if others knew the truth of her late husband’s activities, they would truly understand her lack of grief. Needing to escape the whole horrid experience, she prepares to put the marriage home up for sale and heads to Crete, to the house left to her by her father-in-law Quinn along with his life’s work: the Victorian excavation to locate the Minotaur’s labyrinth. There in Quinn’s office she finds and reads the diaries of Alice who was part of the dig. And becomes deeply fascinated by the Minotaur myth and fixated on Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
This story is about so many things (including the finding and preserving of historical artefacts) but also a good portion is about abuse and forgiveness, innocence and maturity, bondage and independence, infatuation and love. Learning what a healthy relationship is and if you find you are in a bad one, digging your way out of the dirt. Having courage to let yourself heal and to rise out of the ashes into the warmth and kindness of truly caring arms. Arms that do not punish but hold you through the darkness and pain. Even teaching frightened feet to dance again with joy.
The past and present meet on Quinn’s property of many mysteries as they walk ‘the steep path to the hidden grove with the standing stone.’ The story of the Palace is brought to light and delivered together through people such as Quinn, Alice and Eloise.
This is a stunning piece of historical fiction, highly researched and filled to the brim with fascinating pieces of Cretan history. This past year I have read a number of fiction books with the Minotaur myth at their core. And this is yet another, but it is a worthy addition with its remarkable tale of love. I definitely recommend it but yes, it is not light reading in places and some parts will make you shudder with grief but in the end you will smile at its satisfying ending. I am really glad I read it. Thanks to Boldwood for the invitation and to Netgalley for my review copy. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ms Walsh created Alice Webster, as the fictional Victorian England heroine, who ends up on the real dig through a chance meeting on a train, after she has accepted her Aunt’s invitation to go on a Grand Tour. She has been caught in a scandal and has shamed her family. Now she seeks a way forward by being part of the dig to find the forgotten palace. While helping it rise up from the soil to tell its story again, she escapes her own. The author has noted that her action is similar to the ‘symbolic labyrinth of despair and lost love’. It is easy to see parallels between her and the Greek classic myth. We know from history the Knosses Palace ruins were uncovered but the labyrinth was not. Many have wondered though, if the inspiration for the labyrinth myth was drawn from the building itself which had numerous maze-like compartments.
It was an effortless transition travelling back and forth between 1900 and present day with the journey starting in London, continuing to Crete and dotted by short passages of ancient Greece and the Minotaur myth. I loved how the chapters were grouped together giving us ample opportunity within each time period to get acquainted with the characters and their dramas and to obtain an encompassing feel of the settings before being shifted forwards or backwards. This format creates a gentle flow with no abrupt changes in the two storylines.
Eloise De’Ath of the current timeline has lost her husband to an unexpected death but although onlookers expect her to be grieving, she is relieved. She has had a very difficult marriage and if others knew the truth of her late husband’s activities, they would truly understand her lack of grief. Needing to escape the whole horrid experience, she prepares to put the marriage home up for sale and heads to Crete, to the house left to her by her father-in-law Quinn along with his life’s work: the Victorian excavation to locate the Minotaur’s labyrinth. There in Quinn’s office she finds and reads the diaries of Alice who was part of the dig. And becomes deeply fascinated by the Minotaur myth and fixated on Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
This story is about so many things (including the finding and preserving of historical artefacts) but also a good portion is about abuse and forgiveness, innocence and maturity, bondage and independence, infatuation and love. Learning what a healthy relationship is and if you find you are in a bad one, digging your way out of the dirt. Having courage to let yourself heal and to rise out of the ashes into the warmth and kindness of truly caring arms. Arms that do not punish but hold you through the darkness and pain. Even teaching frightened feet to dance again with joy.
The past and present meet on Quinn’s property of many mysteries as they walk ‘the steep path to the hidden grove with the standing stone.’ The story of the Palace is brought to light and delivered together through people such as Quinn, Alice and Eloise.
This is a stunning piece of historical fiction, highly researched and filled to the brim with fascinating pieces of Cretan history. This past year I have read a number of fiction books with the Minotaur myth at their core. And this is yet another, but it is a worthy addition with its remarkable tale of love. I definitely recommend it but yes, it is not light reading in places and some parts will make you shudder with grief but in the end you will smile at its satisfying ending. I am really glad I read it. Thanks to Boldwood for the invitation and to Netgalley for my review copy. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 12, 2023
A dual time story with a real difference, the lives of two women over a century apart, linked by their experiences and dreams of the Minotaur’s labyrinth at Knossos – and I really have to say I loved every moment.
The story opens in the present day, Eloise prepares for her husband’s funeral after his sudden death – we meet his three friends who were ever-present throughout her marriage, and witness her particularly spectacular exit from the ceremony before travelling to Crete, her father-in-law having left her a house that she can make her refuge. And then, in 1900, there’s Alice’s story – joining her aunt, family and entourage on a European Grand Tour to escape a difficult situation of her own making. Their itinerary is fluid, and a chance meeting takes them to Crete – where Alice joins the dig at the archaeological site at Knossos. It turns out that both women stay at the same house, where Eloise’s father-in-law had made it his life’s work to research Arthur Evans’ dig at the Knossos complex – but the women are also linked by the dark recurring dreams they both experience, rich with detail drawn from myth and legend.
The stories are very cleverly wrapped around each other – something I always enjoy rather more than alternation of chapters – and there’s more than a touch of real darkness as the full story of Eloise’s difficult marriage slowly emerges as her life moves forward. And we also discover the full and rather shameful story behind Alice’s departure, as she finds her own empowerment through the beginnings of a new relationship and the work she becomes part of at Knossos. And then there’s the recurring story of the Minotaur and his labyrinth, the women linked through the character of Ariadne and a really original interpretation of its reality.
The research that went into this book must have been tremendous – the detail about the Knossos dig and discoveries, the real individuals who were part of it brought to life through the story, and all the small historical details (down to the corsets and clothing) that brings the whole era vividly to life. I was fascinated too by the exploration of the Theosophy movement, the continuous flow of life, and the concept of the Akashic record – that might look a touch heavy, but it really works well to underpin the women’s experiences – and the reinterpretation of the familiar myth of the minotaur is extremely well handled.
The characterisation is excellent – I became fully involved in the lives of both women as they grew in strength and confidence, along with the well-drawn individuals who were part of their lives, and the relationships they developed (even a touch of romance) as the threads gradually drew together. The setting too is wonderfully drawn – Crete itself, and the enigmatic Sfragida House with its many secrets. And the way the story unfolds, with secrets slowly and shockingly revealed, both threads equally engaging, punctuated by the increasingly vivid and unsettling dreams, had me totally engrossed from the story’s beginning to its wholly satisfying end. Unlike anything I’ve read before, and very highly recommended – I’ll be looking forward to reading more from its extremely gifted author.
The story opens in the present day, Eloise prepares for her husband’s funeral after his sudden death – we meet his three friends who were ever-present throughout her marriage, and witness her particularly spectacular exit from the ceremony before travelling to Crete, her father-in-law having left her a house that she can make her refuge. And then, in 1900, there’s Alice’s story – joining her aunt, family and entourage on a European Grand Tour to escape a difficult situation of her own making. Their itinerary is fluid, and a chance meeting takes them to Crete – where Alice joins the dig at the archaeological site at Knossos. It turns out that both women stay at the same house, where Eloise’s father-in-law had made it his life’s work to research Arthur Evans’ dig at the Knossos complex – but the women are also linked by the dark recurring dreams they both experience, rich with detail drawn from myth and legend.
The stories are very cleverly wrapped around each other – something I always enjoy rather more than alternation of chapters – and there’s more than a touch of real darkness as the full story of Eloise’s difficult marriage slowly emerges as her life moves forward. And we also discover the full and rather shameful story behind Alice’s departure, as she finds her own empowerment through the beginnings of a new relationship and the work she becomes part of at Knossos. And then there’s the recurring story of the Minotaur and his labyrinth, the women linked through the character of Ariadne and a really original interpretation of its reality.
The research that went into this book must have been tremendous – the detail about the Knossos dig and discoveries, the real individuals who were part of it brought to life through the story, and all the small historical details (down to the corsets and clothing) that brings the whole era vividly to life. I was fascinated too by the exploration of the Theosophy movement, the continuous flow of life, and the concept of the Akashic record – that might look a touch heavy, but it really works well to underpin the women’s experiences – and the reinterpretation of the familiar myth of the minotaur is extremely well handled.
The characterisation is excellent – I became fully involved in the lives of both women as they grew in strength and confidence, along with the well-drawn individuals who were part of their lives, and the relationships they developed (even a touch of romance) as the threads gradually drew together. The setting too is wonderfully drawn – Crete itself, and the enigmatic Sfragida House with its many secrets. And the way the story unfolds, with secrets slowly and shockingly revealed, both threads equally engaging, punctuated by the increasingly vivid and unsettling dreams, had me totally engrossed from the story’s beginning to its wholly satisfying end. Unlike anything I’ve read before, and very highly recommended – I’ll be looking forward to reading more from its extremely gifted author.
June 19, 2024
I will always come back to historical fiction genre no matter what I explore. This book has been on my TBR for God knows how long. I am glad to have finished it finally as it was an incredible experience. The book follows 3 timeslip stories giving great insights into Minoan civilisation. Generally in case of timeslip stories it so happens that one of them is weakly developed and not that interesting to follow as compared to the other but that was not the case with this book. All the storylines were equally interesting to follow. Only scope of improvement I could see was to add the year at the top when shuffling between storylines as it was slightly difficult to realise when storylines changed.
P.S. Kindle unlimited has been truly a blessing for me as it has enabled me to read so many lovely books!
P.S. Kindle unlimited has been truly a blessing for me as it has enabled me to read so many lovely books!
March 28, 2023
From the intriguing prologue to the very last page I was captivated by this novel. Two women, a century apart, betrayed by lovers escape to the sunny island of Crete. A wonderful dual timeline novel. I loved it. I've holidayed in Crete before and was transported back there. Wonderful descriptions of the food, the scenery topped of by a great storyline.
July 28, 2023
What a fabulous book. It was a mixure of the things I love: Mystery, history and beautiful descriptive imagery. Available on Kindle Unlimited too :)
April 13, 2023
Alice thought a frame was the love of her life but when he married her sister Petronella she knew they could never be together and she was devastated so when her aunt invited her on a trip abroad and made sure her daddy couldn’t say no Alice went. It would be on the train over to France that she would meet a handsome but nondescript guy who Alice had no interest then until he told her he can always tell someone from the club and when she said what club and he said the heartbroken… Her interest was piqued. Eloise is a new widow and although her mother-in-law is heartbroken Eloise can’t help but the thinks that makes one of them. As she ready‘s herself for a trip to the island of Crete she has no idea what Fate has in store for her and what the role her dreams and the old myth of the labyrinth Will change everything. for her. I want to apologize for this weak summary I read this book a few months ago and totally forgot to leave a review this is a really great book and I stayed up all night to finish it and didn’t want to put it down I truly enjoyed this book and when I was in the middle of it I remember thinking I didn’t know how the author was going to bring these two women together but OMG she did I love this book and highly recommend it I received this book from NetGalley in the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review. When she finds Alice’s two journals the coincidences are too many to blow off and it will not only intrigue Eloise it will bring justice to one of the long-suffering women.
May 6, 2025
Always one who enjoys the work of Alexandra Walsh, I reached for this standalone novel. Walsh has a wonderful way of breathing life into historical fiction, while never giving up on a solid story in the present. The story works well in both time periods and the reader is pulled into the middle of a great mystery, while learning a thing or two along the way. A well-paced piece by Alexandra Walsh that had me eager to keep reading.
It’s 1900 and Alice Webster is realising she’s made a fateful mistake that could be the worst of her life. After her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour, Alice agrees to leave her troubles behind. A chance to tour the world begins well, though it is a chance encounter at a Paris train station and truly changes things for Alice. Before she knows it, she’s on the Island of Crete and connecting with historical events from the past, her troubles forgotten as she dives into the times of the gods.
In the present, Eloise De’Ath is going through the worst days of her life. A new widow who is holding onto a number of secrets about her husband, Eloise seeks to get away and chooses the Island of Crete, where her father-in-law left her his home, much to the chagrin of others. When she arrives, Eloise learns more about the mysteries within the house. which include pieces of art and stories about Greek myths. Included is a diary kept by Alice Webster, who shares more mysterious thoughts that soon subsume Eloise and her time there. Another labyrinthine mystery connects Alice with Eloise and a mysterious Ariadne, making this a complex and highly intense story. Alexandra Walsh dazzles once and impresses the curious reader.
I have long enjoyed the work of Alexandra Walsh. who never fails to entertain. Her multi-time period pieces keep the story fresh and the action always bubbling over. The narrative moves swiftly, keeping the reader engaged as they mentally visit various times in history. Characters emerge and make their mark, effectively leading the reader along the pathway. Plot points drive the story home and toss in a few surprises along the way to keep the reader curious. I could not get enough of this story and will be eager to read more of her work soon.
Kudos, Madam Walsh, for a solid story that kept me hooked!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
It’s 1900 and Alice Webster is realising she’s made a fateful mistake that could be the worst of her life. After her Aunt Agatha offers her the chance to go on a Grand Tour, Alice agrees to leave her troubles behind. A chance to tour the world begins well, though it is a chance encounter at a Paris train station and truly changes things for Alice. Before she knows it, she’s on the Island of Crete and connecting with historical events from the past, her troubles forgotten as she dives into the times of the gods.
In the present, Eloise De’Ath is going through the worst days of her life. A new widow who is holding onto a number of secrets about her husband, Eloise seeks to get away and chooses the Island of Crete, where her father-in-law left her his home, much to the chagrin of others. When she arrives, Eloise learns more about the mysteries within the house. which include pieces of art and stories about Greek myths. Included is a diary kept by Alice Webster, who shares more mysterious thoughts that soon subsume Eloise and her time there. Another labyrinthine mystery connects Alice with Eloise and a mysterious Ariadne, making this a complex and highly intense story. Alexandra Walsh dazzles once and impresses the curious reader.
I have long enjoyed the work of Alexandra Walsh. who never fails to entertain. Her multi-time period pieces keep the story fresh and the action always bubbling over. The narrative moves swiftly, keeping the reader engaged as they mentally visit various times in history. Characters emerge and make their mark, effectively leading the reader along the pathway. Plot points drive the story home and toss in a few surprises along the way to keep the reader curious. I could not get enough of this story and will be eager to read more of her work soon.
Kudos, Madam Walsh, for a solid story that kept me hooked!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 6, 2023
This is a dual timeline story with Eloise in the present and Alice in the 1900's. Both women have secrets in their lives and both are running away from life.
The first chapter is a real hook and I thought this was going to be a winner. Eloise is a strong character. She's had a traumatic time but thanks to her father-in-law she is able to escape and try to make sense of her life. Alice's story is the weaker of the two. I didn't take to her at all. Her trauma is mainly through her own fault. I thought she was a brat who was totally self indulgent. Even though her experience is explained to her advantage towards the end I still didn't like her.
The connection between the two woman and timelines is tenuous at best. There are way, way too many characters in this book and some of them are not even relevant. If you like Greek mythology you'll get plenty of it here, too much of it altogether. At times it read like a history book and it detracted from the main story..
It's well written and there is obviously a lot of research gone into the subject but it just wasn't my cup of tea!
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
The first chapter is a real hook and I thought this was going to be a winner. Eloise is a strong character. She's had a traumatic time but thanks to her father-in-law she is able to escape and try to make sense of her life. Alice's story is the weaker of the two. I didn't take to her at all. Her trauma is mainly through her own fault. I thought she was a brat who was totally self indulgent. Even though her experience is explained to her advantage towards the end I still didn't like her.
The connection between the two woman and timelines is tenuous at best. There are way, way too many characters in this book and some of them are not even relevant. If you like Greek mythology you'll get plenty of it here, too much of it altogether. At times it read like a history book and it detracted from the main story..
It's well written and there is obviously a lot of research gone into the subject but it just wasn't my cup of tea!
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
March 26, 2024
I really liked the first three of A. Walsh's "Tudor Conspiracy theory" series, mainly because of the "what if" twists in the Henry VIII story lines. I fully expected to like this story too.
This one had too many parallels between the two centuries. I understand what the author was trying to do, but it didn't work for me: it just wasn't believable.
I didn't like the way incidents from the past would suddenly, conveniently, be revealed (in both time lines). I also wished that it would have been more clear which timeline we were now in as each chapter started. A subhead or chapter title with the current focal character's name would have been helpful. In most instances, the name "Eloise" or "Alice" appeared in the first paragraph as a guide, but not in every chapter.
I found myself skimming at the end, hurrying to wrap it up. The ending was too contrived, in my opinion.
This one had too many parallels between the two centuries. I understand what the author was trying to do, but it didn't work for me: it just wasn't believable.
I didn't like the way incidents from the past would suddenly, conveniently, be revealed (in both time lines). I also wished that it would have been more clear which timeline we were now in as each chapter started. A subhead or chapter title with the current focal character's name would have been helpful. In most instances, the name "Eloise" or "Alice" appeared in the first paragraph as a guide, but not in every chapter.
I found myself skimming at the end, hurrying to wrap it up. The ending was too contrived, in my opinion.
May 30, 2024
It was a bit all over the place in my opinion.
Not enough connection between this two women, those stories. Not much which intrigued me. Things sometimes just happened, characters changed , just because.
Followed by frequently going back to past, in order to explain why it happened. Not my cup of tea. However Im looking forward to reading A. Walsh Tuder series.
Not enough connection between this two women, those stories. Not much which intrigued me. Things sometimes just happened, characters changed , just because.
Followed by frequently going back to past, in order to explain why it happened. Not my cup of tea. However Im looking forward to reading A. Walsh Tuder series.
September 10, 2024
Super fijn boek !
June 25, 2023
A very good, historical novel.
I really enjoyed all the information. The author presented in this book. I’ve always enjoyed great mythology, and hearing the tail of the Minotaur in the labyrinth, and giving a more realistic view of what possibly could be the answer, was very intriguing. That humanity involved in the story was also exceedingly appealing. I think the best books are the ones that make you feel you might be living in the time and seeing it as it was written.
I really enjoyed all the information. The author presented in this book. I’ve always enjoyed great mythology, and hearing the tail of the Minotaur in the labyrinth, and giving a more realistic view of what possibly could be the answer, was very intriguing. That humanity involved in the story was also exceedingly appealing. I think the best books are the ones that make you feel you might be living in the time and seeing it as it was written.
April 14, 2024
I couldn’t decide if this was supposed to be a lecture about mythology or a novel with some mythology added to the novel. I typically enjoy historical or mythological details added to a book, but there were entire sections of the audio version where I simply tuned out of what felt like a full blown lecture.
And frankly, I was so confused by the character of Claude. He was suspicious that Josh was abusing Eloise, but also sure that Eloise killed Josh and kept repeating that Josh didn’t deserve to die. Frankly, the last thing Eloise needed was some nut job following her across the world to demand she explain herself and keep hounding her about her husband’s death. Nothing about that character made me think love interest. All I saw were more red flags. Eloise needed more time and a good therapist, not a love interest weeks after all of her trauma.
I enjoyed the dual timelines and liked Alice’s story much better.
And frankly, I was so confused by the character of Claude. He was suspicious that Josh was abusing Eloise, but also sure that Eloise killed Josh and kept repeating that Josh didn’t deserve to die. Frankly, the last thing Eloise needed was some nut job following her across the world to demand she explain herself and keep hounding her about her husband’s death. Nothing about that character made me think love interest. All I saw were more red flags. Eloise needed more time and a good therapist, not a love interest weeks after all of her trauma.
I enjoyed the dual timelines and liked Alice’s story much better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2024
Too long winded. Lots of unnecessary details. I couldn’t read it. Left it in the middle.
July 23, 2024
I lost interest did not finished.
April 20, 2023
3.5 Stars
One Liner: Got some good aspects but still a mixed read
1900, London
Alice Webster made a huge mistake. Her family is furious but also wants the best for her. When Aunt Agatha plans a Grand Tour, Alice joins her. They go from London to Paris to Crete, and Alice finds herself fascinated by the archeological digs at Knossos. Soon, her life is entwined with the past and others from the present.
Present Day, London
Eloise De’Ath is supposed to be a grieving widow, but only she knows the truth about her husband. She escapes to a house in Crete, inherited from her history-loving father-in-law, Quinn. Eloise begins to heal with the help of friends and discovers treasures in his study. She also finds Alice's diaries and feels like her life is linked with women from the past.
What connects Ariadne, Alice, and Eloise?
The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Alice and Eloise with a sprinkling of random diary snippets.
What I Like:
There’s no denying the research that went into the book. The author’s note at the end is probably more interesting and explains what’s real and fiction.
The beginning is solid for both tracks. The setting, especially Crete, is just how it needed to be, neither extensive nor vague. Aunt Agatha’s kids add good bits of humor to the plot. The side characters are well-established and handle their roles with great success.
The book deals with domestic abuse and shows how even women with successful careers make mistakes and prefer to ignore abuse as they don’t want to acknowledge that they are victims. It shows how the need to be a ‘strong and efficient female’ overrides personal security and can lead to life-threatening situations. I like this observation.
There are quite a few references to theology, especially Madam Blavatsky. As someone who grew up with bedtime stories about the Theosophical Society, this appealed to me in many ways. Also, the core concepts of life, birth, death, and reincarnation in theology are attributed to Hinduism and Buddhism as they should be.
Another aspect I like is the observation about how even scholars are not without biases shaped by their culture and upbringing. During a discussion between two characters, one of them (a woman, unsurprisingly) points out how even a world-famous archeologist re-constructs older civilizations based on their knowledge of their culture. So, it’s not surprising that goddesses and priestesses with independent positions get pushed back and limited to their roles next to male Gods and kings.
What Could Have Been Better for Me:
I’m not sure why this is advertised as a time-slip novel. It’s just a dual timeline book with a few bits and pieces of diary entries to make the plot seem intriguing. The connection between the timelines doesn’t make the impact it should. Furthermore, the personal lives of the characters take more space than the actual connection between them.
There are several characters in the book. So many that I stopped noting down their names after a point. With as many characters in each timeline, tracking them got a little too much.
I love history and mythology, but when I read fiction, I want a story that doesn’t rely on me remembering everything I read about Greek mythology, nor do I want a crash course on it. I don’t mind the story leaning on these aspects. I just don’t want so much of it in the book that it reads like a chapter from a textbook. Some readers will enjoy it.
In dual timeline books, I’m prepared to like one track more than the other. Usually, it’s the historical track that fares better. Here, I wasn’t particularly fond of Alice (what she did was plain stupid for someone who claims to be logical and a scholar). Moreover, by trying to suppress information for a big reveal, Alice’s character ended up shallower and bratty. What little sympathy she had got diluted because of this. Eloise’s track was marginally better, though I couldn’t sympathize with her.
The writing is clunky and heavy in many places. This can be edited (maybe they did edit for the final copy; mine is an ARC). On the plus side, it’s easy to speed-read and not miss anything.
To summarize, The Forgotten Palace has some good points to ponder and presents a tale of two women divided by more than a century. However, it also gets heavy-handed and tiring at times.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheForgottenPalace
***
TW: Domestic abuse, infidelity, miscarriage, mention of marital rape.
One Liner: Got some good aspects but still a mixed read
1900, London
Alice Webster made a huge mistake. Her family is furious but also wants the best for her. When Aunt Agatha plans a Grand Tour, Alice joins her. They go from London to Paris to Crete, and Alice finds herself fascinated by the archeological digs at Knossos. Soon, her life is entwined with the past and others from the present.
Present Day, London
Eloise De’Ath is supposed to be a grieving widow, but only she knows the truth about her husband. She escapes to a house in Crete, inherited from her history-loving father-in-law, Quinn. Eloise begins to heal with the help of friends and discovers treasures in his study. She also finds Alice's diaries and feels like her life is linked with women from the past.
What connects Ariadne, Alice, and Eloise?
The story comes in the limited third-person POV of Alice and Eloise with a sprinkling of random diary snippets.
What I Like:
There’s no denying the research that went into the book. The author’s note at the end is probably more interesting and explains what’s real and fiction.
The beginning is solid for both tracks. The setting, especially Crete, is just how it needed to be, neither extensive nor vague. Aunt Agatha’s kids add good bits of humor to the plot. The side characters are well-established and handle their roles with great success.
The book deals with domestic abuse and shows how even women with successful careers make mistakes and prefer to ignore abuse as they don’t want to acknowledge that they are victims. It shows how the need to be a ‘strong and efficient female’ overrides personal security and can lead to life-threatening situations. I like this observation.
There are quite a few references to theology, especially Madam Blavatsky. As someone who grew up with bedtime stories about the Theosophical Society, this appealed to me in many ways. Also, the core concepts of life, birth, death, and reincarnation in theology are attributed to Hinduism and Buddhism as they should be.
Another aspect I like is the observation about how even scholars are not without biases shaped by their culture and upbringing. During a discussion between two characters, one of them (a woman, unsurprisingly) points out how even a world-famous archeologist re-constructs older civilizations based on their knowledge of their culture. So, it’s not surprising that goddesses and priestesses with independent positions get pushed back and limited to their roles next to male Gods and kings.
What Could Have Been Better for Me:
I’m not sure why this is advertised as a time-slip novel. It’s just a dual timeline book with a few bits and pieces of diary entries to make the plot seem intriguing. The connection between the timelines doesn’t make the impact it should. Furthermore, the personal lives of the characters take more space than the actual connection between them.
There are several characters in the book. So many that I stopped noting down their names after a point. With as many characters in each timeline, tracking them got a little too much.
I love history and mythology, but when I read fiction, I want a story that doesn’t rely on me remembering everything I read about Greek mythology, nor do I want a crash course on it. I don’t mind the story leaning on these aspects. I just don’t want so much of it in the book that it reads like a chapter from a textbook. Some readers will enjoy it.
In dual timeline books, I’m prepared to like one track more than the other. Usually, it’s the historical track that fares better. Here, I wasn’t particularly fond of Alice (what she did was plain stupid for someone who claims to be logical and a scholar). Moreover, by trying to suppress information for a big reveal, Alice’s character ended up shallower and bratty. What little sympathy she had got diluted because of this. Eloise’s track was marginally better, though I couldn’t sympathize with her.
The writing is clunky and heavy in many places. This can be edited (maybe they did edit for the final copy; mine is an ARC). On the plus side, it’s easy to speed-read and not miss anything.
To summarize, The Forgotten Palace has some good points to ponder and presents a tale of two women divided by more than a century. However, it also gets heavy-handed and tiring at times.
Thank you, NetGalley and Boldwood Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #TheForgottenPalace
***
TW: Domestic abuse, infidelity, miscarriage, mention of marital rape.
April 10, 2023
Find this review and more on my blog at
Worlds Unlike Our Own
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Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Eloise has just lost her husband, but all she feels is relief, and to get away, she heads to Sfragida House in Crete which was left to her by her father-in-law Quinn. A century earlier, Alice Webster arrives at Sfragida House with her aunt and cousins, and having recently suffered a heartbreak, is hoping that this trip and the opportunity to assist with the world famous excavation at Knossos will be a distraction if not a cure. Both women’s paths lead them to this house filled with history and they seem inevitably drawn to the story of Ariadne and the myth of the Minotaur – and the underground labyrinth said to exist under the Knossos complex.
Having read and loved The Marquess House series, I was excited to see what the next book by this author would be, and even more so when I found out that this too, was historical and a little mythological based as well.
The synopsis sounded amazing, and the concept had potential, but unfortunately the execution didn’t work out. Just a warning, there are a few spoilers ahead since I found it impossible to discuss this book without bringing up any.
This book started off strong in the first couple of chapters, introducing the main characters in various timelines and setting them on the path that would lead them to Crete. But after that it began to wander quite a bit. Most disappointingly, entirely too much of the focus was on Alice and Eloise’s personal troubles, and even once their stories turn to Crete and the excavation in Knossos, the mood never really set in for me as every time something interesting started coming up from the mythical or historical angle, it was diverted by one of their arcs taking a turn.
When the focus did finally turn to the archaeological, it became a much easier read, though the author wove in the research just a little too much, so it became rather overwhelming and dry at times for me.
This was another dual timeline narrative, though perhaps triple timeline might be more accurate. There were the past and present timelines from Alice and Eloise’s POVs, but there were also scattered chapters that narrated the myth of the Minotaur and wove an alternative version of Ariadne’s tale.
The writing was not up to the mark at all and I constantly felt like the chapters were far too descriptive and the narration extremely long winded and providing unnecessary detail that the story would have made perfect sense without. Pacing was another issue. I didn’t really start getting hooked into the story until well past the 60% mark which is a ridiculous amount of time to build up the background.
Characters-wise, I definitely preferred Alice’s POV to Eloise’s, though largely, I didn’t find myself especially interested in either. The POVs were handled well and it was easy enough to tell when they changed and who it was changing to.
On the downside, I found neither of them particularly likeable nor was I able to connect with them – though it’s impossible not to sympathize with them on some level. I think this was mostly because my entire focus was on the plot and the meandering character arcs kept drawing my attention away from it. Which was rather unfortunate in my opinion, since from a purely character development angle, this was actually quite good, just not my type of read. I wasn’t all that invested in the romance arcs either.
The story danced around both Alice and Eloise’s recent terrible experiences for ages and remained infuriatingly vague until the last quarter of the book for literally no reason at all. I expected, with this degree of evasive narration, there might have been a mystery behind it, but the facts were pretty much just dropped on the reader in a manner so clear there were no questions to ask.
My biggest gripe about the way this ended was that the connection between the myth, the excavation in Knossos and both the timelines was left extremely vague and a touch mystical. I was really expecting to see a concrete link between Alice, Eloise and the story of Ariadne, so to have it left this way, basically up to the speculation of the reader was a letdown for me. I did however like the alternative version of the myth this story presented
I think, with this book, my expectations were way too high after The Marquess House series, especially as the blurb also pointed to something along those lines. This didn’t work out for me largely because of how much focus there was on the characters’ lives and troubles and barely any on the historical/mythological element. This really wasn’t to my taste, but if the plot sounds interesting to you, I would suggest trying it out.
Thank you to the publisher, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Eloise has just lost her husband, but all she feels is relief, and to get away, she heads to Sfragida House in Crete which was left to her by her father-in-law Quinn. A century earlier, Alice Webster arrives at Sfragida House with her aunt and cousins, and having recently suffered a heartbreak, is hoping that this trip and the opportunity to assist with the world famous excavation at Knossos will be a distraction if not a cure. Both women’s paths lead them to this house filled with history and they seem inevitably drawn to the story of Ariadne and the myth of the Minotaur – and the underground labyrinth said to exist under the Knossos complex.
Having read and loved The Marquess House series, I was excited to see what the next book by this author would be, and even more so when I found out that this too, was historical and a little mythological based as well.
The synopsis sounded amazing, and the concept had potential, but unfortunately the execution didn’t work out. Just a warning, there are a few spoilers ahead since I found it impossible to discuss this book without bringing up any.
This book started off strong in the first couple of chapters, introducing the main characters in various timelines and setting them on the path that would lead them to Crete. But after that it began to wander quite a bit. Most disappointingly, entirely too much of the focus was on Alice and Eloise’s personal troubles, and even once their stories turn to Crete and the excavation in Knossos, the mood never really set in for me as every time something interesting started coming up from the mythical or historical angle, it was diverted by one of their arcs taking a turn.
When the focus did finally turn to the archaeological, it became a much easier read, though the author wove in the research just a little too much, so it became rather overwhelming and dry at times for me.
This was another dual timeline narrative, though perhaps triple timeline might be more accurate. There were the past and present timelines from Alice and Eloise’s POVs, but there were also scattered chapters that narrated the myth of the Minotaur and wove an alternative version of Ariadne’s tale.
The writing was not up to the mark at all and I constantly felt like the chapters were far too descriptive and the narration extremely long winded and providing unnecessary detail that the story would have made perfect sense without. Pacing was another issue. I didn’t really start getting hooked into the story until well past the 60% mark which is a ridiculous amount of time to build up the background.
Characters-wise, I definitely preferred Alice’s POV to Eloise’s, though largely, I didn’t find myself especially interested in either. The POVs were handled well and it was easy enough to tell when they changed and who it was changing to.
On the downside, I found neither of them particularly likeable nor was I able to connect with them – though it’s impossible not to sympathize with them on some level. I think this was mostly because my entire focus was on the plot and the meandering character arcs kept drawing my attention away from it. Which was rather unfortunate in my opinion, since from a purely character development angle, this was actually quite good, just not my type of read. I wasn’t all that invested in the romance arcs either.
The story danced around both Alice and Eloise’s recent terrible experiences for ages and remained infuriatingly vague until the last quarter of the book for literally no reason at all. I expected, with this degree of evasive narration, there might have been a mystery behind it, but the facts were pretty much just dropped on the reader in a manner so clear there were no questions to ask.
My biggest gripe about the way this ended was that the connection between the myth, the excavation in Knossos and both the timelines was left extremely vague and a touch mystical. I was really expecting to see a concrete link between Alice, Eloise and the story of Ariadne, so to have it left this way, basically up to the speculation of the reader was a letdown for me. I did however like the alternative version of the myth this story presented
I think, with this book, my expectations were way too high after The Marquess House series, especially as the blurb also pointed to something along those lines. This didn’t work out for me largely because of how much focus there was on the characters’ lives and troubles and barely any on the historical/mythological element. This really wasn’t to my taste, but if the plot sounds interesting to you, I would suggest trying it out.
March 1, 2023
Two women’s lives separated by 100 years, but connected by dreams of a labyrinth
The novel opens in modern day London, with young widow Eloise attending her husband’s funeral. It soon becomes clear that all was not well with her marriage, nor with Eloise’s relationship with her late husband’s family and friends. She exits the funeral with a spectacular gesture, and immediately leaves for the island of Crete where she has inherited a house and where she hopes to heal from the ordeal of her husband’s death. In the next chapter, the reader meets Alice Webster in the year 1900, locked in her bedroom by her family after they intervened in her scandalous attempt to elope with an unsuitable gentleman. Alice’s reputation is in ruins, her family in an uproar, and she is heartbroken. When her recently widowed Aunt Agatha proposes that Alice join her and her two young sons for a tour of Europe, Alice jumps at the opportunity to put distance between herself and the scandal as well as to distract herself from her heartbreak. A chance meeting with another British family sets them on a course to visit Crete.
These two women are from very different times, but both fleeing heartache and scandal, find solace in a home on the island of Crete. Alice is fascinated by the legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth which have long been thought to have been in Knossos which is near to the house where she is staying. She becomes involved in the archaeological dig happening there, and finds connections between what she is experiencing and the dreams she has long had of a young woman in a subterranean passage. She keeps both a journal of her dreams and of her life in Crete. When Eloise arrives later, she discovers Alice’s journals, and finds that her own dreams mirror those of Alice. Who is the woman in the passage? Is it Ariadne, sister of the Minotaur and whose love for Theseus betrayed her brother? Is the legend passed down through the ages an accurate reflection of what truly happened? How and why are these two women connected both to one another and to the woman in their dreams?
The Forgotten Palace is a vivid and engrossing tale of women and love and betrayal. For lovers of mythology, the mystery of the labyrinth provides a fascinating backdrop to the gradually unfolding tale. I found it hard to put down; I was drawn to both Eloise and Alice and wanted to learn their full stories. By the novel’s end, we learn each of the women’s secrets and hope that they are able to overcome their betrayals in order to love again. Fans of Diana Gabaldon and Daphne du Maurier would enjoy The Forgotten Palace, as would anyone who loves a bit of history, a bit of suspense, and female characters who discover their own voices and strengths. I enjoyed this read a great deal, and thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader’s copy.
The novel opens in modern day London, with young widow Eloise attending her husband’s funeral. It soon becomes clear that all was not well with her marriage, nor with Eloise’s relationship with her late husband’s family and friends. She exits the funeral with a spectacular gesture, and immediately leaves for the island of Crete where she has inherited a house and where she hopes to heal from the ordeal of her husband’s death. In the next chapter, the reader meets Alice Webster in the year 1900, locked in her bedroom by her family after they intervened in her scandalous attempt to elope with an unsuitable gentleman. Alice’s reputation is in ruins, her family in an uproar, and she is heartbroken. When her recently widowed Aunt Agatha proposes that Alice join her and her two young sons for a tour of Europe, Alice jumps at the opportunity to put distance between herself and the scandal as well as to distract herself from her heartbreak. A chance meeting with another British family sets them on a course to visit Crete.
These two women are from very different times, but both fleeing heartache and scandal, find solace in a home on the island of Crete. Alice is fascinated by the legend of the Minotaur and the labyrinth which have long been thought to have been in Knossos which is near to the house where she is staying. She becomes involved in the archaeological dig happening there, and finds connections between what she is experiencing and the dreams she has long had of a young woman in a subterranean passage. She keeps both a journal of her dreams and of her life in Crete. When Eloise arrives later, she discovers Alice’s journals, and finds that her own dreams mirror those of Alice. Who is the woman in the passage? Is it Ariadne, sister of the Minotaur and whose love for Theseus betrayed her brother? Is the legend passed down through the ages an accurate reflection of what truly happened? How and why are these two women connected both to one another and to the woman in their dreams?
The Forgotten Palace is a vivid and engrossing tale of women and love and betrayal. For lovers of mythology, the mystery of the labyrinth provides a fascinating backdrop to the gradually unfolding tale. I found it hard to put down; I was drawn to both Eloise and Alice and wanted to learn their full stories. By the novel’s end, we learn each of the women’s secrets and hope that they are able to overcome their betrayals in order to love again. Fans of Diana Gabaldon and Daphne du Maurier would enjoy The Forgotten Palace, as would anyone who loves a bit of history, a bit of suspense, and female characters who discover their own voices and strengths. I enjoyed this read a great deal, and thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced reader’s copy.
April 14, 2023
This is a really unusual and entertaining novel set loosely over three different time periods and exploring the legend of the Minotaur and the history of Crete. In the modern day we have recently-widowed Eloise who has come to Crete as a means of escaping troubling events back home where she becomes intrigued by the history of Knossos and the diaries of Alice who was present at the dig uncover ng the site in 1900. Alongside we hear the story of Alice and the troubles she herself suffered back in the Victorian era which brought her to Crete. There is a strange connection between the two women and, in turn, to Ariadne and the true story of the Minotaur.
I thought the author wove the storylines of Eloise and Alice together very skilfully to paint a picture of two women a century apart but both suffering from very difficult circumstances as women. Eloise’s story was especially harrowing and may be triggering for some readers but the author dealt with it very sensitively. You do have to suspend your disbelief a little to get lost in the story as some of the ideas and circumstances are a bit out there but this is a piece of fiction, so that’s fine by me.
Despite the fact that this is fiction, it is threaded through with a big dose of historical fact when it talks about the discovery and uncovering of the Knossos site by Arthur Evans at the turn of the twentieth century and it was this that made the book a particularly compelling read for me. I have never come across this story before and this book has made me want to go off and explore more about Arthur Evans and his discoveries. Only the very best books make you want to go off and do additional research after you have finished reading and the author helpfully provides a list of resources to help you do so.
The setting of the book is perfect, and the author really brings the landscape and people of Crete to life in this novel, both in the present and the past. If this book doesn’t stir wanderlust in your soul, there is something wrong with you. The author’s alternative ideas about the truth behind the Minotaur story was also really interesting and food for thought; I wonder how Greek historians and lovers of mythology will feel about it? Read the book to find out, I certainly found it thought-provoking.
This was a book that kept me glued to the page and I read it in a single 24 hours. An unusual and enticing blend of fact and fiction, modern and historical, myth and narrative, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it to lovers of historical fiction and Greek myth alike.
I thought the author wove the storylines of Eloise and Alice together very skilfully to paint a picture of two women a century apart but both suffering from very difficult circumstances as women. Eloise’s story was especially harrowing and may be triggering for some readers but the author dealt with it very sensitively. You do have to suspend your disbelief a little to get lost in the story as some of the ideas and circumstances are a bit out there but this is a piece of fiction, so that’s fine by me.
Despite the fact that this is fiction, it is threaded through with a big dose of historical fact when it talks about the discovery and uncovering of the Knossos site by Arthur Evans at the turn of the twentieth century and it was this that made the book a particularly compelling read for me. I have never come across this story before and this book has made me want to go off and explore more about Arthur Evans and his discoveries. Only the very best books make you want to go off and do additional research after you have finished reading and the author helpfully provides a list of resources to help you do so.
The setting of the book is perfect, and the author really brings the landscape and people of Crete to life in this novel, both in the present and the past. If this book doesn’t stir wanderlust in your soul, there is something wrong with you. The author’s alternative ideas about the truth behind the Minotaur story was also really interesting and food for thought; I wonder how Greek historians and lovers of mythology will feel about it? Read the book to find out, I certainly found it thought-provoking.
This was a book that kept me glued to the page and I read it in a single 24 hours. An unusual and enticing blend of fact and fiction, modern and historical, myth and narrative, I thoroughly enjoyed it and have no hesitation in recommending it to lovers of historical fiction and Greek myth alike.
May 21, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Alexandra Walsh’s Marquess House series, so was really looking forward to The Forgotten Palace, and I was not disappointed!
The mainly dual narrative focuses on two women living very different lives.
In the present day, Eloise is widowed after the unexpected death of her husband and heads to the Greek island of Crete to reevaluate her life and recover. The house left to her by her father-in-law is full of historical artefacts and documents, and while she is clearing out the property, Eloise becomes increasingly drawn into Quinn’s unfinished research.
Alice Webster also escaped to Crete. In 1900, having caused a scandal, she heads to Europe to save her reputation and heal her broken heart. Once in Crete, she becomes involved in the archaeological dig at Knossos. Eloise reads her diaries and finds startling connections between herself and Alice that could lead to even greater revelations.
This is such an engaging story. I really enjoyed both of the main timelines and the dip into Greek mythology. Interwoven with the main timelines are glimpses of the real Ariadne and her life in Crete which serves as the basis for the Minotaur myths.
The sections with Alice travelling through Europe and the depiction of the archaeological dig were particularly evocative. Alice is a capable and intelligent young woman who is hampered by the conventions of Victorian society. Once in Crete, she is able to apply her talents with a measure of freedom and discover her true self and true love.
Alice is incredibly privileged and, at the beginning of the book, very naive and self-indulgent. Distance from her family allows her to reflect on her mistakes and the hurt that she has caused. She is lucky that she is given time and opportunity to redeem herself. I warmed to her more as the story developed and she matures.
Eloise is a stronger woman than Alice. Her story is gradually revealed as she establishes her life in Crete and grieves for her marriage. Like Alice, she has to reestablish some of her relationships and forge new ones. The differences between them show how the world has changed for women in the century that has passed. But there are still significant parallels.
The secrets of Sfragida House are all gradually revealed as the historical objects link the minotaur myths and Ariadne to Eloise via Alice. I loved the exploration of the connectedness of women across time and the concept of labyrinths, both literal and metaphorical.
This was a great read – compelling characters, evocative settings, and plenty of secrets to be discovered.
The mainly dual narrative focuses on two women living very different lives.
In the present day, Eloise is widowed after the unexpected death of her husband and heads to the Greek island of Crete to reevaluate her life and recover. The house left to her by her father-in-law is full of historical artefacts and documents, and while she is clearing out the property, Eloise becomes increasingly drawn into Quinn’s unfinished research.
Alice Webster also escaped to Crete. In 1900, having caused a scandal, she heads to Europe to save her reputation and heal her broken heart. Once in Crete, she becomes involved in the archaeological dig at Knossos. Eloise reads her diaries and finds startling connections between herself and Alice that could lead to even greater revelations.
This is such an engaging story. I really enjoyed both of the main timelines and the dip into Greek mythology. Interwoven with the main timelines are glimpses of the real Ariadne and her life in Crete which serves as the basis for the Minotaur myths.
The sections with Alice travelling through Europe and the depiction of the archaeological dig were particularly evocative. Alice is a capable and intelligent young woman who is hampered by the conventions of Victorian society. Once in Crete, she is able to apply her talents with a measure of freedom and discover her true self and true love.
Alice is incredibly privileged and, at the beginning of the book, very naive and self-indulgent. Distance from her family allows her to reflect on her mistakes and the hurt that she has caused. She is lucky that she is given time and opportunity to redeem herself. I warmed to her more as the story developed and she matures.
Eloise is a stronger woman than Alice. Her story is gradually revealed as she establishes her life in Crete and grieves for her marriage. Like Alice, she has to reestablish some of her relationships and forge new ones. The differences between them show how the world has changed for women in the century that has passed. But there are still significant parallels.
The secrets of Sfragida House are all gradually revealed as the historical objects link the minotaur myths and Ariadne to Eloise via Alice. I loved the exploration of the connectedness of women across time and the concept of labyrinths, both literal and metaphorical.
This was a great read – compelling characters, evocative settings, and plenty of secrets to be discovered.
April 12, 2023
The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh was a novel written in two timelines, well, three, really, if you want to count the Greek legend that was interwoven. Eloise De’Ath was a doctor and yet her husband had died on their kitchen floor and she could do nothing to stop it. Now the funeral was over and she shed her coat to reveal the bright red, sexy dress she was wearing that matched the shoes she had on. Everyone was aghast but she kept right on walking, up the aisle, and to the car that would take her to the airport and to Crete. She had a house there. Her father-in-law had left it to her. Why, she wan’t sure, but she was grateful. She began her new life with the same dream she’d been having for years, and, like always, she wrote it down immediately. It had been the suggestion of her therapist. Slowly she began to heal, from his death, and from her marriage. The second timeline was that of Alice Webster, who had been duped by an older man and embarrassed herself and her family. She had come to Crete with her aunt and spent weeks in an archeological dig at Knossos, the home of the Minotaur myth. As she dug, her pain lessened, until she found herself in love, this time for real.
This was an interesting story woven around the Greek myth, which was blood-thirsty at best, given the sacrifices made to the Minotaur. Was Eloise the reincarnation of Alice. We we leave that for the reader to decide. Eloise had Alice’s diaries and so had woven a close bond. It was a love story, well, several, really. It was not explicit although I’m sure that happened off the pages. It was the story of two abused women, different sorts of abuse but still abuse. It was also the story of ridding themselves of the abuse and living the life they were meant to live. Claud, a friend of Josh, Eloise’s husband, was an interesting character who, because of things he saw in his childhood, worked with his godmother to bring medical treatment to abused women. This was a surprise to both the characters and the reader when it was disclosed. The plot was meandering, women look for closure and new lives. It was woven together almost magically as one would be telling a story and by the end the other was telling it, one hundred years later. It was a beautifully written book.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Forgotten Palace by Boldwood Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #AlexandraWalsh #TheForgottenPalace
This was an interesting story woven around the Greek myth, which was blood-thirsty at best, given the sacrifices made to the Minotaur. Was Eloise the reincarnation of Alice. We we leave that for the reader to decide. Eloise had Alice’s diaries and so had woven a close bond. It was a love story, well, several, really. It was not explicit although I’m sure that happened off the pages. It was the story of two abused women, different sorts of abuse but still abuse. It was also the story of ridding themselves of the abuse and living the life they were meant to live. Claud, a friend of Josh, Eloise’s husband, was an interesting character who, because of things he saw in his childhood, worked with his godmother to bring medical treatment to abused women. This was a surprise to both the characters and the reader when it was disclosed. The plot was meandering, women look for closure and new lives. It was woven together almost magically as one would be telling a story and by the end the other was telling it, one hundred years later. It was a beautifully written book.
I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Forgotten Palace by Boldwood Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #AlexandraWalsh #TheForgottenPalace
April 12, 2023
A dual time line story set in the 1900’s Hampshire and present day London.
Alice Webster has been locked in her bedroom by her father. She is in disgrace, she was going to elope with her boyfriend , from Southampton, but this plan was foiled, this action will have many repercussions in the present day.
Alice is placed in the care of her Aunt Agatha, she is to join them on an European tour, it is hoped that distance will let tempers settle and the scandal and disgrace to abate. On board the train to Paris, they are introduced to George Perrin, who is going to an archeological dig on Crete, looking for the fabled Palace of Knossos, home of the Minotaur. Aunt Agatha and the younger members of the party are intrigued by this and decide to go to Crete also. Once there, Alice experiences vivid and dark visions about the monster, which make her determined to take part in the dig to see what these dreams mean.
Eloise De’Ath is at the funeral of her late husband. Respectfully dressed in black, apart from some red shoes, she faces the hostility of his family and friends, who don’t know the full story of her marriage. Before the end of the service, she channels her inner Mary, Queen of Scots, by taking of her black coat, to reveal a bright red dress and leaves the church in a Taxi, her luggage is already aboard, and takes a plane to Crete, to Sfragida House, a personal gift to her, from her late father- in - law.
This author can really put an alternative spin on historical events. Her Marquess House trilogy was so persuasive, and this story gives us a perfectly reasonable explanation for the supposed appearance of the Minotaur, the deformed creature of legend. I was totally involved in this story, the setting and heat of Crete, two different women, but both so strong and convention defying, and both suffering such pain. I was intrigued by the archeological aspects and the ancient legends of Knossos, I really wanted to find out what the ending was without reading the end of this book.!!
The amount of research in this book is amazing and adds an extra dimension to this story.
Alice Webster has been locked in her bedroom by her father. She is in disgrace, she was going to elope with her boyfriend , from Southampton, but this plan was foiled, this action will have many repercussions in the present day.
Alice is placed in the care of her Aunt Agatha, she is to join them on an European tour, it is hoped that distance will let tempers settle and the scandal and disgrace to abate. On board the train to Paris, they are introduced to George Perrin, who is going to an archeological dig on Crete, looking for the fabled Palace of Knossos, home of the Minotaur. Aunt Agatha and the younger members of the party are intrigued by this and decide to go to Crete also. Once there, Alice experiences vivid and dark visions about the monster, which make her determined to take part in the dig to see what these dreams mean.
Eloise De’Ath is at the funeral of her late husband. Respectfully dressed in black, apart from some red shoes, she faces the hostility of his family and friends, who don’t know the full story of her marriage. Before the end of the service, she channels her inner Mary, Queen of Scots, by taking of her black coat, to reveal a bright red dress and leaves the church in a Taxi, her luggage is already aboard, and takes a plane to Crete, to Sfragida House, a personal gift to her, from her late father- in - law.
This author can really put an alternative spin on historical events. Her Marquess House trilogy was so persuasive, and this story gives us a perfectly reasonable explanation for the supposed appearance of the Minotaur, the deformed creature of legend. I was totally involved in this story, the setting and heat of Crete, two different women, but both so strong and convention defying, and both suffering such pain. I was intrigued by the archeological aspects and the ancient legends of Knossos, I really wanted to find out what the ending was without reading the end of this book.!!
The amount of research in this book is amazing and adds an extra dimension to this story.
April 17, 2023
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine fans will be completely dazzled by Alexandra Walsh’s The Forgotten Palace.
London 1900 and Alice Webster has made the biggest mistake of her life. With scandal dogging her every move and her reputation in tatters, Alice jumps at the chance to embark on a Grand Tour with her Aunt Agatha. Broken-hearted and dejected, Alice thinks that far away from society’s censorious glances, she can start to heal and move forward with her life. But when a chance encounter aboard a train bound for Paris stops her in tracks, Alice realises that her entire world is going to be turned on its axis as she heads off on a epic journey where stories from the past will impinge upon her future and change her life forever…
In present-day London, Eloise D’Ath is expected to grieve the loss of her husband, but if people knew the truth about her marriage they wouldn’t be at all surprised to find her rejoicing about her single status. Finally free, Eloise heads off to Crete to the house that had been left to her by her father-in-law Quinn. However, far from a quiet holiday, Eloise finds herself drawn into a powerful mystery where she uncovers Quinn’s life’s work and his greatest obsession: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Drawn in by the diaries she has unearthed, Eloise finds herself completely engrossed in Alice’s tale of lost love and her fascination with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
Three women from three different time periods are connected by long-buried secrets that might help at long last put right an old wrong that has reverberated throughout the centuries…
A sweeping and satisfying epic full of twists and turns, dangerous deceptions, nail-biting drama and heart-wrenching emotion, Alexandra Walsh’s The Forgotten Palace is the perfect book to lose oneself in. Wonderfully written, beautifully atmospheric and superbly told, The Forgotten Palace is an evocative and enthralling page-turner from Alexandra Walsh readers won’t forget in a hurry.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Diana Gabaldon and Barbara Erskine fans will be completely dazzled by Alexandra Walsh’s The Forgotten Palace.
London 1900 and Alice Webster has made the biggest mistake of her life. With scandal dogging her every move and her reputation in tatters, Alice jumps at the chance to embark on a Grand Tour with her Aunt Agatha. Broken-hearted and dejected, Alice thinks that far away from society’s censorious glances, she can start to heal and move forward with her life. But when a chance encounter aboard a train bound for Paris stops her in tracks, Alice realises that her entire world is going to be turned on its axis as she heads off on a epic journey where stories from the past will impinge upon her future and change her life forever…
In present-day London, Eloise D’Ath is expected to grieve the loss of her husband, but if people knew the truth about her marriage they wouldn’t be at all surprised to find her rejoicing about her single status. Finally free, Eloise heads off to Crete to the house that had been left to her by her father-in-law Quinn. However, far from a quiet holiday, Eloise finds herself drawn into a powerful mystery where she uncovers Quinn’s life’s work and his greatest obsession: the study of the Victorian excavation to find the Minotaur’s labyrinth. Drawn in by the diaries she has unearthed, Eloise finds herself completely engrossed in Alice’s tale of lost love and her fascination with Ariadne, the princess of the labyrinth.
Three women from three different time periods are connected by long-buried secrets that might help at long last put right an old wrong that has reverberated throughout the centuries…
A sweeping and satisfying epic full of twists and turns, dangerous deceptions, nail-biting drama and heart-wrenching emotion, Alexandra Walsh’s The Forgotten Palace is the perfect book to lose oneself in. Wonderfully written, beautifully atmospheric and superbly told, The Forgotten Palace is an evocative and enthralling page-turner from Alexandra Walsh readers won’t forget in a hurry.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 18, 2023
As a huge fan of Walsh’s Marquess House Saga, I jumped at the chance to read her newest book, especially after learning that it features the Greek myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur.
The one thing that really jumps out at me whenever I read anything that Walsh writes is the amount of research she must have done because she weaves it so seamlessly into her stories. Dual-timelines can be tough to navigate and The Forgotten Palace does it wonderfully well. There is a lot of detail and I found myself sometimes lost in the descriptions but I love being immersed in the story and really getting to know the characters.
Both Eloise and Alice start the story off at a point in their life when they feel like they’re starting over and unsure of what the future brings. Even though they are separated by so much time, they are mysteriously connected to each other. I love the haunting use of dreams and also the beautiful setting that is the backdrop to the entire story – Crete, and Sfragida House, are almost a character on their own.
While I initially thought that the story was mainly about two women – Eloise in the present day and Alice in 1900 – it really involves three stories because Ariadne’s story is just as important to the overall narrative. The three stories are intertwined together and there’s a different look at the myth of the Minotaur that I enjoyed. I also really liked learning more about the real-life excavation at Knossos in Crete that Alice’s timeline featured.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a twist, dual-timelines, complex characters, and the unravelling of secrets should definitely give The Forgotten Palace a try!
*** Thank you to the blog tour organiser, Rachel's Random Resources, and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
The one thing that really jumps out at me whenever I read anything that Walsh writes is the amount of research she must have done because she weaves it so seamlessly into her stories. Dual-timelines can be tough to navigate and The Forgotten Palace does it wonderfully well. There is a lot of detail and I found myself sometimes lost in the descriptions but I love being immersed in the story and really getting to know the characters.
Both Eloise and Alice start the story off at a point in their life when they feel like they’re starting over and unsure of what the future brings. Even though they are separated by so much time, they are mysteriously connected to each other. I love the haunting use of dreams and also the beautiful setting that is the backdrop to the entire story – Crete, and Sfragida House, are almost a character on their own.
While I initially thought that the story was mainly about two women – Eloise in the present day and Alice in 1900 – it really involves three stories because Ariadne’s story is just as important to the overall narrative. The three stories are intertwined together and there’s a different look at the myth of the Minotaur that I enjoyed. I also really liked learning more about the real-life excavation at Knossos in Crete that Alice’s timeline featured.
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with a twist, dual-timelines, complex characters, and the unravelling of secrets should definitely give The Forgotten Palace a try!
*** Thank you to the blog tour organiser, Rachel's Random Resources, and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for providing me with an e-copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
September 7, 2024
Zabudnutý palác je pútavý historicko-súčasný román z dávnej Kréty, ktorého nosnou myšlienkou je mýtus o Minotaurovi. Ale nielen o ňom. Je o zlomených srdciach, bolestivých pravdách a o odpustení. Román začína súčasnou líniou, v ktorej sa hlavná hrdinka Eloise navždy lúči so svojím manželom, ktorý náhle skonal. A Eloise doslova “uteká” z Anglicka na horúcu Krétu, kde zdedila dom, ktorý jej trochu netradične odkázal jej svokor. Čo sa dialo v jej manželstve a prečo si Eloise radšej vyberá grécky ostrov ako svoj anglický domov? To je zakryté rúškom tajomstva a postupne sa odkrýva skutočná, šokujúca pravda. V historickej linke sa stretávame s Alice, ktorá pochádza z aristokratickej rodiny, ale rovnako ako Eloise zo súčasnosti, sa ocitá na Kréte, kde sa zhodou náhod pripája ku skupinke archeológov a archeologičiek venujúcich sa vykopávkam v paláci v Knosse. Tieto dve ťeny žijúce každá v inom storočí majú spoločného viac ako si myslíme.
Román Zabudnutý palác je napísaný tak pútavo, že vás pohltí takmer okamžite, stránky budete obracať podstatne rýchlejšie ako pri klasických historických románoch. Autorka predovšetkým čerpala inšpiráciu aj zo skutočných historických postáv (napr. objaviteľ paláca Minoa v Knosse Arthur Evans), pridala samozrejme aj fiktívne postavy a zaujímavé zvraty. Prepojila duchovnú a poetickú stránku s gréckou mytológiou, a to mám ja na historických knihách naozaj rada. Trochu menej priestoru bolo venované súčasnej línii a príbehu Eloise, ale páčilo sa mi ako sa celá knihs uzavrela a vysvetlili mnohé tajomné zvraty.
Zabudnutý palác vám vrelo odpprúčam. Vďaka nemu sa dostanete do uplne iného sveta, do sveta labyrintov, mýtov o Ariiadne a jej bratovi Minotaurovi, Kréta ako miesto v celom príbehu je nádhernou kulisou, do ktorej by som rada zavítala raz aj ja. A teda aj preto som si túto knihu vychutnala so všetkým, čo mi ponúkla. Dajte si!
Román Zabudnutý palác je napísaný tak pútavo, že vás pohltí takmer okamžite, stránky budete obracať podstatne rýchlejšie ako pri klasických historických románoch. Autorka predovšetkým čerpala inšpiráciu aj zo skutočných historických postáv (napr. objaviteľ paláca Minoa v Knosse Arthur Evans), pridala samozrejme aj fiktívne postavy a zaujímavé zvraty. Prepojila duchovnú a poetickú stránku s gréckou mytológiou, a to mám ja na historických knihách naozaj rada. Trochu menej priestoru bolo venované súčasnej línii a príbehu Eloise, ale páčilo sa mi ako sa celá knihs uzavrela a vysvetlili mnohé tajomné zvraty.
Zabudnutý palác vám vrelo odpprúčam. Vďaka nemu sa dostanete do uplne iného sveta, do sveta labyrintov, mýtov o Ariiadne a jej bratovi Minotaurovi, Kréta ako miesto v celom príbehu je nádhernou kulisou, do ktorej by som rada zavítala raz aj ja. A teda aj preto som si túto knihu vychutnala so všetkým, čo mi ponúkla. Dajte si!
September 3, 2023
The Forgotten Palace is an enjoyable read that nicely balances a dual timeline story as well as offering an intriguing look at the Myth of the Minotaur and the story of Ariadne.
The book alternates between the historical story of Alice and the contemporary story of Eloise. Both are connected by the myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur, which is also given a new and fascinating spin which I appreciated. The transitions between the three POVs are relatively smooth except for one transition which was clunky and caused me to reread a passage to see if I missed something.
I liked Alice’s story the most (but that may be the history lover in me) which was an engaging look at the archeological dig at Knossos as well as the characters’ personal stories of broken hearts and bad behaviour. And I didn’t see the big twist coming, a reveal that changed the whole context of Alice’s narrative. The only issue I had with her story was I would have liked a bit more depth in the sisterly relationship; I think it would have helped with motivation.
I had a few more issues with the contemporary storyline, specifically how that story finished out. While I enjoyed the characters and the unfolding plot, it was fairly obvious where it was headed and not surprising except for an interesting twist with one of the side characters. However, I had a problem with how the storyline wrapped up. While I’m fine with the forgiveness aspect of the ending, I felt it glossed over Eloise’s trauma. It would have worked better for me if the ending had felt more like a step towards healing rather than tying things up with a neat bow and a happy ending because the right people were finally together.
But overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
The book alternates between the historical story of Alice and the contemporary story of Eloise. Both are connected by the myth of Ariadne and the Minotaur, which is also given a new and fascinating spin which I appreciated. The transitions between the three POVs are relatively smooth except for one transition which was clunky and caused me to reread a passage to see if I missed something.
I liked Alice’s story the most (but that may be the history lover in me) which was an engaging look at the archeological dig at Knossos as well as the characters’ personal stories of broken hearts and bad behaviour. And I didn’t see the big twist coming, a reveal that changed the whole context of Alice’s narrative. The only issue I had with her story was I would have liked a bit more depth in the sisterly relationship; I think it would have helped with motivation.
I had a few more issues with the contemporary storyline, specifically how that story finished out. While I enjoyed the characters and the unfolding plot, it was fairly obvious where it was headed and not surprising except for an interesting twist with one of the side characters. However, I had a problem with how the storyline wrapped up. While I’m fine with the forgiveness aspect of the ending, I felt it glossed over Eloise’s trauma. It would have worked better for me if the ending had felt more like a step towards healing rather than tying things up with a neat bow and a happy ending because the right people were finally together.
But overall, I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
March 28, 2023
The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh is a marvellous dual timeline novel that delighted my senses as the past explodes to life.
The story links events in 1900 with present day and the dawn of time, as the reader accompanies the characters to an archeological dig in Crete. In both time periods the characters stay in the same house and visit the dig of Arthur Evans who was a real life person. Fact and fiction collide to weave a terrific tale.
In both time periods the leading ladies are escaping lives in Britain to heal from trauma. Both have been either physically and/or mentally abused and duped by men. In modern day we see the leading lady believing that the abuse is somehow her fault and that he will not do it again. There are some hard to read scenes as the reader realizes the state of the relationship before the character.
Both leading ladies are linked by dreams as voices from the past call to them.
We see the importance of closing the circle that has remained open for a hundred years. We applaud the returning home.
Family is important. We see that love helps to heal broken lives.
Alexandra Walsh has woven a beautiful tale, capturing the exotic locations of the dig. The heat, light and dazzling beauty of the landscape all spring to life as we ‘experience’ the dig in 1900 and revisit the site in present day.
The Forgotten Palace is a read that awakens the senses and emotions in the reader as we lose ourselves for a few hours between the pages.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
The story links events in 1900 with present day and the dawn of time, as the reader accompanies the characters to an archeological dig in Crete. In both time periods the characters stay in the same house and visit the dig of Arthur Evans who was a real life person. Fact and fiction collide to weave a terrific tale.
In both time periods the leading ladies are escaping lives in Britain to heal from trauma. Both have been either physically and/or mentally abused and duped by men. In modern day we see the leading lady believing that the abuse is somehow her fault and that he will not do it again. There are some hard to read scenes as the reader realizes the state of the relationship before the character.
Both leading ladies are linked by dreams as voices from the past call to them.
We see the importance of closing the circle that has remained open for a hundred years. We applaud the returning home.
Family is important. We see that love helps to heal broken lives.
Alexandra Walsh has woven a beautiful tale, capturing the exotic locations of the dig. The heat, light and dazzling beauty of the landscape all spring to life as we ‘experience’ the dig in 1900 and revisit the site in present day.
The Forgotten Palace is a read that awakens the senses and emotions in the reader as we lose ourselves for a few hours between the pages.
I received a free copy from Rachel’s Random Resources for a blog tour. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
April 19, 2023
The Forgotten Palace was a fascinating read set mainly around the island of Crete and the excavations at Knossos. I was intrigued with how cleverly the author could combine fiction and mythology with fictional characters and real-life characters. The story did take a bit of time to development and the earlier parts of the book were filled with historical and mythological facts and tidbits. It did not hinder the story at all - in fact, it added some color and perspective.
Both storylines dealt with strong women who both had a bit of history they needed to escape from. Our 1900 heroine, Alice Webster, desperately needs to get away from an impending scandal with her taking center stage. When her aunt offers her the opportunity to travel to Europe and a chance encounter on route to Paris leads them to a few newly excavated sites in Crete, Alice finds herself in the throes and echoes of the past.
Our present day heroine, Eloise De'Ath is a modern day woman who knows how to keep her head held high and her secrets buried deep. After the passing of her husband, she lefts for Crete to a house her father in law, Quinn left her in his will. Sfragida House. While sorting through Quinn's paperwork, she discovers that Quinn was busy studying the 1900's excavations at Knossos and especially the Minotaur's Labyrinth.
And this is where it became really interesting! Facts, fiction, mythology and mystery all started blending together in perfect harmony. This tale of love, lost and betrayal and the strong women who could rise above their adversaries, forms the background to a brilliant read that we will easily recommend.
Both storylines dealt with strong women who both had a bit of history they needed to escape from. Our 1900 heroine, Alice Webster, desperately needs to get away from an impending scandal with her taking center stage. When her aunt offers her the opportunity to travel to Europe and a chance encounter on route to Paris leads them to a few newly excavated sites in Crete, Alice finds herself in the throes and echoes of the past.
Our present day heroine, Eloise De'Ath is a modern day woman who knows how to keep her head held high and her secrets buried deep. After the passing of her husband, she lefts for Crete to a house her father in law, Quinn left her in his will. Sfragida House. While sorting through Quinn's paperwork, she discovers that Quinn was busy studying the 1900's excavations at Knossos and especially the Minotaur's Labyrinth.
And this is where it became really interesting! Facts, fiction, mythology and mystery all started blending together in perfect harmony. This tale of love, lost and betrayal and the strong women who could rise above their adversaries, forms the background to a brilliant read that we will easily recommend.
June 16, 2025
Despite the many positive reviews, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with this novel. Like most historical fiction, it employed a dual timeline structure - something I usually enjoy. However, in this case, the transitions between time periods were not clearly marked, making it confusing and often jarring to follow the shifts in narrative.
Complicating matters further was the addition of a third layer: a recurring thread involving the myth of the Minotaur. Rather than adding depth, this element was tedious and took the focus away from the main characters and slowed the pacing considerably.
Between the two primary storylines, Elouise’s was the stronger, though not particularly compelling. Alice’s character, on the other hand, felt underdeveloped and self-indulgent. By the midway point, I found myself skimming through her chapters, unable to connect with her journey. Unfortunately, I never felt emotionally invested in either protagonist, and the connection between them felt tenuous at best.
The novel also suffered from an overabundance of characters and extraneous detail. It could easily have been 200 pages shorter without sacrificing any substance. The extensive inclusion of historical research, especially around mythology and archaeology, felt more like the author was trying to impress the reader with her research rather than being an integral part of the story, and the writing overall was heavy and clunky.
In the end, The Forgotten Palace was a disappointing read. Despite its intriguing premise, it was weighed down by poor pacing, lacklustre character development, and an overcomplicated storyline.
Complicating matters further was the addition of a third layer: a recurring thread involving the myth of the Minotaur. Rather than adding depth, this element was tedious and took the focus away from the main characters and slowed the pacing considerably.
Between the two primary storylines, Elouise’s was the stronger, though not particularly compelling. Alice’s character, on the other hand, felt underdeveloped and self-indulgent. By the midway point, I found myself skimming through her chapters, unable to connect with her journey. Unfortunately, I never felt emotionally invested in either protagonist, and the connection between them felt tenuous at best.
The novel also suffered from an overabundance of characters and extraneous detail. It could easily have been 200 pages shorter without sacrificing any substance. The extensive inclusion of historical research, especially around mythology and archaeology, felt more like the author was trying to impress the reader with her research rather than being an integral part of the story, and the writing overall was heavy and clunky.
In the end, The Forgotten Palace was a disappointing read. Despite its intriguing premise, it was weighed down by poor pacing, lacklustre character development, and an overcomplicated storyline.
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