The Moon-Spinners in Retro Chapter Chicks

Mar 13, 2018 Candi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: book-i-own, mystery-crime, gothic

I first became smitten with Mary Stewart’s writing just two years ago when I fell completely under the spell of her enchanting writing in the Merlin trilogy. That series will remain a favorite and one of the most memorable reading experiences ever. I knew then that I would eventually read all of Stewart’s work. I was in no hurry to quickly gobble down everything right away, as it is my wish to not reach the bittersweet end too soon. The Moon-Spinners will also sit proudly on my shelf of treasure I first became smitten with Mary Stewart’s writing just two years ago when I fell completely under the spell of her enchanting writing in the Merlin trilogy. That series will remain a favorite and one of the most memorable reading experiences ever. I knew then that I would eventually read all of Stewart’s work. I was in no hurry to quickly gobble down everything right away, as it is my wish to not reach the bittersweet end too soon. The Moon-Spinners will also sit proudly on my shelf of treasured books. I was enthralled with this mystery/adventure/splash of romance novel! Reading Stewart’s captivating prose had much the same effect on me as described in this moment by her twenty-two year old main character, Nicola Ferris:

"I am still not quite sure what happened at that moment. For some reason that I cannot analyse, the sight of the big white bird, strange to me; the smell of the lemon-flowers, the clicking of the mill-sails and the sound of spilling water; the sunlight dappling through the leaves on the white anemones with their lamp-black centres; and, above all, my first real sight of the legendary White Mountains… all this seemed to rush together into a point of powerful magic, happiness striking like an arrow, with one of those sudden shocks of joy that are so physical, so precisely marked, that one knows the exact moment at which the world changed."

I have come to realize that Mary Stewart always manages to stimulate all of your senses! It’s as if you are right there with her heroine gazing upon the majesty of nature, listening to a myriad of sounds, and inhaling the wonderful scents all round. You may even get the feeling you are sitting down to a soothing pre-dinner cocktail before sampling the local cuisine. Stewart’s settings are truly stunning, and no less so in this novel where we are transported to the island of Crete with a magnificent view of the White Mountains and the sparkling sea.

Nicola is a junior secretary at the British embassy in Athens and has decided to meet up with her cousin Frances for a relaxing holiday in Crete. From the start, we know that this little respite will be anything but peaceful. Even before reaching her hotel, she finds herself on the little footpaths along the wild ridges and cliffs before reaching the small village of Agios Georgios. I, for one, would not be okay with being dropped off to make my own way towards ‘civilization’! Nicola, however, seems to have no qualms. She quickly finds herself in the thick of danger after bumping into a couple of mysterious men and hearing an unnerving story involving a dreadful crime. I can’t reveal any more than this or it will spoil the excitement of the story which you should really explore on your own.

Stewart’s characters are always a pleasure to meet. Nicola is adventurous and sometimes a bit impulsive. You may feel you want to restrain her ever so slightly, but the story wouldn’t be half as much fun if she didn’t get herself in some tight situations. Her cousin, Frances, is a great sounding board and a bit more practical. She too is interesting in her own right with her enthusiasm for the local flora. I learned a little more about some of the beautiful plants and flowers native to the region as a result. And I mustn’t forget the bad guys. Even they are entertaining and somehow you might even find yourself rooting for one or two of them! And then there’s the romantic interest – but don’t get me wrong! I would not classify this as ‘romance’. I don’t read romance novels. But there is just a little whiff of it that is by no means overdone or cheesy, so I beg you not to go running in the other direction!

Mary Stewart also weaves in an otherworldly story about the moon-spinners that seemed to fit in quite nicely with both the plot and the mythology and lore of the area. She ratchets up the suspense as you near the end and you can’t help but want to start all over again! If you want to step into another world that will leave you breathless and perfectly content, then I urge you to give this author a try. I dare you to defy the allure of her magic!

"There was one startled moment in which everything seemed very clear and still. I thought, but not believing it: the impossible really has happened; this is danger." ...more

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Oct 16, 2019 Tasha rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: own-on-kindle, gothic-ghost

This is my second book by the author and I think she is just not for me.

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Jul 16, 2013 Phair rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, childhood-favorites-redux

The language in this was not quite as rich as in My Brother Michael. While I kept thinking about the story between reading sessions I often drifted away from the pages while actually reading. Perhaps the week-long heat wave we were experiencing melted away some of my reading pleasure. I would have to say my favorite part was at the beginning when she first encountered Mark. Since I read this first as a teen I believe this book may have cemented my preference for the "wounded hero" (here quite li ...more

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