The Cameo Press Ltd
eBook & Paperback; 496 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Time Travel
Synopsis
Outlander meets Birdsong is this haunting debut timeslip novel, where a strange twist of fate connects a British soldier fighting in the First World War and a young woman living in modern-day England a century later.
In 1916 1st Lieutenant Robert Lovett is a patient at Coldbrook Hall military hospital in Sussex, England.
A gifted artist, he's been wounded fighting in the Great War. Shell shocked and suffering from hysterical blindness he can no longer see his own face, let alone paint, and life seems increasingly hopeless.
A century later in 2017, medical student Louisa Casson has just lost her beloved grandmother, her only family. Heartbroken, she drowns her sorrows in alcohol on the South Downs cliffs only to fall accidentally part-way down. Doctors fear she may have attempted suicide, and Louisa finds herself involuntarily admitted to Coldbrook Hall now a psychiatric hospital, an unfriendly and chaotic place.
Then one day, while secretly exploring the old Victorian hospital's ruined, abandoned wing, Louisa hears a voice calling for help, and stumbles across a dark, old-fashioned hospital room. Inside, lying on the floor, is a mysterious, sightless young man, who tells her he was hurt at the Battle of the Somme, a WW1 battle a century ago. And that his name is Lieutenant Robert Lovett.
Two people, two battles: one against the invading Germans on the battlefields of 1916 France, the other against a substandard, uncaring mental health facility in modern-day England. Two journeys begun a century apart, but somehow destined to coincide - and become one desperate struggle to be together.
Part WW1 historical fiction, part timeslip love story - and at the same time a meditation on the themes of war, mental illness, identity and art - Beyond The Moon sweeps the reader on an unforgettable journey through time. An intelligent read, perfect for book clubs.
For fans of Diana Gabaldon, Amy Harmon, Beatriz Williams, Kate Quinn, Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, Susanna Kearsley and Paullina Simons.
Beyond the Moon was shortlisted for the Eharmony/Orion Write Your Own Love Story Prize 2018/19
My Thoughts
Louisa Casson, mourning the death of her grandmother, consumes a large amount of alcohol and accidentally falls part way down a cliff at a well-known suicide spot. Despite her protestations, the doctors believe it was a suicide attempt and commit Louisa to Coldbrook Hall, a poorly run and understaffed psychiatric hospital housed in a dilapidated Victorian building.
Kerry, another patient, befriends Louisa and takes her to a secret hangout in the abandoned and condemned wing of the hospital. It is here, Louisa discovers Lieutenant Robert Lovett in a darkened hospital room recovering from a leg wound received at the Battle of the Somme. He is also suffering from shell shock and hysterical blindness. Louisa doesn't understand why he is alone in this part of the building and when he mentions the Somme, she thinks he’s just another delusional psychiatric patient. She is even more perplexed when she drags Kerry along to Robert's room to find it empty and as derelict as the rest of the wing. Kerry suggests that perhaps she has had a psychotic episode, but Louisa doesn't think so.
On a subsequent visit to the abandoned wing, she realises that somehow she is able to step back in time to 1916 when Coldbrook Hall was a military hospital. Whenever she can, Louisa visits Robert and their relationship develops. Her confidence helps him recover his sight and she gains strength from the knowledge that she is no longer alone in the world; they give each other hope and love. There are still questions to be answered: why is she only visible to Robert and why on her visits is she dressed in another woman's clothes.
Then Robert is sent back to the front and Louisa is distraught. Determined not to lose him, the only person besides her gran who has shown her love, she goes back to the abandoned wing, to Robert's hospital room, desperate to get back to his time before it's too late, but the demolition crew are already at work.
Beyond the Moon is an engaging time slip novel and, although a romance, it touches on significant issues in the present and the past, such as mental health, attitudes to war and medical practices.
An avid reader of World War I fiction, I’m always drawn to novels that approach this era from a different perspective and the time slip aspect was intriguing. While time slip is not unusual in fiction, it has to be done well. Catherine Taylor does it very successfully, but for me the story comes into its own in the latter half when both characters are firmly in 1917. The story alternates between Robert's experiences in the trenches and as a prisoner of war, and Louisa's as a nurse in a field hospital in France.
Louisa is ill-equipped for life in 1917. The little medical training she had in 2017, does not prepare her for the realities of medicine in 1917, with the lack of modern medicines and equipment. Some of the simplest daily tasks, like making custard and lighting a fire, she is unable to do. Though at first dismayed at having to wear a corset, she begins to see the benefits of the garment; it provides an extra layer of warmth and aids with posture. This novel is full of these tiny details as Louisa struggles to adapt and finally embraces her new life in 1917. It eventually seems more real to her and 2017 just a dream.
While the time slip aspect may not appeal to all readers, the magic in this novel is how two people, separated by a century, make a connection neither can deny. Louisa and Robert are wonderful characters, each of their time, and you hope that there will be a happy ending for them.
As World War I fiction Beyond the Moon is brilliant. As a love story it captures the imagination and the heart. I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Taylor's debut novel and hope she goes on to write many more.
Beyond the Moon is available from Amazon | IndieBound | Booktopia
About the Author
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Blog Tour Schedule
Review at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, December 10
Review at @bookishbellee
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Feature at I'm All About Books
Feature at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Review & Guest Post at Jackie & Angela's Book Reviews
Wednesday, December 11
Review at 100 Pages a Day
Instagram Feature at Just a Girl and Her Books
Thursday, December 12
Review at @thisbibliolife
Interview at Jathan & Heather
Friday, December 13
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Saturday, December 14
Review at Books and Zebras
Feature at What Is That Book About
Sunday, December 15
Review at Rose is Reading
Review at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings
Monday, December 16
Review at @ya.its.lit
Interview at Liberty's Literary Loves
Tuesday, December 17
Excerpt at Let Them Read Books
Review & Guest Post at Tales from the Book Dragon
Wednesday, December 18
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads
Thursday, December 19
Review at Pencils & Pages
Review at Impressions In Ink
Friday, December 20
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Red Headed Book Lady
Excerpt at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Giveaway (US only)
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away two paperback copies of Beyond the Moon by Catherine Taylor! To enter, please use the Gleam form here.
Giveaway Rules
- Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 20th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
- Paperback giveaway is open to the US only.
- Only one entry per household.
- All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
- The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.
What a fabulous review! Thank you so much for hosting Beyond the Moon, Yvonne!
ReplyDeleteHappy Holidays!
Amy
HF Virtual Book Tours
Thank you, Amy!
DeleteReally good review but... time travel? Hm... not sure about that. Thanks all the same!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Davida!
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