The Strange Adventures of H is an engrossing and remarkable book. It tells the story of H, a country girl who is orphaned and sent - along with her sister, Evelyn - to live with her aunt in London. As the girls settle into their new home, the threat of plague looms over the city.
From the start, I was engrossed by this book. H is a great character and the historical events of the plague, the Great Fire of London and the riots help create a memorable story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Strange Adventures of H, Sarah Burton

Orphaned young H is sent to live with her doting Aunt in London. H lives a happy life until her lecherous cousin takes her innocence away and the plague takes her city. Cast out and alone H is forced to fend for herself, to find love, overcome betrayal and face a villain out for revenge.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sarah Burton and Legend Press for my copy of this book.

I love the narrative perspective of this book, it pulls you in as though you are living the experience with H herself. Historical fiction is ever popular but seems to be having another real moment and this offering from Sarah Burton is a worthy edition to the genre. Brimming with the energy of 17th century London, Burton has created characters here that feel true to their time

H is a difficult character, at first she feels unlikeable but as the story develops H is a strong character with grit and strength in the face of adversity.

You can tell that the historical events covered here were well researched depicted as such, overall this is an enjoyable, exciting read.

I have loved reading this wonderful coming of age tale where we follow ‘H’ through a very turbulent time in history. This is the 17th Century, a time post the civil war where London experienced riots, the plague and the Great Fire, There’s no doubt this wasn’t an easy time to grow up especially orphaned and separated from your family. I liked the way that the author played with the historical setting. This was a time before the birth of the novel, when women would have found it impossible to be accepted as writers and might have used an initial to disguise their gender. By using ‘H’ it disguises the fact that our protagonist is a female. I think this playfulness with the time period also makes its way into the story itself. There are times when events are a little absurd and farcical when I feel that ‘H’ is giving a playful wink to the reader, almost reminiscent of the cheekiness of Moll Flanders.

The atmosphere created by the writer is incredible. I love The Crimson Petal and the White and the way Sugar leads you into the grimy, underbelly of London that you don’t necessarily see in most 19th Century novels. This was similar, as I felt pulled into this 17th Century underworld. I love the contrast between the wildness and peril of this type of life compared with the buttoned up middle class woman’s existence. I could feel the grime of the streets and the desperation of the people. The plague scenes were particularly vivid, possibly because of the link to the times we’re now living in. I liked her character arc, because she’s quite naive at first when she goes to live with her aunt, but as she discovers a different London including the pleasure gardens she starts an adventure of living life on her wits, and turning to prostitution to make her money. This sets her on a path where she will meet very colourful and even villainous characters. However, despite her choices I could see she was good at heart and this kept me rooting for her.

I would describe this book as an adventurous romp through restoration London. There were some parts where I felt I was being told, rather than shown the action and the speech is very ‘of the period’ rather than being brought up to date. I think this was more authentic but could put off some readers. However, from the beautiful cover, through the plots twists and turns, I was glued to this novel. It was authentic, but also great fun following H through her adventures. I will be buying myself a proper copy for my permanent library and will be looking out for future titles by this writer.

From being a vicar's daughter to going to live with her Aunt Madge with a very comfortable existence and then to be on the streets and to end up in a bawdy house, albeit a more discreet and comfortable one was a huge journey for H.

The story was beautifully written and was like a daily account of H's life with its tribulations and sad nesses, the rape at the hands of her cousin, her loyalty to the end not to divulge to her Aunt what had happened even when things were very bleak and her loyalty not to claim relationship with her Aunt when it would have helped her all account to H's steadfastness and her character.

What H did was a career move to survive in the harsh world of London of the 17th century where women were treated as chattels and if you did not have your wits about you like H you were crushed and annihilated. H was shrewd and careful but she had heart and her story was really heart warming.

The history of London of the time is very well told and in the midst of the great plague which beset London is explained in great detail. Very good reading.

An excellent read from the historical fiction angle, as well as the social history angle of the times.

TW: Rape

The strange adventures of H is set in 17th century England and follows our main character H through the trials and tribulations of her life from her early childhood till old age. The world of the book is a character in itself and was extremely rich thanks to Burton drawing details from real sources, like Samuel Pepys’ diary and plot points from early modern plays. However, this book is by no means stuffy or boring when it comes to history. It takes many twists and turns and loses no opportunity to poke fun.

While there are a great many humorous moments, this book is also incredibly heart wrenching. We get a typical bildungsroman ending very near the beginning of the book, yet this happiness feels bitter sweet as we know it is never going to last, and that knowledge makes the troubles to come all the more painful.

The characters in this book are extravagant, fascinating, and most definitely memorable. Some characters were entirely loathsome, but this was done in a very purposeful way so it neither seemed lazy, or made the characters difficult to read. They were over the top, yes, but it felt natural for this story. H was the one character in this story that was not as immediately well rounded. While she does come into her own in the second part of the book, in the beginning she falls a bit flat. This fluctuating for H is reflected through the ambiguity of her name and how this changes over the course of the story. Therefore while it does seem purposeful that H’s identity is in flux at the beginning of the story, this was not worth the lack of a relatable character for me.

As well as the characters being eccentric, a lot of the plot points are similarly far-fetched, however this sense of pantomime fit really well within the tone of the story, if you like watching soaps, it’s that kind of vibe.

If you liked An Almond for a Parrot by Wray Delaney, you’ll love this book.

This book was amazing. It was a heartbreaking story, but you learn so much. I loved the writing style and the development of the main character. Highly recommend it.

H is orphaned at the age of thirteen. Their Aunt Madge offers patronage. H and her sister Evelyn move to London. At her house, aunt Madge has transformed one room into a vast space lined with books. The girls are introduced to their “university” and are encouraged to “read widely and without prejudice.” This was the moment when I thought that H would be diving into those books, spending every free moment in this room. But no, she shows more of a frivolous side.

I connected with the protagonist at the very beginning, but once she started missing on chances that life was giving her, I disconnected. I thought that with losing parents at such young age, it would make her mature faster. I also thought that she’d be representing character of a strong woman. But it didn’t feel that way.

When I was hoping that the story would bring some dimensions to the protagonist, it was filled with her encountering other people, admiring other women, filled with men talking about women’s place, which didn’t sound attractive.

I was interested in the historical background, but I didn’t connect with the protagonist or the storyline, and the pace was on a slower side.

H has always been an unconventional girl. She was born into poverty and had a rather difficult childhood watching as her strict father cast out and disowned her sister Grace for bringing disgrace to the family (pun, I just had to). Her adventures, at least the ones that had foretold and shaped her future, began when she convinced her sisters to commit the most heinous act and the most vile sin by watching a theatrical performance of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew (which was the cause of Grace's fall from grace - couldn’t resist again). After her father's death, H was lucky enough to be sent, together with her elder sister Evelyn, to their aunt in London, where she met her twin cousins Roger and Frederick, however, their period of happiness was not long lived.
The Great Plague of London had an immense toll on H, it cost her her home and the people she loved the most. She ended up cast out in the street, pregnant, alone, destitute, and in her desperation to survive, she resorted to the oldest profession in the world.
Throughout her numerous hardships, the readers are guided by H's unwavering voice, which is probably the most appealing aspect of this novel. She approaches everything with humour which carries her to the end of her story. I enjoyed H’s perception of other characters, especially her sisters Clarissa and Diana. The book is full of highly memorable personas, such as Janey, Kat, and Godfrey. Using a healthy dose of irony and wit, Burton tackles numerous serious topics, especially those pertaining to women’s independence and emancipation. The central question revolves around survival, and whether it is ‘better to die with a blameless reputation or to survive at any rate? Isa good reputation worth starving for?’ And, at the end of the day, what is genuine good reputation, does it imply the goodness of one’s soul or is it just neatly wrapped hypocrisy?

This was a really enjoyable read. I particularly liked the protagonist, H and her story of survival and triumph against the odds.

A sumptuous and atmospheric tale that will go down well with fans of the historical fiction genre. H captivated me straight away!

The Strange Adventures of H is completely immersive. I found myself lost in the characters, the time period, and the plot. Too often, I read books at a slight distance from the characters. However, H drew me in and I found myself rooting for her, every step of the way. The novel was clearly well-researched--the atmosphere felt authentic and the depictions of plague-ridden London were fascinating. This is truly a book for any lover of historical fiction--whether or not this is a time period they gravitate toward. A heartfelt recommendation for a great first adult novel. I believe we can expect great things from Sarah Burton.

The Strange Adventures of H is a gorgeous coming-of-age story. The characters, story and setting were all fantastic. It's not a story I'll be forgetting anytime soon and I recommend it for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.

<i> “When it comes to women, fame and infamy are the same thing.”</i>

The Strange Adventures of H” is a fun, entertaining historical fiction. The author does a fantastic job making it seem like it was a story actually written in the past. The language and the atmosphere are almost reminiscent of gothic novels.

Who is H? H is the last child of her mother who dies in childbirth. For this reason, she is already resented by some of her siblings and her father. This story tells the story of her life, which is one calamity after another. H is a survivor though. She is also a warm and charming heroine.

<i> “There is no disaster which can befall humanity, that we will not fail to make worse by our own hands, for it is fear that makes us cruel.”</i>

I was very fascinated by her experience of the Black Plague. It was very interesting to read about a pandemic in the midst of a pandemic. I was slightly amused by some of the things the “foolish” characters were doing and saying as they were so similar to things I am seeing people do and say. There will always be those will ignore the warnings until they have no choice, but to do otherwise. We see the world falling apart around H, and humanity’s selfishness and cruelty is on full display. While there are definitely darker elements to this story, the story doesn’t seem to linger on them.

<i> “Real life is in fact downright untidy, and you do not even know which is the beginning, the middle, and the end, until it is all far too late.”</i>

H’s life is an untidy one, but all works out remarkably well for her. If anything, everything ties up too neatly, but this is exactly the sort of book where you totally expect this. The ending borders almost on the ridiculous or silly. The timeline of events in the novel is a little shaky as well Yet, I still found the story to be a good read.

Is this book going to be the best thing I read all year? No, but it is entertaining and worth a read. It’s not terribly deep or philosophical, but it has some great lines.

Thank-you to netgalley, Sarah Burton, and Legend Press for providing this arc!

I loved this thrilling historic fiction. It is set in the 16th century and also mentions the Great plague that wiped out half the population and also the Great fire of London. I loved the authors writing style, its rich and sympathetic. The characters are well described and relatable. I was rooting for H and her determination to survive and find freedom and live independent. It was a roller coaster of emotions and also reminded me a bit of the classic Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I definitely recommend it. It tugs at your heart strings. Well researched. Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an early review copy in exchange of an honest review

I LOVED this book! I read the entire book in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's style of story-telling, the transience of characters throughout the story, how people would come and go to return at pivotal moments later. I loved the character development and found the main character, H, to be very likeable, I was rooting for her throughout. This story had everything, scandal, plague, heartbreak, romance, family troubles and interesting relationships. Will definitely be recommending this one. 5 Stars!

The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton is written in the style of a memoir. We follow H in 17th century England throughout various stages of her life, and the book is split into three sections as she changes her identity and character to reflect the different struggles faced by herself and many women at the time – H, Doll and Halcyon.

Orphaned at a young age, H is sent to London to live with her Aunt – a situation she is content with until she is abused by her cousin and finds herself pregnant at a terrifying time as the plague begins to sweep through London. The devastation caused by the plague, the Great Fire of London and then the Bawdy House Riots all play a part in her life and are the backdrop for the rest of the novel.

H is forced to deal with many traumatic events and the themes covered in the book include rape, death, suicide, murder and plague. On paper, this should have made it difficult to read but I found the story absolutely gripped me throughout. H was such an engaging and interesting character and her resilience and strength carried me through the story.

I seem to be obsessed with reading books about plagues since the lockdown started. Some of the parallels between the current pandemic and the plague were eerily similar and really played on my mind for days after reading. A gripping and genuinely interesting story to read, especially given the current situation. This is a fantastic choice for any fans of historical fiction and I would highly recommend it.

Set in the sixteenth century, The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton is a historical coming of age tale that is focussed around the life of H, a young orphan sent to live with her aunt in London. Her life takes a distressing turn when she is assaulted by her cousin and bubonic plague reaches the city. Left alone, pregnant, and without a penny to her name, The H is left to try and to navigate life and it’s hardships to rebuild her life.

The prose in this book is beautifully written. It offers a contemporary twist on the narrative style of classic novels such as Austin or Dickens. The setting is vividly described. The dirty and grimy streets of 16th century London come to life in rich detail. Readers are immersed in an older time that yet seems so relatable. The humanity found in Burton’s characters is compelling. Each character has his or her story to tell adding depth to the narrative. H’s character is charming. Although naive, she is heartfelt and passionate with nothing but good intentions to those she loves allowing real empathy to build for her situation. The limitations and judgments imposed on her life, simply because of her needing to survive are cruel. She doesn’t deserve them and you desperately want her to succeed.

Unfortunately, The Strange Adventures of H does have some problems. The title does not match the subject. Strange adventures implies an element of magic or bizarre happenings with a positive context. This book is neither magic, bizarre, or happy but instead is a tale of lifelong hardship in traumatic circumstances. Neither the title nor the synopsis let the reader know that the main setting for much of this novel is H’s experience in prostitution. It seems careless to fail to make potential readers aware of this theme considering it is a dominant element of two-thirds of the book and is described in detail. Prostitution is unfortunately glamourised throughout with only the wrongful judgment cast on to H’ profession presented as a negative. The story completely glosses over the dangers involved and the violence that H will have no doubt experienced. Any emotions she may have about her experiences go unacknowledged. If the novel is taken at anything past face value it becomes an unrealistic portrayal and arguably problematic in its presentation. Another criticism of this novel is that The Strange Adventures of H struggles to remain grounded in a sense of time. Once you have got to the second half of the book, it becomes ambiguous as to how old H is and how much time has passed between parts of the story,

Despite these valid criticisms, The Strange Adventures of H is an enjoyable read but more sensitive readers should be aware of the contents of this novel and its unrealistic glossing over of the difficult life events it presents.

This book was slow to pick up speed, but nothing brings the drama like a plague that killed one third of Europe. H grows up surrounded by sisters, and her story doesn’t find its feet until she finds herself alone. H is forced to reinvent herself to survive in an actual post-apocalyptic landscape- “Dolly“ becomes a courtesan and stage star and eventually the head of her own found family. This book is clearly influenced by Restoration farces- there is a new mistaken identity or heist or suitor in every chapter- but the humour is timeless and the characters relatable and full of spirit. I promise you will eventually learn what H stands for. I won’t promise you it’s worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for this arc.

Thank you to Sarah Burton for this book.

This follows H who lost her father but she is also estranged from her own sisters except her one sisters called Evelyn. So she decides in which that she goes to London and finds a new way of actual living. Then she discovers play houses and disreputable places are fascinating to her. H ends up surviving the Great Plague of London as well as The Great Fire of London , destitution and many other adventures with a surprising end.

This is a very gripping and thrilling historical fiction book featuring from the 16th century. I loved the whole historical part including the plague and the great fire of London.

5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
recommend.

This is such a great book. The story is sympathetically and charmingly told as we romp through the 1660s encountering some well known historical events along the way. We meet a whole host of rich and well rounded characters, most of them are quite loveable although like any good book there are always a few good villainous ones too. This book will make you smile as you follow H on her strange adventures.

H the narrator of the story is orphaned young and goes to live a happy live with her aunt in London. However, things start to go wrong as her cousin takes her innocence and then the plague sweeps through London and she ends up cast out on the streets with nothing to her name, H is determined to survive and to regain her freedom and independence.