Women do not have an easy life in Kline's new novel. Unless they're rich. But this novel has very little sympathy for the rich. Instead, the focus is on the marginalized. Evangeline is a naïve governess, who finds herself pregnant and accused of stealing a ring (she didn't). After a stint in Newgate, Evangeline is sentenced to 14 years labor in Australia. On the months-long voyage, she meets Hazel, a fellow prisoner, and the two become unlikely allies. Kline does not soften her descriptions of the conditions they faced. One can almost smell it.

Methinna, an Aboriginal girl who is adopted by the governor's wife to be essentially a talking pet, rounds out our group. At 11, she's old enough to be somewhat independent, which is good, since no-one exactly takes care of her. But she learns French and learns how to dance, and is generally considered a marvel of civilization, until, suddenly she isn't. Unfortunately, she learns the hard way that you can't go home again, although in her case, it's as much to do with the depredations of the British on the Aboriginal way of life than with anything she does.

Evangeline and Hazel are well-realized characters, although in some ways they are mere stand-ins for the idea that women had no power in that era. But they fill that role more than adequately, not being shy with their desire to be treated with common decency. Methinna's inclusion in the novel is more curious, as her story barely intersects the other, and her impact on their lives isn't as dramatic as it could be, or vice versa. It almost seems as though Kline felt she couldn't write a story taking place in Australia at the time without including an Aboriginal voice, a sentiment which I applaud, but I don't think she does that voice much justice here. For the a fully-told plight of women prisoners sent to the colony, I recommend this book. For the same of the Aboriginals, one might want to look elsewhere.

A note on the audio: Narrator Christine Lee does a competent job with her narration, with one major flaw. Two of the characters are described as being quite young, and their youth is such a character trait that it is mentioned repeatedly throughout the narrative. Unfortunately, Lee's doesn't modulate her voice to reflect that youth, and I constantly had to remind myself that they were both young girls.

4+ stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting tale of several women in 1840s England and Australia. Evangeline and Hazel are two young women who were sentenced to transport to Australia to serve out their unfair prison sentences. There is also a third story of an Aboriginal child, Mathinna, who is basically stolen by the Governor’s wife as a plaything.

I found the novel very well written and interesting. I would get so frustrated with how the world was (hmmm, still is) unfair to poor woman. These women were treated so poorly by almost everyone around them. I would have liked to have read more on Mathinna at the end.

Caroline Lee did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

The story and narration of this audiobook are both engaging and informative. The plight of women prisoners in England and their subsequent exile to Australia is a tragic addition to the history of women's struggles to survive in a world that places little value on their lives. The narrator' skillfully changed accents to accommodate the regional accents of the characters, providing a listening experience that is excellent.

Thank you to Netgalley for this first advance listening copy I received!
With a dual storyline that weave their way together, Christina Baker Kline brings alive the stories of both convict ships and of the Aboriginal people of Australia, ultimately highlighting the cruelty of the British class system, and the colonization of Australia.
I enjoy Kline’s stories a lot. This is the third book of hers I have read. The back and forth of the two stories felt a little lopsided until I caught on. For example it was heavy about Evangeline and light on Mathinna in the beginning. A minor complaint is that the name of the ship, Medea and the character name Mathinna, complicated the listening again until I caught on, because they were titles of chapters. But a minor point, and only because I was listening and not reading.
The narrator did an excellent job of all of the accents and voices required, including speaking French. It’s difficult to have to range from child to elderly, from men to women, and sometimes from two different men in the same chapter, and still have a good separation, but she achieves it.
Thoroughly believable, it highlights how poorly women of lower classes were treated, especially with limited opportunities. Any of them could have been my ancestors. I would like to read more on the topic. I really appreciated how the book ended, but did with it could’ve gone longer. I don’t say that often.
I recommend this as a book club read, whether in book or audio format.
4*

A look into the lives of British convicted women sent to Australia. This novel is a harsh reality of the lack of rights for not only women, but the poor. The Exiles is a reminder of what has been fought for by women and the disadvantaged for centuries. The audio version is well read and would reccommend.

Christina Baker Kline has again written a riveting story of an era many would like to forget. The audiobook is beautifully narrated by Christina Lee with pacing and nuances that make you unaware how much time is passing as you are immersed in 19th century England and Australia. The birth of colonial Australia is told through the eyes of convicts Evangeline and Hazel along with Mathinna, a relocated Aboriginal girl. The issues of classism, privilege, race, and prejudice are thoroughly demonstrated while friendship and survival take center stage. I will highly recommend this book to my own book club as well as to the public libraries. If you like historical fiction that features strong female characters, then this is the book for you.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first audiobook I received through Netgalley. There were some issues with the app (which seem to have been corrected already.) But despite the jumping around, I still loved the audiobook. Given this author's popularity and the interesting topic of this book, many book clubs will be reading and discussing this book. I've already told one library book club about it.