A beautifly crafted piece of wonderful words put together to create a charming and wonderful story. Took me on and off reading this as was long. 9 hrs..but well worth letting yourself take it all In and enjoying it.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book

I was very excited to read Ann-Marie MacDonald's newest book, and Fayne did not disappoint. Everything about it is lush, beautiful and intriguing. I expect to see it on a number of Canadian literary prize lists this year, and I'll be recommending it widely.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for the opportunity to read an e-version in advance of publication.

This was a book of literary delight and wonderment. The language enhances the magyk of the prose and draws the reader into its unique and thrilling plot. There are archaic words, colloquialisms, a smattering of foreign and Latin words and phrases, the mainly incomprehensible and garbled speech of an old man, the contrast of some common British and American terms, and some clever made-up words that are not in any dictionary (but should be). Don't let this deter you, as most meanings can be guessed from context, and for me enhanced the joy of the story. Much of the conversations contain evasions, secrets, and lies, often from well-meaning characters.

The atmosphere is rich and vibrant, with a great sense of place. It transports the reader from the crumbling ancient homes of the titled gentry with the household servants and groundskeepers to the taverns, the wild and destitute section of Edinburgh, to Universities, insane asylums, to the treacherous moors, with bogs, sinkholes, peat, mud, and mists, grazing farm animals, abundant bird, wild animal, and insect life.

The book addresses many themes: science, medical practice, mathematics, family, friendships, holding grudges, prejudice, grief, gender, identity, the place of women in society as chattels of their fathers and husbands, homophobia, the schism between the landed gentry and the working class, and the exploitation of heritage sites and natural spaces to be destroyed by industry.

Charlotte lives with her father, Lord Henry Bell. She is an extroverted, lively girl who enjoys exploring the marshlands and moors that surround her home in the area of Fayne. It is uncertain whether it is located in the north of England or the south of Scotland and is disputed territory by both. Charlotte has been forced to live a very sheltered life because of a mysterious condition. She has been forbidden to attend school and lacks friends her age because of the isolation of the countryside. Hanging in the hallway of the home is a large painting depicting her mother holding a handsome, chubby baby, Charles. Charlotte regrets she never knew her brother, who died in his second year. Her mother died in childbirth when Charlotte was born near the time of Charles's death, so Charlotte feels the blame. Her father, Lord Henry, dotes on Charlotte. His other love is bird watching and assembling fantasy birds from discarded bones and feathers. He is being urged to remarry in order to produce a male heir as females cannot inherit the property. Charlotte wanted to become a doctor when it was rare for a woman to be admitted to study medicine. She has a prodigal memory aided by her father's large library. For her 12th birthday, her father gifts her with a hired tutor to prepare her for future endeavours to become a doctor. The pages are filled with intriguing, memorable characters.

I won't attempt to summarize the plot. I loved this enthralling, beautiful book. Some mysteries were rather easy to figure out, but others came as a shock ( not always unpleasant). Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for my favourite book this year.

Fayne will win prizes, but more importantly, it will provide literal, literary delight and escape for thousands of readers. It's historical, "magyk" and exquisitely written, but its also a cracking tale and a page-turner (722 of them!) I was captivated by the characters, the thrilling settings, the imaginative feats with unusual and bespoke words (sclicket! scrunkle!).

Told via dual timeline, its the story of the clever, unusual Charlotte Bell, her curious upbringing and coming into her power in the baronial estate in the "disputed county" of Fayne, located in northern England. Or southern Scotland. The earlier timeline is her father's search for a wife (to provide an heir) and their lives up until Charlotte and her father retire to Fayne to live.

I concede the first fifty pages or so felt a little slow, but perseverance makes them worthwhile, and later, the detail in the early chapters is understood to be necessary. This was a virtuoso performance, brava! Every look, feeling, thought, consummately captured, and I loved MacDonald's generosity toward her characters, their motivations and identities... it felt unique though I cannot express it better than that.

Fayne is a world. It will inspire art. There will be a fandom. Also, we need a voluptuous miniseries. And a graphic novel.

I read an ebook version of this novel via #netgalley and thank them, the publisher, Penguin Random House Canada, @penguinrandomca and #annmariemacdonald for the early read in exchange for an honest review. Publication date is October 11 (the day after Canadian Thanksgiving).

#theobstacleistheway #bogbutter #claretithink #haverspooding #dcdefayne #faynenovel #bookstagramcanada #ireadcanadian