Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. A fabulously written historical fiction novel that I loved so much I didn’t want it to end. The detailing was spot on and the character development was superb. I found myself experiencing many emotions while I was reading this story and at times it was painful to read as my heart was breaking. An absolutely amazing debut novel from the author. Haunting and poignant. Highly recommended. 5 stars from me.

This was such an enjoyable historical fiction book. The writing is so beautiful. There are twists that were a surprise. The characters are well developed. The tension was visible throughout the book.

I'm on the fence when it comes to The Maiden. I enjoyed the story but I thought it went on for far too long. The majority of characters were loathable but the one character you think you would hate, I loved. She carried this book on her shoulders. It was hard to find out which narrater was reliable but I trusted this one from the get-go.

The Maiden follows Lady Christian Nimmo in the aftermath of her sentencing to 'the Maiden' a guillotine type device used on Scotlands worst criminals.

The story works in flashbacks, following Christian up until the event that causes her to be imprisoned for murder. This is a part of history I knew nothing about and I was intrigued to learn more. Kate Foster manages to give voices to the women affected by this case in a way that I hated every single one of them and yet couldn't stop reading. It takes a special kind of book to keep you reading when literally all the characters are deplorable and most of the decision they make are in their own interest.

Wow, this is the epitomy of female rage in the 1600s and I loved it.

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

It's great to read a gothic novel based outside of London. This is set around Edinburgh city and focused on two very different women: a lady whose marriage ends up being sexless and a sex worker. Both these women become interlinked with a man whose standing in society does not reflect what he is like behind closed doors. There is much about how men and women are punished differently and viewed. This is based on a real case with much fictional license taken!

First 1/2 of the book... 5⭐️
Second 1/2 of the book... 3⭐️

The writing itself was absolutely perfect and I will definitely be reading more by Kate Foster. (I just googled for her other books and think it's HILARIOUS that most of what she's written besides her national newspaper articles are children's books because The Maiden has some racy, steamy scenes!) I’m definitely not one for romance or smut but this was so smartly written that I didn’t even mind when it snuck it's way in there.

The last half, I'm sad to say, just kept dragging on. While I was getting through it I couldn't stop thinking, "What was the point of this whole story?!" I would have found it much more interesting and wouldn't have felt such frustration if I had known from the beginning that this was based on actual events. So you've been warned... 📣THIS IS BASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS!📣 You'll love it, now that you know that lol.

The Maiden is a fictional account of the real-life case of a woman named Lady Christian Nimmo who was convicted of the murder of her lover and executed in 17th century Scotland. The story is told through the multiple perspectives of the different women who played varying roles in the life of James Forrester (Lady Christian’s lover and apparent murder victim), including Lady Christian herself. Although they are initially separate perspectives, they gradually begin to intertwine as the story progresses.
Kate Foster’s flawless storytelling made all of the characters truly come alive on the page and for this to be her debut work is really impressive. Each character has such depth and complexity to them and I was particularly captivated by both Lady Christian and Violet. The vivid descriptions of 17th century Edinburgh were also incredible and clearly impeccably researched.
Lady Christian’s story is a compelling and complex read which takes so many twists and turns that it truly had me on the edge of my seat and made it easy for me to absolutely devour the book in a single sitting. The story jumps between time periods, sharing Lady Christian’s story before the death of James Forrester, during her trial and also in the aftermath of the trial. This is supported by frequent extracts from newspaper articles documenting the trial and the subsequent events.
The story was quite hard-hitting at times as it’s ultimately a tale about the experiences of multiple young women being groomed and exploited by a man in a position of power over them. It does really make you stop and think about how little the female experience has changed in 350 years and this is still terrifyingly common in the 21st century.
Kate Foster provides a powerful exploration of the idea that historically women haven’t had a voice no matter how loudly they’ve shouted and this is perfectly captured in the quote at the forefront of the blurb: "In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me." I’m a big fan of fiction which provides a feminist commentary and this was done brilliantly in The Maiden through the exploration of the female experience in 17th century Scotland where society was engulfed by patriarchal and misogynistic ideologies and largely governed by the church.
Overall, The Maiden is an incredible historical fiction work which has the potential to be one of the best we see in 2023. It is truly one of the standout debut novels we’ve seen and it has really secured Kate Foster’s place in a list of authors you need to watch.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I have posted an extended review on my blog www.yourschloe.co.uk and the post is linked.

I love a historical novel and in particular one which is based on fact and Kate Foster did not disappoint! The characters were very well written and Foster really brings the 17th century to life. And with that the rough deal that women had.

Without giving anything away, due to the way it was written, I was not expecting the story to go the way it did. And whilst the ending was true to real life it left me angry for the way that Forrester manipulated and abused women. Which shows how good an author Foster is! I look forward to reading her next book.

A brilliant novel which I was very eager to finish - and did so, over the course of many bus journeys to and from work, passing through the areas of Edinburgh in which this devastating tale takes place. Perhaps it increases one's enjoyment to recognise place names and picture them so vividly in the text, but Kate Foster is capable of masterfully drawing out wells of emotion within a reader regardless of this familiarity. I am often cautious of historical novels that intend to tell a variation of a true story with a modern/'feminist' revision, (especially those taking place within Scotland, a frequently worshipped setting in the historical fiction genre), yet I am glad this did not hold me back from experiencing this story - heart rending without ever being condescending, this novel is a real gem which tells of two women pitted against each other in the face of a larger evil.

Enjoyed this all the more knowing it was based on a true historical case. I knew nothing about Lady Christian Nimmo before this and have really no idea how much is dramatic licence. Since found out she has a Wetherspoons named after her - honour! A brilliant debut by Kate Foster. Thanks to Netgalley.

"In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me."

I was excited to read this. I love historical fiction and set in 17th century Scotland intrigued me. Based on the real life case of a woman name Lady Christian Nimmo who was convicted of the murder of her lover, THE MAIDEN thus delves into the life of the adulterer turned murderess told in various perspectives of the women in her lover's life.

The year is 1679. Edinburgh, Scotland. And Lady Christian Nimmo stands accused of the murder of her lover James Forrester. The news is shocking; the trial scandalous. The lives and loves of the murderous whore splashed all over the new broadsheets leave little room for doubt. But how could this have happened? Just a a year ago Lady Christian was a respectable woman of society. Why would she just throw it all away and risk everything for such an act?

But alas, as it turns out, Lady Christian is not the only woman in Forrester's bedchamber to wish him animosity. So then who?

There was another lover who believed all his tales of love and that she was truly special. That she was the one he truly loved. Violet is an orphan who was taken into a brothel at a young age and she vows she will not go back to that life of depravity after a glimpse of the luxuries offered by Forrester, who was at first a client. But to Violet he became her ticket out of depravity.

But both women are the victims of exploitation by Forrester, used only for his needs, as he used many other women. He grooms them, exploits them, lies to them and uses them as he sees fit.

THE MAIDEN is an interesting tale, if a little drawn out in parts. I like the concept and idea but as with many based-on-fact tales can get a little bogged down in historical fact. But I do especially like the line "In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me." Because in the end, it didn't matter. Women didn't have a voice in those times no matter how loudly they shouted. Men were the ones who held all the power. I am not a feminist by any means but I do believe the scales should be balanced a little more so - not one way or the other. To me, everyone is equal. And at the end of the day, our graves will be the same size as the next person. No one is above another.

An intriguing mystery that did hold my interest for the most part.

I would like to thank #KateFoster, #Netgalley, #MantleBooks#PanMacmillan for an ARC of #TheMaiden in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

A fabulous debut novel from Kate Foster based on real-life events in 16th century Edinburgh, where the married Lady Christian is accused of murdering her lover James. We know almost from the outset that she is guilty of the act, but were there others who would also wish him dead? The story is told from multiple points of view, not just Lady Christian - this serves to build up the picture around what kind of a man James was (spoiler- not a very nice one...) and what people saw in him.
A gripping psychological read from start to finish, highly recommended.

The Maiden is based in Scotland and inspired by the real life trial of Lady Christian Nimmo, who was executed in 1679.

I was initially drawn to the book by the beautiful cover and did not realise when I chose it that that the maiden was, in fact, the guillotine that can be seen embellished with flowers and peacocks on the cover.

Kate Foster describes 17th century Edinburgh time so vividly that you feel you are there at that time and and she obviously researched that period very thoroughly.

I enjoyed the dual narrative of Lady Christian, a lady of class and Violet Blyth, who had to resort to sex work in order to survive. They are both strong female characters from very different backgrounds and their experiences living under a misogynistic, patriarchal and religious system give a stark reminder of how life was for women in that era.

A compelling read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction with a twist of reality. 4.5*

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you so much to Pan MacMillan and NetGalley for an e-arc of this book.

This was an engrossing read. I love reading historical fiction (and non-fiction) about lesser known characters (especially women) in history.

The tale of the women involved was told well with differing POVs and jumping between time periods. I really liked this style for this story.

The author convincingly had different voices for the characters, and whilst giving some agency to the women it remained faithful to the time period and what is known of the real-life people portrayed.

What an AMAZING read!
What made this book even more special was the fact that it is based on real events and people.
It is a gripping and moving novel that will leave you captivated from beginning to end and is set in a time when women had no voice. One of the standout features of this novel for me is the depth and complexity of the characters.

The author does an excellent job of exploring the nuances of human emotion and behavior, and you find yourself deeply invested in the fates of these characters.
Kate Foster is a talented storyteller and I can highly recommend this read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

When their father leaves the family with a mountain of debt, Christian and her sister are forced to marry. Christian struggles to find anyone from society so marries a well-to-do merchant but her marriage lacks passion. When her predatory uncle-by-marriage seduces her Christian believes her self in love but James is a notorious rake and Christian's response finds her convicted of murder. Is she really a murderess? A whore?
This is a fictional imagining of a real-life case from just outside Edinburgh when the noble Lady Christian Nimmo was executed on the Maiden (a form of guillotine) for the murder of her lover. Here Foster has embellished the facts by looking at the perspectives of two other women introduced in the tale, the whore and the servant. I really liked the story and the different views of the roles of women. The only problem I found was the lack of anything really linking the tale to the 1670s, I kept having to refer to the dates on the chapters as the tale could have happened anywhere from the 16th to the 19th centuries. However the sense of place was fantastic, from the Old Town of Edinburgh to the open spaces of the country estates.

A disturbing, twisty, and well plotted novel based on a real case. It's a complex story, a story about manipulation and power plays.
You hope the best for the character after you discover their story.
Well plotted and gripping, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This book was a mixed bag. I enjoyed the suspense and the angle the author took into explaining the motives behind this true life murder. The different narrative voices were distinct and rich, though it may have been interesting to have had the voice of Oriana included too.
But for me the story was too meandering, the prose not very natural in style at times, and the book just too long. It felt repetitive at times and I couldn't connect to the characters, but throughout just felt distant from it all. Therefore, I just wasn't invested in the story or the fates of the characters enough.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

The Maiden by Kate Foster is a beautifully written, well researched, fascinating and compelling story. I enjoyed every page and every word. It’s a testament of a brilliant book that it ignited an interest in the historical period when the events took place. It made me look up pictures of Edinburgh at the time, The Maiden, The White Lady, Corstorphine and its sycamore tree, and even the man’s and ladies’ fashion of that period. Since I finished reading The Maiden, I can’t stop thinking and talking about all the characters and have a real ‘book hangover’..