The Heron Legacy

A bit of a slow start but once I was in, I was hooked. The novel follows Charles Fontaine, the heir to a 12th-century estate in Belgium. As a teenager he is enthralled by his eccentric uncle’s challenge to unearth and understand history of his family. Like his mentor, he wants to be a historian, but his strict father has other plans. His life takes a different turn as his father moves them to Connecticut where Charles is introduced to the soulless world of law and finance. In his thirties, Charles’s father wants him to go back to Belgium to sell the family pile. This puts in place a journey of discovery, regarding the true history of the origins of his family and his learning more about himself and where his heart truly lies. The novel is skilfully put together – echoes of the past are inserted into the present in the roles and essence of the characters. The clues draw the reader along as the puzzle is pieced together. The ending is satisfying and not predictable. There is plenty of descriptive writing, especially for sounds, as music is threaded throughout the story. A enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley.

This lovely, gentle book contains a deceptively gripping plot and a wonderful set of characters who will stay with me for a long time. The concept of chivalry runs strong and true through the narrative as the reader follows Charles de la Fontaine (or Charles d'Outre-mer) as he grows from a thoughtful boy obsessed with history to a man grown in the image of his father (or is he?)

The chapters describing Charles' relationship with his beloved Uncle Theo are some of the most interesting and touching in the story and truly drive the narrative forward. Charles' fascination with the chivalrous knights of the Crusades and the cognitive dissonance of their actions (killing for God) help create an exciting and deeply moving story.

The author is exceptionally skilled at storytelling - keeping a consistent pace, introducing new characters and bombshell information at just the right time, and crafting an ending that wraps up all the loose ends. I'll be recommending this for sure.