Review of 'Lyrebird Hill' by Anna Romer
Release date: April 4th, 2024
Publisher: Ravensong Books
REVIEW
Lyrebird Hill by Anna Romer offers an emotional journey set in two timelines, past (1898) and present day (1995, 2013) that feature two women connected by the same bloodline. This is a very atmospheric and mesmerising setting. The title also offers a few clues, too. Lyrebirds are mimickers in nature and their qualities are reflected in the stories of two related women in both timelines. Is the present mimicking the past? The novel poses the question: how much of our ancestors’ characteristics are passed down in our genes?
Modern day Ruby wonders if her great-grandmother’s ability to commit a crime has been handed down to her. After reading a set of letters from the past, she is filled with fear. For her great-grandmother was convicted of murder and now Ruby wonders if she has done the same. But her memory is locked and she cannot remember how her sister died. She has carried not only the grief of loss for many years but also the worry of whether she had a hand in her sister’s death. Everyone is hush hush about the event which makes it even harder and more suspicious. So the struggle to grasp the truth both haunts and perplexes Ruby, yet she is determined to uncover what happened, in hopes it will set her free but it may condemn her. And it is upon her return to Lyrebird Hill after a relationship disappointment and betrayal, where fragments of the past begin to surface and pieces of the puzzle fall into place. And what she discovers is very different from what she imagined.
Botanical artist Brenna of 1898 has lived a difficult life. When her family is about to lose their beloved property of Lyrebird Hill, the only solution is to agree to wed a wicked though wealthy landowner and promise to give him a son. This exchange proves fatal. The scenes between these two are gut wrenching. I wanted to reach inside the novel’s pages and pull Brenna out to save her from the horrors of abuse. We learn why her husband is so cruel and the revelations are shocking. Personally I found the brutal treatment of the women by some of the men in both timelines horrifying. But this is a traumatic story, so these accounts are appropriate to the plot.
On a more positive note, I appreciated the lovely references of Ruby and the fairy-tale of Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf. Also, the morsels of wisdom dotted throughout, such as: ‘The journey towards emotional freedom begins when you start thinking more about where you’re going, and less about where you’ve been.’ (Rob Thistleton). There are some forbidden romances, true love and tender moments. The beautiful artwork of flowers and their inferred meanings reflected well Brenna’s skill. These were gorgeous accompaniments to the wise expressions of Rob Thistleton.
Lyrebird Hill is a stunning multi-layered romantic mystery that will rattle your core and stir up lots of emotions. Although there is great pain emanating from these ladies’ lives, the text suggests and reassures us that love is the remedy to heal old wounds and restore broken hearts.
Anna Romer is a sensitive and creative weaver-author who knows how to unstitch the heart, lay the inner thoughts bare and then gather up all the threads again after they have been bathed in sunlight and cleansed of the negatives. What you get as a result is a colourful story that will surely uplift and inspire readers to new perspectives. As the author blows her fresh wind of imagination across her characters’ broken lives, healing, wholeness and beauty erupt from the smouldering ashes. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Anna Romer for a copy to review.
