Author: Karleen Koen

ISBN: 1402200447

Barbara Aderly lives a near idyllic life in the 18^th century. She is the willful, and much doted upon, granddaughter of a strong aristocratic woman, surrounded by a gaggle of beloved younger brothers and sisters, with free run of the English countryside. But as reaches her teen years the world she has always known is being taken away from her. With a surprise visit from her black sheep mother Barbara learns her marriage has been arranged to a much older man and there is nothing she can do about it.

However, luck is on Barbara's side. The man she is betrothed to is an old friend of her grandfathers and a man she's secretly loved for her whole life. But after being married and traveling to France with her new husband Barbara's dream come true becomes a nightmare. She quite publicly learns that not only does her husband not love her, but that he is already in love . . . with another man!

Through a Glass Darkly follows Barbara Aderly as she grows up and learns to make her way in the world with only her reckless, though loving, brother beside her. It follows her as her family fortunes rise and plummet and she tries desperately to stop loving the man who betrayed her so shockingly.

Through A Glass Darkly succeeds because it is one of those rare books that offers something to every reader. It is chock full of rich and well researched historical references, capturing the time period of 18^th century England perfectly, with action and suspense, as well as a love story that is as touching as it is tumultuous.

The true genius of Karleen Koens work is in her characterization. The main character Barbara Aderly is easy for a reader to fall in love with. She is likeable, not because she is perfect, but because of her imperfections. Likewise the other characters in the book also ring true- Through a Glass Darkly offers no out and out demons, but certainly no Saints. Much like the real world there is a great deal of grey in the people who populate it. Not only do the characters feel real, but it is also easy to sympathize with them in their loves and schemes, and yearning for a better world.

What I found to be a definite plus of this book, though it's one that might turn off some readers, is that author Karleen Koen doesn't pull any punches. She turns the usual trials and tribulations of the historical novel on its ear. Like the real world, in this book sick children do not always get better, unhappy love affairs don't turn out okay, and whatever you expect to happen is most likely the last thing that will. Be warned: Try not to get too attached to any one character in Through a Glass Darkly because it'll break your heart watching they go from one unhappiness to another or to a tragic and unforeseeable death. It shows opulence tarnished with tragedy, and will disillusion many readers of sappier historical fiction novels.

My only true complaint with this book is its unevenness. For me at least the first third to half was much more engrossing them the last third. I was much more interested in the day to day lives of the characters then I was in their financial struggles and how it placed them in context with the money troubles various European countries were going through at the time.

The above review was contributed by: Renee Mallett:   Renee is a published journalist, reviewer, and creative writer. Freelance editor:  Author of several non-fiction books