It’s a real pleasure today to join the blog tour for The Flame Tree by Siobhan Daiko, and to share my review. Independently published on 19th January, it’s now available for kindle and via Apple books, and also in paperback. My thanks, as always to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for the invitation and support, and to the author for my advance reading e-copy.
I was really delighted to hear that Siobhan is soon to be published by Boldwood Books, writing historical fiction set in Italy (always something I really enjoy!). And I remembered I’d read and enjoyed a book by Siobhan once before – Lady of Asolo, a time slip romance with its historical thread set in early 16th century Venice, well written, meticulously researched, wonderfully romantic with strong characters and a page-turning and dramatic story – and know there will be plenty to look forward to. But this book is something rather different – part of her Hong Kong Collection, with a WW2 setting, and if there’s anything I’m likely to enjoy every bit as much as historical Italy, this one certainly ticked all the right boxes for me…
Based on a little-known true story, from award-winning author Siobhan Daiko comes a tale of love and survival against all the odds set in Hong Kong at the start of the Pacific War.
In the spring of 1939, dashing young William Burton and the beautiful Constance Han set sail from London on the same ocean liner to Hong Kong.
Romance blossoms while they enjoy games of deck quoits and spend sultry tropical evenings dancing under the stars. Connie is intrigued by Will’s talent for writing poetry, and she offers to give him Cantonese lessons to help him with his new job— a cadet in the colonial service.
But once in Hong Kong, Connie is constrained by filial duty towards her Eurasian parents, and their wish for her to marry someone from her own background. She can’t forget Will however and arranges to meet him in secret under the magnificent canopy of a flame of the forest tree—where she fulfils her promise to teach him to speak Chinese.
Before too long, trouble looms as Japanese forces gather on the border between Hong Kong and mainland China. Will joins a commando group tasked with operating behind enemy lines, and Connie becomes involved in the fight against local fifth columnists.
When war breaks out, they find themselves drawn into a wider conflict than their battle against prejudice. Can they survive and achieve a future together? Or do forces beyond their control keep them forever apart?
Perfect for readers of Dinah Jefferies, Ann Bennett and Victoria Hislop.
A convincing and very moving romance, a fascinating slice of history – coupled with the most wonderful story-telling, this book delivered everything I could have possibly wanted.
It begins with a shipboard romance, as Will – sailing to Hong Kong to join the colonial service – meets Connie, the daughter of a prominent and well-to-do Eurasian businessman. And it’s a connection you really feel – but it becomes fraught by obstacles once they arrive in Hong Kong with its deep cultural divide. Unwilling – and unable – to give each other up, they meet in secret beneath the flame tree in the botanical gardens, where he shares his poetry, and she helps him with the intricacies of Cantonese. But then, everything becomes many times more difficult – the war is drawing closer, the Japanese invasion imminent and inevitable, and although their paths are able to cross more publicly when they both take on key roles in the defence of Hong Kong, the situation also plays its part in tearing them apart. The story then becomes an intense one of bravery and survival – and hope that their love might see them reunited.
Do you know, I was appallingly ignorant about the war in the Pacific – but not any more, as I learned so much from this sweeping and wonderfully told story. The Japanese advance through Canton, the role of Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese, the British failure to take the threat seriously, the fifth columnists and the role of the Triads – totally fascinating, all seen from within through Connie and Will’s involvement, an entirely compelling fact-based story. The author’s research, and the way she uses it, is incredibly impressive – but it never becomes a history lesson, always a human story about how events affected the lives of individuals. The love story at the story’s heart was one that totally consumed me – both Will and Connie are wonderfully drawn (as, indeed, are all the supporting characters), and they both held a piece of my heart as they became caught up in the action, the pace of the story escalating as the danger intensified, and everything looking increasingly hopeless.
I read this book in almost a single sitting – I was entirely caught up in the story’s twists and turns, desperately hoping that Connie and Will would have their happy ending. And it was one of those books that I was more than happy to allow to sweep me away – the story-telling is just superb (I felt I was in particularly safe hands), the emotional impact intense, and there was never a time when I felt I wasn’t part of Will and Connie’s story. Quite wonderful – and the only thing stopping me from saying “one of my books of the year” is the fact that I know there’ll be more to come from this very talented author. Highly recommended – I loved it.
Giveaway
With thanks to Siobhan and Rachel, I’m delighted to offer one lucky reader (open internationally) the chance to win a signed copy of The Flame Tree. Here’s the rafflecopter for entry:
Terms and Conditions Worldwide entries welcome. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
About the author
Siobhan Daiko is a British historical fiction author. A lover of all things Italian, she lives in the Veneto region of northern Italy with her husband, a Havanese dog and a rescued cat. Siobhan was born of English parents in Hong Kong, attended boarding school in Australia, and then moved to the UK—where she taught modern foreign languages in a Welsh comprehensive school. She now spends her time writing page-turners and enjoying her life near Venice. Her novels are compelling, poignant, and deeply moving, with strong characters and evocative settings, but always with romance at their heart.
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