It’s such a pleasure today to share my publication day review of the latest book from Clare Marchant, Daughter of the Tarot: published today (18th August) by Boldwood Books, it’s now available for kindle (free via Kindle Unlimited), in paperback and hardcover, and as an audiobook. My thanks to the publishers for my advance reading e-copy (provided via netgalley).
As soon as I read her first book with Boldwood – the wonderful The House of the Witch – I knew Clare’s future books would always be at the top of my “must read” list. If you missed that one, I’d really urge you to give it a try – it’s still free via Kindle Unlimited, and you’d struggle to find dual time fiction any better written. Two really strong threads to the story, the historical one impeccably researched, the contemporary one involving and emotional, both beautifully wrapped around each other with their common themes and links – it was one of my 2024 Books of the Year, and you can read my full review again here. And then there was The Shadow on the Bridge – again dual timelines, a really vivid setting, and two strong and sympathetic women whose issues entirely engaged me throughout and kept the pages turning (you’ll find my review of that one here). I was so looking forward to reading more from Clare – so let’s take a closer look at her latest…
Two women, linked by the cards, unravel a secret spanning the decades… 🃏🗝️
1644: Portia is living in London, having escaped an abusive man in Italy, with just baby Vittoria and the clothes on their backs. Making her living reading tarot cards, she starts to realise there are other women like her – who need help. As she delivers the Devil card to their door, each has the chance to escape… But to what future? Because Portia is a woman with secrets. And they are about to come back to haunt her.
Now: After her mother’s death and father’s hasty plans to remarry, Beatrice has left home to open a tarot shop in London. But when she’s unpacking, she finds a set of cards she’s never seen before, one that’s evidently been handed down through generations of her family. It’s a set that is missing a card though… the Devil’s Card. She begins to search for the lost card, but she also starts to hear rumours of that very card being linked to a series of murders of women in 17th century London…
Will she find the truth… or will she only see the illusions the cards are suggesting?
I was entirely immersed in this book from its opening pages – the very best dual time writing, and a tale that entirely gripped me to the very last page.
In 1629, abandoned by the man who should have provided protection and with Milan in the grip of the plague, Portia flees for her life with baby Vittoria – and we encounter them again living in 1640s London. Portia reads tarot cards, but the women who visit her are often looking for more tangible help – with the assistance of boatman John (a man she really trusts, and to whom she’s growing closer), she helps them escape their lives of neglect and abuse in the dead of night, giving each of them a Devil card as proof of their identity. Rumours abound about the women’s disappearance, and her task becomes increasingly difficult – but then the threat is increased by a chance meeting when her past begins to catch up with her, and threatens both her relationship with Vittoria and her life.
In the present day, Bea is finding her feet with a new venture – a small shop where she sells tarot cards and offers readings – still trying to come to terms with the loss of her mother and her father’s decision to make a fresh start. Her delight at finding an antique set of tarot cards is only dimmed when she finds its Devil card is missing, making them unusable – and, with the support of landlord Jack who owns a nearby bookshop and becomes a close friend, she embarks on a mission to find the missing card, with a number of false leads and obstacles along the way. And, during her search, she gradually uncovers Portia’s amazing story.
The storylines are wonderfully wrapped around each other, equally compelling and involving – and the pacing of the whole story, with its seamless shifts between past and present, is so perfectly handled. The historical setting is vividly drawn, very atmospheric, bringing the period to life – and the connecting thread of the tarot cards is absolutely fascinating. Both Portia and Bea are beautifully drawn, very real and wholly sympathetic – and I enjoyed too the romantic elements to both their stories. There are some particularly well written moments of drama that had me on the edge of my seat – but plenty of emotional moments too, all handled with the perfect touch. There are a number of recurring themes – reality and illusion, interpreting the truth – and I’ll leave them for you to discover, but I really loved the way they were mirrored in both stories, everything perfectly balanced.
I’m so impressed by the author’s writing – this was a book I really loved, undoubtedly one of my books of the year, and would very much recommend to others.
About the author
Growing up in Surrey, Clare always dreamed of being a writer. Instead, after gaining a degree in history and an MA in women’s studies she accidentally fell into a career in IT. After spending many years as a project manager in London, she moved to Norfolk for a quieter life and trained as a professional jeweller. Now, finally writing full-time, she lives with her husband and the youngest two of her six children.
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Sounds good and what a stunning cover!
And I really should have mentioned it – isn’t it gorgeous? I think this is a book you’d rather enjoy…
Lovely book cover and I like the sound of the storyline.