A Dark and Distant Shore by Reay Tannahill

A Dark and Distant Shore Reviews

• 
  Maureen

  This is a powerful historical family saga that covers around 100 years of huge changes ( from 1803 onwards) not only in terms of the family it follows, but also the important industrial and political advancements that took place when The British Empire was at its height. It also covers horrors such as The Crimean War ( amongst others) in vivid chilling detail. Many important historical events are woven into the story in such rich detail that you get a great sense of how it felt to actually BE there.
  
  
  The prime setting for this saga is the castle of Kinveil set deep in the atmospheric Scottish Highlands, a remote and beautiful, yet at the same time, bleak and moody location. It follows Vilia, whose father sold Kinveil to a Glasgow merchant (a move that devastated the 7 year old Vilia). Her determination to win back her birthright borders on obsession, but makes for a fascinating read. As the family increases in number, we find many of them travelling to far flung corners of the world, but it seems that all roads lead back to Kinveil in the end. An interesting tale, and one that required an enormous amount of research. At over 800 pages, this isn't a fast read, but it's well worth staying with it. An absorbing read.
• 
  Tedi

  If I could rate this book negative stars I would. This book cost me hours and hours of my life that I will never get back.
  
  The author loved the sound of her own voice, she could ramble on and on for PAGES about the stupidest things, yet after reading this book I have come to the conclusion that she hates people and enjoys their suffering. She made sure throughout the entire book that everyone was unhappy. When they had the chance to maybe be a little bit happy, they would either get into a fight that caused irreparable damage, or she killed them off.
  
  I made the mistake of buying this book. Whenever I finish with a book that I won't read again I either give it away or bring it to a second hand store. This book, I threw in the garbage, which is what this book deserves.
• 
  Ivana Books Are Magic

  A Dark and Distant Shore does suffer from some writing faults, it might be slightly overwritten at times, and its structure might be a bit clumsy, yet on overall I quite liked it and consider it a success. It is a very long novel that spans generations, so it might not be for everyone. When it comes to this novel, I can actually understand all kind of reactions to it (those who loved it, hated it or were indifferent to it). When I think of enjoyable historical fiction, this novel often comes to my mind. It does have a nice setting and a pretty consistent atmosphere. Unlike some historical fiction, you can actually believe its characters lived in a different time because their thoughts and actions are consistent with the customs of the time. Moreover, many episodes from this novel stayed with me. Not all, some events did fade away, but this book definitely has many memorable and well written moments.
  
  The story starts off with a strong female protagonist, follows her through her early years and then watches her falls into background as new characters emerge. I can see why some people were not a fan of the way this protagonist develops, but I think it actually makes sense, considering her strong willed character. Not every woman is a mothering type, nor she needs to be. I actually found it refreshing that she was in so many ways different from a typical heroine. Yes, I found the female lead quite interesting but didn't mind too much the way she faded into background. However, it might not be to everyone's taste.
  
  The heroine's connection with Highland castle fascinated me, it was almost like a love affair, so filled with passion. There seems to be something very authentic about it, and I don't think people are as connected to a piece of land as they once were, back when everyone owning a castle was a noble person. For our protagonist, the castle is not a material possession but rather almost a spiritual one, a place of origin, her heritage, her birth right, her link to her people. I'm not very familiar with historical Scottish matriarchs, but I watched some interesting historical documentaries. Some of them lead their clans with iron fists it seems. There are some strongly unique traditions and feelings here, perhaps dating back to Celtic times. All of it I found quite memorable and thought- provoking.
  
  There are a lot of characters in this novel, new ones keep getting introduced constantly. The novel covers a relatively long and very turbulent time period of British Empire. Many tragedies and hardships befall the characters in this novel, and Tannahill often goes into great detail. The author is obviously interested in history and she tries to revive it in her writing. In general, I think Tannahill does a good job of evoking the spirit of past times. Speaking of the protagonist I liked how the characters are portrayed, they are often portrayed as neither good nor bad, just regular people with their weaknesses. Tannahill doesn't idolize her characters, even her protagonist/heroine is shown as a cold (or perhaps better said a poor excuse for a) mother.
  
  If you're looking for typical romance, this is definitely not it. I think I heard this author connected with the romance genre, but A Dark and Distant Shore does not seem like a romance novel. It is a historical family epic, with themes like dysfunctional family, incest and peculiar sexual preferences being introduced every step of the way. I see it more as belonging to historical fiction than anything else. As for its structure, that might be the novel's weakness. It is not best organized for such a long novel. Some parts of it could have been better written. Nevertheless, on overall I quite enjoyed it. I would recommend it to people with interest in Scotland or UK.
• 
  Lisa

  I finished this 837-page book out of sheer stubbornness. It took me about 100 pages to get into it, and then I slogged through the last 200 or so just because I was determined to finish. It had such potential! A remote Scottish castle, a steely heroine determined to own it at any cost, a thwarted love story--these elements and more had the makings of a dramatic tale. But the storytelling was curiously flat and detached, like Vilia Cameron herself. I did like the midsection of the book, which centered on Vilia's young adult life. But by the time the story focused on the second and third generations, I often got lost (who is this again?) and didn't much care. And the ending? To quote Vilia's son Theo, "Really, Vilia."
• 
  Rhode PVD

  DNF at around page 300, when the heroine's true love, who we already know, from the family tree which is inexplicably printed at the start of the book, will NOT wind up with her at all, shows up in the plot for a third round of miscommunications spoiling their opportunity to be together.
  
  I'm sorry, but books with an old fashioned sense of romance, where certain people are meant to be together, which instead contort their plots to foul the HEA to promote drama and tragedy instead...well, there is no point. I have no interest in tragedy, much less the manufactured kind.
  
  
• 
  Florence (Lefty) MacIntosh

  Looking for escapism with a wee bit of Scottish history thrown in for good measure? You've found it - enjoy
• 
  Melanie

  As my holiday in Scotland comes to an end, I finish this epic near enough 1000 page long book. A Highland family saga to end all sagas and I have enjoyed it very much.
• 
  Sarah

  An oldie from 1983, this was very well-written historical fiction. My only criticism is that it was overlong. A cast of thousands and extremely small typeface really didn't help. Buy it on Kindle if you can afford it!
• 
  Emma

  DNF at 22% Conclusion this is just not my genre. I gave it to my mother to read on vacation, and she loved it. I think it might be a great book, just not for me.
• 
  Bettyjoy Engelbrecht

  A family saga with a very convoluted and twisted plot. Follows one woman from childhood in the highlands to her passing at old age back in the highlands. Successful in business but far from successful in her personal life. As for her sons and other family members, the author covers the full spectrum of possible characters with to my mind, little happiness for any of them. To my mind a very morbid and unsettling story from incest to weird sexual proclivities. Not your ordinary run of the mill family epic at all.
• 
  Anya

  This is indeed similar to Gone with the Wind. Because—frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn about any of the characters' plight as they are the ones who made the stupid choices.
  
  Then again, I did find this enjoyable. I'm familiar with neither Scotland nor the period the book is set in. Reading this book had me feeling as if I were experiencing that time period for myself.
• 
  Penelope

  I've read this book a couple of times now and would recommend it to anyone who loves a good epic historical novel. It is the story of a castle and one women's obsession with it. There is love, betrayal, loyalty, violence, humour and everything else you could want in a novel.
• 
  Lady R

  One of my favourite types of books - sweeping, epic, family saga, set in beautiful surroundings. What's not to like? This was the first book I have read by this author but I will definitely seek out her other titles too.
• 
  TienvoorNegen

  A family saga.
  A strong woman.
  History.
  Scotland.
  
  It just checked all my boxes!
• 
  Christine (KizzieReads)

  I love a good family saga! I love seeing how a family grows and the hardships and successes they endure in their lifetime. A few things bothered me, though. There was a part that stated that one character died in childbirth, but if you look at the enclosed family tree, it shows the mother dying 2 years after the baby died. Also, there are many scenes that really have no bearing in the story, and they are long scenes, yet they breeze over or don't even mention some major life events. At the end, a lot of things are rushed, but overall, I loved the story. Many of the characters go through so much, it is astounding how strong people could be in the face of adversity. It shows that with one simple choice in life, a lot can happen.
• 
  Hannah Stewart

  What a tome! Yes, it took me ages to read but it was good. I do think that maybe it was a tad overlong, but then all the small incidental things make sense at the end.
  Tannahill's writing is reminiscent of Daphne Du Maurier with a touch of Roger Longrigg writing as Laura Black (for me anyway). Lots of intrigue, familial conflict, nefarious deeds which turn out to be not so nefarious... or do they?
  Anyway, I will be keeping an eye out for more of Tannahill's books but right now I need something a bit lighter after all the heaviness and complexity.
• 
  Kat

  This is a huge book and was so compelling and good until about the last quarter of it. Then, it totally fizzled and basically - ran out of story and turned into a recital of facts and goings-on about the many, many children and their children and their children - all people having had no character development and, hence, I couldn't keep track of who was who and didn't care about any of them.
  
  Further, there are pages and pages describing events and situations that matter little - way over written.
  
  I did enjoy the story but this book, as others have said, is way too long.
• 
  Melissa Robinson

  The setting is what drew me to this novel. I found that I couldn’t “click” with the protagonist and had a lot of trouble keeping up with the family tree,
• 
  Daria

  I cannot decide what was more masterful in this book : the landscapes of Highlands or those of human souls. A work of genius ✨
• 
  Pete Loveday

  What a wonderful read! I highly recommend this to any body.
• 
  Aabha S

  Thank heaven I'm finally free of this book!
• 
  Henry

  Beware, mild spoilers ahead..........i rated this book 5 stars because of Reay Tannahill's excellent writng, the lead character's story and for the lesson in history it gave me. To say the truth i didn't care much for the other characters, including the love interest who got what he deserved for being weak and breaking her heart many times. But it was Vilia's journey that captivated me from beginning to end(i particularly enjoyed the final showdown between Vilia and her sons) and as one of her great-grandchildren said at the end of the book "what a woman!".