A legendary ruin. An ancient mystery. Will unveiling the past transform the future?
Centuries apart, each searching for a way to step into her future, Mia and Maddie will be haunted by the myth of the woman who walked unscathed from the ruins of the House of the Wind.
The House of the Wind
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"At times lyrical, the tale of Maddie's journey will charm those who are enraptured by the Tuscan mystique." --"Booklist"
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I picked this book up at the airport and have not stopped raving about it since I put it down.
It is an elegantly told tale set in two time periods telling the trials and tribulations of clearly related females in stunningly described Tuscany. Hardie writes expertly of the pain and loss that one of her heroines, Maddie, suffers at the loss of her fiance and in effect the emergence of this individual from personal Winter to Spring in the subtlest of ways. She captures the machinations of her painted characters like few authors in this often haphazardly-written genre do, writing on several levels with nuances that symbolically range from Keats to the Wizard of Oz, all expertly woven and ensuring an enjoyable read on the simplest and most complex of levels.
I see that the two time periods have divided critics here somewhat, which I suppose is natural, I preferred the modern story as the legal case was gripping with politically piquant shades of the Erin Brockovich, which I loved. But the medieval story was beautifully constructed and it is clear that the author is in her element in this landscape triumphing the strengths of the female without being censorious or alienating to any male audience - I have already forced it on my partner.
All in all I found it beautifully written and gripping, obviously in some places more than others, and gladly recommend it to all those who enjoy the genre and even those who like to be challenged intellectually by what they read and would thus ordinarily discount such a novel. I am off in search of Hardie's other work.
It is an elegantly told tale set in two time periods telling the trials and tribulations of clearly related females in stunningly described Tuscany. Hardie writes expertly of the pain and loss that one of her heroines, Maddie, suffers at the loss of her fiance and in effect the emergence of this individual from personal Winter to Spring in the subtlest of ways. She captures the machinations of her painted characters like few authors in this often haphazardly-written genre do, writing on several levels with nuances that symbolically range from Keats to the Wizard of Oz, all expertly woven and ensuring an enjoyable read on the simplest and most complex of levels.
I see that the two time periods have divided critics here somewhat, which I suppose is natural, I preferred the modern story as the legal case was gripping with politically piquant shades of the Erin Brockovich, which I loved. But the medieval story was beautifully constructed and it is clear that the author is in her element in this landscape triumphing the strengths of the female without being censorious or alienating to any male audience - I have already forced it on my partner.
All in all I found it beautifully written and gripping, obviously in some places more than others, and gladly recommend it to all those who enjoy the genre and even those who like to be challenged intellectually by what they read and would thus ordinarily discount such a novel. I am off in search of Hardie's other work.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Flapper
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read the previous novel by Titania Hardie, I knew i would be in for a treat for the senses. It's just as filmic as The Rose Labyrinth, taking in Oxford, San Francisco and Italy, as well as having a foot in the fourteenth century and legends of witches, evil overlords and world changing events. What I was unprepared for was the graphic, hard hitting twists and turns (no spoilers here) that affect the lives of both the leading females. It's a brave author who writes about death, murder and the most devastating disease ever to hit mankind and set them against such beauty and female solidarity. Also, to take the works of Keats as inspiration is likewise to swim in dangerous waters. As you have probably guessed by my rating, I feel the author does both of these admirably; it's a book that teaches a great deal (you will find that so much of the novel is based in fact if you dig deep enough to wikipedia and beyond) but it is the female characters and their experiences that shine through. I especially recommend it to anyone who has ever lost their other half, or is still optimistic enough to be looking...
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By ftriefus
Format:Hardcover
`The House of The Wind' passed my definition of a great read - in that I did not want it to finish. I relished every single word and even read all the dedications at the back.
Both Maddie's and Mia's stories are engaging, captivating and moving. Having gone through a similar bereavement to Maddie, I find that Titania Hardie has captured beautifully the pain and processes of bereavement and the way life re-captures and demands and seduces the living to carry on living. If I was to be critical, I think spanning the story over 4 years would have been more realistic but then again bereavement and life following it is a very personal journey and no two are the same. She also weaves an immense knowledge of history, myths, religion, paganism, the arts and literature into her novels which makes her an intelligent, articulate and compassionate writer.
Both Maddie's and Mia's stories are engaging, captivating and moving. Having gone through a similar bereavement to Maddie, I find that Titania Hardie has captured beautifully the pain and processes of bereavement and the way life re-captures and demands and seduces the living to carry on living. If I was to be critical, I think spanning the story over 4 years would have been more realistic but then again bereavement and life following it is a very personal journey and no two are the same. She also weaves an immense knowledge of history, myths, religion, paganism, the arts and literature into her novels which makes her an intelligent, articulate and compassionate writer.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By J. Benson
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
A wonderful read... a beautifully woven story spread across the globe and through time. Pure escapism, completed with bittersweet satisfaction
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another excellent book from Titania...I just wish she would write more. I have read all her novels to date and they are such a good read, so good you really get into the characters and can actually picture yourself in the book. Really good story and another book that I find difficult to put down
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Madeline Moretti is a lawyer in San Francisco. Her father's family is Italian and Madeline is very close to her grandmother Isabella. When tragedy strikes and Maddie finds herself sunk in grief for her dead fiancé Chris, her grandmother encourages her to spend some time in Tuscany discovering her roots. But Maddie is closely involved in a complex legal case against a large company and the effects of its working practices on the health of its employees.
Interwoven with Maddie's story and her fight not to be overwhelmed with grief for Chris is the story of Mia, a girl who loses her ability to speak in fourteenth century Tuscany and her friendship for a young woman who arrives as a pilgrim at the door of the manor house Mia shares with her aunt. This is a dense slow moving story written on many levels. Past and present connect and events in the present reflect those in the past. Corporate power and its misuse have always been around in one form or another and women trying to carve out meaningful lives for themselves against all the odds are also a universal motif.
I felt the story flagged a little at times though I loved the time Maddie spent in Italy and felt the author brought it vividly to life. I was not so enthralled by the fourteenth century story unfortunately and felt it dragged a little. I did think the connections between past and present were well done and very subtle at times so that I only appreciated some of them when I was thinking about the book after I had finished reading it.
I was totally hooked by the last one hundred and fifty pages and was moved to tears by some of it. The writing is poignant and all the better for not being overdone and sentimental.... Read more ›
Interwoven with Maddie's story and her fight not to be overwhelmed with grief for Chris is the story of Mia, a girl who loses her ability to speak in fourteenth century Tuscany and her friendship for a young woman who arrives as a pilgrim at the door of the manor house Mia shares with her aunt. This is a dense slow moving story written on many levels. Past and present connect and events in the present reflect those in the past. Corporate power and its misuse have always been around in one form or another and women trying to carve out meaningful lives for themselves against all the odds are also a universal motif.
I felt the story flagged a little at times though I loved the time Maddie spent in Italy and felt the author brought it vividly to life. I was not so enthralled by the fourteenth century story unfortunately and felt it dragged a little. I did think the connections between past and present were well done and very subtle at times so that I only appreciated some of them when I was thinking about the book after I had finished reading it.
I was totally hooked by the last one hundred and fifty pages and was moved to tears by some of it. The writing is poignant and all the better for not being overdone and sentimental.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
A great theme, but disappointing
I was so looking forward to read this book, but was so disappointed.
It's just not much better than a 'Mills and Boon'. Read more
It's just not much better than a 'Mills and Boon'. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Monika
3.0 out of 5 stars
A bit slow in starting...
I thought this rather slow in starting but once Maddie gets to Tuscany the action gets going. For me there was rather too much "telling" by the author - both of the action and the... Read more
Published 17 months ago by GeraniumCat
3.0 out of 5 stars
The House of the wind
This book alternates between 2 POVS. First there is Maddie in the present day who has lost someone near to her, and she is just slowly moving along She will go to Italy and stay... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Blodeuedd
2.0 out of 5 stars
Sublime writing, pedestrian plot
I really wanted to like this a lot more than I actually did. I adore historical fiction and I love the cleverness of concurrent storylines, centuries apart, having bearing on each... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mrs. K. A. Smurthwaite
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