It took me a while to decide whether or not I liked this book. Yet, I could not put it down. The context is both interesting and unusual - the link between cleanliness and illness and particularly the provision of clean drinking water. The fantasy/supernatural worked in with the present. The intertwining of Queen Victoria and Isobel Aird and their families is clever. In fact I found the book to be extremely well written even if I did not always like the style. In the end I decided I did like it a lot and would recommend you to read it and, to persevere if you are not sure because you won't be disappointed.

I found this book initially difficult to read as it tends to flip all over the place but if you persevere it’s a really good story
Parts of it based on historical fact and part fantasy and that’s the good part

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. Historical Fiction mixed with fantasy or more precisely fairy magic this book is loosely based on fact and is a reimagining of facts.

Featuring Doctor Aird a meidcal man with an interest in engineering and the spread of typhoid by dirty water moves himself and his wife to the remotest areas of Scotland. Here a complex engineering project to supply clean water to Glasgow is underway and Dr Aird becomes its medical man. At the same time the narrative places Queen Victoria and Albert in Balmoral. Both Victoria and Mrs Aird expect their ninth child at some point in the narrative.

Enter the Reverend Kirke, the Fairies and the magical realism - it is difficult to explain their part in the plot without giving away things of import.

I was engrossed throughout the author weaves together the real and the fantastical into a compelling whole. There were times when i had to read things twice to grasp what was going on but that aside I loved it. The scene setting, the characterisation, the narrator all added to the whole. this is one I will remember for a long time

At first I thought the subject matter would be a little dry for a novel but how I was. A great mixture of fiction and real events. Beautifully written and I think it had the right balance of historical information. It was both imaginative and really captured my imagination.

An interesting tale, which wasn't quite what I expected.
Lots of intrigue and mystery in this book, which was descriptive and well written.
The characters were in keeping with the times portrayed in the story. The story itself was a great read, lots of snippets of folklore and history included.
A relaxing read with an extra sprinkle of something

My thanks to John Murray Press Two Roads for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Ninth Child’ by Sally Magnusson in exchange for an honest review.

It was published on 19th March and as I was confident that it was my kind of novel, I obtained its audiobook edition, narrated by a full cast, to listen alongside reading the eARC.

This is a fascinating work of historical fiction that was inspired by the mysterious death in 1692 of the Reverend Robert Kirke, author of ‘The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies’. Central to Kirke’s legend is the idea that he was taken into Faerie for revealing the secrets of the Good People. His body was found on a fairy hill.
Kirke is a shadowy presence within ‘The Ninth Child’.

Central to the story is Isabel Aird, whose husband has been appointed as doctor to the Loch Katrine aqueduct water project in 1856. Now living miles from the city, she is uncertain about her role in Victorian society, especially as following a series of miscarriages she has been denied the motherhood role expected of her.

The nearby hills are being blasted with gunpowder and navvies are tunnelling day and night to complete the project. Yet local folk are concerned that these excavations are disrupting the delicate balance between the human world and the ancient land of Faery. When life begins to quicken within her once more, Isabel is unaware of a darker presence waiting for her.

This was a superb novel, beautifully written and drawing upon the folklore of the Scottish Highlands with its rich Faerie lore as well as integrating aspects of the ambitious 19th Century public health scheme that brought clean water to Glasgow.

It explores the relationship between modern ideas of the Industrial Revolution and the traditional culture of the Highlands.

Isabel proved very relatable, seeking to expand her world beyond the confines determined by Victorian society. Her interest in the work of Florence Nightingale was inspiring. In addition, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert also make a few appearances. The Queen’s fertility contrasts with Isabel’s inability to carry a child to term.

This novel was clearly highly researched and Sally Magnusson shares some of her sources in the Historical Notes. She also provides more details about the legacy of the Rev. Robert Kirke and how to this day: “Anyone who ventures up Aberfoyle’s Doon Hill today will discover a great pine at the top hung with ribbons and messages from those who continue to take the news of Kirke’s captivity to heart. In the ancient churchyard nearby his prominent gravestone is also much visited.”

I loved it from start to finish and if I could give it more stars than five I would.

Sally Magnusson’s second novel, a bit like her first, is a magical blend of fact and fiction, mixing folklore with history to create a very engaging story.

Set during the frantic industrial growth of 19th century Britain, The Ninth Child tells the story of gentlewoman Isabel Aird, whose husband Alexander takes a post as physician to the workers on an ambitious and ground-breaking project to provide clean water to the citizens of Glasgow in an attempt to prevent another cholera epidemic. The move takes Isabel from her comfortable Glasgow suburb where she spent her days drinking tea with friends and mourning her many pregnancies, all of which have ended in failure, to the dusty and bleak industrial landscape on the shores of Loch Katrine where she mingles with the families of the engineers, many of whom have recently returned from the savagery of the Crimean War.

The magical and supernatural element of the story is provided by a character Isabel meets as she spends her days wandering in the countryside around her new Lochside home. Robert Kirke is based on the real 17th century Scottish minister who became the subject of a superstitious legend involving the mythical creatures he wrote about in his book “The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns and Fairies’. In the Ninth Child, Kirke is a tortured figure who haunts Isabel and leads her down a dark and dangerous path as she fights to protect her ninth child.

Other prominent characters include Queen Victoria (herself of course, the mother of nine children) and her husband Albert whose well documented fascination with industrial innovation led to the couple visiting the waterworks during a stay at Balmoral. There’s also Kirsty, the plain-speaking wife of one of the workers, who proves a loyal and steadfast friend to Isabel, despite their many differences.

Beautifully written with engaging characters and fascinating historical detail, Sally Magnusson is fast becoming one of my favourite authors.

I loved the blend of folklore and historical fiction set in Victorian times, it gave a really nice contrast and depth to the story. Though it was enjoyable to read and had just enough hint of foreboding to keep you intrigued, the formatting was quite difficult to keep up with. There were times I had to go and reread sections because they switched POV in the middle of the paragraph.

I felt maybe the parts with Queen Victorian and Consort Albert were, in the end, unnecessary, yes they were fun to read but didn't really enhance much.

I did enjoy the narration style and as I said, it was certainly an enjoyable read with a blend of folklore and Victorian presence.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the Publisher for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest opinion, I look forward to reading more by Sally Magnusson.

Thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC.

Mythology and magic have always intrigued me, so I was attracted to the premise of this book. I liked the overall story but I think the magical elements could have been blended in better - at times it felt like I was reading two separate stories. I did like the inclusion of the impetus for women to find some worth outside of childbirth, still an important topic in today's society.

The Ninth Child by Sally Magnusson is a strangely compelling blend of magical realism and historical fiction, and while I am an avid reader of the latter, the former often leaves me cold, but not in this case I am pleased to say. Set in Scotland in the 1850's , the book combines real historical events and personalities with a fictional story of love , loss and the fairy folktales of the Scottish highlands. The focus of the story is Isabel Aird, the wife of a doctor who is working on the site of the Lock Katrine waterworks, a public health project designed to bring clean water to Glasgow. Haunted by the loss of multiple babies before or shortly after birth, Isabel feels that the change in surroundings will do her good. On one of her walks through the countryside she meets the mysterious Robert Kirke, a sinister figure in his old fashioned black coat, and one with a past that seems shrouded in mystery and tragedy. As the building of the waterworks progresses Isabel falls pregnant once again, and is determined that this time her baby will be safe, but it seems like Kirke has different plans, plans that will free him from his past, but with tragic consequences for the Aird family..
While most of the story is told from Isabel's perspective, we also get the perspectives of Kirke, as well as Kirsty, the wife of one of the men on the works who goes to work for Isabel, and even spend some time with Queen VIctoria and her consort Albert. It may just have been the ARC that I read, but the transitions between the various narrators was not very well delineated, which caused some confusion at first, I am sure that this will be more resolved in the book as published.
The blend of fact and fiction is impeccably handled by a master storyteller , and it was interesting to see the author using the contrast between the folklore elements and the drive for progress of the Victorian era as demonstrated by the Waterworks project. I also enjoyed the contrasts between Isabel's desire to have a family and Victoria's indifference bordering on revulsion at being pregnant. The book is rich in vivid historical detail and description, which I very much enjoyed, and it is clear that the author has done her research.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This story had me stunned for quite a while afterwards.

It's full of history and fantasy that you will be spellbinded until the very end.

I love the style of writing and I will read more from this author

Set in 1856.

Isobel Aird is the wife of a doctor. Unfortunately, she seems unable to carry a baby to term. She's had several miscarriages and struggles to find a strength of worth. Isobel has had 3ight miscarriages and with her role as a victorian Lady trying to fit in with all the social norms of her time.

There's also an aqueduct being built to bring fresh water to Gkasgow from Loch Katrine. It's hoped that this will put an end to the epidemic of cholera that's rife in the city. The story focuses on the engineers, their families and the doctor and his wife.

The author has researched themes that she writes about. It's a bit of a mixture of Victorian history and an old fashioned dark fairytale. The book is beautifully written and the descriptions of the scottish scenery is spot on. The story is told from multiple points of view which I found a little confusing. The tension builds and the final events are shocking and tragic. This is my first read by the author but it won't be my last.

I would like to thank NetGalley, John Hunt Publishing and the author Sally Magnusson for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The setting was well-evoked with beautiful details including the variety of specific accents. The idea was so intriguing. However, it failed to really grab me in execution. The characters felt flat, perhaps flattened by the somewhat dense prose that felt hard to get into.

This is a well written and well researched story. I found it hard going in places as the story was slow and seemed to get bogged down in the details. I have a few friends that I will recommend this book to as I know that they will enjoy it more than I have.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A fascinating story set during the industrial revolution in Scotland’s industrial heartland Glasgow. I was delighted to be whisked back to my school history lessons which have proved to be so useful. The main character is Isabel Aird the wife of a doctor who is employed to look after the workers o a major project to bring fresh water into disease ridden Glasgow. For me the first person narrative is a little confusing, but something you get used too. There is also a fantasy world story running in parallel. I really enjoyed this book.

Historical fiction, set in Scotland. A mystical story that weaves Scottish Folklore, historical figures and well written fictional characters. This is a well written novel with some very unexpected twists and turns. A very enjoyable psychological thriller. At times I found it difficult to distinguish the different points of view, however it was an intriguing novel and an enjoyable read. My thanks to NetGalley the author and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

An enthralling and entertaining gothic novel that left me speechless as I find hard to tell how much I loved it.
The author is a talented storyteller that delivers a great plot, an amazing world building and a cast of great characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I'm sorry I havent got into this book. It just isnt my type of read at all but I'm sure its brilliant 6fir people who like that type of tale!

Cholera is ravaging Victorian Glasgow and so in an endeavor to public health, tunnels are being built to transport fresh water from Loch Katerine. In the background, Queen Victoria has just had her ninth child. However, this is of little concern to Isabelle Aird, who has just suffered her eighth miscarriage, and whose husband is more concerned with public health than his wife's personal health.

The way Magnusson weaves together historical events with a fictional story, public and political happenings with personal tragedies, and real social commentary with magic and superstition is wonderful, and uncanny. This novel has so many layers to peel back, every passing moment and sentence feels filled with such significance, yet at the same time it is an eminently light, enjoyable and easy tale to read and follow. The story is balanced in that liminal place between reality and magic, saturated in superstition.

The characters are so well drawn it feels as though you know them, Isabelle's grief and frustrations, her husband's paralysis of emotion, Kirsty's knowing insights. Even the royals become accessible, their lives recognisable and endearing. The intervals of their charming letters perfectly balance the novel, offering light relief and warmth against the depth of Isabelle's sorrow. Equally, Kirsty's frame narration lends the story a whimsical nature, with colourful interjections. Even the Scottish landscape becomes an ever present character, at times dark with the looming hills, and Loch Chon waiting to devour the unsuspecting. At others it is bright and open, representing the freedom of nature against Glasgow's oppressive streets and parks.

Magnusson's writing is exquisite, seducing the reader into this spellbinding gothic tale. The tale comes with a healthy dose of contemporary feminism, and a fantastic exploration of issues women faced in this period that have yet to be fully represented. This novel does so much, without ever feeling like it is too dense or difficult. It is a stunning novel to read, a modern answer to the Brontes, and has lingered with me long after the final page. I can see this as a novel to reread again, and again and while this is definitely a one of the best books I've read this year, I believe it will become a firm favourite.

What an absolute belter of a book! If you love historical fiction, stories set in Scotland, folklore, or mystery (or if ,like me, you love all of these things) then you will devour this book, as I did. It’s masterful storytelling and utterly immersing. I loved it!