I have loved reading this wonderful coming of age tale where we follow ‘H’ through a very turbulent time in history. This is the 17th Century, a time post the civil war where London experienced riots, the plague and the Great Fire, There’s no doubt this wasn’t an easy time to grow up especially orphaned and separated from your family. I liked the way that the author played with the historical setting. This was a time before the birth of the novel, when women would have found it impossible to be accepted as writers and might have used an initial to disguise their gender. By using ‘H’ it disguises the fact that our protagonist is a female. I think this playfulness with the time period also makes its way into the story itself. There are times when events are a little absurd and farcical when I feel that ‘H’ is giving a playful wink to the reader, almost reminiscent of the cheekiness of Moll Flanders.

The atmosphere created by the writer is incredible. I love The Crimson Petal and the White and the way Sugar leads you into the grimy, underbelly of London that you don’t necessarily see in most 19th Century novels. This was similar, as I felt pulled into this 17th Century underworld. I love the contrast between the wildness and peril of this type of life compared with the buttoned up middle class woman’s existence. I could feel the grime of the streets and the desperation of the people. The plague scenes were particularly vivid, possibly because of the link to the times we’re now living in. I liked her character arc, because she’s quite naive at first when she goes to live with her aunt, but as she discovers a different London including the pleasure gardens she starts an adventure of living life on her wits, and turning to prostitution to make her money. This sets her on a path where she will meet very colourful and even villainous characters. However, despite her choices I could see she was good at heart and this kept me rooting for her.

I would describe this book as an adventurous romp through restoration London. There were some parts where I felt I was being told, rather than shown the action and the speech is very ‘of the period’ rather than being brought up to date. I think this was more authentic but could put off some readers. However, from the beautiful cover, through the plots twists and turns, I was glued to this novel. It was authentic, but also great fun following H through her adventures. I will be buying myself a proper copy for my permanent library and will be looking out for future titles by this writer.

From being a vicar's daughter to going to live with her Aunt Madge with a very comfortable existence and then to be on the streets and to end up in a bawdy house, albeit a more discreet and comfortable one was a huge journey for H.

The story was beautifully written and was like a daily account of H's life with its tribulations and sad nesses, the rape at the hands of her cousin, her loyalty to the end not to divulge to her Aunt what had happened even when things were very bleak and her loyalty not to claim relationship with her Aunt when it would have helped her all account to H's steadfastness and her character.

What H did was a career move to survive in the harsh world of London of the 17th century where women were treated as chattels and if you did not have your wits about you like H you were crushed and annihilated. H was shrewd and careful but she had heart and her story was really heart warming.

The history of London of the time is very well told and in the midst of the great plague which beset London is explained in great detail. Very good reading.

An excellent read from the historical fiction angle, as well as the social history angle of the times.

This book was amazing. It was a heartbreaking story, but you learn so much. I loved the writing style and the development of the main character. Highly recommend it.

H is orphaned at the age of thirteen. Their Aunt Madge offers patronage. H and her sister Evelyn move to London. At her house, aunt Madge has transformed one room into a vast space lined with books. The girls are introduced to their “university” and are encouraged to “read widely and without prejudice.” This was the moment when I thought that H would be diving into those books, spending every free moment in this room. But no, she shows more of a frivolous side.

I connected with the protagonist at the very beginning, but once she started missing on chances that life was giving her, I disconnected. I thought that with losing parents at such young age, it would make her mature faster. I also thought that she’d be representing character of a strong woman. But it didn’t feel that way.

When I was hoping that the story would bring some dimensions to the protagonist, it was filled with her encountering other people, admiring other women, filled with men talking about women’s place, which didn’t sound attractive.

I was interested in the historical background, but I didn’t connect with the protagonist or the storyline, and the pace was on a slower side.

This was a really enjoyable read. I particularly liked the protagonist, H and her story of survival and triumph against the odds.

A sumptuous and atmospheric tale that will go down well with fans of the historical fiction genre. H captivated me straight away!

The Strange Adventures of H is completely immersive. I found myself lost in the characters, the time period, and the plot. Too often, I read books at a slight distance from the characters. However, H drew me in and I found myself rooting for her, every step of the way. The novel was clearly well-researched--the atmosphere felt authentic and the depictions of plague-ridden London were fascinating. This is truly a book for any lover of historical fiction--whether or not this is a time period they gravitate toward. A heartfelt recommendation for a great first adult novel. I believe we can expect great things from Sarah Burton.

The Strange Adventures of H is a gorgeous coming-of-age story. The characters, story and setting were all fantastic. It's not a story I'll be forgetting anytime soon and I recommend it for anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.

<i> “When it comes to women, fame and infamy are the same thing.”</i>

The Strange Adventures of H” is a fun, entertaining historical fiction. The author does a fantastic job making it seem like it was a story actually written in the past. The language and the atmosphere are almost reminiscent of gothic novels.

Who is H? H is the last child of her mother who dies in childbirth. For this reason, she is already resented by some of her siblings and her father. This story tells the story of her life, which is one calamity after another. H is a survivor though. She is also a warm and charming heroine.

<i> “There is no disaster which can befall humanity, that we will not fail to make worse by our own hands, for it is fear that makes us cruel.”</i>

I was very fascinated by her experience of the Black Plague. It was very interesting to read about a pandemic in the midst of a pandemic. I was slightly amused by some of the things the “foolish” characters were doing and saying as they were so similar to things I am seeing people do and say. There will always be those will ignore the warnings until they have no choice, but to do otherwise. We see the world falling apart around H, and humanity’s selfishness and cruelty is on full display. While there are definitely darker elements to this story, the story doesn’t seem to linger on them.

<i> “Real life is in fact downright untidy, and you do not even know which is the beginning, the middle, and the end, until it is all far too late.”</i>

H’s life is an untidy one, but all works out remarkably well for her. If anything, everything ties up too neatly, but this is exactly the sort of book where you totally expect this. The ending borders almost on the ridiculous or silly. The timeline of events in the novel is a little shaky as well Yet, I still found the story to be a good read.

Is this book going to be the best thing I read all year? No, but it is entertaining and worth a read. It’s not terribly deep or philosophical, but it has some great lines.

Thank-you to netgalley, Sarah Burton, and Legend Press for providing this arc!

I loved this thrilling historic fiction. It is set in the 16th century and also mentions the Great plague that wiped out half the population and also the Great fire of London. I loved the authors writing style, its rich and sympathetic. The characters are well described and relatable. I was rooting for H and her determination to survive and find freedom and live independent. It was a roller coaster of emotions and also reminded me a bit of the classic Tess of the D'Urbervilles. I definitely recommend it. It tugs at your heart strings. Well researched. Thanks to NetGalley and Publisher for an early review copy in exchange of an honest review

I LOVED this book! I read the entire book in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the author's style of story-telling, the transience of characters throughout the story, how people would come and go to return at pivotal moments later. I loved the character development and found the main character, H, to be very likeable, I was rooting for her throughout. This story had everything, scandal, plague, heartbreak, romance, family troubles and interesting relationships. Will definitely be recommending this one. 5 Stars!

The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton is written in the style of a memoir. We follow H in 17th century England throughout various stages of her life, and the book is split into three sections as she changes her identity and character to reflect the different struggles faced by herself and many women at the time – H, Doll and Halcyon.

Orphaned at a young age, H is sent to London to live with her Aunt – a situation she is content with until she is abused by her cousin and finds herself pregnant at a terrifying time as the plague begins to sweep through London. The devastation caused by the plague, the Great Fire of London and then the Bawdy House Riots all play a part in her life and are the backdrop for the rest of the novel.

H is forced to deal with many traumatic events and the themes covered in the book include rape, death, suicide, murder and plague. On paper, this should have made it difficult to read but I found the story absolutely gripped me throughout. H was such an engaging and interesting character and her resilience and strength carried me through the story.

I seem to be obsessed with reading books about plagues since the lockdown started. Some of the parallels between the current pandemic and the plague were eerily similar and really played on my mind for days after reading. A gripping and genuinely interesting story to read, especially given the current situation. This is a fantastic choice for any fans of historical fiction and I would highly recommend it.

This book was slow to pick up speed, but nothing brings the drama like a plague that killed one third of Europe. H grows up surrounded by sisters, and her story doesn’t find its feet until she finds herself alone. H is forced to reinvent herself to survive in an actual post-apocalyptic landscape- “Dolly“ becomes a courtesan and stage star and eventually the head of her own found family. This book is clearly influenced by Restoration farces- there is a new mistaken identity or heist or suitor in every chapter- but the humour is timeless and the characters relatable and full of spirit. I promise you will eventually learn what H stands for. I won’t promise you it’s worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for this arc.

Thank you to Sarah Burton for this book.

This follows H who lost her father but she is also estranged from her own sisters except her one sisters called Evelyn. So she decides in which that she goes to London and finds a new way of actual living. Then she discovers play houses and disreputable places are fascinating to her. H ends up surviving the Great Plague of London as well as The Great Fire of London , destitution and many other adventures with a surprising end.

This is a very gripping and thrilling historical fiction book featuring from the 16th century. I loved the whole historical part including the plague and the great fire of London.

5 Stars⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
recommend.

This is such a great book. The story is sympathetically and charmingly told as we romp through the 1660s encountering some well known historical events along the way. We meet a whole host of rich and well rounded characters, most of them are quite loveable although like any good book there are always a few good villainous ones too. This book will make you smile as you follow H on her strange adventures.

H the narrator of the story is orphaned young and goes to live a happy live with her aunt in London. However, things start to go wrong as her cousin takes her innocence and then the plague sweeps through London and she ends up cast out on the streets with nothing to her name, H is determined to survive and to regain her freedom and independence.

This is a quick, engrossing read. H is a little predictable, with her heart of gold and rose colored glasses, but very likable nonetheless. The book is well written, has a good setting, a good plot, and is just overall a solid novel.

A glorious romp through seventeenth century London. H, so-called because her parents cannot agree on a name (what memories that brings back!), finds herself thrown out on the streets, penniless and alone. She survives the plague, the great fire, deception and violence. Coincidences and slightly too colourful characters abound, but I couldn't stop myself turning the pages way after what should have been my bedtime. The denouement was, in my opinion, only just the right side of kitsch, and - again in my opinion - I could easily, happily have done without the prologue. But it was all most enjoyable nonetheless.

This is a wonderful book, emotionally rich, and well researched. H is taken in by her aunt Madge, and is happy for a while, but from then on, things unravel at a great pace, not least due to the Plague, and great Fire of London. The Plague is described in detail, and the historical background to it, and the Great Fire, is the best I have read so far.
Without inserting any spoilers into this review, I can say this is the most impressive novel, for it's page turning qualities, and humour, at times. Also the character development. This includes H's own character, as she grows up, and learns more about life.
I would recommend this book to all who love historical novels.

When H loses her father, she is sent, along with her sister, to live with her Aunt in London. H and her sister live comfortably with their Aunt until the plague returns to London and their household is torn apart. From here, H is forced to look after herself, the only way she knows how.

The Strange Adventures of H is a piece of excellent historical fiction that easily goes to the top of my list of 2020 books.

Although H comes across as very naive at the start of the book, you're drawn in by her narrative and can't help but love and care for her character.

Many parts of this book are quite intense. The descriptions of plague ridden London and then London suffering the Great Fire are really interesting and well done. I also enjoyed reading about the social norms and classes of the time and how it could tear a family apart. A lot of research has been put in here by the author to great effect!

I was sad for it to end but, whilst it wasn't the ending I'd have picked, it was rounded off very nicely.

I'll definitely be picking up a physical copy of The Strange Adventures of H and be recommending it to everyone!

Wow this was a book I wasn't sure whether I'd like or not - I love historical fiction but usually more recent history than this so I was uncertain... but wow! I really enjoyed it.

It is set in the 17th century and deals with huge events in history that we all know about with basic GCSE-level knowledge - the plague, the great fire of London etc. And it was just so absorbing, told in first person it was really well told and helped me to learn all about what it would be like living through these events and also help me to understand how it happened.

The main character is H who is a child at first in this story and then an older teenager. I felt like I really got to know her and follow her through her journey in these pages.

It is the kind of book which has stayed with me, I think it was even more powerful given that we are in the midst of the covid pandemic so a lot of the things which came up with the plague were also relevant today despite being so many years apart! A fantastic read.