The prologue was absolutely gripping. H is a young girl, destitute and trying to survive during horrible times. I loved the prolog so much and was so excited to read a gripping historical novel. The novel quickly stopped holding my interest and was a disappointment.

H is a young girl who is orphaned, sent to live--along with one of her sisters--with her aunt until the plague comes to London in the 1600s. H is left on her own, pregnant due to a rapist cousin and totally destitute and she must fend for herself in an incredibly tumultuous time. I loved the character of H--a true survivor, trying to figure out how to move on and how to live with virtually no options. She is able to figure and finagle and manipulate and charm better than just about any fictional character I've met. She's clever, witty, and very good at planning, but they don't always happen the way she wants them to.

The descriptions of London during the plague were a little too on the nose in the COVID-19 era, but also brought forth some exceptional parallels: everything shut down, the rich escaping to their country estates, and the poor just trying to survive. It was utterly fascinating to read these chapters while seeing their modern day equivalencies play out on our streets and in our news. I realize Burton didn't plan it, but it certainly worked for me.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and watching H learn how to live with her aunt and sister. Not a fan of the rape trope, and even less of a fan of the happy hooker story line. So many people turn to prostitution because they have no other options and do not enjoy it, and it just rang false that Burton's H would be the exception (along with all her fellow hookers).

I found The Strange Adventures of H to be reminiscent of books like Moll Flanders and even Les Mis (now Fantine's a prime example of not a happy hooker). I enjoyed seeing characters appear and reappear, their story lines intertwine, and I am a sucker for a happy ending. This book was wonderful escapism, and not remotely rooted in reality. A pregnant orphaned teenage prostitute doesn't get the happy ending--but I'm glad H did.

This book is amazing. It’s a fast-paced historical fiction that follows H from her childhood through her adolescence and into her adulthood. Including her loves and family and the separation between her and her siblings. The book also includes the struggles that people coped with during the great fire of London and the plague. It was written so beautifully it was like you were there in the street watching the plague doctors putting the planks up against the doors of the “plagued”

I did find some pages hard to read, purely because of what H was going through. I was wishing her well all the way through, I had hoped H would have got together with Charlie, so much happened in in the law few chapters I was sucked into the novel.

Overall, this book had everything for me, love, despair and family. It was brilliant

Well written and engaging. I really liked H as a character and greatly enjoyed reading her story. An interesting fictional account of the horrors of the plague, (I suspect drawing heavily on Defoe's narrative) and the great fire.

I am not quite sure how I first stumbled across this title, but I really liked it! Set in 17th century London, H narrates this story of her young life. Born in the countryside, the last of eight children, circumstances soon send H and her sister, Evelyn, to live with their aunt in London. H witnesses a plague, a great fire and learns to survive all on her own. This is largely a story of family, acceptance and doing what's right. H may not be the first character with her career to have a heart of gold - and while there are some other familiar aspects to the story, this really didn't detract me from enjoying it at all. The characters do come to life and it's altogether an engaging read.

It's especially interesting to read the plague section while currently still under the shelter-in-place order with everything but the most essential businesses closed. Of course, the precautions and measures are not quite the same, but I really like the parallels, and the natural social distancing that a contagious disease brings. I did expect something more of a central romance - and while I did like the ending, I guess I was left wanting a bit more. I will definitely be keeping my eye out to see if the story of Frankie and Grace is written - the book feels authentically researched and the style nicely compliments the time period.

This book was a mix of emotions...
H story was so sad but at the same time we can actually see how she's a feminist !
It was a bit too dragged in some parts, we had dead moments but the final made me cry!
We have friendship, love, hate, betrayal, family, loss...
I can say that Jasper truly is a darling !
3.5⭐
Thank you Netgalley for this arc ! 💛

"The plague seemed to encompass the city like a flood, impossible to stem. Unable to escape the rising tide, people's thoughts turned to how it had come about, what it signified, and who was to blame."

It's eery how familiar some parts of this story feel to what is happening right now in the world, I never thought I would be able to draw such a likeness to the times of the plague.

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, I think it is the best historical fiction book I have read in a long time. I really connected with the characters especially H and I wanted to go on her strange adventures with her.

Sarah Burton's writing really pulls you in from the beginning and it was a pleasure to read. The way the book was laid out into the three parts of H's life (H, Doll & Halycon) really encouraged engagement as we were introduced to new settings, characters, people to like and dislike. Needless to say from this debut novel I'm really excited to see what Sarah creates next.

Thank you to both Netgalley and Legend Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Legend Press and NetGalley for my e-ARC for review.

This book was a most descriptive tale of a young woman’s life in 1660’s London during the plague, bawdy house riots and other violence. It shows her amazing will to not only survive but find a way to live a life outside of the street. She was ingenious and brave. A really wonderful cast of characters and easy to follow storyline. Highly recommended read.

I just reviewed The Strange Adventures of H by Sarah Burton. #TheStrangeAdventuresofH #NetGalley

I found this book very slow, with very little to differentiate it from others in the genre.

Characters were solid enough but not alive enough for me to invest much in,.

Scene setting was fine.

Overall I just couldn't get excited about reading this book, but it was good enough.

The Strange Adventures of H is a heartwrenching story that surprised and delighted me. Set in 1600's London, H is born into a poverty-stricken life, She is impacted by the plague, a terrible fire, and The Bawdy House Riots.

With all of these terrible events, I felt that the story still had a bit of an uplifting feel. H is quite positive, and I enjoyed her character's growth as the story progressed. She is a bounce-back kind of girl, and I enjoyed her attitude.

I would recommend this book to historical fiction readers that enjoy medieval time-frame stories.

I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

I didn't realise this entertaining novel about life in 17th Century London included the plague which seems reminiscent of our own times. H is born into a household of six sisters ruled by an overbearing minister father. When he dies H and Evelyn are sent to live with Aunt Madge who is kind and loving. Their fortunes change however when Madge leaves them in the care their cousin Roger and his unpleasant wife. This novel is by turning the page horrific and comedic and an extremly enjoyable read. My thanks to Sarah Burton, Legend Press and Netgalley for the ARC of this clever debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this novel.

I loved this one! When H's father dies she and her older sisters are dispersed to the winds. Grace is cast off, pregnant and disgraced. Frances runs away to join the service. Evelyn stays with H, and they are shipped off to live with their Aunt Madge by their pious older sisters. Then, the real story begins. H is accosted and assaulted by her older cousin, then later turned out into the streets during the plague that ravaged London. Left to the only work an unmarried, disgraced girl can do in the 1600s, she survives on wit and her body.

H is empowering, and strong. Her character deals with internal battle of her profession and who she is personally, and along the way, makes friends that become her family. She learns who she truly is, and the difference between a good name and being truly good. The writing is involving and paced beautifully, and the characters are vivid and delightful. One of the best reads of the year so far!

Even though I really liked this book I kept reading some other books in between. I think that all the things H went through seemed a bit too much as she faced desaster after desaster. Also there were some pages where all seemed a little dragged and it was difficult to focus, and so I wanted to relax my mind a bit. That's why it took me so long to finnish it.

The story is about H. A sweet girl who cares so much about her older sister, who was like a mother to her. After their father died they were sent to their aunt. There H meets her cousins, two hansome twins but very opposed to each other. From this point her life takes on a bad turn.
She is raped by one of the twins, the plague comes to London and takes her sister with it, she discovers that she's pregnant, she's thrown out in the street, survives the plague on her own mostly by stealing, she survives the fire, she becomes Doll - a prostitute, she loses both her baby twins at birth, etc.
After the death of Mother Cresswell and the fire that destroyed the bawdy house she becomes mistress Halcyon and fells in love with a beautiful boy, but still she has more obstacles to overcome.

In conclusion, I liked the book and the writing but it was way too long and everything that H went through was too much. At some point it annoyed me and I was constantly thinking what will be next, what is she going to face now.
And also keep in mind that she was 15-17 years old during these events!
Yes, those were terrible time to live in, but come on, too much is too much.
This felt like 3 books and not one book in 3 parts :)))

Also, if not for the ending with her marring Jasper and her confession of starting to love him (what!?? when did that happen???) I would have given 5 stars.

This book had me in the first few pages with a hanging and The Strange Adventures of H only got better. This rollicking tale takes place place in 1660's England during the reign of Charles II. H, who is called H by her parents because they can't agree on a name, is one of six sisters to her father's chagrin and anger. A minister with no fatherly love for his brood, marries off his two older daughters to two mean and righteous men, runs off the next two into a hard world and dies of a heart attack. The youngest two, H and Evelyn, are packed off to an aunt in London. A mere young adolescent H then has a respite at her aunt's in London where she is treated lovingly and well.
This, however, would be a short and boring book indeed if it ended here and this is not a boring book. As I can't give everything away, H survives the Great Plague of London, The Great Fire of London (all very exciting), destitution, the stage and many other adventures with a surprising end. There was also murder and orphans thrown in for extra entertainment. As Godfrey was putty in Aunt Madge's hands I was a slave to this book to the end. Thankfully, the weather was stormy and the power was out so the interruptions were minimal. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for a review. Also to the author for an afternoon and evenings entertainment.

Absolutely stunning novel that is atmospheric and authentic. The author, Ms. Burton did a great job immersing me in the 17th and 18th century London. I absolutely loved H and her resilience. The author did a fantastic job detailing the effects of the Great Fire and of course the Plague, which felt so timely right now during Coronavirus.

Thank you so much NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much NetGalley, Legends Press and Sarah Burton for this e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

This book was fantastic!! Let's start with the story structure: it is divided in three parts, as H's three major chapters of her life. Part one starts with the introduction of H as a child, her many sisters, and the loss of both parents, which leads to her and sister Evelyn being sent to her aunt who embraces both girls and allows them to learn and grow in a confortable and loving home. Unfortunately, one of aunt Madge's sons, Roger, is the complete opposite of his dear mother: a vile, misogynic, manipulative womanizer who takes advantage of H and leaves her sick and pregnant.
Part two starts after the Plague hits the streets of London in 1666 and kills an astronomical number of people, to include H's sister Evelyn. H has to fall back on her feet and so leaves aunt Madge's Cheapside house and decide to prostitue herself in order to survive. This lifestyle leads her to mature quickly and makes her love for money grow. Despite her love for money (even though H cannot be considered a greedy person), her kindness and empathy always prevails. Good people could see beyond the painted face, through her eye, that H, or Doll as she was called when a prostitute, has a good heart. This good heart put several amazing people on her path as well as villains. H was able to navigate through all her relationships with great elegance and wit, and I admire her for it.

I can say that H has joined my list of most favorite fictional characters, for her resilience, strength, intelligence, sensitivity made me get very attached to her and understand all the choices she has made.

I finish this novel last night and I can't stop thinking about it. Sarah Burton's writing is smart, daring, blunt, sexy, and honest. If you love historical fiction, debut novels, strong female protagonists, London settings, daring stories, or journeys, I cannot recommend this book to you strong enough.

If you read this book, do not hesitate to contact me privately to discuss it.

This book is a pleasing read and I couldn’t be more satisfied with it. The experience of reading the story was entertaining and I couldn’t put it down once I started. The writing can be simple, but the plot is what grasped in.

This story follows a girl, named H, in the late 1700’s in London. The perspective of the story is basically her as an older woman talking to the reader. The story is split into important parts of her life. H talks about her early life, the life during and after the plague and the Great Fire of London. The book discusses the difficulties of being in the lower class and a single woman during those times. There are some topics that can be hard to read, such as sexual assault and suicide attempt, so a warning to other readers.

In all, this a fast paced historical fiction. I learned quite a bit of that era. The characters were very likable (well some...). I do recommend it to others who want to read about this time era. Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange of an honest review.

Atmospheric and intriguing, I loved every moment of it. The author has a rare talent that is brought to the forefront in this beauty of a novel. Recommended.

Really enjoyed this book. Reading about the plague in London at this particular time really resounded how life has changed. Although I didn't particularly like the character H, I did want things to work out happily for her. Although slightly slow in parts I'm glad I had the chance to read this book and will actively look for this author again.

The Strange Adventures of H is a compelling and well researched novel following the eponymous protagonist H, as her life spins wildly out of her control from a regular upbringing to the harsh and unforgiving streets of London. While at times the novel is sort of hard to believe and there are a lot of chance meetings and blasts from the past, I was entertained the entire time so I’m okay with a little creative license.

I also liked that there was a through line of friendship and found family throughout the novel. It was great to see the sense of connection and the genuine care between H and her companions and how they would do anything for each other, especially when other characters in the novel are far more mercenary. I think this is one of the novels greatest strengths, the characters that we get to know as if they are real and how genuine they are. I felt for H, for her aunt Madge, Janey, Godfrey and Frederick to name just a few!

I’ve read a considerable amount of novels set in similar time periods with similar storylines but what sets this one apart the sort of ending we are given. Usually with a ‘fallen from grace’ storyline, especially in this time period, there’s not a whole lot of hope or something positive to glean but I actually liked the fact that we get a quite uplifting ending where loose ends are tied up and H gets what she deserves. As dark as the story gets at times and it does get pretty grim, the latter half of the novel and ending makes up for it.

Overall, I quite enjoyed reading this book and while it’s more of a one time read, I would still really recommend it for fans of historical fiction and period writing which is entertaining at all times.