The Ghostly Father
by Sue Barnard
Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Classical Rewrite
Release Date: October 6, 2018
Pages: 252
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
My Rating: ★★★★☆
Was this what really happened to Romeo & Juliet?
Think you know the world’s most famous love story? Think again. What if the story of Romeo & Juliet really happened – but not quite in the way we’ve all been told?
This part-prequel, part-sequel to the original tale, told from the point of view of the Friar, tells how an ancient Italian manuscript reveals secrets and lies which have remained hidden for hundreds of years, and casts new doubts on the official story of Shakespeare’s famous star-crossed lovers.
If you love the Romeo & Juliet story but are disappointed with the way it ended, this is the book for you.
Review
The Ghostly Father is a fantastic retelling of Romeo and Juliet. It was interesting to see the story through the eyes of a character I’d previously never given any thought to.
Ms. Barnard’s additional world building brings the story to life in a new, and fascinating, way. Despite the slow start, I found myself immersed in the narrative before too long.
I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Fra’ Lorenzo, and took delight in this story’s divergence from the classic. If you enjoyed Romeo and Juliet even a tiny bit, you are likely to enjoy The Ghostly Father.
Giveaway!
Please note, this giveaway is only open in the UK.
a Rafflecopter giveawayAbout the Author
Sue Barnard is a British novelist, editor and award-winning poet. She was born in North Wales some time during the last millennium, but has spent most of her life in and around Manchester. After graduating from Durham University she had a variety of office jobs before becoming a full-time parent. If she had her way, the phrase “Non-Working Mother” would be banned from the English language.
Her mind is so warped that she has appeared on BBC TV’s Only Connect quiz show, and she has also compiled questions for BBC Radio 4’s fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as “professionally weird.” The label has stuck.
Sue speaks French like a Belgian, German like a schoolgirl, and Italian and Portuguese like an Englishwoman abroad. She is also very interested in family history. Her own background is far stranger than any work of fiction; she would write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her. Sue now lives in Cheshire, UK, with her extremely patient husband and a large collection of unfinished scribblings.
Author links: Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Twitter | Amazon Author Page
Disclaimer: This review is based on a complimentary eBook I received from Rachel’s Random Resources. The complimentary receipt of this book has in no way affected my review or rating.