Blackberry and Wild Rose

By: Sonia Velton

Narrated by: Esther Wane, Shiromi Arserio

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in 18th-century Spitalfields, London, Blackberry and Wild Rose is the rich and atmospheric tale of a household of Huguenot silk weavers as the pursuit of the perfect silk design leads them all into ambition, love, and betrayal.

When Esther Thorel, wife of a master silk weaver, rescues Sara Kemp from a brothel, she thinks she is doing God's will, but her good deed is not returned. Sara quickly realizes that the Thorel household is built on hypocrisy and lies and soon tires of the drudgery of life as Esther's new lady's maid. As the two women's relationship becomes increasingly fractious, Sara resolves to find out what it is that so preoccupies her mistress....

Esther has long yearned to be a silk designer. When her early water colors are dismissed by her husband, Elias, as the daubs of a foolish girl, she continues her attempts in secret. It may have been that none of them would ever have become actual silks, were it not for the presence of the extraordinarily talented Bisby Lambert in the Thorel household. Brought in by Elias to weave his master piece on the Thorel's loom in the attic of their house in Spitalfields, the strange cadence of the loom as Bisby works is like a siren call to Esther. The minute she first sets foot in the garret and sees Bisby Lambert at his loom, marks the beginning of Blackberry and Wild Rose, the most exquisite silk design Spitalfields has ever seen, and the end of the Thorel household's veneer of perfection.

As unrest among the journeyman silk weavers boils over into riot and rebellion, it leads to a devastating day of reckoning between Esther and Sara.

A Library Journal Editor's Pick of Best Debut Novels of Winter/Spring 2019.

©2019 Sonia Velton (P)2019 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Audible Original FREE

I really enjoyed this book and cannot believe it is included in my audible membership. I would have paid a monthly credit to listen and if audible originals are available at this quality for no additional monthly charge, I believe it will make my monthly payment worth it. I listen to audio books a lot and burn through my monthly credit within the first week of every month. I’m glad I will have other options to hold me over now!!

I loved the drama and story in this book. I was entrapped by the twists and turns and the dynamics of each character’s development. I will keep this title downloaded on my device because it’s worth another listen. Very happy.

Well written

Enjoyed the book immensely and the narrator has a very pleasing voice. Although it did not end the way I really wanted it to and I’m not going to spoil it for anyone, it was well written and wrapped up nicely. I shall try other books by this author and narrator.

Beautiful but Brutal Story

This story, set in the 1700s, tells the understory of class in a time when no way could build a good life for the working class. Well worth the time.

If you're a textile artist, you will adore this

I design woven and knit fabrics for a living, so I was particularly fond of how passionately Esther described her joy for designing, and how accurately the process was described. I was very impressed by the author's knowledge of weaving and how well researched everything was. I felt emotionally swept up in the story, too. It was hard to stop listening for any length of time. Slight spoilers below!

My only complaints are that I was really ready for a happier ending, though it was a realistic ending, and I was disappointed that Bisby's character seemed so flat compared to the others. You never learn much about him other than he's a nice guy, great weaver, and takes care of his nephew. I wanted more in that regard, but otherwise an excellent book with a historic backdrop that was fascinating to learn about.

Unlike anything I’ve read before

This story ends with hopes of the future for the main ladies whose story is told. Esther and Sarah are worlds apart socially but each struggle under social conformity. Esther, a practicing Christian hopes to save Sarah as a prostitute and hires her as a ladies maid.
They circle around each other, both hiding secrets from the other. Be it love or ambition, motherhood, or desire they find a commonality of restriction they both desire to reform. Their individual history tightens societal acceptance. At the end of the story they reach out and stand up to defend what is important to the other. Be it in the courtroom or the birthing chamber. I’ve little knowledge of silk weaving so I’m guessing something about this is close to the author’s heart. The manipulation of the poor working class, be they women or men , who are expected to bow under authority is told on this story.

a great story

loved it. compelling and well thought out characters. complex, but easy to follow tale about the plight of women

just sort of meh

it was just sort of meh. anti climactic. characters didn't really do much to win you over.

Excellent Narration, Average Story

The author shows a fine ability to write engaging descriptions with a decent attempt at poetic prose. Yet the story falls flat. Through all the chapters, the plot seemed pedestrian with characters that were not engaging or significant. Banal and trite seem appropriate for the selfish and cruel husband, the long suffering weaver, the evil madam, the moral wife... Not an original in the lot.

The excellent narration saved an otherwise dull story.

frustrating at best

When listening it's important to think of the era, place n time. I often forgot as the story thickens.
narrator is very good

Hard to like the characters - Spoiler alert

This story was entertaining with plot twists however there are no good endings and every single character is fairly despicable. It is hard to like them or even feel sorry for them. Even the story of the silk falls pretty flat. Spoiler alert. It really made me mad that I got all the way to the end all the bad guys get off scot free and there is no revenge. Even Ester seems to like her horrible husband. Waste of time...