Forgotten Places

By: Johanna Craven

Narrated by: Rebecca McKernan

Length: 8 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

Van Diemen's Land, Australia, 1833

English settler Grace Ashwell flees an abusive lover in Hobart Town, with six-year-old Violet in tow. In her head, escape is easy: find work in the northern settlements and earn enough for passage home to London. But the terrain beyond the settled districts is wilder than Grace could ever have imagined. She and Violet find themselves lost in a beautiful but deadly land where rain thunders down mountains, the earth drops away without warning and night brings impenetrable darkness.

Deep in the wilderness, they find a crude hut inhabited by Alexander Dalton, an escaped convict long presumed dead. Hiding from civilization in an attempt to forget his horrifying past, Alexander struggles to let Grace into his world.

When Violet disappears, Grace's fragile trust in Alexander is put to the test. And while she searches for answers, he will do anything to keep his secrets inside.

Based around the true story of the Macquarie Harbor bolters; one of the most horrifying events from Colonial Australia's bloody history.

©2017 Johanna Craven (P)2017 Johanna Craven

A powerful & well written story.

***As always, I have to state that I was given this book for free in exchange for a review.
I never let the fact that I was given this book for free effect or sway my opinion in my review. My reviews are always my own opinion and thoughts on the books that I review.***

The author has an amazing way with words. Beautifully-crafted sentences and an acute sense of place and description. The first third of the book had me hooked, and the last third of the book kept me breathless. The middle third was a bit slow for me--I must admit though, I am a plot-driven reader. And while I enjoyed the twist at the end--I didn't see it coming--I felt the surprise was more because the events didn't jive with one of the main characters. I can't say more, unfortunately. No spoilers! But after that revealing, I was kept on the edge of my seat about what might happen next. Will she do this? Will he do that? How will it end? I will definitely look at other books by this author.

‘Forgotten Places’ is a story of two broken people trying to survive in a brutal landscape. Inspired by true events, it thrusts the reader into Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) in the 1830s where convicts and British settlers have converged to begin a new life in Australia. An English nanny accompanies her employer, Harris and small twin daughters, Violet and Nora there after the death of Harris’ wife. They leave England on the Duchenfield to travel to Hobart Town. Later, Grace flees from her abusive, soon-to-be husband with Violet into the wilderness but becomes lost. She encounters Dalton, who has escaped into the remote Derwent Valley and isolated himself for eleven years with only his strange, carved life-sized dolls for the company in his hut. Grace sees loss, suffering, and shame in his eyes and clings to him. When Violet goes missing, their lives and the awful truth begin to unravel.

This is a gripping and powerfully told story with several unexpected and shocking twists. The wild landscape echoes the tangled lives and horrors the pair endure. The natural world is authentic and beautifully described. Craven has developed strong and many-faceted characters, who at times have you believing they are brutal savages, and at other times, make you empathize and care for them. Not only do they have to fight to survive but also deal with the social and class order that has followed them from England. I felt Grace’s anguish deeply at losing Violet and Dalton’s struggle to be human and distance himself from his horrific past. The story is compelling and has you glued to the pages to discover the unpredictable conclusion.

Amazing story

The story grabbed my attention and never let go. I really felt like I was part of the story and felt the same emotions the characters were experiencing.

I’ve never heard of the events Forgotten Placed was based on so the educational information included at the end was much appreciated.

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy to review. I’ll definitely be looking for more of Johanna Craven’s work.

Great Historical Book

This a great story based in Australia when it was a penal colony. I really enjoyed this and the way it was written. I was so entertained but the combined stories is Grace and Alexander.

I was given a copy of this audiobook in return for my unbiased opinion

Gosh💜

An unpredictable tale, at times harsh and brutal at others moving and emotional.
A difficult and terrible journey well worth experiencing.
The narrator did a grand job.

captivating

I loved this story. it's very intriguing and keeps the listener in suspense, eagerly wanting more of the story.

Fantastic historical fiction

This has got to be one of the best historical fiction books I have read in a long time. Excaped convict meets almost society girl and her daughter, while on the run. Grace's husband has her commited she escapes and returned to get her daughter Violet, and the two go on the run for fear she will be put back in the nut house. She meets an escaped convict and during the night Violet goes missing. The two of them search for her in the deep woods where no man has ever been. Their lives entangle as they search the woods. They flee to a different area she wants to return for her other daughter who wouldn't leave with her at the beginning. Grace blames the convict for her dissaperance. Only the truth is much sadder.
I received this free for an honest review.
The narrator did a wonderful job and I can't wait to hear more from this author and narrator.

Different Kind of Awesome

This story is based on true events that happened in Australia in the 1800’s. Focused around two very broken people, this story has a lot of time jumps and flashbacks so the beginning is a bit confusing, however, the story really picks up around after about an hour. When we are introduced to Grace, who has fled into the wilderness with her child in the hopes of escaping an abusive husband, the story takes a new angle. Finding shelter with a man who has secluded himself from society for 11 years, the two begin to depend on one another in order to find faith in humanity once again. Their lives are more entangled than either is willing to believe. When Grace’s daughter disappears, they must face the truth.

With beautiful worldbuilding, deep characters, and suspense, this is a very engaging audiobook that’ll hold you until the end. A story of love, loss, and tragedy, this is one that will stick with you long after you’ve finished reading.

The narration is spot on.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Unforgettable Characters in an Unforgiving Land

I was excited to get this in exchange for a review from audiobookboom.

I had listened to the sample and thought the narrator was a good fit. I read the description and was more intrigued. I browsed reviews on goodreads and couldn’t wait to start listening!

Lately, when I start off with eagerness or high hopes, I end up devastated and/or disappointed. But I keep my fingers crossed.

I’ll be the first to admit. The beginning of the book - was it during the entire Part 1?- I struggled. Time moved back and forth as we learn about the ‘back story’. I don’t think it really flowed for me. Then again, I prefer a beginning, middle, end.

Although told in third person, when the POV changed between Grace and Dalton, it also took me a while to readjust. Then, Grace calls him Alexander (his first name) and the narrator calls him Dalton (last name). Or so I thought. Maybe she was referring to Alexander Pearce. Or maybe I’m confused. Still.

Despite that, it’s a solid 4.75 and maybe I’ll listen again and pay closer attention. Because, damn it’s hit.

So I did like Grace. A lot. Oh, how I’ve missed the strong, opinionated, speak what’s on your mind female leads. I’m so sick of snarky sarcastic teen mentality in an adult body.

But she was strong, less so when dealing with her internal struggles when she wakes up and finds out Violet is missing, which made her more real.

A lot of my friends live, have moved, or traveled abroad to both the UK and Down Under. The dialogue in this book is genuine. I love it. I can’t vouch for historical accuracy, but it sounds like when I’m on the phone with Corey or Gwen. I’m referring to vocabulary, slang. The narrator does have a natural accent, and it also added to the authenticity.

I did have an eye roll moment as our two tortured, lost souls find a common ground to cohabit. But WOW, I LOVED how this was handled.

This book about love, hope, brief violence, uncovered past abuse, betrayal, grief, waiting, desperation, living off grid in the dangerous desolate outback is a new depth of heartbreak, mending, and learning how to cope. It traverses through such raw emotions and bewilderment to a very unexpected, satisfying, heartwarming natural conclusion.

I sincerely hope Rebecca McKernan and Johanna Craven continue to team up for more dynamic audiobooks!

An Area of History Not Widely Known

Forgotten Places is a historical based novel set in colonial Tasmania. Although I'm Australian, the amount of Australian fiction I've read voluntarily, for enjoyment (excluding those forced at school) is probably only in a couple of dozen, and as their entry in to my reading list is pretty rare I do tend to remember them. One historical novel I did read when I was a youth was Marcus Clarke's "For the Term of His Natural Life", which I thoroughly enjoyed, and wish was on Audible as well. A lot of the setting, circumstances and feel of Forgotten Places reminded me of For the Term of His Natural Life. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
The novel follows a straightforward plot initially, but then makes some unexpected changes, leading you to then need to go back and reconsider everything you believed to have occurred and understood earlier. The end result is a satisfying conclusion, and leading you to want to listen to it again with your new level of understanding.
The narration was with English accents, fitting the period and characters, and was easy to listen to and understand.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable, thought provoking, historic novel based on an area of history not widely known.

Good story

I really enjoyed this book. It was about a young woman who meets an escaped convict while trying to get back to her home country and all the struggles she faced while on the run. The book goes back and forth between past memories and present time, which really helps keeps it interesting. It was written so well that it took me straight into 1800s Australia and I found myself imagining what life must have been like back then in such a hostile environment. The narrator did fine but sometimes the main character was kinda whiney, hence my four star performance rating. This didn't take away from the story though - I definitely recommend it still. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Forgotten Places

A historical story of a woman with a young girl on the run and a mysterious recluse man collide in a harsh environment where survival is of utmost importance .

A great study on human nature...

What a great study on human nature. How will you act and who can you trust - or have to trust - when you are out in the wild either on your own or with somebody? And can you blame people for decisions they take under those circumstances.

During the first chapters, I found the voice of the narrator a bit monotonous. It is, however, perfectly suitable for this kind of story.

Initially I thought ,forgotten places' was a S
story about spirits/ghosts. It is - however - more real than one can be comfortable with and - in part - even based on historical fact.

A very entertaining book that left me unsure about how I would act under the circumstances described. Highly recommended.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Brilliant

The narrator is excellent in producing atmosphere in the story and her ability to create characters with accents is superb. I do not understand why other people can be so negative, it is greatly unjustified!

good book

English settler Grace Ashwell flees an abusive lover in Hobart Town, with six-year-old Violet in tow.
good book

Enjoyed!

**MILD SPOILER ALERT**
Well, I must say, I really enjoyed listening to this book! I came in blind, not knowing what to expect and found I got pulled in to the story!
I have to admit, I saw the twist coming from quite early on, but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story and was only mildly disappointed to find the story was completely fictional as it was definitely believable; a very nice spin-off from an actual event!
I really enjoyed the narrator! Ok, so some of her voices aren’t brilliant (especially the male characters) but she more than makes up for it with her portrayal of Grace: she completely draws you in!
It’s probably more 4 stars in reality, but I can only justify 4 or 5 if I think I’d listen to it again and is it’s not my preferred genre, it’s unlikely.

Mystery and Thriller

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel. The story revolves around Grace, an English woman who moves to the new colonies in Australia with her lover and his two young daughters. However, things don't go to plan and Grace finds herself incarcerated in an insane asylum. She escapes, and retrieves one of the man's daughters, thinking she is saving the child from abuse. Grace is devasted that she couldn't rescue both girls and sets out for the next nearest settlement. Unfortunately, she gets lost in the forest and ends up meeting a convict that has been hiding out there for years. Starving and cold, she has no choice but to seek shelter with him. But then the child, Violet, goes missing. Did the man do something to her?

This story is about love, trust, loss and hope. The author does a good job of keeping up the mystery element of the story and the characters are well rounded. I didn't warm to the character of Grace very much until the end. The other main character, Alexander Dalton, was interesting as the reader/listener is never sure if he is a good or bad man.
The only small issue with this novel for me was that sometimes the POV would change without warning, which brought me out of the story. Otherwise, I really enjoyed listening.

The narrator did a good job of bringing the story and characters to life.

great historical fiction

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

An enjoyable historical fiction book about a very dark moment of life in Australia’s history, the descriptions of the harsh life and day to day life of some of the people who lived there. This is quite a powerful story with great descriptions of the wild landscapes. very well researched.

The book cover is great, it gives away nothing but adds to the mystery and the danger of the book. The one problem I had was with the narration, I didn’t enjoy the narration very much, but that is something so very personal don’t let it put you off the book because of it.

Great read!

I loved this book! It was my first audio book, and well worth the punt into this new medium.

Craven vividly captures the beautiful landscape - and the harsh realities - of the Tasmanian bush, while drawing the reader into a thrilling and macabre story of a 18th century convict escapee on the run from the authorities and his gruesome past. It is quite a disturbing - yet fascinating listen, and not for the light hearted! It's even more disturbing when you find out it is based on a true story!

Enjoyed the narration which brought the characters to life. It felt like they were in my house!