The Midnight Rose

By: Lucinda Riley

Narrated by: Aysha Kala

Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

Shortlisted for the Epic Novel award in the Romantic Novelists Association Books Awards.

Spanning four generations, The Midnight Rose by Lucinda Riley sweeps from the glittering palaces of the great maharajas of India to the majestic stately homes of England, following the extraordinary life of a girl, Anahita Chavan, from 1911 to the present day....

A lifelong passion. An endless search.

In the heyday of the British Raj, 11-year-old Anahita, from a noble but impoverished family, forms a lifelong friendship with the headstrong Princess Indira, the privileged daughter of rich Indian royalty. Becoming the princess's official companion, Anahita accompanies her friend to England just before the outbreak of the Great War. There, she meets the young Donald Astbury - reluctant heir to the magnificent, remote Astbury Estate - and his scheming mother.

Eighty years later, Rebecca Bradley, a young American film star, has the world at her feet. But when her turbulent relationship with her equally famous boyfriend takes an unexpected turn, she's relieved that her latest role, playing a 1920s debutante, will take her away from the glare of publicity to the wilds of Dartmoor in England. Shortly after filming begins at the now-crumbling Astbury Hall, Ari Malik, Anahita's great-grandson, arrives unexpectedly, on a quest for his family's past. What he and Rebecca discover begins to unravel the dark secrets that haunt the Astbury dynasty....

©2020 Lucinda Riley (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd

Predictable, boring and annoyingly narrated

Very little about this story felt genuine to me, and the retrospective bird's eye view that kept hopping back and forth between a collection of "main" characters, while at the same time flying forward and backward in time and place, did nothing to truly draw me into their experiences. The settings were, even when lavish, lifeless, because I never actually FELT the heat or the cold, or anything else. The characters were, for the most part, two-dimensional stereotypes I could not muster any empathy for. And the all-too-common trope of the wise and gifted "native medicine-woman" who can sense the future (unlike white people) mixes very oddly with her love of British novelists, and the fact she supposedly read "The Origen of Species" by Darwin. I could not suspend my disbelief, or forget this was a story and plot dreamed up in the author's head and imagination because it just didn't ring true on too many levels.

And what's up with female British narrators who refuse to even TRY to lower and deepen the timber of their voice at least a little when men are speaking? The only way I could tell when it was a male character talking was because he sounded a bit louder and more strident and impatient. Really annoying, and doesn't help with the Romance factor, which was already quite flat.

AMAZING story!

Narrator is brilliant and the story very captivating- a must read. I love Lucinda Riley books and this was one of the best ever.

So loved this book.

Everything about it is mesmerizing! I highly recommend it. Narrator was amazing. Wonderful story. So good

Awesome

I could not wait for the story to end as it was so riveting- wish it continued on to the next generation’s story

Another delicious read

The character development, culture, history & being human are all braided together into top class story-telling.

Very pleased

As Lucinda's Riley's Seven Sisters, The Midnight Rose is a marvellous story, engaging events that immediately captivated my attention. I have read all Sven Sisters collections, and this one was given a total as listening on the Audible app. As a reading, the listening was pure enjoyment. I am willing to put my hands, eyes or ears on in other fabulous writer creations. Greatly recommend.

WOW, truly a well written story

It's been awhile since I have read a book that made me cry. This is a wonderful story, truly brilliant and the narration is excellent really brought the story to life.

Great reader

Good story that moves along and keeps you listening. Some of the plot feels like the book Rebecca to me, but maybe it’s just that the character has the same name. The reader was really enjoyable and did a fantastic job with accents and voices.

Must read

Brilliant I could hardly put it down
Character’s were marvellous
Narration was excellent
Thanks for 19 incredible hours

Great narration!!! Good story

It was a good story...of course with a twist....and it was a big one!!! Didn't expect that 😉. This is the second book by this author that I've listened too. I like her stories so far. They aren't dark, do not have cussing, no heavy sex scenes, and the plots are good. Overall easy stories to listen too The reader is amazing!!! Wow...she does a fabulous job. These my personal opinions.

Best Narrator Ever!

Such a good story, but the narration made this book. Her array of amazing accents are superb.

one of my favourite of the year!

Fabulous story I didn't want it to end! Well structured...narrated....A lovely surprise! Would recommend this book....looking for more from this author!

Fantastic book

I thought this book was incredible, loved the story and the characters. So well written. Thought the narrator did brilliant also!

Avery intetesting

A good peep into another culture, human nature, and history. Makes you think about people

Long listen but gripping . Excellent narrator

Listen in.
it's absolutely long but quite the listen.
gripping. I admit I neglected my life to listen this.
I took my portable speakers with me everywhere to listen.
What a story.
The narrator is excellent. Best pairing ever.
Absolutely excellent.
I'm going to have to find all books she narrated and listen.

Magnificent story telling

This was one of the best books I have ever read/ listened too, such an incredible story. I was addicted from the first page.

Amazing

This book is highly recommended. Its well narrated, it brings the reader from India to England on a rollercoaster of a journey, enjoy I did

The Midnight Rose

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook. I had read the book a couple of years back and wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy the audio version. How wrong I was! Excellent narration which, for me, made it so enjoyable.

Another stunning yarn!

Each time I start a new Lucinda Riley I pray I’m not going to be disappointed after The Seven Sisters!

This would make a fantastic film and I enjoyed the clever crafting of the story immensely. As to the narration? I’m blown away! Aysha Kala reads this brilliantly with such a stunning array of consistent accents. Congratulations!

Just brilliant

I Cried for the last 2 hours. Superb, thrilling and so heartfelt. Excellent narration throughout.