Review: Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens

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About:

Scripture’s Captivating Love Story of Ruth and Boaz, Reimagined in Victorian Britain

A nineteenth century reimagining of the Ruth/Boaz story, in which Rena (Ruth) hails from India, and Lord Barric (Boaz) is a buttoned-up British aristocrat who goes against custom to assist her. Soon Barric is torn between his wavering reputation and the increasing desire to capture Rena’s heart. 

My Thoughts:

Shadow Among Sheaves was a stunning debut story. It is a retelling of Ruth and Boaz that takes place in 1857 while Britain still had control of India but rebellion was brewing. Rena, an upper class Indian woman has married a British soldier, Edric, and thus marrying into a British family. As the story goes, Rena’s husband has died and so has her mother-in-law, Nell’s husband as well. Rena decides to go back to England with Nell so that she will not be alone. However, only prejudice, starvation, homelessness, and hatred meet them at England’s shores.

First off, the historical setting was brought out in such detail I could almost feel the wheat between my fingers. The author did not shy away with how others would have treated Nell, especially because of the fear and hatred they had for her Indian daughter-in-law Rena. Not only do we see the circumstances in England, but the author gives us a historical glimpse of how widows were looked at and treated in India. It was something I did not truly understand till reading this but it was not a situation any woman would want to find herself in. They certainly did not take the Biblical approach on how to treat widows.

Second the love story was beautiful. Whether it was the loyalty between Nell and Rena, Rena’s love still for her late husband, or the new passionate and fiery feelings that rose up between Rena and Lord Barric- the love that was coming from this book kept me turning those pages.

There is much to this story, the circumstances were not favorable and I liked watching the characters rise above them and going anti culture. This is one of my top favorite books for this year and I look forward to more works from author Stephens.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

*Please note: I am part of a tour team for this book and will repost this review and more at a later date.