I enjoyed the varied settings in this novel. The heroine moves around a lot, which helps to keep the story moving forward. The spells working in hospitals were particularly engaging.

Victoria Holt’s traits of repetition and predictability are, sadly, in evidence here. Whichever name she writes under, she always reminds the reader of certain events several times too many.

Because this author uses similar themes in all her books, certain revelations fall flat because they’re predictable. For instance, when the heroine repeatedly stresses how much she hates a specific male character, anyone who’s read numerous Holt/Carr/Plaidy novels know where this hatred will lead to

As usual with this author, there’s too much *telling*, as opposed to *showing*. The reader is often told what happened, when the author could’ve dramatized scenes to show what happened. We also get reported speech where dialogue would’ve painted a much more vivid scene.

The suspense elements are quite good, but we have another typical Holt trait in that dangerous situation are resolved too quick and easy.

Despite the above criticism, I liked the story on the whole, but it could’ve been better if revised another fifteen times or more, and then heavily edited. ( )

Susanna Pleydell is a beautiful, high-spirited young woman. As a young child living in India, she first became aware of her gift for healing the sick. It was truly a special gift that allowed her to soothe those in need. Yet Susanna willingly sacrifices her dream of helping others when she meets and marries the dashing and sophisticated Aubrey St. Clare.

It is only after the couple's marriage that Susanna learns something of Aubrey's true nature. When they return home to London, Susanna notices that her husband has suddenly and inexplicably changed: he reveals a darkly brooding and dangerous side; a disturbing infatuation with the occult and a penchant for opium. But most fearsome of all, is Aubrey's strange association with Dr. Damian Adair, a mysterious figure who exerts a sinister influence over her husband.

Susanna is terrified for both herself and her husband, and when Aubrey's frightening behavior eventually leads to tragedy, Susanna flees. In her mind, there is only one person to blame for all this horror - Damian Adair. She is determined to have her own vengeance against the man who effectively ruined her life.

Carefully guarding her past - keeping her dark secrets to herself - Susanna travels to the Middle East and lends her assistance during the Crimean War. She begins a completely new life as a nurse, working beside the legendary Florence Nightingale. It is in the Middle East where fate eventually brings the mysterious Dr. Adair back into her life.

And it is during her time spent in the Middle East that Susanna discovers a surprising truth about herself: her blazing desire for revenge has waned, becoming tempered with a baffling new emotion. Is it possible that her once unforgiving heart has seemingly changed; suddenly crossing the boundary between hate...and love?

First of all, let me say that while I have read a number of books written by this same author under two of her pseudonyms - Jean Plaidy and Phillppa Carr - I don't think I've read anything written under the pseudonym Victoria Holt. In my opinion, this story was unexpectedly complex and I enjoyed it very much. I give this book an A+! ( )

Read during Winter 2002/2003

Yet another that makes me say "No, don't do that" as I read it. Susanna marries Aubrey, who turns out to be a dissolute drug taker. She is amazingly naive to start and then carries a bitter hatred for the doctor whom she blames for her husband's addiction and child's death. This revenge carries her to nursing in the Crimean War under Florence Nightingale where she unaccountably falls in love with him and forgives him all the horrors she believes he is responsible for, though he freely admits to most of them. Her immense hatred is far-fetched and the complete turn around disturbing. Perhaps the most odd is her love interest makes no bones about his ruthelessness and arrogance and expects her to love him, not despite it, but for it. Not one of Victoria Holt's best.

An interesting twist on Ms Holt's usual gothic romances. Susanna Pleydell falls for a dashing and sophisticated rich man named Aubrey St. Clare. At first their married life is ideal and their baby son is the center of her existence. But she finds a dark and evil side to her beloved husband that leads directly to the death of her baby, and then the death of her husband. She finds a focus for her hatred in the man she blames for the horror - Dr. Damien Adair.

Thus far, the story seems quite similar to others of this line. But as Susanna plots her revenge, she must find a purpose to go on living. She finds it in volunteering to to work for Florence Nightingale in Crimea. The historical aspects of this story are fascinating and advance the characters and plot in a most inspired way. Recommended. ( )

This was a different book and if it had not been Victoria Holt, I may not have finished it. The book is dark with death, war and drugs but there is a lot of compassion and good happenings. This is a time of Florence Nightingale and nurses. I was not quite sure how it would end as it could take many different turns but I did enjoy it. ( )