Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for my place on the tour and the gifted eBook.
In early 20th century Britain, society was changing rapidly, but not much was changing for women. From different ends of the social spectrum, Celia Mapperley and May Hallam wrestle with rules and circumstances beyond their control and must navigate love, sex, war, and the thin line between conformity and scandal. As they each bear the shame of a devastating family secret, their stories come together in ways that neither could have imagined.
Purchase Link https://books2read.com/rl/ancestralvirgins
My Review
A historical fiction novel set just before the First World War. We are introduced to Lady Celia Mapperley, a young woman who is a perfect example of the times: innocent, cossetted, and uninformed. Her mother is pressuring her to marry a rich industrialist, George Ingham. Celia doesn’t want it; she doesn’t know what will make her happy. That is until she is plunged into a scandal that could ruin everything for her.
Fiona J. Mackintosh drew me in from the first page! The cover itself made me think of pictures I have seen of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, from back in the day. It gave me the right expectations for the story.
It isn’t a floaty, period piece that you would imagine. The author brings the darker side of life for women of this time. Whether upstairs or down, women were mostly either ill informed or not informed at all about sex and the opposite sex.
I was so invested in Celia’s journey, which was heartbreaking for me. I felt like I was by her side as the story unfolded. It was so real to me that I just wanted to hug her tight and guide her myself!
Then there is May Hallam, at the total other end of the social scale from Celia, but with her own battles which show that women of that time all dealt with similar issues. I almost cried while reading this. I was that immersed with these young women and the way they struggled!
Alongside Celia and May’s story are the important events of this age, the suffrage movement, for me, the top of the list. The research that has been poured into Ancestral Virgins makes it an authentic, immersive and such an emotional read.
For me, this book portrays more of the real truths of this period than any other historical fiction novel I can think of. How women were married off with no thought to them as people, only as a pawn in a matchmaking game! I am still thinking about this book now and know it will stay in my mind for a long time to come!
What I didn’t realise when I chose to read this book is that there are another 2 books in the series. I now need to read the others. Word of warning, if you read this one, be prepared for the others!
Author Bio
Fiona J. Mackintosh is a Scottish-American author living in Washington D.C. whose fiction draws from both sides of the Atlantic. Her flash fiction collection, The Yet Unknowing World (Ad Hoc Fiction, 2021), was a runner-up for the 2021 Saboteur Award for best short story collection, and her debut novel Ancestral Virgins will be published on June 26, 2026. Her flashes were selected for Best Small Fictions in 2023 and 2019, and her short stories have been finalists in the Cairde Word, Colm Toíbín, Bristol, Galley Beggar, Exeter, and Fish Short Story Prizes. She is a proud recipient of an Individual Artist’s Award from the Maryland State Arts Council. http://www.fionajmackintosh.com
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