Could Mary-Anne O’Connor Be Australia’s Best Historical Novelist?

In my opinion, for historical fiction to really hit the spot it needs to be accurate, romantic (but not tacky) and it needs to capture my imagination and transport me to the mountains, cabins and cities that the characters explore.

Key points:

Mary-Anne O’Connor delivers all this and more in her beautiful new novel ‘The Stowaway’.

‘The Stowaway’ tells the story of Elsa Ferner, a fiery-spirited young woman who dreams of adventure and following her heart. When the customs of her homeland and family rivalries threaten to consume her, Elsa finds herself swept along on a journey with a complete stranger, Thompson Smith – was this a mistake? Is it love? Or is this path one that she was always destined to walk?

Mary-Anne O’Connor is a bestselling Australian author with 11 books already under her belt.

Mary-Anne O’Connor, a bestselling Australian author with 11 books already under her belt, has penned a tale that sweeps the reader along for the wild, rugged journey that is love and adventure. Her descriptions of the Icelandic, Norwegian and Tasmanian landscapes are beautiful, making it easy to envision yourself standing on the rough cliffs overlooking a stormy ocean, as the wind whips through your hair.

‘The Stowaway’ isn’t all dancing under the Northern Lights and stealing secret kisses though – it also walks its beautiful characters through heartbreak, fear and the power of true love and pushing through all adversity for the people we love most in this world.

‘The Stowaway’ isn’t all dancing under the Northern Lights and stealing secret kisses – it walks its characters through heartbreak, fear and the power of true love.

Being a story that is heavily centred around Iceland, the land of fire & ice, it’s no surprise that ‘The Stowaway’ contains one or two romantic scenes however these are brief and tasteful, weaving themselves into the foundations of our protagonist’s story.

While I felt that the storyline moved quite quickly, I didn’t think it was a bad thing, it simply left me wishing I had more pages to turn! I also loved the references at the back of the book that revealed the real-life inspiration behind these characters.

I give this book 5 stars.

You never know the wild and whimsical personalities you might have in your own family lineage!

I will definitely be sourcing copies of Mary-Anne’s earlier novels – she may be one of my new favourites in her genre!

I give this book 5 stars.

Feature image: Penguin Books