Histfic set on Orkney – The Metal Heart Caroline Lea

Transport yourself to the island of Orkney and a true story…

This book drew me in the moment I saw Caroline Lea’s name on that fantastic cover. She’s a writer I just have to read. Then, I discovered that this was inspired by a true story about Italian men who built a chapel on the island during the war.

Well, that made me want to read it immediately so I did. Pretty much finished it in one day – snatching moments to return to Orkney with these fine characters and fascinating story.The author has really done her research and although, she admits that there is fiction mixed with some fact, this is a captivating read.

The novel is at once hopeful and sad. The war is ongoing and the fear of these outsiders is real and raw. The two main characters however were wonderful to get to know. Two very different souls brought together in trauma but joined by love. Ah, I felt their feelings too. I feel compelled to head to Orkney as soon as I can to visit this chapel and recapture at least some of that magical feeling I have from this novel.

The scene setting is quite frankly, wonderful. This is an author who crafts her words with care, ladles them with love and places them to complement each other on the page. Her characters come to life and give the story life and that ending? Aaah Caroline!

What a remarkable story and this novel really pays homage to that and more. It’s a story in its own right too and comes highly recommended from me.

In the author note, the author talks about her research process and mentions the Orkney Library and their fantastic twitter account. Seems like the Orkney magic is alive and well, albeit in a different form today.