Sondra's Reviews > Salvage

This was one of the richest novels I have read in some time. I was very soon sucked into the story, simultaneously wanting to finish reading to see what happens to Maeve and wanting the novel to extend indefinitely so I could linger awhile longer in her world.

In addition to believable, complex characters, the landscapes, smells, and sights seemed to leap off the page. Everything felt tactile and immediate, and so many lines were poetic enough that I wrote them down to savor later, like "pure blue, not a crease in the sky," and "sunlight torn to ribbons by the waves" (I also underlined many thought-provoking lines).

The philosophical themes were woven seamlessly into the character's lives, like the reality of "Brigid" not as a person, but as a force that accompanies healings. And insofar as the characters mention God, the divine is seen as no abstract entity, but the sacred ground beneath our feet, felt in everything we can touch, taste, smell, and love.

I'm not sure if this is in the cards, but I would LOVE to read a sequel. I want to see more of Maeve, specifically how she could incorporate her traditional healings into her future as a nurse. In the meantime, Maeve and her island will remain in my heart for a long time, and I will continue to come back to this book to be re-immersed in her world.