This was a slow burn, slow paced book. It took a while to get into and although I certainly felt absorbed in many parts, other parts made it difficult to live up to the full hype/page count.

I loved the concept, and the way in which the book covers so much in terms of location, time and history. I didn't mind the frantic jumping around of timeline either, once I got used to it. 

The writing style was captivating. This is where the author shines. How she uses language is beautiful and it allowed for a real depth of insight.

Character wise, I loved the protagonist. Her history, her ambition and her flaws made her quite the woman to read about. Her story was a compelling one and even when she made some extremely questionable decisions, I found I was always routing for her. 

The complexities of love and the desire to be a free/flying spirit were a constant battle for Marian and the exploration of this was a driving force for the entire book. 

I'm not sure that the modern day chapters were actually all that necessary. The story could have done just fine without them and things could then have been more focused and condensed. 

Overall, an adventurous historical fiction novel about answering your life's calling, no matter the consequences.