Skye O'Malley

Cover

Title Skye O'Malley

Author Bertrice Small

ISBN 0-345-32364-5

Publisher Ballantine Publishing Group

Category Romance

Shira's Rating

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What It's About

This is a romance novel which relates the adventures of a woman named Skye O'Malley during the era of Queen Elizabeth of England in the 1500's. Skye herself is Irish. The book takes the reader from Skye's childhood home in Ireland to Elizabeth's Tudor court in England to Algeria, and back to England.

The author has clearly done extensive research on the historical era in which she has set her book. She seamlessly incorporates real-life historical figures such as Queen Elizabeth and real historical events into her story line. The heroine of the book, Skye O'Malley, is portrayed as a very strong, independent, intelligent, but passionate individual.

The reason I've included a review of this book on my web site is that part of it is set in Algeria. I don't want to give away too much of the plot by telling you what goes on there, but suffice it to say Skye has an opportunity to taste the mysterious world of the East.

Like most romance novels, this book definitely contains some sex scenes. However, its scenes are more frequent and more explicit than those I've seen in many other romance novels. Although they didn't bother me, readers who prefer books to be less, um, passionate probably wouldn't appreciate this one. Skye is one lusty woman, and the author treats us to many detailed reports of her love life.

Its Good Points

I like the fact that the lead character is strong, likeable, and intelligent. I always enjoy a book more when its primary character appeals to me, and I found Skye very appealing.

Bertrice Small clearly did extensive research when preparing this book. Although I certainly would not encourage anyone to think of a romance novel as being a legitimate source of historical or cultural information, I nonetheless was impressed at the overall use of historical detail in this book. I'm not an expert on either Elizabethan England or 16th-century Algeria, but Skye O'Malley's world was consistent with what I do know of those times and places.

Some romance novels have plots so simple that by page 10 or so you know exactly what is going to happen throughout the rest of the book. In contrast, Skye O'Malley's plot was certainly not simple. It introduced a variety of characters, and took them through many twists and turns.

On The Negative Side....

Bertrice Small sometimes puts her heroines through excessive amounts of hell. Sometimes, reading one of her books makes me want to shout, "Enough already! Please, let this character have some happiness and peace of mind for a change!" There were times when this book triggered that reaction in me.

In Conclusion

If you're the kind of person who enjoys historical romance novels, particularly ones with a hefty dose of passionate sex scenes, then you'll probably like this book very much. However, if you've never appreciated romance novels, or if you are squeamish about books with lots of explicit sex, this is not the right book for you.

Skye's stay in Algeria provided an intriguing glimpse of the Orient. Although it was not the bulk of the story, it was a substantial enough part of the plot to be satisfying to those of us who enjoy discovering books that are set at least partly in the Middle East or North Africa. I found this to be good "airplane reading" -- in other words, something entertaining that could absorb my attention fully enough to make a long airplane ride pass more quickly.

Bertrice Small, the author of Skye O'Malley, has been very prolific. She has written many books, with a large number of them set at least partly in the Orient.

The Kadin. This was Bertrice Small's first book. Although this book not linked at all to Skye O'Malley, some of the later books in the Skye O'Malley series bring in characters that appeared first in The Kadin. Therefore, it's good to read The Kadin before you get too deeply into Skye's world. Most of this book takes place in Turkey.
Skye O'Malley. This is the book reviewed on this page, and it is the first in a series of six books. If you try it and like it, see below for the titles of its sequels and the recommended order in which to read them.
All The Sweet Tomorrows. This is the sequel to Skye O'Malley. Although I was a bit disappointed with this book, I would still recommend that if you liked Skye O'Malley enough to read more in the series, then you should read this before the others. Otherwise, you'll find some of the references to past events and characters in the later books confusing. Part of it takes place in Algeria and Morocco.
A Love For All Time. This one comes third in the Skye O'Malley family of books. Part of it takes place in Turkey, and it makes some references to characters who were originally introduced in The Kadin.
Love Wild And Fair. This is the sequel to The Kadin and part of the plot takes place in Turkey. Although not part of the tales of Skye O'Malley's family, you'll want to read this if you're following the O'Malley series because Lost Love Found is a sequel to both this and A Love For All Time.
This Heart Of Mine. I don't plan to review this one for my site, because the heroine's adventures take her to India, which falls outside my geographical scope. But if you've enjoyed the other books about Skye's family so far, you'll want to read this one, which is number four in the series.
Lost Love Found. Bertrice Small takes you back to Turkey in this one, the fifth book in her story about Skye O'Malley and her family. Don't tackle this one unless you've read everything above. I made that mistake, and felt entirely confused at all the flashbacks explaining what had gone before.
Wild Jasmine. This is the natural sequel to This Heart Of Mine. I don't plan to review this one for my site, because the heroine's time in the Orient takes place in India, which falls outside my geographical scope. But if you're hooked on the Skye O'Malley series, you'll want to read this one, which is the sixth book in the series.