A Fierce Wind by Regan Walker

A Fierce Wind by Regan Walker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The passing of a new constitution in 1790 marks a milestone for France – the end of the monarchy – but the fierce wind that sweeps through the country afterwards gives rise to Robespierre and the bloody Reign of Terror. Four years later, Zoé Donet and her uncle risk their lives to rescue émigrés forced to flee their homeland or face Madame Guillotine. As they hurry through shadowy streets with their charges, they encounter a pair of soldiers, one of whom escapes to raise the alarm.

A growing sense of foreboding compels Frederick West to disembark from la Reine Noire, his brother-in-law’s ship, to find Zoé. She may think him only a friend, but in the years since they first met, he has come to love her although he has yet to confess his true feelings for her. Shots from shore heighten his apprehension, but she is safe. He, however, suffers a grievous wound. In the days that follow Zoé nurses him back to health on Guernsey and slowly comes to see him in a new light.

The continuing slaughter of innocent men, women, and children in France and a possible invasion threat necessitate an urgent need for vital information. If London is to aid the Vendéens and Chouans – royalists fighting against the revolutionaries – someone must infiltrate Brittany and Maine to find out what assistance is needed. The problem is that these counterrevolutionaries have little reason to trust such overtures. One person who might help gain their confidence is Zoé, who was a friend of their revered general whom the republicans assassinated. Although reluctant to carry out his spymaster’s orders, Frederick understands the futility of forbidding Zoé to remain where she will be safe. The best he can do is to make her promise to obey his orders no matter what. As they trek through northwestern France a series of escalating adventures unfold until enemy patrols intersect the woods where they shelter. Realizing his only option to protect Zoé is to sacrifice himself, Frederick reveals his true feelings for Zoé and then walks away into the midst of the enemy soldiers.

A Fierce Wind offers a unique look into a lesser-known aspect of the French Revolution. While the majority takes place on land, there are a few sea battle scenes, including the Glorious First of June. More than once the promise of high tension never quite hits the mark for such a perilous period, and the emotional connection between characters and readers is weak. The threat of invasion is not really developed, and the sea fight on 1 June 1794 seems more an afterthought. Yet there are some truly memorable scenes, one being Frederick’s final parting from Zoé in France. Others take place in La Conciergerie in Paris, which provide horrific glimpses of life under arrest during the Reign of Terror. An added bonus to this third book in the Donet trilogy is the author’s note, which not only explains the history behind the fiction, but also shows how characters are interconnected and in what book titles their stories can be found.




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