What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devil on Her Tongue
Diamantina is 13 when her father, a Dutch sailor who washed up on the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, abandons her and her African-born mother and sets off for the New World. Unbaptized, tainted by her mother's witchcraft and her foreign blood, the girl is an outcast who seems doomed in her struggle to survive. Diamantina refuses to accept her destiny and vows to escape her circumstances and forge a life of her own, no matter the cost. But as the price of her desires rises, can she live with the choices she has made? Diamantina's odyssey to change her life is a narrative of starvation and plenty, cruelty and love, disaster and triumph.
544 pages, Paperback
First published June 24, 2014
19 people are currently reading
951 people want to read
About the author
Linda Holeman
27 books243 followersLinda Holeman is the author of fourteen books of fiction. Her work includes two adult collections of literary short stories, Flying to Yellow and Devil’s Darning Needle, as well as the historic novels The Linnet Bird, The Moonlit Cage, In a Far Country, The Saffron Gate, The Lost Souls of Angelkov, and The Devil on Her Tongue. Her young adult body of work consists of a collection of short stories, Saying Good-Bye, which was re-released as Toxic Love, and four novels: Promise Song, Mercy’s Birds, Raspberry House Blues, and Search of the Moon King’s Daughter. She has also written a first-chapter book, Frankie on the Run, illustrated by Heather Collins. To date, Linda’s work has been translated into French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Greek, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Hungarian, soon to be published in Croatian, Italian, Czech and Slovakian.
As well as being published in many journals and periodicals, her work has been widely anthologized in Canada – most noticeably in The Journey Prize Anthology – and abroad. Linda has also acted as guest editor for a young adult issue of Prairie Fire Magazine, for which was she awarded the Vicky Metcalf Short Story Editor Award. She has been the recipient of many honours and awards for her young adult work.
Linda has been a member of the Manitoba Artists in the Schools Program and CANSCAIP, toured with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, acted as a mentor in the Manitoba Writers’ Guild Mentor Program, taught creative writing through the University of Winnipeg’s Continuing Education, served on many juries, including the Governor-General’s Award for Children’s Literature, and created and facilitated numerous writing workshops on many aspects of the writing process to both students and adults nationally and internationally. She held a nine-month term as Writer-in-Residence at the Millennium Library in Winnipeg, and served on the editorial advisory board for Turnstone Press and on the board of the Manitoba Writers Guild. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada.
Linda holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Winnipeg, a BEd in Early Childhood Education and MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Manitoba.
She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Source: http://www.lindaholeman.com/
As well as being published in many journals and periodicals, her work has been widely anthologized in Canada – most noticeably in The Journey Prize Anthology – and abroad. Linda has also acted as guest editor for a young adult issue of Prairie Fire Magazine, for which was she awarded the Vicky Metcalf Short Story Editor Award. She has been the recipient of many honours and awards for her young adult work.
Linda has been a member of the Manitoba Artists in the Schools Program and CANSCAIP, toured with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre, acted as a mentor in the Manitoba Writers’ Guild Mentor Program, taught creative writing through the University of Winnipeg’s Continuing Education, served on many juries, including the Governor-General’s Award for Children’s Literature, and created and facilitated numerous writing workshops on many aspects of the writing process to both students and adults nationally and internationally. She held a nine-month term as Writer-in-Residence at the Millennium Library in Winnipeg, and served on the editorial advisory board for Turnstone Press and on the board of the Manitoba Writers Guild. She is a member of The Writers Union of Canada.
Linda holds a BA in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Winnipeg, a BEd in Early Childhood Education and MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Manitoba.
She currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Source: http://www.lindaholeman.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 21, 2020
Every time I read one of Linda Holeman's novels the first question that pops into my mind is: why in the world are her books not more well known or on the best sellers lists? Like her other novels, The Devil on Her Tongue was a phenomenal and engrossing read that I was unable to put down. Her novel combines a strong female protagonist with drama, romance and history - what is there not to love? And to top it all off, she is an eloquent writer. I definitely recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction... and to well just anyone who wants a good read!
May 6, 2018
Com um início morno mas a ação tornou-se empolgante de tal modo que muitas vezes me deitei mais tarde só para ler mais um capítulo.
February 9, 2020
Diamantina é uma jovem de 13/14 anos quando o seu pai, um marinheiro holandês a deixa e à sua mãe, rumo ao Brasil. Mas Diamantina e a mãe não são bem-vistas na Praia da Calheta, Porto Santo. A jovem acaba também por ser iludida por Abílio Peres, um rapaz sem escrúpulos. Após a morte da mãe, e com tantas dificuldades em Porto Santo, Diamantina aceita casar com Bonifácio, um ex-padre, que sente que tem que expiar a sua culpa, e mora no Cural das Freiras.
Este livro foi uma agradável surpresa pois, confesso, não esperava ficar tão encantada com a história, nem com as personagens. Diamantina é uma jovem forte e determinada e que me conquistou logo nas primeiras páginas. Com descrições que nos fazem visualizar as cenas e os cenários e um boa componente histórica, a autora conseguiu fazer-me viajar atrás nos séculos, até à ilha da Madeira e apaixonar-me por personagens únicas.
Este livro foi uma agradável surpresa pois, confesso, não esperava ficar tão encantada com a história, nem com as personagens. Diamantina é uma jovem forte e determinada e que me conquistou logo nas primeiras páginas. Com descrições que nos fazem visualizar as cenas e os cenários e um boa componente histórica, a autora conseguiu fazer-me viajar atrás nos séculos, até à ilha da Madeira e apaixonar-me por personagens únicas.
April 17, 2014
A meaty well written story that is wonderfully engrossing and absorbing. If you like a fleshed out solid storyline, interesting characters, strong and intelligent women, then you will like this book as much as I did!
January 4, 2016
alright...so...i am a bit conflicted with this one. i enjoyed parts, and stayed up way, way too late last night to finish the book, but as i was reading and as i have been reflecting on it today, many of the secondary characters were very one-dimensional and i feel as though a much richer novel could have been possible if there was more depth to these players. holeman certainly created a compelling story, and i was fascinated by the time and setting - the author has clearly done her research! it just ended up being a bit clichéd and melodramatic for me, so i am feeling like there were some missed opportunities here, unfortunately. overall a good read, but not as strong as i had hoped it would be.
"The warning signs for calamity can be so small and insignificant."
"The warning signs for calamity can be so small and insignificant."
July 14, 2015
I love Linda Holeman's books - she always creates such a wonderful sense of place. When I'm reading them I'm right there, in the scene, seeing, smelling and feeling everything she so ably describes. This absorbing story is yet another rich and exciting tale from one of my favourite authors. Straight to my favourites shelf.
March 13, 2016
I am difficult to please as a reader of historical fiction, so my first experience with any author's work is an exercise in criticism and suspicion. If a novel is unintelligently written, predictable, or lacking accurate historical insights within its story, I am quick to cast it aside. That said, Devil on her Tongue ticked all the boxes on my list of requisites for a great novel. Not only were its characters extremely well drawn and plot intricately developed with surprising turns and developments, I learned all sorts of fascinating facts about its settings and the wine industry in Portugal from an historical context. I can't wait to select another Linda Holeman masterpiece for my next read.
January 22, 2025
I loved this book! This is my 4th Linda Holeman book, and i can’t believe she isnt on the bestseller list!! If you can get your hands on one of her books (shes Canadian ) grab it you won’t be disappointed!
November 16, 2014
Linda Holeman sometimes lets her taste for melodrama get a little out of control, but her historical fiction is well-written, has a solid sense of period and place (in this case, the Madiera islands and Portugal in the 18th century,) and has a skill with plotting and characters that usually works for me.
Her previous novel, "The Lost Souls of Angelkov," I found especially impressive in conveying the complex dynamics of social change in rural Russia, and I hoped for similarly interesting insights into 18th century life at the intersection between Europe and Africa -- particularly for women.
Holeman's central character in this novel, a young woman (Diamantina) with an African mother and a Dutch father, does emerge as a fascinating figure, whose coming-of-age as a free spirit in a social context of deep constraints on women inevitably makes her a controversial source of conflict. Men try to control her, sexually misuse her, confront her -- and ultimately come to admire her strength. Her story is based around fundamentals that are powerful -- the death of her parents, the birth of a daughter, the great earthquake that destroyed much of Lisbon in the mid-eighteenth century. But there are some elements in the plot of the novel that seemed to me overdone. The ex-priest who marries Diamantina seemed to me so overwrought and extreme in his self-flagelation that he was ultimately not credible as a key character. Perhaps, too, after a complicated set of geographic shifts and emotional agonies the sudden final resolution of the novel seems a bit too neat and tidy.
So I did not find this book as strong as Holeman's previous Russian-based success. But I enjoyed it -- the novel kept me engaged, Diamantina stayed real for me, and as always Holeman's writing is very good.
Her previous novel, "The Lost Souls of Angelkov," I found especially impressive in conveying the complex dynamics of social change in rural Russia, and I hoped for similarly interesting insights into 18th century life at the intersection between Europe and Africa -- particularly for women.
Holeman's central character in this novel, a young woman (Diamantina) with an African mother and a Dutch father, does emerge as a fascinating figure, whose coming-of-age as a free spirit in a social context of deep constraints on women inevitably makes her a controversial source of conflict. Men try to control her, sexually misuse her, confront her -- and ultimately come to admire her strength. Her story is based around fundamentals that are powerful -- the death of her parents, the birth of a daughter, the great earthquake that destroyed much of Lisbon in the mid-eighteenth century. But there are some elements in the plot of the novel that seemed to me overdone. The ex-priest who marries Diamantina seemed to me so overwrought and extreme in his self-flagelation that he was ultimately not credible as a key character. Perhaps, too, after a complicated set of geographic shifts and emotional agonies the sudden final resolution of the novel seems a bit too neat and tidy.
So I did not find this book as strong as Holeman's previous Russian-based success. But I enjoyed it -- the novel kept me engaged, Diamantina stayed real for me, and as always Holeman's writing is very good.
August 3, 2014
Linda Holeman never lets me down. When I crave something historical, inticing and descriptive of a certain era, I always turn to her novels. This one is no exception to that. I couldn't put it down, and as always I am intrigued at what I read and research the facts laid out in every story. It doesn't matter what she writes, I always put her book back on the shelf with a better understanding, a bit more knowledge. I loved the strength that the main character and her mother, than her daughter and her had. I enjoyed the medical back ground or witchery Mrs. Holeman wrote of. The only problem with this novel was, I had troubles pronouncing some of the characters names. Other wise I highly recomend any and all of Linda Holeman's novels, and look forward to her next writings.
September 22, 2023
Linda Holeman is an exceptional writer but with all the bad things that happen to Diamantina there seemed to be no end to it as she goes from one disaster to another. A little less drama and this would have been a better story.
July 11, 2017
I really enjoyed this book! Linda Holeman is one of my favorite authors. She is such a skillful writer that I am transported into the world she creates with her word craft. 5+ stars!
October 28, 2015
Oh meu Deus , que livro viciante !! O título e a capa nada tem a ver com o conteúdo !!!
October 29, 2015
Yes. I was finally able to purchase it!
Before it had been too expensive but it was under 10 dollars so I am fine.
I prefer with some authors to get the physical book and Linda is one of them but that will have to wait. So far I loved and enjoyed all of her books so I can't wait to read this.
Lately , well since I started with kindle unlimited, I have read a lot of true crime books so it will be good to pick something else for a change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update October 25. Reading now and quite enjoying it. I love how this author makes me smell and feel the things she is describing. She has the uncanny ability of making you fee you are there!
Update October 29. Just finished and the last part was really great again.
This book was exciting in most parts but there were parts I was quite bored if I am honest. Not something I am used to reading Linda's books.
The Positive: As I said before she is an author who is really good in making you experience the timeline she is writing about. Love that. She wrote about the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which I did not know anything about if I am honest but she wrote it as if I was there.
The Negative: Well I am Dutch and the main character is the daughter of a Dutch sailor so there were some Dutch words used. maybe 6 or so and it was very hard for me to read the wrong translation of kleine. She writes a few times that dad calls his daughter my little vos but then errors with the translation of it calling her klein vos but it should be kleine vos. One letter but it makes a big difference.
I guess she had to research so much she just used google to translate. I wish she had asked me her old Dutch fan. By old I mean not that I am old by the way. Who am I kidding. I am old.
That it sometime was a bit too much. Too much happening, too much melodrama.
This being said I will still buy her next book.
3.5 stars and still not sure if I am okay with giving it 3 stars but then i remember the boring parts....
Before it had been too expensive but it was under 10 dollars so I am fine.
I prefer with some authors to get the physical book and Linda is one of them but that will have to wait. So far I loved and enjoyed all of her books so I can't wait to read this.
Lately , well since I started with kindle unlimited, I have read a lot of true crime books so it will be good to pick something else for a change.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Update October 25. Reading now and quite enjoying it. I love how this author makes me smell and feel the things she is describing. She has the uncanny ability of making you fee you are there!
Update October 29. Just finished and the last part was really great again.
This book was exciting in most parts but there were parts I was quite bored if I am honest. Not something I am used to reading Linda's books.
The Positive: As I said before she is an author who is really good in making you experience the timeline she is writing about. Love that. She wrote about the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which I did not know anything about if I am honest but she wrote it as if I was there.
The Negative: Well I am Dutch and the main character is the daughter of a Dutch sailor so there were some Dutch words used. maybe 6 or so and it was very hard for me to read the wrong translation of kleine. She writes a few times that dad calls his daughter my little vos but then errors with the translation of it calling her klein vos but it should be kleine vos. One letter but it makes a big difference.
I guess she had to research so much she just used google to translate. I wish she had asked me her old Dutch fan. By old I mean not that I am old by the way. Who am I kidding. I am old.
That it sometime was a bit too much. Too much happening, too much melodrama.
This being said I will still buy her next book.
3.5 stars and still not sure if I am okay with giving it 3 stars but then i remember the boring parts....
January 27, 2017
Que história maravilhosa! Não conhecia a autora e há algum tempo que o livro estava na pilha por ler. Quando lhe peguei devorei as páginas de enfiada; fala da nossa história e das histórias que cruzam povos e culturas. Personagens muito bem construídas e um enredo que instiga à leitura compulsiva. Não vou dizer mais para não estragar o prazer de desvendar o livro a quem se interessar. Deixou SAUDADE,mesmo.
August 25, 2014
Linda Holeman has never let me down with her historical novels. And this one was no different. I became totally engrossed and lost in the story that takes place on an Island of Portugal in the mid 1700's.
January 11, 2018
I love Madeira, and I've always wanted to find a book that would bring me back there, the colours, the smells - and this book does just that. Diamantina's sense of smell is very well woven into the story and it makes for a rich, engrossing POV. However, all that comes at the horrible price of her Jesuit madman and the Abilio.
I just... this is why I read more and more historical NON-fiction these days. When a modern-minded historian finds out that life 'back then', in any era, was just a little less horrible than we all thought, they usually get excited. But a historical /fiction' writer just keeps digging and digging for graphic visceral horrors, and I'll never understand the appeal. I just want ONE story where the woman cuts off the rapisto's dick in scene one, and then the real story of wine and friendship starts - not 50o pages later, in the bloody epilogue!
I just... this is why I read more and more historical NON-fiction these days. When a modern-minded historian finds out that life 'back then', in any era, was just a little less horrible than we all thought, they usually get excited. But a historical /fiction' writer just keeps digging and digging for graphic visceral horrors, and I'll never understand the appeal. I just want ONE story where the woman cuts off the rapisto's dick in scene one, and then the real story of wine and friendship starts - not 50o pages later, in the bloody epilogue!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2021
4.5 Sterne
Am Anfang etwas holprig und langatmig, aber dann entfaltet das Buch einen ganz eigenen Charme. Und gerade zum Ende hin, hat es mich sehr berührt ... Schade fand ich, dass man während des ganzen Buches einen guten Einblick in die Gefühlswelt von Diamantina bekommt, aber gerade am Ende des Buches hat mir das an gewissen Stellen gefehlt....Da ich vor einigen Jahren in Portugal war, konnte man sich einige Orte in historischem Kontext gut vorstellen, aber durch die malerischen Beschreibungen hat man sich auch so gut in das 18. Jahrhundert versetzt gefühlt...
Am Anfang etwas holprig und langatmig, aber dann entfaltet das Buch einen ganz eigenen Charme. Und gerade zum Ende hin, hat es mich sehr berührt ... Schade fand ich, dass man während des ganzen Buches einen guten Einblick in die Gefühlswelt von Diamantina bekommt, aber gerade am Ende des Buches hat mir das an gewissen Stellen gefehlt....Da ich vor einigen Jahren in Portugal war, konnte man sich einige Orte in historischem Kontext gut vorstellen, aber durch die malerischen Beschreibungen hat man sich auch so gut in das 18. Jahrhundert versetzt gefühlt...
August 23, 2018
Way too many "D" word emotions - Despair, Deceit, Denial, Despondency, etc. To be fair, that was probably overly common for women to experience during those times.
September 8, 2018
Uauuu este foi de facto uma grande surpresa! Um romance de época extraordinário, com o Arquipélago da Madeira como pano de fundo. Adorei e recomendo!
January 18, 2019
Fun read :)
I enjoyed the book-historical fiction fascinates me. I felt there was a bit much loaded into the life of only one woman, so it was easy to laugh when in think the more appropriate emotion would have been something more serious. Enjoy!
I enjoyed the book-historical fiction fascinates me. I felt there was a bit much loaded into the life of only one woman, so it was easy to laugh when in think the more appropriate emotion would have been something more serious. Enjoy!
March 3, 2017
I have read 2 other of Linda Holeman's books and this makes my 3rd. I love her books because of her strong female characters. Her books are historical, which is a favorite genre of mine.
This story takes place in Portugal with the main character Diamantina taking center stage. She has a tragic life but with her fiery, independent spirit she survives and has a wonderful ending with many friends.
This story takes place in Portugal with the main character Diamantina taking center stage. She has a tragic life but with her fiery, independent spirit she survives and has a wonderful ending with many friends.
July 13, 2014
I cannot express enough how much I enjoyed this novel by Linda Holeman. The plight of Diamantina at times is heart-wrenching, but with resilence and courage, she perseveres to make a better life for herself. Born poor, the daughter of a witch who is ostracized by the villagers, and later abandoned by her father who reluctantly leaves them for the New World, the heroine faces numerous conflicts as she fights to make her own way and live life on her own terms.
Beautiful prose and compelling characters made this a wonderful read! It is very much a story of extremes - wealth vs poverty, love vs hate, honesty vs deceipt, cruelty vs generosity, and much, much more. This lush story set in beautiful, exotic setting, swept me away. It is women's historical fiction at its best - moving, compelling, and engrossing. Read it and see for yourself.
Beautiful prose and compelling characters made this a wonderful read! It is very much a story of extremes - wealth vs poverty, love vs hate, honesty vs deceipt, cruelty vs generosity, and much, much more. This lush story set in beautiful, exotic setting, swept me away. It is women's historical fiction at its best - moving, compelling, and engrossing. Read it and see for yourself.
January 23, 2015
Reading this book was like watching a movie. Something happens all the time and character development is masterfully done. Religion and family ties play a huge role in 17th century Portugal, as would be expected from this time period; however this is portrayed in an unorthodox fashion from the point of view of a woman who was born, raised and is living outside of the traditional family unit or the universally accepted belief system. Great read, can't wait to get another one of Linda Holeman's books!
August 6, 2014
Wow. loved this book. Quick paced intrigue set in the 18th century in places we've recently visited. Could feel walking through streets of Funchal and up into Nuns Valley in Madeira. And then when it moves to Lisbon and Belem ...the earthquake that changed so much of coastal Portugal happens!!! The story line was really dear and the main character is so colourful and likeable!
August 6, 2014
I absolutely could not put this book down. I am a big fan of Linda Holeman, and she did not disappoint with her latest book. I enjoyed the story line about a woman's life in 18th century small-town Portugal, and thought that the twists and turns made the story quite interesting. I thoroughly recommend this book.
September 1, 2014
Started this book expecting to read two chapters close it as historical books are bot usually my thing. I LOVED IT. The characters were vivid the story enthral lung and I found the historical tidbits of Portugal very interesting.
August 5, 2016
Espectacular! Estou encantada! Tal como nos outros livros a autora consegue criar um enredo fenomenal, cheio de peripécias, dificuldades, amor e paixões, mas tem também o seu lado histórico, desta vez sobre o nosso Portugal! Parabéns e obrigada Linda Holeman!
August 15, 2014
This is the third book I've read of Linda Holeman. I enjoy her writing and descriptions of places and people. I really get a sense of what she is protraying through her words.
September 27, 2014
What an engaging read!!! The descriptions of the characters, places, settings where amazing I did not want to put the book down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews