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The Black Moon (Poldark, #5)

Winston Graham

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The Black Moon - #5

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By Tanya , Moderator/Hostess · 4 posts · 57 views

last updated Oct 12, 2017 11:52AM

Ross's attitude toward pregnancy/children
By Tanya , Moderator/Hostess · 3 posts · 77 views

last updated Jul 10, 2017 10:01AM

What Members Thought

Jun 06, 2020 Sandra Visser rated it liked it · review of another edition

I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous four books. I found most of it quite dark and depressing, especially Aunt Agatha's scenes. Perhaps because I knew what was coming (I watched the TV series before reading the book) I felt a sense of dread every time it got to the preparations for her party, and I knew how the book ends so that must have slowed down my reading as well as I didn't really want to get to that awful scene.

I also felt there was way too much of George in this book. It's inter I didn't enjoy this as much as the previous four books. I found most of it quite dark and depressing, especially Aunt Agatha's scenes. Perhaps because I knew what was coming (I watched the TV series before reading the book) I felt a sense of dread every time it got to the preparations for her party, and I knew how the book ends so that must have slowed down my reading as well as I didn't really want to get to that awful scene.

I also felt there was way too much of George in this book. It's interesting to see events from his perspective and understand his way of thinking but the sense of helpless anger I felt at his machinations regarding poor Morwenna made it unpleasant reading. As I knew where her story was heading as well I think that also made the reading more unpleasant. The previous books' events always felt organic, but the whole Morwenna Drake love story (while tender and sweet) felt almost too contrived as it was obviously another way to renew the enmity between George and Ross. Elizabeth was also her usual vaguely kind but ultimately passive self, and her behaviour towards anyone opposing George, while understandable, made me dislike her even more.

The book took a long time to get going and there was a lot about Methodism, the winter weather and the war with France that was tedious to read, a marked contrast to the first four books, where even bits about mining were interesting to me. As always I loved the discussions and interactions between Ross and Demelza, and Drake is a charming new character.

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Jun 17, 2021 Amanda Parker rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I found it interesting that after the first four novels Graham laid down this story not necessarily intending to pick it up again, but ten years later he felt compelled to return to these characters’ stories. I have a feeling the first four books will be my favorites, but this book was still good. I loved Drake and Sam. I loved the realistic struggles of reconciliation between Ross and Demelza and the way the scars from the past can still sting at times. I love both of those characters! I do hav ...more

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Dec 26, 2016 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Black Moon, the fifth Poldark novel, takes its title from the black moon (lunar eclipse) that takes place as George Warleggan & Elizabeth's son, Valentine, is born. Great-Aunt Agatha Poldark, nearing her 100th birthday, pronounces it to be a bad omen -- something she reiterates with great relish to George later in the book. There is a long interlude in France, where Ross risks everything to rescue his friend, Dr. Dwight Enys, from a French prison. And we are introduced to two of Demelza's br ...more

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Sep 29, 2019 Rhiannon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, georgian-era, cornwall

I really enjoyed this one, even with the lack of Dwight seeing as he was in Quimper for most of it. As always, Graham has dropped the reader right in the midst of the lives of Ross Poldark and those around him. The Black Moon makes up much of season 3 of Poldark, and it was interesting to see the points in which the TV series diverged. I'm quite pleased to see that Henshaw lived in the books, seeing as he was killed off in the show. And it was great to re-experience the arrivals of Drake, Sam an ...more

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