Past/Present question

[Tessa]

I read Lady of Hay and Child of the Phoenix from this lady, loved both but the problem I had with Lady of Hay was the present storyline, it almost ruined the entire book for me, absolutely adored the parts about Mathilda and the book would have been perfect if it was told just from her POV but now I want to read Kingdom of Shadows and scanning thru the reviews makes me dread the present storyline already. My question was if I can skip those parts without missing anything vital about Isobel?

[Yvette]

If I remember correctly, there was some additional information on Isobel in the modern day storyline. Anyway, I would try reading the whole book as the present story is a lot more palatable and less intrusive in the Kingdom of Shadows than in the Lady of Hay. Kingdom of Shadows and Child of the Phoenix are way better than Lady of Hay imo.

[Tessa]

I just finished the book. Again I was not much impressed with the parts in the present and that's putting it lightly. I skimmed thru most of it, just to make sure that I didn't miss anything. Not much is said about Isobel in the present storyline untill the very last chapters. Erskine seems to nail her historical characters, in both Lady of Hay and Kingsdom of Shadows Mathilda and Isobel were the saving grace.

[Yvette]

Then I guess Erskine is not for you. Why not read purely historical novels then?

[Tessa]

Because I have read other past/present novels that I absolutely adored. For example The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley, one of my favorites that I have read this year. I enjoy the concept but I just don't think Erskine does a very great job with her present day setting/characters in the novels I have read so far. I know she can write, as I mentioned above she nailed both Mathilda and Isobel & Child of the Phoenix was a 'purely historical novel' which I truly liked.