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The Joubert Family Chronicles #4
The Map of Bones
Olifantshoek, Southern Africa, 1688.
When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, is here to walk in her cousin’s footsteps. Louise Reydon-Joubert, the notorious she-captain and pirate commander, landed at the Cape of Good Hope more than sixty years ago, then disappeared from the record as if she had never existed. Suzanne has come to find her – to lay the stories to rest. But all is not as it seems...
Franschhoek, Southern Africa, 1862.
Nearly one hundred and eighty years after Suzanne’s perilous journey, another intrepid and courageous woman of the Joubert family – Isabelle Lepard – has journeyed to the small frontier town once known as Oliftantshoek in search of her long-lost relations. A journalist and travel writer, intent on putting the women of her family back into the history books, she quickly discovers that the tragedies and crimes of the past are far from over. Isabelle faces a race against time if she is not only going to discover the truth but escape with her life...
When the violent Cape wind blows from the south-east, they say the voices of the unquiet dead can be heard whispering through the deserted valley. Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, is here to walk in her cousin’s footsteps. Louise Reydon-Joubert, the notorious she-captain and pirate commander, landed at the Cape of Good Hope more than sixty years ago, then disappeared from the record as if she had never existed. Suzanne has come to find her – to lay the stories to rest. But all is not as it seems...
Franschhoek, Southern Africa, 1862.
Nearly one hundred and eighty years after Suzanne’s perilous journey, another intrepid and courageous woman of the Joubert family – Isabelle Lepard – has journeyed to the small frontier town once known as Oliftantshoek in search of her long-lost relations. A journalist and travel writer, intent on putting the women of her family back into the history books, she quickly discovers that the tragedies and crimes of the past are far from over. Isabelle faces a race against time if she is not only going to discover the truth but escape with her life...
462 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2024
About the author
Kate Mosse
79 books3,211 followersKate Mosse is an international bestselling author with sales of more than five million copies in 42 languages. Her fiction includes the novels Labyrinth (2005), Sepulchre (2007), The Winter Ghosts (2009), and Citadel (2012), as well as an acclaimed collection of short stories, The Mistletoe Bride & Other Haunting Tales (2013). Kate’s new novel, The Taxidermist’s Daughter is out now.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
Kate is the Co-Founder and Chair of the Board of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction (previously the Orange Prize) and in June 2013, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to literature. She lives in Sussex.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
October 26, 2024
The Map of Bones is the fourth and final book in the series chronicling the lives of the Joubert family, a series which has taken us from 16th century France to 19th century Cape Town. I suggest The Map of Bones is best enjoyed if you have read previous books in the series since there is an extensive family tree and a deadly rivalry which extends all the way back to the first book. If you haven’t got time to embark on the whole series, then a good compromise would be to read The Ghost Ship as events in this book follow straight on from that one.
Suzanne’s search for the truth about what happened to her forbear, Louise Reydon-Joubert (the infamous captain of the vessel known as the ‘Ghost Ship’) after she arrived in Cape Town, involves a perilous voyage of her own and a journey to the interior of a country in which relations between settlers and the indigenous population are fragile and likely to explode at any moment.
The author’s reasearch is always second to none, and as in all her novels, the period setting is wonderfully evoked so that you can imagine yourself walking the streets of early Cape Town or traversing the interior of the country dodging jaguars and maurauding baboons.
Suzanne’s quest is partly successful, although not before she has experienced great danger, but still leaves many unanswered questions about Louise’s life and the reason she stayed in South Africa. It’s only in the second part of the book that those gaps begin to be filled. I used to think the secret diary a convenient trope of historical fiction but, of course, for many women living in earlier times a journal was the only medium through which they could document events in their lives or express their feelings, so I greet its use by authors with more generosity these days.
Isabelle’s financial situation, the result of an inheritance, may make her journey across the world more comfortable but it’s still a perilous one for a single woman travelling alone. It requires her to marshall all the courage and independence of spirit of her female forbears because when she embarks on her enquiries in Cape Town she finds the legacy of that rivalry I mentioned at the beginning still persists. And what she discovers is a story of violence but also of an intense and loving relationship that could only flourish beyond the fringes of society.
The book’s finale reflects the author’s own passion for bringing the achievements of women, past and present, out of the shadows and into the light.
I would have loved to learn more about the latter years of Suzanne’s life, which is rather glossed over in the book. Perhaps the author is saving that for a companion novel? Although The Map of Bones doesn’t have quite the riproaring adventure of The Ghost Ship, it’s still an enthralling and satisfying conclusion to the series.
Suzanne’s search for the truth about what happened to her forbear, Louise Reydon-Joubert (the infamous captain of the vessel known as the ‘Ghost Ship’) after she arrived in Cape Town, involves a perilous voyage of her own and a journey to the interior of a country in which relations between settlers and the indigenous population are fragile and likely to explode at any moment.
The author’s reasearch is always second to none, and as in all her novels, the period setting is wonderfully evoked so that you can imagine yourself walking the streets of early Cape Town or traversing the interior of the country dodging jaguars and maurauding baboons.
Suzanne’s quest is partly successful, although not before she has experienced great danger, but still leaves many unanswered questions about Louise’s life and the reason she stayed in South Africa. It’s only in the second part of the book that those gaps begin to be filled. I used to think the secret diary a convenient trope of historical fiction but, of course, for many women living in earlier times a journal was the only medium through which they could document events in their lives or express their feelings, so I greet its use by authors with more generosity these days.
Isabelle’s financial situation, the result of an inheritance, may make her journey across the world more comfortable but it’s still a perilous one for a single woman travelling alone. It requires her to marshall all the courage and independence of spirit of her female forbears because when she embarks on her enquiries in Cape Town she finds the legacy of that rivalry I mentioned at the beginning still persists. And what she discovers is a story of violence but also of an intense and loving relationship that could only flourish beyond the fringes of society.
The book’s finale reflects the author’s own passion for bringing the achievements of women, past and present, out of the shadows and into the light.
I would have loved to learn more about the latter years of Suzanne’s life, which is rather glossed over in the book. Perhaps the author is saving that for a companion novel? Although The Map of Bones doesn’t have quite the riproaring adventure of The Ghost Ship, it’s still an enthralling and satisfying conclusion to the series.
October 11, 2024
Its a bit of a double edged sword reading The Map of Bones, I went from being super excited to read the final book to despair that this is the end of this amazing series. So, this book follows three of the Joubert women; in 1688 Suzanne, cousin to Louise Reydon-Joubert, sails with her grandmother to South Africa to find out what happened to Louise, in doing so we learn more about Louise’s story. In 1862 another Joubert woman, Isabella, ventures to South Africa in search of her ancestors to record their stories for her family archives.
Kate Mosse is a tour de force in the literary world, especially about bringing women’s stories to the reader. Whilst these are not real historical figures, she uses them to show how women were treated in history, and the strength of these women. Suzanne and her grandmother Flora, are again being persuecuted as Huguenot’s in France, and after a brutal attack they get on a ship to South Africa. Like her ancestors, Suzanne has a determination about her, she will not let the attack define her, and is dogged in wanting to find out what happened to Louise, whose story was told in the previous book The Ghost Ship. Like Louise she goes on a perilous journey to search for answers, putting herself in danger in her search for the truth. In 1862, Isabelle does the same journey as her two ancestors, and even after nearly two hundred years there are still thost that see the Joubert women as a danger.
It is not just through the three Joubert women that we learn of women’s roles in the new colony of South Africa, there are plenty of other fascinating female characters. There were the orphans taken over to marry the dutch settlers, the native midwives and servants and those women coming to start a new life with their husbands. As always Kate Mosse’s research is impressive and detailed. From 1682 to 1862 she takes us on a journey throught the colonisation of South Africa, by the Dutch and the English, the good and the bad. In 1682 it is more primitive, especially away from the main colony of the Cape. This is an exapnsive landscape, the land is tough and hard to farm, their is always danger from the wild animals and from the indigenous citizens, whose land has been stolen. By 1862 the Cape is more westernised with buildings and towns influenced by the Dutch style. The difficult and shocking parts of colonisation is also delt with, the treatment of slaves who are beaten and raped, seen as just a commodity to be brought and sold. I really enjoyed her desciptive prose, painting a picture of the dramatic landscape, the wildness of the untouched land, the heat and the huge canyons, which must have been astonishing and shocking to those immigrants.
As you can probably tell, I absolutely adored reading The Map of Bones. I was pulled into the world of Suzanne, Louise and Isabelle, and became immersed in their lives. There is no doubt for me that this is a truely epic read, the plot covers over two hundred years in the Joubert families history, and taking us from France to Amsterdam to South Africa and finally to England. The Map of Bones is the perfect conclusion to the Joubert Family Chronicles, and I thing this series maybe Kate Mosse’s Magnus Opus, and a must read for all historical fiction fans.
Kate Mosse is a tour de force in the literary world, especially about bringing women’s stories to the reader. Whilst these are not real historical figures, she uses them to show how women were treated in history, and the strength of these women. Suzanne and her grandmother Flora, are again being persuecuted as Huguenot’s in France, and after a brutal attack they get on a ship to South Africa. Like her ancestors, Suzanne has a determination about her, she will not let the attack define her, and is dogged in wanting to find out what happened to Louise, whose story was told in the previous book The Ghost Ship. Like Louise she goes on a perilous journey to search for answers, putting herself in danger in her search for the truth. In 1862, Isabelle does the same journey as her two ancestors, and even after nearly two hundred years there are still thost that see the Joubert women as a danger.
It is not just through the three Joubert women that we learn of women’s roles in the new colony of South Africa, there are plenty of other fascinating female characters. There were the orphans taken over to marry the dutch settlers, the native midwives and servants and those women coming to start a new life with their husbands. As always Kate Mosse’s research is impressive and detailed. From 1682 to 1862 she takes us on a journey throught the colonisation of South Africa, by the Dutch and the English, the good and the bad. In 1682 it is more primitive, especially away from the main colony of the Cape. This is an exapnsive landscape, the land is tough and hard to farm, their is always danger from the wild animals and from the indigenous citizens, whose land has been stolen. By 1862 the Cape is more westernised with buildings and towns influenced by the Dutch style. The difficult and shocking parts of colonisation is also delt with, the treatment of slaves who are beaten and raped, seen as just a commodity to be brought and sold. I really enjoyed her desciptive prose, painting a picture of the dramatic landscape, the wildness of the untouched land, the heat and the huge canyons, which must have been astonishing and shocking to those immigrants.
As you can probably tell, I absolutely adored reading The Map of Bones. I was pulled into the world of Suzanne, Louise and Isabelle, and became immersed in their lives. There is no doubt for me that this is a truely epic read, the plot covers over two hundred years in the Joubert families history, and taking us from France to Amsterdam to South Africa and finally to England. The Map of Bones is the perfect conclusion to the Joubert Family Chronicles, and I thing this series maybe Kate Mosse’s Magnus Opus, and a must read for all historical fiction fans.
November 20, 2024
Don't get me wrong, I like the ending to this series, but this book felt a bit rushed. It read like the author was trying to squeeze two whole books in less than 500 pages. Suzanne's story felt a lot more full and explored, but Isabelle's story was really quick and felt rushed.
I loved that we now know the end of Louise's story, but other than that I simply don't think this volume lives up to the first three quality-wise. Tbh this is a 3 star story for me but with the Louise bits I can't find it in my heart to give it less than four.
I loved that we now know the end of Louise's story, but other than that I simply don't think this volume lives up to the first three quality-wise. Tbh this is a 3 star story for me but with the Louise bits I can't find it in my heart to give it less than four.
October 17, 2024
Such a good conclusion to the story. I'm still sad it is the last one 😔
October 12, 2024
After a personal trauma, Suzanne Joubert travels with her grandmother Florence to Southern Africa, a Dutch colony hosting French refugees – mostly Huguenots. Besides finding a new home, Suzanne wants to find out the truth about Louise Joubert-Reydon, who disappeared several decades ago after arriving in the same country. 100 years later, Isabelle Lepard also travels to South Africa to write down Louise’s story.
The map of bones is the fourth and final book in The Joubert Family Chronicles and picks up where the previous book – The ghost ship – left off. Louise Joubert disappeared along with her companion Gilles Barenton and half-brother Philippe Vidal on the African coast. We are introduced to Suzanne, the granddaughter of Florence, Louise’s niece. They arrive in South Africa and we are introduced to life in the colony.
A second perspective is that of Isabelle Lepard, another woman of the family, who also goes to South Africa in search of a dark secret belonging to Louise and Gilles and this causes yet another fued between two families. In between, there are several other plotlines within Suzanne and Isabelle’s story, including the relationship between the original Khoi people and the settlers.
I enjoyes this series a lot, they are all pageturners. Although I must admit that I found Suzanne’s story more interesting than that of Isabelle. Isabelle’s storyline with the Barentons and the tension created did not end with such a climax as I anticipated. I did enjoy reading about South Africa during this period and following the path of Huguenot refugees.
This novel forms a nice ending for the series, but the first two books still remain my favorites. And I also liked it that Louise’s story from book three was now nicely wrapped up. However, I highly recommend to start with The burning chambers. I am curious to see what Kate Mosse will write next, as I loved her last four books.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Suzanne Joubert reist na een persoonlijk drama met haar grootmoeder Florence naar de Kaap der Goede Hoop, een Nederlandse kolonie die Franse vluchtelingen - voornamelijk Hugenoten - ontvangt. Naast een nieuwe thuis vinden wil Suzanne ook de waarheid over Louise Joubert te weten komen, zij verdween een aantal decennia geleden na haar aankomst in Zuid-Afrika. 100 jaar later reist ook Isabelle Lepard naar Zuid-Afrika om Louise's verhaal op te schrijven.
The map of bones is het vierde en laatste boek in The Joubert Family Chronicles en pikt op waar het vorige boek - The ghost ship - strandde. Letterlijk want Louise verdween samen met haar compagnon Gilles Barenton en halfbroer Philippe Vidal aan de Afrikaanse kust. We maken kennis met Suzanne, de kleindochter van Florence Joubert, de nicht van Louise. Zij komen aan in Zuid-Afrika en we maken kennis met het leven in de kolonie.
Een tweede perspectief is dat van Isabelle Lepard, nog een vrouw uit de familie, die ook in Zuid-Afrika op zoek gaat naar een donker geheim van Louise en Gilles en zo opnieuw een tweestrijd tussen families ontlokt. Tussendoor zijn er nog enkele andere plotlijnen binnen het verhaal van Suzanne en Isabelle, waaronder de relatie tussen de oorspronkelijke Khoi bevolking en de kolonisten.
Ik hou van deze serie en ben dus ook door dit boek gevlogen. Al moet ik toegeven dat ik vooral Suzanne's verhaal interessant vond. Dat van Louise is vooral heel symbolisch, maar de verhaallijn met de Barentons en de spanning die daar werd gecreëerd werd niet echt ingelost door het verhaal. Ik vond het wel fijn om te lezen over Zuid-Afrika in die periode en om het pad van Hugenootse vluchtelingen te volgen.
Het boek is een pageturner en vormt een mooi einde voor de serie, maar de eerste twee boeken blijven toch mijn favorieten. Al moet ik ook wel toegeven dat ik het leuk vond dat Louise haar verhaal uit boek drie nu mooi was afgerond.
Ik ben benieuwd dat Kate Mosse hierna gaat schrijven. Deze boek raad ik dus zeker aan.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
The map of bones is the fourth and final book in The Joubert Family Chronicles and picks up where the previous book – The ghost ship – left off. Louise Joubert disappeared along with her companion Gilles Barenton and half-brother Philippe Vidal on the African coast. We are introduced to Suzanne, the granddaughter of Florence, Louise’s niece. They arrive in South Africa and we are introduced to life in the colony.
A second perspective is that of Isabelle Lepard, another woman of the family, who also goes to South Africa in search of a dark secret belonging to Louise and Gilles and this causes yet another fued between two families. In between, there are several other plotlines within Suzanne and Isabelle’s story, including the relationship between the original Khoi people and the settlers.
I enjoyes this series a lot, they are all pageturners. Although I must admit that I found Suzanne’s story more interesting than that of Isabelle. Isabelle’s storyline with the Barentons and the tension created did not end with such a climax as I anticipated. I did enjoy reading about South Africa during this period and following the path of Huguenot refugees.
This novel forms a nice ending for the series, but the first two books still remain my favorites. And I also liked it that Louise’s story from book three was now nicely wrapped up. However, I highly recommend to start with The burning chambers. I am curious to see what Kate Mosse will write next, as I loved her last four books.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Dutch review:
Suzanne Joubert reist na een persoonlijk drama met haar grootmoeder Florence naar de Kaap der Goede Hoop, een Nederlandse kolonie die Franse vluchtelingen - voornamelijk Hugenoten - ontvangt. Naast een nieuwe thuis vinden wil Suzanne ook de waarheid over Louise Joubert te weten komen, zij verdween een aantal decennia geleden na haar aankomst in Zuid-Afrika. 100 jaar later reist ook Isabelle Lepard naar Zuid-Afrika om Louise's verhaal op te schrijven.
The map of bones is het vierde en laatste boek in The Joubert Family Chronicles en pikt op waar het vorige boek - The ghost ship - strandde. Letterlijk want Louise verdween samen met haar compagnon Gilles Barenton en halfbroer Philippe Vidal aan de Afrikaanse kust. We maken kennis met Suzanne, de kleindochter van Florence Joubert, de nicht van Louise. Zij komen aan in Zuid-Afrika en we maken kennis met het leven in de kolonie.
Een tweede perspectief is dat van Isabelle Lepard, nog een vrouw uit de familie, die ook in Zuid-Afrika op zoek gaat naar een donker geheim van Louise en Gilles en zo opnieuw een tweestrijd tussen families ontlokt. Tussendoor zijn er nog enkele andere plotlijnen binnen het verhaal van Suzanne en Isabelle, waaronder de relatie tussen de oorspronkelijke Khoi bevolking en de kolonisten.
Ik hou van deze serie en ben dus ook door dit boek gevlogen. Al moet ik toegeven dat ik vooral Suzanne's verhaal interessant vond. Dat van Louise is vooral heel symbolisch, maar de verhaallijn met de Barentons en de spanning die daar werd gecreëerd werd niet echt ingelost door het verhaal. Ik vond het wel fijn om te lezen over Zuid-Afrika in die periode en om het pad van Hugenootse vluchtelingen te volgen.
Het boek is een pageturner en vormt een mooi einde voor de serie, maar de eerste twee boeken blijven toch mijn favorieten. Al moet ik ook wel toegeven dat ik het leuk vond dat Louise haar verhaal uit boek drie nu mooi was afgerond.
Ik ben benieuwd dat Kate Mosse hierna gaat schrijven. Deze boek raad ik dus zeker aan.
Bedankt aan Netgalley en de uitgever voor een exemplaar van dit boek in ruil voor mijn eerlijke mening.
February 2, 2025
A wonderful conclusion the the Joubert Family Chronicles. The 4th instalment is the round up of all the loose ends from the previous book. Even though we jump forward again in time, we learn about what happened to Louise Reydon Joubert - where the last book so abdruptly ended.
We are now in South Africa in the 1800s. Kate Mosse does what she does best, relays the history of the times and communities through characters that leap off the page, that stay with you for years after the last page of the book has been turned.
A wonderful read as always.
We are now in South Africa in the 1800s. Kate Mosse does what she does best, relays the history of the times and communities through characters that leap off the page, that stay with you for years after the last page of the book has been turned.
A wonderful read as always.
January 25, 2025
Captivating, immersive, and memorable!
The Map of Bones is an atmospheric, fascinating tale that picks up a few decades after The Ghost Ship left off, sweeping us to the Cape of Good Hope in the late 1600s and into the life of the fierce, independent Suzanne Joubert who, after arriving as a refugee on the shores of South Africa is bound and determined to do whatever it takes, even amongst the hostility and danger that surrounds her, to once and for all discover the fate of her infamous ancestor Louise Reydon-Joubert, the she-captain of the Ghost Ship.
The prose is rich and expressive. The characters are persistent, resilient, and strong. And the plot is a passionate, engrossing quest full of life, loss, love, courage, action, adventure, family, friendship, sacrifice, savagery, injustice, and revelations.
Overall, The Map of Bones is the alluring, insightful, stunning conclusion to The Joubert Family Chronicles by Mosse which spectacularly highlights her incredible knowledge and research into the vivid, tragic history of the Huguenots.
The Map of Bones is an atmospheric, fascinating tale that picks up a few decades after The Ghost Ship left off, sweeping us to the Cape of Good Hope in the late 1600s and into the life of the fierce, independent Suzanne Joubert who, after arriving as a refugee on the shores of South Africa is bound and determined to do whatever it takes, even amongst the hostility and danger that surrounds her, to once and for all discover the fate of her infamous ancestor Louise Reydon-Joubert, the she-captain of the Ghost Ship.
The prose is rich and expressive. The characters are persistent, resilient, and strong. And the plot is a passionate, engrossing quest full of life, loss, love, courage, action, adventure, family, friendship, sacrifice, savagery, injustice, and revelations.
Overall, The Map of Bones is the alluring, insightful, stunning conclusion to The Joubert Family Chronicles by Mosse which spectacularly highlights her incredible knowledge and research into the vivid, tragic history of the Huguenots.
November 15, 2024
An excellent ending to the Joubert saga.
February 16, 2025
Fantastic end to the series. The Joubert chronicles are over but I will always remember the Joubert women.
January 16, 2025
The finale to the trilogy, except it became four books. So good I shall read them all again. They started in carcasonne and ended in Africa. A gripping tale of two families, well written.
August 28, 2024
I have loved this series following the lives of the women in the Joubert family which moves from France to Holland and finally to South Africa and London.
In the last book the reader was treated to the swashbuckling tale of Louise Reydon Joubert, a captain of a pirate ship, attacking slave traders but it was not clear what happened to her at the end thus leading on to this current book.
In “The Map of Bones” we discover her life after landing in South Africa with her partner Gilles. Spanning hundreds of years this book focuses on Suzanne Joubert who traces her ancestor’s life in the Cape and tries to discover what happened to Louise. 80 years after her disappearance. It is 1687 and Suzanne and her grandmother flee to Holland after a terrible attack on them in France, perpetrated due to their Huguenot beliefs.
From Holland they sail to South Africa and Suzanne searches for references to Louise who made the same journey many years earlier.
The book also features a section set in the 1870s when Isabelle, another Joubert descendant, seeks to fill in the gaps in Suzanne’s knowledge, written down in her notebooks.
There is adventure, romance and much excitement in this extraordinarily well researched book. It was so interesting to read about life in South Africa when the first settlers arrived.
I loved the strong and brave female characters Louise, Suzanne and Isabelle, all women ahead of their own times. They are living the lives they want to live despite being in dangerous situations and in Suzanne’s case being persecuted for religious reasons.
Kate Mosse certainly knows how to tell a story which is both gripping and entertaining. It is a real page turner and I raced through it, determined to find out what happened to all the main protagonists.
I am only sad that this is to be the last book in the Joubert Chronicles but am hopeful that Kate Mosse will produce another wonderful series in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
In the last book the reader was treated to the swashbuckling tale of Louise Reydon Joubert, a captain of a pirate ship, attacking slave traders but it was not clear what happened to her at the end thus leading on to this current book.
In “The Map of Bones” we discover her life after landing in South Africa with her partner Gilles. Spanning hundreds of years this book focuses on Suzanne Joubert who traces her ancestor’s life in the Cape and tries to discover what happened to Louise. 80 years after her disappearance. It is 1687 and Suzanne and her grandmother flee to Holland after a terrible attack on them in France, perpetrated due to their Huguenot beliefs.
From Holland they sail to South Africa and Suzanne searches for references to Louise who made the same journey many years earlier.
The book also features a section set in the 1870s when Isabelle, another Joubert descendant, seeks to fill in the gaps in Suzanne’s knowledge, written down in her notebooks.
There is adventure, romance and much excitement in this extraordinarily well researched book. It was so interesting to read about life in South Africa when the first settlers arrived.
I loved the strong and brave female characters Louise, Suzanne and Isabelle, all women ahead of their own times. They are living the lives they want to live despite being in dangerous situations and in Suzanne’s case being persecuted for religious reasons.
Kate Mosse certainly knows how to tell a story which is both gripping and entertaining. It is a real page turner and I raced through it, determined to find out what happened to all the main protagonists.
I am only sad that this is to be the last book in the Joubert Chronicles but am hopeful that Kate Mosse will produce another wonderful series in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.
September 17, 2024
The Map of Bones by Kate Mosse
I have treasured this series about the Joubert Family and enjoyed every step of their journey from France to Amsterdam, chasing pirates across the ocean and finally ending up in Africa. I adored the story of Louise Joubert in the novel Ghost Ship and was delighted to be able to discover what happened to her after we left her at the end of the last novel. Each book has treated us to the story of strong, independent women and this final book is no exception.
This story opens with the awful events which cause Suzanne and her grandmother to flee their home and set off for South Africa. When Suzanne arrives it is obvious she has something else on her mind apart from settling in Africa - she is on a quest to find out what happened to her ancestor Louise Joubert after she landed in Africa.
Despite the harsh conditions, and the unwillingness of men to assist her, Suzanne pursues her quest and her story is one of courage and persistence. The book is extremely well researched as with all of Kate Mosse’s previous novels and it was a pleasure to immerse myself in the life of the Joubert Family. There is also a section of the story which takes the family story forward to the 1870’s when another member of the family tries to fill in any gaps in the story which Suzanne uncovered.
The book is a real page turner and I almost wanted to slow down so that I didn’t finish the book too quickly. I was pleased to discover what happened to Louise Joubert but sad that this wonderful series is at an end. I look forward to where Kate Mosse will take her readers for their next adventure. I will be recommending the book to all of my book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
I have treasured this series about the Joubert Family and enjoyed every step of their journey from France to Amsterdam, chasing pirates across the ocean and finally ending up in Africa. I adored the story of Louise Joubert in the novel Ghost Ship and was delighted to be able to discover what happened to her after we left her at the end of the last novel. Each book has treated us to the story of strong, independent women and this final book is no exception.
This story opens with the awful events which cause Suzanne and her grandmother to flee their home and set off for South Africa. When Suzanne arrives it is obvious she has something else on her mind apart from settling in Africa - she is on a quest to find out what happened to her ancestor Louise Joubert after she landed in Africa.
Despite the harsh conditions, and the unwillingness of men to assist her, Suzanne pursues her quest and her story is one of courage and persistence. The book is extremely well researched as with all of Kate Mosse’s previous novels and it was a pleasure to immerse myself in the life of the Joubert Family. There is also a section of the story which takes the family story forward to the 1870’s when another member of the family tries to fill in any gaps in the story which Suzanne uncovered.
The book is a real page turner and I almost wanted to slow down so that I didn’t finish the book too quickly. I was pleased to discover what happened to Louise Joubert but sad that this wonderful series is at an end. I look forward to where Kate Mosse will take her readers for their next adventure. I will be recommending the book to all of my book groups and would like to thank the author, the publishers and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the book in return for an honest review.
December 23, 2024
The Map of Bones is the fourth and final book in the Joubert Family Chronicles, “ an epic multi-generational historical saga, sweeping from France to South Africa, via Amsterdam and the Canary Islands.” I absolutely loved the entire series, and it was wonderful to be back with this magnificent family full of warrior women who carve their own paths through history.
I listened to this one as an audiobook. It takes place in the 1600s and 1800s in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
We follow Suzanne Joubert who flees persecution and personal trauma in France and sails, with her grandmother, to the Cape. She’s on a mission to find out what happened to her ancestor, Louise Reydon-Joubert. I adored reading about the strong-willed Louise in the third book of the series, The Ghost Ship, and was delighted that she features so prominently here. Louise, a courageous unconventional woman captained her own ship in the early 1600s, waging war against slavers. We’re also constantly reminded of other long-gone members of this great Huguenot family who I remember so vividly despite having read about them several years ago.
The Map of Bones reads almost like a mystery thriller as Suzanne, and then, two hundred years later, Isabelle, seek to unearth what happened to Louise, about whom nothing has been heard since she disappeared upon reaching the Cape of Good Hope in the early 1600s. It turns out to be a major quest, involving adventure, misfortune and grave danger.
Kate Mosse’s brilliant way with words, and her rich, evocative descriptions place you right there in the story: you’re in that filthy tavern, in those chaotic streets and walking tensely through the African terrain.
I highly recommend this series, which is best read in sequence. The Map of Bones, in particular, would lose much of its magic if read as a standalone.
I listened to this one as an audiobook. It takes place in the 1600s and 1800s in the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.
We follow Suzanne Joubert who flees persecution and personal trauma in France and sails, with her grandmother, to the Cape. She’s on a mission to find out what happened to her ancestor, Louise Reydon-Joubert. I adored reading about the strong-willed Louise in the third book of the series, The Ghost Ship, and was delighted that she features so prominently here. Louise, a courageous unconventional woman captained her own ship in the early 1600s, waging war against slavers. We’re also constantly reminded of other long-gone members of this great Huguenot family who I remember so vividly despite having read about them several years ago.
The Map of Bones reads almost like a mystery thriller as Suzanne, and then, two hundred years later, Isabelle, seek to unearth what happened to Louise, about whom nothing has been heard since she disappeared upon reaching the Cape of Good Hope in the early 1600s. It turns out to be a major quest, involving adventure, misfortune and grave danger.
Kate Mosse’s brilliant way with words, and her rich, evocative descriptions place you right there in the story: you’re in that filthy tavern, in those chaotic streets and walking tensely through the African terrain.
I highly recommend this series, which is best read in sequence. The Map of Bones, in particular, would lose much of its magic if read as a standalone.
August 26, 2024
Although the fourth in a series about the Joubert family this book can be read as a stand alone, especially for anyone interested in the history of South Africa. The story, told in two time lines begins in 1688 when Suzanne Joubert, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France, arrives in the Dutch territory of Cape Town, searching for her family history. Then in 1862, Isabelle, one of Suzanne's descendants makes the same journey seeking more answers to the origins of their family.
For me the most interesting aspects of the book were the historical details of setting up of the colony, day to day life and the relationship the Dutch and then the English had with those who had lived there before. The brutality and difficulties of daily life are well described and brought to life as Suzanne and then Isabelle leave the settlement and head into the interior of the country to discover what befell their ancestors.
The book refers to earlier events but with enough information for it not to matter if the previous novels have not been read. I found it was totally absorbed with Suzanne's story and somewhat disappointed when it switched to Isabelle's - I wasn't so invested in her mission - and for that reason I only gave the book four stars rather than five.
I loved the gusty female characters and the details of early life in the colony, and having been several times to Cape Town and the surrounds I could imagine much of what the author was describing. I may well, at some point, try and catch up on the earlier novels.
With thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an early copy in return for an honest review.
For me the most interesting aspects of the book were the historical details of setting up of the colony, day to day life and the relationship the Dutch and then the English had with those who had lived there before. The brutality and difficulties of daily life are well described and brought to life as Suzanne and then Isabelle leave the settlement and head into the interior of the country to discover what befell their ancestors.
The book refers to earlier events but with enough information for it not to matter if the previous novels have not been read. I found it was totally absorbed with Suzanne's story and somewhat disappointed when it switched to Isabelle's - I wasn't so invested in her mission - and for that reason I only gave the book four stars rather than five.
I loved the gusty female characters and the details of early life in the colony, and having been several times to Cape Town and the surrounds I could imagine much of what the author was describing. I may well, at some point, try and catch up on the earlier novels.
With thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an early copy in return for an honest review.
October 31, 2024
The Map of Bones is Kate Mosse’s conclusion to the Joubert family chronicles - an epic tale that spans centuries and continents following French Huguenot religious refugees as they fled persecution.
My followers may remember my review of the Ghost Ship, that follows the story of Louise, the granddaughter of the original characters Minou and Piet. This book picks up this story of Louise and her piratical ways but ends in a mystery - which Louise’s descendants in the 17th and 19th century try to unravel whilst dealing with ghosts of their own.
What I love about Mosse’s writing is how easily she brings complex women characters to life with her stories - they are of their time but show such determination and I liked how they all took strength from their pasts and the actions and character of their families.
This series has shed so much light on a people I knew little about, and I found their struggle to find a place across time and the world an important reminder of the humanity that often gets lost in the discourse about people seeking asylum from persecution. The complexities and the horrors of colonisation were also sensitively handled - the Dutch colonies in South Africa where much of the story takes place are if course already inhabited, and I was glad that Mosse included the characters of Herry and Tia, and members of the Goringhaiqua clan so that we could hear from black voices to better understand the pain and suffering that was caused by European settlers.
Thank you to the publishers @panmacmillan and @katemossewriter for an advanced copy of the book. The Map of Bones is out now!
My followers may remember my review of the Ghost Ship, that follows the story of Louise, the granddaughter of the original characters Minou and Piet. This book picks up this story of Louise and her piratical ways but ends in a mystery - which Louise’s descendants in the 17th and 19th century try to unravel whilst dealing with ghosts of their own.
What I love about Mosse’s writing is how easily she brings complex women characters to life with her stories - they are of their time but show such determination and I liked how they all took strength from their pasts and the actions and character of their families.
This series has shed so much light on a people I knew little about, and I found their struggle to find a place across time and the world an important reminder of the humanity that often gets lost in the discourse about people seeking asylum from persecution. The complexities and the horrors of colonisation were also sensitively handled - the Dutch colonies in South Africa where much of the story takes place are if course already inhabited, and I was glad that Mosse included the characters of Herry and Tia, and members of the Goringhaiqua clan so that we could hear from black voices to better understand the pain and suffering that was caused by European settlers.
Thank you to the publishers @panmacmillan and @katemossewriter for an advanced copy of the book. The Map of Bones is out now!
January 13, 2025
‘𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘹𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘺. 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦, 𝘗𝘶𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵, 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘱𝘦 – 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, ��𝘧 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘺 𝘏𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺.’
It’s always bittersweet when you finish a book series and this was no different. It’s like saying goodbye to a cherished family member. The end of so many memories, good times, bad times, battles won & lost. But you know they will always be a part of you. Buried deep in your soul, there when you need them most. Thanks Kate Mosse for sharing this journey with is. What a fabulous ride. I feel like I know the Joubert women. The story you have created will stay with me forever.
This story was made even more realistic for me from having visited the amazing castle of Carcassonne but took me much further than I ever thought. I know have a deeper understanding of the Canary Islands, the Barbary Coast, Amsterdam & Cape Town. It has been a joy to follow the Joubert women on this adventure through place & time.
A solid 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Lovers of Historical Fiction & female leads will love this.
It’s always bittersweet when you finish a book series and this was no different. It’s like saying goodbye to a cherished family member. The end of so many memories, good times, bad times, battles won & lost. But you know they will always be a part of you. Buried deep in your soul, there when you need them most. Thanks Kate Mosse for sharing this journey with is. What a fabulous ride. I feel like I know the Joubert women. The story you have created will stay with me forever.
This story was made even more realistic for me from having visited the amazing castle of Carcassonne but took me much further than I ever thought. I know have a deeper understanding of the Canary Islands, the Barbary Coast, Amsterdam & Cape Town. It has been a joy to follow the Joubert women on this adventure through place & time.
A solid 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Lovers of Historical Fiction & female leads will love this.
September 1, 2024
I’ve been following the Joubert Family Chronicles from the start and I’m happy to say Kate Mosse wraps it up beautifully. The Map of Bones follows two more women of the family - Suzanne as she travels to South Africa in 1688 to discover what happened to her ancestor, Louise Reydon Joubert, and finally Isabelle Lepard who makes the same journey in the 1800s to fill in the blanks of the family history. This is a hugely enjoyable book, full of good characters and a well paced story.
The whole series has been a wonderful collection of female characters throughout Huguenot history, the very people who are often left out of the history books. Each one has been fascinating in their own right and The Map of Bones continues that with Suzanne and Isabelle. None of them have been written to appear more modern, just as strong women still operating in the confines and belief systems of the time, and that helps make them more believable.
Kate Mosse is also wonderful at a sense of place. France, the Netherlands and life at sea have all been well represented in the past and the same is true here of South Africa. It’s easy to feel the heat and imagine the landscape and hardships faced by these new arrivals.
This book could be read alone but will certainly be better enjoyed as part of the series so for anyone coming to it afresh, I thoroughly recommend that you go back to the start and enjoy all four books of the series in turn.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
The whole series has been a wonderful collection of female characters throughout Huguenot history, the very people who are often left out of the history books. Each one has been fascinating in their own right and The Map of Bones continues that with Suzanne and Isabelle. None of them have been written to appear more modern, just as strong women still operating in the confines and belief systems of the time, and that helps make them more believable.
Kate Mosse is also wonderful at a sense of place. France, the Netherlands and life at sea have all been well represented in the past and the same is true here of South Africa. It’s easy to feel the heat and imagine the landscape and hardships faced by these new arrivals.
This book could be read alone but will certainly be better enjoyed as part of the series so for anyone coming to it afresh, I thoroughly recommend that you go back to the start and enjoy all four books of the series in turn.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
January 4, 2025
A absolutely mammoth book to read.
Kate Mosse has written unbelievable ending into this book series of The Joubert Family !
The first part of the book is set in the year of 1688 as Suzanne, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France arrives in search of her cousin, the notorious she captain a pirate commander Louise who landed at the Cape of Good Hope on the 60 years before and then disappeared..
Her journey was full of danger and she end up being shipwrecked years later. Suzanne was a survivor.
The next part of the book was set in 1862 and it was 180 years after Suzanne had started her perilous journey.
Now another member of the Joubert family Isabelle Lepard also courageous has journey to the small frontier town in search of a long lost relations . Her intention was to put the woman of her family back into history books, but she quickly discovers that the crimes and charges the past will shadow the present and she now faces a weight against time. She discovered the truth and escape with a life.
Both Isabelle and Suzanne are wonderfully strong characters, determined and as from the previous books they are all admirable and likeable characters.
The passion they have in trying to find out their family history is a major part of the book and I love the devotion they show to the past.
Kate Mosse has yet again written a book that has you wanting to read it non-stop to discover the past and enjoy the future.
I'm sad to see the last of the books finishing the series as I have really enjoyed reading every book of this for Book series.
Kate Mosse has written unbelievable ending into this book series of The Joubert Family !
The first part of the book is set in the year of 1688 as Suzanne, a Huguenot refugee from war-torn France arrives in search of her cousin, the notorious she captain a pirate commander Louise who landed at the Cape of Good Hope on the 60 years before and then disappeared..
Her journey was full of danger and she end up being shipwrecked years later. Suzanne was a survivor.
The next part of the book was set in 1862 and it was 180 years after Suzanne had started her perilous journey.
Now another member of the Joubert family Isabelle Lepard also courageous has journey to the small frontier town in search of a long lost relations . Her intention was to put the woman of her family back into history books, but she quickly discovers that the crimes and charges the past will shadow the present and she now faces a weight against time. She discovered the truth and escape with a life.
Both Isabelle and Suzanne are wonderfully strong characters, determined and as from the previous books they are all admirable and likeable characters.
The passion they have in trying to find out their family history is a major part of the book and I love the devotion they show to the past.
Kate Mosse has yet again written a book that has you wanting to read it non-stop to discover the past and enjoy the future.
I'm sad to see the last of the books finishing the series as I have really enjoyed reading every book of this for Book series.
Read
October 31, 2024I’ve not read the previous novels in this series of stories but had heard good things about the author.i therefore decided to give this one a read when it appeared on the UK.
I need to worried about not reading the previous books as this book stands well on its own. I think if you read the other books you will begin to feel a kinship with the women that have followed throughout the story. This one picks up where the last one left off with a , adventurous young woman in the 1680s emigrating from Holland to South Africa to escape religious persecution. In the novel, we meet her descendant equally courageous and independent who in the 1860s travels again back to South Africa to find out more details about her history
This is a well written historical novel using fictitious characters. The author does not have to stick to strict historical facts and is able to develop interesting storylines that keep you entertained.
The author has a clean clear easily read writing star which flows nicely. The novel was a relaxing read
I’d recommend this novel for two lovers of historical novels, particularly where there is good character development as well as an interesting storyline
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for a review the book was publishing in the UK on the 10th of October 2024 by Pan McMillan
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK.
I need to worried about not reading the previous books as this book stands well on its own. I think if you read the other books you will begin to feel a kinship with the women that have followed throughout the story. This one picks up where the last one left off with a , adventurous young woman in the 1680s emigrating from Holland to South Africa to escape religious persecution. In the novel, we meet her descendant equally courageous and independent who in the 1860s travels again back to South Africa to find out more details about her history
This is a well written historical novel using fictitious characters. The author does not have to stick to strict historical facts and is able to develop interesting storylines that keep you entertained.
The author has a clean clear easily read writing star which flows nicely. The novel was a relaxing read
I’d recommend this novel for two lovers of historical novels, particularly where there is good character development as well as an interesting storyline
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for a review the book was publishing in the UK on the 10th of October 2024 by Pan McMillan
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.wordpress.com. It will also appear on Amazon UK.
August 13, 2024
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The Map of Bones continues the story of the She- Pirate from The Ghost Ship( review here )Louise Joubert and concludes the saga of the Joubert women- a story which spans several generations, and we finally find out who the identity of the kidnapped woman introduced in the earlier books.
As with all of Kate Mosse’s books, the story is rich with historical detail, but this never slows the pace or action. The book is mainly based in an early South Africa where Huguenots have sought refuge from persecution. The story focuses on another strong and independent Joubert woman, Suzanne- a descendent of Minou from The Burning Chamber. But this book felt a lot darker and more tense than the other books.
Suzanne herself is trying to forget her own trauma while investigating what happened to Louise and Giles, sometimes putting herself in danger in a hostile world.
This book can be read as a standalone, the author’s weaves in relevant details from the previous book into the story but I would recommend reading all the books in the series to truly enjoy the conclusion. I found Isabelle Joubert Lepard, the last Joubert woman journey to the discover the truth particular satisfying.
The Map of Bones continues the story of the She- Pirate from The Ghost Ship( review here )Louise Joubert and concludes the saga of the Joubert women- a story which spans several generations, and we finally find out who the identity of the kidnapped woman introduced in the earlier books.
As with all of Kate Mosse’s books, the story is rich with historical detail, but this never slows the pace or action. The book is mainly based in an early South Africa where Huguenots have sought refuge from persecution. The story focuses on another strong and independent Joubert woman, Suzanne- a descendent of Minou from The Burning Chamber. But this book felt a lot darker and more tense than the other books.
Suzanne herself is trying to forget her own trauma while investigating what happened to Louise and Giles, sometimes putting herself in danger in a hostile world.
This book can be read as a standalone, the author’s weaves in relevant details from the previous book into the story but I would recommend reading all the books in the series to truly enjoy the conclusion. I found Isabelle Joubert Lepard, the last Joubert woman journey to the discover the truth particular satisfying.
August 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and PanMacmillan for the arc.
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is the final volume of the Joubert Family Chronicles, but it can be read as a standalone novel (I haven’t read any of the three previous volumes and didn’t feel the reading experience was adversely affected by not having any background to the story). It’s difficult to give much of a summary of the story without giving massive spoilers, but in a nutshell it covers the life of Suzanne, a French Huguenot refugee, as she escapes persecution and tries to recover from trauma by starting a new life in South Africa, tracing part of her family history in the process.
Mosse is an expert storyteller, and on the whole I did enjoy this story, but for me it felt like there was too much reliance on neatly tying up different strands of the multiple story timelines and far too much filler text - large chunks of the narrative just revolving around the main characters hanging around waiting for things to happen. If you like descriptive historical fiction then you will probably really enjoy this story, but I prefer novels where the plot moves along more quickly.
3.5 stars rounded up.
This is the final volume of the Joubert Family Chronicles, but it can be read as a standalone novel (I haven’t read any of the three previous volumes and didn’t feel the reading experience was adversely affected by not having any background to the story). It’s difficult to give much of a summary of the story without giving massive spoilers, but in a nutshell it covers the life of Suzanne, a French Huguenot refugee, as she escapes persecution and tries to recover from trauma by starting a new life in South Africa, tracing part of her family history in the process.
Mosse is an expert storyteller, and on the whole I did enjoy this story, but for me it felt like there was too much reliance on neatly tying up different strands of the multiple story timelines and far too much filler text - large chunks of the narrative just revolving around the main characters hanging around waiting for things to happen. If you like descriptive historical fiction then you will probably really enjoy this story, but I prefer novels where the plot moves along more quickly.
October 24, 2024
You can never go wrong with a book by Kate Mosse. Her storytelling is a masterclass in captivating narratives and rich, intricate plots. I particularly recommend experiencing her work through the audiobook format. When the production is top-notch and the narrator brings the characters to life with their emotive delivery, it truly elevates the experience.
In this series, the characters of Suzzanne, Louise, and Isabelle stand out remarkably. Each character is well-developed, with complex backgrounds and motivations that draw you deeper into their individual journeys. I found myself completely immersed in their stories, feeling as though I was walking alongside them through their trials and triumphs.
The way the series unfolds is nothing short of brilliant, constructing a tapestry of emotions and connections that resonate long after you’ve turned the final page. The conclusion is particularly satisfying, tying up loose ends while allowing for reflection on the themes explored throughout. The final book is beautifully written, leaving a lasting impression that lingered with me for days. It’s an experience that every fan of rich storytelling should delve into.
In this series, the characters of Suzzanne, Louise, and Isabelle stand out remarkably. Each character is well-developed, with complex backgrounds and motivations that draw you deeper into their individual journeys. I found myself completely immersed in their stories, feeling as though I was walking alongside them through their trials and triumphs.
The way the series unfolds is nothing short of brilliant, constructing a tapestry of emotions and connections that resonate long after you’ve turned the final page. The conclusion is particularly satisfying, tying up loose ends while allowing for reflection on the themes explored throughout. The final book is beautifully written, leaving a lasting impression that lingered with me for days. It’s an experience that every fan of rich storytelling should delve into.
December 23, 2024
The conclusion of The Joubert family Chronicles does not disappoint with a wide- reaching final 460pages. As you would expect this is a multi-layered narrative. We follow Suzanne Joubert as she seeks information in 1688 about her ancestor Louise Reydon Joubert, who disappeared in the Western Cape in 1682. Isabelle Joubert Lepard is a young writer in 1862 trying to unravel the stories of her ancestors, whose diaries and family papers remain.
As the women’s stories are revealed, so they present the narrative of earlier family members - Minou, Marta, Alis and Cornelia, and the bitter Vidal-Joubert family rivalry.
It is important to understand what Mosse is trying to achieve - a palatable digest of Huguenot dispora, the personal stories of women in history so often forgotten, and an inspiring and realistic representation of the Western Cape. Other places carefully featured include Carcassonne,Amsterdam and London. She says in her Author’s note that the series of books have been twelve years in the making and that shows in the quality of research and authenticity of the characters.
Farewell, Jouberts, I shall miss you all but you will love long in my memory.
As the women’s stories are revealed, so they present the narrative of earlier family members - Minou, Marta, Alis and Cornelia, and the bitter Vidal-Joubert family rivalry.
It is important to understand what Mosse is trying to achieve - a palatable digest of Huguenot dispora, the personal stories of women in history so often forgotten, and an inspiring and realistic representation of the Western Cape. Other places carefully featured include Carcassonne,Amsterdam and London. She says in her Author’s note that the series of books have been twelve years in the making and that shows in the quality of research and authenticity of the characters.
Farewell, Jouberts, I shall miss you all but you will love long in my memory.
September 18, 2024
The Map of Bones is the last book in The Joubert Family Chronicles. It wrapped up with a fittingly beautiful ending and is one of my favourite series, I am so sad it has ended.
You can always rely on Kate to write strong female characters amazingly well and it is evident in this series. In each book you follow the journey of inspirational women from the fictional Joubert family who lived during various true historical events. The storytelling is incredibly rich, and a lot of in depth research has been carried out to make the characters feel real. There is adventure, romance, secrets and tragedy alongside lots of action and suspense! It kept me gripped!
I loved the characters Suzanne and Isabelle, they were so courageous! To join them both on their quest to find out what happened to Louise and Gilles from the previous book The Ghost Ship was an emotional ride that I throughly enjoyed.
If you like historical fiction that is gloriously atmospheric with an air of danger and mystery alongside admirable strong women then this is for you. Kate is one of my favourite writers and this series proves that she is one of the all time great storytellers.
You can always rely on Kate to write strong female characters amazingly well and it is evident in this series. In each book you follow the journey of inspirational women from the fictional Joubert family who lived during various true historical events. The storytelling is incredibly rich, and a lot of in depth research has been carried out to make the characters feel real. There is adventure, romance, secrets and tragedy alongside lots of action and suspense! It kept me gripped!
I loved the characters Suzanne and Isabelle, they were so courageous! To join them both on their quest to find out what happened to Louise and Gilles from the previous book The Ghost Ship was an emotional ride that I throughly enjoyed.
If you like historical fiction that is gloriously atmospheric with an air of danger and mystery alongside admirable strong women then this is for you. Kate is one of my favourite writers and this series proves that she is one of the all time great storytellers.
October 15, 2024
Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful book. It brings to an end the story of the Joubert Family as they escape persecution as Huguenots. I have enjoyed all the previous books in the series, but I think this surpasses them. Kate Mosse writes excellent historical fiction and puts together her extensive research skills to write an excellent story which is based around historical facts. The descriptions of the localities are amazing. South Africa in the 17th znd 19th centuries is a challenging environment for men and women,but particularly for the women who have travelled across the world. Suzanne had travelled with her grandmother from France to find out about her cousin Louise who had travelled there onboard her own ship. Louise appeared in the previous book The Ghost Ship.. All these ladies are very strong minded, independent women. That have been exceptionally well written. They endure some trials and tribulations, which bring tears to the reader and also times of joy.
I can highly recommend this book and the previous 3 books. Although not essential to have read them, I wouldn't recommend reading out of order.
I can highly recommend this book and the previous 3 books. Although not essential to have read them, I wouldn't recommend reading out of order.
November 28, 2024
The Map of Bones is my first read of this 4-book series and although disappointed that I had not read the first three, but found the characters and events - equal to a stand-alone, which encompasses the lives of Suzanne Joubert and her grandmothers escape to Cape Town and evolves with Suzanne seeking knowledge of her ancestors specifically Louise and seeking linked relatives and their place of rest. It cuts suddenly to Isabelle who is also a tenacious female who has her heritage interwoven with Suzanne, Louise, Gillie who wishes to uphold the memories and honor the courageous women of her extended family and writes their history into a long overdue book. A cleverly crafted historical fiction where the masterful descriptions of scene and environment enables the reader to feel as though they to are standing on a warf, awaiting passage or seeing their new homeland for the first time.
October 24, 2024
A lovely conclusion to the Joubert Family Chronicles. Gripping and engaging, and - as always with Kate Mosse’s work - clearly very well researched.
A series definitely worth reading, perhaps even more so now all four have been released (at times I found myself straining to remember the first two novels, which I read two years ago). At points I found the “moral” of the story, that women form history and their testimonies are vital, hammered home a little too intensely and could’ve been handled with a slightly lighter touch - but it’s of course not a moral to be argued with.
Ultimately long live Kate Mosse and her commitment to foregrounding women in history and literature, and her fun historical literature.
A series definitely worth reading, perhaps even more so now all four have been released (at times I found myself straining to remember the first two novels, which I read two years ago). At points I found the “moral” of the story, that women form history and their testimonies are vital, hammered home a little too intensely and could’ve been handled with a slightly lighter touch - but it’s of course not a moral to be argued with.
Ultimately long live Kate Mosse and her commitment to foregrounding women in history and literature, and her fun historical literature.
October 27, 2024
This is an excellent series and I can not praise it highly enough. I’d say this series is as good as the Languedoc series, though very different, and not using the time-slip technique that was prevalent in that series and a fashionable writing device to jump back and forth in time. This series sticks to a chronological order, apart from the prologues in the first three books. I think those prologues are unnecessary, confuses the reader, doesn’t add to the stories of those books or progresses Isabelle’s story. They are simply frozen snapshots used to create tension without any follow through. The reader is left hanging on that story.
Full review -> https://chroniclesoftania.wordpress.c...
Full review -> https://chroniclesoftania.wordpress.c...
November 18, 2024
The last book in the Joubert family series was eagerly anticipated. Whilst I really wanted to take my time to savour this last novel, I just could not leave it alone. Much like Isabelle devouring the diaries of her ancestors and seeking out the missing journal of Louise’s life in Africa. The novel has good pace and tells the story spanning the generations in each voice A great finale to a series which ties up the story nicely. A beautiful homage to the females of the past whose stories were written out of history. Narrated so vividly I feel I have travelled the world through the centuries, observing the changing landscapes and holding my breath willing the strong female characters to complete their quests.
December 7, 2024
4.5
The final installment of the Joubert family chronicles, and a new setting (the Cape Colony/Stellenbosch/Franschoek) plus a whirlwind 250 years covered (or, jumped through). We are mainly in 1688 with Suzanne Joubert's search for the story of her cousin Louise Reydon-Joubert who was the star of the previous book, The Ghost Ship. Although Suzanne hears the story, it is not shared with the reader... We have to wait 173 years until an ancestor of Suzanne, Isabelle, returns to the Cape in 1862 to hear the story herself - then, we are told too. It's very interesting, but trying to wrap up lots of things over a long time period, and I think it does a fair job, not a super job, of doing this. As usual, some great characters and a final message about writing women into history.
The final installment of the Joubert family chronicles, and a new setting (the Cape Colony/Stellenbosch/Franschoek) plus a whirlwind 250 years covered (or, jumped through). We are mainly in 1688 with Suzanne Joubert's search for the story of her cousin Louise Reydon-Joubert who was the star of the previous book, The Ghost Ship. Although Suzanne hears the story, it is not shared with the reader... We have to wait 173 years until an ancestor of Suzanne, Isabelle, returns to the Cape in 1862 to hear the story herself - then, we are told too. It's very interesting, but trying to wrap up lots of things over a long time period, and I think it does a fair job, not a super job, of doing this. As usual, some great characters and a final message about writing women into history.
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