Book Review - The Relic
The Relic by Holly Harbin is a debut, fictional novel written, unlike anything I've ever read before. The story begins in the late 1800s in the Carolina's. A woman is so intrigued by a wooden "relic" that her husband has acquired from his family that she begins to investigate its origins. The author (as narrated by the Relic) takes the reader back through centuries as it describes the bloodline of a woman's husband's family.
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Summary:
Alice, the wife of a reputable doctor, has been working on the genealogy of her husband and his family. Carried down through generations, she has worked to determine the origins of a wooden Relic of her husband's.
When her husband, Robert is planning a scheduled trip to Charleston SC, she begs to accompany him on his trip. She knows that there is an Antiquarium who might be able to assist her with the research of her husband's lineage.
This trip with her husband would prove to change her life in ways she could not have imagined. She would learn things about her husband that she had not considered.
In the Antiquarium, Alice finds friendship. She also finds a person who really understands her, unlike her husband ever has.
Robert has been treating her for emotional problems. Alice believes that she is not well and that her husband has been caring for her accordingly. When she met her husband, she believed that he had found her Knight in Shining Armour. Someone who loved her for who she was and would have her best interest at heart.
Building a friendship with Adam, the Antiquarium, she begins to realize that her husband is not who she believed he was, and that perhaps she's not ill as he would have her believe.
Where does The Relic come from?
Researching the origins of The Relic, Alice realizes that Robert's family lineage is full of dark and evil. Alice is pregnant with her husband's baby. Uncovering the dark, deranged secrets of his family, she begins to fear for the health of her unborn child.
Alice also begins to unearth other secrets about Robert's life, present and past. She realizes his secretary is more than just that. This quest to learn more about her husband's past, allows her to learn more about herself. There are many twists at the end of this story that brings the story together and makes the reader cheer for Alice.
REVIEW:
The Relic is full of fictional historical details that are very hard to follow. I am the type of reader who likes to read and ingest every word and this story makes it difficult to keep track of the details.
Realizing in the first paragraph that the narrator of the story is THE Relic gave me pause, initially. I had to re-read many paragraphs to keep up with the details. For this reason, this was NOT one of my favorite stories.
If you're the type of person who enjoys that type of reading, you may enjoy this story. It was definitely different than any type of story I've ever read.
Until my next review...
Please share below what you've read lately and let me know what I should read next.
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