No Going Back by Susan Frances, the second installment of The Chiddleigh Saga, brings a memorable coming-of-age novel that takes place in England during the Black Death. The unforgettable cast of characters, lively dialogues, unpredictable twists, and an honest picture of life in that period make this a must-read.
Table of Contents
Review
Join a reluctant young lord as he tries to survive, find his true self, and explore love and loss amid one of the deadliest pandemics.
Thomas was happily studying with the monks at Tavistoke when the imminent threat of the Pestilence —what we now know as the Black Death— compelled him back home. After his mother succumbs to this grim disease, he’s thrown into his role as Lord Thomas de Chiddleigh, a role he never wanted and for which he’s not prepared. Lady Joan, Thomas’s mother, mentioned a secret that could change Thomas’s life before dying.
With Maria, his pampered sister; Peter, a grumbling smithy; William, a childhood friend; Annie, a meddling healer; and Rose, an adventurous miller’s daughter, Thomas will try to survive the Pestilence. No Going Back is a historical coming-of-age novel that follows Thomas as he goes from a naive young student to a self-assured man. Are some secrets best left unknown? How do we balance what we want with society’s crushing expectations? Are leaders born or made?
It can seem daunting for readers to immerse themselves in a long novel that takes place in the Middle Ages, but Susan Frances makes it a joy. The characters are so perfectly portrayed that the different names are never a problem. The flawed, complex nature of the characters makes them come to life and stay with you long after closing the book. For example, Maria is mostly an entitled and annoying young woman but shows her sweet side with Eleanor, who suffers from an intellectual disability.
The language, though true to the English of the time, is easily understandable. The flawless pacing compels readers to keep flipping through the pages. The author managed to keep the story unpredictable, and some storylines made my jaw drop while still being congruent with the priorities and worldview of England in the 1300s. Furthermore, the author explored topics that are rarely broached in the historical fiction genre — for example, physical and intellectual disabilities, homosexuality, family violence, and singlehood. It’s easy to fall into the trap of picturing the Middle Ages as inhabited only by brave knights and demure damsels, but Susan Frances paints a more realistic and much more compelling picture. The resilience and the connection to nature that most people at the time needed just to go through their daily lives stick to the mind. Readers will also enjoy learning about the so-called superstitions or pagan beliefs that, at the time, coexisted in tandem with Catholic devotion.
No Going Back has a special relevance after the Covid pandemic. People’s fear of strangers and the introspection that comes with isolation are strikingly relatable. The novel will also show how it’s possible to thrive even in the darkest of situations.
From a 21st-century perspective, some readers could find unsavory comments made about topics like women’s rights, equality of classes, and homosexuality. However, Susan Frances was able to keep the story congruent to the time period without being brash.
No Going Back is full of unforgettable characters, endearing episodes, mind-blowing discoveries, and raw honesty about a time that’s often mythified. The Chiddleigh Saga is not to be missed.
About the Author
Susan Frances was born in Surrey, England, and spent many summer vacations in Devon as a youngster. Her grandfather’s recollections of the family’s past on a Devon farm captured her attention and she developed a lifelong passion with her Devon heritage. Motivated by her studies, she wrote “No One Must Know,” the first book in the Chiddleigh Saga, which won the BREW Book Excellence Award, BREW Readers’ Choice Award, and BREW Seal of Excellence. Living now close to the Devon village of Ashetyne, which she describes in her book, Frances’s free time is devoted to reading, writing, gardening, and seeing the beautiful Devon coast and countryside with her spouse.
Book Details
- Title: No Going Back
- Author: Susan Frances
- Genre: Historical Fiction
- Theme: Coming of Age
- Publication Date: February 8, 2024
- ISBN or ASIN: B0CVB8CCTX
- Number of Pages: 564
- Minimum Audience Age: 15
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual themes: 1
- Religious themes: 3
- Violence, self-harm, etc.: 1
- Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 1
- Other adult themes: 1
Rating
- Content: 5 stars
- Writing Style: 5 stars
- Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
- Uniqueness: 5 stars
- Editing: 4 stars
- Other factors: 5 stars
- Overall: 4.8 out of 5
[…] Read the book’s review Get the book on Amazon.com Visit the author’s website View the book on Goodreads […]
Sounds interesting. I took a look at the book on Amazon, and put it and Book One on my lengthy TBR list.
It’s good to note the author’s ability to strike a balance between historical accuracy and reader accessibility. Great review!
Thanks for including info about the author within your review. That is a very nice touch.