Ring of Stone
Ring of Stone centres round Rose Gwynn, a young woman who dreams of dedicating herself to healing others. Since this is the 18th century, such aspirations in a young woman are frowned upon – especially by Rose’s mother, who wants nothing more than to see her daughters adequately wed. Ring of Stone is set in rural Cornwall – the Gwynn family have emigrated in reverse, leaving the recently liberated colonies to return to the land of Mr Gwynn’s forebears.
The author does a very good job of describing the geographical setting, and this together with her casual insertion of historical detail makes it very easy for the reader to visualise the surroundings – and the times – in which the events take place. The story is well plotted; Rose Gwynn is an engaging character, as is the enigmatic resident physician Mr Nelson. The villain of the story is maybe a bit too one dimensional, and some elements are a tad too predictable, but Ms Scott Lewis adds a number of interesting angles, such as Rose’s complicated relationship with her mother and her stubborn (indeed, pioneering) determination to not allow herself to be confined into the traditional roles of mother and wife.
Ring of Stone is an entertaining read, combining accurate historical details with a fast-paced plot and a number of credible characters.
