Author: Tania Farrelly
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Genre: Historical Fiction
Year of release: 2021
Release Date: 2nd July 2021
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Fun Fact Pachyderm refers to elephant
Synopsis
New York, 1897. The richest city in the world.
Beautiful, young, and privileged, Rose Kingsbury Smith is expected to play by the strict rules of social etiquette, to forfeit all career aspirations, and to marry a man of good means. But she has a quietly rebellious streak and is determined to make her own mark on Manhattan’s growing skyline. When the theft of a precious heirloom plunges her family into financial ruin, Rose becomes her family’s most tradeable asset. She finds herself fighting for her independence and championing the ideal of equality for women everywhere.
Enigmatic Ethan Salt’s inglorious circus days are behind him. He lives a quiet life on Coney Island with his beloved elephant Daisy and is devoted to saving animals who’ve been brutalised by show business. As he struggles to raise funds for his menagerie, he fears he will never build the sanctuary of his dreams … until a chance encounter with a promising young architect changes his life forever.
Just when Rose is on the verge of seeing her persistence pay off, the ghosts of her past threaten to destroy everything she holds dear. In the face of heartbreaking prejudice and betrayal, she must learn to harness her greatest wonder within.
Review
Rose Kingsbury Smith is expected to play by the rules of social etiquette upheld by New York’s upper class; she must marry a man of good standing, foregoing any aspirations she has of becoming an architect, she dreams to leave her mark on Manhattan’s growing skyline. Thanks to her rebellious streak that grows stronger by the day and her father’s ever-present advice of putting one foot in front of the other in her head, Rose is determined to just do that.
One evening Rose discovers that the precious family heirloom is missing, this means the family is plunged into financial ruin; Rose must now give up her dreams and her independence, the new path she finds herself on leads her to fight for independence and campaigning for equality for women everywhere, this new path could also lead Rose into a fight she wasn’t prepared for, will she be able to build her place in history and keep her independent spirit burning bright?   Â
 Ethan Salt and his beloved pachyderm Daisy live together on Coney Island, the dynamic duo having left the circus life many years ago. Circus life wasn’t all it cracked up to be and now Ethan is struggling to find the funds to feed Daisy and other animals he cares for. The dreams he has for giving Daisy the proper care and a sanctuary fade with every passing day, unless he can find the appropriate amount of funds. Will they arrive before New York high society forces him out?
New York 1897, the Gilded Age and pachyderms set amongst high society what more can any Historical Fiction fan ask for?
A strong female protagonist is always a gold star for this reader, Rose Kingsbury Smith ticks this box, Rose was multi-faceted character, and I was able to appreciate her strengths and flaws, Ethan Salt the male protagonist was strong male lead without be overbearing. Chet Randall and Edith Kingsbury Smith make for excellent villains, they were characters I loved to hate.
Rose was a ground breaker in many areas of this time period, I was pleased to see a character in her social standing befriend others who were not in the same social standing or education.
I know I said this above, but a story set in New York in the gilded age is always a must read on my list, thanks to author Tania Farrelly’s skilful writing I felt like I was on a guided tour of the streets of New York and Coney Island, the next best thing when a much-needed vacation can’t be achieved.
I am so glad to have read author Tania Farrelly’s debut novel, I’m already eagerly anticipating her next novel. The Eightieth Wonder has made it into my top reads list for 2021
The Eighth wonder addressees’ subjects such as animal rights and women’s rights and I feel like these topics will be what stays with me in regard to this book for many years to come. The relationship between Rose and her father was the standout element for me when it comes to the characters. I was moved when the novel touched on the subject of grief.
The Eighth wonder touched on some elements that have been addressed in other novels in this genre such as a disagreeable parent but the events and closing chapters kept me guessing right to the very end.
I highly recommend this book to any Historical Fiction fan
With continued thanks to Penguin Books Australia for sending this copy to read and review.