The masterful must-read historical fiction novel to add to your TBR!

     In her sophomore novel, Natasha Siegel brings readers to 1660s London in The Phoenix Bride. This masterful must-read historical fiction book comes out on March 12th and you should definitely keep your eyes peeled for it!
     It is 1666, one year after plague has devastated England. Young widow Cecilia Thorowgood is a prisoner, trapped and isolated within her older sister’s cavernous London townhouse. At the mercy of a legion of doctors trying to cure her grief with their impatient scalpels, Cecilia shows no sign of improvement. Soon, her sister makes a decision born of desperation: She hires a new physician, someone known for more unusual methods. But he is a foreigner. A Jew. And despite his attempts to save Cecilia, he knows he cannot quell the storm of sorrow that rages inside her. There is no easy cure for melancholy. David Mendes fled Portugal to seek a new life in London, where he could practice his faith openly and leave the past behind. Still reeling from the loss of his beloved friend and struggling with his religion and his past, David is free and safe in this foreign land but incapable of happiness. The security he has found in London threatens to disappear when he meets Cecilia, and he finds himself torn between his duty to medicine and the beating of his own heart. He is the only one who can see her pain; the glimmers of light she emits, even in her gloom, are enough to make him believe once more in love. Facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, David and Cecilia must endure prejudice, heartbreak, and calamity before they can be together. The Great Fire is coming—and with the city in flames around them, love has never felt so impossible.
     This book was such a unique read and I immediately need more books like it! I loved the way grief was tackled in this book and how both Cecilia and David experienced it in their own ways, yet also showed each other that life is worth living to its fullest, despite the fact that loss could occur again.
     I was so fascinated by the historical aspects written into this book which included the treatment of Jews in 1660s England, the status of women and overall hierarchy of society, and medicinal treatments of the time. I thought the juxtaposition of Jewish culture and the predominant Christian-based English culture was so interesting to read about and I felt like I learned a lot of this time in history that isn’t often spoken about.
     I loved this forbidden romance and how Cecilia and David’s love story played out. Without giving away any spoilers, I thought their ending was fitting for what the time period was and I thought Siegel did a brilliant job of showcasing what their love story would’ve been like in real life. And despite my desperation for a smooth and happy ending in every book I read, I actually loved the obstacles that the characters had to go through in order to become their best selves.
     Aside from David and Cecilia having such amazing character arcs, I adored the side characters (especially Jan and Sam!) and even appreciated the more antagonistic characters in the story.
​     Whether you’re looking for a historical fiction book centered around a forbidden romance that dives deep into different cultures during 1660s England or just looking for a unique new read, I highly recommend this book!

*I received a complimentary copy of the book from Random House

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