Book Review: ‘Master Of His Fate: The House Of Falconer’ By Barbara Taylor Bradford Is A Great Start To A New Victorian Era Series

After I read my first Barbara Taylor Bradford book last year Secrets Of Cavendon I fell a little bit in love with Barbara. After reading her new book Master Of His Fate: The House Of Falconer, I can confirm it’s love! It is the first in a new series set in Victorian London featuring the Falconer family and I am over the moon to read at the end it will be a series with this family.

The story centers around two major characters James Falconer who is fifteen at the beginning of the story. He is a smart, nice, good looking young man who love his family and friends and would do anything to make them happy. His family does okay financially and has a plan for his life. He is the ultimate guy next store. Right now he works with his dad and one day plans to open his own business (and has already started planning how).

The other major character is Alexis Malvern, the only daughter of a well off dad Henry Malvern, who runs a successful business in London. She has been focused on business and starting a charity to help protect battered women. She has no interest in getting married or having kids. That is until she meets Sebastian, the father of the friend (and who is fifteen years older than her). They fall in love quickly and plan to get married.

The story follows them through four years in the late 1800’s and even includes the beginning of Jack The Ripper. It shows their ups and downs and how their lives end up intertwining.

Their is nothing shocking, no major plot twists just everyday live. It’s refreshing for me from all the murder mysteries, political thrillers and horror stories I usually read. It’s a well-written story with great characters and a look at the Victorian time period of Queen Victoria.

You can pick it up in stores on Tuesday, November 20th from St. Martin’s Press.