The Beloved

Escape from a bullying mother takes one young woman to an even more

ISBN 1471403793
(ISBN13: 9781471403798)

dangerous place. Alice Angel has known only a life of rules, restriction and punishments as she strays from the rigid path of Victorian proprietary that her mother has set out for her. A constant disappointment to all but her doting father, she longs for the day that she might break free from the stifling atmosphere of her mother's rule.
After a chance encounter with a charming stranger, and a final incident with her family that sees her condemned to the madhouse, Alice sees her opportunity to run and grasps it with both hands. She escapes to join the Agapemonites in their Abode of Love, where ex-Reverend Henry Prince rules his isolated colony of women as their Beloved. Prince ignites a passion in Alice that she never knew existed, and she dares to think she might be free at last.
But as Alice becomes more deeply drawn into the life of Prince's strange religious sect, secrets are revealed that seem to hint at a darker nature lurking behind the man's charm. Instead of freedom, is Alice in fact more trapped, alone and in danger than ever before?

286 pages

Published March 5th 2015

(Hot Key Books)

Just a warning The Beloved Mentions The Agapemone community and has some child abuse which is imperative of the Victorian era of you or someone you know is experiencing any issues please seek professional help.

First Impression

Giving two view points, The Beloved gives the story of 16 year old Alice, who has had a difficult relationship with her mother since she was born.

Also the viewpoint of her mother Temperance, who shares that she "could not bring herself to even like her daughter." And had a stronger relationship with her son Eli, who was the eldest of her two children.

My Rating ⭐⭐

I found it difficult to get into a rhythm with reading The Beloved.

Set in Bridgewater 1848, The Beloved opens up with Alice been strapped in her bed, and her asking her father to talk to her mother about the situation before he leaves, leading to the conclusion that her father is afraid of his wife as "he will never go against her wishes".

I feel sympathetic  towards both Alice and Temperance...

Alice because she much feel left out as everyone around her respects her mother and she feels annoyed that her mother hasn't shown her any warmth over her life as she seems to want to antagonize her when she states she "would ruin the whole day for Mama if I could".

Temperance because she is desperate to "finally be accepted into the upper echelons of society."  She also has to feel that Alice seems to go out of her way to embarrass her at every opportunity.

The Beloved is a very dark tale and a very trying read especially when it goes into the section where Alice joins up with Henry Prince and the The Agapemone community

I'm not sure that I would recommend The Beloved to anyone.

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