Title: The Boy with the Blue Trousers           

Author: Carol Jones         

Genre: Historical Fiction       

Publisher: Head Zeus       

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 423

Rating: 4/5 stars 

Synopsis (Goodreads):

“On the goldfields of 19th century Australia, two very different girls are trying to escape their past. 

English governess Violet Hartley has fled from England after a scandalous liaison. Now she is angling for a rich husband and a new life. 

Little Cat is fleeing from her home in Southern China after killing the powerful old man who tried to rape her. Disguised as a boy, she joins the huge Chinese workforce on the goldfields of South Australia. But the son of the murdered man is on her trail, intent on vengeance. Violet Hartley becomes first suspicious, then jealous of the delicate looking Chinese boy. 

Love, sexual desire, violence and financial ambition entwine in this mesmerising saga by the author of THE CONCUBINE’S CHILD

Review:

Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @headofzeus for sending me a copy of @caroljonesauthor book! 

–

This book was fun and interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It takes place during the 1850s in both China and Australia, and looks at two different journey to the outback in search of better fortunes.

–

Little Cat is living in her small village in China, where she helps with her families silk production and spinning. After certain events unfold, she is forced to escape to Australia to make her families fortune in the gold mines. Also traveling to Australia is Violet, who is hoping to make a fresh start after her reputation is ruined in England! Both women are forced to make some tough decisions in order to try to make a better life!

–

This book deals with a lot of complicated issues, such as family loyalty, race, as well as the drive for social mobility in a colonial society! I found it interesting how Violet was treated because of rumours that circulated, and made me think of how frustrating it is that a man’s reputation is not treated the same way. I cannot comment on how race was necessarily dealt with, being a white female, but I did enjoy learning about another culture and a piece of history that includes a different narrative other than just the European perspective! Definitely recommend!

Happy reading!