Book Tour: The Sunrise by Victoria Hislop

Check out my review for Victoria Hislop’s book The Sunrise.

Title: The Sunrise
Author: Victoria Hislop
Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Format: Paperback, 352 Pages
Source: Received from TLC Books in exchange for an honest review

Purchase Links:
Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis

Internationally bestselling author Victoria Hislop delivers a stirring novel set during the 1974 Cypriot coup d’état that tells the intersecting stories of three families devastated by the conflict. . .

Summer 1972—Famagusta is Cyprus’s most desirable tourist destination in the Mediterranean. Aphroditi Papacostas and her husband, Savvas, own The Sunrise, a wildly successful new luxury hotel. Frequented by only the very wealthiest of Europe’s elite, The Sunrise quickly becomes the place to see and be seen. Yet beneath the veneer of tranquil opulence simmers mounting hostility between the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Years of unrest and ethnic violence come to a head when, in 1974, Greece’s coup d’état provokes a Turkish attack on beautiful Famagusta.

The fallout sends the island’s inhabitants spiraling into fear and chaos, and the Papacostases join an exodus of people who must abandon their idyllic lives in Famagusta and flee to refugee camps. In the end, only two families remain in the decimated city: the Georgious and the Özkans. One is Greek Cypriot, the other Turkish Cypriot, and the tension between them is palpable. But with resources scarce and the Turkish militia looming large, both families must take shelter in the deserted hotel as they battle illness, hunger, fear, and their own prejudices while struggling to stay alive.

The Sunrise is a poignant story about the measures we take to protect what we love.

About the Author

Victoria Hislop is the internationally bestselling author of The Island and The Return. She writes travel features for the Sunday Telegraph, Mail on Sunday, House & Garden, and Woman & Home. She divides her time among rural Kent, London, and Crete. She is married and has two children.

Find out more about Victoria at her website and connect with her on Twitter.

My Review

The Sunrise has a very interesting premise for it’s plot, yet I felt that the book didn’t quite deliver on everything I was expecting. Although the book felt very realistic and Victoria’s writing was fantastic, I felt like it was missing something that would make this book outstanding. I can’t quite put my finger on what the something was, but if I figure it out I will definitely update this page to let everyone know.

As mentioned in the synopsis, this book is set in Cyprus during the 1970’s. A lot of unrest was occurring during this time and the book definitely captures all of the emotions that I’m sure people had during this time.

The main characters seemed to live in their own bubble (not that there is anything wrong with that, i do that 60% of the time), but they seemed unaware or not to care about the tensions occurring around them. And these two, Savvas and Aphrodite really should have cared. Markos I found to be an interesting character.

Overall I thought this book was a good read, but it was just missing something. I enjoyed Victoria’s wriitng and the plot, but needed something more.

I give this book:

3 out of 5 Hippos

Thank you to

for allowing me to participate in this tour.