Blog Tour: Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy) by Rebecca Hazell: A Book Review

Consolamentum (Book #3 of The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy)
Author: Rebecca Hazell
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: 2014
Pages: 355
Source: This book was given to me as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: In the finale of Sofia's memoir, Consolamentum, both dramatic and poignant, her dreams of home are shattered when her own family betrays her. Raising her child on her own, mourning the loss of her beloved knight, and building a trading empire, she seeks safe haven for her child and herself. Her quest takes her from Antioch to Constantinople to Venice. A surprise reunion in Venice leads her to France where she runs afoul of the newly established Holy Inquisition, possibly the greatest challenge she has yet faced. Can a woman so marked by oppression, betrayal, and danger ever find her safe haven, much less genuine happiness?

     My Review: Consolamentum is the final novel in The Tiger and The Dove Trilogy. It seems that the worst is over for Sofia, however, in this novel it still seems that Sofia has to endure more trials in order for her to get her happiness. In this novel, Sofia eventually reaches her destination of Constantinople, but events take her  to France and the Holy Inquisition. All the while she waits to find love.

     Sofia is very human. She makes mistakes. Yet, over time, she learns the lessons from her mistakes. She is independent and makes strong choices. She is a deep thinker, and knows that tremendous events in her life affects her. In this way, Sofia has matured since when she was first in the book. One of the most interesting parts of the novel that showed Sofia’s strengths in the novel was when her uncle imprisons Sofia and when she is charged for heresy in the Holy Inquisition. Though Sofia is a victim, she never gives up or loses hope. 

     While this is a historical novel, it also discusses a lot of philosophy. This novel also discusses the religion and cultures during that time. The main topic of the book is that it is the people that grip their ideas about God. Because of this, it makes us do harm to others and that is where the danger lies. There are famous historical characters, like Queen Marguerite, one of the four Provence sisters who all became queens, and King Louis. To me, my favorite part in the novel was the Holy Inquisition, where Sofia is suspected of heresy.

     Overall, this novel was a great conclusion to the series.  It is about betrayal, love, hope, and faith. It is about finding one’s identity. The message of the book is that every person in your life that you interact with gives you your identity and makes you stronger and wiser. For it is the people that Sofia met and her experiences that have made her overcome her obstacles and find her happiness. The novel can be a bit dull sometimes because it talks  a lot about philosophy and religion, yet the characters and the setting is well-developed. I recommend this to anyone interested in life in the middle ages, medieval Europe, the Holy Inquisition. This is a great historical epic about a woman trying to find happiness in a cruel world.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars