Nansi lives in a theatre in Victorian Cardiff - this might sound fun but, in reality, her life is far from glamorous. After losing her mother on a nearby riverbank when she was small, she was taken in by a theatre-owner. But Sid is a cruel guardian, forcing her to steal to earn her keep. He also insists that Nansi’s best friend, Bee, must make a costume using a poisonous dye that could kill her. As a result, Nansi is a tough cookie - and a fun character to journey with.
The story builds slowly, gradually drawing all the players in one by one, which helps us to feel we know each one - important as this shortish book has a big cast of players. However it was when Nansi overhears Sid letting slip an important detail about her presumed-dead mother that the story really gripped me & I moved from a gentle amble to a faster page-turning pace. The Victorian world is impeccably drawn and feels as though the author has really done her research. The characters are solidly-drawn too, each one feeling very real.
A great story for anyone loving a bit of historical drama. If you like a fast plot, and find the early chapters a bit slow, it’s really worth holding out for the roller coaster that this story turns into.
