Product Description

London 1665-66. With the Plague raging and the scent of smoke upon the wind, Will and Susanna, separated by class and distance, struggle to re-unite. Will has become a Quaker and broken with his father. Leaving Susanna behind in Shropshire, he travels to London, swearing to send for her once he is settled. But Will is arrested and thrown in jail for standing up for his beliefs. This, along with the rapidly spreading plague and a dire misunderstanding, conspire to keep them apart. A powerful story about how love and belief can overcome even the most terrifying twists of fate, this beautifully written tale will capture the imaginations of readers of all ages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33226 in Books
• Published on: 2006-03-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Customer Reviews

Suffering, waiting, longing...
What a thrill to discover a sequel to 'No Shame, No Fear', which almost broke my heart back in 2004. William and Susanna have only seen each other once in three years, keeping their love alive through letters, but now he has written to say that he has been sufficiently successful in London for them to be married at last. Back in Shropshire, she daily expects his arrival, but it is the summer of 1665 and the Great Plague has begun. The persecution of Quakers continues, and Will finds himself in prison with his friends falling ill around him, while Susanna hears nothing and fears he may be dead.

In our age of fast travel and instant communication, it's hard to imagine what it must have been like to have to wait weeks or months for news of a loved one. The theme of patience with which 'No Shame, No Fear' ended continues here, but an older, even more independent and determined Susanna finally decides to take matters into her own hands, and almost makes a terrible mistake...

The emotional impact of this book, which continues the pattern of alternating points of view, is every bit as great as the first. I found poor Will's sufferings particularly hard to bear, and the long sequence dealing with the Great Fire of London is so powerful that my face felt as scorched as his when I had finished. But joys both anticipated and unexpected contribute to an ending which is quietly clear-cut and full of hope, while still leaving me longing for more. This is an enlightening, inspiring work by a brave, well-informed author - and the letters are an especially beautiful feature. I can't imagine a better reason for staying up until 3 am!

Forged in the fire
This is a wonderful sequel to No Shame No Fear. It is well-written, exciting and satisfying. We all wanted to know what was going to happen to Will and Susanna after the first book, and here is the answer. There is tremdous drama and tension in Forged in the Fire with the events of the plague and the great Fire of London dominating the story-line. This is first class writing from a first class writer. I would highly recomend this book to everyone who enjoyed the first one - and to those who haven't read it yet. If you enjoy historical drama and/or love stories, this is a book for you.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too
The streets of 17th-Century London come alive in author Ann Turnbull's FORGED IN THE FIRE. The sequel to Turnbull's 2006 NO SHAME, NO FEAR, this well-written novel stands alone, dually answering readers' current questions while offering just enough ambiguity to pique their interest in the prequel.

Romance is alive and well in the plague-infested streets of 1665 London. But, times are hard and death is rampant, especially for Quakers such as Will and Susanna, who find themselves fighting against a close-minded religious establishment in addition to disease and poverty. Readers are left to breathlessly concede that a happy ending, no matter how deserved, is far from guaranteed.

Turnbull is skilled at entertaining readers while covertly educating them. Her scenes are full and powerful, bringing excitement and history to the forefront, yet never overpowering or heavy-handed. Readers will fall wholeheartedly into the love story of Will and Susanna, while simultaneously aching for the thousands of actual lives truly lost to sickness, disaster and ignorance in the London of yesteryear.

This, readers will understand, was a time of great fear, but not a time beyond equally great faith: "We ate with relish and felt glad to be alive," recalls Will. "The plague was in the city--but danger was always present. We must go about our lives as usual and trust in God" (p. 25).

Reviewed by: Mechele R. Dillard