Kimberly Duffy: The Weight of Air

By Kelly Bridgewater

Two women--bound by blood, torn apart by circumstance--find together that true strength comes in many forms.

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. When he dies unexpectedly, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham in hope of finding the mother she thought was dead.

Isabella Moreau, America's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. Then her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, and she is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

As Mabel and Isabella's lives become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden, their resiliency and resolve are tested as they learn the truth of what it means to be strong.

 

My Thoughts:

The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy has an okay looking cover. Nothing really flashy. A little circus hint in the upper middle part of the banner, but nothing really that captivating. Reading the synopsis, I was hoping for more to the plot. But unfortunately, just like the cover, the story falls flat. The characters do whatever it takes to stay in the circus. There entire identity centers on being part of the circus. Of course, I understand it is hard for women during this time period, but the story has a lot of internal dialogue and movement, but not a lot of action. Why don't the characters try to do something that does not have to do with performing or being in the circus? Plus, the heroine Isabella is actually known by a different name when the story begins and Mabel remembers her by this different name. It was a little odd for a reader to keep track of this. Personally, I would like to see more of the characters' strengths instead of playing to their weakness throughout majority of the novel. The setting moves from Italy to New York and ringed true to the time period. As for any romance, both heroines had choices to make. Not a truly romantic story. Just a touch of it to round out the characters. While this story may be delightful for readers of historical fiction, for me, it just did not capture my attention. I wanted a lot more than the plot and characters could deliver.

I received a complimentary copy of The Weight of Air by Kimberly Duffy from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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