Review: Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

CATE OF THE LOST COLONY by Lisa Klein

Pub. Date: October 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Format: Hardcover, 336pp

Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens—until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Ralegh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Ralegh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Ralegh pledges to come for Cate, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists—and Cate—increasingly turn to. Yet just as Cate's longings for England and Ralegh fade and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Ralegh will finally set sail for the New World.

Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.

I enjoyed Lady Macbeth's Daughter by Klein and I wondered how she would craft Cate of the Lost Colony into a fictional work of art. Well, I didn’t have to worry because Klein pulled me into another beautifully written work of historical fiction built around events of the Lost Colony of Roanoke. It's astounding to read about some of these historical figures and the mysteries surrounding what actually happened to the Colony. The detail that was put into creating the characters piqued my interest even more as I read about the lives of three protagonists told in alternating viewpoints.

Throughout this book, I continued to wonder if the actual figures were like their fictional work. I was mesmerized by the politics and inner workings of the Queen's court but I was most intrigued with the characters. Cate, full of wonder and questions about the new world finds herself on a dangerous journey of the unknown after falling out of favor with the Queen. Sir Walter Ralegh was an interesting individual. I was always trying to discern his motives whether they were for the Queen's favor, Catherine's affections or just for monetary gain and fame. Manteo, the proud Indian was a delightful character. I enjoyed reading all about his views on his people and the English and how he was always trying to find ways to make peace between the two. Klein did a great job with the characters in this book!

Cate of the Lost Colony is a well crafted novel filled with political intrigue, adventure, and great characters. This book intertwines beautifully with fact and fiction. I think readers of historical fiction will enjoy this book just as much as Klein’s previous books. I look forward to reading more of Klein’s novels.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Sensational 7 Q & A with Lisa Klein (Author of Cate of the Lost Colony)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am a lifelong reader and lover of words who said to myself one day, "Maybe I can write a novel." So in 2001 I sat down and began writing Ophelia, which was published in 2006. By that time I had completed a Ph.D., taught English literature as an assistant professor for nine years, married, had two sons, and finished two nonfiction books. Oh, and read more books than I can possibly recall. But one of my favorites growing up was Gone With the Wind, which I read seven times as a teenager. Thirty-odd years later, I wrote my own Civil War novel, Two Girls of Gettysburg. And the high-school parody of Macbeth that won our class first place in the homecoming skit competition eventually morphed into more sophisticated retellings of Shakespeare: Ophelia and Lady Macbeth's Daughter. I love doing research for my novels and retelling history and Shakespeare's plays from a fresh, female-centered perspective.

I live in Columbus, Ohio with my husband, two teenage sons, a dog and a cat.

You can visit my website at www.authorlisaklein.com.

Cate of the Lost Colony  is in stores today!

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

Depends on what book I’m working on. But if I had only one opportunity, it would be London around 1590, when Shakespeare was beginning his career as a poet and playwright there. I actually don’t think I’d choose Roanoke Island in 1587, because I doubt that I would have the grit to be one of the lucky survivors—if there were any.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

Cate loses love, leaves homeland, finds adventure.

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

My favorite book as a teen was Gone With the Wind, and I had a huge fictional crush on Rhett Butler. I don’t know why; maybe because he was such a bad boy. My other big fictional crush was Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights. Doesn’t every young woman want to save the tormented poetic soul with her love?

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

Not to be egotistical or anything, but I’d want to be one of my own heroines: Cate, or Albia, or Ophelia, because they are the other selves I dream of being. Plus, I wrote some really great love interests for them. I would get to kiss Sir Walter Ralegh!

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

Hollywood would never make a movie about my life, unless it’s along the lines of “Housewives of Columbus, Ohio.” Bo-o-o-ring. It would lose money big time. Not even as a much younger person did I have an interesting life. (Why do you think I read book and now write them?)

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

Lisa Klein: The Life of a Shy Girl who Grew Up to be a Writer but Never Outgrew the Teen Within. Because I can remember exactly what it felt like to be in high school. 

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

Read, write, eat, sleep, love my family.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

I’m trying to write a Shakespeare-themed comic novel—that just means upbeat rather than tragic. It won’t be laugh-out-loud funny. But I want to prove my husband and sons wrong when they say I have no sense of humor. Yes I do!!%#$@^

Thanks for stopping by Lisa!

For more information about Lisa Klein and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (62): Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa Klein

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

CATE OF THE LOST COLONY by Lisa Klein

Pub. Date: October 2010

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Format: Hardcover, 336pp

Age Range: Young Adult

Lady Catherine is one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite court maidens—until her forbidden romance with Sir Walter Ralegh is discovered. In a bitter twist of irony, the jealous queen banishes Cate to Ralegh's colony of Roanoke, in the New World. Ralegh pledges to come for Cate, but as the months stretch out, Cate begins to doubt his promise and his love. Instead it is Manteo, a Croatoan Indian, whom the colonists—and Cate—increasingly turn to. Yet just as Cate's longings for England and Ralegh fade and she discovers a new love in Manteo, Ralegh will finally set sail for the New World.

Seamlessly weaving together fact with fiction, Lisa Klein's newest historical drama is an engrossing tale of adventure and forbidden love—kindled by one of the most famous mysteries in American history: the fate of the settlers at Roanoke, who disappeared without a trace forty years before the Pilgrims would set foot in Plymouth.

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