Slate Heart

Wales, 1863. Raised on the family farm in the shadow of the Welsh mountains, Lowri Priddie has never imagined any other life. However, family upheaval forces her into domestic service in the port town of Porthmadog, and she enters a world of social hierarchy shaped by wealth and rigid rules.In the house where she serves, Lowri becomes captivated by Louisa Spooner, whose carefully ordered life conceals unexpected freedoms. At the same time, a young sailor awakens in her a longing for independence she has never before experienced.As old loyalties fracture and hidden histories emerge, Lowri is drawn into a chain of events that will alter the course of her life forever.Richly atmospheric and deeply moving, this historical novel explores class, survival, identity, and the quiet acts of rebellion through which women carve lives of their own.The perfect ’next read’ for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court.'I felt completely transported to 19th-century Wales. The descriptions were so vivid. It made Lowri’s connection to the farm and her feelings of being trapped indoors at Bron y Garth incredibly palpable.''The Priddie family felt so real. The love was evident, but so were the tensions, resentments, and secrets. The conflict between Lowri and her mother, fuelled by Flora’s misguided attempts to secure a ’better life’ for her, was heart-breaking and relatable.'