Luck of the Titanic
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl comes the richly imagined story of Valora and Jamie Luck, twin British-Chinese acrobats travelling aboard the Titanic on its ill-fated maiden voyage.
Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she’s turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese people aren’t allowed into America.
But Val has to get on that ship. Her twin brother Jamie, who has spent two long years at sea, is there, as is an influential circus owner, whom Val hopes to audition for. Thankfully, there’s not much a trained acrobat like Val can’t overcome when she puts her mind to it.
As a stowaway, Val should keep her head down and stay out of sight. But the clock is ticking and she has just seven days as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic to find Jamie, perform for the circus owner, and convince him to help get them both into America.
Then one night the unthinkable happens, and suddenly Val’s dreams of a new life are crushed under the weight of the only thing that matters: survival.
Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she’s turned away at the gangway; apparently, Chinese people aren’t allowed into America.
But Val has to get on that ship. Her twin brother Jamie, who has spent two long years at sea, is there, as is an influential circus owner, whom Val hopes to audition for. Thankfully, there’s not much a trained acrobat like Val can’t overcome when she puts her mind to it.
As a stowaway, Val should keep her head down and stay out of sight. But the clock is ticking and she has just seven days as the ship makes its way across the Atlantic to find Jamie, perform for the circus owner, and convince him to help get them both into America.
Then one night the unthinkable happens, and suddenly Val’s dreams of a new life are crushed under the weight of the only thing that matters: survival.
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Reviews
Lee gives life to the young women of the Chinese diaspora, writing them back into the story . . . So rich and focused are [Val's] schemes that as a reader, it's very easy to get caught up in them, and forget that before long, the only thing that will matter is the icy depths of the Atlantic
Thrilling . . . Lee seamlessly weaves fact and fiction in Luck of the Titanic, inventing a story that gorgeously captures an era and a tragedy
[Lee's] writing draws the reader into this "night to remember" . . . Devastating
Stacey Lee's superpower is her ability to turn history's forgotten into today's unforgettable; and you'll never forget the terror and joy of travelling with Valora Luck, whose unsinkable spirit gleams like a rescue flare through the icy murk of the past
Historical romance fans will love Luck of the Titanic
Stacey Lee has breathed new life and love into this iconic voyage, with all the hopes, fears, and complexities of an immigrant journey. I will never forget the courageous Valora Luck
Stacey Lee has done it again - taken a fascinating slice of history and transformed it into a story lush with heart, heartache, and hope. This is the Titanic story you need
Luck of the Titanic stayed with me long after I finished the last line. It's beautifully written, funny, and incredibly heart-breaking. Every single character is expertly drawn and mesmerizing. A sublime read
Hope, heroism, and heartache collide in an unforgettable story, suffused with love
Stacey Lee has crafted one of my favourite kinds of historical reads; it's a story that's as thrilling as it is atmospheric and as joyful as it is heart-breaking. A masterful, gripping tale for the ages
[A] lushly imagined, compelling novel . . . A compelling romance adds to the poignancy of the finale
A gem from start to bittersweet finish
With a compassionate, strong heroine and a diverse cast, this is an exciting, important retelling of the Titanic tragedy
This is the kind of book I absolutely love. Heroism and heart-breaking tragedy, seen through the eyes of those who have been left off the pages of our history books
This book will make you fall in love and then fall to pieces
With a plot as tense as a walk on a tightrope and a wily heroine you'll cheer on till the very end, Luck of the Titanic is historical fiction at its most thrilling
A thrilling historical page-turner. A must-read!
A finely crafted historical exploration of identity, class, and family that resonates through the present
Lee's conversational style adds a freshness to the historical frame and achieves a thrilling balance between hope and anguish through budding romances and humour amid the looming tragedy
Mesmerizing . . . An admirable and engaging addition to the annals of fictional Titanic lore
Lovingly rendered, Val's bittersweet story is one of hope, courage and the fight to survive