Equilibrium eBook Evie Woolmore
Download As PDF : Equilibrium eBook Evie Woolmore 
Epiphany and Martha are sisters with a stage mediumship act in Edwardian London. When they are asked to give a private spiritualist reading at the home of Lady Adelia Lyward to find out the truth about her brother's death, Martha must face up to her past. For two years ago, her affair with Lord Rafe Lyward ended in pregnant disgrace, and her attempted suicide in the River Thames. But there is more at stake than Martha's anonymous return, for Epiphany bears the burden of restoring the equilibrium, not just to the Lywards but to her sister and ultimately to herself.
The Historical Novel Society review "recommends “Equilibrium” to readers who enjoy historical fiction with spiritualist influences."
Equilibrium eBook Evie Woolmore
What is truth? The novel asks this question, not only of the novel's protagonists, but also of the reader. Truth is tricky. We can seldom see more than one piece at a time, and once we've examined the other pieces, we may find the first one altered.In London in 1903 a housemaid throws herself into the Thames. The reason is as old as time: impregnated by the master of the house where she worked, Martha was turned out in disgrace to give birth in the workhouse and hand her child to someone else to raise.
But she fails in her attempt to leave this world, and for the next two years she and her sister Epiphany support themselves with a stage act, with Epiphany as a psychic and Martha as her spirit guide. All the tricks of the trade are in evidence, but we soon suspect that Epiphany may well be the real thing. Yet we are cautious. As we should be.
Adelia, Martha's former mistress, wife of the man who impregnated her, has a habit of sneaking out of her own house to go secretly to the theater, where she happens to see Epiphany's act. Adelia's sister-in-law has recently been widowed, and there is some mystery about her husband's death in South Africa during the Boer War. Perhaps, Adelia thinks, Epiphany can contact him to learn the truth about his fate.
So Epiphany is engaged to give a private seance at Adelia's house, and Martha returns to the place in which she was once a servant, so invisible, as servants are, that a mob cap and an Irish accent make an adequate disguise. Her motives are mixed. She wants to help her former mistress, but she also yields to the temptation to revisit her past, to learn the truth of what happened to her in that house. Did the master ever care for her, or was she just the pleasure of the moment? And once that question is answered, the next arises: did she truly care for him, as she once told herself, or was it something else she wanted?
Adelia has her own questions. She tries to understand why her husband has begun to neglect her, and she struggles with the difficulties of having married above her station, of being a tradesman's daughter among the aristocracy. Together these two women, Martha and Adelia, begin their search for truth.
The house itself conspires with the characters. Hidden corridors allow both servants and masters to navigate in secret both public and private rooms. Within the rigid structure, the secret passages subvert the discipline the house imposes, while within the rigid social structure of the time, the women must find clever ways, often subversive ways, to navigate their own lives.
The writing style is both unusual and effective. The author leaves things out, just as the stories we experience in real life leave things out. From a glimpse, we must construct a situation. And as in real life, we are not always certain what is going on or who is trustworthy. Most enjoyable are the author's surprising turns of phrase--original, poignant, illuminating. "... a lullaby gone lewd on gin..." And the odd historical reference. "Mrs. Keppel's knickers!"
The initial truth sought is the fate of a young man who died under mysterious circumstances in a faraway land. But the search for this truth sets loose one truth after another, until in the end no one is deceived.
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Equilibrium eBook Evie Woolmore Reviews
Equlibrium is an evocative tale of two Sisters-Epiphany and Martha-who are mediums performing on stage in a theater in London, England in the early 1900’s. A Lady Adelia Lyward sees the performance and wants Epiphany to give her a private reading. She wanted to learn the truth of her brother’s death not knowing the sisters have a connection to her household. Martha was a housemaid to the Lyward’s two years previous and fell pregnant by Adelia’s husband, Lord Rafe Lyward. In disgrace Martha left the Lyward’s household, gave her child away and attempted suicide in the River Thames, she survived... But there is more to the Lyward’s household then meets the eye.
The beginning of the story starts slowly but I was pleasantly surprised as I read on to discover how the mystery surrounding Adelia’s brother’s death is revealed. However, I would have liked to have seen the historical elements to be stronger and expanded further on-such as the social changes in England during this period and I wanted to have a clearer picture on the details as to why Adelia’s brother went to South Africa during the Boer War then what was told.
Overall this story is rich in complex characters with remarkable depth despite their shortcomings. Epiphany’s voice gave- what I believe- a comfort to those she was interacting with at times and I thought she gave the story a calmness and a delicate reality to this tragic and harsh story that was unfolding. I recommend Equilibrium to readers who enjoys historical fiction with spiritualism influences.
~Stephanie
Layered Pages
Review previously published on the Historical Novel Society.
I rated this story three stars!
This novel is outside my typical genres, but I tried the free sample and was hooked. The characters are richly drawn and you feel pulled into their struggles. Some are trying to undo the consequences of their own actions, some are trying to unravel others' mysteries, and all are thrown together as they do so. The pace is perfect - just enough is revealed along the way to keep you glued to the pages. There were several twists and turns that I didn't expect, but none of them felt engineered.
It is written mostly in the present tense, which I don't typically enjoy, so it is a testament to how captivating the story is that I hardly noticed it. Be warned that it is quite long, so I wouldn't recommend starting it late in the evening (as I did - I was up until one in the morning).
Read the blurb, try the sample. If those interest you, you will not regret reading this book.
What is truth? The novel asks this question, not only of the novel's protagonists, but also of the reader. Truth is tricky. We can seldom see more than one piece at a time, and once we've examined the other pieces, we may find the first one altered.
In London in 1903 a housemaid throws herself into the Thames. The reason is as old as time impregnated by the master of the house where she worked, Martha was turned out in disgrace to give birth in the workhouse and hand her child to someone else to raise.
But she fails in her attempt to leave this world, and for the next two years she and her sister Epiphany support themselves with a stage act, with Epiphany as a psychic and Martha as her spirit guide. All the tricks of the trade are in evidence, but we soon suspect that Epiphany may well be the real thing. Yet we are cautious. As we should be.
Adelia, Martha's former mistress, wife of the man who impregnated her, has a habit of sneaking out of her own house to go secretly to the theater, where she happens to see Epiphany's act. Adelia's sister-in-law has recently been widowed, and there is some mystery about her husband's death in South Africa during the Boer War. Perhaps, Adelia thinks, Epiphany can contact him to learn the truth about his fate.
So Epiphany is engaged to give a private seance at Adelia's house, and Martha returns to the place in which she was once a servant, so invisible, as servants are, that a mob cap and an Irish accent make an adequate disguise. Her motives are mixed. She wants to help her former mistress, but she also yields to the temptation to revisit her past, to learn the truth of what happened to her in that house. Did the master ever care for her, or was she just the pleasure of the moment? And once that question is answered, the next arises did she truly care for him, as she once told herself, or was it something else she wanted?
Adelia has her own questions. She tries to understand why her husband has begun to neglect her, and she struggles with the difficulties of having married above her station, of being a tradesman's daughter among the aristocracy. Together these two women, Martha and Adelia, begin their search for truth.
The house itself conspires with the characters. Hidden corridors allow both servants and masters to navigate in secret both public and private rooms. Within the rigid structure, the secret passages subvert the discipline the house imposes, while within the rigid social structure of the time, the women must find clever ways, often subversive ways, to navigate their own lives.
The writing style is both unusual and effective. The author leaves things out, just as the stories we experience in real life leave things out. From a glimpse, we must construct a situation. And as in real life, we are not always certain what is going on or who is trustworthy. Most enjoyable are the author's surprising turns of phrase--original, poignant, illuminating. "... a lullaby gone lewd on gin..." And the odd historical reference. "Mrs. Keppel's knickers!"
The initial truth sought is the fate of a young man who died under mysterious circumstances in a faraway land. But the search for this truth sets loose one truth after another, until in the end no one is deceived.
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