House of Clouds

by K.I. Thompson

Book Overview

A sweeping saga of an impassioned romance set amidst the upheaval of a nation under siege and a way of life threatened with destruction. The American Civil War creates enemies of lifelong friends and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933110945
• ISBN13: 9781933110943
• Release Date: September 2007
• Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
• Length: 377 Pages
• Weight: 0.92 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

A Great Read

I bought this book for mindless reading over the holidays but was beyond surprised to find that it was far from mindless. In fact, I couldn't put it down. House of Clouds kept me not only in suspense but also completely engrossed with the well written historical context in which the story takes place. One reviewer has criticized the constant movement of the characters but this is precisely why the book is so suspenseful. Perhaps the reviewer doesn't like to travel. Anyway...I loved this book and would reccomend it to anyone who loves great writing and great character development. I am already looking to see if there are any other books by this author!

Historical Fiction At Its Finest

I love historical fiction, particularly when it's set during the American Civil War. Most recently I read and enjoyed `Words in Silence' by T. Novan and Taylor Rickard. I was hoping this first novel by KI Thompson would be of the same caliber, and I was not disappointed. She shows great promise as an author and I'm glad to have this book in my collection. It's the typical story of North versus South with a lot of imagination thrown in. First, there is Laura St. Clair - a young woman who is being marketed by her mother for marriage to the first lucky sop to propose. Although she knows it's her destiny, Laura avoids this like the plague. However, she believes strongly in the Southern way of life and sees nothing wrong with slavery. In fact, her father is called to work with Jefferson Davis just before Virginia secedes from the nation. Her brother Ransom leaves school to fight and is killed in his first battle. Through her brother, she meets actress Jordan Colfax. Jordan is the sister of Ransom's best friend at school. The women are immediately turned off from each other - primarily due to their loyalties to North and South, but also because of their conservative versus liberal views. Laura has been convinced that actresses - a new commodity in this time period - are akin to harlots. She is determined not to sully the St. Clair family name with such an association, but is unable to define or deny her growing interest in Jordan. As they grow closer, the country is torn further apart. Jordan's secret occupation as a spy ultimately comes between them. The question is, is either woman willing to change? Except for a few facts the author admits to `adjusting,' the story seems to be historically accurate and is a good depiction of the time period. This is an emotionally-charged time period for the American people - for example, many still don't agree on the true causes of the war - so this unbiased and factual telling is welcome. Combine that with a tantalizing romance (although, not heavy in the `physical' aspect) and you've got a must-read winner.

Excellent First Novel

I wasn't certain that I wanted to read a novel that had the Civil War as its background. But, because I am always looking for more "new" authors I gave this one a try. I certainly am not sorry and have just placed a preorder for her next one. You can get the summary of the book online but I assure you that you will throughly enjoy KI Thompson's work. This book held my interest from page 1-377. It's a keeper and I look forward to her Heart Of The Matter in January.

House Of Clouds

This is a wonderfully told story. KI Thompson really sets the Civil War stage. Her extensive historical knowledge of the subject is apparent throughout, making for a very detailed and vivid account of events. She truly captures the mood of the time, the tradgedy and the loss, but superimposed onto this is a touching romance between two very different women. KI's characters are three dimentional, their emotional turmoil believable. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys excellent historical fiction and a wonderful romance. Kudos to KI and BSB Books.

Outstanding Novel

Just when I thought nothing original could be written involving the Civil War, K.I. Thompson's House of Clouds shows that it can be done. House of Clouds is a well-written and well-researched story that brings a new twist to this time period and to an age-old Romeo and Juliet theme. The story focuses on two young women, one Yankee and one Confederate, who discover each other and their sexuality amid the turmoil of secession and war. Interwoven with the love story is the story of the war itself: The novel shows in turn Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis preparing for events that would change the nation. Through well-crafted characters, K.I. Thompson is able to convey the multitude of emotions and opinions surrounding the time period without condescension or sentimentality. Laura St. Clair, the Confederate, faces personal circumstances and family duty that her Yankee counterpart, Jordan Colfax, could never imagine. It is through their interactions that Thompson deftly articulates positions held by those in the South and North, respectively. St. Clair family members and their slaves are more than the mere stereotypes that most people have come to recognize through popular media. Rather, Thompson unflinchingly creates characters who add to the readers' understanding of plantation life and to the daily concerns of all who lived there. Thompson's forte is the meticulous research involved in this historical novel. While Thompson notes that she took a bit of creative license with the timeline of events, the plot line is entirely plausible and true to the spirit of the times. Thompson rich language helps to recreate those times of Southern gentility and innocence. Even Laura and Jordan's conversations are marked by their gracious attempts to understand each other's positions. The interludes in which we see Lincoln and Davis also show Thompson's comprehensive knowledge of these historical figures. She humanizes the leaders while revealing their attitudes and thoughts on the war itself. This book impressed me on several levels. It is an entertaining love story as well as an accurate historical novel. It allows readers to view most turbulent time in American history through a new lens. Most impressively, though, K.I. Thompson's House of Clouds goes beyond superficial representations of soldiers, spies, civilians and slaves to reveal what can be noble in the human spirit.