This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Claire Merchant is an Australian writer and published author of fiction novels set in the imaginary city of South Coast. She has written stories in genres ranging from fantasy and supernatural fiction, to adventure, drama, and romance. Claire has a passion for storytelling and character building, and spends a lot of her time drinking black tea and trying to make sense of the voices in her head.
Reviewed by Christian Sia for Readers' Favorite
Daughter Departed by Claire Merchant is a wonderful coming of age story. After her graduation, Amelia Saber worked at her father’s public relations group. A great and respectable job, but she felt “like a caged tiger... alone in the castle but not in the world.” Still heart-broken, all she ever wanted was to be away from the prying eyes of the public. She wanted a life where she could have something for herself, away from the media. So, she leaves the influence of her father in the South Coast and sets out for England. But can she ever escape her past, a past that has become part of her?
The story is written in a clear first person voice and it grips the reader from the very first page and pulls them into the worldview of the protagonist. The emotional intensity of the narrative is strong and readers will want to see how the young protagonist handles the internal conflict within her. The characters are well developed, psychologically and emotionally rich, each constructed with a background that will interest readers. The prose is beautiful and the author’s diction reflects the setting and a world that contemporary readers will feel comfortable in. Claire Merchant is a great storyteller and she has what it takes to keep readers turning the pages. I enjoyed the realism in the story and the skillful handling of characters. Daughter Departed is a delightful story, well crafted for a beautiful reading experience.
