I wasn't sure how a book written about a woman in an asylum during the Civil War would be but I really enjoyed this book. It was very well written and the characters came to life. Kathy Hepinstall was able to transport me into that time. The description of the patients in the hospital brought to life the mental illnesses we know today but did not yet have a name then. While the story takes place mainly in an asylum, it is not about the evils of asylums but rather the lives of the main characters. This book has everything you need; love, hate, compassion, forgiveness, bravery and loss. I highly recommend this book to others and look forward to reading other bookd by Kathy Hepinstall.