The Blue Asylum

"Blue Asylum" by Kathy Hepinstall is a compelling Civil War-era novel that follows Virginia plantation wife Iris Dunleavy as she navigates her time at Sanibel Asylum after defying her husband during the war. At the asylum, she encounters fellow patient and Confederate soldier Ambrose Weller, developing a connection with him amid their struggles. The story explores themes of love, resilience, and healing in a turbulent historical period.