Roses & Thorns

I specifically chose a high page-count book to lower the money I spend monthly on e-books, thinking it would slow me down ... HA! Donnelly's writing doesn't let you go long enough to take your time with her story; it grips you right from the first pages and whips you through at lightning speed. The story is intricate but utterly engrossing, the style is smooth, and the characters demand your undivided attention. Despite the great amount of description that this book has, it doesn't plod along!

The period detail adds depth to the story, illustrating a London clutched in a season of terror and uncertainty, as well as a New York that bustles and thrives on progress and the new biggest thing. The setting and the characters who populate it gives Fiona, our bright and stubborn heroine, the tools with which she may seek out revenge against "the dark man," he who decimated her near-idyllic youth and washed her world in blood and horror. I saw a review which called this story "The Countess of Monte Cristo" -- SO TRUE!

I gave a 4/5 star rating despite the fact that I was itching to give it the full 5. There was one detail which forced me to deduct that last star, though. There are inventions and innovations which are, in this book, credited to the story's characters when in real life they were the work of others. This struck me as somewhat unethical for an author of historical fiction, and disappointed me. Credit where credit is due.

Setting that one draw-back aside, The Tea Rose is an exceptional book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the pain and suffering Fiona, Joe, and Nick were forced to endure. I genuinely fell in love with these characters and felt for them, hoping and silently supporting their personal endeavors. Donnelly has proven herself as a writer of great prowess and elegance. Bravo!

A Deadly Flop

 **THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS**

While the general storyline is interesting and the writing clear and entertaining, this beginning to a new historical mystery series just didn't quite hit the mark. The story seemed disjointed and suffered from too much melodrama. The characters - even Alec, the main character - seemed to be made up of their individual ideals and motivations rather than actual human feeling and whimsy. The ingredients for a really good book were there, but something went wrong when Brant threw them all in together.

The character of Ned is one of my biggest issues. He is a vile, amoral, brutal philanderer who will sink as low as necessary to ruin Alec's life and happiness. He is capable of deceiving a too-sweet, air-headed innocent into believing he loves her, thus railroading his brother's hopes of marrying her himself, and then blackmailing said innocent when she listens to reason and tries to put distance between them. He takes a whip to his brother and attempts to have a wrongful charge of murder leveled against him. Add to all this his lust for darling Selina (again, a woman whom Alec loves) and his apparent incapability of keeping his breeches closed whenever he's in private. His hatred of his brother is his one defining quality and there is little else. He's not human! And there are plenty of others like him in this book. Even the good guys are extremely one-dimensional. Plantagenet Halsey showed promise in becoming the most interesting character, but even he doesn't quite manage to be much more than the principles Brant has assigned to him. Characterization is very important to me, and it was one of this story's greatest weaknesses.

In terms of historical detail, the accuracy wobbled here and there throughout the book. On the whole, though, it is clear that Brant has a passion for the Georgian era, and her descriptions set the stage very dramatically. It was refreshing to read a story that doesn't take place during the Regency or Victorian eras.

I cannot say Deadly Engagement was a great book, but don't want to give the impression it isn't worth reading. Its write-up suggested it as perfect for fans of C.S. Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr historical thrillers, and though I don't personally feel that this quite compares, it is a decent read.

No Mercy on a Monday

Mercy's back and as feisty as ever! The pack's in turmoil, her mate bond with Adam is more tenuous than ever, someone's sending television bounty hunters after werewolves, and Mercy finds out just how much trouble you get into when you forget to return a book!

Just as much fun as all the others in the series, this book re-focuses on the fae element of the Mercy-verse. The trusty walking stick continues to tag along and the book Phin lent to Mercy turns out to be more than it seems ... and more than her life is worth if it's left up to a certain fairy queen! The one problem I had with the plot was how simply the issue with Samuel worked itself out. It was the single most unbelievable and slip-shod resolution Briggs has presented to date. Apart from that, however, the story is one of the best yet. Buckle up and dive into the humor and wit that we have come to know these stories to be. Bravo!

Title & Release Date Posted!

WOO HOO!!

The sequel to The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon has been on the radar for a while, but with no details revealed. None. I mean, absolutely zero. Zip. Nada...

UNTIL NOW! Write it on your calendars, everyone:

THE MIME ORDER

October 21st, 2014

Something There, Maybe

Sorry about being MIA yesterday, guys! To make it up to you let's change things up a bit and take a gander at a book that didn't score high marks with me. I am a huge fan of Foyle's War and I wrote my senior thesis on the British home front during World War II, so I was hugely excited to find Mr. Churchill's Secretary by Elia MacNeal and see the strong reviews it received. As you may have guessed, I was disappointed. The upswing is that I think MacNeal has something here that she could make really fabulous if she polishes it up enough in coming sequels. My suggestion: give this a try and maybe you'll see the glimmer of something special too...

~~~

I really wanted to like this book, but the story just couldn't raise the bar high enough for me to find real enjoyment in it. The main characters were all very flat, lacking dimension and any real originality. Even the romance lacked sparkle. The mystery wasn't really much of a mystery and the resolution was something that Maggie more or less tripped over and fumbled through. The vital components of plot and characterization were sadly weak, unfortunately, though I think MacNeal is working with a good concept here. I'm willing to hold out hope for better in later additions to the series.

Little nit-pick here: I don't really have much fun reading about how Maggie's armpits "get damp" every time something big happens. Sweaty palms or forehead are kosher, but the mention of damp armpits just kind of takes the punch out of it...

If there is one thing that MacNeal well and truly scores big on in Mr. Churchill's Secretary it is her excellent historical research and attention to detail. She reconstructed the British home front during its greatest and bloodiest test during WWII, and did it almost flawlessly. I loved the little details that she included, such as the "Hope"/"Holmes" mix-up!

KPO, Ms. MacNeal! There's something good here, and I want it to really come into its own in the coming sequels.

~~~

LOOK FOR BOOK #4: THE PRIME MINISTER'S SECRET AGENT 

AVAILABLE JULY 1st!

:-)

The Hunger for the Game

What would you do if you were an adolescent who found yourself confined in an arena with eleven other teens surrounding a pile of weapons and told that only one of you could walk out alive...?

I'll admit it. I saw the movie first. I know! I know! Shame on me. No worries, though, as I still think the book is much better. As with most books we were tuned into the leading lady's thoughts and reactions, and Katniss is a fascinating character to tap into on that level. She doesn't exactly fall into any of the set "Heroine" categories. Tough and embittered, there is still enough whimsy in her to twirl about in a pretty dress on camera. She possesses a rigid moral compass, but she is self-sacrificing only to a point. Katniss is imperfect, but not in the physical or social ways in which we have come to expect. In a rare stroke of brutal and shamefaced honesty Collins has written a genuine human being with all of the dark nooks and shades of gray that truly make up our souls. It is the most riveting aspect of the story.

The rest of the cast is very much made up of standards and this is glaringly obvious when they are set next to Katniss. It is not a failing, however. The story needs us to melt for the sweet little Rue and dither over the uncertainty of Peeta's behavior. President Snow's the big baddie and angelic Prim is the little sister worth fighting for. They're a great supporting cast that really forces Katniss to stand alone amidst them all. By circumstance and the other characters' choices to either accept or object to the Capital's dictates she is presented with all of the options available to her, and an understanding of the varying fates they all would lead to.

Fast-paced and action-packed, "The Hunger Games" is definitely one of the most powerful stories out there. With themes that draw from classics such as "The Lottery" and "1984," this leads us to question what humanity is capable of and how strong the spirit needs to be to withstand the corruption that Panem fell against. I can't wait to see what chaos Katniss stirs up in the other two books! Bravo!

Christmas with Georgie

LOVED IT!! This is Bowen at the top of her game and showing the best that this series can be. In the world of cozies, this one really manages to stand out as something special. Not only is Georgie as fabulously adorable and klutzy as ever, but the mystery really has definite substance to it. Twelve days leading up to the New Year, mysterious violent deaths, escaped convicts, a house party of mismatched guests, and our favorite member of the royal family with Grandad, Mummy and dreamy Irish peer in tow are the ingredients for this fiendishly clever conundrum.

The cast was broader and more varied than what we've seen heretofore. There are the guests of the house party, Georgie's loved ones, the pertinent villagers, the village idiot and wild woman. And never forget the bumbling local representatives of the police force -- man, Bowen doesn't seem to have a high opinion of British law enforcement. The many characters are not difficult to keep track of however, and it makes for a delightful mix of social class, prejudice and hilarity.

Something that really endears this book to me is the time that Bowen sets aside for the relationships. The interactions between Georgie and her mother really set a different tone than what we have seen in their exchanges in previous books. There has always been a sense of deep hurt in Georgie whenever she's around Claire, but in this there seems to be a closeness that is reassuring. The big relationship is, of course, the romantic one. Darcy really shapes up in this and demonstrates that his feelings for Georgie are genuine - and that he has come to believe it for himself. It is very satisfying, though Bowen is clearly not done with them yet ... the road to happily ever after will continue to present challenges and pitfalls for them.

As always, this is a quick read ideal for a sleepless night, rainy day, or just because. Bravo!

A Captive Queen

She is the daughter of the infamous queen who dared challenge Roman supremacy, she grew up in the most sumptuous court of the ancient world where she was worshiped as the child of living deities, she was crowned a queen in her own right at the age of eight ... and her world has just been torn apart.

Kleopatra Selene and her twin brother Alexander Helios are the prizes of war for a victorious Octavian. Paraded through the streets of Rome adorned in chains they are the symbolic representation of Egypt's eclipse. They are told to forget their heritage and embrace Roman culture ... to do otherwise would almost certainly cost them their lives. But Selene never surrenders, always remembering who she rightly is and where she belongs. From her perspective we witness the revolutionary changes the new Caesar makes to Roman society as he masterfully manipulates the political rivalries of the Senate and brings ever more domains under his rule. Is there a place in this Roman world for the daughter of a rebellious queen maligned as a whore and a tyrant? Knowing that her only chance of one day returning to Egypt is to do just that, Selene sets about learning to play the cutthroat game of empire, illusion, and survival.

Personally, I found Selene to be a little too perfect. She is, however, a fascinating personality and the events and aspects of Roman life she describes are illuminating. Moran has done a wonderful job researching -- bringing this character and the time she lived in to life (but then she always does). She has also grown as an author, as many of the weaknesses I found in her previous books are either improved on or completely absent in this work. As we have come to expect there is a lovely romance central to the plot, and (happily) it is true to the historical record. I always find it nice to read about a world-class romance that really happened! Bravo!

Twice a Queen

When the King of England's consort dies in childbirth the hunt for a new bride begins. Before the grave is even dug both king and court start to weigh the fortunes and potential dangers of candidates for the royal bedchamber, leading to instant rivalries and the spark of what would prove to be a volatile and deadly resentment. Finally, however, a maiden is chosen and the contract signed and sealed ... but the lady will come at a price King Æthelred will only grudgingly pay: a crown.

Emma of Normandy was the darling of her father's court and enjoys favor only slightly dimmed by the chilliness of her sister-in-law. But when her elder sister is passed over and she is affianced to the King of England her mother warns her that while the honor of being an anointed queen will bring her power and influence beyond measure, the position will demand a strength of will that few would find within themselves. Emma will hold the title of Queen, true, but the power that comes with it will only be hers if she bears the king a son.

Political scheming, forbidden love, the threat of invasion, and a foreign queen's fight for acceptance within a hostile court weave a fascinating tale. Emma is a character we can instantly fall in love with, and those around her build a diverse and ever-changing challenge which she ultimately rises to in a bid to master the treacherous game of scepters and swords.

This was an extremely enjoyable read about a lesser-known figure from the darker nooks of England's history. The development of Emma's character in these few years of her first marriage was also very satisfying and not cloyingly cliche (at the end she made decisions that proved her maturation through the trials she had suffered, and set up an expectation that she will be a potent player on the political stage in the coming sequels). I can't wait to see how Bracewell interprets the rest of Emma's career as a queen twice over. Bravo!

A Quote to Remember

A sentence or two can say so much and have an impact beyond the actual words which make them up, and literary gurus have been working magic with their phrases since before ink first met paper. You can become rich and famous for some fancy word-work and live through the ages as a shining light of literary greatness. Shakespeare, the most quoted author of all time, could attest -- were he not six feet under today -- to the immortality of a thought well-worded.

This got me thinking about some of the books on my shelf that contain some beautifully crafted phrases, but aren't eternally famous (yet). Let's give these books and their authors a smidge of glory here!

~~~

This is a many-layered story, but the most vitally passionate part of it for me is the vulnerable heart of a young man who has spent his life viewed as an object, a possession, rather than as a person. In this line he bares his wounded soul and makes a devastatingly profound statement that rings true for all those who have endured the belittlement of those around them...

"A human being! A person, just like you, with dreams and terrors - just like you. I fear, I hope, I hurt, and yes, I love ... Please listen, and hear me as you have never heard me before."

Pratchett is easily the most delightful contemporary satirist out there. His gift for humorously bludgeoning culture, politics, religion, science, and society for the flaws and outright gaffs inherent to humanity is never lacking for entertainment value. In Jingo, though, there is a moment where he completely steps his dialogue beyond his standard snarkiness to issue a bald statement regarding war...

"Men marched away, Vimes. And men marched back. How glorious the battles would have been that they never had to fight!"

One of the most elegant fairytale re-tellings out there, this book is full to the brim with beautiful prose. Between the subject matter, the setting and time period, and the natural richness of Marillier's writing style this story has a flow that is pure and effortless. Like all good legends, there is a moral to the story...

"But there is one thing you must remember, if you forget all else. There is no good or evil, save in the way you see the world. There is no dark or light save in your own vision. All changes in the blink of an eyelid; yet all remains the same."

Deanna Raybourn started out as an author of romanticized historical mystery novels about a lady sleuth in Victorian England. While they are fun books, they cannot compare to the depth and articulate sense of human nature which is the core of her stand-alone, A Spear of Summer Grass. Writing at the top of her game, Raybourn clearly has taken her own quote as the standard...

"Because if we're on the road to Hell, then we'll dance the whole damn way and give them something to talk about when we're gone."

If Terry Pratchett is the best satirist currently in the game, then Brandon Sanderson certainly claims the same role in fantasy. Elantris was his first published novel, and established his prowess as a crafter of the written word right from the get-go. His eloquent understanding of the human soul is profound and infuses every part of his work...

"Physically inevitable or not, truth stands above all things. It is independent of who has the best army, who can deliver the longest sermons, or even who has the most priests. It can be pushed down, but it will always surface. Truth is the one thing you can never intimidate."

What quotations from your favorite books mean the most to you? What words strike a note in your soul, in your mind, in infinity? Language is the lifeline of human interaction, and when it is communicated well and with style the echoes throughout time are limitless.

A Whisper of What is to Come

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!

 In 10 days Deanna Raybourn's newest novel will hit the shelves, and we'll be treated to another adventure mixed with passion and suspense as only this author can tell it. Who's excited?

For those of you who don't know Raybourn released a shortie that introduces the leading lady who will take center stage in City of Jasmine on the 25th. As a gift to her fans, she made it a free e-book download. I dearly enjoyed it and to celebrate the beginning of the 10-day countdown I'd like to share my take on this little bundle of fun: Whisper of Jasmine.

~~~

A sweet little read! Raybourn mixed her series together a bit as a special treat for her fans, providing a hint of the later March scions, a bittersweet taste of Delilah's life before the maelstrom of tragedy and scandal which would eventually lead her to Kenya, and introduced the spice of a brand spankin' new couple in the first breath of romance and what promises to be high adventure.

Evie is bored with her dull, penniless life of dead-end jobs and a roommate who would irritate a saint. She longs for something more. An invitation from her old pal Delilah Drummond and the tailoring assistance of her colorful Aunt Dove seems just the recipe to shake things up a bit. And when she collides - literally - with the dashingly handsome Gabriel Starke she plunges right in without hesitation!

It's clear that there are many balls in the air here, and the hands mastering them may not belong to whom you might at first suppose. What is apparent is that Evie and Gabriel are in for a wild ride, and that she has finally found her grand adventure. A fun shortie with a potent blend of nostalgia, passion, and sparkle ... I can't wait to read City of Jasmine after this! Bravo!

~~~

BE SURE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY OF WHISPER OF JASMINE

&

LOOK FOR CITY OF JASMINE AVAILABLE ON FEBRUARY 25th!

:-)

A Sense of Memories Lost

Memory. What is it? How much can we depend on it for truth? Who dictates what it's made of, and how can the deception of a moment forever influence the perception of a lifetime? What are you left with when you build a life of lies, inventing days, events, entire decades? And who has the right to it's secrets?

Judith Kinghorn proved her writing prowess in The Last Summer, and she returns to the emotion-heavy transitional period before World War I. While there is a poignant romance that plays a strong role in the plot, the focus falls on the unreliable history of an elderly lady of the old order. Cora de Chevalier de St. Leger lived a life filled with more sparkle and glamor than a fairy princess. She was the toast of the Continent and maintained her dominance within the high society of Paris and Rome right through her later years. And when she returns to England for the last time the village people are enamored of her charm and the air of a glorious history draped about her like a heady perfume. But there are a few who notice the wrinkles in her stories, and one reaches out to find the truth.

Cecily Chadwick wants so much more than the staid, passionless life of the quiet English countryside. When the handsome Jack Staunton draws her into his orbit she senses a chance to grasp not only love, but the excitement she craves. When he introduces her to his grandmother, though, Cecily discovers the mystery which will become the axis upon which all of their worlds will circle upon: who is this lady and what is the truth beneath the stories of bright ballrooms, French castles, and balmy summers spent in palatial villas. What is the key to unlocking the puzzle of Cora's memories, a series of seeming-fantasies?

Wedged in the very heart of the contention between honesty and fairytale is Cora's long-time friend, Sylvia. She was there almost from the first. She knows much of the story first-hand ... but not all. Obsessed with learning the reality of her friend's life, Sylvia refuses to allow anything to stand in her way. She doesn't hesitate to lock horns with Cecily, whom she views as a rival for Cora's affection and confidence, and even her relationship with the elderly countess comes up short when weighed against unearthing what she seeks. She proves to have been the author of one of the greatest lies which dictated Cora's chances of happiness in the end.

Nearly epic in scope and fearlessly plunging the depths of human consciousness, Kinghorn has crafted a nuanced tale of love. Not just romantic love, but the devotion between friends -- a tie which can be as destructive as it is strong. The love of individual history, a past immaculate in its cherished creativity. A love for truth, even if it is not yours to discover. She demands us to consider just what the nature of that which is called "history," and our own role in crafting it is.

Where Kinghorn fell short was the way in which she transitioned from past to present within a scene. It is very dramatic to have that dynamic to the story, but it was executed poorly. The story's strengths far out-distance its failing, however, and the characters we spend such a brief time with shine as a memory as rich and delightful as any Cora invented. I can't help but wonder what Kinghorn will treat us to next. She is quickly establishing a reign of glory over the portion of historical fiction dealing with the English during The Great War. Bravo!

Bobs, Aeroplanes & Lady Doctors...

During the holidays I was given an ARC for an author I'd never heard of before, Cate Campbell. The book won't be out until later this year, but this will be a little something to whet your appetite! Hall of Secrets is the second book in her series about a well-to-do, progressive family in 1920's Seattle. True to the current fad for all things Roaring 20's Campbell infuses her story with the color and verve of the era. Drama from the previous book, Benedict Hall, carries over and sets the stage for a reckoning that will have lasting repercussions for the leading lady, Margot, and the entire Benedict family...

~~~

 The 20s: America between the wars, bobbed hair and shorter skirts, the glory of flight, and women in the work force. This time period has always held the glamor of a free society and easy living ... but it wasn't as free or as easy as is often supposed. Hall of Secrets portrays part of the tumultuous transitional period between the sovereignty of the old order and an age more and more recognizable to us.

The Seattle Benedicts are the kind of ritzy, wealthy clan which dominated society until the Great War shattered the system. Now they are facing this new era of class ambiguity, and thanks to a forward-thinking father and son team heading the family business and a daughter having faced down the old barriers of the male-dominated medical profession in order to earn her place as a leading physician, the Benedicts of Benedict Hall are going strong.

The San Fransisco Benedicts, on the other hand, are foundering. With parents stuck firmly in the ideals of the 18th Century, Allison Benedict is sent to her Seattle relations in disgrace when a night of fun and youthful frivolity brands her as ruined in the eyes of her mother and father. Never having known what love and affection really are, it is difficult for the young debutante to place her trust in her cousins. But Cousin Margot -- independent and college educated -- sparks an interest in Allison whose own father insists that higher education is wasted on girls. Befriending her relations is the hardest choice Allison will make, and your heart breaks for a girl so torn and twisted up by the mistreatment and manipulation of unfeeling parents.

Beneath the surface, this book is an exploration of the mores of 1920s Seattle society. It brilliantly remains true to the harsh and uncaring truths of some of the more sordid facts of the culture, though offers the hope of progress which Margot and her family are striving for. The issues of racial prejudice, contraception/family planning, women in formerly male-dominated roles, family relations, and the first whispers of what would be known as the Great Depression all come into play through the course of the story. It is all very well researched and masterfully presented!

The only issue I had was that at about 3/4 of the way through it seemed as though there were some scenes which should have been ordered differently. It forced the story to "fast forward" and "rewind" in the plot's timeline very noticeably, where it hadn't up until that point.

Excellent storytelling and strong characterization. Margot and Frank stuck to their guns, but found a happy middle ground to form a foundation on. I was very proud of them! Bravo!

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley.com for an ARC of this book!

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LOOK FOR HALL OF SECRETS AVAILABLE ON SEPTEMBER 2nd!

:-)

Off to a Strong Start

Wow! This is one of those books that will keep you up way past your bedtime. Once the plot really picked up I just couldn't put it down! The characters are wonderfully constructed, the heroine is feisty and cerebral, and the plot is deeply layered and forces us to examine our own concepts of justice. And this is a debut novel?! You really can't tell as the writing is so smooth and tight that Shannon comes across as a veteran author. She gives us a bit of everything: adventure, suspense, intrigue, morality, horror, and even romance! Above all, however, this is at its core a coming-of-age story that is powerful and hauntingly bittersweet.

Paige Mahoney is voyant, a rare dreamwalker. Unlike other "unnaturals" her spirit can leave the confines of her physical body and wander at will, accessing and manipulating the dreamscapes of others. In a world hostile to the very mention of clairvoyance Paige is always a breath away from the gallows. When her luck runs out and she is taken by the authorities she finds out just why no voyant ever returns once taken...

Evil flesh-eating beasties, a city erased from the map, a poisonous plot, and the mysterious Rephaim who offer the world their protection at the cost of slavery. This is a book that packs it all in! Admittedly, there are elements of the story that show Shannon's inexperience, though. Many reviews complain about the jargon overload, and I agree that it is fast and thick, especially at the beginning. If you are at all familiar with modern British slang, though, or if you just roll with it, you'll find that it is somewhat self-explanatory. If not, there is a handy-dandy glossary in the back! Personally, however, the biggest issue I had with the story is the awareness of time passing. You can tell from one mention of spring during Paige's training and then the approaching date of the Bicentary celebration (September 1st), that this takes place over months, but the way the action and dialogue runs it seems like it only lasts a few weeks at most. It was a mildly confusing paradox that threw me off from time to time.

All in all, a wonderful book! Thank you to Anna from The Reading Room for suggesting it! I can't wait to read the next, though the wait will be painful. If the sequel is on-par with it's stellar predecessor, though, it will be well worth it. Bravo!

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BE SURE TO KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THE SEQUEL ANNOUNCED FOR SEPTEMBER 25th!

:-)

Two-In-One: Excited for the Return of a Fav

I'm a total sucker for a well-written, solidly researched historical flick! Throw in a juicy mystery, some romantic spice, and a dashing hero prepared to go to whatever lengths necessary to see justice done and I'm in heaven. Ergo, the reason I adore C. S. Harris and her Sebastian St. Cyr mystery series. The ninth book is due out in a little under a month -- YAY!!!! -- and I thought I'd celebrate the hype a bit by posting a review of What Darkness Brings. After looking at it a bit, though, I decided it just wasn't enough to really get into the spirit of the countdown (yes, I have an actual countdown), so I doubled the pleasure, doubled the fun by throwing in my review of When Maidens Mourn as well! If you're rolling your eyes at me over this, please simply humor me and let me have my fun. I hope you enjoy & please share your thoughts on these great titles too!

~~~

This addition to the fast-paced and intense Sebastian St. Cyr mystery thriller series is excellent. All of the plot threads continue to progress as Sebastian's wits, life, and marriage are tested by the violence and cruelty which can be born from the tarnished soul of mankind. Harris always weaves her scenarios around important historical events or aspects, and this time she treated us to the exploration of a fascinating undercurrent to the political turbulence of the increasingly unpopular Regency: the revival of the legend of the "once and future king." Combining that with the imagined family life of a young Alfred, Lord Tennyson was interesting and effective.

The relationship between Sebastian and his new wife is a central component of the story, much to the delight of this series' fandom. Sebastian and Hero's mutual passion and distrust keep the tension running high in every scene in which they take center stage together. Although the romantic in us all might cry out for the two to make up and just fall into each others arms, the tense division between them allows the investigation to progress as husband and wife ask their own questions and harbor their own suspicions. As Sebastian himself remarked, they did work together quite well in the end. (The feels!)

As much as I hate to say anything negative about a book in one of my favorite series, character decisions were occasionally somewhat vague and inconsistent with what was going on in a given scene. Sebastian, for instance, jumped to conclusions that seemed to come from out of left field, leaving me going "Wha-?!" Some of the secondary characters, such as Jamie Knox, Lord Jarvis, and Bevin Childe were simply left hanging in the end as well. Although I've no doubt the rugged Mr. Knox will make an appearance in successive stories, it gave his and others' parts in this one an unfinished feel ... and you can never have enough of the magnificently dastardly Lord Jarvis (does anyone else visualize him as Charles Dance in his role as Tywin Lannister?)

Minor complaints aside, this is probably one of the best books in this series. I can't wait to catch up with Sebastian and Hero in Book #8. Bravo!

P.S. Do I detect a Richard Sharpe fan in Ms. Harris??? Tee hee...

 ~~~

Mmm. Mmm. GOOD! It was wonderful to catch up with Sebastian and Hero in this, Harris' eighth historical mystery novel in the addictive Sebastian St. Cyr series. As always, the mystery was sinister and complex, teasingly holding the solution out of reach until the last pages. It was interesting that rather than choosing a specific historical event as she did in many of the other books, Harris set a single object at the center of this story: the gem which would famously come to be known the world over as the Hope Diamond. This plunged us right into the embarrassing and costly disappearance of the French Crown Jewels, and the machinations of the powerful man who would go to any expense to get them back - Napoleon himself! French agents and the suspicious similarity between two remarkable gemstones spice this plot up nicely.

All of our favorite characters made appearances -- Tom, Kat, Jamie Knox, and even Hendon showed up at the Brook Street house briefly, renewing the personal tension surrounding the uncertainty of their relationship and its cause. The delightfully malevolent Jarvis had some screen time as well, plotting and twirling the figurative mustache. And, of course, we see the progression of Sebastian's relationship with Hero. They have managed to break down many of the barriers which kept them from trusting one another in the previous books, and the closeness they have managed to achieve is wonderful to read about. There are still secrets between them as well as conflicting loyalties, but the strain has lessened considerably and they show evidence of forming a formidable partnership.

If I could wish for one thing to improve this book (not that it isn't perfectly wonderful in its own right) it would be the tightening if not full resolution of at least one of the major story arcs that fill this series. Sebastian doesn't know who his real father is ... Countess Sophie is alive and supposedly somewhere in France ... and so on and so on. I would have liked to see these plot lines show some serious progression, but I'll save my hopes for Book #9.

Another absorbing read with fantastic characters and a satisfyingly twisty mystery, Harris never disappoints. Bravo!

~~~

 MAKE SURE TO LOOK FOR WHY KINGS CONFESS, OUT ON MARCH 4th!!

 

BREAKING NEWS: Book #10 Who Buries the Dead has been announced for a March 2015 release!

:-)

A Retelling with a Realistic Spin

The tale of Sleeping Beauty is a widely-known fairytale about a beautiful princess cursed by a wicked sorceress and a kingdom held in thrall. Sound familiar? Elizabeth Blackwell takes the traditional legend and toys with a more realistic situation in which the princess and her kingdom could have found themselves. A vindictive royal aunt and a deadly plague come into play in this fascinating retelling of a beloved story, and is told from a refreshing perspective.

Elise was born on an impoverished farm in a backwater village, but through good fortune and pure nerve her fate changes forever when she arrives in the royal palace and becomes first a chambermaid, and then the queen's personal lady's maid. This is her story, and through her eyes we witness the perilous time leading up to the momentous birth of Princess Rose and then the treacherous storm of hate and spite which would seek to devastate the entire kingdom. Contrary to Elise's own words at the very beginning of the book, the story of a simple royal attendant is riveting when set amidst such drama and intrigue!

At it's heart this story is a treat! However, certain weaknesses bring the overall delivery down. At the beginning there is a great deal of foreshadowing, but it quickly became too much. All of the "How could any of us have known's," and "If only I had foreseen's" clogged up the flow. Another problem was Elise's romance with Marcus. It was well-constructed up through their disagreement over his living at the palace, but the reunion years later can only be described as wishy-washy. There were also things that just didn't make any sense! How did Millicent actually manage to orchestrate her revenge and later recover from the pox? Where did Dorian's affection for Elise come from? Why was I left with the impression that the feelings she developed with Dorian were deeper and more real than what she ever had with Marcus, her supposed true love? Etcetera and so forth. Ultimately, though, it was the ending which really disappointed me. It was too easy, everything just clicked neatly together without any wrinkles. And then we got a slap-dash accounting of everyone's lives through their deaths in some quick paragraphs. It was bland and felt like a let-down after a story that had been extremely engrossing.

Negatives aside, though, this is a wonderful retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Some reviewers are saying that it is similar to "Downton Abbey," and I would agree that fans of the show would enjoy this. I look forward to reading Blackwell's next work! Bravo!

A huge heartfelt thank you to Anna at TheReadingRoom.com for arranging an ARC of While Beauty Slept in return for an honest review!

LOOK FOR THIS GREAT STORY TO BE AVAILABLE ON FEBRUARY 20th! :-)

Can't Wait Books of 2014!

I can't help myself. I always look ahead to see what new books are coming out in the up-coming year and torture myself with the knowledge that these can't-wait titles are still weeks, months, a whole bloody year away from ending up in my e-reader! I can't stop myself, though, and so to share my torment with all of you lovely fellow readers who are waiting on these books too I have come up with a "Top 10" list of the books I am dying to get my hands on this year. Maybe you are counting down the days till some of these come out too, or perhaps you didn't know your fav author was releasing a new title until now ... well, I invite you to join me in my teeth-grinding wait for publication dates. Misery loves company, yes?

Coming in at #1...

Mirror Sight 
Green Rider Series #5
Kristen Britain
May 6th

I have read and re-read the stories of Karigan's adventures many times. I started in middle school, continued through high school, and they became my escape during finals in college. Like George R. R. Martin, Kristen Britain gets a lot of grief for taking an eternity to release her books. Personally, I'll sit tight and wait so long as she delivers a great read. She hasn't let me down yet, so I will continue to give Kristen the benefit of the doubt and continue agonizing in silence until May.

Sliding in at #2...

Why Kings Confess
Sebastian St. Cyr Mysteries #9
C. S. Harris
March 4th

I discovered the Sebastian St. Cyr books about two years ago and can safely say that I was addicted from the first. Before I read What Angels Fear I had seen a description of Sebastian that hooked me: a cross between Mr. Darcy and James Bond. I have found the description delightfully apt, and devour these stories like candy! My biggest hope for Book #9 is that at least one of the major story arcs will show some definite progression, though I will settle for poor Hero finally having their baby (How many books has she been pregnant? Poor dear!).

And for the bronze at #3...

City of Jasmine
Deanna Raybourn
February 25th

For all of those who enjoyed A Whisper of Jasmine, the shortie prequel Raybourn released earlier this month, I know that you are as excited as I am to dive into Evie Starke's story. I enjoyed the Lady Julia books, but Raybourn seems to really be coming into her own now that she has moved away from the Victorian lady sleuth. After her success with A Spear of Summer Grass and the bright promise of Whisper, I can't wait to see what she has in store for her readership!

A solid #4...

Daughter of the Gods
Stephanie Thornton
May 6th

I loved The Secret History and how unapologetic and brazen Thornton was in her treatment of a story that was never meant to be handled delicately. After finishing I immediately hopped onto her website to see what else she had in the works and was delighted to see that she was revving up for several books about strong female icons from history who have been neglected by authors until now. This will be her next foray into the annals of history, and who more appropriate for her to apply her talents to than Hatshepsut?

Stepping up for #5...

Silver Mirrors
The Apparatus Infernum #2
A. A. Aguirre
April 29th

I haven't read much steampunk, but the first book of the The Apparatus Infernum is where I started and I was blown away! Celeste and Janus provide an intriguing blend of steampunk fantasy and mystery, delivering a thrill ride set in a fascinatingly original reality. Dark entities set to work at the conclusion of the first book that will clearly make things interesting as the series progresses.

Give it up for #6...

Queen of Hearts
Her Royal Spyness Mysteries #8
Rhys Bowen
August 5th

Georgie and dear Darcy were off their game in their last outing, Airs and Graces, but I'm holding out hope for them in this next cozy by Bowen. Our favorite penniless member of the royal family is off for Hollywood and who knows what mayhem she'll stir up?



Landing #7...

The Bone Season #2
Samantha Shannon
September 25th

Don't know the title yet (though Shannon and her publisher have decided on one, apparently), don't know what the cover will look like, and no synopsis, but we have a release date!





All about #8...

The Last Queen of India
Michelle Moran
July 7th

Moran has proven that good writers improve over time, developing their styles and broadening the talent they bring to the table. Each of her Egyptian books was progressively stronger, and now she sets her sights on a pivotal period in India's history.




A strong #9...

The Collector of Dying Breaths
The Reincarnationist #6
M. J. Rose
April 8th

I'll admit, I haven't read any of the other books in this series. I generally would never even consider reading out of order, but this really caught my eye. I might very well get the first five read before April, but even if I don't I might just dive into #6 anyway.
As a side note, this has to be one of the most beautiful covers coming out in 2014!

In for #10...

The Red Lily Crown
Elizabeth Loupas
April 1st

Hopefully this release date isn't an April Fool's Day joke...

Loupas has applied her talents to Renaissance Italy before, though this time she will be treating us to the heart of Medici power.




Well, that's my Top 10 Can't Wait Books of 2014! What are yours?

A Novel, and Then Some

Like all of Brandon Sanderson's books, Warbreaker is exceptional. I'll admit to mixed feelings about it, but it is nevertheless a really good story. As always, we get a cast of varied characters, each with their own baggage and biases setting out to take on a world infused with a magic system unlike any other ever written. The idea of magic which can be passed from one person to another, thus making anyone capable of becoming a magic wielder is very interesting and creates its own set of possible benefits and dangers.

I suppose my biggest problem with it is that it felt like Sanderson was recycling elements from his other major works here. He gives an explanation for two of these similarities - godlike men and a princess traveling to an arranged marriage - on his website, stating that he wanted to explore how things would work if the godlike state of the Elantrians were reversed and uncorrupted. The inclusion of the foreign princess plot line was included similarly: "In Elantris, Sarene arrives to discover her fiancé is dead and gone. In Warbreaker, however, I wanted to show what happened if the bride didn't get to dodge this uncomfortable situation, but actually had to marry the man she'd been promised to." Having read about this before starting the book I was able to get behind the concept of Sanderson re-working plot elements from previous work to see what would happen. I even enjoyed the exercise, having read and thoroughly enjoyed Elantris, and everything was fine and dandy until some scenes and character actions took on the feel of some of the things in Mistborn. By the end I felt almost that this was Sanderson taking aspects of his other books and throwing them back into the pot to see what would happen. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing -- the story works really well on its own and is independent of his other work -- the originality of the book suffered because of it.

Setting that aside, though, there is a lot to really enjoy about Warbreaker. Sanderson has always written women very effectively and he continues to do so here. The two main protagonists are princesses from the rebel kingdom of Idris. An agreement between their homeland and the sovereign nation of Hallandren will require one of them to travel to the Court of Gods and wed the God King. Siri is chosen, to Vivenna's consternation, and thus begins a series of events which will see the build up to a war that Idris cannot survive. Through Siri, we follow the events within the Hallandren court as the politics of the theocracy attempt to use her as a pawn to agitate the people's sentiment. Likewise we witness the machinations of the factions outside of the palace through Vivenna's experiences when she arrives to save her sister from what she views to be rape by the monster who calls himself the God King. Each discovers that nothing they have been taught has prepared them for the truth of this city and the viscous turmoil within. Their separate struggles against the growing call for war is the making of them -- though it very nearly breaks them both.

I also really liked having the annotations regarding each individual chapter at the end. I always love it when I can hear about what an author was thinking and trying to accomplish as he writes a story, and Sanderson has given us extensive insight into not only this world and these characters but his own personal writing process. It was a unique experience that I cannot thank him enough for.

Though this book represents some conflict for me as a reader, I genuinely liked it and will definitely be reading it again. Sanderson left the ending wide open for a sequel and he mentioned the possibility several times in the annotations, so I will cross my fingers and hope to anticipate that next publication. Bravo!

P.S. Brandon Sanderson provides a lot of great information on how he came to write Warbreaker and his feelings about it on his website.

Diva of the Savannah

This was so different from everything else that Deanna Raybourn has written, and I believe it is by far her best work. She took a step away from Victorian England and Lady Julia for the time being and brought her fans to the sun-kissed savannah of Kenya during the politically and emotionally chaotic 1920s. There she introduced to us a woman whose life is a parade of contradictions and uncertain motivations, leading to endless trouble with men, rivals, and the ever faithful media - and she likes it that way! Deliliah is very cold and devil-may-care on the surface, but right from the beginning we catch glimpses of warmer depths. By her own admittance Delilah breaks hearts and commandments without remorse, leading a fast life of infamy until the piper comes knocking at the door for his due. As the story progresses and her narrative reveals more of the inner heart of someone who has experienced loss, grief, and disillusionment we come to truly like and admire this scandalous exile. Apart from the fascinating and sometimes heartbreaking character study that she is, our leading lady is just downright fun and gutsy.

To complement the tempestuous diva Raybourn crossed her path with that of J. Ryder White, safari guide to only those who can afford him ... and the only one with enough backbone and stubbornness to go toe-to-toe with her cynical wit and leave her feeling that she got as good as she gave. Their one-upmanship is humorous, but also revealing on both sides. Everyone has a past, and Africa tends to lay it all bare, leaving behind broken hearts and shattered souls - or lancing the poison and allowing old hurts to mend. And it is during this life-shaking process that Delilah finds herself within the beating heart of Africa itself - the home she'd never known, the people who come to see her as their best hope, a friend whose freedom and life she would to anything to protect, and a man who recognizes the missing part of his soul in the one he knows he shouldn't bet his heart on.

This was an extraordinary book that I flew right through. I wanted more when I was done, but the ending really is just about perfect. I can't wait to see what Raybourn comes up with next. Bravo!
 

http://www.polyvore.com/spear_summer_grass/set?id=98333206

India Black is Back!

Oh India, how we adore you! You're unapologetically blunt, you'd rather receive a fine piece of nickel-plated artillery than a pearl necklace as a gift, poor French's finer sensibilities don't stand a chance against your gleefully antagonistic views of respectability, and you finally get the chance to dash around in trousers (though not the handsome silk-lined garment you had in mind). Always, you make our time with you a delight.

Murder and a threat to the security of the princely states are up in the air this time around, and India is delighted to answer the call for Queen and country ... especially as Lotus House is currently under siege by the Dowager Marchioness of Tullibardine, the "old trout's" man, and an army of pampered collies. With revelations flying left and right, the denizens of her establishment preparing for mutiny, and her relationship with French reaching a point where something's got to give it's no wonder that India would be relived to get to work solving another of Dizzy's puzzles!

Carr finally hit her stride with this series in book three, and here she shows her ability to maintain a good thing while continuing to improve upon success. India's personality and unforgettable voice were the indisputable hooks for these stories from page one of the debut, but now everything else about them are coming up to snuff and doing our lovable heroine justice. Happily, it looks as though there is much more to look forward to, as Carr has built upon the original story arcs and the big questions of India's place in the world, what choice she will make for herself, and how she and French can possibly bridge the gap are not going to be easily resolved. Bravo!