The Midnight Rose - Lucinda Riley

The Midnight Rose: A Novel by Lucinda Riley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Midnight Rose was completely absorbing. I love these gothic novels with rich atmosphere and dual timelines, although I sometimes have to take more tragedy and bleakness than I would like along with them. I've read one novel by Lucinda Riley before, and loved how her story included exotic locations as well as England. But it was so sad that I couldn't bring myself to read another of her books for several years.

This time I was braced for tragedy at least in the earlier timeline, and ended up cursing myself for still getting attached to the characters. There's no doubt that Riley can suck you in and make you dread what's going to happen to them. The haunting sadness of their story clung to me for several days after I finished reading.

The thing that disappointed me about this one is the modern timeline. I was really hoping it would make up for the tragedy of the past. It did offer a bit of redemption, but it was not nearly as satisfying as it could have been. The romance was underdeveloped, and materialized almost out of nowhere. I didn't have the chance to become invested enough in it. That dissatisfaction also lingered with me for several days, making me waver between 3 and 4 stars on my rating.

Still, the haunting nature of both books I've now read by Riley tells me that I will be back for more in the future. Like a moth to a flame.

The Tudor Secret - C.W. Gortner

The Tudor Secret by C.W. Gortner
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

First things first, this is not a mystery. For some reason I thought it was, but it's really just Historical Fiction. It covers a period of about 3 weeks, and the huge leaps in character growth during that time are quite unbelievable. Our main character starts out a naive, bumbling country boy who picks up on court intrigue and gains maturity with startling swiftness, in a matter of days. Definitely some suspension of disbelief is needed.

However, I found it a quick, light read, especially for a historical fiction set in the Tudor period. Things are not as fleshed out as they could be, but I liked the main character and a couple of the minor ones too. I might even choose to read more about them at some point.

To Defy a King - Elizabeth Chadwick

To Defy A King by Elizabeth Chadwick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars. I didn't like this as much as the others in the series, partly because there were so many characters that I didn't like - it's during King John's reign, so I guess you have to expect some of that. Chadwick got me feeling angry about lots of characters - King John, of course, and his nephew, Ida's son, but also Roger Bigod, who really disappointed me. I thought he was made of better stuff after quite liking him in For the King's Favor. Now that I look back, I realize there were hints in that book of who he would become.

I also felt Mahelt's frustration at her powerlessness in the face of men, her isolation from her family, and her struggles to meet the very different expectations of her marriage family. I liked that she didn't give up in spite of everything, and didn't lose her spirit. Not for lack of being squashed! It was realistic for her time, but I don't have to like it.

The other reason I didn't like this as much is that Mahelt's viewpoint was really limited. She wasn't able to take as active a role in the Bigod family as her mother did in the Marshal household. Much of the real action took place either by messenger, or in her husband Hugh's point of view, which was still peripheral. I'm glad I had read The Scarlet Lion because the central events were more directly explored there from William Marshal's point of view.

River God - Wilbur Smith

River God by Wilbur Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

River God is one of those historical novels that broke open a whole new world to me. I have been to Ancient Egypt, lived, lost and triumphed there, and then resurfaced in my own time as if coming out of a vivid dream. The images are still with me, but what makes it truly wonderful is the main character, Taita. He is the star of this book, not the two star-crossed lovers who dominate the book description.

Taita is a slave, a eunuch, but a highly educated and privileged one. He's an artist, an inventor, a scholar, a physician, a strategist, and more. He's a genius at the middle of everything important, driving it all from the humble position of a trusted, good-natured slave. Taita can do almost anything, think a way out of most situations and turn them somehow to advantage. But there's a sense of tongue-in-cheek to his abilities at times that makes me think he's laughing at himself just a little even though his attitude is one of natural superiority. He thinks the world of himself, but is also compassionate and selfless.

What a great character. I loved seeing events through his eyes, seeing his curiosity and his innovations and ideas, and what fruit they bore. I loved the steadfastness and depth of emotion that he felt for those he loved, and those relationships made the history much more poignant in the end.

Yes, Taita's pretty much perfect, and Tanus and Lostra are also beautiful, godlike, and amazingly talented and well-loved. Readers who prefer their characters to have many shades of gray might have some qualms. This is not full of gritty realism, but is more akin to a heroic epic with characters that are larger than life. In a time when heroes could be elevated to god status in the eyes of the people, I didn't find this to be out of place.

I almost forgot to mention the adventure, the machinations, the betrayals, the hunts and the battles. Life on the Nile is wrapped all around it, teeming with life yet unmarred by humans. There are many opportunities for barbarism and civilization to clash and mingle. There are gruesome deaths aplenty that don't allow you to forget the savageness of the times (including many animals). Just in case you think it might be boring following the life of a noble slave-genius. I was mesmerized.

For the King's Favor - Elizabeth Chadwick

For the King's Favor by Elizabeth Chadwick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For the King's Favor is a worthy companion novel to The Greatest Knight. It takes place during the same time (during the reign of Richard II), and overlaps with William Marshal's story at a few points, so definitely read that book, and probably also its sequel, first.

It's great to see glimpses of William again from another perspective, but it's also great to learn more about the Bigods. William and Roger struggle in parallel to build their houses, but their obstacles are very different, and Roger's honor is just as fine as William's in his own way. We also get Ida's full perspective in this book - she is not just a prize to be won or given, but a woman doing her best to make a life in a world where she has no power and few choices.

This is written in the same style as the Marshal books, covering many years in a way that is somehow not boring. I love how Chadwick shows the capriciousness of kings and how it could make and break people's lives, sometimes more than once. I feel like I know the people who lived in those times, their ambitions, heartaches, successes through luck or hard work and loyalty, or their failures in spite of them. Chadwick makes the history come alive.

The Tea Rose - Jennifer Donnelly

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Tea Rose was a really good book, and I'm so glad I persevered past the absolutely devastating first 200-300-odd pages. It's one of those books that starts off with everything going so well that you know it's not going to last long. I had a sense of foreboding, but the amount of tragedy and pain was really too much. It just kept coming in wave after wave. It wasn't just a bit dark or a bit tragic. It was crushing, suffocating loss and pain. That's going to stick with me for a while. I'm really proud of myself for pushing through it, because I usually hate reading books full of tragedy, and this was darker than I can usually tolerate.

I'm fairly certain I stuck with it partly because of the tea. I love tea. I drink it all day long. And I love Victorian stories, and this one was refreshingly focused on industry and shops, and factories - not something I've seen very often since packaging and selling tea is not as glamorous as taking tea in the parlor. The sense of place was very vivid, and it kept me reading, along with the hope that such tragedy couldn't continue for 700 pages without reprieve.

I was totally ready to walk away if Part 2 didn't start turning things around. But luckily it did. From that point on, even though there are still sad parts, the overall tone is more hopeful, and things start to go right. I was finally able to settle down into an enjoyable historical tale with more regular ups and downs. The strength of love and friendships and resilience of spirit began to shine through, and the memory of those will stick with me for a while too.

Then, for the last part of the book, I suddenly found myself glued to the pages. I couldn't read fast enough to see how everything would play out. I wasn't completely sure I could trust everything to work out how I wanted it to, but in the end, all of the resolutions were so completely satisfying. I can't believe I'm saying it, but it was worth it to persevere. What a roller coaster ride.

The Tapestry - Nancy Bilyeau

The Tapestry by Nancy Bilyeau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've thoroughly enjoyed this trilogy, and I'm going to miss Joanna's reluctant adventures, as well as her stubborn strength and her compassionate spirit. She's a type of heroine that you don't see very often.

Each book in the trilogy has such a great combination of elements while not being a repetition of the same old story. There's Historical Fiction with a touch of mysticism and suspense, and a mild bit of romance. The focus is on a former novice during and after the dissolution of the priories, one who can't seem to manage the quiet, contemplative life that she longs for. And on top of that, we have the dizzying conflicts and moral struggles of people in the midst of religious upheaval, against the backdrop of a treacherous political scene that causes fear both high and low. (Not to mention beheadings.)

But all that aside, I just really like Joanna and several of the side characters as well. I am happy to report that there's more of both Geoffrey and Edmund in this book than there was in the previous one. I also really enjoyed the addition of the German court artist. And there's no lack of villains either, some not as black and white as they were when we met them before.

Much of this installment takes place in the court of Henry VIII during the time of his marriages to Anne of Cleves and Catherine Howard (the 4th and 5th of his wives). One thing I really liked about the first two books was that they were about Tudor times without being centered on the court or the monarch. That changes in this book, but at least it's not focused on Anne Boleyn (which has been done so many times before). It didn't stop me from enjoying this one, but I was glad when the focus shifted away from the court.

Looking back, I believe it's possible some readers could find some lack of focus in the plot, not that it stopped me from eating it all up as fast as possible. Joanna is much less proactive in this one, mainly driven by King Henry's whims. Although there isn't a driving prophecy like in The Chalice, or a murder mystery like in The Crown, there was enough intrigue and danger to keep me turning the pages. It's really about Joanna's small life being caught up in the schemes of the powerful, and how she and a few other insignificant people manage to eke out an existence they can be satisfied with in that toxic environment. Managing to stay alive is always a plus. Anything more than that is a bonus.

I'm so happy with how it ended. It could easily have ended badly, but it was the perfect ending as far as I'm concerned. I have to say I wasn't the biggest fan of the love triangle (a relatively small, well-balanced aspect of the trilogy), but it ended well, and I am satisfied. I'll be eagerly looking for more from this author. This is Historical Fiction how I like it. Not so epic that you can't feel the lives of the individuals. And not at all dull.

The Lake House - Kate Morton

The Lake House by Kate Morton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So when is she writing another one?

Kate Morton is one of those authors whose settings are so vivid, they make you nostalgic for a similar time or place even when you've never been there. She also draws fully dimensional characters, and along with that comes sadness and failing, and reality of life. Normally I don't enjoy books that drag me into acknowledging harsh realities, but Morton is one author who does it in such a way that I can't help admiring it. This is another wonderfully written book, a joy to read even with the pain that is uncovered along the way.

The atmosphere in The Lake House is warm and nostalgic on the one hand, and full of overgrowth and decay on the other. As the story switches back and forth from the 1930s to modern day, you get such a sense of innocence and paradise lost, and can't help but fear knowing how the tragedy happened.

The mystery is explored in the modern timeline, with character perspectives from the past interspersed. The past timelines bring the tragedy alive so that it's not just a distant memory being uncovered.

The discoveries kept me involved, but I guessed some of the big twists before the characters did. Probably because I had extra information from seeing the past firsthand. But there were a couple of surprises in there for me still. I'm still not sure what I think about the final surprise. It was almost one coincidence too many. That's just a minor point, however, and the pieces do fit.

I also didn't hate the book once I knew everything, which can happen when the ending is too disturbing or senselessly tragic (I'm looking at you, The House at Riverton!). Thankfully, I was satisfied with this conclusion. Every tiny clue and action was accounted for. My only complaint is that I didn't get more of the characters. I wanted to follow them further, away from the Lake House. That's never a bad feeling to have at the end of a book.

Lonesome Dove - Larry McMurtry

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Lonesome Dove is a gritty, realistic depiction of life on the old frontier, where death is random and swift and brutal, and so is life. This book does a very good job at taking you there and forcing you to experience every ugly aspect of the old West, which is probably why it has such high ratings and won a Pulitzer Prize.

For me, however, these types of books are not enjoyable, especially when the point seems to be to show the capricious nature of life and death. I didn't like any of the characters, but the ones I sort of liked a little bit mostly got killed off completely senselessly. This is one of those books I would have thrown at a couple points if I still read paper books. That's one aspect of hard copies that I truly miss. I had to internalize my outrage, and it will probably give me an ulcer.

I kept hoping that in the end there would be a point of redemption for any single character that would make it all worthwhile, but the ending left me feeling unsatisfied for pretty much every character that was left alive (not many). I didn't like any of them, and they all ended up worse than they were when they started. The bottom line is that this was just too realistic for me - so depressing. This is officially my reading feat of 2015 - to make it through all 1100 pages of this heavy piece of work.

Fall of Giants - Ken Follett

Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fall of Giants is a door stopper, one of those books that makes me glad I have an e-reader for the sake of my wrists. At close to 1000 pages, it's long, and at times it feels like it. The first time I tried to read it, I didn't have the patience, but this time, I settled in for the long haul, determined to give it some time. That patience made all the difference.

This is an astounding historical epic. It takes the events leading up to World War I and the Russian Revolution and fills them with characters on all sides that you can relate to and feel for. I didn't like all of the characters, but I understood them and their motivations, and they were so real. Follett paints them in neat brushstrokes - just a few lines here and there for each character that bring them to life. And then he proceeds to take you through the war and its aftermath through their eyes, through dashed hopes and picking up the pieces of lives.

It is surprisingly not bleak, and surprisingly spends little time on the actual battles of the war. Those are only the focus when they move something forward, when they are pivotal for a character or for the direction of the war. Even then, the focus is more on strategy or what is happening to the character than on the violence. (Not that you don't get a sense of that, too, but it's not a battle slog.)

I really appreciated that it didn't get bogged down in the trenches, dwelling on the horror and slaughter. Instead, it stepped back and looked at the reasons why people did what they did, and how the world got into such a mess and then couldn't get back out. It's been a while since I learned about the Great War in school, so this was a fantastic way to refresh my memory - and to realize with my more adult understanding that there was good and bad on all sides, humans exploiting others and grasping for power, and other humans just trying to find a way to live in peace.

If anyone was bad in this take on history, it was the upper classes, not restricted to any nation - although Russia got the worst of it. It was the elite who dragged the poor working people into the war, who oppressed them and allowed them to starve while they continued living in style. It was the elite men who didn't want working women to have the right to vote, etc. So this addresses social issues such as class and women's rights, and just briefly, race. And it does it in such a readable way. There were only a couple of times that I felt it was slow, and that was when the focus was on characters that I wasn't so interested in.

I'm amazed at how easy it seems for Follett to bring all of these strings of sweeping historical and social change together in real people that you fear for, and make it understandable as well as engrossing. It is magnificent and deeply personal at the same time. Highly recommended to anyone who reads historical fiction and is in the mood for a rewarding epic.

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Initial DNF Review, September 19, 2012:

I gave this a decent try, but just couldn't get into it. I really enjoyed the The Pillars of the Earth - it was one of the first historical fiction novels that I discovered and loved - but I felt more connected to the characters and their challenges, not to mention the epic cathedral project, from the beginning. This one is more 'sweeping' as it has been described. For me, that's not necessarily a good thing.

The difference of time period may also be a factor - I enjoy reading about the Medieval Era, but have never really been able to get into books about the 20th Century wars. Pillars was centered around a priory town with lots of political intrigue and the building of a cathedral (cool architectural stuff!) and how ordinary people were affected by these things. Since that initial experience, I've discovered by trial and error that not all historical fiction is for me (it turns out I'm picky), and I think this is simply another mismatch for me.

Whatever the reason, I put it on hold when I was tired of trying so hard to like it, and never felt compelled to come back to it. I suppose that could still change, but for now I'm happy to leave it where it is.

Temple of a Thousand Faces - John Shors

Temple of a Thousand Faces by John Shors

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Temple of a Thousand Faces wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I'm sure it was quite realistic about the fates of a conquered people in Cambodia in the 12th Century. Based on the title, that's not the story I was expecting. I somehow thought it was going to be about something besides conquering, pillaging, raping and slaughtering. It was really much darker and more desperate than I like, as the story was told from the perspectives of several different people who were affected by the pillaging, raping and slaughtering. Oh, don't forget torture. That was in there, too.

The POV characters range from the Khmer prince and one of his wives to a lowly fisherman and his family, one of whom is almost blind as well as smart and brave, and possibly my favorite character. Also included is one of the officers of the Chams (the invaders) who is a decent fellow, increasingly sickened by his king's actions. Finally, there is a young woman who is enslaved by the Chams at her wedding - what an awful fate.

I liked all of these characters, and feared for them. That's why I kept reading in spite of the violence, which I actually found boring. (Blah blah, slaughter 500 hundred men to teach a lesson, blah blah blah.) I needed to know that they ended up well, an outcome that was not guaranteed. Unless you know this part of history, which I didn't.

The conquering king was one of those vile characters without a shred of goodness to him. His assassin was another. If it hadn't ended how it did for those two, this review would have a 1 star rating. But the ending was at least vindicating, and thankfully (for me) it was a happy ending for most of the characters involved.

Lady of the English - Elizabeth Chadwick

Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Chadwick really knows how to make history personal and alive. She makes you feel what was at stake for the people involved, know their losses and fears, and she fills in the gaps between the known facts so plausibly.

Lady of the English tells the story of two women very close to power but ultimately unable to wield it in a man's world. The two women are very different. King Henry I's wife, Adeliza, is soft, empathetic, and physically weak. She is just looking for peace and stability, but is very loyal. She is one of the few characters who finds moments of happiness and peace. Although there is sadness too, she is a welcome break from the darker struggles of the succession that consume the rest of the kingdom. Her story provides a strong contrast with Henry's daughter, Matilda, and her never-ending railing against everyone.

Matilda should have been Henry's heir but he passes her over because she is a woman. Her struggles against men throughout this are so frustrating, and the contempt that they show for her as a woman is horrifyingly accurate for the time. She was apparently considered a termagant, but Chadwick brings a different perspective, that of a woman fighting with everything she has to be strong for her son and her country against the mold placed on her by society. She takes quite a beating along the way, and sacrifices pretty much everything. This one quote gets right at the heart of it: “Do you think you are the only one with a pile of ashes in your hearth? I burned my dreams to build my nightmares.”

It was not always easy to read, and my hopes for Matilda to find some happiness in something were not met. I suppose that's what happens when the story is history. You can't invent happiness without leaving the facts behind.

Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcí­a Márquez

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I think I'm going to have to abandon this. I've already been skimming a lot, and I'm only at 46%. I'm finding it really boring and don't want to waste anymore precious reading time - or battery! I don't even feel like explaining what I don't like about it, I just want to be able to move on. Maybe I'll write more later.

This only confirms that my brother has completely different taste than me. This is not the first indication of that, though. Ha. We're opposite in so many things. Except he likes Fantasy too, so I forgive him.

Hood - Stephen R. Lawhead

Hood by Stephen R. Lawhead

My rating: 0 of 5 stars



This just did not interest me at all. I kept skimming and skimming, waiting to get sucked in and it just wasn't happening. Then I thought I'd try something else for a while and come back to it, but I don't have any interest in returning to it at all. It could completely just be me and my mood at the moment, but I feel no regret leaving it. Glad I only borrowed it from the library!

Review: God Is an Englishman

God Is an Englishman by R.F. Delderfield

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



God is an Englishman is historical fiction written in the 1970s about the Victorian era. I’ve always had a soft spot for this era, and only turned to historical fiction once I grew tired of re-reading my favorite classics of the period. Finally, I've found something that satisfies what I’ve been searching for ever since, something that goes beyond an individual or two who happen to be living in a Victorian setting.

This is different. It takes account of the sweeping social and economic turmoil of the Industrial Revolution while bringing individuals to life and capturing the energy of the age in a way that I haven’t felt since Dickens or Gaskell. But yet it has a tone and style completely its own, easy to read, and more direct in dealing with issues of intimacy in marriage or women’s roles, for example, than you get in the classics. (Don’t expect it to read just like a Dickens novel).

This first volume in the trilogy follows Adam Swann as he decides to leave the army and start a business back home. It may not sound very exciting, but I was surprised to find the details of Adam’s startup, from idea to fledgling to success, with ups and downs along the way, to be quite fascinating. Most historical novels focusing on the 1800s stick to the upper classes, and you wouldn’t even know the Industrial Revolution was going on at the same time. But here you get a very interesting picture of England, both urban and rural, with cotton mills and railroads taking over everything and changing the face of the country. You can feel the shifting energy and the clash of old and new. All of this is seen through the eyes of Adam as he puts his flexible mind to the question of how to succeed in the middle of it all while maintaining human dignity and avoiding exploitation. It’s an invigorating tale full of industry, hope, daunting challenges, and perseverance.

Although the business may seem to be the primary focus, Adam’s personal development is the true story. He learns, grows, and changes significantly as he is affected by people he deals with in his public and private lives, as well as external events that impact him.

He marries early on, and the story of his marriage is set alongside the story of his business. The marriage feels real with a full range of affection and distance, knowing and misunderstanding, trials, difficulties and surprises, and learning about the true nature of love. It manages to deal with these variations without growing cynical or using the struggles as an excuse to veer off into infidelity. Instead, they are opportunities for growth and increased understanding.

Aside from Adam, there are also two very capable women in the story who develop and grow significantly throughout the book. One is Adam’s wife, Henrietta. She starts out naive and shallow but with a spark of intelligence waiting to be coaxed into flame. She gradually blossoms and discovers depths and strength you wouldn’t expect, and I ended up actually respecting her.

The other one is Edith, a woman who works beside the men in Adam’s business and takes a special role in Adam’s development as well. Both of these women manage to break out of the mold of their rightful place in society, at least for a while, and I really loved how indispensable they became to Adam and his success. But the story does remain realistic enough that they end up back in the home, a quiet strength behind the men. This is not to say that the men aren't strong too. I liked that the men and women are essentially well-matched in strength and intelligence although their roles end up being traditional.

There are other less important characters as well. Adam’s handpicked managers each get a bit of the spotlight, and their stories add another dimension. I believe they are important in giving you a real feel for the time and place, adding geographical variety as well as interesting personalities. I have to admit that I skimmed some of these sections, though, because I wanted to get back to the main story and the details got a bit much for me at times. Still, they added an extra bit of flavor that I think was important looking back at the whole.

Essentially, this was really well done historical fiction. I cared about the characters, and I was not bored by historical details (mostly). At some points I wondered where it was going - there’s not much predictability in the sudden turns a man’s life can take - but overall there was momentum and motion and purpose, and satisfying change in the characters.

I’m still trying to decide if I want to read the second book. I really liked how this one ended, and sometimes it’s better to leave things alone. But as I find myself thinking about Adam and his family and his network, I am tempted to read on.



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Review: Legacy

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



This was really terrible. The writing was incredibly tedious and overly descriptive, and the characters were all painfully ridiculous and unlikable. I can't believe it ended how it did - frustrating after persevering to get such a non-ending. But I honestly don't care what happens to any of these people next. If I'd known how it was going to end, I might not have bothered finishing it at all. I wish I could get the hours back.



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Review: The Scarlet Lion

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Scarlet Lion, sequel to The Greatest Knight, follows William Marshal and his family now that he is married and a noble landowner rather than just an honorable knight navigating the shark-infested waters of Medieval politics. The political skills he learned as a knight come in handy, but his own life is no longer the only one at stake, and family fortunes change as quickly as kings in this time period.

This book deserves a 5 star rating. It's amazingly written historical fiction - well-researched, accurate as far as what is known about the people and time, and well-imagined as to what is not known. At the same time, it's written in a way that makes me care about the people and what happens to them. I had my heart in my throat with fear for William and his family, and loathed King John for his jealous vindictiveness. He really made my blood boil. And since the story had to stick to history (and I didn't know how it was going to end), I was more afraid for William than I would have been if it was strictly fiction. Imaginations are often not as cruel as reality can be, and I often feared the worst.

So I'm rating this 5 stars even though I can't say I enjoyed it. My ratings are usually based on my enjoyment while reading, but this one is in a different category - it is so well written that any emotional discomfort I experienced pales beside my awe at the way Chadwick brought the people and time alive enough to make me feel so terrified for them.

It was a great book, but I was relieved when it released me. History is a scary thing to resurrect, especially the brutal Middle Ages. I can handle the violence of battles where the greatest fear is merely a bloody death, but the political knives being stabbed into the hearts of our heroes and heroines are not for the faint at heart. And yet somehow I know I'll be back for more of Chadwick's works, willingly letting myself be run through the wringer again. They're that good.

(Review updated 7/29/2014)

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Review: The Yellow House

The Yellow House by Patricia Falvey

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



All I can really say positively about this book is that it somehow manages to have a happy ending after all the crap that Eileen goes through (much brought on herself, but not all). And that the historical backdrop of the early 20th Century in Ireland is interesting. I learned a lot about the conflict between Protestants and Catholics, and the formation of Northern Ireland and the IRA - a bloody, hateful history that Eileen brashly dashes into because of her family's proud warrior history.

I wish I could have liked Eileen (or anyone) in the first place, to care more that they got a happy ending, but Eileen rarely talks to people; she snaps at them. Or yells. She also is obsessed with being an O'Neill warrior, a childhood story that her father told her and she somehow believes she must fulfill without any thought whatsoever throughout most of the book. She is a hot-headed Irishwoman who is dirt-poor, has an extremely sharp tongue, constantly drives the people around her away and threatens her own livelihood by never thinking about the consequences of her actions or of opening her mouth.

Her husband is a complete jerk, her friends are not real friends, her family is fractured from childhood, and the only people who care for her are her late father's loyal friends and someone outside of her social sphere who just causes her a lot more trouble for most of the book. Not that Eileen really is the type of person to inspire great friendships, so I can understand her being isolated much of the time. It's really a miracle that things turn out well in the end.

Actually, the level of dislike I find for all of these people is probably an indication of good writing. These people in all their selfishness and brutality were just too real, and unfortunately there weren't any characters who showed the other side of humanity.

Like I said, happy ending - check. Interesting time period - check. Relief that I can move on - check. 2 stars.



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Review: The False Prince

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The False Prince is one of those books where the reader is in the dark for a long time and doesn't realize the significance of many details until they finally learn a piece of the puzzle that puts everything that came before in a different light. This kind of book is usually clever, and I do love the way everything shifts and clicks into place in that one moment.

But, I also struggle with this kind of book at first because without the smaller clues I don't get hooked right away, and find that it's harder to hold my interest. I like to put things together myself and be invested in the journey. Once I get the coveted piece of the puzzle, I marvel at the cleverness, but I also lose something in not being able to appreciate it before I get there and not being included in the process of putting it together.

So, this is one of those books. Very clever, but I had to persevere a for a while before I really felt interested. There were secrets all over the place, but I didn't have access to any of them. All I had to keep me involved was the training of the boys and their growing tensions and intrigues. Not that these parts weren't fun, but I also kept wondering what the point was.

Once I got the point, my rating went up to 4 stars. For those of you who enjoy big twists that shed new light on the whole story, I think you'll love this.

One more note - I thought this was Fantasy going in, but so far there's no magic about it. I'm wondering if it's actually Historical Fiction?


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Review: The Scarlet Lion

The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Honestly, I think this book deserves a 5 star rating. It's amazingly written historical fiction - well-researched, accurate as far as what is known about the people and time, and well-imagined as to what is not known. At the same time, it's written in a way that makes me care about the people and what happens to them. I had my heart in my throat with fear for these people, and loathed King John for his jealous vindictiveness. He really made my blood boil. And since the story had to stick to history, I was more afraid for William and his family than I would have been if it was strictly fiction. Imaginations are often not as cruel as reality can be.

So since it's a brilliant piece of writing, why not 5 stars? My ratings are based on my experience and enjoyment while reading. This was a great book, but I was relieved when it released me. I can't say I enjoyed the emotions evoked even though I admired the author's ability to evoke them. That's all. History is a scary thing to resurrect, especially the brutal Middle Ages. I can handle the violence of battles where the greatest fear is merely a bloody death, but the political knives being stabbed into the hearts of our heroes and heroines are not for the faint at heart. Which would be me.




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