Thank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the opportunity to read this digital galley.
I have been a fan of the Naomi Novik stories featuring TThank you to NetGalley and Subterranean Press for the opportunity to read this digital galley.
I have been a fan of the Naomi Novik stories featuring Temeraire since I read the first sentence of the first book. When I saw this collection which seemed to be offering short stories to accompany the now finished series I literally almost broke my finger smushing it down on the "request" button. Naturally, since I already know the author's writing style I enjoyed this book. I don't know if that will be said of anybody who isn't already a fan but who buys this book because they see dragons in the illustrations.
There are six short stories at the beginning of the book, five are very short, one is much longer and, honestly, that is what saved the whole reading experience for me. The first is a Temeraire story which will only make sense to fans who have read the series and understand why dragons voting is such a big deal. The final short story is Novik's take on the Meryton Ball sequence from Pride and Prejudice except - naturally - from a totally different angle. I absolutely loved that!
Following the stories are 26 Drabbles. Quite honestly, I had no idea what a Drabble was. Novik explains that it is a story in 100 words and she followed that rule - 100 words only in each story. Not only was I underwhelmed, I was totally underwhelmed. It seemed to me that these drabbles were notes made on cocktail napkins, on the backs of grocery lists, jotted down on used envelopes......whatever. They felt more like an exercise in how to organize thoughts for an idea which could be filled out later on. Pretty non-earthshattering stuff.
This book seems to be available in print only - at least when it is first released. I'm sure the reason for that is so the artwork in the book can be shown to best advantage. I can see the art quite clearly on my Kindle, but lack all the color the print copy will have. I'm sure it will be stunning. So, if you have a collection of all the Temeraire stories you will definitely want to think about adding this new release to your collection. For me, "Dragons and Decorum" was a total delight and simply points out what a truly talented author Naomi Novik is. ...more
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing, The History Press. Thank you.
I'm hoping I just read the first novI received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Trafalgar Square Publishing, The History Press. Thank you.
I'm hoping I just read the first novel in a new series by Cora Harrison, one of my favorite authors of historical mystery novels. I've read many of the books by this author which feature Mara, Brehon of Burren, but they are all set in Ireland. This Hugh Mac Egan book takes place in England, specifically at Hampton Court in 1522. The wonderful character development, intriguing plot and insights into the Irish legal system which I find so fascinating in the books featuring Mara are all present in this novel featuring this new (at least to me) character. Law in Ireland was based on very different concepts and it was very interesting to watch Hugh balance what he was accustomed to at home with what he had to deal with in England. As if that wasn't enough he found himself mired in the politics of arranged marriages promoted between couples for monetary, hereditary and crown loyalty only. Love, or even liking, need not be involved. In fact, Hugh is at Cardinal Wolsey's Hampton Court to prepare the marriage papers between James Butler (son of the man Hugh is employed by) and Mistress Anne Boleyn, a marriage not favored by the bride-to-be. James is at Hampton Court because he is considered a ward of Cardinal Wolsey. Anne is there because she is part of the household of Queen Katherine, making a visit to Hampton Court. When the instructor of the wards is found dead behind a tapestry in the great hall with an arrow marked as belonging to James Butler in the wound the Cardinal can give Hugh only five days to find the real murderer. It will take all of Hugh's efforts to avoid the serjeant-at-arms for the cardinal and his counterpoint representing the king to keep James away from a charge of murder. His trial with a verdict of guilty would smooth the way for so many political problems. At this time in history English law judges a defendant guilty unless proven innocent.
This novel, indeed all of Cora Harrison's medieval and Celtic legal thrillers, will give readers a thorough understanding of what political intrigues were going on behind the scenes in the court of King Henry VIII even though he does not make an appearance in this novel. If you have not read any biographies of Anne Boleyn, you may be surprised at how she is portrayed in this novel. This book will likely whet your appetite to explore more of the system of law set in place in Ireland at this time and the Mara, Brehon of Burren, novels are at your fingertips to satisfy that curiosity. I'm just hoping there will be more Hugh Mac Egan novels situated in England to provide a striking contrast between the Irish and English systems of punishment for crimes....more
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Hydra. Thank you.
Christopher Fowler is the author of a series ofI received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group Hydra. Thank you.
Christopher Fowler is the author of a series of novels I'm completely addicted to, Bryant and May from the Peculiar Crimes Unit. When I saw Fowler's first novel, published in 1988, was being digitized for e-readers I absolutely had to read it. I'm very, very glad I did. I have to admit it was difficult for me to read this book without the inevitable comparisons to the Bryant and May books, but it was also a special treat to dig out nuggets of style and substance which would stand Fowler in such good stead later.
If you are approaching this novel from only having read that most popular series featuring the PCU, be prepared for things to be different in this book because it is definitely not from that series. This London focuses on the rooftops, away from the Groundes, the Insects, to the people who were so dissatisfied with their lives that they needed to get away and begin their own culture complete with rules, guidelines, laws and enforcement of their secret society. Nobody ever looks up, it was the easiest thing for them to form a society and develop various methods for transporting themselves from one building to another with complete ease and no fear. Ah, but then it began to come apart when two strong leaders found they had differing values and reasons for the roofworld to exist. Now it's war and London begins to notice as the casualty count increases.
My overall reaction to the book was to be impressed by how wonderfully it was written. All the Fowler touches which have now become so familiar were there from the beginning. Things are a little quirky; London is the host for a different world hidden in plain sight; a goodly amount of information is related regarding the architectural variations of the city; the police are trying their best to deal with mystical situations outside the covers of the books of standard legal procedure; there are some wonderful examples of black humor. But then I got to the pure gruesomeness of the killings and was stopped in my tracks. After a specific incident I approached the remainder of the book with caution hoping that I wouldn't come across anything like that again. If you are at all squeamish but still want to read this book, go ahead because you will be given ample warning that this portion is about to happen and you can just skip several pages ahead. Just naming what is going to happen will be your warning.
So I am glad I read the book. If a friend asks for my recommendation, I will say the same things I've said in this review. I do think I'll be staying with the Bryant & May books from now on, though....more
I received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Random House Publishing Hydra. Thank you.
One of my favorite authors of mystery novels is ChrisI received an e-ARC of this novel through NetGalley and Random House Publishing Hydra. Thank you.
One of my favorite authors of mystery novels is Christopher Fowler. When I saw he had written some horror stories I was intrigued and wanted to try one. Actually I read Roofworld also, but that's for another review. Interesting information was revealed early on when I found this book was originally published in 1994 and when I read the Introduction by Fowler. It was a revelation to see how his experiences with this novel ultimately led to him writing the hugely successful Bryant & May mysteries. I enjoy reading a horror story every once in a while and I definitely enjoyed reading this one, but after realizing how close readers came to being deprived of the Bryant & May books I can't help but be glad things didn't turn out so well for Spanky.
Right away the reader can see that this novel will be filled with black humor with the most obvious example being the name of this daemon, Spanky. Spanky assures Martyn Ross that he is a daemon, not a demon, with the difference being that Spanky wants to be Martyn's muse. He even gives examples of famous people down through history who have allowed their muse to give them a little hand up to utilize their genius. Martyn Ross would never be described as a genius of anything but he is a plodder and he wants desperately to change his life because he is discontented with it all. The only thing he has going for him is his understated attractiveness but he is smart enough to tell Spanky that he will not trade his soul in exchange for having a muse who can give him all the best in life. Spanky is quick to assure Martyn that he isn't interested in Martyn's soul.
This was quite a good read even though it took a full 50% of the book for Martyn to wake up and smell the daemon. Once the blinkers were off, though, the author definitely delivered a worthwhile addition to the horror genre. This story didn't give me shivers down my spine. It also didn't make me afraid to turn the lights off when I went to bed. I found it to be more engaging my attention to find out how Fowler was going to end the situation Martyn found himself in. I wasn't sure up until the final moment what was going to happen and I count that as a worthy accomplishment by an author. ...more
I have read this story several times and I still enjoy it each time. Definitely not a modern story but amusing if you like the country house/small vilI have read this story several times and I still enjoy it each time. Definitely not a modern story but amusing if you like the country house/small village type of story with all the characters this type of book is peppered with. Here two sisters and a brother have been left an old house, The Priory, and they are spending some time there before deciding what to do with it. The news that the house is reputed to be haunted doesn't scare off these plucky characters, at least not until the hauntings begin to take on a very real manifestation. Heyer has given us just about every character type we could want to make this story interesting, even a stranger to the village with the last name of Strange. Surely she must have smiled every time she wrote lines for that character.
Footsteps in the Dark is a breezy light weight mystery that will be perfect for readers who want to take a small time-out from this modern world and step back in time to England between the world wars. This book is being reissued in January 2019, most likely with a new cover. Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the eGalley . ...more
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