The Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao Narrated by Sneha Mathan
Genre: historical fiction Telangana, India, 1955-1970
This was a gorgeous, difficult read.
VijayThe Fertile Earth by Ruthvika Rao Narrated by Sneha Mathan
Genre: historical fiction Telangana, India, 1955-1970
This was a gorgeous, difficult read.
Vijaya is the least beloved daughter. She'll never be as perfect as her younger sister Sree. Daughters of prominent landowners in Irumi, India in the latter half of the 20th century, they have privilege and comfort where the sharecroppers and servants struggle. Vijaya befriends Krishna, the son of a servant, and his older brother Ranga. When, as children, the 4 of them trek to the jungle in search of a legend, disaster strikes. This sweeping novel follows them through the next decades of their lives, where some are better able to escape the burden of the past, set against a backdrop of class warfare and communist party rebellions in southern India.
The Fertile Earth is an impressive and expansive debut. As primarily a romance reader, my heart clenched for the pining between Krishna and Vijaya, but as someone fascinated by mid-century politics, watching the rise of differing political interests and the immediate impact on the lives of people from different classes held my interest. The writing is beautiful, with lush, descriptive prose and strong character development. That said, it was my second book in a row where a mother has specifically degraded her least favorite daughter causing the main character desperate heartbreak and the inability to see herself as anything better than her younger more perfect sister. It's not an adjacent theme I love reading, but it is critical to Vijaya's character and her choices throughout the novel.
The audiobook narration by Sneha Mathan is as beautiful as the prose by Ruthvika Rao. Anything this sweeping deserves a listen.
The Fertile Earth is a book you can pick up without much knowledge of 1960s post-partition India, as Rao supplies all political background necessary for the narrative from village life to the bustling cities of Madras and Hyderabad.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for an ALC for review. The Fertile Earth is out 8/13/24!...more
Narrated by: Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Victoria Villarreal, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, JavierNarrated by: Caitlin Kelly, Atlanta Amado, Victoria Villarreal, Arthur Morey, Andrew Eiden, Kristen DiMercurio, Frankie Corzo, Lauren Fortgang, Javier Prusky, Fred Sanders, Lee Osorio, Cassandra Campbell
Genre: historical fiction Hollywood, 1950s
Nancy Hartley firmly believes she's destined for stardom and the role of Salome in the sword and sandals flick Seventh Veil of Salome is hers. She's perfect; she just knows she is. But when the studio casts Vera Larios, a dental receptionist from Mexico, Nancy is livid. Vera has little confidence, thanks in part to her mother, who has always believed her younger sister should have been the star, and naivete serves no one in Hollywood.
A stunning story about rage, jealousy, love, and passion in 1950s Hollywood. Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the master of the unlikable characters and the complexity of women on page. Anger and passion rule the narrative, as she weaves perspectives of Vera, Nancy, and Salome herself together towards what only feels like it could be tragedy. I couldn’t put this book down. Sometimes, SMG’s prose can veer on weighty, but the propulsion of the plot and intricacies of the characters kept me hooked on Seventh Veil.
I listened to the audiobook once released in conjunction with the eARC, and the full cast narration works really well for the format. The book vacillates perspectives between the three primary women - Vera, Nancy, and Salome - with interspersed POVs from supporting figures such as the script writer, other Latinx Hollywood folks, and juicy gossip columns.
Silvia Moreno-Garcia makes my blood boil in the best way. The rage she evokes from the realistic nature of her characters is a reflection on the truth of human emotion. Her writing is piercing and relentless even as it strikes the perfect narrative chords.
Thank you to Random House - Del Ray for an eARC for review. The Seventh Veil of Salome is out now. ...more
Jacquotte is the mixed-race daughter Narrated by Angel Pean
Genre: Historical Fiction Santo Domingo, 1655.
3.5 stars, rounded up for the pirate swagger.
Jacquotte is the mixed-race daughter of a well-off noble, but the life she's known is a lie. She learns her mother was actually purchased as a slave by her father and her father was selling secrets to France. She's a shipwright by trade, so when she and her friends are captured and indentured by a pirate captain, she has use on the high seas. The friends she's captured with include her brother, other shipwrights, and the woman who has her heart - the late governor's wife, Teresa.
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is bloodier than I expected, and the overall tone is dark and gritty, rather than whimsical. A good 30% of it may be war and killing. Briony Cameron does a great job at showing us the darker side of pirating... it took a little bit for the plot to get moving for me, but once I did, I was invested in their adventures. Unfortunately though, the relationship between Jacquotte and Teresa fell flat for me, without as much chemistry as I had hoped. There is plenty of character chemistry between Jacquotte and her crew and friends, which made the relationship all the more unfortunate for me.
That said, queer BIPOC pirate adventure written by a queer BIPOC disabled writer is a story worthwhile. Thank you to Atria for an eARC for review. The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is available now! ...more
Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella Genre: historical fiction Venice, 1538
Valentina is one of the famous courtesans of Venice. She collects secrets and works Narrated by Nicol Zanzarella Genre: historical fiction Venice, 1538
Valentina is one of the famous courtesans of Venice. She collects secrets and works for the Council of Ten - a subset of the Venetian Senate responsible for protecting Venice from foreign influence - and does their bidding as an assassin. She's taken their orders without question, but the deathbed confession of one of her targets makes her wonder if her orders are as meaningful as she'd once thought.
I don't pick up as much historical fiction anymore (preferring my guaranteed HEA in a historical romance), but 1538 Venice caught my eye. I've long been a fan of the famous Venetian Courtesans (The Honest Courtesan, which was some of the research material for Palombo was a favorite nonfiction of mine 20ish years ago), and the political machinations of the powerful of Venice of the 16th century are uniquely situated for a plot like this.
While this isn’t a historical romance, it’s both romantic and open door. Valentina is a businesswoman first and foremost, and her trade is her body, but she’s unabashed in her experience of pleasure. The book is written from Valentina’s perspective, and Palombo gives her a strong narrative voice where it’s easy to see Valentina’s motivations and emotions. She distinguishes the intimate scenes where Valentina is with her lover Bastino and those with her clients showing Valentina’s emotional engagement, sometimes her affection and friendship, and sometimes her detachment through the physical intimacy.
For the historical romance reader - this is romantic but not a romance. That said, it has a satisfying ending, and I was pleased with the conflict resolution, which I thought might be nearly impossible to pull off. Palombo builds a gorgeous world of Renaissance Venice with a network of strong female friendships among courtesans and perhaps a love for which Valentina is willing to risk it all.
I picked this book up on a whim from NetGalley, and I’m really glad I did. Thank you to Dreamscape Media for the ALC for review. The Assassin of Venice is out 6/18/24. ...more
Genre: historical fiction West Africa, 15th century
Òdòdó, a powerful blacksmith, is kidnapped from her home of Timbuktu by the Narrated by Ariel Blake
Genre: historical fiction West Africa, 15th century
Òdòdó, a powerful blacksmith, is kidnapped from her home of Timbuktu by the powerful Aláàfin leader Àrệmọ. Even as she is shocked that this handsome and dangerous man wants to marry her, she recognizes the comfort and power afforded to her in her role as beloved by the king. Òdòdó refuses to marry Àrệmọ until her mother can be found to give her blessing, so she bides her time training as a warrior under Àrệmọ. Changing political tides and warring kingdoms give her a chance to utilize some of this power, giving her fiance strategic advice that he then passes off as his own.
I have mixed feelings on Masquerade. I loved the setting: a fantastical 15th century West Africa with lush worldbuilding that avoids being info-dumpy. But the story itself leans towards all-vibes with little overall driving plot in a way that didn't work for me, with side plots popping seemingly out of nowhere. We are in Òdòdó’s POV the whole book, and yet I didn’t understand her motivation for her choices, or Sangoyomi’s decisions to put Òdòdó in certain circumstances. It’s being marketed as fantasy, but there are not a lot of magical elements in the story itself. On the one hand, there’s no magic system to figure out. On the other hand, I was hoping for a little more of the fantastical.
There are elements of great storytelling, but it reads like a debut with the need for more well-rounded character development and one major plot thread. I'll be excited for Sangoyomi's next book, because her prose is strong, even as all of the elements aren’t there yet.
The audiobook is narrated by Ariel Blake, and I recommend this format to hear the rich West African names. I love listening to books that come from a narrative storytelling tradition like this. The narration kept me invested in this story.
Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Tor for ALC and eARC for review. Masquerade is out 7/2/24. ...more
Based on the recommendation from @plottrysts and knowing how many other friends had loved this book, I went in wGenre: historical romance England, 1370
Based on the recommendation from @plottrysts and knowing how many other friends had loved this book, I went in with high expectations. For My Lady's Heart still blew me out of the water.
This was the first Kinsale I've completed, and I highly recommend it on audio. A lot of the dialogue is written in Old/Middle English, and that can be challenging for someone reading with their eyes, but sounds more natural when listening. Plus, Nicholas Boulton has a very soothing voice.
13 years ago, Ruck and his wife Isabelle traveled to France, where Isabelle could be recognized for her godliness and take Holy Vows and join an abbey. Ruck is accused of adultery by Princess Melanthe, and in one fell swoop, he loses his wife to the church and his worldly belongings as well, and is left only with an emerald from Melanthe. 13 years later, he's sworn himself to her, even though he hasn't see her since, taking the emerald green for his knight's colors. Once they meet again, though, Ruck must grapple with the pedestal he's placed Melanthe on versus the cruel woman he meets as well as his devotion to his wife.
I don't read much medieval romance, but this made my TBR based on a lot of recommendations. Plus, there's a lot of reference to Black Death, and we know I'm a sucker for a good plague novel. My other frame of reference for an old school medieval book, though, was The Dragon and the Jewel by Virginia Henley, and it's hard not to compare them in style. The biggest comparison is that Henley uses SA to represent the brutality of the era while Kinsale uses the power of the nobles and the church to do the same. For a worldbuilding technique, Kinsale easily comes out on top for me. There's a little bit of whimsy and wonder - for what boy in his youth didn't hunt dragons in the wilds of 14th century England - but there's also stark reality of who owns the land, and the sacrifices the true nobles make in order to protect those to look to them. Kinsale uses the fear of the Black Death to build an apocalyptic atmosphere, where even 20 years after the Plague has ravaged England, whole towns may still vanish from pestilence and are left abandoned to rot.
And yet, the atmosphere adds to the desperation of the romance. Melanthe is cruel and coy and well-versed in the games of courtly love, some of which is a cover to protect her own heart and those she loves. Ruck is loyal, steadfast, and desperate in his relationships. He's also an exceptionally good learner...just wait until you see what he's learned from the confessional. They've both shown time and again what sacrifices it will take to be together, which is particularly fraught in an era where both are known to the King.
I also had a great time piecing together the historical components. My best guess is that the book takes place likely between 1370 and 1374, based on both context clues and historical components that @plottrysts Meg and I were able to piece together. We're in the reign of Edward III, some time after the Black Death that killed Ruck's family. But we're also near the end of Edward's reign, as he's described as older and worn (which puts him in his late 50s, likely...lol), and it's clear he recognizes Ruck because he looks like his father, but also perhaps has mistaken him for his father who helped with the surprise and capture of Mortimer at Nottingham in 1330. Having something so well historically situated with rich layers of worldbuilding makes this a historical fiction lover's dream, and the central romance plot makes it a historical romance lover's dream.
2024 reread: There's nothing that isn't just absolutely perfect about the structure of this book and the trilogy on the whole. This final book ties ev2024 reread: There's nothing that isn't just absolutely perfect about the structure of this book and the trilogy on the whole. This final book ties everything together with Morozco and the Bear, and Vasya in between their world, the chyerti, and the world of Moscow and her brother and sister and cousin. It's a story of midnights and in-betweens, of war and the solace we seek afterwards.
I was glad to be rereading this trilogy in a row for the first time since The Winter of the Witch was published 5 years ago. ...more
4.5 stars. This was sad, charming, bittersweet, and yet somehow still delightful. I loved learning about the Jewish community in London in 1665, and a4.5 stars. This was sad, charming, bittersweet, and yet somehow still delightful. I loved learning about the Jewish community in London in 1665, and a little bit about the life of English nobility. This starts out with some plague (it being 17th century), but turns into a story of medical empathy and love between an English widowed noblewoman and a bisexual Jewish physician. There is sorrow and love on so many levels and the layers of character development were thoughtful.
Genre: historical fiction England, 1666
Cecilia is convinced she knows true happiness on the day she marries William Thorowgood. Plague cares nothing for happiness though, and within months of their marriage, Will is dead. As are so many others. Cecilia’s sister Margaret tries to save her from drowning in her own grief by bringing all manner of doctors and physicians to save her. Margaret has an ulterior motive - to get her well enough to marry her husband’s heir, a charming but flighty young lord, to ensure her own financial future. One those doctor is David Mendes, exiled Jew from Portugal who comes from a long line of physicians. Their religions and classes should keep Cecilia and David apart, but compassion and companionship will help them both see beyond the grief at losing people to the plague. Cecilia learns to embrace freedom as a part of her treatment, and that means learning to love again.
The Phoenix Bride is sad, charming, bittersweet, and yet somehow still delightful. There is sorrow, but also love and joy on so many levels. I was convinced this would be a book about plague (a favorite subgenre for me), but instead it’s about medical empathy. The plague of the first few chapters sets the stage for Cecilia’s and David’s grief, and the different ways in which they confront loss. 17th century medical remedies may not have always worked, but Siegel equips David with a background that was mostly likely to do the most good, but seen as the most likely to do harm. As a Jewish physician, he’s the last person Margaret wants to have help her sister, but she’ll try anything. When Cecilia falls in love with David, Margaret is convinced he must have hexed her, and tries cures to break the curse.
The love story between David and Cecilia is a focal point of the novel, but the side characters brought the story to life. I love that none of the “other men” in Cecilia’s life are bad characters. We only see Will through Cecilia’s honeymoon eyes, but he’s filled with love and joy and sunshine. The man that Margaret wants Cecilia to marry, Sam, is warm and loving and open-hearted. Every page that Sam appeared on had moments I loved, and I was cheering for him, even as Margaret was trying to take Cecilia from David to marry her to Sam. Likewise, David’s best friend, the Dutchman Jan, has moments of frivolity balanced with serious insight that make him a good foil for David and a fully realized side character.
The underground Jewish community of mid-17th century London is fascinating subject matter. According to the author’s note, Jews were exiled from England until the 1650s, so in 1665 when this story begins, the community hasn’t taken a strong foothold yet. David and his family come to London in 1655 from Portugal where they had practiced their religion in secret, keeping Christian symbolism in their households so as not to arouse suspicion. Hiding his identity for so long makes David feel like a bad Jew who never understood how to practice, which he struggles with through the story. One thing David does not struggle with, though, is his bisexuality. He actually met his friend Jan at a molly house, and when they realized they were not romantically compatible, they became close friends. David always assumes he will marry a woman, and that never bothers him, nor does it bother him to consider clandestine meetings with men. I appreciate Siegel’s normalization of David’s orientation, because not all queer historical stories require angst.
The Phoenix Bride is an impressive sophomore novel from Natasha Siegel. Thank you to Random House - Ballantine Dell and NetGalley for an eARC for review. The Phoenix Bride is out 3/12/24. ...more
3.5 stars rounded up for solid audiobook narration. Honestly, felt like I've read these themes A LOT and in more creative ways...
Genre: historical my3.5 stars rounded up for solid audiobook narration. Honestly, felt like I've read these themes A LOT and in more creative ways...
Genre: historical mystery England, 1815
Lady Petra Forsyth, daughter of an earl, is a self-proclaimed spinster. Upon her mother’s death, she was bequeathed a large sum of money with no restrictions, allowing her own financial independence. Raised primarily by her father, Petra has always been bold, preferring to cut her own path in society by wearing pants and riding astride and not caring how many dances she dances per night despite her marital status. She’s saddened to hear of the sudden passing of a dear friend, and starts to realize that pieces of her friend’s death don’t add up, despite proneness to illness. Not one to sit idly by, Petra takes it upon herself to find out what’s going on.
With an intriguing setup, I was eager to pick up this regency era mystery by Celeste Connally. I enjoy a good 19th century lady detective style mystery, but unfortunately this one fell rather flat for me. While many of the themes of the novel interest me - feminism/women carving their own paths in society - the story itself lacked an originality. (Unfortunately, while the reasons for this are easily guessed early in the story, they are spoilers, so I won’t write about them in this review.) I think if you are looking for an entry-point into the regency era with a mystery, this may be a good option to pick up! The themes will interest the contemporary reader, but for someone who reads a lot set in this era, it felt overly familiar.
That said, the writing is solid, and I’m honestly still interested enough to pick up a second book in this series. I enjoyed the narration by Eilidh Beaton, who gives Petra great character and whose storytelling helped keep my interest.
Thank you to St Martins Press and MacMillan audio and NetGalley for an eARC and ALC for review. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Lord is out 11/14. ...more
Genre: cottagecore historical fantasy England and Austria, 1910
Emily Wilde, now tenured professor of Dryadaology at Cambridge, has plans to publish a aGenre: cottagecore historical fantasy England and Austria, 1910
Emily Wilde, now tenured professor of Dryadaology at Cambridge, has plans to publish a a map of the Faerie Otherland to accompany her Encylpoedia. This project will take her to the Alps, near to the Door that theoretically should lead back to fellow professor and exiled faerie king Wendell Bambleby’s realm. None too late, either, as he’s been poisoned by something while out celebrating on his birthday and is losing his grip on his magic. Along with her niece Ariadne, the head of the department Dr Farris Rose, and a severed faerie foot, Emily and Wendell make their way to the continent on an academic expedition.
Emily chronicles her adventures through her detailed and footnoted journals, giving us an intimate and personal and yet still academic perspective of the story. The journaling format gives us a reflected and measured tone, but doesn’t take away from the intensity of some of the experiences. Emily is far funnier than she intends to be, and I love the character that Heather Fawcett has created. I’m such a sucker for footnotes and parentheticals, and relate to Emily’s journaling with them (which Wendell calls her out on).
I enjoyed the first book, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, immensely, but I enjoyed Map of the Otherlands even more. The romantic tension between Wendell and Emily is a delight - he’s proposed to her multiple times in the way only a whimsical and carefree king of faerie can do - and Emily has responded in precisely the way a neurodivergent mortal can, with wary rejection. They’ve made it a running joke and the basis of their continuing friendship, and I looked forward to their “where would you be without me” banter.
One of the things this series does well is ties together Faerie lore from a variety of cultures. Wendell is Irish, so we see Irish folklore throughout, but we also get stories from Austria and Germany throughout this book, plus ties back to the Scandinavian folklore from book one. This rounds out the story, adding layers for anyone who has an interest in fae beyond popular romantasy.
I can’t wait for more of Emily’s adventures in book three!
Merged review:
Genre: cottagecore historical fantasy England and Austria, 1910
Emily Wilde, now tenured professor of Dryadaology at Cambridge, has plans to publish a a map of the Faerie Otherland to accompany her Encylpoedia. This project will take her to the Alps, near to the Door that theoretically should lead back to fellow professor and exiled faerie king Wendell Bambleby’s realm. None too late, either, as he’s been poisoned by something while out celebrating on his birthday and is losing his grip on his magic. Along with her niece Ariadne, the head of the department Dr Farris Rose, and a severed faerie foot, Emily and Wendell make their way to the continent on an academic expedition.
Emily chronicles her adventures through her detailed and footnoted journals, giving us an intimate and personal and yet still academic perspective of the story. The journaling format gives us a reflected and measured tone, but doesn’t take away from the intensity of some of the experiences. Emily is far funnier than she intends to be, and I love the character that Heather Fawcett has created. I’m such a sucker for footnotes and parentheticals, and relate to Emily’s journaling with them (which Wendell calls her out on).
I enjoyed the first book, Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries, immensely, but I enjoyed Map of the Otherlands even more. The romantic tension between Wendell and Emily is a delight - he’s proposed to her multiple times in the way only a whimsical and carefree king of faerie can do - and Emily has responded in precisely the way a neurodivergent mortal can, with wary rejection. They’ve made it a running joke and the basis of their continuing friendship, and I looked forward to their “where would you be without me” banter.
One of the things this series does well is ties together Faerie lore from a variety of cultures. Wendell is Irish, so we see Irish folklore throughout, but we also get stories from Austria and Germany throughout this book, plus ties back to the Scandinavian folklore from book one. This rounds out the story, adding layers for anyone who has an interest in fae beyond popular romantasy.
I can’t wait for more of Emily’s adventures in book three!...more
The writing is spectacular. I should have known better personally than to pick up a haunted house book, but the gothic atmosphere and chilling story wThe writing is spectacular. I should have known better personally than to pick up a haunted house book, but the gothic atmosphere and chilling story were very good. Highly recommend if horror is your thing, even if this was too scary for me. ...more
Menewood is long, but utterly powerful. Strong prose and lush historical fiction worldbuilding for 7th century Britain. It's 700 pages (and book 1, HiMenewood is long, but utterly powerful. Strong prose and lush historical fiction worldbuilding for 7th century Britain. It's 700 pages (and book 1, Hild, is 500 pages), but if you have the patience, it's worth it.
The best readalike I can think of is She Who Became the Sun/ He Who Drowned the World with a powerful woman taking on a male role to claim power to protect her people and her vision for humanity.
Menewood is heartbreaking, with grueling war and devastating battles. But it's hopeful, and there's a reason Hild is called The Light of the World.
Genre: historical fiction Northumbria, Britain, 632-635 CE
Menewood begins where the novel Hild leaves off: Hild, newly married to Cian, and granted title to Elmet in Deira, is faced with new challenges of estate management and pending motherhood, on top of being Seer for the King. But 7th century Britain is a dangerous place, filled with rival kings and new theologies and religions infiltrating the British Isles.
Nicola Griffith brings her incredible worldbuilding and storytelling skills to life in Menewood. It’s the next chapter in the life of St Hilda of Whitby, still decades before she became nun and abbess. Hild and Menewood are rich tapestries of early medieval life, tracing the solidifying power of the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Northumbria and the expansion of Christianity.
Menewood is heartbreaking, with grueling war and devastating battles, and the hunger and fear common to life in the 7th century. Griffith exercises restraint in her writing as she describes these horrific moments but never veers into blood and gore for the sake of the writing. Each moment on page contributes to Hild’s character, making her a stronger leader in the face of devastation and grief. As Hild climbs out of her depression in later parts of the book, the story returns to the hopeful and brave tone of the first novel.
Power, leadership, and authority come not from gender. Hild proves that they come from an ability to protect, strategize, and see. Her followers take no note that she prefers to sleep with women - a fact I highlighted in my review of Hild is that the queer normativity of these books permeates an age a contemporary reader would assume has strict gender norms.
Hild says at one point years into leadership and campaign, “But men follow me because they believe I’m more than I seem.” Her lover responds, “Once, perhaps. Now they follow you because you are exactly what you seem: a woman who wins. They follow you because you take care of them, because they get fed and their horses are fed – because they have horses.” This snippet of conversation captures both the powerful and the mundane, Hild was known for her visions and transformed into as a leader because she sees the humanity in the people who follow her.
Deeply researched, and with the major power players also real historical figures, Menewood is a sharp, bold imagined hagiography, filling in the blank spaces of history left open by Bede (8th century author of the Ecclesiastical History of the English People), bringing an incredible character to life. Despite the religious overtones of Hild’s story, Griffith has chosen to portray the rise of Christianity in a contemplative manner: despite her later role as an abbess, Hild as war-leader and peace-seeker, while baptized, views Christianity as tool to shape her goals, as many kings did in the era.
I don’t tend to recommend readalikes as a part of my reviews, but I can’t help comparing Menewood to She Who Became the Sun/He Who Drowned the World. Both feature a woman who steps out of tradition and takes on a male role to claim power to protect her people and her people and her vision for humanity. Both take on gender, sexuality, and queer normativity in time periods where a contemporary reader may assume strict gender roles.
Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an eARC for review. I ended up purchasing and listening to the audiobook, narrated by Pearl Hewitt, largely because my bandwidth to read a 730 page book with my eyes these days is limited. This book requires patience, but you’ll be rewarded with a stunning character sketch of an incredible woman. ...more
Genre: historical fiction, paranormal fiction England and France, 1793
Eleanor is a servant in the household of Lady Sophie, baroness and vampire. Her Genre: historical fiction, paranormal fiction England and France, 1793
Eleanor is a servant in the household of Lady Sophie, baroness and vampire. Her stitches are neat and she works hard. Rarely is she called upon as a blood donor to Lady Sophie’s needs, but one afternoon after providing the baroness with sustenance, Lady Sophie tells her she’ll be “on loan” to some friends. Those friends, it turns out, are part of the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel, working as counterrevolutionaries in France, extracting exiled aristocrats. Eleanor has been called to join them for a special mission, because she bears more than a passing resemblance to none other than Marie Antoinette herself, and their mission is to rescue the Dauphin from the prisons of Paris.
A fun retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Scarlet is a wild adventure with vampires, aristocrats, and revolutionaries. I wasn’t familiar with the original, so did some research, and learned that Sir Percy Blakeney, an English aristo passing as a fop, commands the league of other English aristocrats to rescue their French counterparts before they reach Madame Guillotine. The setup for Scarlet follows the original setup neatly, borrowing parts but fitting in style for a contemporary reader.
Scarlet is packed with action - daring escapes, explosions, possessions, and more - never settling into an even pace, instead keeping the reader on their toes. It’s clear this is the setup as a first in a series, as new major plot points are introduced throughout the length of the book, including a fairly major twist about halfway through that ultimately feels unresolved here, but that I look forward to reading more about in the next book. The aristocratic vampires is also a nice twist on history, though feels a little underdeveloped. I look forward to learning more about how the vampires wield their power, and what other effects they have on society beyond having a lot of money and land.
It isn’t a romance novel, though there are hints at an overreaching romantic arc. This is one I know I’ll enjoy as I read it a second time, likely after reading the whole series, to see what threads have been laid for later books.
Thank you to Berkley and to NetGalley for an eARC for review. Scarlet is out 5/9/23! ...more
Veronica Speedwell accompanies Tiberius Templeton-Vane, elder brother to Stoker, to a house party hosted by Mal Genre: historical mystery England, 1889
Veronica Speedwell accompanies Tiberius Templeton-Vane, elder brother to Stoker, to a house party hosted by Malcolm Romilly in Cornwall, under the guise as his fiancee (this is clearly as much to annoy Stoker as it is to appease their Catholic guests). Naturally, Stoker can neither resist the adventure or stand his brother spending time with Veronica, so he finds a way to tag along. The house party itself is a bit of a ruse - Romilly has gathered people who may have had some connection to the disappearance of his wife on their wedding day three years prior. Suddenly thrust into yet another potential murder mystery with residents and guests alike withholding information, Veronica and Stoker face their most perilous conundrum yet.
Even if book three had my favorite mystery so far in the series, book four is actually my favorite book so far (again, I’m now a few books ahead of writing reviews, so I can say that with some confidence).
The mystery itself is locked door in nature - even though it happened three years prior, they are on an island off the coast, so comings and goings are as complex as the tides. To make matters more difficult, there’s no body, so they can’t even yet determine whether or not this is a murder, kidnapping, or runaway bride situation. To be honest, most things set in Cornwall feel a little gothic in nature to me (see also: the forthcoming To Swoon and to Spar by Martha Waters and Miss Moriaty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas, both of which I’ve also read in the last month), which had me nervous at every turn.
But A Dangerous Collaboration is really about the evolving relationship between Veronica and Stoker. And with Tiberius hanging around to goad Stoker, we can feel the tension increasing. This contains quite possibly one of the best declarations of love I’ve read, fitting for all those involved. ...more
4.5 star. A weird but very good book about Chinese pirates. The plot is all politics and pirate strategy, not grand adventure, but I really enjoyed th4.5 star. A weird but very good book about Chinese pirates. The plot is all politics and pirate strategy, not grand adventure, but I really enjoyed the slice of life on board the junks and the commentary on gender and gender roles throughout. Not quite fantasy, but not quite historical fiction either, I think.
Genre: historical fiction China, 17th century*
Shek Yeung, wife and chief strategist of pirate leader Cheng Yat, sees her life change in an instant when a Portuguese sailor murders her husband. The fleet is in a precarious position, with shifting powers both internationally and internally in China. Shek Yeung marries herself to Cheng Yat’s heir, Cheung Po, promising him sons in exchange for his loyalty. But as Shek Yeung tries to shore power, other forces are moving beyond her control, from rival banner fleets to the rise in opium smuggling to the limitations of her own body.
*I didn’t see any specific dates in Deep as the Sky, so the 17th century is my best guess based on the shifting political tides and references to the Ming loyalists and the Qing Court, as well as the interactions with the European fleets, particularly the Portuguese.
The plot of Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is all politics and pirate strategy, not grand adventure, and yet it works well with the reflective tone of the novel. Battles and war are a part of the seascape, but take the background to the things that impact Shek Yeung’s immediate concerns. Having been six years at sea and killed many times in past skirmishes, battles are less important than her overall vision for an alliance and the health of her unborn child.
The novel’s reflective tone is interspersed with stories of the goddess Ma-Zhou, of whom many tales from many perspectives are told. Sometimes Ma-Zhou is a girl, sometimes a mother, sometimes a hero, sometimes ordinary, but always fierce. Shek Yeung calls on Ma-Zhou for aid, relying on the goddess’s benevolence towards her followers for protection. But these moments also give room for commentary on religion and gender roles in history, setting the stage for the deeper conversation about Shek Yeung as a woman leading a banner fleet.
This is the third book about a female pirate leader who is also a mother that I’ve read in the last six months (the other two were The Red Scholar’s Wake by Alliete de Bodard and Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty), and it’s a trend I love. There’s no one more fierce than a mother, even when their children aren’t on board, or in Shek Yeung’s case even when her traditional mothering instincts are not strong.
Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is quieter than you might expect from a book about pirates, but that really worked for me. Reflection at sea amidst battle and power intrigue can work well, and presents a portrait of a strong and fierce–and yet still unsure–woman vying for a powerful position.
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for an eARC for review. Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea is out 5/30/23. ...more
Some mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand its mysterious and atmospheric. On the other hand, the discussions of race and slavery left me with aSome mixed feelings on this one. On the one hand its mysterious and atmospheric. On the other hand, the discussions of race and slavery left me with a feeling that the underground railroad plot was gestural rather than meaningful.
But I always love a book set in Massachusetts, and seeing towns other than just Salem was nice - mentions of Lowell (and the textile mills), Lynn, and Marblehead anchored this book as a solid North Shore tribute. ...more
Picking up where The Pride of Lions leaves off, The Blood of Roses briGenre: historical romance, historical fiction Scotland, 1745-1746 Published: 1990
Picking up where The Pride of Lions leaves off, The Blood of Roses brings us to the fall of 1745. Catherine is home with her family in Derby, where she has told everyone her husband (under the name Raefer Montgomery) has traveled to the Colonies on business. Of course, her husband, Alexander Cameron, is fighting with the Jacobite Army, and would be considered a traitor to the Crown if they were to know the truth. Prince Charles’s army claims victory at the Battle of Prestonpans, surprising the English, and wild rumors start brewing about the nature of the Scottish army and the men who fight for it.
Spanning from fall 1745 to May 1746, The Blood of Roses is heartbreaking and epic, tracking from the victory at Prestonpans to the colossal debacle of Culloden. Even more so than Pride of Lions, The Blood of Roses uses the major events and battles of the Rising to drive the plot forward. It’s an interesting arc for a historical romance, because the Jacobite army starts out with such hope, particularly with their surprising early victories, and historically the overall sentiment degraded by the winter, with soldiers and even clan leaders changing loyalties.
And yet, the reason you pick up a historical romance set during this time and in this manner is to see how the fictional (and real life!) characters act under these circumstances. Brave and valiant Alex, steadfast and headstrong Catherine, loyal Ailunn and Deirdre, conniving Lauren… Canham gives us raw accounts of her characters, bringing home the stark realities that people faced even off the battlefield. The wealthy fleeing their homes, the Rebels camping out in large estates, the soldiers feeling as though they can, uh, “take their due” from the women. Canham doesn’t shy away from harsh and sometimes difficult descriptions. Light historical romance, this is not.
This might also be the steamiest book published before 2000 that I’ve read. Canham chooses to have many of the scenes with her main characters occur during intimate moments, in part because with the ravages of war, sometimes the only time Alex and Catherine could have any conversation is when they are in bed.
The pacing felt a little off in some places - some emotional moments were shorter than what I would expect to read in a contemporarily published book. (I’ve found that to be the case reading other books from this era.)
Thanks to @gigireadsromance for recommending this to me, and @kissandletmetellyou for chatting about the twists and the heartbreak. Thanks to @unsuccessfulbookclub and @dr.bookish.biologist for hosting #ScottyRoNovember to get me to actually pick up the series. ...more
Helen is a private investigator. Her current client pays her a lot ofGenre: noir mystery, sapphic romance, fantasy, speculative fiction Chicago, 1941.
Helen is a private investigator. Her current client pays her a lot of money to augur crime scenes, and for $50, Helen doesn’t ask a lot of questions. Except she suspects her current case may be a murder by the White City Vampire, a fiend terrorizing Chicago. But time is running out - she sold her own soul to save her younger brother, and in three days, the devil comes to collect what’s due.
Laced with queer normativity in a time when queerness was at best hidden and at worst institutionalized and persectued, Polk brings to life Helen’s secret clubs and the life she’s carefully constructed with the love of her life Edith. In a way that only a strong novella can, there are hints at backstories, and snippets that ignite the imagination.
Atmospheric worldbuilding is a highlight of Polk’s work, but I’d only previously read their Nebula nominated Midnight Bargain, which is full length. Even Though I Knew the End manages to capture the noir atmosphere with an impressively paced plot.
Much more will spoil this one, which delighted me at every turn. I laughed and cried. January LaVoy breathes extra life into CL Polk’s book with her audio narration. Thanks to @tordotcompub and @recordedbooks and @netgalley for an ALC for review. ...more
#LordIngramAppreciationSociety is back in full swing with book three of the Lady Sherlock series, The Hollow of Fear. And theWell that was magnificent
#LordIngramAppreciationSociety is back in full swing with book three of the Lady Sherlock series, The Hollow of Fear. And the deeper we get into this series, the less I can say about it to those who haven’t read it. Trust us, this series is spectacular. Sherry Thomas is an absolute master at character development and relationships, and that talent makes this my favorite in the series so far.
After finishing The Hollow of Fear, I picked up the titular original, The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherry Thomas borrows loosely from the plot of the original, but adapts some clever elements (which I also cannot share here because of spoilers). It had been many years since I read any of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, and I’d forgotten was a self-righteous pompous a$$ Sherlock truly is. The original gave me more appreciation for the subtly that Sherry Thomas has woven into Charlotte Holmes’s character, and how she has chosen to adapt traits for Mrs Watson, Olivia Holmes, Bancroft, Treadles, and even our dear Lord Ingram.
Kate Reading's narration continues to be magnificent for this series on audiobook. And I've been in a loop of re-listening to some of my favorite scenes since finishing this one. ...more
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