Spotlight On: Juliette Benzoni

Juliette Benzoni is a French author with a huge backlist of historical novels. She started by being a journalist till she was offered the opportunity to write a series of books to rival the Angelique series which had a huge success in the 1960s.


Since then she hasn't stopped writing series and stand alone books that cover several centuries of french history. Her books are a mix of romance and adventures with the occasional mystery (Catherine, Marianne...). Some are biographies and others could be considered historical fiction (Reines Tragiques or Tragedies Imperiales of which I haven't found an english edition). She has mentioned that she is a huge fan of Alexandre Dumas and that she loves to do research for her novels.


Unfortunately her later works don't seem to have found an english publisher and the older one's that were published seem to be out of print. That's one of the reasons I am more familiar with her more recent books than with the older series.

The Tilecutter's Penny by Caiseal Mor

He has gone to follow the Crusades. She must do everything to defend their Irish home.

It is the time of Richard the Lion Heart, the time of the Crusades and the mysterious Knights Templar. Donal, as Irish chieftain, and Robert, his Norman lord, travel to the Holy Land, as their fathers did before them. But before Donal leaves, he gives his wife Eilish a token - half of a penny broken by the tilecutter. Should she receive the other half, she will know he is dead.

As Donal and Robert become entwined in the dangerous intrigues of the Knights Templar in the Holy Land, Eilish must also deal with intrigues at home.

From the lush beauty of twelfth-century Ireland to the dangerous secrets of a desert fortress, The Tilecutter's Penny is a rich and gripping story of action and adventure, love and betrayal, and legendary treasures worth more than life itself.

Caiseal Mor is an Australian author, but I hadn't heard of him before I was talking to Kailana one day and she mentioned him as he also writes fantasy/historical fantasy, although I believe that this is a straight historical fiction novel

It is set in twelfth century Ireland and Outremer, and features heavily the exploits of the Knights Templar and their enemies the Hospitallers of St John. Initially, I was tempted to say that the parts of the book that are set in the Holy Land were more developed, but as I think about it a bit more, I think that it is probably more that those sections are less predictable, to me at least.

Robert has just become lord of his father's lands. His father was a crusader, and has decided that now is the time for him to make good on his Templar vows and give up his life and become a monk, which means giving over his land and worldly possessions to his son, Robert. His younger son is something of a terror, and so is given nothing until he can prove that he is worthy. However, when Robert decides that he too must go on crusade, taking the local chieftain, Donal, as his man at arms, Robert has no choice but to leave his younger, more irresponsible brother in charge, therein providing a focus for the story back home in Ireland as well as the journey on the Crusades.

Most of the action in the Holy Land is to do with the saving a prominent Knight of the Templar order and some of the treasure of the order, after the hidden castle that they were hidden in was infiltrated by the enemy Hospitallers.

Whilst the story moves quickly, and the reader is taken on a fast and furious adventure with the two friends in the Outremer, it is with the story at home in Ireland that the story falters a little and becomes quite predictable. Donal's wife Eilish is left behind and must help to run the land in Robert and Donal's absence, which inevitably brings her into contact with the despicable caretaker lord. Before long he has decided that it is HIS birthright to be lord and so he therefore sets in place a plan to usurp him. First step...ensure that Donal's wife believes he is dead, and then set about marrying her so that he has not only his family pedigree, but also her pedigree as the equivalent of royalty to her people.

One thing that reading this book did make me want to do is to get more of a sense of where Outremer was, and for a short while there I was contemplating going on a Knights Templar reading binge but that died soon enough.

The book was interesting enough but not a fantastic read.

Rating 3/5

Britannia's Daughters - Joanna Trollope

Britannia's Daughters, Women of The British Empire is about about the role of women in the expansion and the building of the British Empire. Some of their adventures and achievements were impressive and the conditions in which they lived, especially the working class, were difficult and hard.

I found this a very interesting book even if a bit dry, the book follows close to it's sources: letters, diaries and other documents and sometimes it seems more like a history text book. It is fascinating however to know the lives of the women throughout the Empire, how different opportunities could be found being out of England but how life's hardships still depended much of the woman's status in society. I'm always very interested in the history of women because equal rights is modern concept and for a long time the women that are known in history are the exceptions, the ones that really stand out and conquered some independence.

It's easy to believe that Trollope really did a huge amount of research as every account is extremely detailed portraying not only different countries but also classes and professions (from the diplomat's wives to prostitutes). And it's a wonderful resource to know a bit more about the history of women in the Victorian period.

Bayeux Tapestry animation

Having read and enjoyed Needle in the Blood by Sarah Bowers not too long ago, whenever I see something about the Bayeux Tapestry I am immediately drawn to it! So when I saw this Youtube video, which is an animation of the famous tapestry, over at Oriana's blog, I had to share it! Thanks Oriana!

One day in the not too distant future I will finish writing the review of the book!

In the Shadow of Lady Jane - Edward Charles

In 1551 the population of England and Wales was a meagre three million and, more than in any other period of English history, patronage by the nobility, and particularly by the King, could infinitely transform the life of an educated and opportunistic young man.
In April 1551, the arrival of Lady Jane Grey, together with her parents and two sisters, to the family property, Shute House, offers Richard Stocker this precious opportunity. As a reward for courageously saving his daughters in a storm, Lord Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset, takes Richard into his employment. Richard embraces the rare chance he has awarded and ascends within the family to become the Duke’s personal secretary, encountering royalty along the way.
In 1553 Richard’s unwavering loyalty to the Grey family in tested when Lady Jane Grey is imprisoned in the Tower of London, having had her claim to the throne overturned by the ferociously Catholic Queen, Mary Tudor.
The book traces the impact on the life of an unassuming young man who gets caught up in a tide of religious and social conflict and a passionate and volatile romance.

Richard Stocker is an under steward for a small country estate owned by the Grey Family. One day they decide to come and stay at their new estate Shute House. Right before the family arrives, the cattle escape and as the under steward it is Richards job to round them up but of course it isn’t that simple. On the way back to the house the heavens open up and Richard gets drenched so Richard is in no state to met and greet the family. He goes in the Kitchen next to the big fireplace to dry off and there his life changes forever.

Richard describe the sea to the Grey Daughters and Catherine the middle daughter really wants to go see the sea so Lord Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset allows all three daughter to go with Richard. Once at the sea Richard soon realises that there is a big storm brewing and he must get the sister back home before any one gets hurt. On the way back they have to cross a small creek and he slowly guides Jane and Mary across the river but when it is time for Catherine to cross the creek has become more like a river and Catherine finds herself being pulled down the river but Richard saves the day and Catherine life and becomes a permanent back of the Grey household shortly after.

Richard soon finds himself taken in by Lord Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset, later Duke of Suffolk and becomes his Secretary. Which means he accompanies Lord Henry Grey, Marquess of Dorset to King Edward the VI court and soon becomes very good friend with a close servant and friend to the King. Richard soon finds out that this friendship becomes more and more important as the Kings life draws to a close. Within the Grey household Richard falls in love with Catherine though they soon realise that no matter how high Richard moves up the ladder it will never be high enough for them to marry. He also develop a very strong and powerful friendship with Jane. Jane takes time to teach Richard many things about religion and languages and many other things. But it through Mary that Richard really learns how to behaviour and what is happening within the household, because while Mary may be the youngest and the smallest she has a very keen eye and notices everything and through this she is wise beyond her years.
Once the King dies everything changes within the Grey household. On his deathbed Edward nominated his Aunt, Frances Brandon who then pass the crown to her daughter Jane. And this is when everything falls about for poor Jane. Lady Jane never wanted to be Queen as far as she was concerned Edwards sister Mary was the rightful heir to the throne, but as was the way Lady Jane had no choice in the matter. She was told it was God will and she must accept. So Lady Jane takes Richard as part of her household because she knows that he will be honest with her and not treat her as the Queen but as Jane. We all know what happens next Mary takes her crown, keeps Lady Jane as a prisoner and is later forced to executed her because of The Duke of Northumberlands, Lady Jane’s father in law actions.

I really enjoyed this book, I found the fact it was told through a Male Point of View refreshing often Tudor novels are told through the women point of view which I also enjoyed, but haven’t it told through a male point of view gave an insight into the more political events and other male bonding events. Richard Stocker is also featured in a new novel by Edward Charles called Daughter of Doge and I will certainly be keeping an eye out for that one. The more I think about this novel the more I like it, I found the character relatable and really interesting even though I knew Lady Janes fate I kept hoping that some how I was wrong and everything would turn out ok. I have had a look around the author website and it shows that the novel was really well researched not only did he make sure that is was possible for the Grey family to be in Devon at the time but he also look into family in the area so while Richard is a fictional character the Stocker are a real farmer family who had a son called John the oldest and could have had many more children and also Richard friend Doctor Thomas Marwood was a real character. I think all of this research really shows and makes for an excellent read.

Spotlight On: Anne & Serge Golon

Anne and Serge Golon were the authors of one of the first series of books that I read that lead me to research a period in detail just to know more about the real people that appeared in it.

I'm talking about the Angelique series. Set in the period of France's Louis XIV, the Sun King, it portrayed the adventures of a young woman through an arranged marriage, finding love, the political intrigues, widowhood and remarriage and many other adventures in different parts of the world. Not exactly your typical romance of today this series had the advantage of an accurate research and a vivid portrayal of the period.


The authors have fought a huge battle with their publisher for the rights of their work. The accusations made included changes in the manuscripts without the author's knowledge!

Since Serge died Anne Golon has fought that battle and has continued to write the series, her Work in Progress is called Angelique and the Kingdom of France. OOP for many years due to the mentioned legal battle the books are now being reissued by a french publisher. Maybe in the future we will see them in english too.

Cover story: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade

Not long ago, we had an upcoming release post for this book by Diana Gabaldon. Today I was wandering around in the bookstore (and no, I didn't buy anything!) when I noticed that it was out here already, but the cover was totally and completely different to the one that has been released in the US. So, I thought it might be fun to sometimes have posts on the different covers that have been on Historical Fiction books through the years, or in different countries etc.

So below are the US covers and the Australian cover. Quite often we get the same cover as the UK as well, so this could be the UK cover too.

What do you think? Which one do you like?

I like the Australian cover, but I guess it doesn't really matter because I am going to have to wait for the book to come in at the library anyway and just get which ever one I get! LOL!

Lords of The White Castle - Elizabeth Chadwick

This book is about the true story of Fulke Fitzwarin, a knight in the time of king John who becomes an outlaw to fight for his right to his family's castle. At the end of the book she mentions her sources and their accounts of Fulke's like.

Lords of The White Castle is a novel based on a remarkable true story of honour, treachery and love spanning the turbulent reigns of four great Medieval kings. Award winning author Elizabeth Chadwick brings the thirteenth century vividly to life in the tale of Fulke FitzWarin. From inexperienced young courtier to powerful Marcher lord, from loyal knight to dangerous outlaw, from lover of many women to faithful husband, Fulke’s life story bursts across the page in authentic detail.
A violent quarrel with Prince John, later King John, disrupts Fulke’s life ambition to become ‘Lord of the White Castle’ and leads him to rebel. There are perilous chases through autumn woods, ambushes and battles of wit as Fulke thwarts John at every turn. No less dramatic is the dangerous love that Fulke harbours for Maude Walter, a wealthy widow whom John wants for himself.
Negotiating a maze of deceit, treachery and shifting political alliances Fulke’s striving is rewarded, but success is precarious. Personal tragedy follows the turbulence of the Magna Carta rebellion, culminating in the destruction of everything for which Fulke has fought. Yet even among the ashes, he finds a reason to begin anew.

As usual Elizabeth brings to life medieval England, set in the 12th and 13th centuries, we get to know not only the main characters but how and where they lived and all the important personalities of the time. It's also an excellent portrayal of a turbulent time in which the most important men of the land will finally come together to make the king sign the Magna Carta which seals some of the fundamental rights of the people.

Fulke and the then still Prince John have a strong disagreement over a chess game, Fulke's pride and John's grudge will make them enemies for life. Fulke's father has been fighting for the right to have Whittington returned to the family. After his father's death John confirms the ownership of the castle to another man leading Fulke to become an outlaw and give his allegiance to Llewellyn of Wales to keep fighting for what he believes is his right.

He manages to wed the woman he loves after she becomes a widow and their union will be tempestuous and passionate. Through Maude's eyes we have another version of the events and how they affected women and children and we also see the details of everyday life. As the political game often makes men change sides and allegiances we see how Fulke's life and decisions are fully interwhined in the period he lives in.

This book is not a traditional romance and yet it has strong romantic elements that add to the general sense of history and help bring characters and situations to life.

Highly recomended!

Taj: The Woman and the Wonder by Sandra Wilson

Taj brings to life the fantastic story of the Taj Mahal and the wealthy Mughal Empire. Wilson skilfully weaves together a dazzling story of the royal courts and harems of 15th century India.

Shah Jahan, heir to the throne, is betrayed by his ruthless stepmother. The loss of his father's adoration, rebellion, battles, and banishment that follow are bearable only because of the staunch support of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal, built for her, is both a remarkable example of Shah Jahan's architectural legacy and a physical symbol of the intense love he shared with his wife.

Given the number of historical fiction books that are out about the same characters over and over again, one would think that there must be no unknown stories out there to be discovered and written. When I think about it though, it surprises me that there aren't more books around about the love story that inspired the creation of one of the most well known monuments to love on Earth - the Taj Mahal. When I was offered this book to review, I jumped at the opportunity to read some historical fiction with a different setting. Then I read The Temple Dancer, so instead of it being a place that I had never read about before, it turns out that I read two books set in India within a couple of months. Luckily, the two stories are very distinct and both enjoyable.

The book opens with Shah Jahan (who before coming to the throne was known as Prince Khurram) on his deathbed, looking out towards the Taj Mahal. Jahan has been under house arrest for several years, held captive in a gilded palace by his son who usurped the throne. As he gazes at the monument that he built to his wife, we are taken on the journey back through his life, back to the time he first met his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, on their wedding day. We share their lives as they love and support each other through the triumphs and the trials of being a member of the ruling family.

Khurram has long been the favoured son of his father Jahangir, the son who has been groomed from very early in his childhood to be the next emperor. Not only is he suave and handsome, but he is a gifted military leader, earning the blessings of his father as he goes to war, and as he returns from war showering his father with gifts and glory. No matter where he goes, Khurram is always accompanied by his wife, Mumtaz, and they are devoted to each other.

As in every Royal court though, there is always scheming and plotting afoot, and this time it comes from close to the Royal throne. Jahangir's wife, Nur Jahan, has long been the hidden power behind the throne, and she is ambitious for more power. As Khurram's triumphs increase, it becomes clear to Nur Jahan that she is not going to be able to manipulate Khurram as easily as she has been able to manipulate his father and so she decides that steps need to be taken to ensure that another becomes the emperor's heir. And so begins a series of betrayals and manipulations designed to drive a wedge between son and father, niece and aunt, friend and foe.

This book rather neatly divides itself into two parts - the first is about Khurram and the struggles that he has to claim his destiny, and the second part focuses on his grief after Mumtaz dies in childbirth, and his decision build the Taj Mahal, a beautiful monument to his love for his wife. In the second part of the novel, there is a lot of detail about the design and about the care that was taken not only in building but also in the painstaking processes used to decorate the building. The author manages to convey all this information without losing too much of the pacing and flow of the earlier parts of the novel. While the two parts are quite distinct they are very cohesive, and together, form a really story.

I have never really been all that interested in India, but after reading two books about India recently, I am thinking that I might be going out of my way to try and find more fiction set there in the future.

You can find out more information about this book at the author's website, and the book can be purchased from Amazon.

The Sparks Fly Upwards by Diana Norman

A new novel of love and courage in a time of war, from the author of A Catch of Consequence and Taking Liberties. Few of those Philippa loves in London return her affection. Not the love of her life, who has a new bride. Not even her unhappy, widowed mother, Makepeace Burke. Almost inevitably, Philippa decides on a marriage of convenience to a prudish, if kind, campaigner for the freedom of slaves in the colonies. Across the Channel in France, the Reign of Terror is beheading of thousands of the French nobility. Among those in danger is Philippa's old friend, the Marquis de Condorcet. Not only has Philippa the means of rescuing him from the guillotine, she has the courage - and crosses the Channel to do it. Then, as Makepeace falls in love with an actor back in England, Philippa also finds love where she least expects it - while staring death in the face.

All right...I'll admit it. Since reading my first Diana Norman novel last year I've become something of Diana Norman fan girl, regardless of whether we are talking about books written under this name or as Ariana Franklin.

This is the third book in what I am called the Makepeace Burke trilogy, following on from A Catch of Consequence and Taking Liberties. I have no idea if the trilogy has an official name, but I haven't been able to find one so that is what I am calling it.

Makepeace is once again a widow, and as a result of a request from her brother she is now living in London, and running a theatre that is putting on a play which gives the anti-slavery message a voice. Whilst she is finding the preparation for the play challenging, especially as she has to deal with several different problems, she finds the leading man even more challenging, irritating, and frustrating,.

Makepeace's eldest daughter Philippa is dissatisfied, having just watched the love of her life marry another woman - his second wife. Having given up on her love ever noticing her, she agrees to marry a prominent anti-slavery campaigner. When Philippa hears that her friend the Marquis de Condorcet is in danger of being taken to the guillotine, she makes it her mission to save him and his family. When she is unable to get any assistance, she instead takes matters into her own hands and travels to France, determined to save them herself, and so finds herself plunged into the murky world of the French Revolution, and knowing that she has very likely jeopardised her own engagement.

As Philippa finds her situation getting more and more dangerous, it turns out that she might be the one needing to be rescued, more than once, and that despite the terrible predicament that she finds herself in, that that could be the time of greatest personal happiness for her. For Makepeace, she finds that love can be found in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely of people.

We get reintroduced to many of the characters from the earlier books in the trilogy, although having said that, Norman is not scared to kill off some of the characters that her readers have come to love. It is however done in such a way as to add a deeper poignancy to the events in this book. This was one of those books where you close it with a contented sigh, secure in the knowledge that you have been touched by the characters and the story, and that one day, you would love to revisit them.

Overall, this has been an excellent trilogy to read. The author has used a very colourful time in history to frame a study of what liberty means, whether it be as a woman at a time where she was little more than a man's possession, as an outsider in the upper levels of society, as a black man captured by the British during war at a time when slavery was still rife, and as a French person during The Terror. have really enjoyed reading all of them, and I am now trying to get my hands on as many of the author's back list as I can!

Rating 4.5/5

Taking Liberties by Diana Norman

She had been a dignified wife, ever mindful of her husband's status, even if she could not respect the man. But when a letter arrives - on the day of the Earl's funeral - asking her to find a young American captured in British waters, she feels free to respond whatever her family's opinion.

Diana Stacpoole's quest takes her to Plymouth, where she meets Makepeace Hedley, a very different woman, who is trying to trace her young daughter - a passenger on one of the captured ships. All the two women have in common is their search and their growing outrage at the conditions in which the captured Americans are kept, deprived of rights given to other prisoners of war. Reluctantly the aloof Diana, with her belief in privilege and the respect due to the nobility, and the outspoken Makepeace, former innkeeper but now one of England's richest females with her passion for liberty for all, are forced into an alliance to find their missing persons and improve the men's conditions.

A remarkable friendship is born as they face social outrage, public scandal and even arrest, and become embroiled with French prisoners, American escapees and English smugglers. Helping others to liberty leads them to splendid liberty for themselves.

Taking Liberties is an unusual novel and a delight to read. It may have a historical setting, but the contemporary echoes are vivid and clear. Diana Norman has written as excellent successor to A Catch of Consequence.

This review was originally posted on my blog, but I am reposting it here in anticipation of my review of the third and final book in the trilogy.

Having read A Catch of Consequence a while ago, I was pleased to get to this book, which picks up the story of Makepeace Burke several years after the ending of the first book.

When Makepeace's young daughter is on a ship that is captured during hostilities between the Britain and the fledgling colonies of America, Makepeace rushes to Plymouth. On arriving there she finds that one of her close circle of friends has been captured and put into jail, when being put into jail often means a death sentence because of the horrific conditions.

Diana has also made her way to Plymouth to try to release a young man from the same prison as a favour to a friend from her youth. When she sees the conditions, Diana is immediately moved to try to do something for the prisoners, a cause that is both unpopular in the corridors of power and with her family.

With Diana and Makepeace working together, what hope is there that the authorities won't eventually capitulate. Well, it's not as simple as that sounds. Whilst having some of the settings within the dingy and dangerous prisons, other parts of the novel are set in a tiny fishing village where they supplement their income with a little smuggling. Along the way we meet dashing French smugglers, evil Revenue men trying to stop the smuggling trade and the gritty and realistic characters that make up the village life. In some ways, Makepeace comes full circle in this book. The only thing that I would have liked to see in relation to Makepeace was more of Andra. He was stuck in France for most of this book, and she was portrayed as not being quite as confident without his love and him to back her up at times. Their relationship has definitely bloomed from business partners to love to life partners during these two books, and was lovely to read.

As the links between these two worlds are established and bought closer together, the end result for some of the characters may well be freedom, not only for prisoners, but also from memories and marriage and yet for others there may be even less freedom than they currently have.

I really did enjoy this book. Diana Norman write complex and yet simple stories with good characters, out of the ordinary settings and view points and has the ability to move me both to tears and laughter. My thanks again to Jayne from Dear Author for bringing this author to my attention. You can read her thoughts on this book by clicking on the link. I am off to nag my library to hurray up and buy the third book in this series, The Sparks Fly Upwards.

Rating 4.5/5

City of Dreams: A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam by Beverly Swerling

In 1661 a brother and sister stagger off a small wooden ship after eleven perilous weeks at see to seek a new life in the rough and rowdy Dutch settlement of Nieuw Amsterdam. Lucas Turner is a barber surgeon, Sally Turner an apothecary. Both gifted healers, they are bound to each other by blood and necessity. But as their new lives unfold, betrayal and murder will make them deadly enemies.

In their struggle to survive in the New World, both make choices that will burden their descendants - dedicated physicians and surgeons, pirates and whoremasters - with a legacy of secrets and retribution. The is heritage will set cousin against cousin, physician against surgeon, and ultimately, patriot against Tory.

In a city where black slaves are burned alive on Wall Street, where James Madison and Thomas Jefferson walk The Broad Way arguing America's destiny, and one of the greatest hospitals in the world is born in a former shipwright's workshops by the East River, the fortunes of the Turner and Devreys families are inextricably entwined.

Their pride and ambition, their loves and their hates and their determination to live by their own rules will shape the future of medicine - and the becoming of the dream that is New York.

This is a review that I posted on my blog some time ago, but as I am about to read the sequel I thought it would be a good idea to post this review here:

Subtitled A Novel of Nieuw Amsterdam and Early Manhattan, this is mainly the story of Lucas and Sarah Turner and their descendants. When Lucas and Sarah make the trip to the New World, they are looking for a new start where they will be free to live as they want to. For Lucas that means for him to operate as a surgeon and to have the opportunity to be able to try out some of his medical theories and for Sarah, that she can become an apothecary. When Lucas falls in love with a married woman, there are unexpected consequences that begins to impact the future of his family.

When Lucas agrees that Sarah can marry Jacob de Vries she is mortified, and thus begins a feud that will not only last the lifetime of Sarah and Lucas, but then escalate throughout the generations of their family... although it does have to be said that the next generations are happy to start feuds on their own.

The most interesting of their descendants is probably Jennet, who starts life as a young girl with a talent with the knife (as in surgery). It is however unthinkable for a woman to be a doctor in those days and so she takes to secretly innoculating people against smallpox and attempting to provide medical aid to those that she can in secret.

When she marries, her husband asks her to give it up, and she does so. When her husband returns from a journey as a shadow of his former self, she is transformed from a loving wife to a hard nosed business woman whose interests include several brothels. As she raises her son, her wealth increases, but really her focus is on destroying one of her relatives because of the way he treated her when they were younger.

Swerling takes us on a journey through the descendant's lives, and those of some of their slaves, servants and friends, whilst at the same time giving us glimpses into the life and times of Nieuw Amsterdam, or New York as the city became known as later, touching important events in the city's history without overwhelming with historical information.

I had seen this book recommended quite a few times as a book that fans of Diana Gabaldon would really enjoy, and I can see how those comparisons can be made.

The differences between the two authors:

Swerling covers quite a long period of time in one book. This book starts in 1661 and ends in 1798. Can you imagine how many books Gabaldon would take to cover that same timeframe?

Swerling covers seven generations of the two families, instead of focusing just on the one or two generations.

Swerling is jumps in time between various sections throughout the book, and from generation to generation. She gives a sufficient amount of detail in relation to the key events that in the lives of her characters as opposed to dwelling on everyday life.

The similarities:

In the Outlander series, Gabaldon is just building up to the American Revolution and has her characters interacting with some of the main historical figures. Swerling also brings us a section of the story from that time, and there is also some interaction with historical people, although it is only part of the stories.

Swerling also likes to give us details relating to medical procedures, cures and experiments of the time. The main difference is that her characters are doing trial and error experiments from scratch, whereas Claire at least knew where to start with her knowledge from the 20th century.

I really enjoyed watching New York grow throughout the series, from a town that stretched a mile from the port, to a town where there are elegant brick buildings, and quite a sizeable town over 100 years later.

There are significant enough differences that anyone who doesn't like Gabaldon's work may enjoy this, whilst fans of the Outlander series will also likely enjoy it as well!

The first 130 pages or so of this book were exceptional, and whilst the rest of the book was still enjoyable it didn't quite maintain that high standard all the way through. If there was anything that I wasn't sure of it was of the last few pages, but I believe that there is a sequel out soon so maybe that will clarify things for me a bit more.

I really, really enjoyed this book, and will definitely be reading more of her work.

Rating 4.5/5

The Temple Dancer by John Speed

India, 1657.

When Maya, a graceful, young temple dancer with a mysterious past, is sold into slavery, she enters a world of intrigue, violence, and forbidden love. Bought by a Portuguese trader and sold as a concubine to the dissolute vizier of Bijapur, she embarks on a treacherous journey.

In a caravan led by the dangerous settlement man Da Gama, she travels by elephant on the hostile road to Bijapur, joined by Geraldo, a Portuguese adventurer, and Pathan, a handsome prince who carries a dark secret. Together with Lucinda, a beautiful, spoiled young Goan heiress, and the manipulative eunuch Slipper, they climb the windswept mountain road through the Western Ghats.

When their caravan is attacked by bandits, the travelers' lives are turned upside down. In the aftermath, Maya and Lucinda suddenly find themselves stranded in a strange, exotic world, a world filled with passion, romance, and deception, pure love and lurking evil, where nothing is as it seems and the two women are faced with great temptation as well as heart-wrenching decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

Greed, politics, commitment, courage, love, and intolerance mesh to form a vibrant Indian tapestry. With spectacular settings, unforgettable characters, fierce sensuality, and intense scholarship, this adventure-packed novel marks the debut of an exciting new storyteller.

The Temple Dancer is the first volume of John Speed's Indian trilogy, a three-book journey that will cover the final years of the Mogul Empire and the rise of the Marathis under the highwayman Shivaji. It will leave you breathlessly awaiting his next novel.

I am not really sure why, but I have never really been all that interested in India, and I haven't read a lot about it either. From what I can recall, years ago I read A Passage to India, or The Far Pavilions - I can see the cover in my mind, but can't remember exactly which book it was. Having said that, it seems as though this is changing as this was the first of two books that I have read that are set in India in the last couple of months.

First off, for a debut author, John Speed had the cover god's smiling on him, because the cover of this book is gorgeous, and certainly did a good job of representing the book to me! There is an intriguing mixture of characters and location. Amongst the characters we have Muslims, Hindus and Portuguese, men, women and the court eunuchs who give much of the humour but also much of the backstabbing and double crossing in the book.

The two central characters are Maya and Lucinda who are two women from two very different backgrounds. Maya is basically a slave, albeit a very expensive one, to be bought and sold by the highest bidder, at their convenience. She was a temple dancer and prostitute, and now she must be accompanied on her journey from Goa to Bajipur, where her new owner now resides. Also travelling on the journey is Lucinda who is a young Portuguese heiress whose family has temporarily fallen on hard times, and who is therefore being sent to Bajipur with a view to an advantageous marriage. After a terrible ambush, Maya and Lucinda start to trust each other, and become friends. All through the novel, the author carefully shows the differences between the two women, but also the similarities - for example the fact that both of the women are being "sold off".

Also accompanying the ladies are Slipper the eunuch who at first appears to be Maya's servant, but turns out to be something far more capricious, Lucinda's trouble making cousin Geraldo, and the two fix it men, Da Gama and Pathan who are entrusted with delivering the precious cargo to their new owners in tact.

As disaster strikes the caravan, relationships begin to form and bonds to strengthen, some that will become more solid than others, despite the religious and cultural differences between the characters. The symbolism is sometimes more subtle than others - for example, in the ambush Lucinda's clothing is lost. Gradually as Lucinda comes to feel more relaxed she begins to feel more confident in the more liberating saris, whilst also divesting herself of some of the more restrictive emotions and beliefs of Europeans as well.

This novel really did have it all - adventure, danger, political maneuverings, romance and the ending was different to what I was expecting it to be, whilst remaining true to the spirit of the book and was a satisfactory ending to the story and for the characters. This is the first book of a trilogy, and the second book, Tiger Claws, comes out in September. I hope that my library gets the second and third books as I have very much enjoyed my journey through mid 1600's India.

There were times when the episodes of violence and intrigue felt a bit contrived, but certainly for the most part, John Speed is obviously very knowledgeable about India and has written an entertaining book about a time and place full of mystique, glamour and intrigue.

I was interested to see a news article a couple of weeks after I read this book that talked about the temple prostitutes, and the fate that awaits them in modern India. Whilst as I understand it, it is illegal, but still happens particularly in the remoter parts of the country, and the women are left to fend for themselves in whatever way they can, often living in complete poverty towards the end of their days.

Rating 4/5

A Catch of Consequence by Diana Norman

Makepeace Burke, colonial tavern keeper, accepts an offer of marriage from the aristocrat she rescues from a rebellious mob, and sets sail for London.

As the second Lady Dapifer, Makepeace soon realises that English society will not easily accept an uneducated colonial.And the first Lady Dapifer, well-connected and refusing to acknowledge her divorce, proves to be an extremely dirty fighter once her silk gloves are off. But Makepeace, having been chased out of one town by prejudice and intolerance, is damned if she'll let that happen again.

Makepeace Burke and her collection of friends, from rescued waifs to Grub Street scribblers, from Northampton miners to prime ministers are irresistible characters. Diana Norman is an addictive discovery.

This review was originally pasted on my blog, but I am going to post reviews of the first two here in anticipation of me posting the review of the third book in the trilogy sometime soon!

I first heard about this author when the girls at Dear Author blogged about a couple of her books. With historical fiction being one of my favourite genres, this book, with it's setting in Boston just before the start of the war between Britain and it's young colony, is right up my alley. Boston is full of unrest, and when innkeeper Makepeace Burke rescues a man from the waters of Boston Bay she is dismayed to find that he is an English Lord. The rebels that use her tavern as a meeting place will be less than pleased if they find out that she is harbouring him...not to mention the reaction of her future mother-in-law when she finds out that Makepeace had the man in her bedroom alone for a whole night. The fact that he was unconscious at the time is irrelevant. And then it is Sir Pip's turn to rescue Makepeace and her loved ones, and Makepeace finds herself not only married to him, but falling in love with the dashing Sir Pip, and on her way to make her mark in London society.

Unfortunately, Sir Pip was in Boston trying to obtain a divorce from the first Lady Dapifer, a lady who is finding it very difficult to let go of her former husband, and his money, and she does her best to make as uncomfortable as possible for Makepeace. Well, actually, truth be told the first Lady Dapifer is pretty much a psycho bitch, especially at a time when Makepeace is at her lowest ebb. Luckily she has a quirky and loyal group of friends who are willing to support her, something that she needed after have to move on with her life after a terrible tragedy.

As Makepeace learns to live again, she finds herself in the tough and cold world of Northern England, having to start with very little and try to build a life for herself, always with an eye on vengeance against those who destroyed her life. It is however a fine line between gaining vengeance and allowing that unquenchable thirst for revenge to destroy her again.

I really liked Makepeace as a character. She was tough and resilient, noble and still vulnerable, loyal and direct. It could be said that she might be a little too modern, but to be honest it would only be marginally true, and it is such a minor flaw compared to the very many positive aspects to this book!

As we follow Makepeace as she transitions from innkeeper to society lady to businesswoman, I was completely drawn into her various worlds. When I was reading this book, I was very disappointed when I had to get off the train because it was my stop. I would have been happy to keep on riding the trains until I finished the book! Unfortunately, whilst my previous boss was a reader, I don't think even she would have appreciated that as a reason for me being late for work!


Highly recommended!

Author Spotlight: Marion Zimmer Bradley

In honour of the fact that Marion Zimmer Bradley has a new book out, well, sort of, I thought that I would share with everyone a post about one of my favourite authors. This will deal with specifically her Avalon series, because I look on it as historical fantasy.


Several years ago, my boyfriend of the time bought me a copy of Mists of Avalon. I had always liked fantasy, but at the time I was more interested science fiction, so I had not picked up this book yet. He bought it for two reasons, because he liked the cover and because he knew that I was very fond of both Arthurian Legends and books that are told from the viewpoint of women. From that moment on, a love affair was hatched. I read this book and was very sad to see it end. Over the next few years I read other books by her, both in this series and outside of it, but then she passed away in 1999 and Diana Paxson started writing this series.So, I read these books before blogs, that means I have no reviews. I am just going to talk about them, although one day I hope to reread them. I am not a huge fan of Ancestors of Avalon, and actually at this time have not managed to finish it.

The Avalon Series in Order of Publication:
Mists of Avalon
The Forest House
Lady of Avalon
Priestess of Avalon
The Ancestors of Avalon
Ravens of Avalon (Just out this month)

Mists of Avalon: This is my favourite of the series. Taken place during the time of King Arthur's court, the story is told by Morgaine, and instead of being a knightly tale, it is a tale of much more. Morgaine covers aspects of Camelot that other books overlook, and she is a very interesting narrator.

The Forest House: I think this is my second favourite book in the series. It is actually a prequel to Mists of Avalon, but it was the third book that I read in the series. Covering Roman history I found this book very interesting because it steps outside of Avalon, and I am a fan of Roman history.

Lady of Avalon: I looked for this book for years, and it was always on my mind in bookstores, so much so that when I saw it one day I thought I had it. I came to my senses when I got back home and I flew to the bookstore to acquire my copy. This talks about the founding of Avalon.

Priestess of Avalon: The problem with this series is that all the books sort of melt together because of the similar characters. I remember when I found this book at the bookstore back when it first came out, it was a very good read and draws on some interesting aspects of history.

Ancestors of Avalon: I cannot seem to get through this book. It lacks the feel of the other books in the series. It is about the ancestors that eventually become the Ladies of Avalon, but for some reason it feels wrong to me. I will try again hopefully soon.

Ravens of Avalon: I have not bought this yet but I hope to before the year is out. I look forward to reading it as soon as I finish Ancestors of Avalon, so hopefully my thoughts on it will be forth-coming. I think it sounds really good, taking place before The Forest House, but we will see. I think the longer Bradley is dead the less it is her series and the more it is Paxson's.

Bradley's Avalon series is wonderful to read, and I strongly recommend it to readers out there!!

Upcoming Release: Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon

A new release from Diana Gabaldon is always exciting, although probably not as exciting as if it was a new Outlander book. Instead we will have to settle for a new Lord John Grey book, althought from the book description it does look as though Jamie is going to be featured in this book!

In her much-anticipated new novel, the New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander saga brings back one of her most compelling characters: Lord John Grey—soldier, gentleman, and no mean hand with a blade. Here Diana Gabaldon brilliantly weaves together the strands of Lord John’s secret and public lives—a shattering family mystery, a love affair with potentially disastrous consequences, and a war that stretches from the Old World to the New. . . .

In 1758, in the heart of the Seven Years’ War, Britain fights by the side of Prussia in the Rhineland. For Lord John and his titled brother Hal, the battlefield will be a welcome respite from the torturous mystery that burns poisonously in their family’s history. Seventeen years earlier, Lord John’s late father, the Duke of Pardloe, was found dead, a pistol in his hand and accusations of his role as a Jacobite agent staining forever a family’s honor.

Now unlaid ghosts from the past are stirring. Lord John’s brother has mysteriously received a page of their late father’s missing diary. Someone is taunting the Grey family with secrets from the grave, but Hal, with secrets of his own, refuses to pursue the matter and orders his brother to do likewise. Frustrated, John turns to a man who has been both his prisoner and his confessor: the Scottish Jacobite James Fraser.

Fraser can tell many secrets—and withhold many others. But war, a forbidden affair, and Fraser’s own secrets will complicate Lord John’s quest. Until James Fraser yields the missing piece of an astounding puzzle—and Lord John, caught between his courage and his conscience, must decide whether his family’s honor is worth his life.

This is the follow up book to Lord John and the Private Matter, which I read in my pre-blogging days, and didn't mind, but didn't love either! The short story, Lord John and the Succubus that was in the Legends anthology (edited by Robert Silverberg) was much better.

Speaking of Diana Gabaldon's short stories, later in the year there is going to be another Lord John Grey book called Lord John and the Hand of Devils which is going to be three novellas published together. Two of them are going to be rereleases, including the aforementioned Lord John and the Succubus, but there will be one new novella as well!

The US release date for Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade is 28 August.

The Cater Street Hangman - Anne Perry

After enjoying The Face of a Stranger so much I was anxious to try Anne Perry’s other Victorian series about Charlotte and Thomas Pitt. I was not disappointed.

While the Ellison girls were out paying calls and drinking tea like proper Victorian ladies, a maid in their household was strangled to death. The quiet and young Inspector Pitt investigates the scene and finds no one above suspicion. As his intense questioning causes many a composed facade to crumble, Pitt finds himself curiously drawn to pretty Charlotte Ellison. Yet, a romance between a society girl and so unsuitable a suitor was impossible in the midst of a murder....

Once again one of the wonderful things in Perry’s books is characterization and how she brings to life the Victorian world. The Ellison’s are a well off family, even if not noble and it’s members behave as true people of their time. I really liked Charlotte. She seemed so real, a woman of her time but constantly struggling with the injustices of the double standard of behaviour between man and woman and the moral standards of the time.

I also liked Inspector Pitt although we seem to know him a lot less. He keeps coming to the Ellison’s for more answers on the murder and at time possibly to see Charlotte. His appearance and questions force them to questions some of their acts and behaviour and makes Charlotte more and more aware of him. They come from 2 different worlds and I thought it was also interesting how we had some glimpses of those differences. It made me look forward to the next books to see how they deal with it.

The mystery was also interesting and unusual. There are several clues during the story but I never made sense of them till the murderer is discovered.

In a way I didn’t enjoy it as much as Face of a Stranger, possibly because there’s less introspection and I particularly liked that aspect of the book. But it was a wonderful Victorian mystery and I highly recommend it.


The books in this series in order are:

The Cater Street Hangman
Callander Square
Paragon Walk
Resurrection Row
Rutland Place
Bluegate Fields
Death in the Devil's Acre
Cardingtonn Crescent
Silence in Hanover Square
Bethlehem Road
Highgate Rise
Belgrave Square
Farriers' Lane
The Hyde Park Headsman
Traitor's Gate
Pentecost Alley
Ashworth Hall
Brunswick Gardens
Bedford Square
Half Moon Street
The Whitechapel Conspiracy
Southampton Row
Seven Dials
Long Spoon Lane

Vivaldi's Virgins by Barbara Quick

Dearest Mother,

Since I was first taught to dip a quill and pen my ABC's, I have imagined writing to you. I have written many such letters in my mind, and you have read them. They made you weep. With the power of exquisite music exquisitely performed, they called you back to this place to claim me. Have I ever been in your thoughts, as you have been in mine? Would my eyes remind you of the infant I was when you last saw me? When I happen upon my reflection in a dark window, I am sometimes startled to see a young woman's face looking back at me. How much more surprised would you be to see the transformation wrought by time? Here, within these stone walls where you have left me, I have grown like those plants that are cultivated indoors, with shallow roots and always turning toward whatever sunshine can be stolen from the day outside.....

Stephanie Says:

And so begins the first of many letters that Anna Maria dal Violin would write to the mother that left her as an infant at the Ospedale della Pieta. Sister Laura, one of the nuns at the Pieta suggested she write letters to her mother as a release of feelings that she held inside. Anna knew nothing about her mother or father, her family, or where she come from.


At the age of 8, Anna Maria was brought before the famous "Red Priest" of Venice, Antonio Vivaldi, to play her violin. Aside from the Orphanage, there was also a revered music school, where Vivaldi was the maestro and composer. Vivaldi was so moved by her playing that Anna Maria was the youngest girl to ever be made one of the fourteen iniziate, an apprentice musician of the coro. It was a huge honor, and she immediately became one of Vivaldi's favorites.


The story is told by Anna Maria, much later in life, as she reads through the letters she wrote to her mother. But the story is not just about music. It's about a girl trying to find out who she is and where she fits in the world she was placed in. Not only do we get a chance to understand a cloistered life, but we get a taste of world of Venice in the early 1700's. Because of Vivaldi's reputation as a composer and musician, the girls of the coro were given a chance to sneak out of the Pieta into the masquerades of the Venice society.


It's a beautifully written tale, although it was less about Vivaldi than I originally thought it would be. Anna Maria was indeed a real person and a figlia di coro (daughter of the choir). Her tale is as heartbreaking as it is heart warming. It is a tale of love, friendship, and talent. And it well worth reading!!!


Rating : 4.5/5

Kailana Says:

After reading Stephanie's review of this book, I decided I wanted to give it a try. It sounded interesting and I had not heard of it before, plus it was about a topic of history that I had not really read anything about before.

As Stephanie says, the story is told by Anna Maria when she is in her fourties and looking back on her life. According to the historical note, Anna Maria really did exist, but little to nothing is known about her outside of a few details and that she was an accomplished violinist for her time. This meant that most of her story was made up to fit a female living a life similar to hers. Quick brings in characters that really lived during this time, though, and uses real facts about people like Vivaldi.

While called Vivaldi's Virgins, the book is really Anna Maria's story. The other women come into play, and she talks about Vivaldi, but she is the focus. She is in an orphanage of sorts, and she is desperate to find out who her parents are through the course of this novel. This causes her more troubles than good, though. It begins to consume her and almost means the end of her music career on more than one occassion.

Anna Maria might not be a queen, and she was not even that much of a troublemaker when you really think about it, but she is an interesting character to read about and learn about, and it is interesting to see Vivaldi through the eyes of one of his students. This is a very worthwhile read!

Author Interview: Susan Higginbotham

We are very excited to have an interview with Susan Higginbotham here. Susan's book, The Traitor's Wife, won the silver award for historical fiction in ForeWord Magazine's 2005 Book of the Year Awards, and she has an Amazon short available to those in the US called The Justiciar's Wife.

Susan is also a very active blogger, with four blogs on the go! She is part of a group of historical fiction authors who blog at Yesterday Revisited, and then she also blogs at Plenty About Plaidy (about Jean Plaidy), about Richard III at Unromantic Richard III and then there is her personal blog.




What attracted you to write about the particular characters or period of history featured in your book?


I had read Christopher Marlowe's play Edward the Second years ago in graduate school and had liked it well enough, but one day while surfing the Internet, I ran across an online version of the play and re-read it in one sitting. I became fascinated by the historical background to the story and started researching it. As my research became more in depth, I learned about Eleanor de Clare, Edward II's favorite niece and the wife of his very powerful and very hated favorite, Hugh le Despenser. Soon I was looking for everything I could find out about her, and as I did, I realized that her story was made for a novel. So I wrote it.

If you had to change from writing HF, what genre would you like to give a go?

Probably popular history. There are so many great stories out there that are waiting to be told, one way or another.

Are you working on another book now? Will you continue to write about this same period/character or a different period?

I'm working on a novel featuring Eleanor's oldest son, Hugh, and his wife. It's rather different from The Traitor's Wife, though—it focuses more on the love story between the two main characters than on the historical events of the time, since Hugh, very wisely in light of his family history, served his king on the battlefield rather than as a courtier. The Hundred Years War and the Black Death, however, do play an important role in the story. After that, I've been pondering the idea of a novel set during the Wars of the Roses. I've read so many historical novels where Richard III is a virtual saint, I'd love to write one where he isn't the good guy for a change--or at least where he isn't so romanticized.

How did you get into writing?

I've been writing since I was a small girl, beginning with stories about my kitty cats and never stopping except for a hiatus when I was in law school.

What comes first, the story idea or the characters?

The characters, for me—I find someone who intrigues me and who I want to write more about. Since I prefer to write about historical figures, the plot is pretty much ready-made, with just some gaps to be filled in.

What is the one thing that you couldn't live without while you were writing and why?

My computer. I can no longer write in longhand—it's as if my whole brain shuts down when I try.

Every review I have read is really positive about your book. How hard is it to drum up excitement and sales? How has self publishing benefited you and how has it hindered?

It's been a challenge! Since I knew that most of my sales would have to come from the Internet, one thing I did was to build a website that had a lot of historical information in it, one that would draw in people interested in fourteenth-century England. And Amazon, fortunately, has a lot of free features that help with marketing--Search Inside the book, Amazon lists, etc.

There's a misconception, one that's regularly repeated online, that people who self-publish do so only to see their name in print and to hold a printed book in their hands. That's nonsense. We self-publish for precisely the same reason that other authors publish--to get readers. Self-publishing got me readers where otherwise my manuscript might still be sitting in some agent's or publisher's slush pile, and I've been pleased with the results so far. There have been negatives, of course--most brick-and-mortar bookstores won't handle self-published books, and there are always going to be people who refuse to even look inside a self-published book because they "know" it's going to be bad--but they're outweighed by the knowledge that people are reading the book and enjoying it. So to you folks who have taken or will take a chance on a self-published book by an unknown author, thank you!

Will you go the self published route for your next book?

Probably, yes, because it's a little short for a straight historical novel. (I thought of changing the focus to add some word count, but wasn't happy with the direction in which that would have taken it.) Or I may just sell it in installments on Amazon Shorts. I think with the third novel I may try to go the traditional route, though.

And thank you, ladies, for the opportunity to appear here!

The Face of a Stranger - Anne Perry

This was my first read by Anne Perry. I had heard of her before but I only got really curious after Rosario started posting about her books and making them sound so interesting.

His name, they tell him, is William Monk, and he is a London police detective. His mirror reflects a face that women would like, but from the way people respond to him when he returns to the force, he senses that he has been more feared than loved.

The case Monk is given is particularly sensational one: the brutal murder of Major the Honourable Joscelin Grey, Crimean war hero and a popular man about town, in his rooms in fashionable Mecklenburg Square. It’s an assignment to make or break an investigator, for the exalted status of the victim puts any representative of the police in the precarious position of having to pry into a noble family’s secrets – and one made all the more difficult by the fact that Monk’s lost all his professional skills along with everything else. Suspecting that his superior, the wily Runcorn, hopes he will fail, he returns to a world where he cannot distinguish friend from foe, where he must grasp desperately for any clue to his own past and to the identity of the killer.

Slowly the darkness begins to lighten, as he recognizes traces of his forgotten life. The gentle beauty of a woman who seems to know him. The dangerous informers he tracks down in the city’s unsavory rookeries. The growing hostility from the dead man’s aristocratic family. The revulsion he feels when he enters the dead man’s rooms. And each new revelation lead’s Monk step by terrifying step to the answers he seeks but dreads to find.

The premise seemed a really interesting one, a man with amnesia tries to reconstruct his life and what he was without admitting to coworkers and family that he has lost his memory. Added to that is the fact that he is a police officer and is put in charge of a murder investigation as soon as he goes back to work.

It is as interesting to see Monk's investigation and it's development as it is to get to know him and his doubts about who he was before the accident. So there's quite a bit of introspection and self analisys in this book that I found very appealing as he tries to found out who he was by other people reactions.

The mystery is very well plotted and written. I would never have guessed what was behind it nor the murderer's motives. Rather than a general reason the murder is very much connected to the period of the time and Perry really brings to life that reality. It's fascinating to follow Monk through his investigation and uncover the clues that keep him, and us, guessing at the murder.

Another thing I greatly enjoyed was the set of secondary characters, especially Hester and Evans. I'm looking forward to start the next book in the series to see what awaits them in the future.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Lily is haunted by memories-of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.

In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ("women's writing"). Some girls were paired with laotongs, "old sames," in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives.

They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful.

With the period detail and deep resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.

Marg Says:

I really enjoyed this read. Set in a remote corner of China in the 1800s, we are given a glimpse into the lives of several different stratas of society - the humble farmer, a comfortably well off family that rents out the fields to the farmers around him, the socially unacceptable life of a butcher and the fading and disgraced aristocrats.

At the age of 7 Lily and Snow Flower were deemed to be "old sames' - signing a contract that says that they will be the closest of friends for all their lives. For Lily, Snow Flower is an exotic young girl, coming from a wealthy family and always wearing beautiful clothes, and yet, when the customary times for visiting each other, Snow Flower always visits Lily's family, never the other way around. For Snow Flower, her time at Lily's house is a chance for her to learn some of the basics of running a home, in anticipation of her marriage.

Going into the details of the rituals relating to foot binding, to the friendship ceremonies, to the marriage ceremonies and the traditions surrounding the changes in a woman's life after she is married, there was plenty of scope for infodump in this book, and yet, the author manages to convey details regarding these events in such a way as to provide the information, but within the structure of the story.

Most of all, this book is a look at the changing nature of a friendship between two women, particularly during the later days of their lives as one of the women grows into a role of leadership in her family and the other gets closer and closer to the edges of society. There were many moving moments, particularly as one of the characters realises that she was the one with the issues, and not the other way around!

A moving and entertaining read, featuring a time and place that I know very little about.

Kailana Says:

I have been trying lately to read more books set in areas outside my normal area. While I like historical fiction about China and Japan, there is not enough time to read everything that I want to read. This room was really good for a move into Chinese historical fiction. Lily is the narrator, and in these pages she recaps her life and her friendship with Snow Flower. Joined together in childhood, they were to be close friends for life. Lily came from a lower social class than Snow Flower, but through this friendship great things happen for her. Snow Flower is not all she seems, but they are friends for over 27 years.

Lily was an interesting narrator. She speaks of her life growing up in her mother and fathers' home. We get to experience the foot-binding process which was horrifying to read about. I could not imagine going through that and having the use of my feet limited for the rest of my life. Men's affections do not mean more to me than being able to walk correctly. Lily's younger sister actually dies from the process, as the book says 1 in 10 women do. It made me think of school, I remember learning about a Native group that it was not their feet that they bound but their heads, and then there are the cultures that try and make their necks longer. People in so many cultures are not satisfied with the bodies they are born with, they always have to do something to alter it.

Lily goes through a lot in her life, she lives to be 80. We share her friendship with Snow Flower, her feelings of abandonment in her own home, her perfect feet that helped her have a better life, war, marriage, babies, and old age. In such few pages a lot happens to a very interesting woman. All in all, this was a very interesting read. Lisa See has another book out now that takes place in 17th-century China. I look forward to reading that soon.

A very recommended read!

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

I love historical fiction, bibliographies and history in general so when I heard of a book about the Dracula legend I immediately put it on my wish list.

I ended up never buying it but when I happened to come across a bookring at Bookcrossing I just couldn't resist signing up for it.


I really liked the story concept and the way she tells it - it has elements of mystery, thriller, romance - making it more easy to read than if it was just an account of the facts. There are 3 different stories in it, in 3 different periods (1930, 1959 and 1972). This way we are not only learning about Dracula and his time but of the reality of our world in those days, especially in the Eastern European countries in the 30s and 50s.

I must say I only know the basics about the Dracula legend but the book seemed to describe a lot of the popular beliefs regarding Vlad, the Impaler. Also all the historical information she provoded about the Ottoman Empire and it's influence in the neighbouring countries was really interesting.

I had just one main problem with the book, I think it is too long and in some parts there's too much information being described that could be cut and make for a more interesting story. This way I had to force myself to pick it up and read when I usually just can't put down this type of book.

Still it it makes for an entertaining read, just not as good as I thought it would be.

The End of Sorrows: A Novel of the Siege of Leningrad in WWII by JV Love

A love that would not die . . .
A city that would not surrender . . .
A war that knew no bounds . . .

The date is June 21st, 1941, and Adolf Hitler is about to lead Germany into what would become one the bloodiest, most barbaric wars the world would ever know. His invasion plan, Operation Barbarossa, calls for talking the northern Russian city of Leningrad in a matter of weeks, but as the troops reach the outside border of the city, the Soviet resistance stiffens and a stalemate ensues. Hitler calls for continual bombardment of the city and cutting of all outside supplies. He boasts that the city will starve to death an the German forces will march into a ghost town.

Follow a cast of memorable characters - some real-to-life - as they struggle through one of the most horrific human dramas ever created. For 900 days, the citizens and soldiers of Leningrad, Russia endured one of the worst sieges in the history of mankind. Some would find the inner strength that would make them a light unto the darkness. Others would descend into madness. Read their stories, and explore for yourself just what is The End of Sorrows.

I am sure that I should start every review about a book set in Leningrad during WWII with a disclaimer. I first became aware of the events that occurred in this city when I read the fabulous The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. Since then I have read another two books which were either partially or completely set in the besieged city, and whilst each of them have added something to my knowledge or my feeling for this terrifying time, none of them have come close to the magic of that book. This book adds yet more to my knowledge of these events.

The story follows several main characters as they try to live through the siege, either within the city, or fighting to try and save the city, and the story alternates between the various characters, giving us snapshots of their physical and mental states.

The most compelling of the stories is of the relationship between Katya and Felix. Katya is the daughter of a high ranking party official and Felix is a young Jewish man. Inseparable since meeting, Felix and Katya are determined to marry, not knowing that her father is making it difficult to do so because of the fact that Felix is Jewish. Felix's best mate is Dima, son of a decorated war hero - a man for whom the war is a chance to prove himself to himself, and his father, once and for all. Other characters include Katya's neighbour Petya who descends into madness as the city descends into starvation, her young cousin Igor whom she must try and keep alive, and a group of partisan fighters, and many others. There were, in my opinion, too many characters who took up too much of the narrative.

The author is not afraid of showing how desperate life became both on the front and in the city, and covers some of the events that I already knew about, such as the bombing of the trains that were carrying children out of the besieged city and the eating of wallpaper glue as food became incredibly scarce. This was, however, the first book which has included any episodes relating to the actions of the Russian partisans who helped the Soviet Army fight against the massive German army that was camped at the edge of Leningrad for so long. The time that Felix and Dima spent with the partisans was a very interesting section of the book.

At times the narrative is somewhat meandering and occasionally gets bogged down by religious contemplation about how could God desert the people of Leningrad, and indeed about His very existence. There is most certainly a place for such contemplation because of the very situation that they found themselves in, but particularly towards the end of the novel there was too much of it in my opinion.

I was interested to read at the end of the novel some choices that the author made for the story. I am not sure that they are the same choices I would have made were they my characters, but it did have the effect of making the story less romanticised than some of the other novels I have read on this setting.

One note to the publishers - there were numerous occasions during the book where the typing abruptly stopped and then started on a new line half way through a sentence, so perhaps some stricter editing would not have gone astray.

The stories themselves are interesting, but as I said before, needed to be somewhat streamlined, but at the nucleus of the book is a good story, with interesting characters, in an unbelievable, but true situation.

The Nine Lives of Charlotte Taylor by Sally Armstrong

Completion Date: July 31, 2007
Pages: 416
Publication Year: 2007
Received from Random House in 2007

Reason for Reading: The book takes place in Nova Scotia, in the area that is New Brunswick today and becomes New Brunswick during the course of the book. I live in the Maritimes, so I like books that take place in this period.

The epic true story of Charlotte Taylor, as told by her great-great-great-granddaughter, one of Canada’s foremost journalists.

In 1775, twenty-year-old Charlotte Taylor fled her English country house with her lover, the family’s black butler. To escape the fury of her father, they boarded a ship for the West Indies, but ten days after reaching shore, Charlotte’s lover died of yellow fever, leaving her alone and pregnant in Jamaica.

Undaunted, Charlotte swiftly made an alliance with a British naval commodore, who plied a trading route between the islands and British North America, and travelled north with him. She landed at the Baie de Chaleur, in what is present-day New Brunswick, where she found refuge with the Mi’kmaq and birthed her baby. In the sixty-six years that followed, she would have three husbands, nine more children and a lifelong relationship with an aboriginal man.

Charlotte Taylor lived in the front row of history, walking the same paths as the expelled Acadians, the privateers of the British-American War and the newly arriving Loyalists. In a rough and beautiful landscape, she struggled to clear and claim land, and battled the devastating epidemics that stalked her growing family. Using a seamless blend of fact and fiction, Charlotte Taylor’s great-great-great-granddaughter, Sally Armstrong, reclaims the life of a dauntless and unusual woman and delivers living history with all the drama and sweep of a novel.

When I saw this book at the store I originally thought it was non-fiction, but it turns out that she originally planned it to be non-fiction and could not find enough information, so it has correct details but she filled in the unknown facts with her own ideas. She has a rough idea of Charlotte's life, but she doesn't necessarily know the exact truth, so she researched the most logical choice.

I was really intrigued by this book because Charlotte Taylor is not the sort we learn about in school, and I think that is a real shame. She was the first female settler on the Mirimichi. The Mirimichi is a river, for those that do not know. How she ended up in the New World is not known, so that is one of the factors that Armstrong guessed how it happened by the details that she did have. The first child that Charlotte has is with the lover that meant her leaving her family home. When she gets to the New World she will have 3 husbands and several children. Upon her death she had over 70 grandchildren which is a rather staggering number, but make sense for the times.

She was a fantastic woman to read about. She forged a life for herself in the New World and did not bow down to the men that thought she was speaking outside her rights as a female. She owned her own land, defended her family, kept the family fed in the winter months, and had a spirit that was known throughout the land. She was simply a fascinating woman to read about and to hear about all the things that she did as a woman growing up in a very hostile and unsettled world, especially after living the first twenty years of her life in a very good home where she did not have to lift a finger.

I loved reading about this woman, and even if the geography does not interest you this woman's indomitable spirit is an inspiration for everyone. I strongly recommend this book about one of the most interesting Canadian women I have ever read about.