For The King by Catherine Delors

The Reign of Terror has ended, and Napoléon Bonaparte has seized power, but shifting political loyalties still tear apart families and lovers. On Christmas Eve 1800, a bomb explodes along Bonaparte's route, narrowly missing him but striking dozens of bystanders. Chief Inspector Roch Miquel, a young policeman with a bright future and a beautiful mistress, must arrest the assassins before they attack again. Complicating Miquel's investigation are the maneuverings of his superior, the redoubtable Fouché, the indiscretions of his own father, a former Jacobin, and two intriguing women.

After tackling the French Revolution in her first book, Catherine Delors now uses an attempt on Napoleon's life to show the police force's investigative methods, while portraying the new society that emerged after the end of the monarchy.

In Roch Miquel, the son of a skin man turned tavern owner, she presents us with a hero whose worth is based on his convictions and abilities instead of his birth. And he is a man who believes in method, investigation and patience to discover the truth instead of the torture his colleagues use. In such precarious times though, his past and the lives of his loved ones are also connected with his relationship with Fouché, the powerful minister of Police, and Fouché's ability to stay in Napoleon's good graces.

The story opens with the description of the attack and it is not difficult to feel disgust and anger towards an action that takes as first sacrifices an impoverished child and an animal. We first get to know the perpetrators and then Roch Miquel, the policeman charged with the investigation.

It is not easy to navigate in this world where there seems to be more shades of gray than black and white. If justice for all was one of the Revolution's demands then things don't seem to be going well. People are still convicted on weak evidence just because a scapegoat is needed and if the aristocracy of previous years is now reduced to a precarious position or living in exile, the newly rich seem to behave in much the same way and social injustice seems as common as before. Not to mention that Napoleon, who is not yet emperor but is already paving the way to power by calling former aristocrats to his court and having famous artists paint his portrait and glorify him.

In the course of his investigation Miquel interviews a great number of people of different social status and motivations. He is eager to find the culprits to please Fouché but his favouritism with the Minister means he is not trusted by his superior. Fouché has his own reasons to want the men brought to justice and even leads Miquel in the right direction at first. But he has his own agenda and is not above blackmailing Miquel with his father's imprisonment to get the results he wants. The attack of the Rue Nicaise, as this event would become known, is considered the first scientific criminal investigation and at least some of the perpetrators were eventually brought to justice.

As most of the characters, Miquel is not exactly likeable in the beginning, he is too devoted to his work and has a strained relationship with his father who wants him to settle down with a friend's daughter. Miquel has his own ideas about it, and believes himself already in love with someone else. As the story progresses he will have quite a few surprises about said woman and he starts to feel more vulnerable he will also become more interesting and complex. The romantic intrigue that Delors adds to the story was nice but I felt sorry not to read more about Alexandrine, we just have a glimpse of who she was and I thought she seemed very interesting.

One of my favourite things about the story was how well Delors portrays the common people - nobody seems too surprised by having to able to account for who they are and what they are doing or by having the police knocking on their doors at all times. I was also surprised by how well organised the Royalists were, how wide were their connections and how determined they were to restore the monarchy. Then the story is populated with real people and it was really interesting to read the author's note and then going on a "googling expedition" to find out more about them. For The King is not an easy and quick read but it is definitely worth the time you spend with it.

Grade: 4.5/5

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I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this book. And don't forget to check HT's conversation about For The King!

To Defy A King by Elizabeth Chadwick

A story of huge emotional power set against the road to Magna Carta and the fight to bring a tyrant king to heel.

A story of huge emotional power set against the road to Magna Carta and the fight to bring a tyrant king to heel.

The privileged daughter of one of the most powerful men in England, Mahelt Marshal's life changes dramatically when King John suspects her father of treason. Her brothers are taken hostage and to keep her safe, Mahelt's father marries her to Hugh Bigod, heir to the great earldom of Norfolk. Mahelt finds adapting to her new life hard and although she comes to care for her husband deeply, defying her powerful father in law brings disgrace and threatens her bond with Hugh.

As the Magna Carta crisis looms, King John sets out to subdue the rebellious Bigods and when the royal forces besiege Framlingham Castle, Mahelt is caught up in a heart-rending struggle, knowing that she and her marriage might not survive as wide rifts open between family members.

 
After having read the stories of William Marshall and Isabelle de Clare I was looking forward to read about their eldest daughter, Mahelt Marshall. Elizabeth Chadwick is another author that never lets me down and I am happy to say that To Defy a King was another wonderful read.


The book starts with familiar events but now from Mahelt's perspective. When her parents decide to go to Ireland they want to leave her well cared for and so negotiate a marriage between Mahelt and Hugh Bigod, the eldest son of the powerful Earl of Norfolk. Mahelt is very much aware of her importance as a Marshall and of her sense of honor which sometime clashes with her father in law's will. Hugh, however, realises that his young wife's spirit is what attracts him and that he will have to employ subtlety to make her grow up and learn where her loyalties must now lie.

Although they are in good standing with the King, the Bigods have to take care about who they associate with and Mahelt's reckless actions may well put them in danger. They are connected with the King through Hugh’s half brother William Longespée but the relationship between the two is strained at best. It will take some time and persuasion till Mahelt learns to balance her feelings and weigh what's really important, to think of herself as a Bigod. And while Mahelt and Hugh work on their marriage, King John continues his rule through war and fear. Soon Hugh and the other barons start plotting to limit his power and protect their rights and privileges. If her father was always the king’s man even when in disgrace, now Mahelt sees her husband rebelling against the king and take up arms to defend what he believes in.

To Defy A King is a lovely book! Chadwick’s characters are people that you can identify with, who have the same basic expectations about life, love and society in general that everyone has and in each of her books there's a solid background of research that really brings to life the everyday events of the Middle Ages without it being obvious.

If Mahelt is a strong heroine, Hugh is the one I appreciated all the more because of the way he read his wife and managed to make her grow up and learn her place without crushing her. I wonder how Chadwick manages to consistently write male characters that are wonderful examples of humanity and sensitivity without losing any of their manliness? There are many reasons to pick up this book, the solid historical background, the plot that makes use of it and the engaging characters will appeal to every historical fiction lover but the truth is that her descriptions of feelings, emotions and needs with which we can identify will make this a terrific read for everyone.

Grade: 5/5

** And don't forget to check on our To Defy a King conversation **

The Green Bronze Mirror by Lynne Ellison

15 year old Karen is exploring the sea side when she finds an ancient looking mirror in the sand. Now everyone knows that if you find an old mirror, do not stare into it. Of course Karen does and she is transported through time to ancient Rome. Some solders happen upon her and believe she is a runaway slave.

She is taken to a house where she is given to a slave to give her decent clothes and to wash her. Shorts and a tee shirt were very odd clothes indeed. She was taken to the market place and sold. She was a slave to Mistress Julia and was made to take care of Julia's two children. She made friends with some of the other slaves and fell for a older slave boy, Kleon.

Christianity was a new religion back then and when the fires started and destroyed home after home, the Christians were blamed and persecuted. Karen and Kleon flee together to avoid persecution. Eventually Karen confesses to Kleon that she is from the future and he helps her find her way back.

Lynne Ellison wrote this short young adult novel in 1966, when she was just a teenager. It was just re-issued in 2009 by CnPosner Books. The copy I received was a final copy, not an advance reader edition. However, page after page I found spelling errors and word omissions. Instead of fixing these, the publisher has all of the errors listed on their website and invite readers to notify them of any other errors they may have missed. Though I really enjoyed the story, I found these errors rather annoying. I know it costs money to reprint books but I feel that it is unprofessional and does not do Lynne Ellison's good story justice.

Karen told Kleon that the time that she lives in everyone in the world is Christian and how wonderful it is. There is no persecution. I guess this is also suppose to be Christian fantasy novel, because the world I live in, not everyone is Christian and there are still all kinds of people who get persecuted because of their religion. That said, I did like Karen as a character and I liked the story of her as a slave. The story took place when the Roman Empire was ruled by Nero and Ms. Ellison did bring the ancient time to life.

3/5

Note: The publisher just informed me that they did a new printing of the book to correct all the the errors.

The Founding by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles

This wonderful book is a re-issue from Sourcebooks and came out this month. It is the first in a series of 34 books, the 34th is coming out in November by Sphere. The series is called The Morland Dynasty and is the longest historical saga series in history.

The year is 1434 and Robert Morland's father, Edward tells his son to pack for a trip. When he asked where they are going his father said that it was time for him to be married and that the arrangements have been made. Robert figures that he should give his bride a present so runs to the barn and takes the best puppy in the litter for her.

A couple days later they arrive at the fine house of the Beaufort family and he is married to Eleanor Courtney, the ward of Lord Edmund Beaufort. It is a business match to benefit both families. Edward Morland is a very wealth sheep farmer and Lord Edmund has power and prestige. However, Eleanor is hurt and disappointed, she is secretly in love with Richard, Duke of York and thought it beneath her to have to marry a mere sheep farmer.

The minute Robert set eyes on Eleanor he was in love but it took many years for Eleanor to feel the same about him.

Once they arrive back at Morland Place, Eleanor is appalled at what she sees. For a wealth family, they live more like live stock than people. The next morning, with the help of her maids, Eleanor starts to make the place more liveable. She also makes the servants more presentable and not stinking by forcing every one of them to take a bath.

Robert and Eleanor have 10 children and all the while Eleanor schemes to grow the sheep farming business into something more. She talks Robert into using her ideas one by one and they build a business empire together.

Set against the backdrop of the War of the Roses, the story starts out with King Henry VI still in power. it continues through King Edward's rein and through Richard III's short rein and ends shortly after King Henry the VII comes into power. The Morlands' see some of their male children off to war and live through some of their deaths. Robert dies at a well before Eleanor and she lives to see some of her male grandchildren and great-grandchildren go to war and die.

I first heard about the Morland series soon after I started my book blog, from other historical fiction fans. It has been on my list of books to try since then, so when I was offered an advance readers copy I jumped at the chance. I was not disappointed.

Though some would consider this book to be a doorstop at over 530 pages, it reads very fast. Sure there are a couple places where it drags slightly but not many. Cynthia Harrod Eagles weaves a story about a believable family and sees them through 3 generations and the War of the Roses. With the deft stroke of her pen (or computer) she captures the beauty and ugliness of the period.

I was offered a review copy of the second book in the series, The Dark Rose but turned it down due to other commitments. Boy do I regret that! I hope to continue the series one day soon. I highly recommend this book.

4/5

The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham

As an historical fiction lover, Susan Higginbotham has been on my "to be read" list for a long time. When Danielle at Sourcebooks had The Stolen Crown on offer for review, I couldn't refuse and I'm glad I didn't.

When Katherine Woodville's sister Elizabeth marries King Edward IV, her entire life changes. Life was no longer carefree and simple. Kate is betrothed and married to Harry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham when she was just seven years old and he was nine. They really liked one and other and by the time they were old enough to consummate their marriage, they were deeply in love.

We follow Kate and Harry from childhood through adulthood with their alternating points of view. We get to know a lot of details about both of them and who their friends and foes were. Harry becomes fast friends with Richard, Duke of Gloucester and remains loyal to him for many years. However, when Richard's brother, King Edward dies, he decides he should be king and Harry stick with him. Richard ends up killing some of Kate's family members and others, to make this happen and Kate and Harry's marriage becomes at odd and is deeply tested.

Susan Higginbotham made the War of the Roses come alive. I loved the character of Kate and enjoyed following her through her life. Higginbotham deftly fleshed out all the characters and made them come to life. I felt as if I were there. She kept true to the period and included an Author's Note in the back of the book, where she explained why she took the path she did with the story and what was historically accurate and what she changed. This added to my enjoyment of the book.

As I said above, this was my first time reading Susan Higginbotham, but it certainly won't be my last! Highly recommended to historical fiction lovers and for those who can't get enough of the War of the Roses. Higgbotham's perspective on it is very refreshing.

4/5

I Serve, A Novel of The Black Prince by Rosanne E. Lortz

I had no idea, when I was offered this book for review of what was in store for me. After reading the blurb, I knew I couldn't resist it for a couple of reasons: it was a medieval, my favourite period, and one of the main characters was the Black Prince, about whom I've had a long lasting curiosity. It really was inevitable that I should start reading this book as soon as it arrived.

The story opens with Sir John Potenhale on a quest to find a woman, the widow of a man he fought in battle, with which he shared adventures and long conversations. At her request, he starts telling his story and how his life crossed with her dead husband.

Potenhale was a young squire following the English army during the Hundred Year war. His actions bring him to the attention of the Prince of Wales, the Black Prince, and he becomes part of his household. As they follow the path of war Potenhale grows in experience and in wisdom both in the battlefield and out of it.

Through the Prince's interest in the Fair Maid of Kent, Potenhale becomes acquainted with Margery, one of her ladies. While the interest seems mutual the young lady previous marriage to Lord Thomas Holland puts a hold in both the Prince's and Potenhale's aspirations.

For the next years, they will fight for England in French soil; they will learn strategy, when to make alliances and when to punish traitors. They will attend happy tourneys and they will face the merciless Black Death. In one of the battles Potenhale makes a prisoner of the French leader, Geoffroi de Charni. He returns to England with them until his ransom is paid and it is immediately obvious that he is the man whose widow he is telling the story to.

What could have been a dry read becomes a tale of an age of honour and chivalry, of being steadfast in the face of adversity and of pondering matters of life and death, when faced with your perceived destiny.

Charny, who wrote a book on the Art of Chivalry is a very interesting character and, in the end, become the one I was most fascinated with. It is a gift from the author that she writes her tale so well that when he was telling Potenhale and the Prince the story of the Templars I felt I was right beside them listening.

With Potenhale we witness one man's growth, a life's journey, gaining physical and intellectual maturity and through him we can see the fourteenth century way of life and way of thinking. This is a story about following a code of honour, the code of chivalry, about being virtuous, being true to God and to their Lady. Rosanne E. Lortz wrote an intelligent and engaging tale based in real characters and events that made this reading journey one of the most exhilarating of this year. Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this.

Grade: 5/5

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Come back March 23rd for Rosanne E. Lortz guest post on why she loves the fourteenth century.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

It is 1940. France has fallen. Bombs are dropping on London. And President Roosevelt is promising he won't send our boys to fight in "foreign wars."

But American radio gal Frankie Bard, the first woman to report from the Blitz in London, wants nothing more than to bring the war home. Frankie's radio dispatches crackle across the Atlantic ocean, imploring listeners to pay attention--as the Nazis bomb London nightly, and Jewish refugees stream across Europe. Frankie is convinced that if she can just get the right story, it will wake Americans to action and they will join the fight. Meanwhile, in Franklin, Massachusetts, a small town on Cape Cod, Iris James hears Frankie's broadcasts and knows that it is only a matter of time before the war arrives on Franklin's shores. In charge of the town's mail, Iris believes that her job is to deliver and keep people's secrets, passing along the news that letters carry. And one secret she keeps are her feelings for Harry Vale, the town mechanic, who inspects the ocean daily, searching in vain for German U-boats he is certain will come. Two single people in midlife, Iris and Harry long ago gave up hope of ever being in love, yet they find themselves unexpectedly drawn toward each other.

Listening to Frankie as well are Will and Emma Fitch, the town's doctor and his new wife, both trying to escape a fragile childhood and forge a brighter future. When Will follow's Frankie's siren call into the war, Emma's worst fears are realized. Promising to return in six months, Will goes to London to offer his help, and the lives of the three women entwine.

I finished this book last week and I've been struggling with the exact words to write this review and do it justice. It is a book that I really enjoyed, the kind that makes you think about human nature, about past events but also of its echoes in today's world. It was also a book that made me sob like a baby in some scenes and that I closed with a satisfied sigh.

This is a story set during WWII. In the US in Franklin, a small town in Massachusetts, Iris James is the postmistress. She takes her job very seriously, she knows many of the town's people secrets and she sees herself as a keeper of those secrets. Every written news posted goes through her and she observes everyone else in town and reflects about their behaviour. She feels a special connection with Harry Vale, the town's mechanic who is convinced a German U-Boat will eventually arrive at their shores and keeps watching the ocean.

Frankie Baird is an American living in London during the Blitz. She is a journalist and every day her voice on the radio reaches Franklin and let's people know of the war happening in Europe and of the journey the Jews are being forced to make to reach safety. Frankie feels she is not doing enough to spread the awareness of what is really going on and that there is nothing more important than telling the truth to the world about what is really going on.

Emma Trask is a young newlywed. She just married Franklin's doctor and they share a happy existence till he loses one of his patients in childbirth and feels he must go to London and help in the hospitals as a sort of atonement. Emma is left pregnant and her life revolves around her trips to the post office to send the letters to her husband and receive his.

Frankie meets Emma's husband in London. She sees him die in a car accident and eventually finds herself the bearer of a letter from him to Emma that she ends up never delivering. Similarly Iris receives the letter that informs Emma of the accident and also decides to keep it. Frankie finally gets her wish to go to the continent and travel by train from Berlin to the border with Spain. During her journey she will meet a lot of people, Jews, on the run from what is happening in Germany and the occupied countries and trying to reach Lisbon so they can sail for America. Better than telling their story she gives them voice by recording who they are, where they are from and where they hope to go to... from them she learns the horrors of leaving people behind, of being saved by luck or coincidence and that everything can be lost in a matter of seconds and the lack of valid papers. Frankie also learns that sometimes the story gets to you and you can't just "get out" as her boss used to tell her to.

Eventually the three women meet in Franklin where besides Iris and Emma no one seems really to be aware of what is going on or actually care much about it.

I was fascinated but Frankie's broadcasts. I can easily imagine not only these characters but real people during WWII sitting at home next to their radios and waiting to hear news of the countries at war. How important it was for the truth to be told and how heavy a burden that must have been for those who chose to place themselves in danger to tell it. Not because they are in danger but because they are changed forever by what they have experienced. I thought the book raised very interesting questions, some of which are personal and may have different answers for each of us. Other questions may not have satisfying answers... but it is important that we mention them. It was a story that intrigued me and moved me... I was left wanting to know what became of those three women after all that happened to them... and I just love books that make me think and leave me wanting more…

Grade: 4.5/5

I would like to thank Lydia Hirt at G.P. Putnam's Sons / Riverhead for sending it to me. The hardcover is released today in the US.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

In 1940, while war is going on throughout most of Europe, President Roosevelt has promised that the United States would not enter the war.

In a small town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Iris James serves as postmistress.  She knows the town and their business very well.  She falls in love with the town's mechanic, Harry Vale.  Harry spends a lot of time in the watch tower over the Atlantic Ocean, watching for German U-boats.  He has a hard time convincing the towns people that the U-boats will show up in their sleepy little town.

Emma Trask is married to the town's working doctor.  They are both young and just starting out.  However, an event happens while he is delivering his first baby in the town that makes him want to escape.  He goes to England, where war is raging to volunteer his services as a doctor, leaving poor Emma as home in a town she hardly knows.  Iris tries to look out for her.

Meanwhile, Frankie Bard is in England as a reporter.  She works with none other than Edward R. Murrow.  However, major event shake her to the core and just ends up near the end of the book in the same small town as Iris and Emma.  Their 3 fates sealed and intertwined through a letter.

This was a delightful book.  Sarah Blake weaves all of the sub-stories together seamlessly.  Frankie is my favourite character.  We get to meet the people she comes across and hear her war stories.  On her last assignment she rides the trains in Germany and France, recording interviews with the Jews desperate to get to safety. 

Though there were a few things in the book that were predictable then didn't detract me from enjoying the story.  The end seemed a bit rushed to me but not overly sentimental.  It seems that Sarah Blake really did her research and I recommend this to Historical fiction lover, especially those who enjoy WWII fiction.

4.5/5

The Little Duke by Charlotte Mary Yonge

An inspiring story of Richard the Fearless (943-996) who became Duke of Normandy at the age of 8. Relates the perils of his childhood, both at home in Normandy and during his captivity at the court of France, and how at long last he came to embrace the values his father espoused.

One of these days I went browsing Project Gutenberg to see if I found anything interesting for a challenge I was involved in and that interested me at the same time.

When I found this title I didn't immediately realise it was a story for children, what appealed to me was that it was a medieval story and I seldom resist those.

I really did like it and can totally see how it would appeal a child. The hero is a child, Richard of Normandy, who inherits the dukedom on his father's death while still a child. The little Duke (very well titled) becomes first a prisoner of King Louis of France and then, after escaping with the help of his loyal servants, allies himself with the Danes and manages to imprison the King who is later exchanged for his sons that Richard had met while at court.

Basically this is the story of a young boy becoming a man, controlling his emotions, conquering his desire of vengeance and fully embodying the Christian values of forgiveness and good will to others. Richard of Normandy would later be known as Richard the Fearless and the great-grandfather of William the Conqueror.

Grade 4/5

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Piel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

' I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that brings them to their perfect readers.' January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second

World War, and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb..

As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends - and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.

Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.

Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways.

I had no idea what awaited me when I started this book, I had some knowledge about the Island of Guernsey but none about its history and the period of the German occupation. Not that I felt this about the place, it's much more about people, how they live, love and cope in a time of adversity, but I definitely felt like hopping on a plane and travel there just to see if it was how I imagined it.

The story is told entirely in epistolary format, the common thread is Juliet, a writer, she is on tour and sends letters to her publisher in London retelling what's happening with her life and writing. One day she receives a letter from a man in Guernsey, Dawsey Adams, he bought a second hand book with her contact inside and wants to know if she can help him find more books by the same author as they are scarce in Guernsey. What follows is a rather interesting and funny exchange where we see their personalities reflected. Through his letters Juliet gets to know the Guernsey inhabitants and the story of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, a book club they founded when under the Nazi occupation. Juliet is so intrigued that she eventually decides to travel to Guernsey and not only gets to know them all in person but to write about their experiences during the war.

It's a sweet and charming story, with lots of literary references and with a very cosy feel. You can't help a few laughs while reading it but there's also sadness and tragedy, the main thing I suppose is that you actually feel like you would really like to meet those characters some time. They are that real!

Grade: 5/5

Into The Wilderness by Sara Donati

It is December of 1792. Elizabeth Middleton leaves her comfortable English estate to join her family in a remote New York mountain village. It is a place unlike any she has ever experienced. And she meets a man unlike any she has ever encountered--a white man dressed like a Native American, Nathaniel Bonner, known to the Mohawk people as Between-Two-Lives. Determined to provide schooling for all the children of the village, she soon finds herself locked in conflict with the local slave owners as well as her own family.

When I first heard of Into The Wilderness I must confess I was a bit doubtful that it was the book for me. It was presented as a sequel to The Last of The Mohicans and usually the sequels are a bit (or a lot) of a letdown (it isn't exactly a sequel though as the events take place quite a few years after TLoTM and only some of the same characters appear). However Marg was so sure about it and recommended it so well that I ended up putting it in the TBR pile and this weekend I finally read it. And I am very happy that I did.

This is the story of Elizabeth Middleton who travels to the New World to meet her father and become a school teacher. Her father has other ideas though and wants to see her well married with one of his neighbours, Richard Todd, whose primary interest is Elizabeth's dowry - the mountain Hidden Wolf. But Elizabeth has other ideas, not only wants she be independent but she is also attracted to Nathaniel Bonner, Cora and Hawkeye's son, who lives with his family in the mountain and has his own reasons to dislike the Richard. To help Nathaniel gain what he wants Elizabeth must plot to apparently to her father's wishes till the moment is right to show her hand.

But there's a lot more to like than just Elizabeth and Nathaniel's story. There's the vivid portrayal of the native way of life and the settlers way of life. The tension in their relationship and the problems faced by those who live between both worlds.

I think the best thing about the story is Donati's vivid descriptions and complex characters, you really feel transported to that world for the space of the reading and when it closes you really want to know what is going to happen next with the characters. Fans of Diana Gabaldon will be happy to know that her famous characters are mentioned in the space of a page.

Grade: 5/5

The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Alessandra is not quite fifteen when her prosperous merchant father brings a young painter back with him from Holland to adorn the walls of the new family chapel. She is fascinated by his talents and envious of his abilities and opportunities to paint to the glory of God. Soon her love of art and her lively independence are luring her into closer involvement with all sorts of taboo areas of life. On excursions into the streets of night-time Florence she observes a terrible evil stalking the city and witnesses the rise of the fiery young priest, Savanarola, who has set out to rid the city of vice, richness, even art itself. Alessandra must make crucial decisions about the shape of her adult life, as Florence itself must choose between the old ways of the luxury-loving Medicis and the asceticism of Savanorola. And through it all, there is the painter, whose love will change everything.

I am starting to feel that maybe I have a problem with art related books, I always feel like I should like them more than I actually do. This has happened in the past and it happened again with this The Birth of Venus.

The book opens with the death of a nun and the sisters discovering that she had a shocking tattoo. The story then moves back to the late 15th century where Alessandra Cecchi is a young girl from a wealthy family in Florence. She is interested in art and resents the lack of freedom women have. While part of the story is her fascination with painting and her relationship with a painter her parents hired, most of it is her desire for more freedom which she believes she will find in her marriage to an older man, her relationship with her husband which is not as she believed him to be and the historical turmoil surrounding Savonarola and the invasion of Florence by the French.

I'm afraid I found myself more interested in those political aspects than in Alessandra, who didn't really appeal to me as character, or her artistic worries. In fact most of the characters didn't seem to be fully explored. I do understand that art was Alessandra's way to freedom, her revolt against the world who did not let her be who she wanted to be and who did not let women be more than inferior beings. However I'm afraid she failed to hold my interest enough to make me explore all the undercurrents and symbolism of the novel.

But it might be just me, if you like your historical fiction with a feminist perspective and lots of symbolic images this might be for you.

Grade: 3.5/5

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.


The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.


Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.


Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

Teddy's Thoughts:

Have you ever wondered what happened to Cleopatra's children after her after her death? Michelle Moran tells us in her new engrossing novel.

Twins, Selene and Alexander were taken to Rome by Octavian after he took over Egypt. Rather than turning them into slaves, like he has with most of his other conquests, he takes them to his sister, Octavia's house. Where they receive a warm welcome by Octavia and her son, Marcellus. They are treated much like Marcellus and even go to school and activities with him and his betrothed, Octavian's daughter, Julia.

Rome is quite different than Egypt and it takes some time for the twins to adapt to the Roman way of life. Sometimes beautiful but equally brutal. Alexander loves to have fun and so does Marcellus. They enjoy carefree days of placing bets on chariot races and attending the theatre. While Selene cares more about architecture, learning, and dreaming of the day she can return to Egypt.

On their 15th birthday, the twins know things are about to change for them. They are to find out who Octavian has chosen for them to marry. Will he be cruel and make bad matches for them or will they find happiness?

Michelle Moran writes a sweeping novel of some of the beauty and severe brutality of Rome. It is apparent to me that she spent a lot of time researching for this book. She writes about famous Roman trials in the corrupt justice system and slavery, the Pantheon and other architectural wonders. Throughout the story she stays true to Rome. This is a book not to be missed by historical fiction fans!

5/5

Kailana's thoughts:


It is hard to believe that this is Michelle's third book. That means that we have known each other for three years! And, what a great three years that has been. I received an ARC of Nerfertiti back when it was still a bit unusual to receive ARCs. Nowadays, everyone does it, but it did used to be a bit harder to accomplish. I don't even remember what the circumstances were, but I was so excited to read the book. I love Egyptian history, but don't really nearly enough of it. I am so glad that I said yes, though, because reading that book has lead to me reading three great books by a very nice person who has become a friend. This is the second year for Michelle Moran Week and the third year that she has appeared on my blog in some capacity. Now, on to the actual review!


Cleopatra's Daughter was another great novel from Moran. I only just finished it yesterday, so this review is a bit late. September has been busy, but I did finish it! That's the important thing, right! When I invite Michelle to appear on the blog it is months before her book is out, so I never really know what to expect. The big thing for me and this book is I actually knew the story, but not from the point-of-view of Selena. The novel built on my knowledge and last night after finishing it I was discussing what I knew and what I learned with one of my friends. There were several times through the book that I learned something new and thought about it, and for me that is what a good historical fiction book is supposed to do. It will lead me to pick up a non-fiction book for comparision, too, so then I support the book industry. It's a full-circle act.


The novel is told from the point-of-view of Selena. She grows through the book. Her childhood was wonderful, but then her parents both died. She was taken to Rome, along with her two brothers, to be figureheads for Octavian's cause. They actually lived with Octavia, Octavian's sister and the ex-husband of Mark Antony, which was a little strange but Octavia appeared to hold nothing against them. Even though the story was told by Selena, I still felt that we got to know the other characters through her and by the end I had a sense of who they all were. Octavian was written a lot like I always expected him to act. Same with his sister. She was in many ways the exact opposite of her brother. It actually worked well for them, though, because one saw what the other would likely miss. Octavian's daughter, Julia, was spoiled but had also suffered through her young life. You both found her annoying and felt for her throughout the book. There were a lot of characters I only slightly knew existed, so I learned a lot about them.


This book covers the highs and lows of Selena's life. You really experience her emotions through the pages and feel for her at the right times. I really liked her. Michelle portrayed her wonderfully and made me love her by the end. Even though I knew how things were going to end, I have to say that I loved the ending. It was perfect, in my opinion. Anything other than would really spoil things. I think this book will appeal to those that love historical fiction, but really it is is a book for many people. It has a readable style and it doesn't get bogged down with facts. I recommend this book strongly and hope lots of people take a chance on it and enjoy it.

The Saint and The Fasting Girl by Anna Richenda

SISTER GEORGIA LIVES AT THE CENTER of a bustling Yorkshire nunnery at the eve of the English Reformation. Yet she is no ordinary nun. Georgia and her sisters follow the ways of the legendary Saint Isela, recording her signs and miracles and preparing for her return.

But the archbishop of London, Philip SeVerde, a man rising in Henry VIII’s royal court, cannot bear this ‘wild’ nunnery of the north. Driven by greed and a lust for power, SeVerde demands that the nuns submit to his control and strict monastic rule. Georgia is persecuted and tortured, yet she refuses to back down.

Drawing strength and visions from an ancient relic, Georgia must ensure that her mystical group of nuns survive the meddling of the corrupt archbishop. She must undergo an epic journey and endure, lifetime after lifetime, until the promise of Saint Isela can be fulfilled. It is the story of The Saint and the Fasting Girl.

The Saint and the Fasting Girl is a story divided in two parts. In the first Georgia is the Abbess in a Yorkshire Abbey that follows the ways of St Isela. The Saint has died and promised to return so Georgia lives to see that moment. When the story opens, the abbey and the nearest village are under attack; Georgia has a vision and knows she must save the baby girl whose birth is eminent as she will be an important part of St Isela's return.

Georgia manages to keep the Abbey safe but Phillip SeVerde, the archbishop of London, wants to control the land. They'll both fight for it, with SeVerde sending troops and Georgia trying to evade them while raising Lo, the baby who she believes will grow to be awakened to St Isela's story and eventually lead to St Isela’s return. However, in a period of religious instability that is the Kingdom of Henry VIII, the abbey ends up destroyed and Georgia is killed.

On the second part of the book a young girl, Jane, realises that she is Georgia. She must devote herself to prepare the way for St Isela’s return and the first thing is to look for the sisters who lost their home when the abbey was destroyed and to look for St Isela's treasure that she had hidden in the abbey.

While Jane is still a girl, she behaves very much like Georgia, set in her beliefs and determined to restore Isela's ways. She only behaves as a teenager when she grows fond of a young servant and we see them bickering their way to love. But her main concern is to save Lo, now a grown woman, from the man who has brutalised her and to find St Isela's treasure.

I think what I enjoyed the most about the book was how the author can really make us understand how religion was an integral part of the medieval mind. Everything was ruled by religion and social class. Not only we see in the story a lot of violence towards the lower orders but that behaviour seems to be expected and accepted by everyone.

I did like the first half of the book better because I had some trouble warming up to Jane. I was surprised by how she enters the story and in the beginning she is not very likeable. I must say that one of the interesting things of the story is that there are several twists that keep you guessing. In fact, given all that happens, the ending is also quite surprising. I only wish the "fasting girl" aspect had been more explored, both Georgia and Jane don't eat when they are worried and upset but they didn't seem to fast on purpose and I was very curious about that angle of the story after having read something about it on Anna Richenda's website.

I found this a very interesting and original story with its focus on monastic life and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about that period.

One final word to thank the author Anna Richenda for having sent me a copy.

Grade: 4/5

Lady of The Roses by Sandra Worth

During her short time as a ward in Queen Marguerite's Lancastrian court, fifteen-year-old Isobel has had many suitors ask for her hand, but the spirited beauty is blind to all but Yorkist Sir John Neville. It is nothing short of a miracle when the Queen allows Isobel's marriage to the enemy, albeit at a hefty price.

All around Isobel and John rages a lawless war. It is only their passion that can see them through the bloody march on London by the Duke of Somerset, the violent madness of Queen Marguerite, and the devolution of Isobel's meek uncle into the Butcher of England. For theirs is an everlasting love that fears not the scratch of thorns, from either the Red Rose or the White.

I’ve been hearing lots of things about Sandra Worth and when the opportunity came to read this book I couldn’t let it pass. Especially as it is set during the Wars of the Roses which is a period in the history of England that I like to read about.

Lady of the Roses is about Isobel, a young heiress who grows up a ward of the crown – the crown being Queen Margaret of Lancaster – but falls in love with John Neville, a member of the House of York and brother of Warwick the Kingmaker. For a while they looked like star-crossed lovers that wouldn’t be able to overcome the enmity between Lancaster and York but after the Neville family pays a large amount for her Isobel is allowed to marry John.

I did enjoy knowing their story and I think Worth expertly engages the reader in her tale, I can’t remember when it was that another book made me run to the nearest encyclopaedia to know who was who and what happened when. Although I have already read several books set in the period I don’t think I had ever payed much attention to John Neville in a family where several people have the same name is really useful to have a family tree in the beginning of the book.

While Isobel is the main character, I think it is John that emerges as the voice of reason and the symbol of honour in a difficult period. The way Worth describes him made me think of SKP’s The Sunne in Splendour and Richard III. Maybe, just maybe, they are a bit too good to be true but making them so human certainly makes for wonderful characters. By marrying John Isobel joins one of the most powerful families of the land at the time and through her eyes we see the main political events of the time.

Anyone interested in knowing how the Wars of The Roses started has a good explanation here. Although I can’t really vouch for all the details being correct I think the main idea is the right one. The only thing I wasn't too happy with is that the two queens - Margaret of Lancaster and Elizabeth Woodville - sound a bit too bad to be true, not that they couldn’t possibly have been that bad (and mad in Margaret’s case) but I think they must have been more subtle about it. On the other hand, I felt the same about Isobel's uncle and it seems he really was as bad as Worth describes him so maybe those two were that way too.

A very interesting read with the "holes" in history being nicely filled with story.

Grade: 4.5/5

Pope Joan by Donna Woolfolk Cross

As its title reveals, the novel is based on the life of one of the most
fascinating, extraordinary women in Western history--Pope Joan, a controversial figure of historical record who, disguised as a man, rose to rule Christianity in the 9th century as the first and only woman to sit on the throne of St. Peter.
Brilliant and talented, young Joan rebels against the medieval social
strictures forbidding women to learn to read and write. When her older brother is killed during a Viking attack, Joan takes up his cloak and identity, goes to the monastery of Fulda, and is initiated into the brotherhood in his place. As Brother John Anglicus, Joan distinguishes herself as a great Christian scholar.
Eventually she is drawn to Rome, where she becomes enmeshed in a dangerous web
of love, passion, and politics. Triumphing over appalling odds, she finally attains the highest throne in Christendom.
Pope Joan is a sweeping historical drama set against the turbulent events of the 9th century -- the Saracen sack of St. Peter's, the famous fire in the Borgo that destroyed over three-quarters of the Vatican, the Battle of Fontenoy, arguably the bloodiest and most terrible of medieval conflicts. The novel is a fascinating vivid record of what life was really like during the so-called Dark Ages, as masterwork of suspense and
passion that has as its center an unforgettable woman, reminiscent of Jean Auel's Ayla, Jane Austen's Emma, and other heroines who struggle against restrictions their souls will not accept.

Pope Joan is a figure I was aware of but knew next to nothing about, her existence is surrounded by mystery and so she seems the ideal figure to write a historical fiction novel about. Author Donna Woolfolk Cross writes an interesting tale about what could have been a young girl's life in that time.

Daughter of a canon who values women little and definitely finds them unworthy of an education her Joan has to struggle from early on to pursue her studies. Luckily she finds a monk willing to help her learn and who eventually will lead to her being accepted at a school. Much brighter and intelligent than her brother, Joan stands out as a student and eventually develops an attachment to Gerolt, the nobleman in whose house she leaves in. But Gerolt leaves and the village is attacked by Norsemen.

To survive Joan disguises herself as her dead brother and becomes John. As a man she is more easily accepted and continues her studies at the Fulda monastery and later travels to Rome where she is known as a dedicated scholar and a celebrated healer. Her fame is such that she is called to attend the Pope and so enters the Vatican's sphere of influence. There she will understand the politics behind the scenes and she will meet Gerolt again.
The story is very easy to read and proceeds at good pace. However I did feel that Joan, as a character, was a bit too perfect to be totally believable. Not only that but some things seem to happen too easily or too coincidentally. I suppose I would have liked to see more of her thought process and she having to work more to get where she ended up. She does have some painful decisions to make regarding her relationship with Gerolt but everything else seemed to fall into place quite easily. I did enjoy learning about the politics behind the throne, the same as in every other kingdom, and was surprised to learn about the power of the people in the election of the Pope.

History is full of possibilities and this was certainly an intriguing story that kept me interested till the end. Thank you so much to the author for sending me the book.

Grade: 4/5

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

From the moment she's struck by lightning as a baby, it is clear Mary Anning is marked for greatness. When she uncovers unknown dinosaur fossils in the cliffs near her home, she sets the scientific world alight, challenging ideas about the world's creation and stimulating debate over our origins. In an arena dominated by men, however, Mary is soon reduced to a serving role, facing prejudice from the academic community, vicious gossip from neighbours, and the heartbreak of
forbidden love. Even nature is a threat, throwing bitter cold, storms, and landslips at her. Luckily Mary finds an unlikely champion in prickly, intelligent Elizabeth Philpot, a middle-class spinster who is also
fossil-obsessed. Their relationship strikes a delicate balance between fierce
loyalty and barely suppressed envy. Despite their differences in age and
background, Mary and Elizabeth discover that, in struggling for recognition,
friendship is their strongest weapon. Remarkable Creatures is Tracy Chevalier's
stunning new novel of how one woman's gift transcends class and gender to lead
to some of the most important discoveries of the nineteenth century. Above all,
it is a revealing portrait of the intricate and resilient nature of female
friendship.

I had no idea who Mary Anning was, in fact when A. told me we had been offered an ARC my first thought was that it might be nice to read a book set in Lyme Regis after reading about it in my favourite Jane Austen novel, Persuasion. Then I went to Wikipedia to find a bit more on Anning.

There are two main characters in the story though. Not just Mary Anning but also Elizabeth Philpot, an older woman of a higher class who befriends Mary due to their common interest in searching the beach for curies. The story is told by both of them in turns and if Mary's story is mainly about the fossils, Elizabeth also mentions her sisters, their lack of marriage prospects and her feelings regarding being a spinster. One of the things the book addresses is how little power women had and how little they were valued and considered in the scientific world and in society in general. Elizabeth feels very protective towards Mary and after having been friends for long the two have a falling out when Mary falls in love for someone she can never marry and Elizabeth tries to advise her not to feel too much and not to endanger her livelihood. But everything is resolved when Elizabeth goes to London to try to see Mary's find given the proper recognition so its once again the fossils that bring them together...

I do think Chevalier managed to write well rounded characters, however they felt a bit cold and unsympatetic to me and I failed to understand the fascination they had with the fossils. I do like her writing style that I find very evocative of the period and very easy to read but what I enjoyed the most was the dialogues regarding God's creatures and how Mary's strange find could be included in the biblical idea of creation, it was a pity that that ended up not so developed as I hoped for.

Grade: 3.5/5

The Greatest Knight by Elizabeth Chadwick

Based on fact, this is the story of William Marshal, the greatest knight of the Middle Ages, unsurpassed in the tourneys, adeptly manoeuvring through the colourful, dangerous world of Angevin politics to become one of the most powerful magnates of the realm and eventually regent of England. From minor beginnings and a narrow escape from death in childhood, William Marshal steadily rises through the ranks to become tutor in arms to the son of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. A champion on the tourney field, William must face the danger and petty jealousy targeting a royal favourite. Dogged by scandal, banished from court, his services are nevertheless sought throughout Europe and when William's honour is vindicated, he returns to court and wins greater acclaim and power than before. A crusader and the only knight ever to unhorse the legendary Richard Coeur de Lion, William's courage and steadfastness are rewarded by the hand in marriage of Anglo-Irish heiress Isobel de Clare, 19 years old, the grandaughter of kings and his equal in every way.

Elizabeth Chadwick is one of my favourite authors. I've read quite a few of her books so far and I have really enjoyed them all with one or two being special favourites. I was very enthusiastic when I found out she was going to write a book about William Marshal which I had already found in some books as a secondary character and was curious about.

The Greatest Knight is a biography; it tells the story from when a young William is sent as a hostage to his king and it ends when he is already well established in life. I found it really interesting how the author makes the period come alive. With a real character, whose life is well documented she might have had some restraints in describing facts and mixing it with fiction but the truth is that you don't even notice where one ends and the other begins. It’s a compelling and interesting story and if there's a flaw it must be that Marshall sounds too good to be true.

He is heavily influenced by Eleanor of Aquitaine and throughout his life tries to follow the rules of courtly love when dealing with the ladies, be them queens or not. He comes across as honest, loyal and charismatic. We follow him through defeat and imprisonment, military successes, court intrigues and banishment and finally as a valued knight of the king's household. He seems almost larger than life but he is also a man of his time when reaching for the highest matrimonial prize and planning to win Isobel de Clare's hand in marriage and lands.

I found Chadwick's descriptions of life as a knight going from tournament from tournament particularly vivid and interesting. We get to know how important it was to win and take ransoms and how perilous a life it was. And when William is appointed to Prince Henry's (the Young King) service how difficult it is to be true to one self and still obey your lord. If we usually have an interesting outlook of the politics of the day, here William and his life take centre stage and it's in connection with him that we follow the major events of that period. There is a lot going on and some things had to be left out but that just made me want to go and do my own research.

A very enjoyable read and now I'm off to pick The Scarlet Lion from the TBR pile and continue reading about William Marshal.

Grade: 4.5/5

Silk by Alessandro Baricco

In 1861, Herve Joncour has to leave his doting wife and his comfortable home in the small French town of Lavilledieu and travel across Siberia as far as Japan, in order to obtain uncontaminated silkworm eggs for breeding. There he meets a local baron's concubine and falls in love.

Kailana's Review:
What led you to pick up this book? A combination of a lot of things. What led me to actually reading it, though, was Ana's review. I like the cover of the one she read way more than mine, so I left it up there.

What did you like most about the book? I liked this book because it was different. I am not sure if I have ever read a book about the silk industry before, so it was a refreshing change. Even the geography is something that I have only touched on over the years. I read a lot about England, but I am not sure I have read all that much on France. Japan is a largely unexplored area, too, so it was nice to stretch my borders a bit. Then, I liked the story. It was a poetic story, which is actually not something I am normally drawn to, but I actually liked this book. It probably still didn't make me like poetry more than prose, but it did get me out of my comfort zone in a few ways.

What did you like least? I think I actually wouldn't have minded a longer book. For a short book, we learn a lot, but I think I will have to read something else along the same lines soon to fill in the gaps a bit.

Have you read any other books by this author? What did you think of those books? This is my first.

What did you think of the main character? Hervé Joncourt was actually an interesting character. He just seemed like a pretty average guy in the beginning, and you would think he wouldn't develop a lot in such few pages, but he did! I was actually rather surprised by the ways in which he grew. (For those that don't know, I very rarely read reviews or back covers of books. I just read enough to see if it is going interest me and then I like to have the rest be a surprise.) I felt for him, which, to me, shows the mark of a great book. If you can feel something for a character in under 100 pages, you know you have read the work of a great writer.

What about the ending? The ending worked. I have no complaints with it.

Overall, I thought the information on the silk industry was the best part of the book, but I liked everything overall. A recommended read! Ana gave it a 4/5. I normally do not give number ratings to my books, but if I did for this one, I would agree with Ana and give it the same rating.

Ana's Review:

Alessandro Baricco’s Silk is a small story set in 1861’s France and Japan. With the silk industry developing rapidly, Hervé Joncourt is sent to Japan in search of silkworms for breeding. Japan is by that time closed to the world and the success of his enterprise is not guaranteed. But on his first voyage, Joncourt meets a local rich man, Hara Kei and a woman who is apparently his mistress, a woman with the face of a girl and who does not have oriental shaped eyes.

Joncourt and the woman will start a strange relationship where they don’t speak and hardly touch but that will lead Joncourt to travel three more times to Japan just to see her again. Baricco’s writing is lyrical and poetic as he describes the gazes exchanged by the star crossed lovers. There’s such longing in those descriptions and it is so well written that it is not difficult to imagine them.

While they are destined never to be as the woman belongs to Hara Kei and Joncourt is married to Hélène, his obsession with the woman will rule a big part of his life. Even if he is apparently happy with Hélène and she always receives him warmly when he arrives. But the power of love and desire will not affect only him as it will be apparent in the end.

There’s not much information about the other characters besides Joncourt, not even about the woman. But I found the information about the silk trade, silkworms and the Japanese culture very interesting. I wondered how Barricco could insert so many things in such a short story and one that is apparently much more dedicated to love, desire, lust and longing.

I am now very curious about the movie and to see if they did capture the dreamlike quality of the book.

Grade: 4/5

Old Friends and New Fancies by Sybil J. Brinton

Originally published in 1914, this charming and original sequel to the novels of Jane Austen intertwines the lives of the most beloved characters from all six Austen novels with new characters of the author's devising. Inventive matchmaking leads numerous pairs of lovers through the inevitable (and entertaining) difficulties they must encounter before they are united in the end.

I haven’t read that many Austen sequels yet but I have read a few and I am happy to announce that this one just became a favourite. It was interesting to learn that this story, written in 1913, was the first ever sequel to the Austen books and contrary to many being written today it combines the characters of the several novels.

There is much to love in the story, we revisit familiar characters who may or may not be old favourites, we have the restraint and manners of the Austen stories and we have the misunderstandings and thwarted love pairings that existed in every of the original books.

The main characters are Georgiana Darcy, Kitty Bennet, Mary Crawford and Colonel Fitzwilliam. But there’s also Lizzy and Darcy, Jane and Bingley, Wentworth and Anne, William Price (Fanny’s brother), Tom Bertram, James Morland (Catherine’s brother) not to mention Knightley and Emma. We revisit them a few years after the original action and I must say that although I was in doubt throwing them all together would work the fact is that it made for a delightful story. It was really fun seeing how Emma and Lady Catherine de Bourgh continued to be the same characters, meddling in everyone else’s affairs and how all the others stay true to the idea I had of them. With the exception of Mary Crawford which is much improved.

When the story opens Georgiana Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam are engaged, however it's soon clear that none of them is too happy and the engagement is broken. While Fitzwilliam goes to Bath with Lizzy and Darcy where he meets Mary Crawford, Georgiana goes to stay with the Bingleys. She later goes to meet with her friend Kitty Bennet who is convinced (influenced by Emma Knightley) that William Price is about to make her a marriage proposal. Of course things are not as easy as they seem and some heartache will follow.

I think it’s best to read the Austen books before delving into this one because part of the enjoyment is definitely the fact that we are revisiting old characters, however it can be read as a standalone as the facts of the past that influence the story are explained in due course. What is perhaps lacking from the original is the witty dialogue; even Lizzy seems a bit tamer and more conciliatory towards Lady Catherine. The less sympathetic characters, Miss Steele and Mrs. Robert Ferrars are not given enough room to possibly engage in some more aggressive discourse but maybe that was a good thing because I really didn’t like them!

A very enjoyable read and highly recommended especially for Austen fans.

Grade: 4.5/5