5 out of 5 stars
Historical, Tudor, fantasy
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 28 November 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this or not - a mix of Tudor history and fantasy/magic? I was pleased to find that it was excellent, and I read it in two days!
The author clearly knows her subjects very well indeed, which always makes such a difference. The history itself is detailed and accurate, and I very much liked the accounts of the day to day domestic life of the period. I'm fascinated by the thought of possible alternative lives, and the idea of what might have happened had Henry VIII believed his wife Anne Boleyn over the accusations of her enemies is an intriguing one. Of course all events have a butterfly's wing effect, and Ms Taylor imagined the fates of other members of the Tudor court cleverly. The politics of the day are so well described, too; how quickly, in those dangerous and turbulent times, one could fall from favour...
I am not usually one for magic/fantasy novels, but this element of the story was most convincing; it made me think of a more grown up and serious Hogwarts! I wonder how much of it was just the author's imagination and how much was taken from the beliefs and practices of the time; I imagine it's a combination of the two. I particularly liked the parts about numerology and the breaking of codes; oddly enough I was only watching a TV programme last night about the use of codes in secret communications during Elizabethan times, and Ms Taylor has all this spot on. To sum up, the fusing of history with fantasy is very successful, and I shall definitely be reading the next book in the series before too long. I think it would appeal to anyone interested in the Tudor period, and to those who enjoy reading believable fantasy.
TASTE OF TREASON by April Taylor reviewed HERE
MANTLE OF MALICE by April Taylor reviewed HERE
5 GOLD STARS
Historical, 17th Century London
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 25 November 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I've just read this in two days - yes, folks, I couldn't put it down!
The Gilded Lily is a Restoration period drama about two sisters who run away from rural Westmorland to London after the elder one, Ella, robs the house in which she was in service. There is also doubt cast about her part in two deaths. It's about survival in the frightening, dark, murky alleys and squalid lodgings down by the Thames, and the steps Ella and Sadie take not to be discovered for their crimes. The novel is extremely well researched, so real. The domestic detail is fascinating, and the author describes so well the bleakness of the girls' lives.
It's hard to say why you find a novel unputdownable, but I've just spent about 4 hours curled up with the second half, and there was no way I was not going to finish it today! Ms Swift is a marvellous storyteller and I look forward to reading more of her books. Highly, highly recommended to all lovers of historical fiction; I didn't know much about this particular period but it's made me want to know more. You'll probably like it even if you think historical fiction is not your thing; it's just a great story, fabulously well told - a well deserved five stars!
SHADOW ON THE HIGHWAY by Deborah Swift reviewed HERE
A DIVIDED INHERITANCE by Deborah Swift reviewed HERE
4 out of 5 stars
Crime thriller
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 17 November 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I'd like to start by saying that the opening chapter is one of the best I've read for this sort of book - in fact it ought to be used in creative writing classes as an example of how to write the first chapter of a thriller. Suspense, danger, a guy wrongly accused of murder, it's got the lot!
This is one of those fantasy crime thrillers, more of a cross between 24 and Jonathan Creek (if you can imagine such a thing) than a realistic crime story like, for instance, George Gently. Its hero is fazed by nothing and no-one, flits across Europe to uncover mysteries in the way one might pop down to the shops, yet retains a rather naive (occasionally bumbling, even) attitude, especially towards relationships with the opposite sex, which might be part of his charm. He's your typical crime solving maverick, the guy whose methods are not orthodox but no-one can deny that he gets results. It's a good story of its type, well written and intelligent - you won't find any grammatical imperfections, errors or 'clunky' sentences! There are some well illustrated minor characters, too, namely Stephen Romsey and Veronica Dashwood.
I was interested in this book because of its theme of an historic child abuse cover up at the highest levels - very current, and I wanted to see how it would be handled. For me, there was not quite enough resolution about the conspiracy, but I'd still say that if you like this sort of crime fiction, Sheer Fear is well worth a click-buy! And Jack Lockwood lives to fight another day - just!
4 out of 5 stars
Cancer cure conspiracy thriller, high finance
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 31 October 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I was pretty impressed with this; the plot is very well put together, with few of the traits so often to be found in a debut novel. I was interested in the subject matter anyway, ie, a conspiracy to prevent the widespread knowledge about a cure for cancer, much of which I am sure goes on. It was obvious that Ms Edmunds is well versed in the ways of the high-flying financial world, too. The whole story was very convincing.
A clever plot is nothing without great characters, of course, and although I found some of them a little one dimensional, one of the two main characters, Hugo, a reluctant and atypical city boy, was marvellously portrayed, and carried the whole book, making it more than just a thriller. He was very likeable and I found myself pleased when I got to more 'Hugo bits'.
If you like stories with plenty going on and no superfluous detail, especially those about the world of high finance, I'd say this should be right up your street. Well done, Ms Edmunds!
CONCEALMENT by Rose Edmunds reviewed HERE
5 out of 5 stars
Short stories, Spanish folklore
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 10 October 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I've read the original three stories, and I loved them, because of these things: a) Jenny Twist is a terrific storyteller, one of those true naturals, b) they're not predictable, which to me is the absolute deal breaker with short stories. The second has a particularly 'What the??!!' ending...! c) It's not some made-up thing - the Mantequero is a piece of genuine rural Spanish folklore and d) They convey the atmosphere of a Spanish mountain village so well.
There are also two additional stories in it, which I haven't read yet but will do so shortly - if they are up to Jenny's usual standard I shall want to come back and give this review another star - except we can't give six stars, can we?
Very highly recommended - and the collection is now in paperback, which I shall be getting for some friends for Christmas presents!
AN OPEN LETTER TO STEPHEN KING by Jenny Twist reviewed HERE
5 out of 5 stars
Novella, dark humour
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 10 September 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I've just re-read this - so good I read it twice!
The nameless narrator of this short memoir is one of the most memorable fictional characters I've come across in ages: a delusional, borderline insane young man who is convinced he's a literary genius though he has written nothing at all. He talks of his 'writers' block' throughout, and pities his hard drinking grandfather for not having the talent or tenacity to write his much talked about wartime memoirs, never seeing that he is talking about himself.
Phil Conquest is one of those natural storytellers who can make even the most mundane occurrence interesting. There's a marvellous scene in which the young man is in the library trying to look 'writerly', but succeeds only in getting biro ink all over his hands. Conquest has the rare ability to convey the exact mood of a scene with only a few sentences; this is even more beautifully illustrated in chapter 8, when the narrator hopes to stun his fellow pub quiz team members with his literary knowledge, but fails dismally. My favourite chapters are 6 & 7; in 7 he rants against illiteracy on social networking sites (it's brilliant!), and against the people he despises most: the 'bestselling' ebook authors. It's not only funny, it's so sharply observed. He sums up the characters in his own life so succinctly, too. I loved the description of a barmaid in his local: "A short girl ... quite round and a natural frump, she seemed to think she could divert attention from this by painting her nails garish colours, wearing massive earrings and laughing at almost anything".
One of the reasons why the nameless young man is such a compelling character is that Conquest has done something I suspect he doesn't quite realise: he's made him lovable. Although somewhat pathetic and undoubtedly bonkers, he's also rather sweet. There is a touching passage where he tries to talk to a mumbling homeless woman in a charity shop, and another in which he tearfully apologises to the clock he'd had since childhood, smashed up in a 'writers' block' induced rage. "Poor little clock" he says, talking to it as he throws the pieces in the bin. I felt so sorry for him.
The style of writing reminds me very much of Jerome K Jerome's 'Three Men in a Boat'. It's intelligent, funny and really off the wall while still being very readable. The character has so much potential; there are at least three more parts on their way. Very highly recommended indeed!
INKKER HAUSER Part Two: Literastein by Phil Conquest is not yet published, but I have received an advance copy and reviewed it HERE
4.5 out of 5 stars
Historical, witchcraft, 17th Century
Originally posted on Amazon UK HERE on 10 August 2014
On Amazon.com HERE
I read this book over a period of a couple of days, which is a good sign - I was reading when I should have been writing!
I don't know much about rural life in this period of history, or indeed about the witch hunts of the time, but I reckon you can tell by the way The Black Hours is written that Ms Williams certainly knows her stuff - there's a piece in the back of the book that describes her research, and I'm glad to see she's writing more books about the ordinary people of the time; I shall be first in the queue.
My absolute favourite genre is historical fiction that teaches me more about a period, and this certainly ticks those boxes. The characterisation is excellent, as is the description, and the whole novel is very well structured indeed; no boring bits to skip read, not too much information to process all at once, etc etc. It shows so clearly how dangerous ignorance can be, and how easily people can be manipulated by those with cunning and the desire to impose their views and beliefs on others - nothing changes!
If you like intelligent, easily readable historical fiction, and are not put off by grim reality and 'earthy' description, I am sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did. Recommended
The novelette length prequel, BLACKWATER, is permanently free ~ I've reviewed it HERE
