Historical

ARC Review: A River of Blood by Adam Williams

Categories Historical, historical-fiction, Mystery, noir, Surreal Fiction, SuspenseLeave a Comment on ARC Review: A River of Blood by Adam Williams

Book Details:

Author: Adam Williams
Release Date: 1 November 2025
Series:
Genre: Historical Mystery, Suspense
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 382 pages
Publisher: Earnshaw Books Ltd
Blurb:
Egypt 1099 CE, Qahira (Cairo)
Samuel, a Jewish doctor versed in alchemy, and Gregory, his English apprentice, are investigating a terrifying plague. The Nile has turned red with blood and fish are dying.
Near a small island, they wrangle a badly torn body from the jaws of a crocodile โ€” but was this beast the killer? Samuel suspects foul play yet the authorities block his efforts to find the truth at every step. Ignoring the warnings from people in high places, and with nothing more to guide him than his scientific method, Samuel is determined to persist in his quest, especially after a series of gruesome murders seem to confirm his early suspicion.

Little does he know that the secret he will stumble on could shake the empire.
Assassins are on the prowl. A child is being hunted. Who finds him first will change the course of history..

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A River of Blood by Adam Williams is a richly textured historical mystery set in 1099 Egypt, where science, faith, and power collide. Set across Fustat and Qahira (old Cairo), the book opens in a world of scholarship, court intrigue, and gathering dread. Author Williams anchors the story in a striking image: the Nile โ€œturning to bloodโ€ and fish dying, a scientific mystery that echoes Exodus while refusing easy mysticism. Itโ€™s a hook that blends atmosphere, theology, and empiricism in one sweep, and it pulled me in immediately.

The characterisation is brilliant and the world-building is superb. Author Williams weaves theology and politics into the mystery, so the stakes are never just โ€œwhodunnit,โ€ but who gets to define truth: the scholar, the priest, or the state. The prose is clean and vivid; action beats snap, but what really stays with you are the moral compromises people make to survive the empire.

Without spoiling the turns, I will share that the volume closes on an earned pivot toward Jerusalem, with a neat blend of intimate vow and geopolitical fuse. Itโ€™s a satisfying end-point for Book 1. I turned the last page both satisfied and hungry for the continuation. A River of Blood is a learned and atmospheric historical crime mystery that mirrors Umberto Ecoโ€™s curiosity with Michael Jecksโ€™ momentum. For readers who like their mysteries braided with theology, politics, and human tenderness, this will be a perfect read.

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Book Review: Like Embers in the Night by Andrew by Andrew Goliszek

Categories Historical, historical-fiction, Surreal Fiction, women's fictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Like Embers in the Night by Andrew by Andrew Goliszek

Book Details:

Author: Andrew Goliszekย 
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Series:
Genre: Historical Fiction, General Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 342 pages
Publisher: Wild Rose Press
Blurb:
During Stalin’s brutal reign of terror, Janek, a Polish soldier, and his wife, Wanda, endure the horrors of Soviet labor camps and Siberian gulags as World War II rages across Europe. While millions perish, they endure the invasion of Poland by Germany and Russia and then miraculously survive mass deportations, imprisonment, torture, and starvation. Broken both physically and emotionally by their near-death experiences and the unspeakable atrocities of dictatorships and of war, Janek and Wanda are reunited seven years after he marched off to defend his country. They must begin a new life and try to forget the many scars of their past, but where? And can they ever truly forget all that happened to them while they were apart…

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Like Embers in the Night by Andrew Goliszek is a powerful and deeply emotional journey through one of historyโ€™s darkest periods. Set against the backdrop of Stalinโ€™s brutal reign and World War II, the novel follows Janek, a Polish soldier, and his wife, Wanda, as they endure Soviet labor camps, Siberian gulags, and the horrors fo war. After years of separation, they are finally reunited, but survival doesnโ€™t mean escaping the trauma of the past.

Author Goliszekโ€™s ability to immerse readers in history is one of the novelโ€™s greatest strengths. The descriptions of war-torn Poland and the unimaginable conditions of the gulags are gripping and painfully realistic. Itโ€™s clear that the author has done meticulous research, making the historical backdrop feel authentic and visceral. The writing is vivid, and at times, unflinchingly raw, bringing the struggles fo Janek and Wanda to life in a way that is both heartbreaking and inspiring.

What truly stands out, however, is the emotional depth of the story. Janek and Wanda are not just victims of war, they are complex individuals with fears, hopes, and a determination to survive. The novel doesnโ€™t just focus on their suffering but also on their resilience and the emotional toll of trying to build a future after enduring so much. Wandaโ€™s struggles with memory loss in her later years add another layer of poignancy, highlighting the lingering effects of trauma.

That said, the novel can be heavy on historical detail, which, while impressive, occasionally slows the pacing. Some moments could have been more condensed to maintain the flow of the story, especially in the middle sections. However, this doesnโ€™t take away from the bookโ€™s impact.

For fans of historical fiction that doesnโ€™t shy away from the brutal realities of war but also explore the strength of the human spirit, Like Embers in the Night is a compelling read. Itโ€™s a story of survival, love, and the lasting scars of history.

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Book Review: Scorpius by Monty Ryan

Categories Historical, historical-fictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Scorpius by Monty Ryan

Book Details:

Author: Monty Ryan
Release Date: January 10, 2024
Series:
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 311 pages
Publisher: –
Blurb:
In the Roman Empire, where chariot racing reigns as the deadliest and most popular sport, an epic tale unfolds. Tethered to four horses, racing at breakneck speeds in fragile chariots, men risk everything for the hope of fame and glory. Orphaned young slave boys in the Empire like Scorpius have few other options to free themselves from bondage, and through a chance encounter the child enters the lucrative and perilous contests to gamble his life on victory. As he hones his skills, the stakes skyrocket as Scorpiusโ€™s journey takes him from the obscurity of the provinces to the cobbled streets of Rome โ€“ the worldโ€™s most powerful city โ€“ which is fraught with danger as he competes in the biggest racetrack ever constructed, the Circus Maximus. Will his sheer will and newfound prowess pave his path to freedom, or will the intoxicating taste of success prove more dangerous than the thunderous races themselves? Amidst the backdrop of Emperor Domitian’s rule, who are the unseen forces and influential figures shaping or shattering Scorpius’s destiny?


Inspired by the first-century ADโ€™s real-life charioteers, โ€œScorpius” is a masterful blend of rigorous historical research and vivid imagination. This novel offers a unique lens into the daily life of the Roman Empire, with its heart-pounding chariot races mirroring the grand spectacles that captivate billions today. Prepare to be transported into an era of breathtaking excitement and drama, where history and fiction collide to create a story that fans of historical fiction and sports enthusiasts alike will find unforgettable.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Scorpius by Monty Ryan is an impressive depiction of the Roman Empire’s favourite sport โ€“ chariot racing. Ryan’s storytelling beautifully blends historical accuracy with imaginative flair, creating a vivid and immersive narrative that transports readers to the heart of ancient Rome.

At the heart of the story is Scorpius, a young slave boy whose journey from obscurity to the grand stages of Rome’s Circus Maximus is fraught with danger and intrigue. Ryan expertly captures the tension and excitement of chariot racing, painting a thrilling portrait of ambition, rivalry, and the quest for freedom in a world where every race could mean life or death.

What sets Scorpius apart is its ability to bring the ancient world to life with such authenticity and detail. From the bustling streets of Rome to the thunderous roar of the chariot races, Ryan’s descriptive prose draws readers into a richly imagined world filled with larger-than-life characters and pulse-pounding action. Scorpius is a captivating blend of history and fiction that will leave readers eagerly turning pages until the very end.

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Audiobook Review: Bell Hammers by Lancelot Schaubert

Categories coming-of-age, Historical, historical-fiction, Humor, Lancelot SchaubertLeave a Comment on Audiobook Review: Bell Hammers by Lancelot Schaubert

Author: Lancelot Schaubert
Narrator:
Release Date:ย 14th March 2023
Genre: Historical fiction, Humour, Coming Of Age
Series:ย 
Format:ย Audiobook
Length: 7 hours
Publisher: Vale
Blurb:
PRANKS. OIL. PROTEST. JOKES BETWEEN NEWLYWEDS.
AND ONE HILARIOUS SIEGE OF A MAJOR CORPORATION.
Remmy grows up with Beth in Bellhammer, Illinois as oil and coal companies rob the land of everything that made it paradise. Under his Grandad, he learns how to properly prank his neighbors, friends, and foes. Beth tries to fix Remmy by taking him to church. Under his Daddy, Remmy starts the Bell Hammer Construction Company, which depends on contracts from Texarco Oil.

And Beth argues with him about how to build a better business. Together, Remmy and Beth start to build a great neighborhood of “merry men” carpenters: a paradise of sโ€™mores, porch furniture, newborn babies, and summer trips to Branson where their boys pop the tops off of the neighborhoodโ€™s two hundred soda bottles. Their witty banter builds a kind of castle among a growing nostalgia.
Then one of Jim Johnstoneโ€™s faulty Texarco oil derricks falls down on their house and poisons their neighborhood’s well.
Poisoned wells escalate to torched dog houses. Torched dog houses escalate to stolen carpentry tools and cancelled contracts. Cancelled contracts escalate to eminent domain. Sick of the attacks from Texaco Oil on his neighborhood, Remmy assembles his merry men:
“We need the world’s greatest prank. One grand glorious jest that’ll bloody the nose of that tyrant. Besides, pranks and jokes don’t got no consequences, right?”

REVIEW

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Bell Hammers by Lancelot Schaubert is a unique combination of historical fiction that is interlaced with humor. In this book, the author shares the story of Remmy as he grows up into a man and is exposed to the true realities surrounding him. The author’s deft writing and exceptional observations lend this book an unparalleled quality that makes it both an excellent read (or listen) and a reality check of evils such as corporate corruption that plague our society.

This book is a phenomenal read, especially for anyone who grew up in the good ol’ days but because it is so relatable and mind-blowing and funny, I’d recommend it to each and every reader.

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Book Review: The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke by Joshua Catchatoor

Categories Adventure, Historical, Humor, Joshua Catchatoor, Nancy Maloney-Mercado, Noureddine HifadLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke by Joshua Catchatoor

Book Details:

Author: Joshua Catchatoor
Release Date: 3rd November 2022
Series: A Comedic Tudor Tale (Book #1)
Genre: Adventure, Humor Fiction, British Humor, Novellas, Historical, and Tudor Period
Format: E-book 
Pages: 105
Publisher:
Blurb:
Herein you will find a comedic romp through the English Renaissance, in which the titular Elizabethan courtier finds himself under increasing pressure to keep both himself and his country out of trouble.
Great men and women have throughout the ages clung on to the swinging tailcoats of history, their deeds nonetheless holding profound significance for centuries to come.
Such is the case with Lord Bolingbroke, a man able to shape the destinies of nations; the hedonistic courses of an evening at the local pub; and contemporary impressions of Englandโ€™s 16th century populace.
This is the first part of his grand tale.

‘A hilarious adventure guaranteed in all but actual law to have you laughing out loud, as you witness a man attempting to navigate such thrilling matters as: various heads of state (and several horses) of questionable intelligence, political conspiracy, dodgy brewing standards, zealots of diverse persuasion and shenanigans bawdy enough to make a grandmother blush. And that’s just for starters.‘

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Adventures of Lord Bolingbroke by Joshua Catchatoor is a brilliant dose of British humour, especially for those who actively seek and admire the Elizabethan era. The author’s wit is really commendable and his insertions of current events into the historical plot made the story all the more interesting. I liked the author’s writing style and his sense of humour which was neither too subtle nor too over the top.

The extremely well-done characterisation is the bane of this story and the author has done an amazing job with it. Not only the main character of Lord Bolingbroke but also the secondary characters are extremely well-developed and rounded making this book a really fun and interesting read.

I’d strongly recommend this book to all readers, no matter what genre of books they prefer to read, as this book has a lot to offer to its readers.

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Book Review: The Chippendale Letter byย E T McNamara

Categories Clover Blaire, E.T. McNamara, Fantasy, High fantasy, Historical, historical-fiction, historical-romance, Nancy Maloney-Mercado, new adult, Noureddine Hifad, RomanceLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Chippendale Letter byย E T McNamara

Book Details:

Author:ย E T McNamara
Release Date:ย 23rd May 2022
Series:
Genre: Historical Romance Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 444
Publisher: –
Blurb:
From the author ofย The Puzzle Piecesย andย Fate’s Final Destinyย comes a two-generation romantic novel set against World War 2, the Vietnam War, and America’s space race. Discovering an unmailed letter from 1944 twenty-five years later in an old Chippendale chest, Vietnam War widow Patti Kilbride embarks on a journey to find the intended recipient. Caught up in her efforts to reunite two strangers from the past, Patti is unaware of the changes her search is having in her own life. Following the lives of a WWII naval aviator and a “Rosie the Riveter” aircraft factory worker, we watch their past lives eventually catch up with Patti’s present life. If you enjoy a good love story and at the same time want to experience what American life was like generations ago, this book is for you.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Chippendale Letter byย E T McNamara is a very well-written historical romance fiction novel full of highs and lows of great sentimental intensity. This is my second book by the author and as soon as I started the book, I felt as if I had been handed a warm blanket and a hot cup of coffee; the author’s writing carries a certain familiar warmth that can only be felt by readers who’ve experienced a previous novel or story by an author.

The character of Patti was very well-developed, and I felt a strong connection with her that made me enjoy the book on a completely different level. The characters of George and Charlotte only added to the book’s charm and the story’s richness. The author’s writing made it an absolute delight, and he executed the entire plot perfectly blending it all seamlessly into the brilliant backdrop of World War II and the Vietnam War.

I’d strongly recommend this book to all historical romance as well as simply historical fiction readers as this story has a lot to offer to its readers.

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ARC Review: An Enemy Like Me by Teri M Brown

Categories Historical, historical-fiction, Literary Fiction, Teri M. Brown3 Comments on ARC Review: An Enemy Like Me by Teri M Brown

Book Details:

Author: Teri M Brown
Release Date:ย 24th January 2023
Series:
Genre: Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Generational Fiction
Format:ย E-book
Pages: 328
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Blurb:
How does a man show his love – for country, for heritage, for family – during a war that sets the three at odds? What sets in motion the necessity to choose one over the other? How will this choice change everything and everyone he loves?
Jacob Miller, a first-generation American, grew up in New Berlin, a small German immigrant town in Ohio where he endured the Great Depression, met his wife, and started a family. Though his early years were not easy, Jacob believes he is headed toward his ‘happily ever after’ until a friend is sent to an internment camp for enemy combatants, and the war lands resolutely on his doorstep.

Inย An Enemy Like Me, Teri M. Brown uses the backdrop of World War II to show the angst experienced by Jacob, his wife, and his four-year-old son as he leaves for and fights in a war he did not create. She explores the concepts of xenophobia, intrafamily dynamics, and the recognition that war is not won and lost by nations, but by ordinary men and women and the families who support them.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

An Enemy Like Me by Teri M Brown is a beautiful historical fiction novel that tells the story of Jacob Miller and how being a true patriot brings him face-to-face with a truth that can shatter anyone’s world: that he is more similar to the enemy that he’d been fighting with than the people he was fighting for. An Enemy Like Me is a beautiful exploration of 2nd, 3rd and even 4th generation immigrants who face discrimination based on their looks, family origins, accent, etc. albeit in different intensity at different times in history.

This story is about a soldier who is trying his best to fight for the country he currently lives in, yet battling emotions, imagining that his previous generations were part of the country that he was fighting with and how this has a profound impact on him. This book also explores the perspective on war from different generational views, providing readers insights into how different people, at other points in time, think about the same historic events and issues that had a great impact on their lives.

An Enemy Like Me explores a lot of themes which will resonate with most readers of historical, literary fiction and war fiction genres. So I’d like to recommend it to all the readers as this book has a lot to offer to all of its readers.

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Book Review: Murder Under A Bridal Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mysteryย by Abigail Keam

Categories Abigail Keam, Historical, historical-fiction, Mystery1 Comment on Book Review: Murder Under A Bridal Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mysteryย by Abigail Keam

Book Details:

Author: Abigail Keam
Release Date:ย 27th May 2019
Series: A Mona Moon Mystery (book #10)
Genre: Historical Mystery
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages: 268 pages
Publisher: Worker Bee Pressย 
Blurb:
Mona Moon is planning her wedding to Robert Farley, Duke of Brynelleth, when her preparations go haywire after one of her maids is found murdered. With just days before the blessed event, unwanted guests invade Moon Manor throwing a wrench into Monaโ€™s plans and making it more difficult to seek the truth. Now Robert is a suspect in the maidโ€™s murder. A missing gold brooch and twenty five-dollar bills are the only clues Mona has to find the murderer. She must clear Robert from suspicion or he will call off the wedding, saying he refuses to taint Monaโ€™s good name. Can she discover the killer before the wedding, or will the murderer witness the breakup between Mona and Robert? Was that the intention all along?ย 

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Murder Under A Bridal Moon: A 1930s Mona Moon Mystery by Abigail Keam is a cosy historical mystery that will take you on a fun rollercoaster of ups and downs of interesting twists and turns.

This book is a well-written mystery in an ongoing series but it can very well be read as a stand-alone novel. At least, that’s the impression that I got while reading it, since the characterisation was rich and well-developed, I didn’t think that I was missing out on anything.

The story begins with a murder and pulls the readers in from the beginning hooking them for good till the very end where the ending blows the mind just like any reader of mystery might expect, but what really makes this book an excellent and phenomenal read is the vivid descriptions, rich settings, fully-fleshed-out characters and a brilliantly executed plot that has been well-thought out and perfectly plotted. Being a long-time reader of the mystery genre, I could not find a single fault in the book’s carefully woven mystery.

I’d strongly recommend this book to all mystery readers especially those who like their mysteries set in cosy historical settings.

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Book Review: Iberian Claim by Vincent Casciani

Categories Fantasy, Historical, historical-fiction, Vincent CascianiLeave a Comment on Book Review: Iberian Claim by Vincent Casciani

Book Details:

Author: Vincent Casciani 
Release Date: 23rd August 2021
Series:
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Critique, Spanish Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 196 pages
Publisher: New Degree Press
Blurb:
โ€œI put down the pen and set aside the paper. I have served my time.โ€
The Spanish Empireโ€™s conquest is marked by blood and gold. Alvar Nรบรฑez, soldier-turned-administrator, knows little else, and finds himself dissatisfied by the trappings of an ordinary life. When the opportunity comes to seek gold and glory in the New World, he jumps at the chance to revive his old passions.
Itโ€™s a shame, then, that his eight-year journey through the Gulf Region reduces him to a meager shell of a man. He must adapt and find compassion for the natives around him or die.
Iberian Claim, Vincent Cascianiโ€™s breakout novel, details the grueling account of Alvar Nรบรฑezโ€™ interaction with the various Native American tribes inhabiting La Florida. His conviction is degraded, his worldview is overturned, and his belief in Spanish superiority is tested at every turn.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Iberian Claim by Vincent Casciani is a historical fiction critique of Spanish colonialism. This book was impressively educational and provided a (much-needed) fresh perspective on Spanish colonialism, a subject that, in my opinion, is not much discussed, at least in the British colonised countries like India as we spend an awful lot of time only studying and educating ourselves and the future generations about the British colonisation and that’s it! Most of our history books are only full of the valors of the British and the ones who supported them but not about any other colonies or how they came to be and what happened to them.

So reading about Spanish colonisation has always been a subject of interest to me and this book came as a breath of fresh air with its unique perspective and a comprehensive narrative on the subject. Reading The Iberian Claim has clarified many doubts I’ve harboured over the years and many questions I’ve carried in my mind regarding Spanish colonialism and the Spanish Empire’s way of conduct on the whole.

The prose in the book is very neat, crisp and smooth and had a nice flow that made reading it a very smooth experience making it a very quick and enjoyable read. I’d strongly recommend this book to all history buffs, especially to readers who take an interest in Spanish colonialism.

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ARC Review: A Disappearance at the Bonne Nuit Hotel by Dominique Daoust

Categories Cosy, cozy mystery, Dominique Daoust, Historical, Mystery, SuspenseLeave a Comment on ARC Review: A Disappearance at the Bonne Nuit Hotel by Dominique Daoust

Book Details:

Author: Dominique Daoust
Release Date: 31st March 2022
Series: The Deadly Exclusives Trilogy (Book #1)
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Historical Fiction
Format: E-book 
Pages: 210 pages
Publisher:–
Blurb:
Secret sources have a whole new meaning.
Newbie reporter Rita Larose is tired of getting assigned boring stories at one of Montreal’s most popular newspapers. It’s 1930 after all, women don’t need to only write about household chores anymore! But when a high hat socialite gossips about the New Year’s Eve party at the Bonne Nuit Hotel, a riveting mystery falls right into Rita’s lap. This is her chance to prove to herself and her underestimating colleagues that she has what it takes to write the hard-hitting articles.
While going undercover as a maid to get the scoop, Rita will soon discover unexpected friendships and an unusual gift of her own to contend with. Will she be able to juggle this newfound ability while not blowing her cover and jeopardizing her career-making article?

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A Disappearance At The Bonne Nuit Hotel by Domonique Daoust is a cleverly plotted and well-executed cozy mystery laced with historical elements and twists. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book right from the first page to the very last one and the ending, surprisingly, turned out to be satisfying. I am now looking forward to reading the next book in this trilogy as there are some answers that I still seek from the sequel (which I am sure will be answered in the next part or maybe the one after that, but I am patient.)

The characterisation was really well-developed and the writing felt very smooth, which was surprising as this is the author’s debut novel. I was impressed by the number of details and their impact on the overall plot. I would highly recommend this book to cozy mystery fans and to readers of light historical fiction brimming with light suspense.

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Book Review: White Storks Of Mercy – Formation by ย Joni Anderson Van Berkelย 

Categories Adventure, Fantasy, Historical, Joni Anderson Van Berkelย Leave a Comment on Book Review: White Storks Of Mercy – Formation by ย Joni Anderson Van Berkelย 

Book Details:

Author: Joni Anderson Van Berkel 
Release Date: 23rd November 2021
Series: White Storks Of Mercy trilogy (Book #1)
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Format: E-book 
Pages: 405 pages
Publisher: jponipress
Blurb:
The first book of this new trilogy is set in a world where reality and fantasy coexist. The story starts in ancient Egyptโ€™s Eighteenth Dynasty and ends in twentieth century Portugal. A supernatural clairvoyant Sacred Stork of the Bach named Tara travels through time searching for a group of diverse women to join her on a mission to reset humanityโ€™s moral compass.
Tara saves a pharaoh, a martyr, a warrior, a queen, and a Gypsy girl from death. She grants them eternal life and the ability to transform into the White Storks of Mercy. Her chosen companions must wear the magical talismans gifted by their leader or they will become mortal. The birds transform into human females called the Merciful Ones when their feet touch the earth. Tara manifests her own human body along the way.

Throughout the course of this epic journey Taraโ€™s jealous sister, an ancient Egyptian Siamese cat named Reba, attempts to thwart the efforts of her moralistic twin. Reba possesses telepathic power and mind-controlling blue eyes. She conscripts a member of the White Storks of Mercy to spy on Tara. The cat also befriends a Druidess from the Iron Age and implores her to use Celtic magic in an effort to achieve a self-serving transformation of her own.
Will the White Storks of Mercy overcome perilous odds on their quest to inspire humans of diverse ethnicities, backgrounds and religions to live together in harmony? Or will the peacemakers be foiled by the schemes of the manipulative Siamese cat and her collaborators? Filled with magic, mystery, and mayhem, this novel promises to thrill and enchant its readers.

Review

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

White Storks Of Mercy: Formation by

I enjoyed reading this book thoroughly because it had so much going on throughout the story. The multiple plot lines interspersed with the main story of the book kept me glued to the pages late in the night. I loved the story thoroughly and I’m now early awaiting the next book in this series. I loved the writing, the characterisation that brought this story to life and the pacing of the events.

Reading about the various exotic locations added a fun touch to the story as it made it all the more engaging and entertaining! I would highly recommend this book to all historical fantasy readers.

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Book Review: Sunflowers Beneath The Snow by Teri M. Brown

Categories Historical, Literary Fiction, Teri M. Brown, women's fiction3 Comments on Book Review: Sunflowers Beneath The Snow by Teri M. Brown

Book Details:

Author: Teri M. Brown
Release Date:ย 5th January 2022
Genre: Women’s Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 334 pages
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Blurb:
A Ukrainian rebel. Three generations of women bearing the consequences. A journey that changes everything.
When Ivanna opens the door to uniformed officers, her tranquil life is torn to pieces – leaving behind a broken woman who must learn to endure cold, starvation, and the memories of a man who died in the quintessential act of betrayal. Using her thrift, ingenuity, and a bit of luck, she finds a way to survive in Soviet Ukraine, along with her daughter, Yevtsye. But the question remains, will she be strong enough to withstand her daughterโ€™s deceit and the eventual downfall of the nation she has devoted her life to? Or will the memories of her late husband act as a shadow haunting everyone and everything she loves, including Ionna, the granddaughter that never knew him?

In Sunflowers Beneath the Snow, Teri M. Brown explores the tenacity of women, showing that even in grueling circumstances, they can, and do, experience all the good things life has to offer – compassion, joy, love, faith, and wonder.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Sunflowers Beneath The Snowย by Teri M. Brown is a beautiful book about love, courage, compassion and faith.

This book covers the time period from 1973 to 2021 – taking the readers through the lives of 3 generations of women facing the most harrowing of situations that life has to offer but yet, somehow, never give up or lose sight of what is important. Author T.M.Brown takes the readers through a plethora of events that this book showcases, Right from living under communist rule to facing the punishment for a betrayal committed by one of the family members and the rest having to live with the consequences.

This is an epic family saga that is beautifully written and intellectually expressed. I would strongly recommend it to all readers of historical fiction, women’s literature and literary fiction about families under the communal rule. This book is is a must read!

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Book Review: Prisoner Of Mauvias (Book #1 Of The God’s Game Series) by Tiffany Brazell

Categories E.T. McNamara, Historical, historical-romance, Political, R.J. O'Sullivanย , Romance, satire, Science-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Prisoner Of Mauvias (Book #1 Of The God’s Game Series) by Tiffany Brazell

Book Details:

Author: Tiffany Brazell
Release Date: 20th December 2020
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Series: The God’s Game Series (Book #1)
Format: E-book 
Pages: 252 pages
Publisher: Regalis Publishing, LLC
Blurb:
The Destroyer’s Empire Part 1 is the first book in The God’s Game, a new epic fantasy series by Tiffany Brazell. A cursed worldโ€ฆ
An immortal empressโ€ฆ
A girl with forbidden knowledge and unknown powerโ€ฆ
Although she has read all about Vias the Destroyerโ€™s dreaded liths, Salmaara has never seen one. In fact, sheโ€™s not even sure the nightmarish, mouthless creatures exist.
Sheโ€™s never been to Mauvias, land created by the goddess Vias the Destroyer, ruled by a ruthless immortal empress, a place where the very air is cursed with insatiable thirst, or to the ancient city Kalitoomba, a city of soaring glass towers ruled by a benevolent god-king. Following her rescue from a river, Salmaara lives a quiet life working in her fatherโ€™s pottery shop, trying to discover who she is in a town where her golden eyes and fair skin make it clear she doesnโ€™t belong. Illun, the man she loves as her father, is keeping a secret. An important secret.

Her looks arenโ€™t the only thing that makes her different. Salmaara can sense where people are by their souls, and can connect her soul to theirs.
One morning, she reaches for the feeling of her fatherโ€™s soul and hears his thoughts, something she thought only the servants of the Destroyer could do. Before she can discover what it means, one of the liths appears, takes her captive, and carries her away to the gruesome prison city of Gรผnhai, where even the stones cry out in pain. Within its lightproof halls, Salmaara will have to decide, will she do what sheโ€™s told, and become a pet, a tool of the empire, of the destroyer herself? Or, will she have to risk her life and very soul, to discover who she truly is and how her powers will be used?

โ€œImaginative and vast, The God’s Game Series is a big story vividly told, sure to satisfy fans of epic fantasy.โ€

Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of The Saga of Seven Suns.

โ€œTiffany Brazell’s imagination takes off where othersโ€™ end. This is a tale of high magic that is sure to please.โ€

David Farland, New York Times bestselling author of The Runelords.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Prisoner Of Mauvias by Tiffany Brazell is the first book in The God’s Game series – an epic fantasy series. This book is an adventurous journey that will take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions where dangers are lurking behind every turn.

It is a fast-paced fantasy read that follows a simple yet meticulous plot structure that keeps the action tight throughout the story. This book had good, if not superb, characterisation. I was able to connect to or relate with most of the characters, secondary as well as primary. I enjoyed reading this book and am really looking forward to reading the next part in the series as I am sure the characterisation would be further developed in it.

I would definitely recommend this book to all fantasy readers.

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Book Review: Jamie Whistler Plays Out of the Park Baseball Because It’s the Only Thing That Mattersย by R.J. O’Sullivanย 

Categories E.T. McNamara, Historical, historical-romance, Political, R.J. O'Sullivanย , Romance, satire, Science-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: Jamie Whistler Plays Out of the Park Baseball Because It’s the Only Thing That Mattersย by R.J. O’Sullivanย 

Book Details:

Author: R.J. O’Sullivanย 
Release Date:ย 15th December 2021
Genre: Science-Fiction, Political Satire
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 235 pages
Publisher: RHELM, LLC
Blurb:
After losing his entire family to COVID, the baseball-obsessed heir to a corporate empire uses his family fortune to hit the re-set button on America. Concocting a plot to kidnap a million QAnon followers for the purpose of “deprogramming” them, Jamie Whistler takes the lessons learned from playing his favorite simulation game and applies them to the real world.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Jamie Whistler Plays Out Of The Park Baseball Because It’s The Only Thing That Matters by R.J. O’Sullivan is a unique and refreshing new political satire sci-fi novel.

This book has an intelligent plot, well-written prose to complement it and a cast of interesting and engaging characters that made this book a compelling read. The author has used his amazing sense of humour and subtle phrases to take digs on the current political scenarios, especially relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, drawing the readers attention to the real matter that should be of concern to all of us.

I loved reading this book and would definitely recommend it to all reads of satire and political fiction who won’t mind a sci-fi setting.

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Book Review: Fate’s Final Destiny: A Novel of Love, Betrayal, Heroism, and Devotion by E.T. McNamara

Categories E.T. McNamara, Historical, historical-romance, RomanceLeave a Comment on Book Review: Fate’s Final Destiny: A Novel of Love, Betrayal, Heroism, and Devotion by E.T. McNamara

Book Details:

Author: E.T. McNamara
Release Date:ย 7th July 2021
Genre: Historical Romance Fiction
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 371 pages
Publisher:
Blurb:
2022 Literary Titan Gold Award Winner, โ€Fateโ€™s Final Destinyโ€ is an epic story of two life-long friends who fall in love, only to have fate tear them apart. Set during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the story begins in Goodwell, Oklahoma. Caught up in the tidal wave of world events, they find themselves beginning new and separate lives. Never fully understanding the reasons for their separation, they find it difficult to move on.

As they and their families are experiencing the life-changing events of Pearl Harbor and the war in the Pacific, these members of the Greatest Generation find themselves swept up by both current and future events. Whether it be the life-or-death decisions made on the battlefield or aboard a navy hospital ship, fate affects both their lives. As the two star-crossed lovers become entangled in the major events that shaped our nationโ€™s destiny, readers will be able to go along with them on their journey through one of the most interesting periods of American History.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Fate’s Final Destiny by E. T. McNamara is a beautifully written historical fiction romance novel that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster ride. This book is a literary work of fiction that takes the readers through the well-constructed lives of the main characters as they grow up on their farms and fall in love only to get separated due to the historic events that shook the world to be reunited in the most unimaginable and emotional way.

This book had really good characterisation, a great plot, a very good concept (that was well-executed) and an excellent tension graph – all of which kept me hooked to the pages throughout the story. I was engrossed in the book from the very beginning till the last page! I would strongly recommend this book to readers of historical fiction especially those who like reading historical romance novels.

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Book Review: A Soldier’s Quartet by Colin Baldwin

Categories Colin Baldwinย , Historical, new adult, Science-FictionLeave a Comment on Book Review: A Soldier’s Quartet by Colin Baldwin

Book Details:

Author: Colin Baldwin 
Release Date: 2nd September 2021
Genre: New Adult Fiction, Historical Fiction, War Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 227 pages
Publisher: Shawline Publishing Group Pty Ltd
Blurb:
CONRAD BENTLEY ENJOYS HIS RETIREMENT.
By chance, he comes across a letter from WWI โ€” a German father writes about his grief of losing a son to war โ€” buried by his three comrades near a small French village. The letter resonates with Conrad and he commits to researching its backstory.
Months later, Conrad makes contact with the fallen soldierโ€™s family. He falls deeper into their history and other untold stories from this era, including the fate of young Tasmanian soldiers who also fought on the Western Front.

A Soldierโ€™s Quartet is inspired by true events, a story of perseverance and happenstance that transcends time and reaches across continents. It presents the human faces behind uniforms and battle plans, conveys love and hope set against various landscapes.
Conradโ€™s discovery of the letter brings the past into the present as he reflects on his own life and loss.

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

A Soldier’s Quartet by Colin Baldwin is a beautiful book about love, loss, hope, heartbreak and most of all about the reality of the war that was fought that changed not only the world as we know it today but how it had also affected the relationships and personal lives of generations of families of the soldiers who fought in the war.

I am falling short of words in describing the beauty of this book. It is simply outstanding. The writing, the characters, the settings and the backdrop of the war and the present time – they all interlace perfectly together creating an irresistible blend of a book.

I would like to congratulate author Baldwin for having dealt with such a sensitive and delicate topic with such great care and love that it has metamorphosed into the wonderful and enthralling piece of art that this book is. I would highly recommend this book to all the readers because it has a lot to offer to readers all across the globe.

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ARC Review: Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear by Cathy Burnham Martin

Categories Cathy Burnham Martin, Dark Fiction, HistoricalLeave a Comment on ARC Review: Destiny of Dreams: Time Is Dear by Cathy Burnham Martin

Book Details:

Author:ย Cathy Burnham Martin
Release Date:ย 31st August 2021
Genre:ย Historical Fiction
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 242 pages
Publisher:ย Quiet Thunder Publishing
Blurb:
What happens when an American girl of Eurasian descent finds herself suddenly immersed in all facets of her Armenian ancestry? Told with an often soulfully introspective voice, โ€œDestiny of Dreamsโ€ follows the true story of a teenager and her grandfather, retracing loving, learning, and terrifying footprints of the past. While survival remains center stage, love and courage must emerge, or all will be both lost and forgotten. More fact than fiction, the author reveals her Armenian roots in this historical novel, chronicling her family membersโ€™ love, strength, and resolve to both survive and thrive in treacherous times. Reflecting the traumas suffered by all people displaced from their original homelands, this Armenian story focuses on one familyโ€™s challenge to find light in the dark days of the waning Ottoman Empire. Anyone with the diaspora in their family heritage will relate. Whether thinking of Jewish people from Israel, Africans scattered through slavery, Armenians fleeing annihilation in Turkey, so-called boat people escaping Asia, or Syrians fleeing life-threatening violence in their own nation, humans continue to rise up in the face of the toughest times. Who would emerge from extraordinarily desperate places, and how could they choose to set positive examples of humanity during highly inhumane times? Set in the early 1900s and flashing forward to the 1960s, the storyโ€™s themes ring with tolerance and intolerance, dreams and destroyers, family and friends, amidst challenges that eerily parallel life in current judgmental scenarios.

Written for Young Adult and Adult audiences, the book contains some explicit descriptions and a couple of disturbing, though not graphic, violent scenes. While not gratuitous, the depictions may be unsuitable for young readers

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Destiny Of Dreams: Time Is Dear by Cathy Burnham Martin is a beautifully written historical fiction book about survival and the darkness that plagues our society.

This book was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, along with quiet graphic descriptions of violence, which lent this book an air of seriousness that otherwise would have been missing. I liked reading this book from cover to cover because the plot was very engaging, the writing was good, the characterisation was well done and the execution of the story was really good.

I would recommend this book to all historical fiction buffs. Although do keep in mind that this book has some graphic violent scenes (for those who might find them triggering.)

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Releasing in Sept

Book Review: Through Forests and Mountains by Margaret Walker

Categories Historical, Margaret WalkerLeave a Comment on Book Review: Through Forests and Mountains by Margaret Walker

Author: Margaret Walkerย 
Release Date:ย 16th February 2021
Genre:ย Historical Fiction
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 392 pages
Publisher:ย Penmore Press
Blurb:
Yugoslavia 1942.ย 

Anton Markoviฤ‡ didnโ€™t believe in a girl with a gun. 

How could the Partisans win this war with only farmers, labourers and women for soldiers? The experiment was ridiculous. He should have stuck to the ships he knew and not be in a forest in Bosnia with a rifle in his hands, and a bullet in his head, and a woman by his side cackling like a throttled fowl in some dazzling display of hormonal triumph.ย 

Tito had allowed the girls from the villages to serve in combat roles, and Mara was all in favour of anything innovative for women. She had just shot her first fascist, and her face beneath Antonโ€™s was exuberant, breathless and beautiful.ย 

He was at war, and clearly on more fronts than he anticipated.ย 

But could he save Mara from that brilliant and psychotic fascist she could not shoot?ย 

From the forests and mountains of Bosnia to the White Cliffs of Dover, the Nazis and the Ustasha battle the most successful resistance movement in Occupied Europe.ย 

Death to Fascism!

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Through Forests And Mountains by Margaret Walker is a beautifully written story about personal emotions and difficult situations (socially and otherwise.)

This book reads more like an experience than a story and takes the readers to the historical settings of upheaval in Yugoslavia in the year 1942. The historical backdrop is beautifully articulated and I was really impressed by the author penchant for details. The characterisation is brilliant and I loved the main leads, Anton and Mara, as well as the cast of secondary characters. All the characters had so much to offer to the story and the build-up of the plot, that it made the book a rich combination of a solid plot with equally strong characterisation.

This book covers a wide spectrum of emotions – from one’s love for their country and friendships between individuals to blossoming romantic relationship between the leads (that is built slowly and steadily.) Overall, this book is a highly engaging and entertaining read and I would recommend it to all readers, especially readers who love historical fiction works.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: Bayan by Pramudith D. Rupasinghe

Categories Historical, Literary Fiction, Pramudith D. Rupasinghe, Sri Lankan LiteratureLeave a Comment on Book Review: Bayan by Pramudith D. Rupasinghe

Author:ย Pramudith D. Rupasinghe
Release Date:ย 29th April 2018
Genre:ย Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Sri Lankan Literature
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 272 pages
Publisher:ย Vor Press
Blurb:
In the serene tempo of classical Soviet literature charmingly merged into modernity, Bayan is a unique blend from among the work of Pramudith D Rupasinghe.ย 
Bayan begins in the sunny Ukrainian summer and ends with a hidden, deeply meaningful message. It is not only the story of a strange, bearded old man who finds solace and a soulmate of sorts, in a traditional string instrument, while facing a common narrative of his era; it is a commentary on life, and a celebration of the ultimate coming of age.ย 

It juxtaposes the failure of physical strength and faculties to the accumulation of immense emotional fortitude. It lulls you into feeling safe in spite of the passing of transient seasons, the waning of political ideologies and the inevitable disintegration of the corporeal being. 
Bayan tells about changing world`s order, revolutions and the ravages of time, the music of life will go on.

Bayan is the only novel by a Sri Lankan author to be translated into Polish, Ukrainian, Burmese and Hungarian languages. And its German, Russian, Hindi and Sinhala translations have been added among the books of Sri Lankan authors translated into other languages. 

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Bayan by Pramudith D. Rupasinghe is a beautifully written book full of, and highlighting, a wide spectrum of emotions and emotional sensibilities.

It is difficult to summarise my opinion of reading this beautiful book because it was nothing short of an out-of-the-world experience and simply cannot be expressed in words. This book takes you on a journey to a time and place where you’d be struggling between contrasting emotions of wonder and revulsion. It is not an easy feat to write about the times of war and the post-war world because they both are two subjects that need a very good, and thankfully, Dr Pramudith – the author, did it so wonderfully well that I was left in awe.

This book is written beautifully well, interspersed with odd letters and poems, which made the experience of reading this book even more realistic. The characterisation was brilliant and I ached and pained for the plight of the characters. This book not only helped me understand the emotional background of many people who might have experienced the events told in this book but also made me reflect on the present times and how far the world has changed today from those of the earlier times.

This is a very good book that I will recommend to all readers, of all genres because it is an experience that no one should pass on.

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Book Review: From Legend (The Reeve #1) by Ian Lewis

Categories Fantasy, Historical, Ian Lewis, Mystery, Suspense1 Comment on Book Review: From Legend (The Reeve #1) by Ian Lewis

Author:ย Ian Lewis
Release Date:ย 8th April 2019
Genre:ย Alternate history fiction, Fantasy, Suspense, Mystery
Series:ย The Reeve (Book #1)
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 252 pages
Publisher:ย –
Blurb:
Sober, serious, and driven, Logan Hale is the highest peace officer in Beldenridge, and he knows his city better than anyone: the labyrinthine streets, the vaulted architecture, and all the dark corners where tales of mutations and a vicious enemy still linger like hushed secrets. Logan is quick to dismiss these accounts as part of a storied past with which heโ€™d rather not contend, but when a suicide investigation leads him to believe thereโ€™s something more sinister at hand, he questions whether that near-forgotten lore isnโ€™t the stuff of legend after all.ย 

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

From Legend by Ian Lewis is the first book in the alternate historical series The Reeve.

The first thing I loved about this book is the cover art! I absolutely loved it and once done with the book I was really happy (and grateful) that the high expectations set by the cover were fully delivered by the author in this book. I enjoyed this book tremendously and the many elements it had to offer to a speculative fiction lover like myself. I loved the writing, the world-building, the characterisation as well as the fast pacing and high tension throughout the story.

I liked how the author interweaved the alternate historical settings with fantastical elements and used old lores, legends and fables to build intrigue as well as the perfect atmosphere for keeping the reader on edge. I would highly recommend this book to all readers who like reading speculative fiction, fantasy as well as alternate history and also to those who are looking to explore a new author or a new series. This book would be a really good pick for most readers.

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Book Review: William Ottoway’s Utopia and other stories by Christopher Griffith

Categories Christopher Griffith, Comedy, Fantasy, Historical, Short-Stories, Young AdultLeave a Comment on Book Review: William Ottoway’s Utopia and other stories by Christopher Griffith

Author:ย Christopher Griffith
Release Date:ย 28th May 2019
Genre:ย Fantasy, Historical, Comedy, YA, Short Story collection
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 126 pages
Publisher:ย 
Blurb:
William seeks contented ease, not tragic hardship; Rick loves simple melody, not its mysteriously melancholic effect upon him; Emily dreams of anything but having to work another day for darkly comic Carol; Saman is overcome by revenge fantasy, but the subject of his vengeance wants only reconciliation; and young Will Shakespeareโ€™s dream is to act, not write though the latter as history tells comes eagerly calling for him instead. Each protagonist definitely planned something else when life, in form of these unfolding stories, haply intervened!

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

William Ottoway’s Utopia by Christopher Griffith is a vibrant short story collection of diverse nature showcasing different varieties of narration.

This collection contains 5 tales and I liked reading all of them. I liked this book mostly because of the assorted nature of all the stories. They all had a very different setting, characterisation, narratives, and ever time periods and crossed different realms even. Each and every one of them was very different from each other but equally good and engaging. I liked the way characters were brought to life in a fitting way and the pacing that was set by the clever use of varied types of sentence structures.

I’d recommend this book to readers of all genre especially if they like reading experimental styles of narrative prose.

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Audiobook Review: The Mystery Of Martha by Eliza Harrison

Categories Eliza Harrison, Historical, Mystery, SpiritualismLeave a Comment on Audiobook Review: The Mystery Of Martha by Eliza Harrison

Author:ย Eliza Harrison
Narrated by:ย Eliza Harrison
Release Date:ย 2nd October 2020
Genre:ย Mystery, Historical Fiction
Series:
Format:ย Audiobook
Pages:ย 9 hours 13 minutes
Publisher:ย 
Blurb:
Two women, two millennia apart, with seemingly unconnected lives โ€“ one from the English Lake District and the other from Bethany in Palestine. Neither is sure of their role or purpose, which leaves in them feelings of emptiness and uncertainty.ย 

Martha of Bethany has Yeshua as friend and guide. From a place of tenderness and intimacy, she witnesses the last three years of his life and sees him embody the mystery and power of love. This leads her on a journey to the Sacred Isles where she finds her own pathway to awakening.ย 

Martha from Borrowdaleโ€™s story begins in 2000 AD as she faces challenges that expose her deepest fears and insecurities. With her partner Ben, she discovers the mystical Aramaic teachings of Yeshua that offer her a pathway to Self-realisation and freedom.ย 

These two redemptive stories weave alongside each other until finally they converge. It is a tale of revelation and mystery that uplifts and transforms.

Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Mystery Of Martha by Eliza Harrison is a unique kind of mystery novel that is set against the historical backdrop and inlaced with spiritualism that takes the reader on a surreal journey.

I was intrigued about this book from he start because spiritualism is a little hard to blend into a historical mystery and so I was curious to see how the plot unravelled. It was good for the most part and the writing was good. The narration wasn’t the best but it made for easy listening and I appreciated it a lot. The overall concept was a little out of my personal comfort zone, but it still made for a good and engaging read.

I think that if you are into spirituality and like reading experimental literature revolving around it then you’d appreciate this book a lot more than me and it would make for a really good read.

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Book Review: The Dunnes of Brittas: An Irish Family’s Saga of Endurance by Kevin Lee Akers

Categories Family Saga, Historical, Kevin Lee AkersLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Dunnes of Brittas: An Irish Family’s Saga of Endurance by Kevin Lee Akers

Author:ย Kevin Lee Akers
Release Date:ย 17th March 2021
Genre:ย Historical Fiction, Family Saga
Series:
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 
Publisher:ย Bassett Street Press
Blurb:
The illustrious and ancient Dunne family has ruled over land in the heart of Ireland since time immemorial.

In the manor house known as Brittas, resides the family of clan chieftain, General Edward Dunne. His estate agent and cousin Peter raises his brood in the servantโ€™s wing. These two related yet very separate branches struggle to secure their futures during the countryโ€™s darkest, most formidable years.

As Ireland is crumbling, the West is rising in Golden sunshine.

In 1848, San Francisco lures James Dunne and eventually his brother and sisters to literally create a new city out of sand dunes and gold dust.

The Dunnes of Brittas follows three generations of family who share in each otherโ€™s triumphs and tragedies finally discovering that their strength doesnโ€™t derive from their separate branches but their common roots.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Dunnes of Brittas: An Irish Family’s Saga of Endurance by Kevin Lee Akers is an emotional journey about three generations of a family who are trying to navigate difficult situations through life and finding solace in each other’s company.

I liked reading this book because it had so many layers of complexity embedded throughout the story and mainly because the author has done a fine job with the overall characterisation. The story is good and the writing complimented it well.

Overall it made for a very engaging read and I would definitely recommend it to everyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and family sagas with complex plot and characters.

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Book Review: The Heritage by Jack Michonik

Categories Historical, Jack MichonikLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Heritage by Jack Michonik

Author: Jack Michonik 
Release Date: 25th June 2020
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series:
Format: E-book 
Pages: 388 pages
Publisher: 
Blurb:
The year is 1926. Thousands of Jewish families are forced to flee poverty and anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe. Fate takes two families to the magical continent of South America, which opens its generous arms to them. Many surprises await the immigrants in the New World. In this exciting story of their lives from their early teens in the โ€œshtetlโ€ to leisurely musings of middle age, we see the hardships immigrants face in the long journey to America, the complex process of adaptation to an unfamiliar environment and the phenomenal development of their businesses.

Parallel to the story of the main characters, another story emerges: that of the birth of a typical Jewish community within a Christian city. Translated from the original Spanish book, La Descendencia, The Heritage is peppered with reflections on religion and historical events of the time regarding the Jews and the state of Israel. Throughout the narrative, the author captivates us with a fascinating story of overcoming, human conflicts and addresses issues of assimilation and identity. Though not an autobiographical novel, it could be the story of the parents or grandparents of any Jew from Central or South America. The author preferred to use a fictional provincial capital of Latin American so that the reader can recognize the history of his or her own Jewish community, as all Jewish communities in Latin America came into being in an almost identical manner.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Heritage by Jack Michonik is a heartfelt tale of the author’s Jewish community immigrating to South America in the 1920s. This book was historically enlightening and made for a great read as a real-life story. It highlighted the plight of the immigrant Jews who had to live in a country whose religion was not simply pre-dominantly Catholic but was entirely that. And to preserve their Heritage, the family had to walk on the precarious line of balancing between preserving their Jewish heritage and settling in their day to day lives in an entirely and unforgivingly Catholic town (and also setting up their business/trade on top of that.)

This book is a really gem and reading it made me understand the plight the immigrants have had to face in those times, whether Jew or not. I really appreciated the historical accuracy of the facts as well as the effort that was put into the writing of this beautiful story.

I would definitely recommend it to everyone who loves historical fiction and to the entire Jew community.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon.

Book Review: A Thanksgiving Tribute – Ancestors In New World America by Gayle Michelle Fowler

Categories Gayle Michelle Fowler, Historical, Holiday StoryLeave a Comment on Book Review: A Thanksgiving Tribute – Ancestors In New World America by Gayle Michelle Fowler

Author:ย Gayle Michelle Fowler
Release Date:ย 9th September 2020
Genre:ย  Holiday Story, Historical
Series:ย 
Format:ย E-bookย 
Pages:ย 103 pages
Publisher:ย 
Blurb:
Through a granddaughterโ€™s narrative, peek into the phenomenal triumphs that led to a โ€œGratitude Celebration,โ€ a Thanksgiving tradition.
The story centers on William Brewster, ancestor to many, father of the pilgrims and the nation, who perseveres through dividing issues of his era.

Living in an oppressive state that deems him an outlaw, he must hide before indenturing himself to servitude. Knowing the suffering endured by the tiny fraction who lived to tell of the horrific sacrifices it took to survive in the New World, he shepherded his family onto the Mayflower to voyage to undeveloped lands on a foreign continent to make a new home.

This short exposรฉ connects the holiday feast to both of the first victorious American settlements Jamestown and Plymouth, covering Queen Mary and King James; notable sea captains during the pirate era: Newport, Smith, and Argall; First Nations Indians: the Powhatans, the Wampanoag and their chiefs, Powhatan and Massasoit, as well as crucial pilgrim allies Pocahontas, Namontack, and Squanto. Historical pictures provide visual accompaniment to an epic that passes on these early ancestor’s spirit of survival, hope, and actions for an amicable future.

Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

A Thanksgiving Tribute by Gayle Michelle Fowler is a beautiful holiday story about one of the most famous holidays in America – Thanksgiving. But even though the book is primarily about the American tradition and the history behind it – the sacrifices and the bravery of the ancestors, it also shows the relevance of the tradition in other countries, such as India.

Hailing from a country and religion where being grateful is one of the ways of life, I was able to relate to the book a lot, on many levels. I enjoyed it as well as got to learn a lot from it. The main theme of knowing and respecting one’s roots strung at the strings in my heart and I felt emotionally satisfied reading this beautiful book.

I’d definitely recommend it to all readers, especially considering that it is a short and sweet read and also the fact that with Diwali and Halloween approaching, the holiday season is just around the corner!

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Audiobook Review: Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Categories Historical, Romance2 Comments on Audiobook Review: Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

Author:ย Heather Morrisย 
Narrated by: Richard Armitageย 
Release Date:ย 11th January 2018
Genre:ย Historical Fiction
Series:
Format:ย Audiobook
Pages:ย 8 hours
Publisher: Bolinda/Bonnier Audio
Blurb:
A tale based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov.

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tรคtowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarismโ€”but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. 

Book Review

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is the real-life story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, who was imprisoned in the infamous Auschwitz Concentration Camp during the holocaust. Although the story is mainly about how he met his wife, Gita, and fell in love with her, the details and the insights of the concentration camp were horrifying and agonisingly insightful. The horrors of the camp were told from a very neutral perspective and therefore gave the readers a chance to feel things on their own without clouding their judgement. And for me, that was the best part of the book.

The romantic part was not particularly appealing to me, but the rest of the story was pretty good. I really thought that the character of Gita wasn’t done enough justice in the book, especially considering how the book was actually written for her. Male ended up dominating the story far more and it felt like his tale alone.

Though I did like the epilogue by Lale and Gita’s son as it lent an air of eery realism tot he book. I’d definitely recommend it to all historical fiction lovers and to all holocaust enthusiasts.

“๐‘ฐ๐’‡ ๐’š๐’๐’– ๐’˜๐’‚๐’Œ๐’† ๐’–๐’‘ ๐’Š๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’Ž๐’๐’“๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ, ๐’Š๐’• ๐’Š๐’” ๐’‚ ๐’ˆ๐’๐’๐’… ๐’…๐’‚๐’š.”

H๐’†๐’‚๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’“ ๐‘ด๐’๐’“๐’“๐’Š๐’”
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Book Review: Annihilation: A Story of the Armenian Genocide by Michael Bosland

Categories Historical, Michael BoslandLeave a Comment on Book Review: Annihilation: A Story of the Armenian Genocide by Michael Bosland

Author: Michael Bosland
Release Date: 1st November 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction
Series:ย 
Edition:ย e-book
Pages: 242
Publisher:Read All Over Publishing
Blurb:
A Story of the Armenian Genocide is the story of Rosmerta Bedrossian, a thirteen-year-old girl living outside Bayburt with her extended family. The Armenians are ordered out of their houses and sent on a march. As Rosmerta witnesses acts of increasingly senseless violence and cruelty against her family and her people, her initial confusion at their treatment gives way to indignation and anger, moments of despair, and occasions of renewed determination to survive. She also receives kindness and help from a variety of people.

REVIEW

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To those who were massacred during the genocides of World War I. To those who survived despite being forced to endure unspeakable horrors. And to the descendants who keep their memories alive.

-Michael Bosland

Annihilation by Michael Bosland is a touching story that is definitely worth a read. It a compelling story providing a glimpse into he 2nd most talked about genocide int he history of the world. I am not a huge history buff so prior to reading this book I knew very little about the Armenian genocide, therefore I was really looking forward to read this book. And keeping up with my expectations this book turned out to be equally as insightful as it was engaging.

The characterisation felt realistic and the writing was really good and complimented the story well. But the best part was of course the concept and story. The author did a wonderful job in depicting the dilemmas and the horrors faced by the characters in dark times. It was a very informative read and even though the subject matter fo the book was so intense the book surprisingly did not felt too heavy.

It is a really good book and I’d recommend it to everyone who likes reading Historical fiction.

On a side note, after putting down this book, I looked up the topic on the internet and found it baffling about how less people know about the Armenian genocide. Everyone knows about the Holocaust but a lot of people, including me, are not aware of the details of this horrific period. So if you are someone like me and like researching stuff of the past, then do give this topic an eye. It was pretty mind baffling. Especially considering the term ‘genocide’ was coined for this particular massacre (basically, it happened even before the term was even coined – it started before and continued during WWI.)

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: In The Shadow Of The Kingmakers by Vahid Imani

Categories Historical, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Vahid ImaniLeave a Comment on Book Review: In The Shadow Of The Kingmakers by Vahid Imani

Author: Vahid Imani
Release Date:ย 9th February 2019
Genre:ย Historical Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery
Series:
Edition:ย E-book
Pages: 300
Publisher: Stormtop Publishing
Blurb:
The shadows were closer than he thought โ€ฆ
Tehran in 1924 is the stage for a daring international showdown over the control of Persian oil fields. James Malcolm, a British operative stationed in Tehran weaves an intricate plot in hopes of installing a new loyal Persian king. A teenage boyโ€™s accidental involvement becomes a distraction. When his plot is sabotaged, the fragile peace in Persia is threatened along with the boyโ€™s life. Malcolmโ€™s clandestine investigation entangles him with unwitting American diplomats, treacherous double agents, and murderous Soviet spies, all seeking to foil the oil grab of the British.

REVIEW

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In The Shadow Of The Kingmakers by Vahid Imani is an immersive historical suspense thriller that pulled me in right fromย the start to the very end. I really liked itย because of the complexity of the plot and the ease with which it was laid by the author for the reader to read.

The writing is really good and the book is easy to follow, making it a relativelyย quick read. The characterization was also good and I was able to feel a connection to the protagonist, James, and was rooting for him throughout the book. The plot was the hero for me and the story felt very well fleshed out, especially the cultural details and the rich exposition.

The ending was apt and it made a lot of sense. I enjoyed this book through and through and would recommend it to all historical fiction fans and readers of mystery and thriller genre.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: Traveller โ€“ Inceptio by Rob Shackleford

Categories Historical, Rob Shackleford, Science-Fiction, time-travel2 Comments on Book Review: Traveller โ€“ Inceptio by Rob Shackleford

Author: Rob Shackleford
Release Date:ย 25th February 2017
Genre: Time-Travel, Historical, Science-Fiction
Series:ย Traveller (Book #1)
Edition:ย E-book
Pages:ย 
Publisher:ย Book Baby
Blurb:
If you were sent 1000 years into the past, would you survive?

Traveller – Inceptio describes how the Transporter is accidentally invented and becomes public knowledge when it sends a subject 1000 years into the past.

A Special Forces team of Travellers is then selected and trained with the intent to send them to Saxon England to explore what could be a very dangerous period of history.

From the beaches of Australia to the forests of Saxon England, Traveller – Inceptio reveals how Travellers discover they need a lot more than technology to survive the trials of early Eleventh Century life.

Book Review

โ˜…โ˜…+1/2

Traveller Inceptio by Rob Shackleford is a time-travel story set 1000 years in the past, through the machine that was invented by mistake. What follows next is an interesting tale about how our ever-so-reliable-science-and-technology can’t bail us out of dangerous situations and how power-hungry people can go to any lengths in order to get their hands on any new invention that can trip the scales in their favour.

The story was good and pretty engaging. The events were interesting and some of them even capturing. The overall world-building was good and the pacing was even. I enjoyed the book on the whole but had a couple of issues both with the plot and the writing. The author went overboard with the exposition, as a result of which I found myself skimming over a lot of pages. The beginning of the book and the base of the story felt a bit weak as it seemed too far-fetched a concept to have actually invented a time-travel machine that travels only certain years and then has the ability to come back when summoned too. I mean the concept could have been a bit more believable if the machine had at least some faults and wouldn’t have been this perfect. After all, it was a result of a mistake.

But after the first part was over, the story only got better. The research appeared to be impeccable and the story got more and more interesting, save for the exhausting bits of exposition. The plot started to feel realistic and Iย was able to connect with it once the first part was over.

Characterization, unfortunately, felt like another lingering problem as I had a hard time connecting with the characters. They were not badly created, but they weren’t overly impressive nor relatable. I just liked them enough to have been able to read and finish the story (which seemed to be much longer than it should have.)

Overall, I think the book needed a bit more tweaking and that a good editor would have been able to make this book much better. Still, it was an enjoyable read.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon

Book Review: The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles #2) by John A. Heldt

Categories Historical, John A. Heldt, Science-Fiction, time-travelLeave a Comment on Book Review: The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles #2) by John A. Heldt

Author: John A. Heldt
Release Date: 30thย April 2018
Genre:ย Historical Fiction, Time-Travel, Sci-Fi, Relationships & Family
Series:ย Carson Chronicles – Book #2
Edition:ย E-book
Pages: 659
Publisher:ย 
Blurb:
Days after barely escaping 1889 with their lives, the Carsons, siblings from the present day, resume their search for their missing parents in 1918. While Adam and his pregnant wife, Bridget, settle in Minnesota, unaware of a wildfire that will kill hundreds, Greg seeks clues in his great-grandparents’ Mexico, where he finds love, danger, and enemies. At the same time, Natalie, the ambitious journalist, follows a trail to World War I France, and teen twins Cody and Caitlin rekindle a friendship with an old Pennsylvania friend haunted by her past. In THE MEMORY TREE, the sweeping sequel to RIVER RISING, several time travelers find answers and meaning as they continue the adventure of a lifetime in the age of doughboys, silent movies, and Model T’s.

REVIEW

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The Memory Treeย by John A. Heldt is a compelling sequel toย River Rising, book one in the Carson Chronicles series. Just like the first part of this series, and the others I’ve read by the author, this book was equally interesting, entertaining and emotional. It had a lot to offer in terms of the rich American history, WWI and the culture of the years long gone. This book was especially good because it had a twist which I was not expecting and the element of surprise really caught me off-guard as I’ve come to understand where things are generally moving in author Heldt’s books because of having read many of them and being familiar with his style of writing. So the twist was a pleasant surprise for me.

The characterization was good and I was able to see the development of all the characters from the last book experiencing new worlds and living in times new to them. The writing was good and complimented the story well. And I’m really looking forward to reading the next part of this series.

I’d recommend this book to all historical fiction lovers and to everyone who loves reading stories on relationships and families. It is an honest-to-god feel-good story that will definitely warm your heart.

You can also read this review on Goodreads and Amazon