Deborah (162 KP) rated The Queen's Governess in Books
Dec 21, 2018
The novel is written in the first person, which can be a little clumsy in the hands of an unskilled author, but Harper carried it off well. I was interested in her historical note at the end, as Kat Ashley's origins are a little obscure - I do like to know what is fact and what the author's imagination, but of course fact is often stranger than fiction! I'm not totally sure if the relationship with Cromwell as shown in the novel is based on historical fact or more on conjecture on the author's part.
I did spot a couple of errors in the text - I know they do move county boundaries now and then, but I do beleive that Stamford is in Lincolnshire and not Northamptonshire. Yes, I know it's picky, but it's that sort of thing that makes me stop and think "Are you sure?".
The novel starts with the demise of Anne Boleyn and then takes us back to Kat's earlier life in Devon, leading up to the moment we see in the prologue. We are carried through all the trials and tribulations of the reigns of her half siblings finally followed by Elizabeth's accession and some way into her reign.
Munich: A Novel
6.5
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September 1938. Hitler is determined to start a war. Chamberlain is desperate to preserve the...
Thriller politics
The Battle For England: Women at war in Medieval England (Wars of the Magna Carta #1)
8.0
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Medieval England is under siege… Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Robyn Young, Alison Weir and...
Historical Fiction Medieval England
ClareR (5674 KP) rated The Queens Lady in Books
Dec 8, 2022
Joan no longer has a place at court, and her husband falls out of favour when his enemies gain considerable influence with the King.
It was really interesting to learn about the inner workings of the English court and the precarious line that courtiers had to tread. Joan also gave some insight into some significant historical events: the Field of the Cloth of Gold in France, Princess Margaret’s marriage to King James, the arrival of Catherine of Aragon, and accompanying Princess Mary to Paris when she marries King Louis.
I’m an absolute sucker for historical fiction, and I loved the details and the very human, realistic style this book was written in. And I really liked Joan.
The ravens are a constant - after all, Joan is the Lady of the Ravens. Bu they’re not as central to the storyline this time.
I don’t know whether this will just be a duology, or if there’s more to come, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended.
Hazel (1853 KP) rated These Shallow Graves in Books
Dec 17, 2018
Known for her young adult series about mermaids, Jennifer Donnelly also proves she is an excellent writer of historical murder mysteries. <i>These Shallow Graves</i> is set in the USA during the late 1800s where Josephine Montfort, a headstrong seventeen-year-old from a respectable family, is expected to marry well and produce a male heir. However, Jo’s innocent lifestyle is disrupted after her father’s mysterious death. With her passion for writing at the forefront of her mind, Jo rejects social etiquette and begins searching for answers.
Jo meets Eddie, a young, ambitious newspaper reporter who agrees to assist with her enquiries. However it is not as straightforward as Jo expects it to be. As the pair begin to uncover dangerous secrets, Jo is also witness to the injustices in the world. Life for the rich was a whole different world from that of the poor, but as Jo learns, that does not make anyone less worthy of being treated as a person.
<i>These Shallow Graves</i> is an exciting story that is gripping from beginning to end. Not only is there a crime to solve, Jo also ends up in a forbidden relationship that crosses the boundaries of her social status. From an historical point of view it is refreshing to read of a female challenging her position in society rather than being the naïve protagonist that many novels written during this time period contain. In some ways she is comparable to Jo March in <i>Little Women</i>, and not only because of their shared name.
Having read the first two books in the <i>Waterfire</i> saga, and been slightly disappointed with the writing style, I was a little apprehensive when beginning to read <i>These Shallow Graves</i>. I presumed I would get bored part way through, or find the narrative dreary, however I was pleasantly surprised. Donnelly is significantly better at historical fiction. The book was greatly researched thus the setting and dialogue were perfectly in keeping with the time period.
As with most murder mysteries the murderer is only revealed at the very end of the story. I guessed who it was fairly early on, however that is all it was, a guess. Most readers will be left hanging until the final chapters – will you work out who it was before then?
The Hindered Hand
Sutton E. Griggs, John Cullen Gruesser and Hanna Wallinger
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Between 1899 and 1908, five long works of fiction by the Nashville-based black Baptist minister...
A Dangerous Life (DCI Jack Callum #2)
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A tortured body is found hanging from a tree DCI Jack Cullum leads the investigation into this...
Historical Crime Fiction
Gun Island
8.0
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Bundook. Gun. A common word, but one which turns Deen Datta's world upside down. A dealer of rare...
Historical fiction Literary fiction India climate change Environment magical realism
The Murderess Must Die
9.0
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On a winter day in 1898, hundreds of spectators gather at a Brooklyn courthouse, scrambling for a...
Historical Fiction Crime
By the Light of Embers
10.0
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It's 1954, and twenty-two-year-old Lucia Lafleur has always dreamed of following in her father’s...
Historical Fiction Literary Fiction