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Eleanor Luhar (47 KP) rated Finding Grace in Books

Jun 24, 2019

Yesterday I finished Finding Grace, a short historical fiction book I was given the chance to read thanks to NetGalley. It follows Grace, a thirteen-year-old girl living in a Belgian convent in 1975. She was left on the steps as a baby, along with her disabled sister, Dotty. But Dotty recently died, and everything is changing.

Grace is moved to the girls' boarding school dorm. She soon becomes close with Fran, but also has a few run-ins with the stuck up Deirdra. While helping Fran with a history project Grace discovers an old journal kept by one of the nuns at the convent during the war. It tells her horrific story of abandonment, rape and loss.

All the while, the girls are trying to find out more about Grace's past, and avoid the wrath of the horrible Sister Francis. Eventually Grace does get some anwswers, but they were certainly not the ones she was looking for.

I'm not usually very interested in historical fiction but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Even though it was short, the characters were well developed and the plot was exciting and intriguing. I felt immersed in the setting, and felt empathetic for Grace. I actually felt quite invested in her and her search for knowledge.

There were a few typos and such, but as this is only a review copy I can't be sure whether the final publication will include them. It was a quick, interesting read, a good introduction to historical fiction. 4 stars!

Kudos

J Elizabeth Klug (21 KP) rated Harry Potter: A Journey Through Charms and Defence Against the Dark Arts in Books

Dec 14, 2019

A short non-fiction ebook that draws comparisons from the magic written by J.K. Rowling in the Harry Potter series to the historical myths and folklore from which it's based. Invisiability, transforming into a creature, and warding off evil are just a few of the topics you'll find in this book.

I found this to be a fascinating read and would recommend it to any fans of Harry Potter who are interested in Mythology and Folklore.

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The Greatest Knight: The Story of William Marshal

Elizabeth Chadwick

8.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Historical fact and fiction are entwined in this engrossing story about the infamous William...

Daughters of Time: An Anthology from The History Girls

Mary Hoffman

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

Look through fresh eyes at the stories of some of history's most remarkable women, in this inspiring...

The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated A Fist Around the Heart in Books

Oct 5, 2020

In this sweeping historical fiction novel, Heather Chisvin takes us along a journey of two sisters who flee late 19th century Russia through to Canada and America of the early and mid-20th century. There, one sister must come to terms with her past, but the other continues to be tortured by it, with tragic results. You can read my review of Chisvin’s debut novel on my blog here.

https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2018/06/23/between-two-sisters/

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The Chocolate Lady (94 KP) rated Dreamland in Books

Oct 7, 2020

Dreamland

Nancy Bilyeau | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery

8.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

In 1911, the wealthy Battenberg family are off to stay the summer in Coney Island, which was at the time, the home to a set of amusement parks that had something for everyone, from swimming on its beaches to roller coaster rides. This historical fiction novel looks at this spot during its heyday, and witnesses its destruction. You can read my #bookreview of "Dreamland" by Nancy Bilyeau here.
https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/01/24/carnival-of-camouflage/