ClareR (5950 KP) rated Babel: An Arcane History in Books
Feb 14, 2023
Robin Swift is brought to England by a mysterious Englishman after he is orphaned in Canton. The Englishman educates him, and then sends Robin to Babel to continue his studies. But is Babel everything that Robin wants or expects it to be?
This truly imaginative novel looks at colonialism, the power of language, resistance and sacrifice.
I loved the narration as well, it really added to the story, I felt, particularly the footnotes that were inserted into the rest of the dialogue explaining pronunciation and etymology (I really liked these parts, more than is normal or socially acceptable, probably! 🤭). I’ll admit that there were some mispronunciations of the Oxford colleges which would have been easy to avoid (I have to admit to mainly learning how to pronounce them by watching University Challenge 😆).
If you love language, languages (I do!), fantasy and an alternative history, then this will really appeal to you.
I do feel that I should have finished the book having learnt at least one more language though. Ah well 🤷🏼♀️
ClareR (5950 KP) rated Miss Aldridge Regrets in Books
Nov 13, 2023
When a man claiming to be the fixer for a man that her father used to work with in New York appears and offers her the Broadway role of a lifetime, Lena Aldridge can’t refuse. Especially as the husband of her best friend has died in rather unusual circumstances and she could easily be dragged into the aftermath.
Whilst on board the Queen Mary, Lena meets the Abernathy’s, a very wealthy American family. But all is not as it seems, and soon murder is committed on board, and Lena is left thinking that she is in danger too.
This is a novel dripping in glamour, and Lena isn’t always comfortable with that. She comes from a very different background. Everyone seems to be very accepting of her and her ‘Italian’ looks, but if the truth comes out to the Americans, her standing could be changed in an instant.
This was fast paced, and left me guessing up to the last page. The book ends with Lena in New York, so I’m looking forward to the next book to see just what she gets up to, and whether she will actually return to England.
The Professor's Lady (The Thompsons of Locust Street #3)
Book
Meet the Thompsons of Locust Street, an unconventional family taking Philadelphia high society by...
American Historical Romance Gilded Age Philadelphia
Merissa (13178 KP) rated The Quid Pro Quo (The Bradfield Trilogy #2) in Books
Jan 7, 2022 (Updated Jul 5, 2023)
It is set in 1920s England where magic comes alive in a not-so-fun way. Walt is the nurse to Sylvia's doctor, and the story starts with them being called to the village duck pond as a body has been found. The mystery unravels as the story progresses, giving you insight into a world 'other' than our own.
This is paced perfectly for a cosy mystery - with questions aplenty until it is all explained nicely and wrapped in a bow. I really want to read books one and three now (even though book three isn't even available yet) just to see where it takes me. The characters are wonderfully relatable and the world is both realistic and nostalgic in a rose-tinted glasses kind of way.
The story and characters held my attention from the beginning and kept me enthralled until the end. Thoroughly enjoyable and absolutely recommended by me.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 7, 2022
Murder at the Majestic Hotel
7.0
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Against all expectations in Edwardian England, newly married American heiress Stella Kendrick and...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2395 KP) rated Murder at a London Finishing School in Books
Jul 26, 2023 (Updated Jul 26, 2023)
If you look for the dead body to drop early, you might be disappointed with this book. I wasn’t. Between the early investigation and meeting the new characters, there was plenty to keep me engaged. Of course, things kick up a notch when murder enters the story. The ending, while logical, did feel a little rushed, but that was a minor complaint. We don’t see much of the series regulars, although a couple do make cameos. The new characters more than make up for it, and I appreciate how complex they were by the end. Beryl and Edwina grow as a result of visiting some place from their past. The story is set in the 1920’s, and things going on in society infuse the book. If you enjoy historical mysteries or mysteries set in England, you’ll be glad you picked this up.
The Devil's Glove (Salem #1)
10.0
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Northern New England, summer, 1688. Salem started here. A suspicious death. A rumor of war....
Historical Fiction Salem
Blackmailer’s Delight
8.0
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Every new romance has its ups and downs… Its bumps in the road… Its blackmail notes… A...
MM Romantic Comedy Forbidden Love Historical Georgian
The Price of Loyalty: Serving Adela of Blois
Book
In a time of kingdoms and crusades, one man's heart is the battlefield. Cerdic, a Saxon knight,...
Historical Fiction Medieval France Crusades Adela of Blois William the Conqueror