Merissa (13409 KP) rated Death & Maia in Books
Jun 13, 2025
While I enjoyed the story, the writing style wasn't for me. There were parts that just didn't make any sense, and to be fair, I wasn't in a state of mind where I could dive deeper.
Some people will love this book, but it wasn't for me. Sorry!
** 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; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jun 13, 2025
The Long Shadow of Murder (Will Rees/Shaker Series)
Book
When the body of a visitor is found in the woods by the local Shaker community, suspicion...
Historical Murder Mystery
ClareR (5996 KP) rated The Queen of Fives in Books
Sep 30, 2025 (Updated Sep 30, 2025)
I loved this: it’s pacey, rip-roaring, the historical detail is on point and the story itself is unputdownable. The characters were fascinating, and I was cheering from the sidelines for Quinn, the Queen of Fives, even though her goal is to rip off the landed gentry (not such a bad thing, surely?!). The moral greyness of this is at peak level!
The narrator, Polly Edsel, is perfect and brings the cast of characters to life.
There’s dishonesty, family honour, independent strong women, peril, love, lies and fraud.
Highly recommended!
Restless Dolly Maunder
8.0
Rate It
Book
The Women's Prize-winning and Booker-shortlisted international bestselling author returns with a...
Historical fiction Australia
The Bookshop of Secrets
10.0
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Book
In a bookshop nestled in the sprawling streets of Lisbon, a shopkeeper leads a double life… ...
Historical World War II Romance Women's Fiction
Lalji's Nairobi
Book
British Gujarat, 1905. Despairing of the social injustices and crippling taxes under the British...
Historical Fiction Africa
The Rune Stone (Dr DuLac series #3)
Book
When Dr Viv DuLac, medievalist and academic, finds a mysterious runic inscription on a Rune Stone in...
Historical Fantasy Time Travel Time Slip Romance Mystery
Merissa (13409 KP) created a post
Aug 19, 2025
graveyardgremlin (7194 KP) rated Sisi: Empress on Her Own: A Novel in Books
Feb 15, 2019
I commend the author in all the research she did as I think she did an astounding job bringing Sisi to life, showing both her strengths and weaknesses. Most everything was brought to life in a way that was easy to visualize. However, in this book I found there to be more telling than showing as far as politics go, which could be a tad boring, plus I felt there were redundancies here and there. I didn't notice any major anachronism other than one phrase that jolted me out of the book that I dearly hope is not in the final edition (<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_time_no_see"; targeet="_blank">"Long time no see."</a> if interested). The author provides a thorough section where she notes what was taken from history, leaving me to conclude what must be fiction. I found the fictional parts to be either likely or at least not implausible, excepting a couple incidents in Rudolf's (Sisi's son) youth that felt odd. I won't even touch on Sisi as a person, she's too complex and confounding to decribe in few words, but I felt that Pataki did the best she could at humanizing her while remaining true to her historical record.
Sisi (and the aforementioned The Accidental Empress) are a worthwhile addition to the genre that show a royal family not much touched upon in historical ficiton.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated The Room on Rue Amélie in Books
Feb 25, 2019
This book is not full of fluff and rhyme. Yes, there is a bit of romance woven in, but the author is taking the reader on a journey of self discovery. The reader is on a journey with the characters, feeling the heartache of the war, the pain, and sacrifice that went with running from the Nazi’s and helping with the escape efforts of the pilots.
Each page turn, Harmel gives something more to the reader. She intricately weaves a story that you become a part of. Ruby, Charlotte and Thomas all make their way into the reader’s heart. The depth of emotions is felt wholly, the detail to the history is vivid and clear.
Harmel’s THE ROOM ON RUE AMELIE is a novel that all historical fiction lovers should grab. It will consume you and keep you until the last page is turned. If I could give this book a thousand stars I would. But, alas, I can give it 5 stars. This is a book that I won’t forget and will be sharing with my friends many times over.
*This book was purchased by myself. All opinions, negative or positive, are my own.*