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Merissa (11805 KP) rated She’s the One Who Thinks Too Much (War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters #1) in Books

Oct 29, 2020  
She’s the One Who Thinks Too Much (War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters #1)
She’s the One Who Thinks Too Much (War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters #1)
S. R. Cronin | 2020 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
She's the One Who Thinks Too Much is the first book in the War Stories of the Seven Troublesome Sisters series and we are introduced to a family of nine - two parents and seven sisters (obviously).

Ryalgar is the eldest of the seven and has helped her father on their farm until she becomes a Prince's 'girlfriend' and later mistress. The situation is so that he has to get married for political reasons and both him and his wife-to-be keep their current partners too. Of course, this will change but this is how it is for now. Add into that the threat of a Mongol invasion and you get an intricately woven story that gives great descriptions of both the time and (imaginary) place with the plans and defences they have to work with.

This fantasy is about the sisters and the situations they find themselves in. The romance takes a definite second place. The world-building is excellent, providing a clear insight into how the characters fit into the world. Each sister is brought into the story carefully and methodically whilst still leaving plenty to come in their own books.

The ending did feel quite abrupt even though I knew this would be an ongoing story. I look forward to it continuing in Coral's book and have no hesitation in recommending this for all who enjoy a historical fantasy.

* 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!
  
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Hazel (1853 KP) rated Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) in Books

Dec 7, 2018  
GM
Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1)
Robin LaFevers | 2012
4
8.0 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
<i>This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review</i>

<i>Grave Mercy</i> is the first book in Robin LaFevers’ trilogy <i>His Fair Assassin</i> set in Brittany in the middle ages. Young Ismae Rienne escapes from her new, abusive husband to the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where she learns that she was sired by the god of death. She, like the other sisters of the convent, has been blessed with certain gifts as a result. Their job is to be the handmaidens of death and help to kill people on behalf of St. Mortain.

Ismae’s task is to live in the high courts with a man named Gavriel Duval in order to remove the traitors that threaten the soon to be crowned duchess, Anne. While she is there she begins to suspect that one of the allies is a traitor, but whom? She also begins to fall in love and feels torn in two when the convent demands his death.

It takes a long time to understand what is going on in <i>Grave Mercy</i> especially as a lot of it involves politics of an era of long ago. Towards the end it begins to become more exciting once the reader has worked out who are the good characters and who are the bad and all that is left is to discover how it all resolves itself.

There is something about death and murder in historical fiction that is more gruesome than in contemporary novels. This is another reason why the book was difficult to read.

Initially the amount of names listed on the “Dramatis Personae” at the start of the book was a little daunting however not all of them are key to the plot. The main character, Ismae, is likable and her strength and independence is admirable especially as women did not have much control over their lives at that time. Most of the other characters also existed in real life as, although in part a fantasy novel, LaFevers’ has kept it as historically accurate as possible.

Looking at the reviews on <i>Goodreads</i>, over 900 readers have listed <i>Grave Mercy</i> as Young Adult. After reading the book there is nothing to suggest that it was written for that age group. Admittedly the characters are very young: Ismae, 17, and Anne, 12; but in the 1400s they would have seemed older than society regards people of that age today. The romantic element of the novel is the kind you would expect to find in adult historical novels rather than books for younger readers.

Overall this is a book for people who appreciate historical and political fiction but also like an element of fantasy and romance. It is written really well but to be able to engage fully with the story you need to be really interested in the subject matter.
  
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Brian Kapfer (2 KP) created a post

May 26, 2018  
I decided to take a chance and watch 'How to Talk to Girls at a Party,' starring a cute as a button Elle Fanning and an almost unrecognizable Nichole Kidman. The story is based in England during the Punk revolution with bands like, The Sex Pistols, The Ramones and NY Dolls...well, maybe not them. It is a historical drama, with a fantasy twist. Though, it is lacking comedy and action, the dialogue between the main characters is very nice to watch. The hero, Mikey (actor's name unknown, no entry in IMDB and other sources) wants to be a punk singer and during a basement concert he sees and falls in love with Zan (Fanning) at first sight. A he woos here, we begin to suspect that this girl is not really what she seems. Further along, we find more and more of Zan's species and learn their terrible secret. As the movie ascends to a climax, we find that Zan and the others must leave Earth and fulfill their destiny, though not without trepidation. Overall, I enjoyed it and would watch it again. Fanning pretty much owned her part and the movie.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3859310/?ref_=nv_sr_1