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BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated The Merchant’s Daughter in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Set in the Medieval Era, Annabel and Lord Ranulf will steal your heart in this unique story that mirrors the story of Beauty and the Beast. From a nasty "Gaston" to a sweet young boy, and a caring housekeeper...The heart of the story reminds us that it is not our appearance or circumstances that define us...But our heart.
If you have read some (or all) of these books, you know that each novel can stand alone. But ultimately, they all intertwine. You can see the Family Tree on Melanie's website. I highly recommend this story and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
I purchased a print copy of The Merchant's Daughter. This review is based on the audio version which I borrowed from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
If you have read some (or all) of these books, you know that each novel can stand alone. But ultimately, they all intertwine. You can see the Family Tree on Melanie's website. I highly recommend this story and hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
I purchased a print copy of The Merchant's Daughter. This review is based on the audio version which I borrowed from my local library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
ArecRain (8 KP) rated His Wicked Lady in Books
Jan 18, 2018
This is definitely a novel you should not base on its cover. The cover makes it look medieval, the description makes it sound regency, but the actual story has a completely different than both of those.
There were a lot of pros and cons for me in this book. On one hand, I liked the strong females leads and the author tackling the subject domestic abuse. However, it felt awkward in unrealistic for the time frame that the author placed the story in. I also felt the dialogue was a bit out of place. Sometimes, authors modernize dialogue so it is more readable for the readers. I am not sure if thats what she was doing, but it didnt detract too much from the story. In fact, I quite enjoyed the lead couples bantering for the most part.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed the novel. It had some unrealistic factors that grated against my nerves, but I was invested in the HEA.
There were a lot of pros and cons for me in this book. On one hand, I liked the strong females leads and the author tackling the subject domestic abuse. However, it felt awkward in unrealistic for the time frame that the author placed the story in. I also felt the dialogue was a bit out of place. Sometimes, authors modernize dialogue so it is more readable for the readers. I am not sure if thats what she was doing, but it didnt detract too much from the story. In fact, I quite enjoyed the lead couples bantering for the most part.
Overall, I would say I enjoyed the novel. It had some unrealistic factors that grated against my nerves, but I was invested in the HEA.
David McK (3233 KP) rated A Morbid Taste for Bones (Chronicles of Brother Cadfael, #1) in Books
Jan 28, 2019
The first of Ellis Peters Cadfael Chronicles mystery novels, which it is no next to impossible to read without imagining Derek Jacobi in the lead role.
For those not in the know, Cadfael is a medieval Welsh Benedictine Monk, who has come late to the Order in life, and who proves rather adept at solving various mysteries, as well as looking after his garden. In this one, the mystery to be solved is just who murdered the leader of the opposition to his Orders plans to relocate the bones of a local saint from the sleepy Welsh village in which she is buried to the confines of his own Order of St Peter and St Paul.
If I'm honest, I actually found this quite hard going: it never really gripped me all that much, nor made me want to read on. Perhaps this kind of novel is just not my cup of tea!
For those not in the know, Cadfael is a medieval Welsh Benedictine Monk, who has come late to the Order in life, and who proves rather adept at solving various mysteries, as well as looking after his garden. In this one, the mystery to be solved is just who murdered the leader of the opposition to his Orders plans to relocate the bones of a local saint from the sleepy Welsh village in which she is buried to the confines of his own Order of St Peter and St Paul.
If I'm honest, I actually found this quite hard going: it never really gripped me all that much, nor made me want to read on. Perhaps this kind of novel is just not my cup of tea!
David McK (3233 KP) rated The Philosophy Book in Books
Jan 30, 2019
With over 2000 years of history, no book could seek to cover each and every aspect of philosophical thought.
What this does, instead, is to give a broad overview of the main works of the main thinkers (SOcrates, Plato, Descartes, Karl Marx, etc) of any particular era, with the book itself split into 6 main sections, as follows:
1) The Ancient World (700 BCE - 250 CE)
2) The Medieval World (250 - 1500)
3) Renaissance and the Age of Reason (1500 - 1750)
4) The Age of Revolution (1750 - 1900)
5) The Modern World (1900 -1950)
6) Contemporary Philosophy (1950 - present)
Nicely illustrated throughout, and with a little bit of history on the thinker themselves, this is a good intro for anybody interested in the subject. (Speaking personally, the closer the philosophy got to contemporary years, the less interesting I found it - I was more interested in the likes of Plato, Socrates and Descartes, for instance, than in Jacques Derrida).
What this does, instead, is to give a broad overview of the main works of the main thinkers (SOcrates, Plato, Descartes, Karl Marx, etc) of any particular era, with the book itself split into 6 main sections, as follows:
1) The Ancient World (700 BCE - 250 CE)
2) The Medieval World (250 - 1500)
3) Renaissance and the Age of Reason (1500 - 1750)
4) The Age of Revolution (1750 - 1900)
5) The Modern World (1900 -1950)
6) Contemporary Philosophy (1950 - present)
Nicely illustrated throughout, and with a little bit of history on the thinker themselves, this is a good intro for anybody interested in the subject. (Speaking personally, the closer the philosophy got to contemporary years, the less interesting I found it - I was more interested in the likes of Plato, Socrates and Descartes, for instance, than in Jacques Derrida).
Hans Ulrich Obrist recommended The Red Book in Books (curated)
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in Books
Oct 10, 2017 (Updated Oct 11, 2017)
I discovered Turkish delight through this book...
This is a must read for children, as the mystical elements are fascinating, but are lost when reading it as an adult.
First published in 1950, this is one of the most classic portal fantasies ever written. Four children are sent from London to an old house in the country during the evacuations of World War II. Through a magic wardrobe, they enter the fantasy land of Narnia, which is a jumbled mixture of Greek mythology, Bible stories, and Arthurian romances, with a bit of Medieval Bestiaries thrown in.
The White Witch has made herself Queen of Narnia, and put it under the spell of an ever-constant winter. With the arrival of the children and the lion Aslan, an old prophecy is met, spring comes to Narnia, and there is a major clash between the good and evil Narnians on who gets to dominate Narnia.
I like the book better than the film just because of the amount of detail used by the master of fantasy C. S. Lewis.
First published in 1950, this is one of the most classic portal fantasies ever written. Four children are sent from London to an old house in the country during the evacuations of World War II. Through a magic wardrobe, they enter the fantasy land of Narnia, which is a jumbled mixture of Greek mythology, Bible stories, and Arthurian romances, with a bit of Medieval Bestiaries thrown in.
The White Witch has made herself Queen of Narnia, and put it under the spell of an ever-constant winter. With the arrival of the children and the lion Aslan, an old prophecy is met, spring comes to Narnia, and there is a major clash between the good and evil Narnians on who gets to dominate Narnia.
I like the book better than the film just because of the amount of detail used by the master of fantasy C. S. Lewis.
Dana (24 KP) rated The Romance of Tristan and Iseult in Books
Mar 23, 2018
This was an interesting classic Romantic story. The Romance of Tristan and Iseult is incredibly sad but also telling of how the ideas of courtly love were perceived in that time period.
I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the stories of that period and how people acted about the different ways to love people. There is the adulterous courtly love, the romantic marital love, and the brotherly and loyal love. Each of these loves are explored in this story, which makes it that much more interesting to read.
I learned in one of my classes that this story was the bedrock to a lot of the stories we know and love today. Romeo and Juliet can even trace its lineage to this story. Shakespeare and a lot of the other writers during his era drew a lot of inspiration from this story, so it was very cool to be able to see where they all came from.
I would recommend reading this if you are interested in reading Romantic/Medieval stories. It is one that is obviously well known.
I really enjoyed getting a glimpse into the stories of that period and how people acted about the different ways to love people. There is the adulterous courtly love, the romantic marital love, and the brotherly and loyal love. Each of these loves are explored in this story, which makes it that much more interesting to read.
I learned in one of my classes that this story was the bedrock to a lot of the stories we know and love today. Romeo and Juliet can even trace its lineage to this story. Shakespeare and a lot of the other writers during his era drew a lot of inspiration from this story, so it was very cool to be able to see where they all came from.
I would recommend reading this if you are interested in reading Romantic/Medieval stories. It is one that is obviously well known.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated For Love and Honor (An Uncertain Choice, #3) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Daring swordfights, a hidden secret, bandits, treasure, true love...Oh yes, Jody Hedlund has delivered another winner of a medieval young adult story.
Lady Sabine has a harrowing journey of self-acceptance ahead of her. Sir Bennet has always strived to remain honorable...Will he be able to follow his heart and love?
I adore that one of my favorite authors has branched out and started a Young Adult series! My only complaint is that the story was too short. I would have loved to have a little more time with Sabine and Bennet...I love the world that Jody has created and the heroes, the knights, are so very swoony! I am excited to read the next book in the series, A Loyal Heart.
I received a complimentary copy of For Love and Honor from the publisher. I also borrowed the audio version from my library and purchased my own print copy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Lady Sabine has a harrowing journey of self-acceptance ahead of her. Sir Bennet has always strived to remain honorable...Will he be able to follow his heart and love?
I adore that one of my favorite authors has branched out and started a Young Adult series! My only complaint is that the story was too short. I would have loved to have a little more time with Sabine and Bennet...I love the world that Jody has created and the heroes, the knights, are so very swoony! I am excited to read the next book in the series, A Loyal Heart.
I received a complimentary copy of For Love and Honor from the publisher. I also borrowed the audio version from my library and purchased my own print copy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
David McK (3233 KP) rated Robin Hood and the Caliph's Gold in Books
Mar 26, 2020
The 9th entry in Angus Donald's Robin Hood Outlaw series of books, although chronologically I think this is the third (set after Holy Warrior).
As such, this starts with Robin and his men trying to make their way back to England from the Holy Land, with the entire story told (as are all the others) in first person narrative, and from the point of view of Alan a Dale, the true protagonist of these stories (let's face it, Robin isn't always a very nice man...)
Shipwrecked on the way home, this sets off a series of circumstances and encounters that sees Robin and his men hatching a plan to steal the Caliph's Gold (it's all there in the title!), with many a ferocious battle and deeds of derring do throughout.
Having recently just having read one of Angus Donald's other historical works (the Blood series: last one I read was Bloods Campaign), I have to say: I think I prefer the medieval setting of these novels better, with Alan a Dale coming across as a more relatable character than Holcroft Blood.
As such, this starts with Robin and his men trying to make their way back to England from the Holy Land, with the entire story told (as are all the others) in first person narrative, and from the point of view of Alan a Dale, the true protagonist of these stories (let's face it, Robin isn't always a very nice man...)
Shipwrecked on the way home, this sets off a series of circumstances and encounters that sees Robin and his men hatching a plan to steal the Caliph's Gold (it's all there in the title!), with many a ferocious battle and deeds of derring do throughout.
Having recently just having read one of Angus Donald's other historical works (the Blood series: last one I read was Bloods Campaign), I have to say: I think I prefer the medieval setting of these novels better, with Alan a Dale coming across as a more relatable character than Holcroft Blood.
Bethr1986 (305 KP) rated Jousting and Justice (Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic #5) in Books
Feb 11, 2022
This series just gets better and better!!
Hayden is completely comfy in her new role as the newspaper editor and her life in Destiny falls. She is even falling in love! More excitingly there is a medieval festival being held on the forbidden island that has everybody a buzz with excitement! Hayden then finds the newspaper office headquarters has been broken into and there is a dead body in the archive room and this is just the begging of this adventure can this mystery be solved?
Elizabeth puts so much enthusiasm into her stories they are a joy to read. The right amount of intrigue and mystery so you don't find yourself getting frustrated because it seems to have gone on forever and nothing is being figured out. Also, the right amount of everything else to bring it all together so nice and neatly. I can't help hoping that maybe there will be a double wedding in the future of destiny falls?
Magnificent job again Elizabeth can't wait for the next instalment 4/5
Hayden is completely comfy in her new role as the newspaper editor and her life in Destiny falls. She is even falling in love! More excitingly there is a medieval festival being held on the forbidden island that has everybody a buzz with excitement! Hayden then finds the newspaper office headquarters has been broken into and there is a dead body in the archive room and this is just the begging of this adventure can this mystery be solved?
Elizabeth puts so much enthusiasm into her stories they are a joy to read. The right amount of intrigue and mystery so you don't find yourself getting frustrated because it seems to have gone on forever and nothing is being figured out. Also, the right amount of everything else to bring it all together so nice and neatly. I can't help hoping that maybe there will be a double wedding in the future of destiny falls?
Magnificent job again Elizabeth can't wait for the next instalment 4/5