Book Review: The Heretic Queen

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Publication Date: September 2008
Source: Library

I really loved this one. I know most historical fiction isn't entirely accurate, but I love reading about different periods in history in such a fun way. Some historical fiction is really dry, but The Heretic Queen was an easy read that was hard to put down.

I often feel uneasy reading historical fiction, especially stories about women. They rarely had it very good, and you know bad things are going to happen to them. And then there are a lot of catty women in these stories, and this one is no exception. It makes it hard to read sometimes, while at the same time keeping things interesting.

Even though I find ancient Egypt really interesting, I didn't know much about Nefertari. She was a fun character to read about, and was very strong and just pretty darn awesome. I would love to read more about her in the future.

I think this is my second book by this author, the first being Rebel Queen. I liked this one better, but I will definitely be reading more of Michelle Moran's books in the future. She's a great author that makes history seem a lot more accessible.

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Book Review: The Secret Keeper

Publication Date: June 5, 2012
by Howard Books
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Source: Review copy from publisher

Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight in Marlborough. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father’s business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.
Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his business with Juliana’s father’s estate and sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in the Parr household for “finishing” and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly. For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king’s daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.
As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII’s court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will upset everything she thought she once held dear.

I don't read a whole lot of historical fiction.  It's not that I don't like the genre, it's just that I prefer the fantasy world a little more.  But Sandra Byrd is one of my favorite authors, and someone I consider a friend, so regardless of the genre, I will happily read whatever she writes.  With that said, you can bet that I'll probably be a little biased in my opinion of her books.  But I think she's a wonderful writer, and that's what caused me to seek her out (on Facebook and such) in the first place.

So, on to The Secret Keeper.  I'll be honest, it took me a little bit of time to get into this book.  It seemed there were so many characters, and I couldn't keep them straight.  I had no idea who was who, and I wasn't connecting with the main character.  

But somewhere along the way I got sucked in.  I really started to care about what happened to Kateryn Parr, and to Juliana.  Which, as you know if you're familiar with the time period, isn't always a good thing.  Women didn't seem to have it so great during the time of Henry VIII.  Especially queens.  It can all get a little depressing.  For all the beauty and grandeur, I certainly don't envy any of these women.  Give me my calm, peaceful, even boring life any day.

One thing I do like about historical fiction, and that Sandra Byrd does really well, is that it makes me interested in the time period.  I'm not a history buff by any means, but when I read these books I want to know more.  And I am always quite impressed with the authors and the research that must go into writing books like this.  The Secret Keeper delves into a bit of history that I really knew nothing about, and makes it interesting and entertaining.  

The religion was woven throughout the book in such a way as to not be obtrusive or heavy-handed.  It seemed a natural part of the story, and was appropriate for the setting and time.  I would definitely call it Christian fiction, but not fiction that would turn off anyone who isn't religious.

By the end of this one, I was so hoping for a happy ending for someone.  You'll have to read it yourself to see if I got my wish.  I would very much recommend this book to historical fiction readers and lovers of Christian fiction.

To Die For by Sandra Byrd

To Die For is the first book in the new Ladies in Waiting series by Sandra Byrd.  I don't usually read a lot of historical fiction.  I generally like to stick with the pretend stuff, like you'll find in speculative fiction.  But Sandra Byrd is one of my favorite authors, and I love her novels (I haven't read her YA books, so I can't comment on those, but I adore her adult novels).  Before I get to anything else, though, can I just take a minute to point out how gorgeous this cover is?  It's definitely pretty enough to frame.

I admit, I'm not the most well-versed person on the Tudor period.  An author probably could put whatever they wanted in there and I wouldn't know the difference.  So for the authenticity of the story, I really can't comment.  Except to say that according to Sandra Byrd's author note in the back of the book, she did a lot of research.  She didn't just start writing all willy nilly.

I enjoyed reading from the viewpoint of someone who wasn't so front and center in the Tudor court.  Sometimes a novel told in first person can really make me annoyed with the main character, and I think had the story been told from Anne Boleyn's point of view, that may have happened.  But Meg was such a likable character.  She was honest with herself and others, and was loyal, almost to a fault.  But she wasn't one of those characters that was too perfect either.  I was really rooting for her.

Reading from the point of view of someone who was good friends with and so close to Anne Boleyn definitely made Anne's character more sympathetic.  We're hearing the story from her closest friend instead of one of her many enemies.  I grew to really love Anne, and although I knew what was coming at the end (I do know some history), I was still very sad.  I might have cried a little.

To Die For takes a period of history that we are all familiar with to some degree, and makes the people real.  I felt like I connected with the characters in a way that I haven't been able to in the past with historical fiction.  Sandra Byrd is a Christian writer, and while there is religion in this book (which is to be expected for the time period as well), it's never preachy.  That's one thing I've really enjoyed about her books.  I've never felt preached to or lectured as with some Christian fiction.

This is a wonderful historical fiction novel and I can honestly say that I loved it.  I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, which is due in 2012.  If you love historical fiction, the Tudor period, or just a really good story, get your hands on this book!  (Release date is August 9th)
Grade: A

Links:
Sandra Byrd's Website
On Amazon: To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn


Disclosure: I received a review copy of To Die For from the publisher and the only thing I got for writing this review was the pleasure of reading the book. :)

Favorites: Mark of the Lion Trilogy

I haven't blogged about some older favorites for awhile, so I thought it was time to do one. If you're a fan of historical fiction, my absolute favorite is The Mark of the Lion trilogy.

The first book in the series is A Voice in the Wind, and it was my favorite of the three. For a book description and some other goodies, visit the author's website here.

And for a little preview, here's a quote from the book:
"We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn't take him down off the cross."

Obviously from the quote, you can see that there is some Christianity in this book. It is set in the time just after Christ, and the main character is one of the early Christians. I was deeply inspired by this book, and it just really resonated with me. If you read and enjoy A Voice in the Wind, continue on to An Echo in the Darkness, followed by As Sure as the Dawn. All very wonderful books that I highly recommend.

Wildthorn

Title: Wildthorn
Author: Jane Eagland
Genre: YA Historical
Page Count: 359
Why I read it: Netgalley review copy
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare w...more Seventeen-year-old Louisa Cosgrove longs to break free from her respectable life as a Victorian doctor's daughter. But her dreams become a nightmare when Louisa is sent to Wildthorn Hall: labeled a lunatic, deprived of her liberty and even her real name. As she unravels the betrayals that led to her incarceration, she realizes there are many kinds of prison. She must be honest with herself - and others - in order to be set free. And love may be the key...

My review:
This book started off very mysterious. We, as a reader, feel just about as lost as the main character, Louisa. Through flashbacks, we begin to learn Louisa's story, which is fairly interesting, but not so much that I had a hard time putting the book down. Other times, when she was in the asylum, I couldn't ever really figure out what was going on or why. I think it was intentional, as we were supposed to be unraveling what happened along with the main character, but at times it makes it hard to read because there are never any explanations for what happens to Louisa--just a bunch of seemingly cruel people who don't want to really help the women at the asylum.

Louisa was a strong character. She was very much a feminist in her time, not wanting to follow the typical roles set out for women. Although sometimes it all seemed a bit over the top, as though the author wanted to make sure we really knew just how different she was. Mostly, it just wasn't as enjoyable for me as it could have been. I didn't care for any of the secondary characters, even though there were some heartbreaking stories in there, for some reason I just didn't connect with the writing or the story.

I absolutely love the cover of this one, but I can't say that I would heartily recommend the book. It may be one that I would say to look for at the library, but nothing beyond that.

Everlasting

Title: Everlasting
Author: Angie Frazier
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy
Page Count: 336
Why I read it: ARC Tour
Grade: A-

Synopsis:
Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty.

On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous—and alluring—magic.

The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who—and what—matters most.

My review:
I really loved this book. Way more than I expected to when I read the synopsis. It was wonderfully paced. Some books have action scene after action scene, without giving you any time to even catch your breath. This one definitely has action, but there are also some scenes where the reader can get to know the characters and the setting.

And I loved the characters. Camille is a great heroine, and I was really feeling the romance between her and Oscar. Oscar felt like a man, rather than the boys I so often read about in YA novels. Which makes me question why I read YA so often, since it's quite understandable that the male leads would still be boys. But it's nice to come across a more mature, manly character every once in awhile.

I never got bored while reading, or felt that the story started to get slow or tiresome. The only problem I had with it was that most of the action was packed into what felt like a very rushed ending. As I was nearing the end of the book I kept wondering if there was going to be a big cliffhanger or something, because with the amount of pages left, there's no way the author was going to wrap up everything that needed to happen. But she did, and sadly, it felt incredibly rushed. Everlasting seems like it could be the first in a series, but it stands on it's own as well.

I will definitely read more by Angie Frazier, and would highly recommend this one to fans of YA.

An Absence So Great (+giveaway)

Title: An Absence So Great
Author: Jane Kirkpatrick
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction
Page Count: 367
Why I read it: blog tour for publisher
Grade: C

Synopsis:
While growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those owners who have fallen ill with mercury poisoning. 

Jessie gains footing in her dream to one day operate her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep painful memories from seeping into her heart when the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

My review:
This is book two in a series, and since I didn't read the first one, I can't say how much it would have affected my enjoyment with this one.  I think reading the first one may have given the reader a fuller appreciation of the characters and what they are currently going through, and what they went through in the past.

This series is based on the life of the author's grandmother, and that definitely adds some interest to the story.  There are even photographs taken by her grandmother included in the book.

I found it a little hard to relate to the main character, and maybe the story in general, but I think that the writing was good.  The plot was fairly slow moving, and obviously in this kind of novel you're not going to get a whole lot of fast-paced action.

I would recommend this one to fans of Christian fiction, but I'm still on the lookout for something that will blow me away as much as Francine Rivers historical fiction did.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  To find out more about this book, click here.

I have a copy of this novel to giveaway to one lucky reader.  To enter, just leave a comment here.  You must be a follower of this blog to enter (that way I can easily find you if you win).  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, and will end on April 10th.

Here Burns My Candle (+Giveaway)

Title: Here Burns My Candle
Author: Liz Curtis Higgs
Genre: Christian historical fiction
Page Count: 454
Why I read it: blog tour for the publisher
Grade: C

Synopsis:
Lady Elisabeth Kerr is a keeper of secrets. A Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, she honors the auld ways, even as doubts and fears stir deep within her.
Her husband, Lord Donald, has secrets of his own, well hidden from the household, yet whispered among the town gossips.
His mother, the dowager Lady Marjory, hides gold beneath her floor and guilt inside her heart. Though her two abiding passions are maintaining her place in society and coddling her grown sons, Marjory’s many regrets, buried in Greyfriars Churchyard, continue to plague her.
One by one the Kerr family secrets begin to surface, even as bonny Prince Charlie and his rebel army ride into Edinburgh in September 1745, intent on capturing the crown.
A timeless story of love and betrayal, loss and redemption, flickering against the vivid backdrop of eighteenth-century Scotland, Here Burns My Candle illumines the dark side of human nature, even as hope, the brightest of tapers, lights the way home.

My review:
You know how sometimes you're in the mood for a fast-paced, edge of your seat novel, and sometimes you want something a little quieter--a little more reflective?  Here Burns My Candle is the latter.  It deals a lot with character growth, and that's really the meat of the story.

There was a smattering of Scottish words throughout (with a glossary in the back, in case you have trouble figuring out what the words mean), and to be honest, that's not really my thing.  It distracts me and pulls me out of the story.  But I've read other reviews where the readers felt that it added to the story, so it's definitely a personal preference thing.

The religion in this one isn't overwhelming, and I think the book could be enjoyed by a person who is not religious.  On the other hand, I think a religious person would really enjoy what religion IS in there.  The story is somewhat of a retelling of Ruth and Naomi's story in the Bible.  I guess the nice thing about this story is that it could be enjoyed by anyone, and different people will get different things out of it, as with any good book.

I would recommend this to fans of historical fiction and Christian fiction.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.  To find out more information about this book, click here.

Would you like to win a free copy of Here Burns My Candle?  I've got one up for grabs!  To enter, just leave a comment here.  You must be a follower of this blog to enter (that way I can easily contact you if you win).  This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, and will end on April 2nd.