Book Review: The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel

The Valley of Horses by Jean M. Auel
Book 2 in Earth’s Children series
Unabridged, 21 hr. 46 min.
Brilliance Audio
Sandra Burr (Narrator)
September 14, 2004
★★★☆☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Downloaded the audio from my local library

“This unforgettable odyssey into the distant past carries us back to the awesome mysteries of the exotic, primeval world of The Clan of the Cave Bear, and to Ayla, now grown into a beautiful and courageous young woman.

Cruelly cast out by the new leader of the ancient Clan that adopted her as a child, Ayla leaves those she loves behind and travels alone through a stark, open land filled with dangerous animals but few people, searching for the Others, tall and fair like herself. The short summer gives her little time to look, and when she finds a sheltered valley with a herd of hardy steppe horses, she decides to stay and prepare for the long glacial winter ahead. Living with the Clan has taught Ayla many skills but not real hunting. She finally knows she can survive when she traps a horse, which gives her meat and a warm pelt for the winter, but fate has bestowed a greater gift, an orphaned foal with whom she develops a unique kinship. One winter extends to more; she discovers a way to make fire more quickly and a wounded cave lion cub joins her unusual family, but her beloved animals don’t fulfill her restless need for human companionship. Then she hears the sound of a man screaming in pain. She saves tall, handsome Jondalar, who brings her a language to speak and an awakening of love and desire, but Ayla is torn between her fear of leaving her valley and her hope of living with her own kind.”

I loved Clan of the Cave Bear a lot and having read from a lot of people that many of the other books in the series were not as good, I waited a little while to pick this one up. And while I will admit that this was not as good as the first book, it wasn’t all that bad either.

I think I was the most disappointed in the fact that the entire book is not about Ayla’s adventures. That was one of the things that I loved about Cave Bear. Reading the book blurb it sounds like the focus is again going to be Ayla and that she will eventually meet a man at some point in the novel. However, early on the book is divided into Ayla’s story and Jondahlar’s story. Jondahlar is one of the “Others”. While it was interesting learning their ways in comparison to the ways of “The Clan” – I just did not find myself really all that interested in Jondahlar and his friends. I always wanted to get back to Ayla’s story.

I knew however, that these two storylines would eventually come together with Jondahlar and Ayla meeting. Knowing this, I was disappointed with how they actually met – it felt too rushed and contrived. Seeing them get to understand each other was entertaining, but I swear that if Jondahlar described Ayla as beautiful one more time I might have screamed.

Overall, the story was good. I think a little less Jondahlar and a little more Ayla would have made it better. Also, some scenes could have been abbreviated and more effective. I still will be reading the rest of the series but have lowered my expectations just a little bit.

★★★★☆

The narration was fairly similar to how the narration was in book one (same narrator). I think that the production was improved upon, and I found the narrator’s voice easy to listen to.

Auel also has written 5 other books in the series: The Clan of the Cave Bear #1, The Mammoth Hunters #3. The Plains of Passage #4, The Shelters of Stone #5, and The Land of the Painted Caves #6. You can visit Auel’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this audio excerpt of the book?

My reviews of other books by this author:

• Clan of the Cave Bear

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Bippity, Boppity, Book
• Feeling Fictional

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Mailbox Monday #159

Another Monday, another mailbox.  This week all my books came in electronic form and were requested by me.  And interestingly, 3 of the 4 are set in ancient settings (to some extent).  The remaining book is my other favorite setting – the American Revolution!  Also, FYI, links in titles below go to the Goodreads pages – so you can see the book blurbs etc.

• The Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry (kindle copy via Netgalley).  I haven’t read anything set in Carthage or dealing with Carthage, and this one sounds sort of like a time travel book too.
• Pyramid of Secrets by Tracey L. Higley (kindle copy purchased from Amazon).  I have had my eye on Higley’s Seven Wonders series for awhile.  You may remember that I picked up Isle of Shadows recently also from this series.  This one is the second book in the series about the pyramids.  Note: This was previously released under City of the Dead. 
• Marduk’s Tablet by Tracy L. Higley aka T.L. Higley (kindle copy purchased from Amazon).  Not from the Seven Wonders series, but partially set in the ancient Babylon, partially in modern day.
• The Traitor’s Wife by Allison Pataki (kindle copy via Netgalley).  Earlier this year I enjoyed a book I read about Benedict Arnold and his wife, Peggy Shippen, was a smaller role in that novel.  Pataki gives Shippen the novel treatment here.  Plus I LOVE the American Revolution.

So what did you get this week?

Mailbox Monday is on a monthly blog tour and for the month of November it is being hosted by I Totally Paused.

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift
Paperback, 544 pages
Pan
October 24, 2013 (UK Release)
★★★½☆☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from review from publisher

“London 1609…

Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.

Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary – determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . .”

This book took me a little longer to finish than I might have liked – It look me a lot time to get into the story. I really wasn’t into it until about two-thirds of the way through. I think what just didn’t work for me were the characters - I didn’t really like any of the characters through most of the novel. I think Elspet is supposed to be the sympathetic protagonist, but for the most part I found her wilting and boring. Zachary was more interesting – probably because he actually did something, his true nature was hidden for quite some time, and he had an intriguing personality. In the end they all evolved a little bit and I ended up liking both of them more than through most of the book. 

The setting is well done – I could feel the heat of the Spanish sun and the blacksmith shop. By comparison, England was dreary and sad. I think that maybe this mirrors the attitudes of events that occurred in the two places?

The plot was sort of a plodding pace for most of the book. Again, once the two-thirds point came around the various plotlines began coming together and it was a more cohesive story and the pages just moved by. The ending was satisfying, although not what I would have ultimately wanted.

I liked the book, but wouldn’t say that I loved it. I enjoyed The Gilded Lily MUCH more.

Author Deborah Swift has written these additional books: The Lady’s Slipper and The Gilded Lily. You can also visit Deborah Swift’s website or one of her blogs for additional information about the books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• The Gilded Lily

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Reading the Past
• The Lit Bitch

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon UK.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #DividedInheritanceTour.

This is a re-post of the giveaway I originally posted on the In-Process Review.  The giveaway is for one paperback copy of A Divided Inheritance and it is open INTERNATIONALLY!  Make your entries through the Rafflecopter below.  Last day to enter is November 24th.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Interview with Kerryn Reid

Good morning everyone!  Hope you are having a wonderful week thus far.  Today I have the wonderful opportunity to share with you an interview with author Kerryn Reid.  And…this is her first interview as a new author!  So help me welcome Kerryn and read on!

Learning to Waltz is your debut novel – what has the writing process been like for you?  Anything that has surprised you or differed from your expectations?

I had no expectations, so it’s all been a surprise. Dialogue was surprisingly easy, structure surprisingly difficult. My biggest mistake? I completed my first draft before I ever started learning how to write a novel.

Is writing something that you always had plans to do or something that arose more recently?

When I was in high school, I helped my dad proofread the galleys for one of his books. I was fascinated by that process, and thought how much fun it would be proofread a book of my own. And it would NOT be some boring treatise on the history of the Constitution! But I didn’t think again about writing until my own kids were in high school. I won’t tell you how long ago that was! 

Your novel is set in the Regency period – what about this period drew you to selecting it as your setting?

I think I could enjoy writing about nearly any period in history. But I grew up reading Regencies and felt I had a good handle on the tropes, the language, the social conventions – and maybe I did, in a general sense. But it’s amazing how much I did not know! Since Regency readers are all experts, I look forward to hearing about the mistakes I made.

When writing Learning to Waltz, did you work from an planned outline or was it more of an as you went sort of thing?

I like the word “organic”. It started with one image, and an opening sentence that doesn’t exist anymore. (In fact, the first three chapters are gone!) And I knew it would have a happy ending, even before I knew it had to if it wanted to be a romance. I learned later on how helpful an outline might be, when my timeline got all messed up. So I’m approaching my next book differently. There’s no outline per se, but several pages of notes on characters and plot points. And yes, a fairly detailed timeline. I’m also intrigued by the idea of writing a synopsis early on to serve as a road map. But I haven’t done it yet, because I hate writing synopses!

I know you just got your first novel under your belt, but do you have any other plans to write more in the future?

I do! I’ve made a good start on #2, a tale of brotherly hatred. And there are several other ideas percolating. Unfortunately I’m not a fast writer, but patience will be rewarded. I hope to give you many more opportunities to host me on your wonderful blog, Heather! ;-)

Kerryn grew up the daughter of a professor in a New England college town. But her mother was a devotee of ‘Olde’ England – its antiques, mystery novels and vacation opportunities. As a girl, Kerryn spent a year in England and another in Ireland, with several shorter trips for good measure. While on a hitchhiking tour around Ireland at seventeen, she roamed the Rock of Cashel in the dark with her first love, a local Irish lad. Totally illicit, totally romantic!

She’s lived in Florida long enough to feel like a native. That’s where she wrote the first sentence of Learning to Waltz in 1999, when her sons were in high school. Years later she joined two local writing groups and realized how much she had to learn. That first sentence? It’s not there anymore.

As her literary skills have evolved, so has Kerryn’s life. Her boys have left the nest, and come home, and flown away again. She lost her parents, and acquired an awesome daughter-in-law. Her dogs are different, but they’re still dogs. And the love of her life is still right there, trimming the hedges and thinking up tag lines. He’s not Irish, but he’s amazing!

You can find Kerryn at the following sites:

• Goodreads, Facebook, Website

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Mailbox Monday #158

Welcome to another edition of Mailbox Monday!  What did you get in your mailbox this week?

I pretty much have the rest of November and December open for free reading/catching up on overdue reviews/etc. and that of course is a wonderfully freeing feeling!  I always try to give myself a little breathing room toward the end of the year because there are always all kinds of things that come up etc.  I picked up a couple books over the last few weeks anyway (couldn’t resist!).

• Elizabeth of York by Alison Weir (NF – downloaded through Netgalley).  I haven’t yet had the chance to read any of Weir’s NF, although I have a few.  This one is on a subject I don’t know too much about.
• Dear Abigail by Diane Jacobs (NF – downloaded through Netgalley).  Thanks Amy for pointing this one out to me.  This is the first biography to focus on Abigail Adams and her sisters and the relationships therein. 
• Blood of Tyrants by Logan Bierne (NF – downloaded through Netgalley).  A book about George Washington and how the position of president came to be.
• Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin (NF – audio downloaded from publisher).  I really enjoyed the previous book from Goodwin about Lincoln and company (which the movie was made from) and I am interested to see her take on TR.
• Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb (downloaded from Netgalley as part of HFBRT tour).  Finally some fiction!  I met Heather Webb when we were both panelists at the HNS conference this summer and am excited to read her first novel about Josephine, Napoleon’s wife.

And that’s it!

Mailbox Monday is on a monthly blog tour and for the month of November it is being hosted by I Totally Paused.

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

A Few Giveaway Winners

I know I am WAY WAY behind at posting up some of these giveaway winners.  My apologies for the delay, things just kept coming up that got in the way.  So here they are without further delay:

Anvil of God by J. Boyce Gleason goes to…Lisa H!

Banquet of Lies by Michelle Diener goes to…Amy C!

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt goes to…Laura K!

**Update** – I have to announce a new winner having been selected for Illuminations.  Laura K already won a copy of the book elsewhere, so the new winner is Maureen C!

The Confessions of Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey goes to…Svea!

Congrats to everyone!  I hope you all enjoy your books. 

I have sent emails out to everyone requesting addresses.  If I don’t receive the information I will select new winners as appropriate.

Thanks for the great participation everyone!

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Weekend Cooking: New England Clam Chowder

It is that time of year now when soups are the thing to make, and nothing screams Massachusetts in the fall/winter like New England Clam Chowder.  It seems everyone around here knows this as when I was at the seafood counter buying my clams, the man asked “are you making a chowda?” – yes, we are somewhat near Boston! 

I have made many versions of New England Clam Chowder (and as yet to try my hand at the Rhode Island or Manhattan varieties), but this one comes from a new cookbook I picked up a month or so ago.  It is from Mystic Seaport, the New England museum of the sea and maritime exploits.  The book is called Mystic Seafood, and it is chock full of great sounding recipes and lots of history of the area, photographs, and fishing, etc.

So here are a couple historical tidbits about clams:

• Did you know it took until around the 1800’s for clams to become a popular food in New England? This was because they were perceived as food only for the Native Peoples and the colonists would only eat them if there was nothing else!
• The quintessential New England summertime activity of a clam-bake was given a history of being a peaceful gathering that occurred between Natives and colonists.  This is purely romanticism – see previous bullet point. 

New England Clam Chower
Makes 5 servings, 1 cup each

Ingredients:
2 pounds cherrystone or littleneck clams
2 cups water
2 slices bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup yellow onion, chopped
2 cups potato diced into ½ inch cubes
1 12-oz can evaporated skim milk
1 cup half-and-half or light cream
1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
1 teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1) Rinse the clams thoroughly to remove dirt/grit.  Bring water to a boil and add the clams.  Steam until they open, approximately 7-9 minutes.  Drain the clams into a bowl through a strainer lined with several layers of cheesecloth or a coffee filter.  Reserve the broth.  When clams are cooled, remove from shells and chop coarsely.

2) In a large pot, cook the bacon over medium until the fat is rendered and bacon is crisp.  Remove from pot and drain on paper towels.  Crumble, chop, and drain pot.

3) Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the pot and add onion.  Sauté until soft, about 3 minutes.  Add potatoes and stir to coat.  Cook for another 2 minutes.

4) Add 1 ½ cups of the reserved broth and simmer until potatoes are soft, 10-12 minutes.  Add the clams and bacon and simmer another 3 minutes.

5) Add the evaporated milk and half-and-half or light cream.  Add the salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine.  Heat thoroughly, but do not boil.  Float the remaining 1 tablespoon button on top.  Serve hot.

FYI – I forgot to photograph my soup.  This photo, from Food Network, most closely resembles my soup.

This wasn’t necessarily my favorite version of this soup.  It wasn’t as creamy as I am used to.  The broth had the consistency of a Rhode Island chowder, except made with milk.  I think if I make this version again I would want to try to thicken the broth using a roux of flour and butter. 

The cookbook notes that condensed milk was most commonly used in older chowder recipes because fresh milk wasn’t frequently available.  That could also be the different with this recipe than from others I have made.  I have never made it with a condensed milk before – always with cream and milk. 

It was by no means a bad soup, it just wasn’t my favorite version.  It was chock full of potatoes and clams though and did have a nice flavor.  My fiancé wasn’t a fan of the fact you use whole clams, he has an aversion to clam bellies, and there were a couple pieces that I did pick out that looked gross.

Weekend Cooking is hosted by Beth Fish Reads. Any post remotely related to cooking can participate.

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

New Book Alert: Wolfsangel by Liza Perrat

Wolfsangel
by Liza Perrat
Paperback, 324 pages
Perrat Publishing
ISBN: 2954168129
October 17, 2013

Book Blurb:

“Seven decades after German troops march into her village, Céleste Roussel is still unable to assuage her guilt.

1943. German soldiers occupy provincial Lucie-sur-Vionne, and as the villagers pursue treacherous schemes to deceive and swindle the enemy, Céleste embarks on her own perilous mission as her passion for a Reich officer flourishes.

When her loved ones are deported to concentration camps, Céleste is drawn into the vortex of this monumental conflict, and the adventure and danger of French Resistance collaboration.

As she confronts the harrowing truths of the Second World War’s darkest years, Céleste is forced to choose: pursue her love for the German officer, or answer General de Gaulle’s call to fight for France.

Her fate suspended on the fraying thread of her will, Celeste gains strength from the angel talisman bequeathed to her through her lineage of healer kinswomen. But the decision she makes will shadow the remainder of her days.

A woman’s unforgettable journey to help liberate Occupied France, Wolfsangel is a stirring portrayal of the courage and resilience of the human mind, body and spirit.”

You can read a sample of the book or listen to a podcast about the book.

You can visit the author’s website for additional information.

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

In-Progress Book Review: A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift & Giveaway

A Divided Inheritance by Deborah Swift
Paperback, 544 pages
Pan
October 24, 2013 (UK Release)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from review from publisher

“London 1609…

Elspet Leviston’s greatest ambition is to continue the success of her father Nathaniel’s lace business. But her dreams are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of her mysterious cousin Zachary Deane – who has his own designs on Leviston’s Lace.

Zachary is a dedicated swordsman with a secret past that seems to invite trouble. So Nathaniel sends him on a Grand Tour, away from the distractions of Jacobean London. Elspet believes herself to be free of her hot-headed relative but when Nathaniel dies her fortunes change dramatically. She is forced to leave her beloved home and go in search of Zachary – determined to claim back from him the inheritance that is rightfully hers.
Under the searing Spanish sun, Elspet and Zachary become locked in a battle of wills. But these are dangerous times and they are soon embroiled in the roar and sweep of something far more threatening, sending them both on an unexpected journey of discovery which finally unlocks the true meaning of family . . .”

I need to first start out by saying this is an incomplete review (my first!) – I had so many things come up in the last couple weeks that I have not been able to finish the book yet. I’m a little over halfway, so this is a sort-of “in progress book review”. I will post a completed review when I’m finished reading – which will inevitably include elements from this one.

So far, this isn’t my favorite book by this author. I loved reading The Gilded Lily; the characters were great, it was fast paced, and the drama was all there pretty much from the beginning. So far, I don’t really like any of the characters. I think Elspet is supposed to be the sympathetic protagonist, but I just sort of find her wilting and boring. Zachary is more interesting – I can feel there is more to him that I don’t know yet, but I still don’t really like him as a good or bad character. I think the characters are the aspect that I don’t like the most. The setting is well done – I can feel the heat of the Spanish sun and the blacksmith shop. The plot is sort of a plodding pace at the moment but I have the feeling it will pick up as several storylines seem to be coming to a head.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #DividedInheritanceTour.

I also have a giveaway opportunity for one paperback copy of A Divided Inheritance and it is open INTERNATIONALLY!  Make your entries through the Rafflecopter below.  Last day to enter is November 24th.  Good luck!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Interview with J. Boyce Gleason & Giveaway

Good morning everyone!  I have the opportunity today to host author J. Boyce Gleason at The Maiden’s Court.  His book Anvil of God was released this past July and he is on currently on tour with HFVBT.  I asked him a couple questions, and you can read the responses below.  Also, stay tuned at the end for a giveaway.

The Carolingians are not a subject that receives a lot of attention in historical fiction.  What was it about this time period/people that inspired you to write about them?

I studied medieval history in college and was drawn to the story of Charlemagne and, in particular, an epic poem (much like the Iliad and the Odyssey of ancient Greece) called The Song of Roland. It is a great story and I was surprised that it was so unknown to the general public. I thought it would make for a great novel one day and I put it on my life’s “to do list” (which we now call the “bucket list”).

Years later, when I finally sat down to write, I began to study the story in earnest. Like the story of King Arthur, there was so much legend surrounding Charlemagne that I had to make a choice – write a story based on the history or a story based on the myth. In researching the history, I discovered Trudi’s story, which historians and the Church described as the “scandal of the eighth century.” I knew instantly that I didn’t need the legend. The story I had to write began with her.

Your novel, Anvil of God, is set in 741 surrounding the death of Charles the Hammer.  For those of us who are not very familiar with the time period, can you give us a little bit of backstory?

After three hundred years of rule, the Merovingian Kings of France (recently made famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code) had become little more than figureheads, so much so that historians refer to the last of their kind as “puppet kings.” The true power behind the throne rested with a number of military chieftains throughout the kingdom known as “mayors of the palace.” Charles Martel (The Hammer) was the bastard son of a powerful mayor, who, through conquest, united much of what is modern Europe under his authority as mayor. He ruled for nearly forty years and became so powerful that when the last Merovingian died, he refused to raise another to the throne, intending to take it for himself. His unexpected death sets the stage for Anvil of God.

Charles is most famous for stopping the incursion of the Islamic armies into Europe. Throughout much of the seventh century, the armies of Mohammed and his Caliphate successors had swept across North Africa and the Middle East. Early in the eighth century they invaded Spain and parts of Southern France (Avignon, Lyon and Narbonne). In 732, the Islamic armies crossed the Pyrenees into France and marched towards the city of Tours, where the holy relics of St. Martin were kept. With the help of Eudo of Aquitaine, Charles halted the advancing armies at Poitiers and later routed them in a surprise midnight attack. The victory was, for many centuries, credited with saving the existence of Christianity in Europe.

The rise of the Carolingians is a fascinating story and pivotal to the development of western civilization. In the midst of the dark ages, the Carolingian family rose to power, seized the throne from the Merovingians, beat back the incursions of the Saxons in the east and the Muslims in the west; united Europe under one rule, and -- for a brief period -- restored the glory days of the Roman Empire, with all its patronage of the arts and literature. It was a renaissance before the Renaissance and it would serve as a standard against which rulers would measure themselves for a millennium.

Anvil of God is the first book in a planned series.  What can you tell us about this upcoming series? (Will we follow the same characters, other members of the dynasty, etc.?)

Book Two starts two months after the end of Book One. So, yes, you will see many of the same characters as the story unfolds. I had originally planned it all as one book, but the story was too long to tell in one sitting. Much of what comes next is foreshadowed in Anvil of God and will continue the story of this generation of the Carolingians.

What has the writing experience been like for you?  Is it something that you always wanted to do or something that came up more recently?

As I mentioned above, I had always planned on writing a novel, but life got in the way. A writer’s life is not a lucrative one and I didn’t have the heart to subject my family to a life of poverty. The career I chose, however, was one that required a lot of writing, so I was always honing my craft, even if it wasn’t in novel form.

As an experience, creative writing is somewhat scary. To do it well, one has to let go of your inhibitions and let the characters take over the story. That has, on occasion, taken me to some dark places that I’m not sure I want to revisit.

Overall, however, it has been a great adventure. On my worst days, I sit and stare at a blank page; on my best, the words pour out of me and I can’t wait to find out what happens.

When you are not reading books related to your own works, what do you like to read?

I’m a big fan of science fiction -- Ray Bradbury, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Ursula Le Guin, Stephen R. Donaldson, Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, Robert Jordan, Marion Zimmer-Bradley, Greg Bear, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman (I could go on). When I was young, I always imagined that I would compose science fiction/fantasy. When I sat down to write, however, I discovered I don’t have the imagination required.

After a 25-year career in crisis management and public affairs, J. Boyce Gleason began writing historical fiction and is publishing his first novel ANVIL OF GOD, Book One of the Carolingian Chronicles.  With an AB in history from Dartmouth College, Gleason brings a strong understanding of the past to his historical fiction.  He is married, has three sons and lives in Virginia.

You can visit his website for additional information.

You can follow along with the rest of the blog tour by visiting the HFVBT website or on Twitter with the following hashtag: #AnvilOfGodTour.

I also have a giveaway to offer of one paperback copy of Anvil of God to a US resident.  The giveaway will remain open until November 17th.  Simply complete entries in the Rafflecopter below.  Good luck.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin

A Storm of Swords by George R. R. Martin
Book 3 of A Song of Ice and Fire series
Unabridged, 47 hr. 40 min.
Random House Audio
Roy Dotrice (Narrator)
March 11, 2004
★★★★☆

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fantasy

Source: Started reading paperback from my fiancé’s collection; downloaded audiobook from library

“Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage as alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons still left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mythical Others—a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords...”

There were times when this book was brilliant and times when it dragged – looking back on the experience (and after watching the most recent season of the HBO show) I would lean more toward the brilliant. Martin continues his epic story in which we are thrown right back into the civil war as all the contender fight for the crown. You have three sorts of story settings – the North and Beyond the Wall, the South and the seat of the kingdom, and across the sea. I really enjoyed what was happening on and beyond the wall, possibly because it is an area that hasn’t yet been affected directly by the war.

There are some GREAT scenes – and certainly things that you would NEVER see coming. This is something that Martin is great at, creating shocking moments. And as expected there are just a few deaths (not a spoiler as Martin has killed off MANY characters in the 3 books I have read so far). If you have seen the most recent season of the show you have some idea of what I’m talking about. Some people are turned off by some of these scenes or having characters they like dying – but I think it is the sign of a good author to be willing to kill of a character for the sake of moving the story forward.

With regard to characters, especially narrating characters – I have definite opinions on 4 of them (there are 12 narrators this time).

• Jon Snow: As mentioned above, one of my favorite sections of the book is the beyond the wall sections. I think Jon has evolved possibly the most out of all the characters and I find him very interesting.
• Jamie Lannister: Another character who makes some major life changes. He became a much more likeable character and someone who I’m cautiously considering rooting for in future books.
• Tyrion Lannister: He is a hilarious man and I could read his scenes all day long
• Catelyn Stark: I pretty much can’t stand the woman. She is always complaining, do the exact wrong thing, and I essentially have no sympathy for her at all. Harsh? Probably.

The rest of the characters are good, don’t get me wrong, but they just sort of fall somewhere in the middle.

I would say that I enjoyed books 1 and 2 more than this third installment (again the dragging chapters between big events), but still a great book overall and I look forward to reading the next book.

★★★★☆

The narration was enjoyable – the length was incredible! I realize that the book is right around 1,000 pages, but I didn’t imagine it would be so long to listen to! That is a lot of time to commit to a listen.

Author George R. R. Martin has written these additional books in the series: A Game of Thrones (book 1), A Clash of Kings (book 2), A Feast for Crows (book 4), and A Dance with Dragons (book 5). The series has been adapted into a television series by HBO – which has been very faithful to the book. You can follow the production of the show on the following blog, Winter is Coming. You can also visit George R. R. Martin's website for additional information about the books.

My reviews of other books by this author:

• A Game of Thrones
• A Clash of Kings
• A Feast for Crows

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Cuddlebuggery
• Best Fantasy Books

Here are some choices for purchasing the book: Amazon, B&N, RJ Julia (my fav indie bookstore).

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Mailbox Monday #157

The book I received this week was a surprise one!  Love when that sort of thing happens.

• Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times by Lucy Lethbridge.  I won this one from the Goodreads First Reads program.  This one sounds fascinating – and who doesn’t love winning something.

“Servants: A Downstairs View of Twentieth-century Britain is the social history of the last century through the eyes of those who served. From the butler, the footman, the maid and the cook of 1900 to the au pairs, cleaners and childminders who took their place seventy years later, a previously unheard class offers a fresh perspective on a dramatic century. Here, the voices of servants and domestic staff, largely ignored by history, are at last brought to life: their daily household routines, attitudes towards their employers, and to each other, throw into sharp and intimate relief the period of feverish social change through which they lived.

Sweeping in its scope, extensively researched and brilliantly observed, Servants is an original and fascinating portrait of twentieth-century Britain; an authoritative history that will change and challenge the way we look at society.”

So what did you receive this week?

Mailbox Monday is on a monthly blog tour and for the month of November it is being hosted by I Totally Paused.

 

Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court