Book Review: A Day of Fire by Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, Kate Quinn, and Vicky Alvear Shecter

A Day of Fire: A Novel of Pompeii
by Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, Kate Quinn, and Vicky Alvear Shecter
ARC, e-book, 302 pages
Knight Media, LLC
November 4, 2014
★★★★★

Genre: Historical Fiction, Short Stories

Source: Received for review as part of HF Virtual Book Tour

“Pompeii was a lively resort flourishing in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius at the height of the Roman Empire. When Vesuvius erupted in an explosion of flame and ash, the entire town would be destroyed. Some of its citizens died in the chaos, some escaped the mountain's wrath . . . and these are their stories:

A boy loses his innocence in Pompeii's flourishing streets.
An heiress dreads her wedding day, not knowing it will be swallowed by fire.
An ex-legionary stakes his entire future on a gladiator bout destined never to be finished.
A crippled senator welcomes death, until a tomboy on horseback comes to his rescue.
A young mother faces an impossible choice for her unborn child as the ash falls.
A priestess and a whore seek redemption and resurrection as the town is buried.

Six authors bring to life overlapping stories of patricians and slaves, warriors and politicians, villains and heroes who cross each others' path during Pompeii's fiery end. But who will escape, and who will be buried for eternity?”

I LOVED this collection! Let’s just start with that fact. I have noticed a new trend lately of authors getting together to write a collection of short stories that tell a cohesive narrative, and I find this to be a really exciting trend! This is the first of these types of collections that I have had the chance to read, however I am also looking forward to reading Grand Central.

The stories told in this collection each would hold up as a stand-alone short story, however when read together you get a complete story of the city of Pompeii and the disaster that took its life; because quite frankly, that is what this book is really about. Sure there are great characters who you quickly become attached to and you learn their stories as well, but this book tells the fate of Pompeii, from the preceding days, to the actual eruption of the volcano, to the aftermath. We see Pompeii at her best, worst, and everything in between. There is great drama, pain, and luck. There are those who survive and those who don’t. You will experience a mixed bag of emotions here, so prepare yourself.

While each story focuses primarily on its own character or set of characters, there is definitely crossover between stories. You may catch a glimpse of a character from a prior story passing through the background of another story; these glimpses are sweet little treats. And if you are a fan of Kate Quinn’s novels, you will get the opportunity to see a couple beloved characters appear in this collection!

With a variety of authors writing this collection you run the chance of their voices not meshing with one another. That is not the case here. Their storytelling styles are so similar, you don’t really notice that you are reading different authors – which is a good thing in this circumstance.

An excellent job all around here – the writing style, the choice of stories told, the evolution of characters, the drama. I couldn’t have asked for anything better. Way to go!

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Dodging Arrows

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

These authors have their own novels and you can check them out at their individual websites: Stephanie Dray, Ben Kane, E. Knight, Sophie Perinot, Kate Quinn, and Vicky Alvear Shecter.

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

 

**UPDATE**

There is a tour wide giveaway for a beautiful one-of-a-kind Roman style Necklace (18″) and Earring set, hand-crafted with real carnelion, and inspired by jewelry of the ancient world.  It is open INTERNATIONALLY!!  Entries are made through the Rafflecopter below and the winner will be selected at the end of the tour by the tour coordinator.  Here are some rules:

• Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 5th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
• Winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter on December 6th and notified via email.
• Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

**If you previously entered this giveaway when it was listed as a copy of the book, the tour coordinator will be contacting you to make sure you still want to be entered in this giveaway drawing.**

Good luck and enjoy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Copyright © 2014 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Pompeii by Robert Harris

Good morning everyone! I have a change from the norm for you today. My fiancé has finally found some time to read again now that he has taken his veterinary boards and has started reading some historical fiction - particularly set in Ancient Rome. Here is a guest review from him today - hope you enjoy it!

Pompeii by Robert Harris

Paperback, 304 pages

Random House

November 8 2005 

★★★★ ½☆

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Personal Collection

"Along the Mediterranean coast, the Roman empire's richest citizens are relaxing in their villas, enjoying the last days of summer.  But while the gorgeous weather belies impending doom, only one man is worried.  The young engineer Marcus Attilius Primus has taken charge of the Aqua Augusta, the enormous aqueduct that brings fresh water to the people around the Bay of Naples.  There is a crisis ib Augusta's main line - somewhere north of Pompeii, on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius - and Attilius must repair the aqueduct before the reservoir runs dry.  His plan is to organize an expedition in Pompeii, then head to the place where he believes the fault lies.  But Pompeii proves to be a corrupt, violent town, and Attilius discovers that there are powerful forces at work - natural and otherwise - threatening to destroy him."

When I first picked up Pompeii, I was unsure if I would enjoy it.  I could imagine the plot already:  volcano erupts, everyone dies, the end.  I figured there wasn't much meat that Harris could put between the covers to hold my attention.  However, I was happily surprised.  Instead of focusing on the obviously impending volcanic eruption, Harris writes a first person account of a new aquarius.  As aquarius, Attilius is tasked with managing and maintaining Rome's expansive systems of aqueducts.  It is a respected profession and one that does not carry much danger, which is how Attilius likes it.  This changes, however, when he discovers a sulfurous smell to the water in the aqueduct.  No one really know what this means.  Most think it is an omen or cause to sacrifice to one god or the other.  In fact, not many people really realize what volcanoes are or why periodic earthquakes are so common in the region.  This is where the tragedy of the story ultimately lies and what serves to build up the tension until the eruption finally occurs.

With the exception of the protagonist, most of the characters in Pompeii don't seem to be completely fleshed out. There is the love interest, the antagonist, and the loyal friend.  Attilius, however, has more depth.  There are many different threads of the story that never seem completely connected until the very end.  Though the set up was interesting, the last forty-five pages or so (when the magma hits the fan) is really where the magic happens.  Harris's depiction of history and science is very exciting to read.

My biggest criticism of the novel was that it gave me an ever present feeling that I read it before.  It took me a little while to realize that it is because the plot seems almost identical to almost any two-star Hollywood disaster movie:

1.  Everyone is oblivious to an inescapable disaster that will destroy them
2.  One man (usually an expert in a related field) holds the key to the future
3.  The people in power do not believe the protagonist until it is too late
4.  The hero gets the girl in the end and everyone who doubted him is destroyed

If you've seen one, you've seen them all

Does this make Pompeii a bad book?  I don't think so.  I like it for all the same reasons I like movies like Volcano and Dante's Peak.  They aren't the cream of their respective crops, but they are a fast paced guilty pleasure that you don't need to think too much about.  For a serious literary masterpiece, you may want to look elsewhere.  However, if you want a fun diversion from the norm, I suggest giving Pompeii a try.

Author Robert Harris also has written Imperium and Conspirata among others. You can visit author’s website for additional information about the book. If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Between the Covers
• Sweat, Tears and Digital Ink

Here are some of my favorite options for purchasing this book: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and R.J. Julia (my favorite Indy bookstore).





Copyright © 2013 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn

Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn
Book 2 of The Empress of Rome series

ARC, Paperback, 400 pages

Berkley Trade

April 5, 2011

★★★★★

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Received from publisher for review

“A.D. 69. The Roman Empire is up for the taking. The Year of Four Emperors will change everything-especially the lives of two sisters with a very personal stake in the outcome. Elegant and ambitious, Cornelia embodies the essence of the perfect Roman wife. She lives to one day see her loyal husband as Emperor. Her sister Marcella is more aloof, content to witness history rather than make it. But when a bloody coup turns their world upside-down, both women must maneuver carefully just to stay alive. As Cornelia tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered dreams, Marcella discovers a hidden talent for influencing the most powerful men in Rome. In the end, though, there can only be one Emperor...and one Empress.”

Daughters of Rome is a wonderfully fast paced ride through the Year of the Four Emperors in Ancient Rome. Author Kate Quinn absolutely immerses the reader in Roman culture, right down to the tiniest details. It is an all senses experience of the city. One of the most interesting and detailed segments is the food – especially at the dinner parties – OMG! Things that you would never imagine eating. How about a fish served to you while it was dying so that it looked pretty? I would have said, “No thanks!”. You also have the chance to learn a lot about how they dressed. I loved how the four girls frequently dressed in shades of the same color. The most interesting cultural experience for me was the chariot racing at the Circus Maximus. In Mistress of Rome you get to experience on of the other favorite pastimes – the gladiator battles – but it was very interesting to see a great deal of time spent on one of their other enjoyments. Apparently there were favorite teams and you would root for the team you loved (how very similar to today).

Quinn also does a great job making each of the Four Emperors their own unique character. As the book is about the Year of the Four Emperors it is very important that as a reader you understand the differences between these individuals otherwise the drama of the time will not be as profound. She also does a great job of detailing why each one was successful at taking over and what led to the downfall of their predecessor.

The main characters of the story are the four family members, the Cornelias – Cornelia Prima (aka Cornelia), Cornelia Secunda (aka Marcella), Cornelia Tertia (aka Lollia), and Cornelia Quarta (aka Diana). At first it was a little difficult to keep straight who was who, but as the book progressed these characters grew into very distinctive women. Slightly stereotyped but each their own person. My favorites were Cornelia and Lollia. Like any family you see divisions between the girls, arguments, support for each other, reconciliation, etc.

Overall this was a great read – I absolutely raced through the pages. I had to stop reading this book for awhile to get to another book that was more pressing, but I couldn’t wait to get back to this book. I am eagerly awaiting the third book in this series – I like how each book incorporates some of the previous book’s minor characters as main characters.

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Enchanted by Josephine
• The Australian Bookshelf

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia

Also by Kate Quinn

Mistress of Rome (Empress of Rome #1)
[My Review]

Empress of the Seven Hills (The Empress of Rome #3)

The Three Fates (The Empress of Rome #3.5)


Lady of the Eternal City (The Empress of Rome #4)
[My Review]


The Serpent and the Pearl (The Borgias #1)
[My Review]

The Lion and the Rose (The Borgias #2)


The Alice Network


A Song of War (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]

A Day of Fire (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]


A Year of Ravens (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]

Find Kate Quinn: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 
Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court

Book Review: Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn
Book 1 of The Empress of Rome series

Paperback, 480 pages

Berkley Trade

April 6, 2010

★★★★★

Genre: Historical Fiction

Source: Won in a giveaway at Historically Obsessed in 2010

“An exciting debut: a vivid, richly imagined saga of ancient Rome from a masterful new voice in historical fiction

Thea is a slave girl from Judaea, passionate, musical, and guarded. Purchased as a toy for the spiteful heiress Lepida Pollia, Thea will become her mistress's rival for the love of Arius the Barbarian, Rome's newest and most savage gladiator. His love brings Thea the first happiness of her life-that is quickly ended when a jealous Lepida tears them apart.

As Lepida goes on to wreak havoc in the life of a new husband and his family, Thea remakes herself as a polished singer for Rome's aristocrats. Unwittingly, she attracts another admirer in the charismatic Emperor of Rome. But Domitian's games have a darker side, and Thea finds herself fighting for both soul and sanity. Many have tried to destroy the Emperor: a vengeful gladiator, an upright senator, a tormented soldier, a Vestal Virgin. But in the end, the life of the brilliant and paranoid Domitian lies in the hands of one woman: the Emperor's mistress.”

I was so excited to get the chance to read this book – I have always enjoyed learning about the Ancient Romans but have only read one book previously about them (Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran). This story felt as much about Roman life as it was about the gladiatorial games. These games were at the very heart of Roman life (for the patricians as well as the plebeians) and it was great to see this so well integrated into the story. Many of the major events in the novel took place at the games and one of the main characters was himself a gladiator. It was interesting to see the different types of fights that would take place and the different weapons that they would use – I didn’t know too much about these games coming into this book (I’m pretty sure that I fell asleep during Gladiator as well!).

Beyond the games, it is very evident that the author spent much time researching Roman life in general for this book. Descriptions of clothing and architecture are explained in a very detailed manner – I could absolutely envision what they were wearing in every scene. Food descriptions were fantastic – not that I exactly knew what some of these things were, but I could see the spread well enough. The world of Rome just blossomed in my mind and came to life in vivid details.

The characters were so well crafted. All of the characters have flaws and you can really believe that these were real people – no one is truly bad or good (even the awful Emperor Domitian has some redeeming qualities!). My favorite character was Arius the Barbarian (the gladiator) – he was such a complex character, even though in the beginning you just think he is going to be a careless brute and a drunk. Some of my favorite character interactions were between Lepida Pollia and Thea. They encounter each other at various times throughout their lives and it is interesting to see who gets the upper hand each time and how they are just constant thorns in each other’s sides. The Emperor is crazy scary – I will leave it at that.

The ending of the book leaves me thinking that there will be a sequel to Mistress of Rome – there are still more stories to tell and I can’t wait to read it!

If you would like to preview the story before reading it, why not try out this excerpt of the book?  You won't be disappointed.

Reviews of this book by other bloggers:

• Respiring Thoughts
• Reading to the Stars and Back

Buy the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | RJ Julia 

Also by Kate Quinn

Daughters of Rome (The Empress of Rome #2)
[My Review]

Empress of the Seven Hills (The Empress of Rome #3)

The Three Fates (The Empress of Rome #3.5)

Lady of the Eternal City (The Empress of Rome #4)
[My Review]

The Serpent and the Pearl (The Borgias #1)
[My Review]

The Lion and the Rose (The Borgias #2)

The Alice Network

A Song of War (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]

A Day of Fire (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]

A Year of Ravens (Short Story Collaboration)
[My Review]

Find Kate Quinn: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 
Copyright © 2011 by The Maiden’s Court