Category: Historical Fiction
The Collector of Dying Breaths by M. J. Rose
(Cover picture courtesy of BandelierGirlReadsEverything.)
In 1533, an Italian orphan with an uncanny knack for creating fragrance is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. To repay his debt, over the years René le Florentine is occasionally called upon to put his vast knowledge to a darker purpose: the creation of deadly poisons used to dispatch the Queen’s rivals.
But it’s René other passion—a desire to reanimate a human breath, to bring back the lives of the two people whose deaths have devastated him—that incites a dangerous treasure hunt five centuries later. That’s when Jac L’Etoile—suffering from a heartache of her own—becomes obsessed with the possibility of unlocking Rene’s secret to immortality.
Soon Jac’s search reconnects her with Griffin North, a man she’s loved her entire life. Together they confront an eccentric heiress whose art collection rivals many museums and who is determined to keep her treasures close at hand, not just in this life but in her next.
Set in the forest of Fontainebleau, crisscrossing the lines between the past and the present, M.J. Rose has written a mesmerizing tale of passion and obsession. This is a gothic tale perfect for fans of Anne Rice, Deborah Harkness, and Diana Galbadon.
[Full disclosure: I was provided a free ebook through NetGalley for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
If I had to describe The Collector of Dying Breaths in just one word it would have to be ‘beautiful.’ Yes, beautiful.
Beautiful is the word that comes to mind simply because M. J. Rose’s writing style is just that. It’s descriptive, but not overly so. It’s very heavily focused on appealing to the reader’s five senses. Since this is a novel heavily centred around perfume of course she describes the scents in pretty much every scene, but she also doesn’t neglect the reader’s ears or sense of touch. Very few writers can appeal to all five of the senses in a natural way but M. J. Rose stands out in this respect.
As with most books, the one element I liked most was the characters. René le Florentine really spoke to me as a character and through the flashbacks I felt his triumphs and his greatest sorrows. He really is a tragic character and although he tries to do the right thing, it seems like it always turns out badly for him. I can’t tell you much more about poor René without having too many spoilers but I can tell you that by the end of the novel your heart will ache for him.
Jac is an interesting character as well. Having lost her beloved brother and seeing an opportunity to complete his life’s work, she’s in a state of emotional confusion. Added to that are her constant past life memories that are triggered by being around objects and locations with so much history. I liked slowly learning her back-story and seeing how she coped with both her brother’s death and the return of her former lover. She changes throughout the course of the novel and I was very happy with her decision in the end.
The plot is not fast-paced by most people’s standards but The Collector of Dying Breaths is interesting enough to keep you reading into the early morning hours. The plot twists and turns as you try to learn what happened to the unfortunate René and whether Jac could complete her brother’s work or not. These point of view shifts never really slow down the action in the story, though. Instead, they add more tension as the past and present collide, culminating in a heart-pounding climax.
If you like history, romance or just books with well fleshed-out characters, you’re going to love The Collector of Dying Breaths. I can’t speak to its historical accuracy as I know very little about the period, but I guarantee that you’ll feel like you’re right there along with René in the court of Catherine de Medici.
This is the 6th book in The Reincarnationist series by M. J. Rose but it can absolutely be read as a standalone novel, which is how I read it.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener
(Cover picture courtesy of Michelle Diener’s site.)
The Duke of Wittaker has been living a lie…
He’s been spying on the dissolute, discontented noblemen of the ton, pretending to share their views. Now he’s ready to step out of the shadows and start living a real life…but when the prime minister of England is assassinated, he’s asked to go back to being the rake-hell duke everyone believes he still is to find out more.
Miss Phoebe Hillier has been living a lie, too…
All her life she’s played by society’s rules, hiding her fierce intelligence and love of life behind a docile and decorous mask. All it’s gotten her is jilted by her betrothed, a man she thought a fool, though a harmless one. But when she discovers her former fiancé was involved in the plot against the prime minister, and that he’s been murdered, she realizes he wasn’t so harmless after all.
And now the killers have set their sights on her…
The only man who can help her is the Duke of Wittaker–a man she knows she shouldn’t trust. And she soon realizes he’s hiding behind a mask as careful as her own. As the clock ticks down to the assassin’s trial, the pair scramble to uncover the real conspiracy behind the prime minister’s death. And as the pressure and the danger mounts, Phoebe and Wittaker shed their disguises, layer by layer, to discover something more precious than either imagined–something that could last forever. Unless the conspirators desperate to hide their tracks get to them first.
[Full disclosure: Michelle Diener invited me to review her book and I received a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]
For all that I’m a history buff, I knew absolutely nothing about the period that A Dangerous Madness is set in. I really hardly know anything about England in the 1800s so after finishing Michelle Diener’s latest release I can very honestly say that I learned something.
Phoebe, the main character, is my type of woman. She’s strong and feisty but at the same time is actually aware of social norms and generally tries to follow them. Sure, she gets fed up with them and ends up not caring about certain ones but at least she isn’t your stereotypical total outcast of a heroine. James, the Duke of Wittaker is a good male lead. He’s not your perfect knight in shining armor but he does his best to improve his character when he starts to fall in love. In the past he’s done things he deeply regrets and you can tell that his guilt for some of the things weighs on him but he’s also done quite a bit of good.
The story begins with Phoebe’s fiancé dumping her and fleeing the country and it only heats up from there. Soon the prime minister is shot (which actually happened) and there’s a conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of the country behind the assassination. There are so many twists and turns you can’t tell how things are going to end up because Michelle Diener is so good at writing tales of political intrigue.
I’m not qualified to speak to the historical accuracy of A Dangerous Madness, but as Michelle Diener writes in her historical note, many of the events really did happen as she described them. The conspiracy is pure speculation but at the same time when you look at the real people involved it might not be all that far off from the truth. Perceval had many powerful enemies, that’s for sure! And that’s how historical fiction is best done: mostly history with a little bit of fiction in to spice things up.
Even if you haven’t read the first two books in the Regency London series, you can certainly start with A Dangerous Madness just like I did. They don’t have to be read in any particular order but I still can’t wait to read the first two books because I loved this one so much.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Daughter of the Gods by Stephanie Thornton
(Cover picture courtesy of Stephanie Thornton’s website.)
Egypt, 1400s BC. The pharaoh’s pampered second daughter, lively, intelligent Hatshepsut, delights in racing her chariot through the marketplace and testing her archery skills in the Nile’s marshlands. But the death of her elder sister, Neferubity, in a gruesome accident arising from Hatshepsut’s games forces her to confront her guilt…and sets her on a profoundly changed course.
Hatshepsut enters a loveless marriage with her half brother, Thut, to secure his claim to the Horus Throne and produce a male heir. But it is another of Thut’s wives, the commoner Aset, who bears him a son, while Hatshepsut develops a searing attraction for his brilliant adviser Senenmut. And when Thut suddenly dies, Hatshepsut becomes de facto ruler, as regent to her two-year-old nephew.
Once, Hatshepsut anticipated being free to live and love as she chose. Now she must put Egypt first. Ever daring, she will lead a vast army and build great temples, but always she will be torn between the demands of leadership and the desires of her heart. And even as she makes her boldest move of all, her enemies will plot her downfall….
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook through NetGalley for the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
There are very few books that literally take my breath away when I finish reading them but Daughter of the Gods is one of them.
One of the things that struck me most about this book was Stephanie Thornton’s amazing writing style. She can do the big dramatic scenes without making them seem forced. She can also slow down and describe things so the reader truly feels like they’re transported back in time. And most importantly of all, she can actually hold the reader’s attention for nearly 500 pages because she slowly builds up tension throughout the novel. It’s not the fastest-paced novel ever but her writing is so compelling that you won’t want to put it down.
Stephanie Thornton’s portrayal of Hatshepsut is pretty much how I imagined the real person. She’s strong and willful but fiercely devoted to her people and preserving the welfare of Egypt even at a cost to herself. Her love for Senenmut develops slowly but once she realizes she loves him she does so with all of her heart. Senenmut himself is also an interesting character, but Hatshepsut tends to steal the scene for most of the novel. Of course she can be stubborn on occasion and her stubbornness costs her dearly sometimes, but that flaw only makes her more human. Hatshepsut is a character even modern readers can relate with despite the huge cultural differences like the fact she marries her half-brother and worships many different gods and goddesses.
We don’t know much about Hatshepsut’s reign because her monuments and writings were destroyed in a systematic campaign to squash the idea that a woman could ever be Pharaoh. But where the facts are known, Stephanie Thornton generally sticks to them and fills in the gaps in our knowledge of her reign with believable events. Even when she does deviate from the historical record (which was rare) she is able to justify it within the context of the story as well as in her historical note. The changes she made were to improve the story and that’s why Daughter of the Gods is now one of my favourite historical fiction novels.
Even if you’re not a huge fan of ancient Egypt, I can’t recommend Daughter of the Gods enough. Stephanie Thornton is able to bring ancient Egypt to life for novices and experts alike. You’ll fall in love with her characters and experience their triumphs and heartaches right alongside them. And you definitely won’t be able to put the book down.
Seriously, just go buy this book.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
In Defense of the Queen by Michelle Diener
(Cover picture courtesy of Michelle Diener’s site.)
An artist never betrays her patron . . . especially one of the world’s most powerful kings.
Susanna Horenbout has learned this lesson from the cradle. But when she receives a letter from her father telling her to do just that, she faces a dilemma. Betray Henry VIII, or carry out the request of her father’s employer, Margaret of Austria, and pass secret information to Henry’s queen, Katherine of Aragon.
Caught between the machinations of her husband and her nephew, the Emperor Charles, Queen Katherine needs all the allies she can get. But what can Susanna really do to help her, and even if she does, will it be enough?
Susanna and her betrothed, Parker—one of Henry’s most trusted courtiers—balance on the knife’s edge of treason as they try to make sense of both international and domestic conspiracies. Sometimes, it’s better the enemy you know . .
[Full disclosure: I was sent a free paperback copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.]
With the serious cliffhanger at the end of the second book I knew I immediately had to start In Defense of the Queen. I’m very invested in this series by this point so you can understand why I was a little anxious to find Susanna in a lot of trouble in this third installment.
As with the previous two books, I loved the characters. Susanna and John’s bond is stronger than ever partly because of all of the trials they’ve gone through as a couple. Still, I was more than little worried about the two what with all of the assassination attempts and Susanna being accused of treason. I’ll admit that I have become quite attached to both Susanna and John.
I liked how we were in Susanna’s point of view a lot more than we were in the second book because she still is my favourite character. She’s tested again and again but I love that no matter how hard or awful the situation is, she stays loyal to John (even when it works against her). It’s not easy to be torn between your family’s loyalties and your loyalty to your patron and Michelle Diener played that dramatic tension perfectly.
The previous two books both had the complicated plots I’ve come to expect and love from Michelle Diener. This one tops them. There are twists and turns everywhere and the larger conspiracy is both well hidden and very believable. I honestly didn’t see the end coming and for a cynical reader like myself that’s very unusual. The ending wrapped things up nicely while at the same time leaving a little wiggle room for another sequel. I don’t think John and Susanna’s story is over quite yet.
If you haven’t read the first two books I can’t recommend them highly enough. Michelle Diener writes some darn good historical fiction and whether you’re looking for accuracy or a good plot you’ll be satisfied by her writing.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
Fire and Sword by Louise Turner
(Cover picture courtesy of Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park.)
On the 11th of June in 1488, two armies meet in battle at Sauchieburn, near Stirling. One fights for King James the Third of Scotland, the other is loyal to his eldest son, Prince James, Duke of Rothesay. Soon, James the Third is dead, murdered as he flees the field. His army is routed. Among the dead is Sir Thomas Sempill of Ellestoun, Sheriff of Renfrew, whose son and heir, John, escapes with his life. Once John’s career as knight and courtier seemed assured. But with the death of his king, his situation is fragile. He’s the only surviving son of the Sempill line and he’s unmarried. If he hopes to survive, John must try and win favour with the new king. And deal with the ruthless and powerful Lord Montgomerie. . .
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook copy through the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
I have to admit that I know pretty much nothing about Scottish history so after reading Fire and Sword I can confidently say that I actually learned something new. Even better, most of it is accurate and based on the real life of John Sempill in a time of turmoil and civil war.
Although we do get to see a couple of different viewpoints, the main character is undoubtedly John Sempill. Poor John is not very inclined toward violence but at his father’s behest fights for the King of Scotland against the king’s own son James. It’s there that he’s defeated and finds his own father’s body after learning that the young rebel James has won the throne.
John is plagued by uncertainty throughout the whole novel as to his fate because he fought for the losing side. His father even died on the losing side. Luckily even though he’s not exactly in a position of power, Lord Montgomerie eventually takes him under his wing and the two of them form a rather uneasy alliance. One of the things that stood out for me the most in Fire and Sword were Louise Turner’s characters. John was very memorable as he grew from a sort of clueless teenage boy to a slightly more confident, wise young man. The most memorable was (surprisingly) Lord Montgomerie, who is the sort of man that would be very hard to deal with in real life but is easy to love as a character in fiction. He’s a law unto himself and isn’t always the most diplomatic but when he forges friendships they last a lifetime.
This is by no means a fast-paced novel. It is, however, highly detailed and well paced so that the narrative eventually sucks you in and doesn’t let go. The tension slowly ratchets up not only because of the events of the time but because of how the characters react to them. John himself creates quite a lot of the events of the novel with his little rebellion so you could say that this novel is both character-driven and plot-driven. Whatever it is, it works and I couldn’t put my Kindle down.
Since I knew nothing of the period what I really appreciated was Louise Turner’s attention to detail. She described everything from the food to the clothes to the landscape of Scotland in perfect detail. It was never boring because the descriptions were well-balanced with dialogue and internal monologue from the characters. Best of all, she made me feel like I was right there along with the characters. I felt like I really was back in time watching these events unfold and you really can’t ask for more than that in historical fiction.
Even if you know nothing of Scottish history like I did I’d highly recommend picking up Fire and Sword if you like historical fiction in general. This is her debut novel and I think we can all look forward to her future works.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
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