Fancy an intriguing Shakespeare conspiracy, set, unlike the other two I've read, in the Jacobean era? This is a brilliant book, I couldn't put it down. Intrigue, action, and the question: could Shakespeare really have written what he wrote? The answer, at the end? I'm not going to tell you :p You'll have to read it and find out for yourself.
Wonderfully evocative, with an intriguing plot, fast-paced action, and a brilliant hero. I love these books :) Can you tell? From what I've seen, there are only four (although there is a mysterious book mentioned in the historical notes at the end of this one, which suggests a fifth one that google hasn't turned up, so perhaps it's not been published yet), two in the Jacobean period, two under Elizabeth, all fascinating and full of rich detail about court, country, and life. As well as, and this is a particular favourite for me, details about Cambridge at that time, well recreated. And this one even contains a wonderful scene in King's College Chapel. When I'm down in Cambridge, I walk past there every day :) Shame my college never got a mention (Christ's, if you're wondering).
I don't know what else to say really, save that these are definitely books to grab as soon as you see them. Took me long enough to find copies of this one and the one I reviewed yesterday. I don't see why they aren't more popular, to be perfectly honest. So yeh, read them :)
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label historical fiction. Show all posts
Monday, 11 April 2011
Saturday, 9 April 2011
The Desperate Remedy
Quite simply, it's brilliant. An evocative rendering of the early years of James I/VI, an intense thriller, a gripping read. What amazes me is that the author, Martin Stephen, doesn't seem to be on any recommended reading lists, or not ones that I've seen. I don't normally go in for historical fiction, but I picked up one of his books before and was, quite frankly, hooked.
I have one quibble with the series, and it's this: what order are these books supposed to go in?! I'm sure that The Desparate Remedy is the first that was published (one sec, checking Fantastic Fiction... Yep, it is). But it seems to be the last chronologically. Also, according to the same source, the most recent was back in 2006. I hope there's more, I've nearly run out, I managed to find an omnibus in a charity shop today which had the only two I hadn't read.
The more I learn about Elizabethan and Jacobean England, the more intrigued I become, and the more convinced that these books are excellent portrayals of that period. Intrigue, spying, enough action to satisfy anyone who loves a good thriller (or three), mixed with a wonderful rendering of the period. The famous names are in there, and in this novel Henry Grisham, the main character, deals with the gunpowder plot. Apart from the main character and his two associates, I think all the others are real, historical figures, and from what I've seen the books tend to play around the gaps in the historical record and give a slant on what we know (or think we know) about the period. I confess I don't yet know huge amounts about the period, but these are certainly fascinating, and a much funner way of getting to the heart of the period than reading endless scholarly tomes (not, I hasten to add, that there isn't a place for such scholarly tomes, just that they can be a little drab and tend to rob the period of its drama and adventure).
I like the characters, I like the plot and the counter plot, and there's plenty of action. Real depth to the characters too, as well as to the periodisation. It's just so well brought out! If I were to learn something next month that flatly contradicted what I've read here, I'd be more inclined to believe these books than the contradiction... However, I suspect Martin Stephen has studied the period extensively, it certainly feels real.
If you're not sure whether you'd particularly like historical fiction, these books are a perfect method of convincing you that really, it's quite fantastic. Certainly they've shown me that romance doesn't have a monopoly on historical fiction (although there's certainly some of that in the book).
I have one quibble with the series, and it's this: what order are these books supposed to go in?! I'm sure that The Desparate Remedy is the first that was published (one sec, checking Fantastic Fiction... Yep, it is). But it seems to be the last chronologically. Also, according to the same source, the most recent was back in 2006. I hope there's more, I've nearly run out, I managed to find an omnibus in a charity shop today which had the only two I hadn't read.
The more I learn about Elizabethan and Jacobean England, the more intrigued I become, and the more convinced that these books are excellent portrayals of that period. Intrigue, spying, enough action to satisfy anyone who loves a good thriller (or three), mixed with a wonderful rendering of the period. The famous names are in there, and in this novel Henry Grisham, the main character, deals with the gunpowder plot. Apart from the main character and his two associates, I think all the others are real, historical figures, and from what I've seen the books tend to play around the gaps in the historical record and give a slant on what we know (or think we know) about the period. I confess I don't yet know huge amounts about the period, but these are certainly fascinating, and a much funner way of getting to the heart of the period than reading endless scholarly tomes (not, I hasten to add, that there isn't a place for such scholarly tomes, just that they can be a little drab and tend to rob the period of its drama and adventure).
I like the characters, I like the plot and the counter plot, and there's plenty of action. Real depth to the characters too, as well as to the periodisation. It's just so well brought out! If I were to learn something next month that flatly contradicted what I've read here, I'd be more inclined to believe these books than the contradiction... However, I suspect Martin Stephen has studied the period extensively, it certainly feels real.
If you're not sure whether you'd particularly like historical fiction, these books are a perfect method of convincing you that really, it's quite fantastic. Certainly they've shown me that romance doesn't have a monopoly on historical fiction (although there's certainly some of that in the book).
Sunday, 10 October 2010
The Sanctuary Seeker
I joined the Cambridge library yesterday. I think I need to go back again today to take some books back. It's quite a nice library actually, although I have yet to fully figure out their filing system... Anyway. I happened to spot this one in with the thrillers, and it looked pretty good so I brought it home and started reading.
The historical background feels realistic. The characters are mostly interesting. The plot is pretty good. In fact, if that was all I was assessing this on, it'd be doing pretty well. Unfortunately, the actual writing itself isn't great. I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong, but it just doesn't quite read as smoothly or as interestingly as it might. I think perhaps it's with the characters where the problem lies: they're great, interesting people, but the author appears to have broken the cardinal rule of 'show, don't tell'. However, this is the first in a series (or at least, it looked like it was the first, and there were plenty more), so there's every chance that the writing will improve further on in the series. I hope so.
As an idea, it's brilliant. Set in 1194, Sir John de Wolfe, retired soldier of the Crusades, is the first coroner for Devon. But where does his jurisdiction begin and that of his brother-in-law (whom, incidentally, he can't stand) end? So basically, a crime series set in a world without fingerprinting, DNA, cars, or any of the mod cons that detective novels today take for granted. Going out to investigate a murder in a village takes quite some effort on horse back, especially when the village is in the middle of nowhere. In short, it's a very interesting construct, the historical background certainly seems real enough (I confess I don't know a lot about the period, but what I do know seems to tally), and basically it'd be an excellent book if the quality of the writing were a little bit better. So I'm hopeful for the rest of the series.
The historical background feels realistic. The characters are mostly interesting. The plot is pretty good. In fact, if that was all I was assessing this on, it'd be doing pretty well. Unfortunately, the actual writing itself isn't great. I can't quite put my finger on what's wrong, but it just doesn't quite read as smoothly or as interestingly as it might. I think perhaps it's with the characters where the problem lies: they're great, interesting people, but the author appears to have broken the cardinal rule of 'show, don't tell'. However, this is the first in a series (or at least, it looked like it was the first, and there were plenty more), so there's every chance that the writing will improve further on in the series. I hope so.
As an idea, it's brilliant. Set in 1194, Sir John de Wolfe, retired soldier of the Crusades, is the first coroner for Devon. But where does his jurisdiction begin and that of his brother-in-law (whom, incidentally, he can't stand) end? So basically, a crime series set in a world without fingerprinting, DNA, cars, or any of the mod cons that detective novels today take for granted. Going out to investigate a murder in a village takes quite some effort on horse back, especially when the village is in the middle of nowhere. In short, it's a very interesting construct, the historical background certainly seems real enough (I confess I don't know a lot about the period, but what I do know seems to tally), and basically it'd be an excellent book if the quality of the writing were a little bit better. So I'm hopeful for the rest of the series.
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
Redeeming Love
Wow. I read this book last night when I couldn't sleep (I'm nervous about going to uni, and no matter how much I logically know that there's no reason for me to be this nervous and there's not exactly much I can do about it, it doesn't seem to make any difference to the fact that I'm struggling to sleep), and I was seriously impressed. I don't often read romances (ie, almost never unless I have no other choice), but I got this one for my birthday so I thought I'd better read it. And wow. What a story. Powerful, moving, and intense, it's one of those books that will stick with you forever.
Set in Gold Rush California, it is, in effect, a modern retelling of the story of Hosea. For those of you not familiar with the story: God told Hosea to marry a prostitute and love her, because He loved Israel but Israel was acting like a prostitute, running off and being besotted with other gods instead of following God. But this story looks at the more personal consequences, for both the man, Michael Hosea, the prostitute, Angel, and others who interact with them. Stunningly well told, with gripping and intriguing characters, from the quiet strength--and sometimes angry passion--of Michael Hosea, to the bubbly Miriam, the initially aloof and scarred Angel, and the pimps, fellow prostitutes and a whole host of excellent supporting characters. Wow is about all I can say to sum it up. Even if you're not much into romances or historical novels, this is well worth a read. It's incredibly powerful, incredibly gripping, incredibly moving. I had tears in my eyes several times over, and am really glad I was given it--I doubt I would have read it otherwise.
I can't recommend this book enough. An excellent story from start to finish.
Set in Gold Rush California, it is, in effect, a modern retelling of the story of Hosea. For those of you not familiar with the story: God told Hosea to marry a prostitute and love her, because He loved Israel but Israel was acting like a prostitute, running off and being besotted with other gods instead of following God. But this story looks at the more personal consequences, for both the man, Michael Hosea, the prostitute, Angel, and others who interact with them. Stunningly well told, with gripping and intriguing characters, from the quiet strength--and sometimes angry passion--of Michael Hosea, to the bubbly Miriam, the initially aloof and scarred Angel, and the pimps, fellow prostitutes and a whole host of excellent supporting characters. Wow is about all I can say to sum it up. Even if you're not much into romances or historical novels, this is well worth a read. It's incredibly powerful, incredibly gripping, incredibly moving. I had tears in my eyes several times over, and am really glad I was given it--I doubt I would have read it otherwise.
I can't recommend this book enough. An excellent story from start to finish.
Thursday, 23 September 2010
The Galleon's Grave
This is the third Martin Stephen book (it's starting to look like I'm gonna read the series backwards, but never mind, it still makes sense). Oh, never mind. I've just had a look at the bibliography on Fantastic Fiction (great resource if you've never looked it up before) and it appears that they've not been published in chronological order anyway. That discussion aside, this is a fantastic book. Erroneously marked 'Historical Romance' by the library, there is a romantic plot in there but only as a sub plot. There's plenty of action though, more than enough to satsify. And twists and turns worty of an Alaistar MacLean novel too! Highly enjoyable, particularly in terms of the historical context. Martin Sephens really captures the feel of the era (or at least, he does it convincingly enough that if I read any books suggesting that the Elizabethan period felt any different I'd find myself seriously doubting the credibility of the latter). I loved it, can't wait to find the rest of the series. And regardless of whether I'll actaully manage to fit them anywhere, I think I might have to start hunting down my own copies. I'm going to uni soon, so that should relieve my bookcases on the basis that some of my books will have to come to Cambridge with me so the rest can have a little more space.
Henry Gresham is a believable and interesting character, and there's a bit more of his personal life showing through in this one than was evidenced in Rebel Heart. A spy for Queen Elizabeth, he finds himself caught up in a multi-layered intrigue, which leads to him sailing to England... with the Spanish Armada! Gripping and fascinating, this is a real page-turner, a read in one go sort of novel. Tense and exciting, well written and plausible. What more can you ask for in a novel?
Henry Gresham is a believable and interesting character, and there's a bit more of his personal life showing through in this one than was evidenced in Rebel Heart. A spy for Queen Elizabeth, he finds himself caught up in a multi-layered intrigue, which leads to him sailing to England... with the Spanish Armada! Gripping and fascinating, this is a real page-turner, a read in one go sort of novel. Tense and exciting, well written and plausible. What more can you ask for in a novel?
Monday, 20 September 2010
Rebel Heart
I'm not entirely sure why I picked this book and decided to read it. There was a spy on the spine, I was getting pretty desparate to find a book--any book--to read because I've read all the ones I could find from authors I've previously enjoyed, I read the blurb and it didn't put me off completely. So I got it out the library, despite the fact I don't generally read historical fiction, and I've never thought of reading anything about Elizabethan England. Well, I was quite surprised to discover both how much I enjoyed it and how interesting the background was.
The Court was well created, the historical background seemed plausible (I can't say more than that, because to be quite frank I know absolutely nothing about it), and it was well-evoked. There were twists and turns worthy of a great spy novel, action worthy of a great thriller, and a little sprinkling of romance that added to the plot rather than being thrown in just because. In short, it was a great novel. Couldn't put it down (which meant reading til early in the morning... again), and instantly set out to find the rest of the series. Unfortunately, this was the fourth and there don't seem to be more planned--although just because there's not a new one shown on Fantastic Fiction doesn't mean there isn't another planned. However, that does mean another three books to find and enjoy. Shame there's not more, but I guess you can't have everything.
An enjoyable and gripping read, that catapulted you back to the Elizabethan court, mapping intrigues and plots, along with a good sprinkling of action.
The Court was well created, the historical background seemed plausible (I can't say more than that, because to be quite frank I know absolutely nothing about it), and it was well-evoked. There were twists and turns worthy of a great spy novel, action worthy of a great thriller, and a little sprinkling of romance that added to the plot rather than being thrown in just because. In short, it was a great novel. Couldn't put it down (which meant reading til early in the morning... again), and instantly set out to find the rest of the series. Unfortunately, this was the fourth and there don't seem to be more planned--although just because there's not a new one shown on Fantastic Fiction doesn't mean there isn't another planned. However, that does mean another three books to find and enjoy. Shame there's not more, but I guess you can't have everything.
An enjoyable and gripping read, that catapulted you back to the Elizabethan court, mapping intrigues and plots, along with a good sprinkling of action.
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