Book Review: Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey

Why must it be me? I wondered. When I am so clearly inadequate to my destiny?

Raised alongside her numerous brothers and sisters by the formidable empress of Austria, ten-year-old Maria Antonia knew that her idyllic existence would one day be sacrificed to her mother's political ambitions. What she never anticipated was that the day in question would come so soon.

Before she can journey from sunlit picnics with her sisters in Vienna to the glitter, glamour, and gossip of Versailles, Antonia must change everything about herself in order to be accepted as dauphine of France and the wife of the awkward teenage boy who will one day be Louis XVI. Yet nothing can prepare her for the ingenuity and influence it will take to become queen.

Filled with smart history, treacherous rivalries, lavish clothes, and sparkling jewels, Becoming Marie Antoinette will utterly captivate fiction and history lovers alike.

Synopsis courtesy of chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

3 Stars

Becoming Marie Antoinette, the first novel in a planned trilogy about the infamous French Queen, follows the life of the title character from her late childhood in her native Austria to the day of her accession to the French throne as the consort Louis XVI.  

It is evident right from outset that a significant amount of research went into the writing of this novel, and that the author took great care to ensure historical accuracy.  This research, in combination with Juliet Grey's often eloquent prose, results in the Austrian and French courts coming vividly to life for the reader.  It also serves to highlight the incredible differences between life in an Austrian palace and that of life at Versailles.  Indeed, the presentation of life at Versailles in particular is one of the novel's greatest strengths.  Another strength is Grey's sympathetic  characterization of Marie Antoinette, who is portrayed as a charming young woman who, in spite of years of preparation for her role as dauphine, is quite unprepared for life within the Bourbon court.   I also enjoyed the brief glimpses into the mind of Empress Maria Therese of Austria, which were showcased through the letters she wrote to her daughter. 

While acknowledging that many of the reviews I have read for this novel have found little if anything to criticize, I had a number of issues with it.  While I generally prefer detailed works of historical fiction to more cursory novels, I don't overly enjoy books that contain exhaustive amounts of detail that add little to a story.  Unfortunately, Becoming Marie Antoinette is an example of a novel containing too much detail.   In fact, there were several instances were it seemed Grey was simply trying to fit in every last piece of her research (the scene in which Marie Antoinette is having her braces affixed immediately comes to mind).   As a result, even though I liked Grey's writing style, this book failed to captivate me.   I think the book would have been better if Grey had spent more time detailing the goings on of the day and less on extensive accounts of what the characters were wearing or how they arranged their hair.   It is my hope that the second novel in the trilogy (Days of Splendor, Days of Sorrow -- check back here on October 24th to read my review) will better suit my tastes. 

Recommended to fans of historical fiction interested in the early life of Marie Antoinette and those who enjoy considerable historical detail. 

Note: This novel comes from my own personal collection.

Book Review: The Tory Widow by Christine Blevins

On a bright May day in New York City, Anne Peabody receives an unexpected kiss from a stranger. Bringing news of the repeal of the Stamp Act, Jack Hampton, a member of the Sons of Liberty, abruptly sweeps Anne into his arms, kisses her-and then leaves her to her fate of an arranged marriage...

1775: Nearly ten years have passed and Anne, now the Widow Merrick, continues her late husband's business printing Tory propaganda, not because she believes in the cause, but because she needs the money to survive. When her shop is ransacked by the Sons of Liberty, Anne once again comes face to face with Jack and finds herself drawn to the ardent patriot and his rebel cause.

As shots ring out at Lexington and war erupts, Anne is faced with a life-altering decision: sit back and watch her world torn apart, or stand and fight for both her country's independence and her own.

Synopsis courtesy of Chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

3.5 Stars

The Tory Widow, the first novel in author Christine Blevins American Revolution series, is set in New York City in the early days of the Revolutionary War.  At the start of the conflict, Anne Merrick is a young widow struggling to keep her late husband's printing business alive by publishing British propaganda, even though she doesn't necessarily believe in the propaganda herself.   When her print shop is attacked by the Sons of Liberty, lead by the dashing Jack Hampton, Anne begins to question her actions.  In so doing, she becomes increasingly drawn to both Jack and her country's struggle for independence from British rule.  When the Patriot army is defeated in New York, and the city falls under British occupation, Anne decides to remain in her home and convert her print shop into a coffee house that caters to British officers.   While outwardly playing the part of dedicated loyalist, Anne does whatever it takes to glean important information from the British and pass it on the Patriots.  In so doing, Anne puts her very life on the line in the cause of liberty.   


Overall, The Tory Widow is an enjoyable read.   Blevins paints a vivid portrait of life in New York City at the start of the Revolutionary War, both before and during the British occupation.   One of the greatest strengths of this novel is Blevins' ability to convey the British as the enemy without painting them as a one-dimensional evil force.  Even though they sit on opposite sides of the conflict, Anne comes to respect some of the British officers with whom she crosses paths and recognizes that if not for the war she would have little quarrel with them.  One of the principal weaknesses of this novel, however, rests with the development of Anne as a character.  At the opening of the novel, Anne is portrayed as dismissive and disapproving of the Sons of Liberty and their cause.  Many years later, at the start of the war, while no longer disapproving, Anne still seems reluctant to support the Patriots.  The arrival of Jack Hampton into her life changes this, and Anne seemingly goes from a reluctant bystander to an ardent patriot almost overnight.  It would have been beneficial to the story for Blevins to have included a little more insight into the rationale behind Anne's abrupt embracing of the patriot cause, as it seems to come out of nowhere.  Furthermore, some of Anne's actions don't seem consistent with her established character, nor with how a respectable woman of the age would have behaved -- war or not (e.g. mooning the British with a bunch of prostitutes from the roof of a brothel).    Nevertheless, these weaknesses didn't detract significantly from my enjoyment of the story.  While Anne herself could have been a bit better developed, the novel's secondary and tertiary characters, whether they be patriot or British, hero or villain, shine and I look forward to finding out what's next for them in the novel's follow-up, The Turning of Anne Merrick.
  
Recommended for fans of the historical fiction genre interested in the Revolutionary War period. 

Note: The book comes from my own personal collection. 

Book Review: Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King

I am granddaughter to a king and daughter to a prince, a wife twice over, a queen as well. I have fought with sword and bow, and struggled fierce to bear my babes into this world.  I have loved deeply and hated deeply, too.

Lady Gruadh, called Rue, is the last female descendent of Scotland's most royal line. Married to a powerful northern lord, she is widowed while still carrying his child and forced to marry her husband's murderer: a rising war-lord named Macbeth. Encountering danger from Vikings, Saxons, and treacherous Scottish lords, Rue begins to respect the man she once despised-and then realizes that Macbeth's complex ambitions extend beyond the borders of the vast northern region. Among the powerful warlords and their steel-games, only Macbeth can unite Scotland-and his wife's royal blood is the key to his ultimate success.

Determined to protect her small son and a proud legacy of warrior kings and strong women, Rue invokes the ancient wisdom and secret practices of her female ancestors as she strives to hold her own in a warrior society. Finally, side by side as the last Celtic king and queen of Scotland, she and Macbeth must face the gathering storm brought on by their combined destiny.

From towering crags to misted moors and formidable fortresses, Lady Macbeth transports readers to the heart of eleventh-century Scotland, painting a bold, vivid portrait of a woman much maligned by history.

Synopsis courtesy of Chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

3.5 Stars

Susan Fraser King's debut novel, Lady Macbeth, takes readers back to 11th century Scotland.  The novel's protagonist, Lady Gruadh, is the last descendent of Scotland's ancient royal line.   Married to one of Scotland's most powerful lords, Gruadh leaves the comfort and familiarity of her family home to join her husband in his vast and unforgiving northern domain.   Just as she begins to feel comfortable in her new surroundings, a pregnant Gruadh is left a widow at the hands of Macbeth, a man many feel is rightful lord over her late husband's people and lands.   Widowhood doesn't last long for Gruadh, who is forced to marry Macbeth almost immediately after the death of her husband.   While tumultuous at the outset, the marriage evolves into one of respect, admiration and finally love on the part of Gruadh, who works with her husband to unite Scotland and put an end to the constant threats posed by the Vikings and Saxons.    Lady Macbeth is Gruadh's story. 

Overall, Lady Macbeth is an enjoyable read.  This novel's greatest strengths are Fraser King's descriptive prose and attention to historical detail, which enable the politics, culture, customs and beliefs of 11th century Scotland to come vividly to life.   My enjoyment of this novel, however, was tempered by the author's use of first person narrative.   Gruadh is an aloof figure and, even though the story is told from her perspective, by the novel's end I didn't feel as if I knew her any better than I did at the start.   Furthermore, by telling the story through Gruadh's eyes, the motivations of the novel's supporting characters are inadequately, or not at all, explained.   Macbeth himself remains very much an enigma.  Yet learning more about him would have enhanced my enjoyment of the story.   While the characters failed to come completely alive for me, Fraser King's presentation of life in 11th century Scotland in and of itself makes this novel a worthwhile read. 

Recommended to fans of historical fiction interested in Scottish history, particularly those interested in the early medieval era.  


Note: This book comes from my own personal collection. 

Book Review: Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman

From the New York Times-bestselling novelist, a stunning story of a great medieval warrior-king, the accomplished and controversial son of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine: Richard, Coeur de Lion.

They were called 'The Devil's Brood,' though never to their faces. They were the four surviving sons of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. With two such extraordinary parents, much was expected of them.

But the eldest-charming yet mercurial-would turn on his father and, like his brother Geoffrey, meet an early death. When Henry died, Richard would take the throne and, almost immediately, set off for the Holy Land. This was the Third Crusade, and it would be characterized by internecine warfare among the Christians and extraordinary campaigns against the Saracens. And, back in England, by the conniving of Richard's youngest brother, John, to steal his crown.

In Lionheart, Sharon Kay Penman displays her remarkable mastery of historical detail and her acute understanding of human foibles. The result is a powerful story of intrigue, war, and- surprisingly-effective diplomacy, played out against the roiling conflicts of love and loyalty, passion and treachery, all set against the rich textures of the Holy Land.

Synopsis courtesy of Chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

4 Stars

When I learned earlier this year that Sharon Kay Penman's latest effort, Lionheart, was to be released in October, it became one of my most anticipated reads of the year.   While I've never been a fan of the title character, Richard I, the fact that the story picks up where Penman's wonderful Devil's Brood left off meant that it was a novel not to be missed.   

Having had such high hopes for this novel -- Penman's books have never let me down -- I was surprised to find my early impressions of it weren't overly positive.   While Penman's writing and historical detail are, as usual, top notch, I was more than a little bored by the start of the story.   I even set the book aside for a short while in the hopes my indifference to it was a result of my reading mood, but when I picked it back up again I still didn't connect with either the story or the characters.   Nevertheless, I stuck with the book in the hopes my initial impressions would change.   It wasn't until the 200 page mark, when the setting started to shift away from Europe and towards the Holy Land, that I became interested in the novel.  By the time Richard and his entourage were settled in the Holy Land I was hooked, and from that point forward did not want to put the book down.   

Despite its slow start, Lionheart provides yet another example of why Penman is considered a master within the historical fiction genre.   Penman's attention to historical detail and her commitment to sticking as close to known fact as possible -- her author's note indicates she only took a few minor liberties in Lionheart -- continues to amaze me.  This novel is not only entertaining, it is also highly informative.   The Third Crusade is not a period in history I'm overly familiar with, but Penman brings it to life for me in Lionheart.   The politics of the Third Crusade are at the forefront of this novel.   I hadn't realized the depth of enmity between Richard I and Philip II of France, and how their antagonistic relationship had such a profound effect on the Crusade.    

While regarded as one of history's greatest battle commanders, I've never much cared for Richard I since he is always characterized as having little interest in the welfare of England.  Penman's characterization of the monarch not only humanizes him, but also brings to light some of his possible motivations for remaining in the Holy Land whilst England was in crisis.   Although still not one of my favourite historical figures, Penman's view of Richard I has left me with a better understanding of him.  He is a figure I'd now like to learn more about.

Overall a great novel, Lionheart is sure to appeal to Penman's fan base, as well as readers of historical fiction interested in the Crusades.  

Richard I's story will continue in A King's Ransom, which will hopefully be released in 2012. 

Book Review: Three Maids For A Crown by Ella March Chase

In the second novel from Ella March Chase, we meet sixteen-year-old Jane Grey, a quiet and obedient young lady destined to become the shortest reigning English monarch. Her beautiful middle sister Katherine Grey charms all the right people--until loyalties shift. And finally Lady Mary Grey, a dwarf with a twisted spine whose goal is simply to protect people she loves--but at a terrible cost.

In an age in which begetting sons was all that mattered and queens rose and fell on the sex of their child, these three girls with royal Tudor blood lived under the dangerous whims of parents with a passion for gambling. The stakes they would wager: their daughters' lives against rampant ambition.

Synopsis from Chapters.indigo.ca

My Review

4 Stars

Ella March Chase's Three Maids for a Crown focuses on the lives of England's Grey sisters - Jane, Katherine and Mary - whose descent from Henry VII and Elizabeth of York put them in direct line for the English throne.  When it is apparent young Edward VI is suffering from an illness from which he will not recover, Henry Grey, Duke of Suffolk, William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, and John Dudley, the powerful Duke of Northumberland and Lord Protector of England, plot to have Suffolk's daughter Jane named heir to the throne in place of Edward's sisters Mary and Elizabeth.   This plotting sets into motion a series of events that will have profound implications for each of the Grey sisters, the most significant of which is Edward VI's naming of Jane as his heir.  Upon the young King's death, Jane becomes England's Queen, a title she holds for only nine-days and results in her execution for treason early in the reign of her successor, Mary Tudor.   It also impacts the life of Katherine, who, upon Jane's death, is seen as a possible contender to first Mary's, and then Elizabeth's, throne.  While I'm somewhat Tudored out at the moment, I gave this novel a try because the primary characters - the Grey sisters - are rarely featured prominently in Tudor fiction and, while I was already familiar with the story of Lady Jane Grey, I knew very little about her sisters and their lives after Jane's death.   

Alternating between the voices of Jane, Katherine and Mary, March Chase successfully brings each of these women to life, vividly describing their hopes and dreams, and their struggles and hardships.  Multiple narration is not an easy technique to get right, but March Chase skillfully moves between  narrative voices without interrupting the flow of the story.  The author also seamlessly weaves the important political/historical context of the times into this novel.  As a result, the book is both entertaining and educational.   Being unfamiliar with the fates of Katherine and Mary before reading this novel, I was especially surprised by the awful treatment of Katherine by Elizabeth I.  While some historical liberties have been taken, these are addressed in the Author's Note, and do not detract in any way from the educational aspect of this novel.  

I highly recommend this novel to historical fiction fans, especially those interested in the Tudor period.

Note: The novel comes from my own personal collection.  

Book Review: The Crown in the Heather by N. Gemini Sasson

In 1290, Scotland is without a king. Two families-the Bruce's and the Balliol's-vie for the throne.

Robert the Bruce is in love with Elizabeth de Burgh, the daughter of an adherent of the ruthless Longshanks, King of England. In order to marry her and not give up his chances of someday becoming King of Scots, Robert must abandon his rebel ways and bide his time as Longshanks' vassal.

But Edward, Longshanks' heir, doesn't trust the opportunistic Scotsman and vows to one day destroy him. While quietly plotting his rebellion, Robert is betrayed by one of his own and must flee Longshanks' vengeance.

Aided by the unlikely brilliance of the soft-spoken young nobleman, James Douglas, Robert battles for his throne. Victory, though, is never certain and Robert soon learns that keeping his crown may mean giving up that which he loves most-his beloved Elizabeth. 

Synopsis courtesy of amazon.com

My Review

3.5 Stars

The Crown in the Heather is the first novel in N. Gemini Sasson's Bruce trilogy, a series of novels chronicling Robert the Bruce's rise to the Scottish throne and Scotland's fight for independence.  Told from the perspectives of Robert the Bruce, James Douglas (a young Scottish nobleman) and Prince Edward of Caernavon, son and heir of King Edward I of England, the novel brings to life a period and place not commonly subjects of historical fiction. 

This novel is well-written and the overall story engaging.  In addition, the descriptive prose helps to create a solid sense of time and place.  Nevertheless, the novel does have a few weaknesses, the most significant of which are Gemini Sasson's use of multiple narrators and her characterization of Robert the Bruce.  Although I don't generally have an issue with multiple narrators, the shifts in narration were jarring rather than smooth, interrupting the flow of the story.  As for the characterization of Robert the Bruce, the main protagonist of the novel, the reader doesn't get a strong sense of what drove him to become a rebel and seek Scotland's throne. 

My final issue with the novel, which I don't consider a weakness as it is a matter of personal preference, relates to the book's lack of historical complexity.   While I felt the history presented in the novel to be interesting, it was a little too simple for my tastes -- Scottish politics during this period were quite complex, but this novel makes it seem as if this wasn't so.   In her author's note, Gemini Sasson does acknowledge that things were more complex than she has presented.   

Despite my misgivings, I enjoyed the novel and look forward to reading the remainder of the trilogy.   This novel should appeal to fans of historical fiction.

Note: This novel comes from my own personal collection.

Book Review: Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Synopsis (from Amazon.com):

The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

My Review 

4.5 Stars

Leaving the ancient Egyptian world of her previous novels behind, author Michelle Moran takes her readers on a journey through one of the most tumultuous periods in European history - the period encompassing the final months of the reign of French King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, the French Revolution and the Reign of Terror - through the eyes of a woman who lived through it all and survived - the famed wax sculptor, Marie Grosholtz, better known to the world as Madame Tussuad.  

When a visit by King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the wax museum Marie Grosholtz operates with her uncle results in her being hired as tutor to the King's sister, Marie is honoured and excited by the prospects an association with the Royal Family can bring.   This excitement is short-lived, however, when the French Revolution begins to get underway and ties the nobility and the Royal Family become heavily frowned upon.   Despite the presence of revolutionaries in her midst - her uncle often plays host to men such as Robespierre and Desmoulins - Marie is able to carefully balance the world of the revolution with that of the Royal Court, and in so doing is able to develop an appreciation for both the causes of the revolution and the way it is viewed by the Royal Family.  She also comes to realize that the ideals and beliefs behind the revolutionary fervour are not all they seem, and that the revolutionaries will play fast and loose with the truth in order to advance their cause.    

While I enjoyed learning about Marie's experiences, what truly brought this novel alive for me were the secondary and peripheral characters - men such as the Marquis de Lafayette, Robespierre, Marat, Danton and Desmoulins.   Moran's characterization of each of these men, and her descriptions of their beliefs and actions, are what made the events of French Revolution and the Terror come to life.   In addition, although they weren't featured often, I thought the author did an excellent job with the characterizations of King Louis and Marie Antoinette.   She shows that, contrary to revolutionary opinion, they were not bad people out to trample the lower classes.   Instead, I felt she painted them as sympathetic figures whose greatest fault was their ignorance of the severity of the situation in Paris, an ignorance for which they cannot really be blamed given their advisors seemed to keep much from them.  

Overall I found much to like about this novel - great characterizations, wonderful historical details and a fast-moving, engaging plot.   I thought the first half of the novel moved along well, but it was the second half, when the French Revolution was well underway, that made this such a fantastic read for me, one I didn't want to put down until I finished.  

I definitely recommend this novel to any fan of the historical fiction genre. 

Book Review: Brethren by Robyn Young

Synopsis (from Chapters.Indigo.Ca):

ON THE EVE OF THE LAST CRUSADE...

One young knight, bound by faith, driven by valour, begins a quest to protect a secret that could change the course of history irrevocably.

A richly detailed, epic historical adventure set in Paris, London, Egypt, and Palestine on the eve of the last Crusade, "Brethren" tells the story of a young knight's search for a mysterious (and potentially deadly) book belonging to a secret organization within the Knights Templar.   When young Will Campbell joins the most powerful organization in Europe, The Order of the Knights Templar, he finds himself drawn into a world of intrigue and danger.  He is charged with recovering a heretical book stolen from the order's vaults, but what Will doesn't know is that the book, in the form of a Grail Romance, hides the covert plans of a secret group within the Temple known as the Anima Templi: the Soul of the Temple. Whoever controls the book controls the fate of the Templars, and it seems that everyone around Will is ready to kill to possess it.
 

"Brethren" also traces the rise of Baybars Bundukdari, an ambitious commander in the Egyptian army, who, after assassinating the sultan, takes control of Egypt and Syria. The two stories come together during Baybars' campaign for a new Holy War that will cripple an empire and bring the Crusaders to their knees. 

My Review 

4 Stars

Brethren, the first novel in British author Robyn Young's Brethren trilogy, follows young sergeant Will Campbell from the Templar fortresses of London and Paris to the Templar strongholds of Acre and Antioch in the Holy Land as he seeks not only to recover an important book stolen from the Paris Temple, but also to discover himself.   Brethren also chronicles the rise and rule of the powerful Egyptian Sultan Baybars, whose fate will ultimately have him cross paths with Will Campbell.   

In Brethren, Young paints a vivid portrait of the inner sanctums of the Knights Templar and brings the medieval world to life.   I also thought Young did a very good job of developing each of her characters, whether they were principal or secondary ones.   Although this novel was Young's first, I think it read more like the work of a veteran writer than that of a debut author.  

The story itself was broad in scope and held my interest throughout and, while I initially found some story lines a bit disconnected from the main plot, by the end I thought Young did a good job of bringing all the various story lines together and, in so doing, laid a solid foundation for the second novel in the Brethren trilogy, Crusade.   

I definitely recommend this book to readers interested in historical fiction about the Knights Templar and the Crusades, as well as those interested in historical thrillers.    I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.

Book Review: Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn

Synopsis (From Chapters.indigo.ca):

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.

Avid Reader's Review

4 Stars

Kate Quinn's latest novel of ancient Rome takes place in the year 69 AD or, as it's better known, the Year of the Four Emperors.   Daughters of Rome follows the lives of two sisters, Cornelia, who is wife to a man who could one day be Emperor, and Marcella, who likes nothing better than to spend her days writing histories of Rome's emperors.   It is also the story of their two cousins, Lollia, a frivolous young woman who, at the start of the novel, is preparing for her third wedding, and Diana, who cares for nothing but horses and her beloved Reds chariot team.   

The novel opens during the reign of Emperor Galba, a reign that was lasted only seven months and was brought to a bloody end when a coup resulted in the Emperor's assassination.   This coup not only resulted in the installation of a new Emperor, Otho, but also served to turn the world of Cornelia, Marcella, Lollia and Diana upside down.   Would each of these women survive and prosper in Rome's new order?  

Having previously read and immensely enjoyed Kate Quinn's debut novel, Mistress of Rome, I eagerly awaited the arrival of my copy of Daughters of Rome.   I'm happy to report that I wasn't disappointed as the author has delivered yet another winner.   Each of the characters featured in the novel are vividly drawn,  leaving the reader engaged in their story lines and interested in their fates.   In addition, Quinn has created a strong sense of time and place with this novel, as she not only captures the splendor and extravagance that defines ancient Rome, but also its political ruthlessness.    

Not being familiar with this period in Roman history I appreciated Quinn's author's note, as it explained what was fact, what was fiction and what was a blending of the two.   It is my understanding that Kate Quinn is already at work on her next novel of ancient Rome, and having enjoyed her first two efforts I most definitely look forward to reading her third! 

Book Review: The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

Synopsis (from amazon.ca):

Abducted as an 11-year-old child from her village in West Africa and forced to walk for months to the sea in a coffle - a string of slaves - Aminata Diallo is sent to live as a slave in South Carolina. But years later, she forges her way to freedom, serving the British in the Revolutionary War and registering her name in the historic "Book of Negroes". This book, an actual document, provides a short but immensely revealing record of freed Loyalist slaves who requested permission to leave the US for resettlement in Nova Scotia, only to find that the haven they sought was steeped in an oppression all of its own. Aminata's eventual return to Sierra Leone - passing ships carrying thousands of slaves bound for America - is an engrossing account of an obscure but important chapter in history that saw 1,200 former slaves embark on a harrowing back-to-Africa odyssey.

Avid Reader's Review

5 Stars

A beautifully written novel, Lawrence Hill's The Book of Negroes follows the life of Aminato Diallo, who was captured by slavers as a young girl and forced from her home and family.   The novel takes the reader on an unforgettable journey from a small African village to: the slave coast of Africa; the perils of life aboard a slave ship crossing the Atlantic; an indigo plantation in South Carolina; the streets of 18th century New York City; life in frontier Nova Scotia; back to Africa and the colony of Sierra Leone; and, finally, to England.

Hill has created a most memorable heroine in Aminato Diallo, and his prose evokes a very strong sense of time and place.   This is a novel that reminds me of why I love the historical fiction genre so much, and one I won't soon forget.  Highly recommended!