Book Review: The Ming Storytellers by Laura Rahme

Synopsis:

It is the 15th Century. At the dawn of the Ming Dynasty, three women's path will cross.  And of their journey, a tale will be born. An imperial concubine, a Persian traveler, and a mysterious storyteller.  Three women: One story.

This is BEIJING. A city seething with mystery and royal intrigue.  Once a palace orphan, the wilful Min Li has only ever sought to please, even if that means pleasing Emperor Zhu Di.  Now a powerful concubine, Min Li unearths a terrible secret concealed within the walls of Beijing's Imperial city. Driven to despair, she seeks help from her lover, Admiral Zheng He. But this will spark a chain of events that even sets Beijing's palace on fire. Min Li's fate is sealed but her true enemy is not who she thinks.

The Ming Storytellers is a historical tale of 15th century China that sweeps across the palaces of Nanjing and Beijing into the mountainous villages of Yunnan, where a mysterious shaman holds the key to a woman's destiny.

Across the oceans, from the bustling bazaars of Southern India to the lush shores of Zanzibar, nothing is quite what it seems.

For the eyes and ears of the Ming Emperor are ever near.

Createspace | January 1, 2013 | 634 pages

My Review

4 Stars

Set in 15th century China in the early days of the Ming Dynasty, The Ming Storytellers is a beautifully rendered tale of love and loss, hope and despair.  While this novel features the stories of three incredible woman -- Min Li, an imperial concubine, Shahrzad, a Persian traveller, and Jun, a seamstress and storyteller -- it is Min Li who features most prominently and is the heart of this novel.  But this is also a novel of Admiral Zheng He, one of China's greatest explorers.   

Having little knowledge of Chinese imperial history prior to reading this book, I was fascinated by the history imparted throughout the story.  Not only does The Ming Storytellers include key historical events such as the Ming Fleet's Sixth Expedition, but it also clearly conveys the politics, and ways of life and customs of the era.  One of this novel's greatest strengths is Rahme's ability to seamlessly weave this history into the fabric of her narrative.  As a result, even though there is a tremendous amount of historical detail found in this novel, it never feels as if it has just been dumped into the text.  I particularly enjoyed learning about life within the Imperial Palace, which had a complex, hierarchical administration run by eunuchs, as well as of the Ming Fleet's expedition across the Indian Ocean. 

Even though The Ming Storytellers is well over 600 pages, the book doesn't feel long.  The story moves along quickly, and there are never any lulls.  The narrative's focus shifts back and forth between the various principal characters, which I found helped to maintain my interest.  Rahme's prose is lovely, and her descriptions eloquent, helping to create a vivid sense of place.  While there are times when the reader might wonder how all the various story lines connect, Rahme brings them all together nicely in the end.  

While I enjoyed The Ming Storytellers immensely, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it contains some minor editorial and formatting issues -- at least my e-copy does.  While not significant enough to take anything away from the story itself, they are noticeable.  Those who frequently read electronic advance copies, which I've found often have similar issues, probably won't be all that bothered by this.  But readers used to perfectly formatted e-books might be a little put off, at least initially.   I hope readers don't let these minor issues put them off the book as I think The Ming Storytellers is a historical novel well worth reading. 

Highly recommended to historical fiction fans interested in learning more about China during the Ming Dynasty. 

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.  

Mary and Elizabeth: Sisters and Rivals - Guest Post by Author C.W. Gortner

I'm pleased to welcome author C.W. Gortner, one of my favourite historical novelists, to Confessions of an Avid Reader today with a guest post about the rivalry between royal Tudor sisters Mary and Elizabeth.   C.W. is currently touring the blogosphere to promote his latest release, The Tudor Conspiracy (click here to check out the tour schedule).   Without further ado, I'll pass the floor to C.W. 

*************

There is something fascinating, and disturbing, about family members who turn on one another. The Tudor dynasty is no exception. Though Henry VIII did not sire many children, considering how often he wed, history has perhaps no sisters more famous for their rivalry than his two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth.

Born of the king’s marriages to his first and second wives, respectively, Mary and Elizabeth were both declared bastards in turn after Henry divorced Mary’s mother, Catherine of Aragon, and had Elizabeth’s mother, Anne Boleyn, beheaded. The rivalry between the two mothers, each determined to hold onto their crown and defend their child, set the stage for a legacy of mistrust between the daughters, who were as different in temperament as any sisters could be.
 
The eldest by seventeen years, Mary went from an adored childhood to a horrifying adolescence in which she saw her beloved mother supplanted by another. Humiliated and relegated to the status of a servant in her baby sister Elizabeth’s household, the scars of Mary’s teenage years can’t be underestimated.

Elizabeth, on the other hand, was barely three when her mother died and she was made illegitimate. A famous quip from this time is attributed to her when informed of her new status: “How is that yesterday I was Princess Elizabeth and today only Lady Elizabeth?” Young as she was, Elizabeth had a keen grasp of her situation. She grew into womanhood surrounded by danger and became adept at the rules of survival, aware that one misstep could lead to her doom, her mother’s example always before her.

Both sisters understood the perils intrinsic to royal life, but while Elizabeth learned to play the cards dealt to her, Mary remained steadfast in her right to stand above the crowd. They both had courage but their experiences couldn’t have been more disparate. Elizabeth was born into, and raised, in the Protestant Faith; like their brother Edward, she embraced it. Mary resisted, both from a deep-seated belief inculcated in her as by the rigidity of her own character, which was not given to change even when circumstances called for it. In the end, whatever rapprochement the sisters found as outsiders uncertain of their place, denigrated into savage rivalry when Mary became queen against all odds and they found themselves pitted against each other. 

Mary could not forgive the insults tendered to her by Anne Boleyn and in time, she came to see Elizabeth as the very incarnation of her late mother. In turn, Elizabeth began to recognize the stony threat that Mary’s hatred posed to her and her fragile position as the sole hope for the Protestant cause in England. Their pasts had made them who they were; and their struggle for supremacy would divide the country, sisters and rivals unto death.

This rivalry is the core of my new novel, THE TUDOR CONSPIRACY. Thank you for spending this time with me. To find out more about me and my books, please visit me at: www.cwgortner.com

Book Review: The Tudor Conspiracy by C.W. Gortner

Synopsis:

Hunted by a shadowy foe in Bloody Mary’s court, Brendan Prescott plunges into London’s treacherous underworld to unravel a dark conspiracy that could make Elizabeth queen—or send her to her death in C.W. Gortner's The Tudor Conspiracy

England, 1553: Harsh winter encroaches upon the realm. Mary Tudor has become queen to popular acclaim and her enemies are imprisoned in the Tower. But when she’s betrothed to Philip, Catholic prince of Spain, putting her Protestant subjects in peril, rumors of a plot to depose her swirl around the one person whom many consider to be England’s heir and only hope—the queen’s half-sister, Princess Elizabeth.

Haunted by his past, Brendan Prescott lives far from the intrigues of court. But his time of refuge comes to an end when his foe and mentor, the spymaster Cecil, brings him disquieting news that sends him on a dangerous mission. Elizabeth is held captive at court, the target of the Spanish ambassador, who seeks her demise. Obliged to return to the palace where he almost lost his life, Brendan finds himself working as a double-agent for Queen Mary herself, who orders Brendan to secure proof that will be his cherished Elizabeth’s undoing.

Plunged into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a mysterious opponent who hides a terrifying secret, Brendan races against time to retrieve a cache of the princess’s private letters, even as he begins to realize that in this dark world of betrayal and deceit, where power is supreme and sister can turn against sister, nothing—and no one—is what it seems.

St. Martin's Griffin | July 16, 2013 | 352 pages (United States and Canada)
Hodder & Stoughton | July 18, 2013 | 352 pages (United Kingdom)

My Review

4.5 Stars

Full of rich detail that helps to bring the Tudor period to life, The Tudor Conspiracy, the second Spymaster Chronicles novel, illustrates why C.W. Gortner is one of the finest historical novelists writing today.   First introduced in The Tudor Secret, Brendan Prescott, trusted friend to Princess Elizabeth, once again takes centre stage in this novel.  Living away from court after his previous adventures there almost cost him his life, Brendan is called upon by William Cecil to insinuate himself back into court life in order to investigate a possible plot by the Spanish ambassador to discredit Elizabeth.   Operating under the name Daniel Beecham, Brendan isn't long at court before he is called upon by Queen Mary to uncover evidence of Elizabeth's plotting.  Determined to protect Elizabeth from the scheme to bring her down, Brendan quickly realizes that there is much more to the plot than meets the eye, and he must act quickly if he hopes to save Elizabeth from her very determined foes. 

Much like Gortner's previous novels, The Tudor Conspiracy contains all the elements I look for in great historical fiction.   Not only is the book filled with the right amount of historical detail needed to create a strong sense of both time and place, it is evident that historical accuracy is important to Gortner, who takes liberties only where necessary to advance his story.  Basing the characters of both Princess Elizabeth and Queen Mary on what is known of their personalities, Gortner does a commendable job of bringing both of these formidable women to life.  I especially enjoyed Gortner's portrayal of Mary.   The novel's hero, Brendan Prescott, is well-drawn and, even though he has his faults, easy to root for.   The narrative itself moves quickly, is well-written, and keeps the reader turning the pages.   The mystery at the heart of the story is both interesting and, given the intrigues that were part of life in the Tudor court, entirely plausible.   Although The Tudor Conspiracy is the second novel in a series, I think it can be read as a standalone given Gortner does a good job infusing necessary background into the story.   Nevertheless, given I'm not the type of reader who likes reading series out of order, I do recommend starting with The Tudor Secret.   I'm looking forward to finding out what Brendan Prescott gets up to next.

Recommended to historical fiction enthusiasts who enjoy historical thrillers, as well as those who like novels set during the Tudor era. 

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Tudor Conspiracy is currently on tour!  Click here to check out the tour schedule. 

About the Author

C.W. Gortner holds an MFA in Writing, with an emphasis in Renaissance Studies. Raised in Spain and half Spanish by birth, he currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

He welcomes readers and is always available for reader group chats. Please visit him at www.cwgortner.com for more information.  You can also follow Christopher on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Talk: Blogging Edition

It's time for Book Talk, a (sometimes) weekly feature designed to generate discussion on random book-related issues and topics.   Rather than host a specific topic this week, I thought I would focus the discussion on a couple of general blogging issues I've been thinking about lately. 

Blog Comments:

Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed the number of comments they receive on their blogs to have fallen off lately?  It seems that no matter what the topic, be it general discussion, a giveaway, or a review, comments have been few.   I recognize that bloggers have lives outside of the blogosphere, and that as it is the summer here in the northern hemisphere people are busier than usual (myself included), but I admit that I can't help but feel a little disappointed when my posts receive few (if any) comments.  Does anyone else feel this way?

I guess this also leads to the question, why do you or do you not leave comments on posts?  I generally leave comments on reviews for books I've read or want to read, and love participating in general book-related discussions.  However, I tend not to comment if a book or discussion topic is of little interest to me.  I also go through periods where I'm just too busy to visit other blogs and leave comments (as I'm quite sure many other bloggers do too), and I always feel bad about this, especially if other bloggers have stopped by to visit my posts. 

Review Rut:

So, I read this book a few months back that I enjoyed.  I received the book for review and want to share my thoughts on it with others.  The problem?  Other than noting that I enjoyed the novel I can't think of much else to say and, as a result, my review still isn't written.  Do you ever find yourself at a loss for words when it comes to reviewing novels?   How do you overcome this?  I think I'll end up writing a mini-review.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on one or both of these topics.  

Book Review: Gracianna by Trini Amador

Synopsis:

The gripping story of Gracianna--a French-Basque girl forced to make impossible decisions after being recruited into the French Resistance in Nazi-occupied Paris.

Gracianna is inspired by true events in the life of Trini Amador's great-grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga. As an adult, Amador was haunted by the vivid memory of finding a loaded German Luger tucked away in a nightstand while wandering his great-grandmother's home in Southern California. He was only four years old at the time, but the memory remained and he knew he had to explore the story behind the gun.

Decades later, Amador would delve into the remarkable odyssey of his Gracianna's past, a road that led him to an incredible surprise. In Gracianna, Amador weaves fact and fiction to tell his great-grandmother's story.

Gracianna bravely sets off to Paris in the early 1940s--on her way to America, she hopes--but is soon swept into the escalation of the war and the Nazi occupation of Paris. After chilling life-and-death struggles, she discovers that her missing sister has surfaced as a laborer in Auschwitz. When she finds an opportunity to fight back against the Nazis to try to free her sister, she takes it--even if it means using lethal force.

As Amador tells the imagined story of how his great-grandmother risked it all, he delivers richly drawn characters and a heart-wrenching page-turner that readers won't soon forget.

Greenleaf Book Group Press | July 23, 2013 | 296 pages

My Review

4 Stars

Trini Amador's debut novel, Gracianna, is a fictionalized account of the life of his great-grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga.   The writing of the book was inspired by Amador's quest to discover the story behind the German Luger (gun) he found at Gracianna's home when he was child.   The novel opens with a young Gracianna growing up in Basque country during the 1930s.  Although she loves her home, Gracianna dreams of moving to the United States.  In an effort to earn enough money for her passage, Gracianna moves to Paris to work.  While she quickly finds a job and settles into her Parisian life, Europe has once again become embroiled in war, and it isn't long after Gracianna arrives that Paris becomes occupied by German forces.  Although she arrives in Paris alone, Gracianna is soon joined by her childhood friend and romantic interest, Juan, and then by her younger sister, Constance.   While Gracianna still hopes to move to the United States, her plans are put on hold when Constance is taken prisoner and sent to Auschwitz.   Faced with the possibility of losing her sister forever, Gracianna vows to do whatever is necessary to secure Constance's release.

There are many elements of Gracianna that make it an absorbing read, not the least of which is Gracianna herself.   Amador depicts his great-grandmother as a strong, determined woman, one who is willing to fight for what she believes in, even if it puts her own life in jeopardy in the process.  As such, Gracianna is a character who many readers will be unable to forget.   Another aspect of this novel that I liked was the incorporation of the Basque culture and way of life.   While Basque country itself is only featured in the early part of the novel, Gracianna never once forgets who she is and where she comes from, a fact that is reflected throughout the story.   Although Gracianna serves as the focal point of the book, her sister Constance's imprisonment in Auschwitz also features prominently and I thought Amador did a good job of portraying Constance's struggle to stay alive.  Lastly, I enjoyed how Juan and Gracianna's relationship developed over the course of the novel, and how Juan was a constant source of unwavering support to Gracianna even if it meant he had to put his own dreams on hold.  

Although I really enjoyed Gracianna, I did struggle a bit with my rating.  Initially I had given the book a slightly lower rating than the four stars I finally settled on, mainly due to the fact that I had a few minor issues with some of the book's mechanics.  Upon reflection, however, I came to realize that these minor issues had little if any impact on my appreciation for the story itself, which took no time for me to become completely captivated by.  

Gracianna is recommended to historical fiction enthusiasts who enjoy novels set during World War II, as well as to readers who like novels featuring strong female heroines.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Gracianna is currently on tour with Historical Fiction Book Tours.  Click here to check out the tour schedule. 

About the Author 

Trini Amador vividly remembers the day he found a loaded German Luger tucked away in a nightstand while wandering through his great-grandmother’s home in Southern California. He was only four years old at the time, but the memory remained and he knew he had to explore the story behind the gun. This experience sparked a journey towards Gracianna, Amador’s debut novel, inspired by true events and weaving reality with imagination. It's a tale drawing from real-life family experiences.

Mr. Amador is a traveled global marketing "insighter.” He is a sought-after guru teaching multinational brand marketers to understand how customer and consumer segments behave based on their needs, values, motivations, feeling and values. He has trained over five thousand brand marketers on how to grow brands in over 20 countries in the last 15 years. His counseling has been valued at global brands including General Electric, Microsoft, AT&T, Yahoo!, Sun Microsystems, Google, Jack Daniel’s, The J.M. Smucker Co., DuPont, Mattel, and Rodale, Inc..

Amador is also a founding partner with his wife and children of Gracianna Winery, an award-winning winery located in Healdsburg, California. The winery also pays tribute to the Amador Family’s maternal grandmother, Gracianna Lasaga. Her message of being thankful lives on through them. The Gracianna winery strives to keep Gracianna’s gratitude alive through their wine. Learn more at: www.gracianna.com, like Gracianna Winery on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @GraciannaWinery.

Amador resides in Sonoma County with his family.

Book Review: Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole

Synopsis:

A sweeping story told in letters, spanning two continents and two world wars, Jessica Brockmole’s atmospheric debut novel captures the indelible ways that people fall in love, and celebrates the power of the written word to stir the heart.

March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence—sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes, and deepest secrets—their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.

June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.

Ballantine Books | July 9th, 2013 | 304 pages

My Review

4.5 Stars

Letters From Skye, Jessica Brockmole's debut novel, is a beautifully written love story.  It is told through a series of letters that span World Wars One and Two.  The book opens on Scotland's beautiful but isolated Isle of Skye, where young poet Elspeth Dunn has just received her first letter from a fan, American medical student David Graham.   David's letter turns out to be the first of many exchanged between the two.  Although they start off as friends, as their correspondence continues Elspeth and David's relationship develops into something much deeper.  Although separated first by an ocean, and then by a war, Elspeth and David's love remains constant.  But David's involvement in the war, as an ambulance driver in France, puts him directly in harm's way, and Elspeth can only hope that her love is strong enough to keep him safe.  

Interspersed with Elspeth and David's tale is that of Margaret Dunn's, Elspeth's daughter, who, at the start of the Second World War, has fallen for her childhood friend, Paul.  But Paul is a pilot in the Royal Air Force, and Elspeth cautions her daughter about becoming involved with someone who must leave for the war.  At first Margaret doesn't understand her mother's reluctance, but when a German bomb hits Elspeth's home, and Elspeth disappears shortly thereafter, the only sign Margaret has as to her mother's whereabouts is an old letter.  Armed with just this one letter, Margaret sets out not only to find her mother, but also to uncover the truth about Elspeth's early life.   

I don't usually gush over books, but Letters From Skye will definitely make my list of favourites this year.  I was captivated by the characters and their stories right from the opening pages, and loved that the entire novel was told through a series of letters.  Elspeth and David, whose every hope, dream and disappointment is successfully conveyed to the reader, felt very real to me and nothing about their love story felt contrived.  Each letter transitions well from one to the next, and it is always clear who the author and intended recipient is.  Although not the only setting in the novel, the Isle of Skye was my clear favourite.   Jessica Brockmole effectively captures Skye's isolation and its ruggedness, as well clearly conveys the hardiness of its people.  Brockmole also does a good job of incorporating everyday aspects of life into this novel.  As a result, Letters From Skye gives the reader a very strong sense of time.  I'm very much looking forward to reading more from Jessica Brockmole. 

I highly recommend Letters From Skye to all historical fiction fans. 

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
 

Giveaway Winner: She Rises by Kate Worsley

I'm pleased to announce that the winner of She Rises by Kate Worsley, selected using random.org, is:

Kimberlee

Congratulations, Kimberlee!  I've sent you an email to advise you of the win.

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to host this giveaway.