Book Review: Royal Mistress by Anne Easter Smith

Genre: Historical Fiction

Paperback: 512 pages

Publisher: Touchstone

Release Date: May 7, 2013

Series: (none)

Source: For review from publisher

  

Blurb: Jane Lambert, the quick-witted and alluring daughter of a silk merchant, is twenty-two and still unmarried. When Jane’s father finally finds her a match, she’s married off to the dull, older silk merchant William Shore. Marriage doesn’t stop Jane from flirtation, however, and when the king’s chamberlain, Will Hastings, comes to her husband’s shop, Will knows King Edward will find her irresistible.

Edward IV has everything: power, majestic bearing, superior military leadership, a sensual nature, and charisma. And with Jane as his mistress, he also finds true happiness. But when his hedonistic tendencies get in the way of being the strong leader England needs, his life, as well as those of Jane and Will Hastings, hangs in the balance. Jane must rely on her talents to survive as the new monarch, Richard III, bent on reforming his brother’s licentious court, ascends the throne.

This dramatic tale has been an inspiration to poets and playwrights for five hundred years, and, as told through the unique perspective of a woman plucked from obscurity and thrust into a life of notoriety, Royal Mistress is sure to enthrall today’s historical fiction lovers as well.



Review:
 


Historical fiction author Anne Easter Smith returns to the literary scene with her own unique brand of court intrigue, sensuality, biting intelligence and wit.


In her new novel, Royal Mistress, Smith explores the life of Jane Lambert, the intelligent (sometimes too much for her own good), daughter of a humble silk merchant, who somehow managed to remain unmarried until the ripe old age (at least, at the time) of 22. When her father finally finds her a husband, she's shipped off to live with an older merchant named William Shore (and, by all of Jane's comments, William is quite boring). When Will Hastings, the king's chamberlain wonders into her husband's shop, Jane can't help a little flirtation and fun -it all seems harmless, until she finds herself in the bed of King Edward IV, York king who is struggling to protect his throne from the Lancasters -and his own brothers. Jane must use her wit to protect Edward -and herself -from the many enemies that continue to close in


While I have read many novels about the infamous Elizabeth Woodville and the soap opera-worthy drama of the War of the Roses, I hadn't read much about Jane Lambert, something of a footnote in the history books. As something of a historical fiction nerd (okay, maybe a little more than just a nerd), I've gotten sick of reading the well-trodden tales of Henry VIII's wives, Elizabeth Woodville, Eleanor of Aquitaine and others. There's only so many times I can read about the same thing and no matter how many ways it may be "dressed up" to seem different, it's always the same. And even though Royal Mistress still recounts many of these well-known (and well written-about) events from the York/Lancaster struggle, it gives it just enough of a new perspective, offers just enough that's new and unexpected to keep me from writing it off completely.

Royal Mistress offered a unique, fun and absolutely unconventional heroine that historical fiction fans will embrace. Though, of course, scandalous at the time, Jane kept me flipping pages just to see what she would do next -and even though I already knew what would happen around her because of the history, I didn't know how she would react to it. This, for me, is what kept the story flowing. While I wouldn't say the plot was bad, it was just somewhat predictable due to the many other novels I've read about this period -but Jane kept it interesting. Though the book was a little slow at first, once Jane got to court, it started to really move.

Fans of Anne Easter Smith will devour her latest offering. And for historical fiction fans who have not yet read any of her books, don't write this one off as "just another" War of the Roses book -it's much more than that.

Book Review: The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe

Genre: YA Fantasy/Historical Fiction

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Bantham

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Series: (none)

Source: Amazon Vine

  

Blurb: For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana Abé brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.  

“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.


Review:

It's hard for me to say no to a Victorian-period novel, especially one with a gorgeous cover like this. Combine that with Libba Bray connections and a compelling quote and I was hooked. I had to try this book. And, for the most part, I felt like it delivered (though I admit, it does seem like much of what's in here has been done before).

In England 1915, young Lora has always known that she's difference from those around here. She hears songs that no one can here, she hears voices in her mind, she has strange yet oddly prophetic dreams and she knows how important it is to hide her abilities. After she's sent off to an elite boarding school, Lora finds herself in a gorgeous gothic castle where she meets two boys -one who will open the door to her future, one who threatens to destroy her future.

From the very first page, I was hooked. Author Shana Abe has an incredible writing style that's lush and romantic, yet tinged with an eerie and unsettling sense. Almost like the words are haunted with some dark past behind then that the reader can't quite touch. Through the unexpected and riveting opening, Abe was able to build a spellbinding atmosphere that offered a unique level to this book and kept me riveted to every page.

Aside from the incredible writing and atmosphere, other elements of the book felt a little weak to me -probably because these eerie undertones were so strong and so well done. The characters were just okay -they didn't really stick out, but they didn't really fade into the background either. The plot was sadly a little predictable seemingly well-trodden, but the book does deliver exactly what the blurb promises: a romantic Victorian historical in the vein of Bray and Kate with a supernatural element. And that supernatural element was really compelling and very well depicted -it didn't feel cheesy or absurd, and it was one of the more original aspects of the book.

Which brings me to my one main beef with this book: it's not that original. I've read this story before. Several times, but in a somewhat different setting. But, overall, this book is exactly what someone would expect based on the blurb. A solid and haunting read.

Book Review: The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson

• Genre:YA Paranormal
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
• Release Date: February 26, 2013
• Series: Shades of London (Book 2)
• Source: NetGalley

Blurb: After her near-fatal run-in with the Jack the Ripper copycat, Rory Devereaux has been living in Bristol under the close watch of her parents. So when her therapist suddenly suggests she return to Wexford, Rory jumps at the chance to get back to her friends. But Rory’s brush with the Ripper touched her more than she thought possible: she’s become a human terminus, with the power to eliminate ghosts on contact. She soon finds out that the Shades—the city’s secret ghost-fighting police—are responsible for her return. The Ripper may be gone, but now there is a string of new inexplicable deaths threatening London. Rory has evidence that the deaths are no coincidence. Something much more sinister is going on, and now she must convince the squad to listen to her before it’s too late.

In this follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated THE NAME OF THE STAR, Maureen Johnson adds another layer of spectacularly gruesome details to the streets of London that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.


Review:

The second I finished The Name of the Star, I was dying for the sequel. Seriously -dying. I had to have it. I just couldn't wait. Author Maureen Johnson's unique blend of contemporary, historical and paranormal elements was fascinating, and her use of the Jack the Ripper mythos was fascinating and unlike anything else I've ever read. To top it all off, Johnson's writing style was concise, tight and very solid -considerably less muddled than much of what's out there right now. With all of these great things going into it, I couldn't see how Madness Underneath, the sequel to Name of the Star, could miss the mark.

After Rory's run-in with the famous Jack the Ripper copycat, she's been living in Bristol under the very close watch of her parents (yeah, what else would you do?). When Rory finally returns to her friends, she finds that she now how the strange power to destroy ghosts (yeah, go figure). After teaming up with a unique group of ghost-hunting police in London, Rory is confronted with another strange string of deaths that may be caused by something undead.

Oh geez...there was so much I loved about Madness Underneath, but with a few small flaws. The main thing is that Johnson doesn't disappoint here, she delivers more gut-wrenching and gruesome thrills that leap off every page. With more concise and strong writing, Johnson puts even more spin on her already wild and amazing series -this time with ghosts.

Yet, it's these ghosts that threw me off. It seems like the strange power that Rory miraculously develops here comes out of nowhere, almost like Name of the Star was really meant to be a stand-alone book, but after it grew into a series, Johnson had to find something else to keep the story going. Now, all of a sudden, we are thrown into a sort of ghost-hunting scenario that's related to the fascinating and fresh Jack the Ripper plot, but really feels like the beginning of something completely different -and that can continue into future books. I would have liked to have seen a little more cohesion between these two books.

Despite this, Madness Underneath is an excellent follow-up to Name of the Star. Great (and gruesome) story that will keep you glued to every page.

Book Review: Out of the Easy by Rupta Sepetys

• Genre: YA Historical
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Philomel
• Release Date: February 12, 2013
• Series: (none)
  
• Source: LibraryThing

Blurb: It’s 1950, and as the French Quarter of New Orleans simmers with secrets, seventeen-year-old Josie Moraine is silently stirring a pot of her own. Known among locals as the daughter of a brothel prostitute, Josie wants more out of life than the Big Easy has to offer. She devises a plan get out, but a mysterious death in the Quarter leaves Josie tangled in an investigation that will challenge her allegiance to her mother, her conscience, and Willie Woodley, the brusque madam on Conti Street.

Josie is caught between the dream of an elite college and a clandestine underworld. New Orleans lures her in her quest for truth, dangling temptation at every turn, and escalating to the ultimate test.

With characters as captivating as those in her internationally bestselling novel Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys skillfully creates a rich story of secrets, lies, and the haunting reminder that decisions can shape our destiny.


Review:

Set in 1950 New Orleans, Out of the Easy is not typically the type of book I would read. Though I'd characterize it as a young adult historical novel, which I generally enjoy, the setting and the basic premise itself wouldn't have caught my attention. It's only because I had the opportunity to review this book that I even considered picking it up. And guess what? I read it in just one day.

Josie came to New Orleans' famous French Quarter at a young age with her mother, a known (and seemingly proud) prostitute. As Josie grows up, she wishes for more out of her life than what her assumed future in New Orleans has to offer: nothing more than the same profession as her mother, a job as a humble clerk or a cleaning lady. As she fights to make a better future for herself, Josie becomes caught up in the New Orleans underground that could threaten to derail her plans for good.

What really pulled me in was the characters, especially Josie, and her struggles. She leapt off every page and drew me into her very realistic and honest struggles, and even though I haven't been through many of them myself, I felt that I could sympathize with her. That I understand her, and I was always cheering for Josie to find a better life for herself and to break the cycle. Josie has a tenacious and inspiring personality that readers will fall in love with. With every twist, every unexpected turn, and every joy and sorrow, I just couldn't stop wanting something more for Josie.

At its core, Out of the Easy is a very basic story about a girl's struggle to find more meaning in her life with few complexities. While I tend to prefer more stories with a little more going on, this book still offers a very relatable and honest heroine that draws readers in, set against a unique backdrop.

New This Week

 

Book Review: The Winter Witch by Paula Brackston

• Genre: Romance/Historical
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
• Release Date: January 29, 2013
• Series: (none)
  
• Source: Amazon Vine

Blurb: Paula Brackston transports readers to the windswept mountains of Wales in this enthralling tale of love and magic.
In her small early nineteenth century Welsh town, there is no one quite like Morgana.   She is small and quick and pretty enough to attract a suitor, but there are things that set her apart from other girls. Though her mind is sharp she has not spoken since she was a young girl. Her silence is a mystery, as well as her magic—the household objects that seem to move at her command, the bad luck that visits those who do her ill.  Concerned for her safety, her mother is anxious to see Morgana married, and Cai Jenkins, the widowed drover from the far hills who knows nothing of the rumors that swirl around her, seems the best choice.

After her wedding, Morgana is heartbroken at leaving her mother, and wary of this man, whom she does not know, and who will take her away to begin a new life.  But she soon falls in love with Cai’s farm and the wild mountains that surround it. Here, where frail humans are at the mercy of the elements, she thrives, her wild nature and her magic blossoming. Cai works to understand the beautiful, half-tamed creature he has chosen for a bride, and slowly, he begins to win Morgana’s affections.  It’s not long, however, before her strangeness begins to be remarked upon in her new village.  A dark force is at work there—a person who will stop at nothing to turn the townspeople against Morgana, even at the expense of those closest to her.  Forced to defend her home, her man, and herself from all comers, Morgana must learn to harness her power, or she will lose everything in this beautifully written, enchanting novel.


Review:

Okay, after reading the blurb here, I thought I was in store for some sort of paranormal/historical novel with some vivid historical elements with witch sprinkled in. I could even overlook the fact that the author named the main character/witch Morgana, which is probably one of the most cliche witch names ever. Regardless, I decided to try the book out.

Morgana, who has not spoken for years, is hastily married off to an older man from another town in hopes that she can be separated from her obscure reputation. After she goes off with Cai Jenkins, an older widower, Morgana must learn to adjust to a new life will trying to deal with her mysterious magical powers that she doesn't quite understand. Meanwhile, she starts to fall in love with Cai, just as another witch appeals to expose Morgana.

Geez, it really would have been great if this was just labeled as romance and didn't try to be anything more. Because, well, that's what Winter Witch is -a thinly plotted and thinly worked romance with a nearly non-existent plot, thin characters (especially Morgana) and far too many loose ends and unanswered questions. The writing in here is also some polarizing for readers. Some my like it, others, such as myself, found it somewhat overwrought and overdone -though at time pretty. This book also had some issues with pacing, especially at the beginning of the book, it took far too long to introduce the antagonist, who didn't quite seem to last long enough.

My biggest beef with this book is that it wasn't honest about what it was. This is a very basic romance trying to throw in some paranormal pieces, but it's not successful.

Waiting on Wednesday: Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we can't wait to get our hands on.
 

Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire

    

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Cryptid, noun:
1. Any creature whose existence has been suggested but not proven scientifically. Term officially coined by cryptozoologist John E. Wall in 1983.
2. That thing that's getting ready to eat your head.
3. See also: "monster."

The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity--and humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and when her work with the cryptid community took her to Manhattan, she thought she would finally be free to pursue competition-level dance in earnest. It didn't quite work out that way...

But now, with the snake cult that was killing virgins all over Manhattan finally taken care of, Verity is ready to settle down for some serious ballroom dancing—until her on-again, off-again, semi-boyfriend Dominic De Luca, a member of the monster-hunting Covenant of St. George, informs her that the Covenant is on their way to assess the city's readiness for a cryptid purge. With everything and everyone she loves on the line, there's no way Verity can take that lying down.

Alliances will be tested, allies will be questioned, lives will be lost, and the talking mice in Verity's apartment will immortalize everything as holy writ--assuming there's anyone left standing when all is said and done. It's a midnight blue-light special, and the sale of the day is on betrayal, deceit...and carnage.

What are you "Waiting On" this week?