Book Review: Time Keepers by Nicki J Markus

Time Keepers by Nicki J. Markus

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in London in the year 2025, Time Keepers is a futuristic novel set in a world where the existence of supernatural beings is accepted - and feared. The Government, on the other hand, wants to gain control over these creatures, and so starts rounding them up and keeping them in labs, where experiments and brain-washing is the accepted norm.

Nick is a werewolf who believes he has successfully slipped beneath the radar of detection, whilst Ellie is a Time Keeper (time-traveller) on the run from the government. The abilities of a Time Keeper are regarded as the most valuable prize of them all. However, it is when fate colludes to bring Nick and Ellie together that the real adventure, intrigue and danger begins to unfold. Ellie just wants to the do the right thing, whilst Nick has to come to the realisation that there is a lot more at stake than just saving his own skin.

Time Keepers is the "filled out" version of a series of four short stories published in 2011. Whilst characters, locations, and events have been developed in more detail, the premise remains much the same. A lot happens in this story, and it happens very rapidly, which makes this a quick and easy novel to read; although the ending is somewhat predictable, it is otherwise enjoyable.

3.5 stars.

 

 

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Book Review: The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

 

What I like most about the novels belonging to Philippa Gregory's Cousins' War series is that with each novel there is a new perspective, and with each new perspective the relationship dynamics between the characters shift, making each story as a whole feel brand new, even though they are all intricately entwined.

The White Princess tells the story of Elizabeth of York, eldest daughter of Edward IV and his wife, Elizabeth Woodville. Favourite of King Richard III, Elizabeth is betrothed and then wed to Henry Tudor after Richard's defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. But she is not a favourite in this new royal court, which is dark, paranoid and brooding - a stark contrast to the bright and happy court of her father and uncle. However, Elizabeth's marriage to Henry Tudor (that is, Henry VII) is a political manoeuvre to bind the houses of York and Lancaster together forever, and through this create a new royal House: The Tudors.

Elizabeth of York is presented as an intelligent and devoted young woman who is forced to marry a man she does not like, and who killed her true love, Richard III. However, raised as a royal princess she is acutely aware of the part she must play, and so sacrifices her own happiness for the wellbeing of her country. But her marriage to Henry does not bring about the peace they had hoped for, and rebellions made against the new King in the name of the House of York has devastating consequences for Elizabeth and her kin. Torn between her loyalty to her Tudor and York families, Elizabeth's decisions are not easy ones, especially when rumours are rife that her youngest brother, Richard IV, is alive and preparing to win back their father's crown.

I really liked Elizabeth of York as a character, in particular how Gregory made her faithful, compassionate and forgiving - a contrast to her prior heroines, who were rather conniving and vengeful. Elizabeth, who is not scared of anything or anyone, is the perfect opposite to her wickedly delusional mother-in-law, Margaret Beaufort, and a great teacher to her husband, Henry VII, who knows nothing of what it means to be a King of England.

The story that Gregory tells in The White Princess is a believable one, and one that flows far more effortlessly between events than her prior novel, The Kingmaker's Daughter. There weren't really any opportunities for the women of the Cousins' War to have happy endings, but Elizabeth's optimism and resolve manage to provide a silver lining to even her deepest tragedies. It makes it possible for the reader to overlook the historical inaccuracies, ignore the absence of historical detail, and focus on the characters and the story to which they belong.

 

 

 

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Book Review: The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

The Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa Gregory

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

I was rather excited when I learned that Philippa Gregory's novel The Kingmaker's Daughter was to be from the perspective of Anne Neville - that is, daughter of the Earl of Warwick ("the Kingmaker"), widow of Prince Edward of Lancaster, and then later wife of King Richard III. These three events alone provide the premise for a fascinating and truly gripping novel of what it was like for Anne Neville to live right at the heart of the Wars of the Roses.

The story begins when Anne is still a young girl, and Edward IV (of York) has claimed the throne and declared his marriage to the beautiful widow, Elizabeth Woodville. However, when Edward IV proves not to be the puppet king Anne's father, the Earl of Warwick, had planned for him to be, it isn't long before she and her sister, Isabel, become pawns in their father's quest for a replacement. First it is Edward's younger brother, George, the Duke of Clarence, to whom Anne's sister Isabel is married. Then when that doesn't quite go to plan, Warwick seeks out Margaret of Anjou, wife of the deranged Henry VI, and their son, Prince Edward, to whom Anne is quickly wed. But that doesn't quite go to plan, either, and for a long time after Anne is kept hidden by her brother-in-law, the Duke of Clarence. That is until she is swept off her feet by the chivalrous Richard, Duke of Gloucester, youngest brother to Edward IV, and the two marry. Yet it is from this point on that the story seems to lose a lot of its adventure, excitement and glamour.

The truth of the matter, however, is that (historically speaking) there isn't a great deal of information available on Anne Neville's life after her marriage to Richard, and this no doubt would have proved quite a challenge for Gregory to embellish into a novel. I give her points for trying, though, as she takes the reader on a journey that sees a young and bubbly Anne grow into a hardened, bitter and paranoid woman, forever holding onto her father's ambition that she would one day become Queen of England. Yet the story isn't quite fluid; it's all inside Anne's head, which at times is a confusing and depressing place to be, and jumps between seasons and events at alarming speed. The story is brought to a sudden halt with Anne's death in the spring of 1485, when she was just 29 years old. She outlived her son, but not her husband. This makes the story feel unfinished as Anne's later life revolved around her husband, and Richard III would die at the Battle of Bosworth just five months after his wife, bringing to an end the reign of the York kings.

Considering the era in which it is set, I found myself constantly wanting more detail of the Royal Court and of life in 15th Century England, which is something that Gregory does not go to great lengths to paint. However, Gregory does make Anne and Richard likeable and relatable characters with whom the reader can empathise. But The Kingmaker's Daughter is not a particularly cheery story, nor does it have a happy ending, which can lead its reader to feeling rather empty by the end of it all. It is also a novel that would probably be more enjoyable for those readers not overly familiar with the history, who have the luxury of being able to enjoy the story for what it is: Just a story.

 

 

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Book Review: Aethelstan by Sarah Foot

Aethelstan: The First King of England by Sarah Foot

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

Sarah Foot's Aethelstan is one of the few biographies written about the life of the West Saxon king, Aethelstan. The book covers every aspect of his life: Lineage, upbringing, travels, royal expenses, his Court, his private life and religious devotion (Aethelstan never married), and his success as a king who would rule all of England.

However, the mistake I made in reading this book, was that I chose to read it immediately following Neil Oliver's brilliant A History of Ancient Britain. I found myself constantly comparing how different the two were in the way they'd been written. Foot's biography, whilst containing a hefty amount of information, just isn't presented in a particularly interesting way. It feels hefty, daunting and, at times, completely overwhelming. It isn't free-flowing and it feels very academic.

I would not recommend this to anyone but the most ardent history-nerd who harbours a special interest in this particular era.

 

 

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Book Review: A History of Ancient Britain by Neil Oliver

A History of Ancient Britain by Neil Oliver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There is something completely enchanting about Neil Oliver. Whether it is watching him weave his magic on the television, or reading his books, his passion for his subject is paramount. His enthusiasm is contagious. His knowledge utterly enviable.

 

He is a fascinating story-teller of tales that are true.

As the written version of the BBC's documentary series of the same name, A History of Ancient Britain is certainly no exception. Although it is quite lengthy and absolutely packed full of information, it doesn't feel "bogged down" in detail. A History of Ancient Britain is perfectly fluid, and easy to read and understand. It takes its reader back to the earliest pre-history, when humankind first stepped foot on the British Isles and made it their home, and then traces the evidence of their presence, customs and beliefs right through to the end of Roman occupation.

It is a mind-boggling and truly awe-inspiring journey.

Recommended.

 

 

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Book Review: Dracula, My Love by Syrie James

Dracula, My Love: The Secret Journals of Mina Harker by Syrie James

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

 

Dracula, My Love by Syrie James is a retelling of Bram Stoker's classic story, Dracula. Proclaimed as the true version of events from the point of view of Mina Harker, Dracula, My Love has Dracula portrayed as lost and lonely soul on the search for eternal love, the vampire hunters as blood-thirsty fools, and Mina as an independent, intelligent and adventurous woman who has the misfortune to fall in love with two men at the same time (Jonathan, her husband, and Dracula).

The story follows the original timeline quite neatly, except the portrayal of the characters is different with the change of perspective. However, no matter the point of view and no matter the difference in the characters, the ending will ultimately always be the same: That no matter how strong the feelings are between Dracula and Mina, their love is doomed to fail. Fate never meant for Dracula and Mina to be together.

It is that reason alone that makes a retelling of Dracula such a challenge for any author brave enough to take it on. Change the ending and you have an entirely different story altogether. Whilst I liked James' version of Mina a lot more than I have others, I still found her to be a distant and indecisive character. The constant to-ing and fro-ing between her desire for Dracula and love of Jonathan is enough to make the reader dizzy, and at times it became annoyingly repetitive.

Having said that, though, as a whole Dracula, My Love is a decent retelling of a classic story that stays true to the original, but as a result it may well make you feel as though you have heard it all before.

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

Two words best describe Kate Morton's novel The Forgotten Garden: Family intrigue.

And intriguing it most certainly is!

In 1913 a small child is found abandoned with nothing more than a small suitcase of belongings on an Australian wharf. Taken in and adopted by a local family, the girl grows up as Nell, who believes she is the eldest of four children. When she discovers that her actual origins are unknown, she embarks on a journey to discover where she came from, who her parents were and how she came to be all alone on a ship bound for Australia when she was barely four years old.

Upon Nell's death her grand-daughter, Cassandra, takes it upon herself to continue her grandmother's search for the truth. The journey takes her all the way to Cornwall in England, and to a little cottage on the grounds of an old estate. There she uncovers a hidden garden that once belonged to an Edwardian authoress named Eliza Makepeace and her childhood friend, Rose. But how are the two women connected to Nell, and what role did they play in her fate? The truth will alter the course of Cassandra's life forever.

The Forgotten Garden is a delicious novel filled to the brim with secrets. As a reader it is hard not to feel sorry for Nell, and even more difficult to ignore Cassandra's enthusiasm for discovering the truth. Even though I was able to figure out the "big secret" fairly early on (and could not fall for the author's deliberate red herring), I still immensely enjoyed the story, and whose characters I became invested in as I followed them on their respective journeys of discovery.

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Quiet by Susan Cain

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I'm generally not the type to read "self-help" books, and I suspect that to some extent Susan Cain's Quiet is probably quite often mistaken as such, when in actual fact it is nothing of the sort.

Personality, generally speaking, falls into two categories. Either a person is an extrovert, or they are an introvert. There are more extroverts in the world than there are introverts and, as such, it may be of little surprise to learn that the extrovert personality tends to dominate - just about everything. Outgoing, sociable and comfortable around large groups of people, the extrovert has been promoted as the "ideal" personality type in schools, universities, and the workplace. So, what does this mean for the introvert?

In Quiet Susan Cain takes an in-depth look at the impact that this extroverted ideal has had on the introvert. Quiet, thoughtful and sometimes a little shy, the introvert is often mistaken as a loner, a bit mysteries, or just plain weird. However, there are significant psychological and physiological factors at play that make it impossible for an introvert to "become" an extrovert in the same way that an extrovert could never hope to be an introvert. Quiet is all about understanding the differences between the two personality types, whilst at the same time teaching others to appreciate the benefits that both personalities have to offer the world.

I am an introvert. In fact, according to the Myers-Briggs Personality Test, I belong to the 1% of people who are an INFJ personality type. In may mean nothing to you (particularly if you are an extrovert), but it means the world to me. Knowing why I think the way I think and do the things I do is of major importance to an introvert trying to survive in an extroverted world. Quiet was written to be read by people just like me.

Despite its claims, however, Quiet will not necessarily provide an introvert with the "tools" needed to thrive in a world where extroverts dominate. I found that although it provided me with a greater understanding of my introversion, at the same time it made me all the more aware of it, which is of absolutely no benefit whatsoever when in a public setting.

Having said that, however, where Quiet does succeed is in its championing of the introvert in a society where they are too often under-appreciated and ignored. For that reason, it's a book that should be read not only by the introverts of the world, but also by the extroverts. In that sense, Quiet has a lot to teach us all.

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




Guilty Pleasures is the first book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K. Hamilton.

In this first instalment the reader is introduced to Anita Blake, a necromancer with the power to raise the dead and a vampire hunter known as the Executioner. Anita lives in a world where vampires have been granted many of the same legal rights bestowed upon humans, so when "innocent" vampires become the focus of a crazed serial killer, Anita is roped into the investigation to find the culprit. The task is made all the more unsatisfying (and difficult) for Anita when she is forced to deal with an extremely powerful and dangerous vampire who has no qualms about ending Anita's life if she makes one wrong move...

The Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series has become a bit of a cult classic since the first novel was released way back in 1993. As an avid reader of vampire fiction, it was only a matter of time before Guilty Pleasures made its way onto my bookshelf, and as a first book in a series I had expected it to completely suck me into Anita's world - but, alas! it did not. I found the storyline promising, although it was let down by underdeveloped, hollow central characters. Furthermore, the plot moved at a snail's pace, so that by story's end it didn't feel as though all that much actually happened. But more than anything, it was really difficult for me to either like or relate to Anita, the story's protagonist. Narrow-minded, unforgiving and over-confident, she is, for lack of a better word, abrasive.

This is a novel where magic and the undead are brought together in the guise of a murder mystery, so I can understand how it may appeal to some other readers. However, unlike similar series by other authors (for example, the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, which has many similar characteristics), it isn't action-packed, there's little romance and it certainly isn't sexy - not all that much for a reader to sink their teeth into, really.

After all the hype, Guilty Pleasures was actually a bit of a let-down, and it certainly hasn't left me eager to begin book two anytime soon.

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris is the thirteenth - and final - novel in the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series. The naïve, small-town Sookie Stackhouse introduced in book one (Dead Until Dark) is a very different person to the cynical, hardened Sookie found in Dead Ever After. Over the course of thirteen books (and a selection of short stories), Sookie has grown and adapted to the world around her as she's had to face many life-threatening and life-changing events involving Vampires, Weres and other Supes.

In Dead Ever After Sookie must once again enlist the help of her supernatural friends in order to defeat a supernatural foe, whilst attempting to prove herself innocent of the murder of a fellow Bon Temps resident.

As the last book in the series, I expected a lot. I expected action, romance, mystery and an explosive ending - the kind of finale that Sookie deserved; one that was truly satisfying and would make up for the relatively unexciting events of the more recent novels in the series. However, that didn't happen. The ending did not surprise me: The turn that Sookie's love-life takes has been somewhat expected since book one. However, what did surprise me was the return of old lovers, friends and foes, whilst the more central and significant characters of the previous twelve books were frustratingly absent. The plot itself wasn't terrible, it just wasn't delivered in a particularly dramatic, satisfying manner, and in the end it felt as though not a lot actually happened in the story at all.

The Sookie Stackhouse series ceased being really good by book 7. Books 8 - 12 felt very much as if Sookie's story was being deliberately drawn out and milked for all it was worth, which probably put a lot of additional pressure on the final novel to be something truly amazing. In the end, however, Dead Ever After lacked the excitement and intrigue of the earlier novels in the series and overall, was rather disappointing.

 

 

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Book Review: Silent Night by Deanna Raybourn

Silent Night by Deanna Raybourn

 

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

 

 

Silent Night is a short and sweet Christmas novella belonging to the Lady Julia Grey mystery series by Deanna Raybourn.

In this instalment, Lady Julia and her investigator husband, Nicholas Brisbane, travel with their assortment of animals to the Grey family estate to celebrate the festive season with Julia's family. Julia is keen to show Brisbane how wonderful the Grey Christmas celebrations are, however upon their arrival Julia is shocked to find the Christmas décor lacking, the staff ill, her father sulking in his study, and valuable jewellery missing! Julia, true to form, is eager to get to the bottom of the problems plaguing the family estate so that she can treat her husband to a truly merry Christmas.

A wonderful holiday read, Silent Night is a great little teaser for dedicated Lady Grey fans, and the perfect introduction for the Lady Grey novice. The only downside to the story is that it was nowhere near long enough and left this reader craving more, more, MORE!

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Book Review: The Nelig Stones by Sharon Skinner

The Nelig Stones by Sharon Skinner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Nelig Stones by Sharon Skinner is a fantasy novel for children set in the magical land of Anoria.

Stefani is a bit of a science geek who doesn't get along well with her mother, whilst Robbie likes to skateboard but is constantly picked on by bullies. They are accidentally transported from their hometown to Anoria after the two collide outside Hole-in-the-Rock in Arizona. Once in Anoria, they discover they must undertake a physically challenging and dangerous journey to locate the Nelig Stones, magical trinkets that when brought together will give them the power to return home. Along the way they engage the help of fairies, mages and glimmerings in their quest, and come face-to-face with strangling vines, quicksand, raging river rapids, fire worms and dragons. However, despite the trials they are forced to endure, Stefani and Robbie build a strong friendship based on mutual respect for the other's strengths and weaknesses. They also discover new confidence as their journey forces them to take on new responsibilities.

I thoroughly enjoyed this great little novel, even if it was specifically written for children. It's impossible not to be drawn into the magical world of Anoria and become invested in Stefani and Robbie as they attempt to achieve such a mammoth task. The Nelig Stones is not bogged down in too much detail so would be perfectly suitable for anyone aged 7 and up.

Many thanks to the publisher, Brick Cave Books, for inviting me to read and review this novel, and for providing me with a wonderful paperback copy in order to do so.

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: A Vision of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith

A Vision of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

 

A Vision of Angels by Timothy Jay Smith is a tragic and suspenseful tale that revolves around a planned terrorist attack for Easter Sunday in Jerusalem. The lives of an American journalist, Israeli war hero, Palestinian farmer and Christian grocer are weaved together and changed forever as a result of this single event that is set to take place amidst the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

It is a story that moves at a fast pace and switches between perspectives of the characters just as quickly. The destruction, desolation and desperation caused by the conflict is at times brutally confronting, but gives the story an underlying human perspective that is too often missed in modern media reporting.

Smith does well to give all sides involved in the conflict a voice, and I found it a particularly interesting read in the sense that it gave new perspective to an old war. However, whilst the nature of the conflict itself kept me interested enough to continue reading, I found it impossible to either like or relate to any of the characters in the story. Whilst they are all dynamic, complicated characters for whom I felt empathy or a general disdain for, I couldn't connect with them in such a way that made me feel invested in their stories. For this reason, it was merely the conflict itself and not the stories of the individual characters taking place within it that gained and held my attention.

Overall, A Vision of Angels is an interesting yet confronting depiction of the ways in which conflict can tear a nation apart and yet bring it together at the same time.

 

Recommended to readers of contemporary fiction and those with a particular interest in current world politics.

Thank you to the author for inviting me to read and review this novel.

 

 

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Book Review: Not Wisely but Too Well by Pauline Montagna

Not Wisely but Too Well by Pauline Montagna

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not Wisely but Too Well by Australian author Pauline Montagna is the first in a series of novels based on the life of William Shakespeare. As a fan of Shakespeare, and as someone who has had the privilege to study his work in the past, I was most intrigued to read this fictional account of the bard's early life.

The story is relayed to the reader through letters written by Shakespeare to his lover. Whilst this format may be unconventional, Montagna has meticulously put the letters together so that they flow effortlessly from one to another and read less like correspondence and more like a traditional novel. In addition, the missives are in a style that compliments Shakespeare's own without making it a challenge to read or understand. There are just enough thou dost's to give the work an authentic sense of history and the element of realism that the author was aiming for.

However, I was not convinced by the premise that the letters were discovered by an academic and sent to the author for safe keeping at the beginning of the novel. The sense of intrigue in their discovery and the threat of danger in possessing them lacked the sense of realism that is prevalent throughout the rest of the novel. I feel it is a device that would have been best left out.

 

Having said that, I do feel that this shouldn't distract from the fact that Not Wisely but Too Well is an interesting interpretation of William Shakespeare's life, one that hasn't before been told quite so precisely as Montagna tells it, and one that would appeal to many fans of historical fiction.

 

Thank you to the author for inviting me to read and review this novel.

 

 

 

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Book Review: The Great War by Les Carlyon

The Great War by Les Carlyon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"We are lousy, stinking, ragged, unshaven, sleepless. Even when we're back a bit we can't sleep for our own guns. I have one puttee, a dead man's helmet, another dead man's gas protector, a dead man's bayonet. My tunic is rotten with other men's blood and partly splattered with a comrade's brains...Courage does not count here. It is all nerve. Once that goes one becomes a gibbering maniac." - Lieutenant John 'Alec' Raws, 4 August 1916, quoted in The Great War

On the 28 February 1916, 28-year-old farm labourer, Edwin Gale, from Yacka, South Australia, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. A week later his older brother, Samuel, followed suit. The brothers were sent to the Western Front, the former as part of the Infantry, the other as a Gunner. They lived through some of the harshest conditions imaginable, surviving gas attacks and endless defeats. Neither saw the end of the war: Edwin died on the 21 October 1917 from wounds he received during the (disastrous) Passchendaele Campaign; his brother, Samuel, was killed in action on the second day of the German 'Kaiserschlacht' Offensive, five months and one day after his younger brother (22 March 1918). Their widowed mother lost both her sons. The brothers are buried in Belgium, in separate cemeteries not so far apart, but still thousands of miles from home.

If Edwin and Samuel weren't two kinks in my Family Tree, I probably would never have read Les Carlyon's The Great War, but as it was (and still is), I needed to know more about the battlefields of the First World War so that I could greater understand the lives of these two brothers during such a pivotal moment in history. As it turns out, The Great War was the ideal place to start.

At around 800 pages in length, The Great War is an epic collation of the people, places and events that made the Western Front during the peak of World War I. Its central focus is the young, adventurous Australians who volunteered to fight (for reasons known only to them) on the other side of the world, and the British military commanders and politicians who held their fate. It covers in great, horrific detail all the major battles: Fromelle, Pozieres, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux, and then some lesser known ones as well. Not one hellish moment is skipped.

Yet this is not a book bogged down in technical detail; it is not simply "tactics" or a regurgitation of time and place. What makes The Great War such a phenomenal read is the effort that Carlyon has put into creating a personalised recollection, to make it feel as if it is the Fallen who are telling this tale. It contains excerpts from journal entries and letters, photographs and maps. It tells the stories of these men not only as they were during the war, but also what life was like before it and - if they were lucky enough to survive - what happened after.

Yet at the same time, The Great War does not glorify war or make heroes out of ordinary men, instead recognising that they were, in fact, just men. The Great War may be an epic and phenomenal book, but it is also emotionally wrecking. It made me cry - a lot. It lays bare the horrors of war - the destruction, the desperation and the waste. The reader is thrust into the nightmarish existence of the rancid mud-flats that became the Western Front, and reminds one of the vicious brutality that humans are capable of. It peels back the layers of legend and myth and reveals to the reader the true, human aspect of the war, and explains how a nation lost an entire generation of men - a loss that remains an absolute tragedy, even after the passing of nearly 100 years.

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** The 25 April in Australia and New Zealand is ANZAC Day, a day of sombre reflection commemorating the moment when our two nations officially became part of the First World War with the dawn landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli, Turkey, on the 25 April 1915.

Book Review: Citadel by Kate Mosse

Citadel by Kate Mosse

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Those robbers, those traitors and oath-breakers adorned with the cross who have destroyed me, neither I nor mine have laid hold on one of them who has not lost his eyes, his feet, his fingers and his hands! And I rejoice to think of those I have killed and regret the escape of those who got away." - Raymond Roger of Foix's opinion of the Crusaders invading his land under the guise of heretical cleansing, 1215.

It was Otto Rahn (a member of the German SS and a real person) who invented the connection between the Nazi belief in a superior race (Ayran) and the Cathars in 1937. Rahn also claimed that it was the Cathars who had possession of the Holy Grail and it was these beliefs (completely fabricated) that the Nazis propagated during WWII. Kate Mosse has taken the life and death of the medieval Cathars and this modern, fake Nazi version of history as the basis for her Languedoc series.

It works extremely well.

Citadel is the third (and final) book in the Languedoc trilogy. It is set on the border between France and Spain during the Nazi occupation of the region in WWII. It tells the story of Sandrine Vidal, native Carcassonais, her sister and a group of friends who make up the female resistence group 'Citadel', determined to expose the secrets of the Nazi occupation.

At the centre of the story is the Codex, an ancient text condemned as heretical by the Church during the early middle ages, but saved from destruction by a Christian monk named Arinius, who takes the Codex and hides it in the Pyrenees Mountains. Undisturbed for centuries it is now being sought by the Nazis who wish to harbour its power for their own cruel purpose. However, with the assistance of Audric Baillard, Sandrine and the Citadel network intend to recover it first and raise a ghost army that will once and for all remove the invaders from their homeland.

Although most of the characters in this story are fictional, Mosse makes clever, subtle connections between those that are imaginary and actual historical figures. For example, it is the fictional Antione Dejean who learns of the Codex from the historical Otto Rahn; Sandrine's fictional neighbours by the name of Fournier are Nazi informants, whilst the historical Jacques Fournier was a Cistercian monk who helped bring about the destruction of the Cathar faith during the 13th Century (and later became pope Benedict XII); and the fictional Audric Baillard has a grandmother named Esclarmonde, the historical Esclarmonde of Foix being a famous Cathar Perfect (holy woman).

It is these connections between the past and the fictional setting of the book that made it particularly enjoyable for me. I liked that Mosse held this connection and carried it over and through the distance of time in a sense of "history repeating" - the type that only hindsight can give us. There is wonder in the idea that there are certain traits - not just genetic similarities but inherent beliefs and motivations - that are passed down through generations in a neverending battle of good vs evil.

However, I do have a bit of a gripe: At times the similarity Mosse draws between the persecution of the Cathars during the 13th Century and the suffering experienced by the Jews in WWII is not particularly subtle. In fact, it almost feels forced, which is unnecessary: Anyone who has read the previous two novels (Labyrinth and Sepulchre) will perfectly understand the connection without the need for the author to spell it out to them. I felt as though Mosse wasn't giving me credit as a reader when she did this.

The other, minor complaint I have to make is that the story began to drag a little near the end. I knew there was the big event just around the corner but it seemed to take forever to get there, and then when it finally arrived it was over so quick! Then the story just ended. That left me feeling slightly unsatisfied.

However, what makes this story worthy of a 4-star rating (even 4 and a half stars, really) is the combination of the characters and the setting of the story. Citadel is about ordinary people doing the most extraordinary things to save others, even if they must sacrifice themselves in order to do so. It's a beautiful and inspiring novel about about finding strength, keeping faith, and resisting the influence of evil inherent in ignorance and hate.

I highly recommend this series but it needs to be read in its intended order to truly appreciate Kate Mosse's Cathars.

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LAST CHANCE TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR 'ROYAL FLUSH':

 

Author Scott Bartlett has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of this blog an e-book copy of Royal Flush.

 

All you have to do to enter the draw is to leave a comment on this post. Please provide an email address so that if you win the author can get in touch with you to arrange delivery of the e-book. Entries will be taken until midnight (Australian Central Standard Time) on Thursday, 31 January 2013. The winner will be announced on Saturday, 2 February 2013.

 

Giveaway is open to everyone because we all deserve a free book every now and then.

 

Best of luck! 

 

 

Book Review: Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

“I so seldom had to dispose of a human body myself, I was at a loss. Fairies turned into dust, and vampires flaked away. Demons had to be burned. Humans were very troublesome.”

- Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris

 

Deadlocked is the twelfth instalment in the Sookie Stackhouse/Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris. In this novel, Sookie has to put her sleuthing skills into action once again after a "fangbanger" (i.e. a human who likes to fraternise with vampires) is killed at a party hosted by Sookie's beau, Eric Northman. All the evidence suggests that Eric was responsible for the human's death, but did he do it? Sookie doesn't believe so and sets out on an investigation to prove Eric innocent. As a result Sookie is - yet again - left wondering why she allows herself to get caught up in the nasty world of Vampire Politics.

In addition to the vampires, there's trouble brewing within her own supernatural clan and Sookie suspects that a magical heirloom left to her by her grandmother is to blame. You see, the type of magical item that Sookie has inherited can provide its owner all that they desire, but Sookie is wary of the consequences of her utilising it. Also, she doesn't really know what it is she truly wants.

Deadlocked is the second-to-last book in the series and as is to be expected, Harris is beginning to draw the story to a close. Loose ends are finally being tied off and there are fewer tangents. However, I continue to be particularly frustrated by the inconsistency in Eric's character. In the previous instalment (Dead Reckoning) he was an ass, but in Deadlocked he has been transformed into a bit of a wimp. Sookie seems to be more in control of the situation than what Eric does, and Eric's supposed to be one of the most intimidating and powerful vampires on the face of the planet. As he is represented in Deadlocked it is difficult to imagine why anyone would bother trying to bring him down; to me he seems defeated already.

Another problem with Harris' new version of Eric is that he doesn't really feature in the story all that often, even though the plot is centred around him. He's there, kind of in the background somewhere, but he's not an active participant in the events. It is almost as if Eric has become the means by which Harris can re-introduce vampire Bill Compton as the central vampire to the story. Bill continues to charm his way back into Sookie's life and it's difficult not to draw the conclusion that Sookie will end where she began, romantically speaking. And if I'm perfectly honest, that really annoys me after all the effort Harris put into making him unlikeable and effectively fading him out as a central character earlier on in the series.

I also cannot fathom why on earth Harris insists on making every male character in this series unable to resist Sookie's feminine charms. I don't think I've encountered a character more alluring and irresistable! And it comes across as fake self-indulgence that we learn all this from Sookie herself. I don't find it to be a particularly endearing quality of our heroine, although perhaps modesty isn't in Sookie's genetic makeup.

Even though Deadlocked is further improvement on the disappointment that was books 8, 9 and 10, there remains a few issues with the characters and the storyline that have not, as yet, been resolved. Being the penultimate novel in the series, I had expected Harris to build on the constants in her characters rather than trying to force major, last-minute changes. I am more than curious to see how Sookie's story will end, even though I fear it won't be the finale I had hoped for.

 

 

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DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR 'ROYAL FLUSH':

 

Author Scott Bartlett has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of this blog an e-book copy of Royal Flush.

 

All you have to do to enter the draw is to leave a comment on this post. Please provide an email address so that if you win the author can get in touch with you to arrange delivery of the e-book. Entries will be taken until midnight (Australian Central Standard Time) on Thursday, 31 January 2013. The winner will be announced on Saturday, 2 February 2013.

 

Giveaway is open to everyone because we all deserve a free book every now and then.

 

Best of luck!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

“One of the most wonderful, and the most appalling, things about Eric loving me was that he didn't give a shit about anyone else.” - Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris

Dead Reckoning is the 11th instalment in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. Sookie now lives in a world where vampires and shifters mingle with the human constituent on a daily basis - and everyone knows about it. But that doesn't mean everyone's happy with the situation, so when Merlotte's bar is firebombed suspicion falls directly on the anti-shifters in the community. However, Sookie believes the culprit may be less obvious - and more dangerous.

Dead Reckoning is a slight improvement on books 8, 9 and 10, which were a little stagnant plot-wise, yet it still managed to raise more questions than it provided answers to.

As the central character I would expect to find Sookie grow and develop with each book, yet in Dead Reckoning she appears to undertake no personal development whatsoever. I must admit that the ramblings about Christian Morals that takes place inside her head is a little too cliche for my tastes. Sookie's head is certainly a confusing place to be on occasions. The inconsistencies in her character itself - strong one minute and then a weeping mess the next - make me wonder if Sookie has some kind of disorder she needs to get help for.

However, it is her relationship with Eric in this book that truly sent me bananas: Eric is a bitch to everyone and completely dominates Sookie, and yet Sookie just kind of lets it slide. What's more frustrating, though, is that she's aware she's doing it but blames it on the blood bond she has with him. Even though she can't get her own private life together she still has the audacity to preach to her friends about theirs'! WTF, Sook?

Whilst she has all this drama involving Eric to contend with, next door there's Bill Compton, who likes to show up occasionally and remind Sookie why she fell in love with him in the first place. Bill is slowly but surely worming his way back into the storyline (and therefore Sookie's life), but am I the only one who finds him a bit dull? At the beginning - the very start of the series - when he was the only vampire on the block I'll admit that I was taken with his quiet, dark and mysterious presence. However, when Eric Northman came along, bursting at the seems with charisma and intrigue, Bill faded into the background and I was perfectly okay with that. It's pretty much impossible not to be swayed by a badass viking vampire whose hard exterior hides a soft and chewy centre. But in Dead Reckoning Harris has turned Eric into a secretive, violent and downright nasty a-hole who is kind of difficult to like. And let us not forget Sam Merlotte. Good ole, reliable Sam: Sookie sings his praises and always feels obligated to help him out of a bind. So what we have in this novel is a charming Bill, an irresistable Sam, and an unrecognisable Eric. What game are you playing at, Harris?

As a whole, I found this novel to be far more enjoyable than the last, but I can't help but think the series could have been tied off and finished more neatly had it not been dragged through books 8, 9 and 10. Now I'm in a situation where I hope each instalment will return me to the amazing and awesome pleasure and excitement of earlier books (#4, for example), but it just never quite gets there. Instead each book leaves me feeling a little underwhelmed and I don't think Harris has it in her anymore. A shame, really, because the world of Sookie Stackhouse still retains so much potential.

 

 

 

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DON'T FORGET TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR 'ROYAL FLUSH':

 

Author Scott Bartlett has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of this blog an e-book copy of Royal Flush.

 

All you have to do to enter the draw is to leave a comment on this post. Please provide an email address so that if you win the author can get in touch with you to arrange delivery of the e-book. Entries will be taken until midnight (Australian Central Standard Time) on Thursday, 31 January 2013. The winner will be announced on Saturday, 2 February 2013.

 

Giveaway is open to everyone because we all deserve a free book every now and then.

 

Best of luck!

 

Book Review + Giveaway: Royal Flush by Scott Bartlett

Royal Flush by Scott Bartlett

 

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

 

 

 

 

Royal Flush is not the kind of book you'd normally find me reading. It is described by the author as a "medieval comedy with elements of fantasy", and consists of four stories about one central character, the King.

Now the King is a blundering, ridiculous, infuriatingly incompetent kind of king. He has a fondness for executions and wants for little, yet his romantic life is, well, non-existent. To rectify this, the King begins a search for the love of his life, but the romantic bliss he unquestionably believes he deserves is repeatedly interrupted by the inconvenient responsibility of running the Kingdom.

The stories are well-written, witty and easy to follow, constructed in a way that brought back fond memories of 'Blackadder' and 'Monty Python' skits. The only downside to this is that sometimes the "skit" feels endless, the humour of it wearing thin, and the characters come across as a little one-dimensional. I found the King to be quite impersonable, even though his escapades and the constant trouble he finds himself in are definitely chuckle-worthy. The thing about Royal Flush is that there's little depth to it, but in all honesty, I think that's the point. This is a great book for people who are not enthusiastic readers and/or who don't like a lot of drama in their fiction. It's a read that doesn't require a lot of mental effort to keep up with the story and once I came to terms with that I found I was able to enjoy the book more thoroughly.

Oh, and I loved the goat!

Many thanks to the author for inviting me to read and review this novel.

 

 

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

 

The author, Scott Bartlett, has been kind enough to offer one lucky reader of this blog an e-book copy of Royal Flush.

 

All you have to do to enter the draw is to leave a comment on this post. Please provide an email address so that if you win the author can get in touch with you to arrange delivery of the e-book. Entries will be taken until midnight (Australian Central Standard Time) on Thursday, 31 January 2013. The winner will be announced on Saturday, 2 February 2013.

 

Giveaway is open to everyone.

 

Best of luck!

View all my reviews