The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph is based on the life of 18th century Ignatius Sancho. Born on and soon orphaned upon a slave ship, two-year-old Sancho is purchased by an Englishman and taken back across the ocean and gifted as a sort of "pet" for three society sisters. Sancho runs… Continue reading Review: The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph
The Siege by Helen Dunmore follows a young woman, Anna, who is thrust into the primary caretaker role for her family during the deadly 1941 Siege of Leningrad. With a [unemployed] writer father and a infant brother, and her mother having passed at her brother's birth, Anna is the de facto leader of her family.… Continue reading Review: The Siege by Helen Dunmore
The Oath of Bjorn (book 3 in the Vinland Viking Saga) by Tamara Goranson follows the Beothuk-raised, Norse huntsman husband of Anja Freydisdottir (the main character of book 2,) son of Logatha and the late Finnbogi. Given the female perspectives of books 1 and 2, switching to the male perspective for book 3 was a… Continue reading Review: The Oath of Bjorn by Tamara Goranson
The Wolf Queen by Marie McCurdy is based on the life of real historical figures Thusnelda of the Germanic Cherusci tribe and Arminius, a Germani chief raised as a Roman officer. I admit I did not know of these historical figures before reading this book, but their tale intrigued me to find out what happened… Continue reading Review: The Wolf Queen by Marie McCurdy
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese weaves a backstory for a woman who (in this version) provided the inspiration for The Scarlet Letter's Hester Prynee. Young Scottish woman Isobel marries an apothecary whom she believes will provide for her a stable future. Isobel soon finds, however, that her husband has debts and is addicted to laudanum.… Continue reading Review: Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
Click here to read The Historical Fiction Company's glowing review of Raven Rock!
Matrix by Lauren Groff has been on my TBR for ages, and it wasn't until I recently read The Vaster Wilds that I figured I better finally read this one. What I thought I was getting into: a historical novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine. What I actually got: Horny Medieval Nuns, but make it Literary… Continue reading Review: Matrix by Lauren Groff
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint retells the myth of the Cretan princess who helped Theseus vanquish the Minotaur beneath the palace of Knossos. I was not super familiar with this Greek myth aside from the Minotaur and Theseus, so I went into this book with no expectations. The Minotaur is actually the half-brother of Ariadne -… Continue reading Review: Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam is set in early 1920s Edinburgh, a time and place still very much impacted by the losses of WWI. Historically, this period was marked by a rise in mediums and Spiritualism as a means to contact the thousands of people killed during a war, as well as bring family members… Continue reading Review: Hazardous Spirits by Anbara Salam
The Foundling by Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars, follows Bess Bright and Alexandra Callard - two very different women from two very different socioeconomic statuses who are bound by a child. The Foundling takes place in Georgian London--and if you set anything in Georgian London, I'm going to read it or watch it! Bess… Continue reading Review: The Foundling by Stacey Halls
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