As some of you may (or may not) know, I sometimes pepper my Historical Fiction reviews with Sci-Fi or Fantasy. This is one of those times. I did not want Queen's Shadow to end! Focused on Padme Amidala between the events of Episode I and II (beginning roughly five years after EPI,) Johnston explores the… Continue reading Review: Queen’s Shadow by E.K. Johnston
Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton is set in 18th Century London, specifically within the silk industry in Spitalfields. Set against this vibrant backdrop, Velton weaves together the stories of two women--Sara, a former harlot and now maid, and Esther, wife of a wealthy silk weaver. Arriving in London naive and sheltered, Sara is… Continue reading Review: Blackberry and Wild Rose by Sonia Velton
Set in 16th century Italy, The Chef's Secret by Crystal King follows papal chef Bartolomeo Scappi and his apprentice, Giovanni, through two intersecting tales that peel back like layers of an onion. While Scappi was indeed the chef of a Pope, King notes that not much is known about him save his recipe book, and… Continue reading Review: The Chef’s Secret by Crystal King
The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones tells the true story of Princesses Militza and Stana of Montenegro and their marriages into the Russian Imperial Family at the turn of the century. Coming from a small, "backwater" country, the sisters are immediately shunned by the Russian nobility in St. Petersburg. They call them "Goat… Continue reading Review: The Witches of St. Petersburg by Imogen Edwards-Jones
The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd tells the true story of Eliza Lucas, who at the age of 16 was given control of her family plantations after her father returned to Antigua to secure his political position. It is remarkable that in 1738, a father would give his 16 year old daughter control of such… Continue reading Review: The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd
Whiskey When We're Dry by John Larison is a Western you know, as well as the Western you don't. That's namely due to Whiskey's main character, Jessilyn. The story is told from Jessilyn's point of view, and with that comes her unique speech and colloquialisms. In turn, the voice of Whiskey is extremely strong in… Continue reading Review: Whiskey When We’re Dry by John Larison
Becoming Belle by Nuala O' Connor is a Victorian-set novel about a women ahead of her time. Isabel Maude Penrice Bilton did indeed becoming "Belle," a modern woman who forged her own path and made her own money in a time when a woman's role was restricted and social mores were strict. I'll… Continue reading Review: Becoming Belle by Nuala O’ Connor
Women of the Blue and Gray tells the true stories of women on both sides of the Civil War who defied gender norms and were social pioneers despite the strict Victorian mores of the time. Although I had some knowledge of womens' involvement in the American Civil a la nursing and spying, Marianne Monson… Continue reading Review: Women of the Blue & Gray by Marianne Monson
The Locksmith's Daughter follows a young woman named Mallory Bright who, after a scandalous incident*, must make a new path for herself by spying for none other than Queen Elizabeth's Spymaster, Sir Francis Walsingham. Not only does Mallory employ her lockpicking skills (learned from her locksmith father,) but also learns new tools of the… Continue reading Review: The Locksmith’s Daughter by Karen Brooks
My Dear Hamilton follows the true and extraordinary life of Elizabeth ("Eliza") Schuyler Hamilton--wife of the famous (or infamous) Alexander Hamilton. We all know Hamilton has gained popularity in recent years with the musical, but Dray and Kamoie's novel tells this saga of early American from Eliza's point of view, and in turn, presents an… Continue reading Review: My Dear Hamilton: A Novel of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton by Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie
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