The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo is an enchanting tale set in 16th century Spain. Luzia Cotado is a scullion of secret Jewish heritage. Protecting her true lineage in a country ruled by the Inquisition requires Luzia to keep a low profile. Although well-read, intelligent, and witty, Luzia must play the part of the illiterate, dull… Continue reading Review: The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo
The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn follows the rise of Lyudmila Pavlichenko ,"Lady Death", famed Soviet Sniper of WWII with an official kill tally of 309. I first heard about Lyudmila ("Mila") during my early - mid '00s Russian history obsession phase of my life (everyone has one of those, right...?) A woman fighting on… Continue reading Review: The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn
*slight spoilers below* If The Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert takes place from 1715 to 1717 at the intersection of Massachusetts Puritanism and the Golden Age of Piracy. If The Tide Turns actually reminded me a lot of Hester. I was really excited to read this one because of the subject matter, and I really… Continue reading Review: If The Tide Turns by Rachel Rueckert
The Baronet's Tale: Anthony by Julia Brannan is a prequel to the Jacobite Chronicles, but takes place after The Highlander's Tale which recounts Alex MacGregor's childhood in the Highlands. The Baronet's Tale picks up in 1734 with Alex embarking for university in Paris at his father's insistence. Alex takes on this burden, painful as it… Continue reading Review: The Baronet’s Tale: Anthony (Jacobite Chronicles) by Julia Brannan
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
Raven Rock has advanced to the Semi-Finals of Chanticleer International Book Reviews 2023 Goethe Historical Fiction Award! See the full list here.
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
Raven Rock has received an Honorable Mention in the Historical Fiction Company's 2023 Awards in the Literary category. See the full list here!
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