Archive for the ‘Historical Fiction’ Category

	Paperback: 240 pages Publisher: Rockin SR Publishing (October 12, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0982157614 ISBN-13: 978-0982157619	Order book here:
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Characters:

Johannes Svenson – Norway
Reuben Frank – Prussia
Sarah Bonney – Liverpool
Zebariah Taylor – United States
Inga Bjorne – New York
Jacob O’Shanahan – Ireland
Rebecca Marx – London

Synopsis:

Seven strangers from various parts of the world, set off in 1855 for life in the United States. Along the way, they’ll have various encounters with some of the dangers during that time period. Dangers ranging from Indian attacks, con men, killers, etc.

Review:

The story to this was very interesting. You get to know each character prior to their living for the U.S. and see what their lives were like, what their dreams are for their new life, and their fears. One seeks his fortune, one runs from her past, and one is willing to kill to obtain whatever he desires.

This novel presents a very interesting view of the early immigrant experience. The author is very versed in the Western lifestyle. While much of the book seemed accurate to the time period, there was one or more times, where the characters used what seemed like a more contemporary language. That was probably the one drawback I had with the book.

While the main story was a little weak, it is the first in a 6 book proposed series, so I have to assume following books would have a much stronger storyline to them.

There is some mild language, and adult situations. I’d recommend this foro older teens or adults. If you are a fan of westerns, I think you’d like this, or if you are a fan of historical fiction, you’d enjoy it.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Rebecca at The Cadence Group for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review.

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	Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages Publisher: Grand Central: November 1, 2010 Language: English ISBN-10: 0446555991 ISBN-13: 978-0446555999	Order book here:
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Chararacters:

Jeremiah Falls – A man struggling with an inner beast.
Hylic Kirillov – Russian Mercenary
Skog – Main antagonist trying to bring about the end of the world.
Amala Dhul-Nun Al-Misri – Interpreter. Takes care of Jeremiah when he’s injured.
Nathan Falls – Jeremiah’s Father
Atticus Falls – Jeremiah’s Grandfather

Synopsis:

In 1644 Jeremiah Falls and his father are leading the normal Puritan life. They are out tending their fields when his father is attacked by a creature neither have seen before. His father was killed, and the creature is injured and runs off. Later Nathan returns from the dead, kills his wife and injures Jeremiah. Jeremiah is turned into a creature of the Night. His grandfather helps him control this new blood thirsty beast raging within him. He spends the next 150 years learning from Indian neighbors as well as knowledge gained from books. Through this self-study he learns about a black rock that may set free him.

Review:

This book was full of action and adventure. It was written similar to the style of King Solomon’s Mines and Indiana Jones but with a vampire. The author covers a lot of history though in a fictional content. The history spans everything from the birth of mankind to the 1790s. One of the interesting aspects is how the author ties biblical concepts into the story to explain vampires..

If you are a fan of historical fiction, and like vampire tales, then I think you’d like this book. It’s not for you viewers, definitely older teens/adults, but was a nicely written action/adventure/historical book. There were some issues, such as Jeremiah always finding extra power within himself, but I took that as an analogy that just when time looks dark, if we push just a little harder we can overcome..

All in all a very interesting story that kept me interested from page 1 all the way to the end of the story..

*Thanks* goes out to Brad at Hachette Book Group for a review copy and also for giveaway copies. You can enter our giveaway here

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	NOOKbook (eBook) , 352pp Publisher: iUniverse (October 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0595819559 ISBN-13: 9780595819553	Order book here:
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Characters:

Kita – Martial Warrior – He and Kenyatta were raised together.
Kenyatta – Martial Warrior – Raised with Kita
Akemi – Ninja Demon Hunter
Kenjiro – Akemi’s Samurai brother.
Shinobu – Strider

Overview:

The technology of the world we know, no longer exists We’ve reverted back to a former age of swords and magic. This is manifested in 5 martial warriors. They are brough together in a quest to stop an evil wizard named Brit from unleashing all the demons of the underworld upon the earth. These 5 warriors are called together by the guard of a tower called Takashaniel, there quest to arrive there and protect the tower from Brit and his demonic menions.

Review:

This book, set with feudal characters, reminded me in many ways of an Akura Kirosawa film. It starts out jumping between each group of characters, as well as showing you what Brit is up to.

Once Brit’s plan is set in motion however, the action never stops until the last page. The description of the characters were very vivid, and the writing of the action scenes was very well written, and kept me going page after page.

I really grew to like these characters. I think my favorite was Akemi, the Ninja. There was plenty of cliffhanging moments, where you were left wondering if the characters were alive or dead. The ending left enough loose ends that the story could be continued.

On an age level, I’d probably say late teens or adults for this. While there wasn’t much strong language, there was a lot of combat situations, etc. and creatures that might leave young readers frightened. If you get the opportunity, grab this book. It’s available for both the nook and Kindle. I think you’d enjoy the story, especially if you’re a fan of stories like the Lord of the Rings.

See our interview with Mr. Terrell here.

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	Paperback: 140 pages Publisher: CreateSpace (October 13, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 1453836500 ISBN-13: 978-1453836507	Order book here:

This book is a salute to the old pulp fiction novels (Conan, Tarzan) of the past.  It’s a collection of 5 stories, each set in a different time period.  One story is a sword and Sorcery story, another Post Apocalyptic, others are historical, or what if historical tales.

Each tale presents likeable characters.  My 2 favorite stories was The Bloodstained Defile and Barbarian Nation.  The Bloodstained Defile created a trio of unlikely partners who in their first adventure form a partnership of sorts.  Barbarian Nation presents a story post fall of America.  It seems a civil war divided the country, and two opposing sides of the former military battle for survival.

There is strong situations, etc. so I’d recommend this for older teens, etc. but if you are a fan of Pulp Fiction books of the past, then I think you might like it.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Henry for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review.

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	Hardcover: 368 pages Publisher: Twelve (December 1, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0446572594 ISBN-13: 978-0446572590	Order book here:

Characters:

Harold White – Literary Researcher and Sherlock Holmes Buff.
Sarah Lindsay – Reporter, Plays Watson to Harold’s Sherlock Holmes.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – Author of Sherlock Holmes
Bram Stoker – Sir Doyle’s Watson.

Overview:

1893 – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has just done the Unthinkable. He’s killed Sherlock Holmes. As a result, he finds himself at the scorn of a major part of the public. He also finds himself stepping into his character’s shoes to solve a murder of a young girl.

2010 – Harold White has just been inducted into the upper echelons of Sherlockian Society and is attending their annual meeting in NY. At his meeting, a noted scholar is supposed to present Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s missing diary. This diary, a holy grail quest for over a hundred years, is part of a missing set from the late writer. But what is it about the diary that is causing someone to want to kill for it. Harold finds himself, along with female reporter Sarah Lindsay using skills he’s learned from reading Sherlock Holmes novels, to try to solve the murder of this famous scholar.

Review:

I liked this book. It bounced back between the past story of Conan Doyle/Bram Stoker working to solve a murder in London, to the present with Harold/Lindsay working to solve a murder. Both mysteries kept me guessing as to who the killer could have been, motive, etc. It was interesting to see the two diffferences in the time periods. And as a fan of fictional works myself, I could really feel Harold’s excitement at getting to put himself int his favorite characters shoes.

Both stories seemed to stay true to their time periods, with the possibility of a few exceptions. The author seemed to research the past, and some of the characters that were mentioned, etc. were historically accurate to their time period.

Exceptions, there was same strong language that I’m not 100% sure was in existence or used by these two particular authors in the late 19th/early 20th Century. As a result of that, I’d probably give this book a PG-13.

The author includes a note section at the end where he uncovers what was true, made up, stretched for literary sakes, etc. which I found a nice touch to the story.

I think if you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, or want an actual mystery (which today seems to be a lost genre), then I think this would be a good book for you to read.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Brad at Hachette Book Group for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced my review.

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	Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Grand Central; Reprint  (April 6, 2010) Language: English ISBN-10: 0446561800 ISBN-13: 978-0446561808	Order from here:

Racism. The Ku Klux Klan. Mississippi. One of the ugliest time periods in American History. Ben Corbett, a white lawyer with a wife and two daughters, is contacted for a special government mission. They want him to go to Mississippi to investigate stories about Lynchings. His contact is Abraham Cross, grandfather to Moody Cross, a relative of Alex’s. Once there, events unfold in often terrifying sequences.

The book is written as a book within a book. The author is really supposed to be Alex Cross writing about event’s in his families past. James Patterson and Richard Dilallo have managed to capture that time, in what I think, is a very realistic manner. Sometimes, maybe too realistic. There were passages where I cringed. The language, the behavior, and the events were true to the time period. The bravery of the main character facing all of this kept driving me onward in the book. The book was sprinkled with famous historical personalities too. I won’t mention which ones, because part of the fun is seeing these people, through he author’s and character’s eyes.

This is one of those books where you hesitate to say you liked it. The story was real, the people seemed real. But the reader isn’t supposed to like it. You’re supposed to hate the fact that this went on. You’re supposed to feel and see things through the eyes of Ben. Some of the scenes involving lynchings presented very strong imagery. Imagery that at times I couldn’t get out of my mind.In that respect I think the author succeeded. There were times where I cheered on Ben, and times where I was ashamed of our nation’s past. I’d recommend it to any James Patterson fans, people interested in early 20th century American history, or just those generally wanting a good book to read. I’m not sure how much Mr. Patterson wrote, and how much Mr. Dilallo wrote, but it was enjoyable. On a family friendly level, I’d say no one under 17/18. There was some strong language, and racially charged situations and language. All seemed withi context, but could be offensive to some audiences.

Be sure to check out our giveaway for this book here.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Valerie at Hachette Book Group for a copy of this book.  It in no way influenced my review.

You can discuss it here or join my facebook page and discuss it there.

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	Paperback: 192 pages Publisher: Vintage; 1 Mti edition (October 20, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0307474844 ISBN-13: 978-0307474841	Order from here:

Synopsis

Precious is the story of breaking down walls. It is a story about poverty, innocence, ignorance, strength, and triumph. Precious is a teenage girl. All of her life she’s been let down by every adult that crosses her path. Despite her extremely twisted childhood, she yearns to overcome this. One day she’s given that chance.

Review

This was a very fast read. While the language was a bit rough to get into at first, eventually it came together and seemed to add to the realism of the story. There was extremly strong language, which may turn off some readers. However, I felt that in this case, that it wasn’t gratuitous. The character would not have seemed real without it. There are graphic descriptions of incestuous rape. It definitely was not a fun story. It’s very sad that people go through this daily. I personally think this book might be helpful to incest survivors, or even those who feel like the deck is stacked against them. Sometimes a person isn’t wanting permanent support, but just wants a helping hand. I want to recommend this book, but it’s hard. Have you ever seen one of those movies where it was very well put together, well acted, but yet the storyline was so heart wrenching that you felt it was wrong to say you liked it. Precious is that kind of book. I can’t say I liked it. I hated the situation she was in. Yet, I loved the fact that despite getting knocked down, she kept going, pushing against the wall that held her back.

From RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Net work):

15% of sexual assault and rape victims are under age 12.3
29% are age 12-17.
44% are under age 18.3
Girls ages 16-19 are 4 times more likely than the general population to be victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault.
7% of girls in grades 5-8 and 12% of girls in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused.4
3% of boys grades 5-8 and 5% of boys in grades 9-12 said they had been sexually abused.

Victims of sexual assault are:

3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
6 times more likely to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
13 times more likely to abuse alcohol.
26 times more likely to abuse drugs.
4 times more likely to contemplate suicide.

If you or someone you know needs help, here is one place you can begin: http://www.rainn.org/get-help

We’re going to be giving away our copy of Precious. If you would like the opportunity to read it, leave a comment below. Also, if you aren’t a follower, and could become a follower (sign up on the right), it would be appreciated. Drawing will be held on January 19th, 2009.

You can discuss it here or share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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	Hardcover: 320 pages Publisher: Harper (November 24, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 0061929379 ISBN-13: 978-0061929373	Order from here:

Synopsis

Pirates. Abandoned Treasure Ships. Adventure. It’s all here in Pirate Latitude. Captain Charles Hunter is assigned th task of retrieving a Spanish ship full of treasure. The ship is in the harbor guarded by a fortress called Matanceros. To capture the ship, they’ll have to disable the guns of Matanceros. They’ll also have to survive the bloodthirsty man in charge, Cazalla. Hunter obtains the help of many different men to help him in his task, an Explosives expert, a professional killer, and others. Many of these men have a personal grudge against Cazalla. Some will come back, some won’t.

Review

Michael Crichton passed away on November 4, 2008. This novel was discovered in his paperwork. A year after his death, it was published. It’s uncertain whether it was meant to be published, or what other plans he had with it. Taken as it is, it was a pretty enjoyable book. I really liked the character of Charles Hunter. There were many instances that had me grinning at his behavior. There were also some wow scenes. Reading through it, I had the thoughts that it would make a good movie. Having researched some for this review, I’ve discovered that Steven Spielburg is considering a movie version.

While it may not have been what Mr. Chrichton envisioned, it was an exciting novel. It started a bit slow, but once the voyage got under way things picked up. There were many instances where I thought, “It can’t end like this”, only to have our hero’s go from one frying pan to another. The characters seemed true to the rogue pirate attitudes that we’ve been accustomed to in Pirates of the Caribbean.

If you have the opportunity to pick this up, do so. I think you’ll enjoy it. However, don’t expect all the typical stuff you’d get from Michael Crichton. This is a pure adventure. While I’m not a profesional in regards to Pirate history, it seems very accurate to all the history I do know. I’d say this is for older teens and above because of some strong language and strong situations.

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