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[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove --> <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{Frontpage|author=Tananarive Due|title=The Reformatory|rating=5|genre=Historical fictionFiction|summary=Gracetown, Florida. June 1950. After a scuffle with a white boy, twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the Reformatory. It's a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of horrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. In order to survive the school governor and his Funhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's ghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532__NOTOC__}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Jack WolfKatherine Howe|title=The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody BonesA True Account

|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=It doesn’t take long for Jack Wolf’s extraordinary pastiche eighteenth century novel 'The Tale of Raw Head and Bloody Bones' to show its true stripes. Narrator Tristan Hart’s best friend Nathanial Hannah Masury is handsomeliving in Boston, charming and athletichaving been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and also prone being made to ‘snatching blue Tits work there from a young age. When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in the Hedgestown, she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and consuming them direct upon horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the Spothands of two vicious pirates.’ In that phrase you see both the heart-stopping nastiness She hides away, so that pulses through they don''Raw Head t find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, dressing as a boy and Bloody Bones'joining the notorious Ned Low' s pirate ship as a cabin boy. She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the fascinating attitude ocean waves.|isbn=0861547438}}{{Frontpage|author=Sarah Marsh|title=A Sign of Her Own|rating=3.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=After a bout of scarlet fever as a child, Ellen Lark loses her hearing. Suddenly plunged into a world of silence, everything about her life changes. Living in a time when the use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to a school where she is taught to Gothic duality that lies at its corelip read, but physically restrained from signing. From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and using a system called Visible Speech. At the same time, Bell is working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of espionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0701186879</amazonuk>1035401614

{{newreview|author=Ayana Mathis|title=The Twelve Tribes follow-up to the excellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off. In the palace of Hattie|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary= Teenager Hattie Shepherd moves Odysseus, with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband August, parents who sailed to war at Troy and siblings from then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the colour apartheid throne of the southern US to Philadelphia in search of a better lifeWestern Isles. Unfortunately this is 1920's America Having survived – politically and so 'better life' is a mirage for Hattie. By physical – the age of 15 shechaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's pregnant and subsequently gives birth to twins Jubilee and Philadelphiashores, Queen Penelope is on the first two brink of 11 childrena fragile peace. As much joy as they bring, the twins are destined to provide a tragedy One that will flavour Hattie's and August's outlook and relationship for decades. Each later Shepherd baby will develop shatters however with their own characteristics but each will also be tarnished by the pastreturn of Orestes, irrespective King of their attempts to escape itMycenae, and his sister Elektra, seeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>009194418X</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sharon PenmanB0C7J9D21B|title=LionheartA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis

|summary=''Lionheart'' When we first meet our hero, his name is the latest book in the Ettore and he lives at The House of Beautiful Swallows. Idyllic as this might sound, it's a bordello and Ettore'Devil’s Brood's mother died when he was born. He' series, which focuses on the dysfunctional Angevin branch s not been short of the Plantaganets. As the title suggestsmothers, the story is a richly detailed account though - but for someone of the life of Richard Ihis background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, covering the period from his coronation up it's difficult to obtain decent employment. The stint working with the end preparation of the third crusadeanchovies didn't work out and bastards are considered bad luck on fishing boats. Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and determined - and it was not long before he had a successful business as a guide for visitors. He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1447205367</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Geling Yan and Nicky Harman (translator)Essie Fox|title=The Flowers of WarFascination

|summary=1937, Nanking. The war between the Republic of China and Japan has ended in defeat Victorian era is incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for China, and now Japanese soldiers are moving in to bloodily occupy the capital city. In a small American mission churchhistorical fiction (matched only, fifteen Chinese schoolgirls are hidingperhaps, trapped until by the priests who look after them can smuggle them Second World War) which has often led to safetymore than a few writers mishandling it. Into this already fraught atmosphere come desperate Chinese citizens looking for shelter – There's such a rowdy group glut of Nanking prostitutes, a colonel on media set in the run and two more soldiers who have survived a horrendous secret massacre. As era that the Japanese atrocities gather pace, hallmarks we've come to associate with it are familiar to the safety and survival of each point of the church’s disparate members becomes uncertainbeing cliched, and the initially hostile girls begin hackneyed even. All this is simply to realise illustrate that there may it would be common ground between them an easy thing to do poorly. But despite that, something about it still grabs me – and the prostitutes they have been taught to despisesomething about this book's description did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099569620</amazonuk>1914585526

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Joanna HicksonNicole Jarvis|title=The Agincourt BrideA Portrait in Shadow|rating=4.5

|summary= Baker's daughter Guillaumette Dupain, aged 15, mourns for her still-born baby but her tragedy becomes others' gain. Young Mette is sent to the Hotel de San Pol, home of the French royal family to become wet nurse to the latest child produced by the sickly Charles VI and his wife, Isabella of Bavaria. The infant is Catherine de Valois; destined to be the mother I want all of an English dynasty. But first she must live long enough to marry an English king and being a 15th century royal is a dangerous existence when your greatest enemies are in your own family.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007446977</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=David Kent-Lemon|title=Blockade Runner|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=London shipbroker's clerk Tom Wells is hungry for promotion. Seeking responsibility where ever possible he's still unprepared for a proposition from his employer Mr Pembroke. The company is to operate five cargo ships, shuttling between the Bahamas and America's southern states and he wants Tom to be on board as shipping agent; a dangerous enterprise. Why? It's 1861 and the south is at war with the Yankee north. President Lincoln has blockaded ports like Charleston and Wilmington in the Carolinas in an attempt to prevent revenue-providing cargo leaving or supplies (including uniforms and arms) arriving. Mr Pembroke plans Florence to illegally know my name'run' the blockade, something not unattractive to Tom partially due to the vastly increased wage attached but mostly because he has a certain interest in a certain American lady.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781590648</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Kate Alcott|title=The Dressmaker|rating=4Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in which her art can find a home and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=I’ve always avoided stories with a strong link to But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the Titanic; it’s such a depressing and distressing topic, especially for those of us with an active imagination! Howeverpowerful Accademia, I was attracted to this novel for different reasons. Telling the story self-proclaimed guardians of Tess, a talented seamstress looking for a break, the core relationship is one healing magics that is not often explored – that between employee through paintings have the power to protect the city and its citizens from plagues and employercurses. Designer Lady Duff Gordon takes Tess on as her maid on the Titanic The all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and quickly becomes a mentor architecture for centuries and example as Tess develops her craftguard it above all else. But what happened on the voyage threatens To them, Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and change – has no place amongst them and their relationship and Tess finds herself facing all kinds of moral dilemmassociety.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0751549231</amazonuk>1803362340

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Charlotte Bronte and Karena RoseThomas D Lee|title=Jane EyroticaPerilous Times

|genre=Historical FictionFantasy|summary=Jane Eyre ''Hate is a classic I studied to death in high school, but I didn’t mind because it’s a book I enjoyed then and still enjoy now. Jane Eyrotica is, to put it simply, a smutty version of the classic. Hot on the heels of the likes path of [[Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James]] this is a reworking in which the once demure Jane beds anything with a pulse.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0749959428</amazonuk>}}least resistance''

{{newreview|author=Ken Follett|title=Winter of Set in the near-distant future, in a world on the World (Century verge of Giants Trilogy 2)|rating=3climate collapse, Britain is in great peril.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary= The world of 1933 seems to be about British Isles desperately needs a hero (or several) to disprove save the idea that WWI day and rescue what little remains. What no-one expected was the war to end all wars. German politician Walter von Ulrich and his wife (and former English aristocrat) Maud watch in horror as Adolf Hitler's National Socialists increase their hold; a rise in popularity that invigorates their son Erik. After visiting one of the von Ulrichs, young Lloyd Williams takes mental images Knights of the brutality gripping Germany home to England, images that fire him up to fight against Round Table would answer the fascist threat elsewhere in Europe. Meanwhile young socialite Daisy Peshkov has marriage on her mind but isn’t considered a respectable prospect in her native USA. (Blame her thuggish father, movie magnate Lev.) This doesn't stop her though; if she can't have a rich American husband, there's still a bit of money left in Britaincall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0230710107</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Rosemary SutcliffG K Holloway|title=Sword At SunsetIn the Shadows of Castles

|summary=Every country has its myths We begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and legends: those stories that are told on the day of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. William's position is not secure and re-told. Stories that have any number of re-interpretationsthe new king has many challenges. Stories, Imposing authority through a belief in which becomes part of our national identity, even if we hold them to be true, purely because we want them to be truecoronation is important. Part of them, at any rate. Those parts of our favourite retelling that speak most And William is right to us as individualsworry. In EnglandWhile the previous king, Robin Hood and his merry menHarold, is one such. The other dead and the likelihood of more pitched battles is King Arthur over, the rebels are stirring and the Knights much of the Round Tablecountry does not wish to recognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857892436</amazonuk>1800422466

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Margaret Skea3949666079|title=Turn of the TideNoema|author=Dael Akkerman

|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=Family and clan count in 16th century Scotland as Munro discovers. His allegiance lies with the Clan Cunninghame and therefore he's involved in their bloody feud with the Montgomeries. It should be straightforward but sometimes feelings don't run along genealogical lines and loyalties are torn. Munro's wife Kate finds this as difficult to live with, sharing the hardships of This is a life on the edge whilst trying story about some things that happened to protect their children. Unfortunately the Cunninghames' victory at the Annock massacre has created greater problems than it solved and no one knows which side fate will eventually favour. Meanwhile King James' presence creates a temporary respite, but revenge can't be side-lined forever.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1909305065</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Sally Prue|title=Song Hunter|rating=5|genre=Teens|summary=A new Ice Age is coming. Winters are getting colder. There are fewer mammoths to hunt and no trees from which to fashion spears to kill them. A small group of Neanderthals is facing starvation this winter. One of them, Mica, is full of ideas to avert the impending doom, but the others simply won't listen to her. If something has never been before then it is ''nothing'' and simply not worth thinking me abouttwelve thousand years ago. Even Bear, who loves Mica, won't hear her. One night, Mica hears strange voices calling in the darkness. They fill her with a deep sense of longing. But to whom do these siren voices belong? And do they hold the key to Mica's future?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0192757113</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lisa Hilton|title=Wolves in Winter|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It's 1492 and Mura, an exotic-looking child of Moorish, Spanish and Viking origin enjoys an idyllic childhood living with her widowed father, a Toledo bookseller. However she soon learns that the world is a cruel place when he's snatched by the Spanish Inquisition and she's hidden in a brothel for safe keeping. Adara, the lady of the night entrusted with Mura, betrays that trust and the child's adventurous journeys begin. From nurtured daughter to child prostitute to Medici slave, Mura discovers the power within, nourished by her childhood tales from the Moors and 'North Men' and her gift of 'the sight'. Mura also bears a secret but it seems that she'll be the last to discover it.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848874677</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=John Kerr|title=Hurricane Hole|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=In 1942 German U-boats were wreaking havoc with Allied shipping in the Caribbean. Tom Hamilton, Maya is a young American working undercover and posing as girl living in a rich playboy, was sent to hunter gatherer village during the Bahamas to investigate Nils EricssonMesolithic era. Climate change is occurring, a Swedish industrialist. Sweden might have been neutral in the war but Ericsson was known to have ties to the Nazis. It wasnSea of Grass encroaches further and further into Maya't long before Hamilton was certain that Ericsson was building a base for U-boats at Hurricane Hole on Hog Islands forest home, and food is becoming more and more scarce. The problem was what What to do about it. The Governor of ? Can the Bahamas was law givers in the Duke federation of Windsorvillages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the Traveller, friend of Ericsson and himself a suspected Nazi sympathiser. As an added complication Hamilton was attracted to Evelyn Shawcross but as she was a friend spiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of both the Governor and EricssonAll Life, could he trust herprovide solutions?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709099053</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Will Buckingham1529125898|title=The Descent of the LyreGodmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=Seventeen year old Ivan Gelski, ''If it were not for the much loved son of Bulgarian peasant parents, has his bride to be and future snatched from him brutally just before his wedding. Full casual dereliction of rage and vengeance, he leaves his close knit village to join the haiduti, a savage band of outlaws who kill mercilessly in order to acquire food and survival. Years later, on one of these killing sprees, Ivan encounters Solomon Kureticodd gentleman's duty, a Viennese Jew and guitar virtuoso on his way there would no women to play for the Sultan in Constantinople. Solomon must play for his life but, by doing so, he sends Ivan on a journey of his own spreading across Europe and into saintly venerationteach well-bred daughters at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>9380905076</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Deborah Swift|title=The Gilded Lily|rating=4Anne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the position of governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. She had no experience of teaching but this was a case of necessity.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=In Restoration England Until the death of her mother, Sadie Appleby Anne had a comfortable life and was loved by both parents although her older sister Ella flee their home in Westmorland father was frequently absent from the household. When her mother died, her father cast her off and would have nothing more to try to lose themselves in Londondo with her. They're forced to try and avoid the relatives No explanation was offered but she would receive an annuity of the dead man who Ella robbed and build £35 a new lifeyear. Her maid, Agnes, would receive nothing but things aren't always what they seem was fortunately taken in the capital and they're left trying to work out just who they can trustby some neighbours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330543431</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Colm ToibinMelissa Fu |title=The Testament of MaryPeach Blossom Spring

|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The subject matter for Colm TóibínI loved the prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''s Origins'The Testament of Mary' . Unfortunately it is exactly what the title suggests in that it relates Mary's feelings about the death only truly poetic part of her son, Jesus, whose name it hurts her too much to even mention. It's a curiously slight offering though. Its 100 odd pages lands it somewhere between short story and novella territory. Even so, with Tóibín's excellence as a writer and the emotive subject matter, book that I expected to be more engaged with the story than I wasfrom.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670922099</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Lawrence Norfolk|title=John SaturnallCovering Chinese history from 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family's Feast|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=John Saturnall’s mother is a healer and herbalist. It was all too easy in the 1620’s for women with her skills to come under suspicion of witchcraftperspective. When John and his mother are hounded from their village by religious extremists home city is set ablaze during the Lessonerswar with Japan, they hide in Buccla’s Wood. But as winter takes a grip on the land John’s young mother dies. John is taken in to work in the kitchens at Buckland Manor. His progress from scullery boy to cook is graphically recorded alongside his prickly relationship with the daughter of the house, Lucretia(Meilin) and her four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The story takes the couple through the years of the civil warfollows them on their journey across China, when life at Buckland comes under threat from the advancing Puritan army.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408805960</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Russell James|title=The Exhibitionists|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=On one particular London night in 1834 three children start a journey that will mould their futures. Newly born Maddy is abandoned and in Mrs CuthbertsonRenshu's establishment (a thinly veiled baby farm) causing Maddy to spend years looking for the reasons that led her there. Baby Sam is fished out of the Thames and grows with a burning desire case eventually to uncover the truth, shaping his career as a journalistAmerica. Meanwhile Hannah is conceived that night by two people fated to live lives that don't coincide, until…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>178095011X</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Diana McCaulay1916072038|title=Huracan|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=1986 – 30-year-old Leigh McCaulay (''White gal!'') is returning to Jamaica, the land of her birth. Her mother is dead and there is an estate to be settled. Her estranged father is somewhere on the island. Her brother is The House in England. This isn't the closest of grieving families. Leigh doesn't even know how her mother died. Indeed, she's a bit surprised to find out she'd gone back to Jamaica. Hollow (The residual family had left the island not long after the father's desertion.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845231961</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewTalbot Saga)|author=Bernard Cornwell|title=1356Allie Cresswell

|summary=Sir Thomas Hookton, aka Le Batard (a French word that's very similar We meet part of the Talbot family in English, if you see what I mean) roams France with his band of mercenaries, acquiring plundered riches and selling their services Yorkshire in the war against the FrenchNovember 1811. HoweverTwenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, Thomas' liege, Lord William Bohun, Earl of Northampton, disrupts to the house in the combative equilibrium when demands a diversionhollow. Monks The two women are spreading stories about 'La Malice', (the sword angry with which St Peter defended Jesus in the Garden each other and Jocelyn is well aware of Gethsemane) and with it the power to bless or curse the owner, depending who you listen to. So Lord her mother'Billy' wants it s strengths and La Batard must find it. Meanwhile Sir Thomas has competition as unsavoury elements in the church create a special order of knights. They mean to find it first, by foul means or even fouler.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007331843</amazonuk>}}weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=James Long|title=The Lives ''She Left Behind|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Jo has always been an odd child, talking to her imaginary friend Gally from almost as soon as she could talk. Her widowed mother drags her from doctor to therapist until medication becomes the only answer. It provides peace for Jo's mother but pushes the teenage Jo into a shady half-existence. Meanwhile somewhere else, Luke is also a teenager leading a half-life as he co-exists with his mother and her disdainfulpracticed at subterfuge, temperamental partner. Luke feels more at home in the great outdoors than under concealing, beneath a roof and gradually comes to realise why. They may have lived this long unaware facade of each otherrespectability, but Lukethe deplorable truth's and Jo's worlds collide one summer at an archaeological dig and what they discover is beyond their wildest imaginings.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780875320</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Tim Severin|title=Saxon: The Book of Dreams (Saxon 1)|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Sigwulf is the Saxon prince of a small kingdom - that Hester is, until the ruthless King Offa of Mercia slaughters his family. He is saved from execution for a single purpose - to be shipped off to the court of King Carolus of the Franks. Sigwulf quickly befriends the Kings nephew, Count Hroundland, a powerful and very ambitious man. However, just as quickly Sigwulf survives an attempt on his life, he also finds he has been thrown into a world of deceit and vain ambitions. Only Osric, Sigwulffurious about Jocelyn's crippled personal slave, can be trusted.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230764428</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Martin Davies|title=The Year After|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Captain Tom Allen is home from World War I. Whilst waiting refusal to be demobbed, he receives an invitation to attend the annual Christmas house-party at Hannesford Court, the stately home of Sir Robert and Lady Stansbury. He used to look forward to it before joining up and so decides to attend again, but everything has changed. The Stansbury's heir, Harry, and son-in-law, Oliver, were killed and second son, Reggie Stansbury, remains in a nursing home with no legs and dwindling self-respect. Whilst coming to terms with the devastating realisation that he's one of the very few men in their set to return alive and entire, Tom remembers pre-war Hannesford and the night when his friend Professor Schmidt died at such a gathering. Everyone believes it do as she was unsuspicious but gradually things are coming to light that hint of hidden secrets. Along with her Ladyship's former companionasked, Anne (who which has issues of her own), Tom decides to investigate as truths are exhumed, making him doubt whether those happier times were as idyllic as he remembers.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340980443</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karen Engelmann|title=The Stockholm Octavo|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=As a Customs and Excise precipitated 'Sekretaire' in 18th century Stockholm, Emil Larsson has all he needs: professional respect, a bachelor's lifestyle this violent and a table at Mrs Sparrowunexpected removal's gaming house whenever he fancies his luck. Contrastingly, his superiors at work feel he's missing a certain something. In order to climb further up the career ladder (maybe even to maintain his current position) Emil needs to marry. His manager believes this so fervently that there's a deadline for the wedding. Emil panics but Mrs Sparrow offers to lay an 'Octavo', a fortune-telling spread of eight cards to guide him to the eight people who will ensure his success. However, not all goes to plan as, over the eight nights it takes to complete the Octavo, it becomes apparent that the prediction isn't for Emil's future, but has become an Octavo to save the whole of Sweden.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444742698</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Paul Dowswell|title=Eleven Eleven|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=It's 2am Then we are told of the birth of a child and, soon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in Paris on Tuesday 11th November 1918. Negotiations for ending World War I are almost complete shame and both sides will announce the Armistice at 11am. But the people actually fighting the war don't know that yet..isolation in Yorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408826232</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Pamela HartshorneAnnabel Abbs|title=Time's EchoThe Language of Food

|summary=Grace Trewe Eliza Acton is a poet who has temporarily moved to York to sort out never had the affairs of her godmother, Lucy, who died suddenly. After surviving the Indonesian tsunami the previous Christmas, Grace has decided to live life slightest inclination to the full and plans more travelling once Lucy's house is soldboil an egg. She hasn’t When tasked with writing a care or a tie in the worldcookery book, as long as she doesn't remember little Lucas back on that Christmas beachrecruits Ann Kirby, a local woman with a troubled home life. As it turns outTogether, they test, that's not the only thing she needs to avoid. Strangecraft, horrific dreams disrupt her sleep refine and vivid daydreams start to attack her waking moments as 21st century York keeps fading to be replaced by its 16th century streets. Grace will be fine though; it's just stress and her oddly acquired knowledge reshape the world of domestic cookery, reinventing the past is just a coincidence, or so says seemingly kindly neighbour, historian recipe book and single father Drewchanging the face of cookery writing forever. Meanwhile, 500 years before, there was a woman named Hawise who met a terrible death…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>033054425X</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Kevin Crossley-HollandFreya Marske|title=Scramasax: The Viking Sagas, Book TwoA Marvellous Light

|summary=History lecturer Michael Martin thought Robin Blyth is nudged into a job in the Civil Service, much to his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and learns that the chance streets of love and marriage had passed him byLondon are threaded with magic. Then Gally, Desperate to remove a history nut and lecture gate crasher, attended one of his lectures and dared curse that threatens to contradict swallow him. Contradiction led , Robin follows Edwin to courtship and the marriage that had previously seemed so elusive but despite their love and accompanying emotional securitycountryside, Gally has a dark subconscious that haunts her. She's unsettled by repeating nightmares where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and, worse, night terrors that can't be explained by counsellors' logicthe people shimmer with power. However when Mike and Gally find their (or rather, Gally's) ideal home in the shape of There they uncover a derelict cottage in sinister plot that threatens the Somerset village lives of Penselwood, Gally's nightmares are augmented by a strong feeling of déjà vu. Meanwhile the Martins seem to have developed a benevolent stalker all magicians in the shape of aged local Ferney Miller. Mike considers him a bit of a pain while for Gally he represents something else entirely; something that she can't explain nor understand but will become a threat to her marital happiness and Michael's peace of mindBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1780875304</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Andre BrinkB09F4CTKJR|title=PhilidaFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer

|summary=Philida falls in love with Frans, It's the son later stages of Cornelis Brink World War I and they have four children together creating the United States has just entered the conflict. Petrol Petronus is a tragedy on two counts: only two children survive young American who has signed up and their love is troubledjoined the 17 Aero Squadron. For this is South Africa This company was the first US Aero Squadron to be trained in 1830 Canada, the first to be attached to the RAF and Philida is only the Brinks' 'knit girl': a slave specialising first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in active combat. But before that can happen, Petrol has to master flying the family's knittingnotoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846557046</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BuchanChristophe Medler|title=HuntingtowerMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret|rating=3.54

|summary=Dickson McCunn Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is on his travels through rural Scotland when he meets a man he doesn't warm to at first, discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the name summer of John Heritage1642. They are quite chalk and cheese – McCunn an older man, who has only just sold up his very well-known Glasgow grocery shop and made this trip his first steps into retirement on As a complete whim. Heritage is younger, Englishloyal servant of the King, and a soldier. McCunn seems Head of the old RomanticSecret Service, Heritage modern poetry in contrast. But when they meet up itis Robert's at duty to uncover the edge details of the Huntingtower estate, a coastal country house, guarded by suspicious landlords turning guests away plan and unfriendly foreign types, and found follow the clues to contain a young beauty who just happens to be uncover one of the love of Heritage's life, most guarded secrets in history—especially since they met a few years previousthe plot could affect the King. She is being coerced into staying against her will, but lo and behold – the cynical Heritage can come over all chivalrous and try and rescue her – with desperate consequences for both men…|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184697223X</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1471187179|authortitle=A N WilsonBeautiful Spy|titleauthor=The Potter's HandRachel Hore

|summary=The man of clay that A N Wilson throws onto his storytelling wheel in Minnie is an 'ordinary'girl living an unexciting life in a leafy provincial suburb. The Potter's Hand'' book is set in the great Josiah Wedgwood, but this is much more than a historic telling of his life. Indeed, Josiah already has a thriving business at the start of the book. What Wilson does particularly impressively 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to put Wedgwoodher mother's achievement expectations and find a nice young man to marry, produce children and works into the context of spend the politics and social philosophy rest of the times, sandwiched between the two great revolutions in America her days looking after her husband and Francetheir home. In order Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do this, Wilson has at all and neither does she want to play slightly loose with artistic licence by altering dates and time lines continue working as a bit, but it works wellsecretary. He also balances the real historic figures with several key figures As a result of his own invention and where a chance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the historic figures don't quite fit with his narrative, he alters their ages secret service and invents 'facts' effectively living a double life - attempting to infiltrate the benefit Communist Party of Great Britain. Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she has made - and likes - whilst working for the fictional narrativeCommunist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848879512</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BuchanAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=The Gap in the CurtainKokoschka's Doll|rating=32.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=A short stay with friends in society for Sir Edward Leithen Well, this looked very much like a book I could love from the get-go, which is just what he needs, being an overworked MP why I picked my review copy up and lawyerflipped pages over several times before actually reading any of it. Among I found things to potentially delight me each time – a weird section in the collection of fellow guestsmiddle on darker stock paper, some of whom he knows and some he doesn'ta chapter whose number was in the 20, is the extraordinary mind of Professor Moe000s, a scientist who decides to select some of the houseguests letters used as subjects for his latest experimentnarrative form, and so on. He declares that he can make sure they can see into the future, and It intrigued with the people he chooses – for various reasons – do indeed get subterranean voice a mental snatch man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of The Times newspaper exactly a year into their futureit mentioned, and whattoo. But you's moreve seen the star rating that comes with this review, one and can tell that comes completely true – either for good or bad…if love was on these pages, it was not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846972248</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ben KaneChristina Hammonds Reed|title=Spartacus the GladiatorThe Black Kids|rating=4.5|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=Given Ben KaneChristina Hammonds Reed's tendency to write strong characters who rebel debut novel is set against their Roman leaders, it's perhaps slightly predictable that he should take on the story backdrop of Spartacus, who led a slaves' rebellion against Rome. This is, perhaps, the only thing you can say about Kane's writing that is predictable.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099561921</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Robin Binckes|title=Canvas Under The Sky|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Rauch Beukes is a 17 year old Boer lad living with his family on the Eastern Cape frontier in Africa. Sadly for them1992 Los Angeles riots, the year is 1834: not a good time as the Boers live under the dictates of the British and in fear of indigenous local tribes. This becomes all too real reaction to Rauch when, returning from a trip with his father, he discovers a smouldering heap where his home once stood and a row of graves bearing the remains absolution of his mother and sisters. Wanting four police officers for beating a better lifeblack man, a group of farmers decide to travel towards Africa's southern interior to establish a self-determining Boer homeland and so RauchRodney King, his father and brothers join them feeling they have nothing nearly to losedeath. The momentum grows and Told from the migration will become known as 'The Great Trek'perspective of Ashley Bennett, the novel follows her evolution from a tough, dangerous period silent bystander when confronted with matters of South African historyrace, challenging Rauch's strength, courage to a woman finding her voice and a fair bit of his libidoembracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1920143637</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Rose Tremain|title=Merivel: A Man of His Time|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Rose Tremain has made fans of her 1989 book ''Restoration'' wait for a long time before picking up the story of Sir Robert Merivel. Almost as much time has passed in Merivel's world with the book opening in 1683. Leaving a follow up so long can be fraught with danger. For those, like me, who loved ''Restoration'' at the time, the memory of its central character has grown in fondness over time while some of the detail has been inevitably lost Move on to memory. Thankfully, this is one of those rare things in literature; a very good follow up.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701185201</amazonuk>}}[[Newest History Reviews]]