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[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]__NOTOC__<!-- Remove -->==Historical fiction==__NOTOC__ <!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Molly CarrTananarive Due|title=A Study in CrimsonThe Reformatory|rating=3.5

|summary=As soon 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 I read the blurb on the back cover I thought thereReformatory. It's no doubting that this book a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is going to be one a chamber of those delightful rompshorrors, shall we sayhaunted by the boys that have died there. Carr takes In order to survive the famous school governor and much-loved and much-read detective Holmes along with his trustyFunhouse, if rather dull and plodding side-kick Watson and decides to Robert must enlist the help of the school's ghosts – only they have a bit of funtheir own motivations... But will it work?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1907685405</amazonuk>1803366532}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Amanda TaylorKatherine Howe|title=The Chinaman's BastardA True Account|rating=34.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=I found the title of the book excellent Hannah Masury is living in Boston, having been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and I was keen being made to find out morework there from a young age. The blurb on the back cover does its job - until When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in the last bittown, which becomes a bit irritatingshe decides to go and watch. It claims Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the book 'is very captivating'hands of two vicious pirates. WellShe hides away, so that they don't find and kill her too, and then to be brutally honestescape them completely she runs away to sea, itdressing as a boy and joining the notorious Ned Low's either captivating or it's notpirate ship as a cabin boy. The word 'very' She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is not needed. And sadlya mutiny on board, no, I didn't find and from there we are caught up in her rip roaring tale of life on the book captivating at allocean waves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843865440</amazonuk>0861547438

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christina CourtenaySarah Marsh|title=Trade WindsA Sign of Her Own

|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=It 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 1731 and Killian Kinross, disgraced heir sent to the estate a school where she is making his way as best he can through the gambling dens of Edinburghtaught to lip read, trading on his skillbut physically restrained from signing. From here, ability to hold his drink she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the deaf and the smiling fickle fortunes of lady luckusing a system called Visible Speech. The Lady At the same time, Bell is smiling at the momentworking on other inventions and ideas, although she hasn't always done soand Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of espionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931232</amazonuk>1035401614

{{newreview|author=Margaret James|title=The Silver Locket|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is follow-up to the eve of the First World War and Rose Courtenayexcellent ''Ithaca''s parents are keen to marry her picks up a few months after where we left off to well-bred Michael Easton. But Rose is certain a life In the palace of domesticity in Dorset is not for Odysseus, with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her husband, who sailed to war at Troy and so instead then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she takes remains surrounded by suitors vying for the bold step throne of running away to London where she volunteers as a nurse for the war effortWestern Isles. Posted Having survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to France, Rose meets injured soldier Alex Denham who she has known since childhoodIthaca's shores, and Queen Penelope is on the only man who has ever made her blushbrink of a fragile peace. Romance soon blossoms between Rose and AlexOne that shatters however with the return of Orestes, despite Rose fighting against her feelings as Alex is already marriedKing of Mycenae, and also disapproved of by her parents due to his dubious backgroundsister Elektra, seeking refuge. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906931283</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Simon ScarrowB0C7J9D21B|title=The Legion (Roman Legion 9)|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Ajax and his crew of fellow renegade gladiators have been stirring things up in Egypt. Attacking small naval bases, merchant ships and villages along the coast, they're successfully stirring some unrest. Because Ajax isn't silly. Not only is he a skilled fighter and capable commander, he's also full of guile. The band pose as Roman soldiers when raiding, so their victims are left with anti-Roman sentiment in addition to their losses. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755353749</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Pamela Evans|title=Harvest Nights|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1920 and London is struggling to deal with the consequences of the Great War. Unemployment is high and money is scarce. Clara Tripp, a former Land Girl has been forced to return to the city to work as a waitress, leaving behind the countryside which she loves so much. When Charlie Fenner, an acquaintance from Clara's Land Army days, comes in to the teashop where she works, Clara can't help but feel overjoyed. He offers her temporary work on his parents' orchard in Kent and she gladly accepts. Yet a serious accident forces Clara to stay longer than expected and it is then that she makes a shocking discovery which threatens to destroy the Fenner family. Back A Captive in London Clara struggles with her confused emotions and the looming prospect of her marriage to local boy Arnold. When devastating news comes from Kent, Clara realises she can no longer keep her discovery a secret. But coming face-to-face with Charlie again means Clara must acknowledge her buried feelings and make a decision between doing the right thing and following her heart.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755345452</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Ross Laidlaw|title=Justinian: The Sleepless One|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Born Uprauda Ystock, the son of a peasant, Justinian Algiers (as he was to become knownMuhammed Amalfi Mysteries) managed to change his life around when his mother's brother, Roderic, an important general in the Roman Army, paid for his education. After a series of successes, Roderic became Emperor Justin and then passed the mantel on to his nephew, who became known as Justinian. When he came into power, the Roman Empire was under attack from all directions and Justinian was forced to battle for his right to remain Emperor. Fortunately, he married Theodora, an ex-courtesan, who helped to mould him into the leader that he needed to be. Was this enough to remain in power, or would it all be snatched away from him?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846971586</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Peter Carey|title=Parrot and Olivier in AmericaA J Lewis

|summary=This When we first meet our hero, his name is Ettore and he lives at The House of Beautiful Swallows. Idyllic as this might sound, it's a historical tale with a capital 'Hbordello and Ettore's mother died when he was born. A GlossaryHe's not been short of mothers, Historical Notethough - but for someone of his background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, Prologue plus a map entitled it's difficult to obtain decent employment. The Barbarian Kingdoms and stint working with the Roman Empirepreparation of anchovies didn' t work out and bastards are all for the reader's maximum interest considered bad luck on fishing boats. Ettore was nothing if not resourceful - and (hopefully) maximum enjoyment determined - and all it was not long before settling down to the first chapterhe had a successful business as a guide for visitors. This very much sets the tone of the book He was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184697111X</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Shona Maclean|title=A Game of Sorrows|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Two years have passed since [[The Redemption of Alexander Seaton by Shona Maclean|Alexander Seaton]] found his redemption. He is comfortably settled in his life at the University, about to be sent on the academic expedition of a lifetime, and wondering how best to ask the woman he loves to be his wife. Then a case of mistaken identity, which almost costs him his love and the respect of his friends leads Alexander to discover he has a cousin in town – the son of his late mother's brother, come from Ireland to seek his help.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849162441</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julian LeesEssie Fox|title=The Fan Tan PlayersFascination

|summary=The story opens with Victorian era is incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the Second World War) which has often led to more than a vividly described cyclone in 1920s Macaofew writers mishandling it. I found LeesThere' writing was s such a glut of media set in the opening chapter era that the hallmarks we've come to associate with it felt almost apocalyptic. The loss of life, the damage are familiar to property and ... 'sounds of the surf regurgitating gurgling carcasses point of belly-bulging cowsbeing cliched, hackneyed even.' I couldn't help but think of the real-life tragedy unfolding in PakistanAll this is simply to illustrate that it would be an easy thing to do poorly. I felt a bit queasy when I was reading But despite that, something about it still grabs me – and something about this, to tell you the truthbook's description did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905207492</amazonuk>1914585526

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Fiona MountainNicole Jarvis|title=Rebel Heiress|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Based on the life of a pioneer A Portrait in the world of butterfly collecting, this novel was an enchanting and enthralling read. Born into a rigorously devout Puritan family, young Eleanor is an anomaly both in her outlook and attitude - and her butterfly collecting interests set her further apart from the more traditional ladies. The prejudices of the times are well explained, and the level of historical detail is sufficient to give the reader a good understanding of the tensions of the period.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848091656</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Seth Hunter|title=The Price of GloryShadow

|summary=This is the final book in Seth Hunter's trilogy about the naval adventures and private life of Captain Nathan Peake. While the other two books, The Time of Terror and [[The Tide of War by Seth Hunter|The Tide 'I want all of War]], were fairly self-contained stories in themselves, the running thread of NathanFlorence to know my name's private life continues over the three books and isn't really resolved until the final few paragraphs in The Price of Glory.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343115</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Daisy Goodwin|title=My Last Duchess|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=There's plenty to enjoy Cast out from Rome, Artemisia Gentileschi arrives in Florence seeking an oasis in this debut novel by Daisy Goodwinwhich her art can find a home and where her future can thrive rather than stagnate. And first up is But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the powerful Accademia, the self-proclaimed guardians of the healing magics that through paintings have the elegant cover. I wanted power to read protect the book as soon as I saw the photograph: a beautiful girl with great presence about hercity and its citizens from plagues and curses. The thoughtful look on her face all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and lack of ring on her finger hinted at an intriguing storyguard it above all else. It was also a fair bet that this historical fictionTo them, set in the nineteenth century, was about a romance, suitable or unsuitable. So the cover complemented the story Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who promises trouble and change – a quite unusual feat, judging by other offerings I have seen recentlyhas no place amongst them and their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755348060</amazonuk>1803362340

{{newreview|author=James Forrester|title=Sacred Treason|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=In LondonSet in the near-distant future, in December 1563a world on the verge of climate collapse, the herald William Harley Britain is in great peril. The British Isles desperately needs a hero (known or several) to everyone as Clarenceux) had no intention of becoming involved in one of the many Catholic plots against save the young Queen Elizabeth, but he's unwittingly drawn into one when his friend day and fellow Catholic, Henry Machyn, gave him a chronicle, telling him that it hid a secret which could cost Machyn his liferescue what little remains. Clarenceux What no-one expected was sceptical until he was visited by Francis Walsingham's brutal enforcers and within a matter that one of a few hours he turns from a law-abiding citizen into a man on the run in search Knights of clues which will tell him why the chronicle is so importantRound Table would answer the call.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755356012</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ron RashG K Holloway|title=SerenaIn the Shadows of Castles|rating=4.5

|summary=The reader We begin after the momentous battle in 1066 and on the day of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. William's position is introduced to one of not secure and the two main characters straight awaynew king has many challenges. George PembertonImposing authority through a coronation is important. But everyone (even his new wife) calls him simply PembertonAnd William is right to worry. He's faced with an awkward While the previous king, Harold, is dead and at the same time delicate situation likelihood of more pitched battles is over, the rebels are stirring and deals with it - with violence. No one seems too bothered, much of the country does not even the local sheriffwish to recognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847674887</amazonuk>1800422466

{{newreview|author=Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|title=The Complete Brigadier Gerard Stories|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Meet Brigadier Etienne Gerard. An officer in Napoleon's army, he Maya is a boastful womaniser with young girl living in a significantly higher opinion hunter gatherer village during the Mesolithic era. Climate change is occurring, the Sea of his own intelligence than anyone around him – notably Napoleon himself. HeGrass encroaches further and further into Maya's also braveforest home, resourceful, fiercely loyal and food is becoming more and more scarce. What to his emperor and any woman he finds himself do? Can the law givers in love withthe federation of villages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the Traveller, and above alla spiritual figure who interprets the wisdom of All Life, utterly, totally heroic.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847679196</amazonuk>provide solutions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Ben Kane1529125898|title=The Road to Rome (Forgotten Legion Chronicles)Godmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=After years of wondering if their twin ''If it were still alive, Romulus and Fabiola happen to catch sight not for the casual dereliction of each other on the docks at Alexandria. Their meeting isnodd gentleman't to last longs duty, as Fabiola is being rushed there would no women to safety by her lover, Brutus, one of Caesar's most trusted generals and Romulus has just been pressteach well-ganged into an army about to go into battlebred daughters at all. However, this chance meeting gives them additional strength, which they are certainly going to need to survive the struggles ahead.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848090153</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Margaret Muir|title=Floating Gold|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.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The novel opens with She had no experience of teaching but this was a description case of necessity. Until the rotting remains death of her mother, Anne had a human being battered comfortable life and was loved by both parents although her father was frequently absent from the waves on the beaches of the Isle of Wighthousehold. I cannot recall any book I When her mother died, her father cast her off and would have ever read starting on a nothing more depressing note, to do with her. No explanation was offered but this is far from she would receive an annuity of £35 a depressingyear. Her maid, or disappointingAgnes, storywould receive nothing but was fortunately taken in by some neighbours.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>070909051X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=E V ThompsonMelissa Fu |title=No Less Than The JourneyPeach Blossom Spring

|genre=Historical Fiction|summary= I loved the prelude to Peach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''No Less Than The JourneyOrigins'' concerns . Unfortunately it is the only truly poetic part of a book that I expected more from. Covering Chinese history from 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family's perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the war with Japan, a young Cornish miner seeking a new life in Americamother (Meilin) and her four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. He makes many interesting acquaintances The story follows them on their journey across China, and some rather arduous journeys in his quest Renshu's case eventually to find a family memberAmerica. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0709087551</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Katie Flynn1916072038|title=Heading Home|rating=4|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Claudia is seven when this book opens, in Liverpool in 1926. She's a careful girl, perhaps a little spoilt, although clearly not wealthy. She enjoys the protection of thirteen-year-old Danny who comes from a poorer family, and evidently has something of a crush on Claudia. Even in this first chapter, she comes across as somewhat self-centred, wanting people to think well of her, but not naturally generous or empathic. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099520265</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=G. De Beauregard and H. De Gorsse|title=The Stamp King|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Set in 1896, this is the story of William Keniss and Betty Scott, two young American philatelists each intent on owning the world’s only complete stamp collection. The rarest specimen of all is one issued by the Maharajah of Brahmapootra but never placed on general sale, although one copy did pass through the postal system, and it is one of only two House in the entire universe. Hollow (The Maharajah owns this one himself - and our collectors are determined to get their hands on the other.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0852597460</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Julie Orringer|title=The Invisible Bridge|rating=5|genre=General Fiction|summary=In a story that takes us from the elegance of Paris, through the streets of Budapest and on into the Hungarian countryside and the Ukraine this is an epic tale, masterfully told. It is 1937 and Andras Levi, a young Hungarian Jewish student, is about to leave his brother Tibor to go and study architecture in Paris. Andras' story unfolds first amongst the beautiful buildings of Paris, the theatres and the bars, as he struggles in his studies and falls in love with a beautiful ballerina who has a terrible secret to hide. As the tragedy of World War 2 edges ever closer to Andras, the book moves back to Hungary, to the little village where Andras and his brothers grew up, to Budapest where his new family live and then on into the forced labour camps across Hungary. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670914584</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewTalbot Saga)|author=Beverley Eikli|title=Lady Farquhar's Butterfly|rating=3|genre=Women's Fiction|summary=Olivia - Lady Farquhar - has recently been widowed. This does not upset her in the least; indeed, as becomes clear through the novel, her husband was an unpleasant bully who subjected her to all kinds of abuse. Unfortunately, however, the terms of his will have ensured that her beloved toddler Julian has been taken away to live with his uncle Max until such time as Olivia marries someone considered to be above reproach. For that reason, she is seriously considering marrying Nathaniel, a clergyman who has helped her for many years. The only problem with that is that she finds him increasingly repulsive...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090579</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anita Diamant|title=Day After Night|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=First of all, I really liked the unusual pitch for a Second World War novel, set in a detention camp in Palestine in October 1945, soon after the liberation of Europe. The war machine has ground to a halt, leaving millions of bewildered refugees to find their way out of chaos. With huge effort, hundreds of Jewish men and women reach their promised land, albeit as illegal immigrants. Though imprisoned again, Atlit camp is emotionally a halfway house between the past and the future for them. They are at least well-fed and humanely treated by their British captors. With no particular duties and in limbo for an indeterminate period, the women start to come to terms with how life will be for them in the future, safe at last from Nazi persecution, but having lost all their loved ones.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847398618</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jennie Rooney|title=The Opposite of Falling|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=It is 1862 and when wealthy Liverpool girl Ursula Bridgewater finds herself single and restless after her fiancée Henry Springton leaves her for another woman, she soon turns to travel as a means of escape and sets off on her first expedition. But she has agreed to stay friends with Henry and cannot quite escape him completely as they continue to write to each other. Ten years later and Ursula has travelled all over the world and is about to embark on a trip around America, but this time she decides to take a companion.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0701182687</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Iain Pears|title=Stone's FallAllie Cresswell

|summary=I read Iain Pears' ''The Portrait'' a We meet part of the Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. Twenty-seven-year or so ago -old Jocelyn Talbot and loved it so I was really looking forward her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, to reading this novelthe house in the hollow. The front cover is strikingly handsome two women are angry with each other and hints of good things to come between its covers. The novel Jocelyn is divided up into sizeable chunks well aware of three. Three different decades and three different locations. Pears then dips in her mother's strengths and out of the main characters' lives, telling the reader basically what makes them tick.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099516179</amazonuk>}}weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=Nicola Cornick|title=Confessions of a Duchess|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dowager Duchess Laura Cole has come to the village of Fortune’s Folly to live a quiet life as a widow with her young daughter. But when the village squire decides to invoke the Dames’ Tax''She is practiced at subterfuge, a law requiring every unmarried woman to give up half her wealth to himat concealing, the town becomes beneath a hotbed facade of men searching for heiresses now desperate to marry. Joining respectability, the men is Dexter Anstruther, sent to secure a rich wife and carry out a murder inquiry on behalf of Lord Liverpool. The last thing Laura and Dexter expect is to see each other again after their steamy encounter four years ago. But their passion for each other is reawakened and looks set to ruin them bothdeplorable truth''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0778303802</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Gill Schierhout|title=The Shape of Him|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The story Hester is told in the first person by Sara Highbury. Shefurious about Jocelyn's running a small business in an efficient but rather detached fashion. She's all washed up. She starts refusal to recount her earlierdo as she was asked, happier life when it meant something to her. And the reader soon discovers that a diamond digger called Herbert was - which has precipitated ''this violent and still is - the love of her life. And here Schierhout gives us a taster of the hard and dirty work digging for stones (theyunexpected removal''re never called diamonds by the workers apparently). The danger and precarious nature of the work is laid bare. But Herbert seemed to be a natural. Why?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099535777</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Anne-Marie Vukelic|title=Far Above Rubies|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Shy Catherine Hogarth first meets Charles Dickens at her parents' house when he hilariously comes in through Then we are told of the window to dance birth of a jig before the assembled guests, before leaving child and then entering again via the front door. Employed by her father George, the editor of the Evening Chroniclesoon after, as a reporter and sketch writerHester Talbot departs, Charles is at the start of his writing career leaving Jocelyn in shame and soon becomes a regular visitor to the Hogarth householdisolation in Yorkshire. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709090536</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Elizabeth ChadwickAnnabel Abbs|title=To Defy A KingThe Language of Food

|summary=#Set in Eliza Acton is a poet who has never had the traumatic and violent period leading up slightest inclination to the Magna Carta, Chadwick concentrates on the fortunes of two extended familiesboil an egg. The MarshalsWhen tasked with writing a cookery book, close to the throne for their expertise, political and military might, and the Bigods, who are directly related to King John, through their half brother Longespee, son of the family matriarchshe recruits Ann Kirby, and John’s father. Banished from Court, and forced to leave her son there, Ida marries Roger and founds a strong patriarchal dynasty. However, tension is never far from boiling point, local woman with the two half brothers tolerating each other at best, loathing each other more often than not, due to their opposing natures.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847442366</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Anne O'Brien|title=Virgin Widow|rating=4a troubled home life.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=The mighty Richard NevilleTogether, Earl of Warwickthey test, is famous throughout England as one of King Edward IV’s most trusted advisors. But as Edward is lured towards another influential family when he falls in love with Elizabeth Woodvillecraft, Warwick responds by backing refine and reshape the alliance between Margaret world of Anjou and King Louis XI of France, aiming to put Margaret’s husband Henry VI back on the English throne. A helpless pawndomestic cookery, Anne is torn away from reinventing the man she loves, who will grow up to become Richard III, to be used as political capital by her father recipe book and his allies as they try to regain changing the kingdom face of Englandcookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0778303756</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lynn ShepherdFreya Marske|title=Murder at Mansfield ParkA Marvellous Light

|summary=Straight away the reader Robin Blyth is plunged nudged into a job in the language of Austen's eraCivil Service, so dotted all over are such rather flowery phrases as ' much to his chagrin... conjugal felicity ...' There he meets Edwin Courcey and ' ..learns that the streets of London are threaded with magic. her family were not consumptive...' We are also introduced Desperate to remove a host of characters and although Shepherd has thoughtfully provided right at curse that threatens to swallow him, Robin follows Edwin to the beginning ''Names of countryside, where the Principal Persons'', it does bombard hedgegrows bristle with incantations and perhaps confuse the reader people shimmer with power. There they uncover a little. I must admit to referring to this dratted list time and time again. It does break sinister plot that threatens the flow at the beginning lives of the novel. But, several chapters all magicians in and you're right into the story thereafterBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1905636792</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sara StockbridgeB09F4CTKJR|title=The Fortunes of Grace HammerFlights for Freedom|author= Steven Burgauer|rating=4.5

|summary=The short prologue shares with It's the reader a childhood incident in the life later stages of Grace Hammer. It had a dramatic effect on her World War I and her life thereafterthe United States has just entered the conflict. She Petrol Petronus is a changed person. She's also driven. She grows into a desirable woman young American who has signed up and turns men's heads wherever she goesjoined the 17 Aero Squadron. But she's also smart. Some would perhaps think at this pointThis company was the first US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, why not go 'up west', bag a sugar-daddy the first to be attached to the RAF and live the first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in luxury for the rest of her days? active combat. But life is not as simple as before thatcan happen, Petrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099520958</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Emily Purdy|title=The Tudor Wife|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=From the moment she sets eyes on handsome George Boleyn, plain Lady Jane Parker falls madly in love and prays that George will be hers. As Jane and George's families negotiate the marriage Jane meets Anne Boleyn and quickly realises that George only has eyes for Anne, but remains determined that she can make George love her.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847561942</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Anne PerryChristophe Medler|title=The Sheen on the SilkMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret

|summary=Anna Zarides arrives in Constantinople, determined to find out why her twin brother Justinian has been convicted Set against the backdrop of murder. But it is 1273the English Civil War, and a woman cannot move about freely to ask questionssecret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the summer of 1642. Anna is As a skilled doctorloyal servant of the King, who uses Arab and Jewish medicine in secret as well as more accepted Christian remedies: in her quest for information she disguises herself as a eunuch Head of the Secret Service, it is Robert's duty to uncover the details of the plan and successfully treats a wide range follow the clues to uncover one of people from the very poorest right up to most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the emperor himselfKing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755339061</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Penny Ingham1471187179|title=The King's DaughterA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore

|summary=The central female character - Minnie is an 'The Kingordinary's Daughter' is Elflaedegirl living an unexciting life in a leafy provincial suburb. SheThe book is set in the 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a nice youngman to marry, feisty produce children and very prettyspend the rest of her days looking after her husband and their home. She also has Unfortunately, this unforgettable reddish hairisn't what she wants to do at all and neither does she want to continue working as a secretary. At this point in the story I was reminded As a little result of Queen Elizabeth Ia chance meeting, I have to say. In Elflaede's own words she 'had never known finds herself drawn into espionage, working for the secret service and effectively living a time without war .' The hordes of Pagan Norsemen are double life - attempting to blame. They've come to England with their own set infiltrate the Communist Party of superstitionsGreat Britain. And they've come with one aim. To conquer great swathes of EnglandMinnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the friends she has made - and likes - whilst working for the Communist Party.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>095559975X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Trevor BloomAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=The Half-SlaveKokoschka's Doll|rating=42.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=At Samarobriva in Roman GaulWell, this looked very much like a raiding Saxon tribe meets its match in book I could love from the form get-go, which is why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of it. I found things to potentially delight me each time – a division of weird section in the Franksmiddle on darker stock paper, who have suborned a chapter whose number was in the Roman authorities 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and are establishing their control throughout the regionso on. A mysterious meeting It intrigued with the Frankish Overlord persuades the leader of the Saxons to sign subterranean voice a treaty man hears in wartorn Dresden that will forever alter the fate what little I knew of his people. In return for Frankish silver, he hands over to them his youngest son, Ascha the half-slaveit mentioned, as a perpetual hostage to guarantee the peacetoo. But in you've seen the frozen north new powers are risingstar rating that comes with this review, and Ascha will soon be drawn into a web of lies and ambition as two very different worlds come into conflictcan tell that if love was on these pages, it was not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0955563062</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Seth HunterChristina Hammonds Reed|title=The Tide of WarBlack Kids

|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=The Tide of War Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel is set against the second book in a trilogy backdrop of historical fictionnovels by Seth Hunterthe 1992 Los Angeles riots, set in a reaction to the 1790s and recounts the adventures absolution ofBritish naval captain Nathan Peake. In this book newly-promoted Peakeis sent to the Caribbean to command four police officers for beating a British frigateblack man, the UnicornRodney King,nearly to hunt for death. Told from the French warshipperspective of Ashley Bennett, the Virginienovel follows her evolution from a silent bystander when confronted with matters of race, to a woman finding her voice and embracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755357612</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Michelle Lovric|title=The Book of Human Skin|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=''Ye can't take the slither out ovva snake.'' So says Gianni, valet in a wealthy eighteenth century Venetian household. The master, a merchant, divides his time between Italy and Peru, where he deals in silver. But the merchant isn't the serpent - his son Minguillo is. On the night an earthquake ripped through Peru and deposited fanatical nun Sor Loreta at the convent in Arequipa, Minguillo was born - a serpent in his family's midst. His own mother couldn't bear Move on to nurse him and his father went into denial, making more and more frequent trips to a South American home free of sociopathic progeny. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>140880588X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Elif Shafak|title=The Forty Rules of Love|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=This is a sixth novel from best-selling Turkish author, Elif Shafak. Set in twelfth century Anatolia, two famous characters from Islamic history meet in a gorgeously real world. A delicate contemporary US love story is wrapped around the rich, meaty historical fiction. Don't be misled by the dodgy-sounding title!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670918733</amazonuk>}}[[Newest History Reviews]]