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[[Category:New Reviews|Historical Fiction]]==Historical fiction==__NOTOC__ {{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 <!-- Remove - that 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, Sigwulf's crippled personal slave, can be trusted.>|amazonuk= <amazonuk!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->0230764428</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Martin DaviesTananarive Due|title=The Year AfterReformatory

|summary=Captain Tom Allen is home from World War IGracetown, Florida. June 1950. Whilst waiting to be demobbedAfter a scuffle with a white boy, he receives an invitation twelve year-old Robbie Stephens Jr is sentenced to attend six months at the annual Christmas house-party at Hannesford CourtGracetown School for Boys, otherwise known as the stately home Reformatory. It's a place with a brutal and dark reputation. But the segregated reformatory is a chamber of Sir Robert and Lady Stansburyhorrors, haunted by the boys that have died there. He used In order to look forward to it before joining up survive the school governor and so decides to attend againhis Funhouse, but everything has changed. The StansburyRobert must enlist the help of the school's heirghosts – only they have their own motivations...|isbn=1803366532}} {{Frontpage|author=Katherine Howe|title=A True Account|rating=4.5|genre=General Fiction|summary=Hannah Masury is living in Boston, Harryhaving been sent to live with a family who run an inn, and son-being made to work there from a young age. When she hears there is to be a hanging of some pirates in-lawthe town, Oliver, were killed she decides to go and watch. Enthralled and second sonhorrified in equal measure, Reggie Stansbury, remains Hannah finds herself embroiled in a nursing home with no legs and dwindling self-respectyoung boy's death at the hands of two vicious pirates. Whilst coming to terms with the devastating realisation She hides away, so that hethey don's one of the very few men in their set t find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to return alive and entiresea, Tom remembers pre-war Hannesford dressing as a boy and joining the night when his friend Professor Schmidt died at such notorious Ned Low's pirate ship as a gatheringcabin boy. Everyone believes it was unsuspicious but gradually She soon finds herself in the thick of things when there is a mutiny on board, and from there we are coming to light that hint of hidden secrets. Along with caught up in her Ladyship's former companion, Anne (who has issues rip roaring tale of her own), Tom decides to investigate as truths are exhumed, making him doubt whether those happier times were as idyllic as he rememberslife on the ocean waves.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0340980443</amazonuk>0861547438

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Karen EngelmannSarah Marsh|title=The Stockholm OctavoA Sign of Her Own|rating=43.5|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=As After a bout of scarlet fever as a Customs and Excise 'Sekretaire' in 18th century Stockholm, Emil Larsson has all he needs: professional respectchild, a bachelor's lifestyle and a table at Mrs Sparrow's gaming house whenever he fancies his luckEllen Lark loses her hearing. ContrastinglySuddenly plunged into a world of silence, his superiors at work feel he's missing a certain somethingeverything about her life changes. In order to climb further up Living in a time when the career ladder (maybe even use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to maintain his current position) Emil needs a school where she is taught to marrylip read, but physically restrained from signing. His manager believes this so fervently that there's a deadline for From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the wedding. Emil panics but Mrs Sparrow offers to lay an 'Octavo', deaf and using a fortune-telling spread of eight cards to guide him to the eight people who will ensure his successsystem called Visible Speech. However, not all goes to plan as, over the eight nights it takes to complete At the Octavosame time, it becomes apparent that the prediction isn't for Emil's futureBell is working on other inventions and ideas, but has become an Octavo to save the whole and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of Swedenespionage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1444742698</amazonuk>1035401614

 {{newreview|author=Paul Dowswell|title=Eleven Eleven|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=It's 2am in Paris on Tuesday 11th November 1918. Negotiations for ending World War I are almost complete and both sides will announce the Armistice at 11am. But the people actually fighting the war don't know that yet...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408826232</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Pamela HartshorneClaire North|title=Time's EchoHouse of Odysseus

|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=Grace Trewe has temporarily moved to York to sort out the affairs of her godmother, Lucy, who died suddenly. After surviving the Indonesian tsunami the previous Christmas, Grace has decided to live life to the full and plans more travelling once Lucy's house is sold. She hasn’t a care or a tie in the world, as long as she doesn't remember little Lucas back on that Christmas beach. As it turns out, thatWhat could matter more than love?'s not the only thing she needs to avoid. Strange, horrific dreams disrupt her sleep 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 of the past is just a coincidence, or so says seemingly kindly neighbour, historian and single father Drew. Meanwhile, 500 years before, there was a woman named Hawise who met a terrible death…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>033054425X</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Kevin CrossleyThe follow-Holland|title=Scramasax: The Viking Sagasup to the excellent ''Ithaca'' picks up a few months after where we left off. In the palace of Odysseus, Book Two|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=We left Solveig finally reunited with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to rule without her Viking fatherhusband, after a journey that took her all the way from her Scandinavian who sailed to war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home to Miklagard (Constantinople). There, her father is in As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the service throne of Harald Hardrada, who in turn serves the Empress ZoeWestern Isles. ZoeHaving survived – politically and physical – the chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to Ithaca's court shores, Queen Penelope is a dangerous place, full of spies and prisoners and instant punishment by death - for on the smallest brink of transgressionsa fragile peace. So Solveig needs to learn fast if she is to persuade Harald to allow her to stay One that shatters however with the Viking guardreturn of Orestes, King of Mycenae, and his sister Elektra, seeking refuge. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>184724940X</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=James LongB0C7J9D21B|title=Ferney|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=History lecturer Michael Martin thought that the chance of love and marriage had passed him by. Then Gally, a history nut and lecture gate crasher, attended one of his lectures and dared to contradict him. Contradiction led to courtship and the marriage that had previously seemed so elusive but despite their love and accompanying emotional security, Gally has a dark subconscious that haunts her. She's unsettled by repeating nightmares and, worse, night terrors that can't be explained by counsellors' logic. However when Mike and Gally find their A Captive in Algiers (or rather, Gally'sMuhammed Amalfi Mysteries) ideal home in the shape of a derelict cottage in the Somerset village of Penselwood, Gally's nightmares are augmented by a strong feeling of déjà vu. Meanwhile the Martins seem to have developed a benevolent stalker 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 mind.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780875304</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Andre Brink|title=PhilidaA J Lewis

|summary=Philida falls in love with FransWhen we first meet our hero, the son his name is Ettore and he lives at The House of Cornelis Brink and they have four children together creating a tragedy on two counts: only two children survive and their love is troubledBeautiful Swallows. For Idyllic as this is South Africa in 1830 might sound, it's a bordello and Philida is only the BrinksEttore' s mother died when he was born. He'knit girls not been short of mothers, though - but for someone of his background in late-eighteenth-century Amalfi, it': a slave specialising in s difficult to obtain decent employment. The stint working with the familypreparation of anchovies didn's knittingt 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>1846557046</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=John Buchan|title=Huntingtower|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Dickson McCunn is on his travels through rural Scotland when he meets a man he doesn't warm to at first, by the name of John Heritage. 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 a complete whim. Heritage is younger, English, and a soldier. McCunn seems the old Romantic, Heritage modern poetry in contrast. But when they meet up it's at the edge of the Huntingtower estate, a coastal country house, guarded by suspicious landlords turning guests away and unfriendly foreign types, and found to contain a young beauty who just happens to be the love of Heritage's life, since they met a few years previous. 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…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184697223X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=A N WilsonEssie Fox|title=The Potter's HandFascination

|summary=The man of clay that A N Wilson throws onto his storytelling wheel in ''The Potter's Hand'' Victorian era is incredibly over-romanticised as a setting for historical fiction (matched only, perhaps, by the great Josiah Wedgwood, but this is much Second World War) which has often led to more than a historic telling of his lifefew writers mishandling it. Indeed, Josiah already has There's such a thriving business at glut of media set in the start of era that the book. What Wilson does particularly impressively is hallmarks we've come to associate with it are familiar to put Wedgwood's achievement and works into the context point of the politics and social philosophy of the timesbeing cliched, sandwiched between the two great revolutions in America and Francehackneyed even. In order to do All this, Wilson has is simply to play slightly loose with artistic licence by altering dates and time lines a bit, but illustrate that it works wellwould be an easy thing to do poorly. He also balances the real historic figures with several key figures of his own invention and where the historic figures don't quite fit with his narrativeBut despite that, he alters their ages something about it still grabs me – and invents something about this book'facts' to the benefit of the fictional narratives description did as well.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848879512</amazonuk>1914585526

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=John BuchanNicole Jarvis|title=The Gap A Portrait in the CurtainShadow|rating=34.5

|summary=A short stay with friends in society for Sir Edward Leithen is just what he needs, being an overworked MP and lawyer. Among the collection of fellow guests, some of whom he knows and some he doesn't, is the extraordinary mind 'I want all of Professor Moe, a scientist who decides Florence to select some of the houseguests as subjects for his latest experiment. He declares that he can make sure they can see into the future, and the people he chooses – for various reasons – do indeed get a mental snatch of The Times newspaper exactly a year into their future, and whatknow my name''s more, one that comes completely true – either for good or bad…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846972248</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Ben Kane|title=Spartacus Cast 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. But as some as she enters Florentine society she faces great opposition from the Gladiator|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Given Ben Kane's tendency to write strong characters who rebel against their Roman leaderspowerful Accademia, it's perhaps slightly predictable the self-proclaimed guardians of the healing magics that he should take on through paintings have the story of Spartacuspower to protect the city and its citizens from plagues and curses. The all-male Accademia has hoarded power over art and architecture for centuries and guard it above all else. To them, Artemisia – an ambitious young woman who led a slaves' rebellion against Rome. This is, perhaps, the only thing you can say about Kane's writing that is predictablepromises trouble and change – has no place amongst them and their society.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099561921</amazonuk>1803362340

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robin BinckesThomas D Lee|title=Canvas Under The SkyPerilous Times

|genre=Historical FictionFantasy|summary=Rauch Beukes is a 17 year old Boer lad living with his family on the Eastern Cape frontier in Africa. Sadly for them, the year ''Hate is 1834: not a good time as the Boers live under the dictates path of the British and in fear of indigenous local tribes. This becomes all too real 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 of his mother and sisters. Wanting a better life, a group of farmers decide to travel towards Africaleast resistance's southern interior to establish a self-determining Boer homeland and so Rauch, his father and brothers join them feeling they have nothing to lose. The momentum grows and the migration will become known as 'The Great Trek', a tough, dangerous period of South African history, challenging Rauch's strength, courage and a fair bit of his libido.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1920143637</amazonuk>}}

{{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 Set in the story of Sir Robert Merivel. Almost as much time has passed near-distant future, in Merivel's a world with on the book opening verge of climate collapse, Britain is in 1683great peril. Leaving The British Isles desperately needs a follow up so long can be fraught with dangerhero (or several) to save the day and rescue what little remains. For those, like me, who loved ''Restoration'' at What no-one expected was that one of the time, Knights of the memory of its central character has grown in fondness over time while some of Round Table would answer the detail has been inevitably lost to memory. Thankfully, this is one of those rare things in literature; a very good follow upcall.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0701185201</amazonuk>0356518523

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Naomi AldermanG K Holloway|title=The Liars' Gospel|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=In ''The Liars' Gospel'', Naomi Alderman gives the perspective of four people on the recent death of a Jewish man named Yehoshuah, who is more commonly known these days by the anglicized name of Jesus. These perspectives include Miryam (Mary), the teacher's mother, Iehuda Shadows of Qeriot (Judas Iscariot), a one time follower of the man, Caiaphas, the High Priest of the great Temple in Jerusalem and finally Bar-Avo, Barabbas, a rebel who is determined to bring down the occupying Roman presence. What makes this such a remarkable book is the sheer visceral nature of the story telling. Each story is vividly told, and Alderman evokes the time and place to such a level that you half expect to have developed a sun tan while reading the book.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>067091990X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Jeanette Winterson|title=The Daylight GateCastles

|summary=Young bride Anna Palmer places her trust We begin after the momentous battle in all 1066 and on the wrong peopleday of William of Normandy's coronation as King of England. One choice that backfires spectacularly William's position is her impulsive marriage to not secure and the Reverend Vincent Palmernew king has many challenges. Less than Imposing authority through a year after their marriage he tells her that they are going coronation is important. And William is right to visit some of his friends at a place called Lake Houseworry. But Lake House While the previous king, Harold, is a privately run asylum 'for genteel women dead and the likelihood of a delicate nature'. Once there Anna discovers that she more pitched battles is over, the rebels are stirring and much of the country does not allowed wish to leave without Vincent's approvalrecognise a new overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857209272</amazonuk>1800422466

{{newreview|author=Michael Boccacino|title=Charlotte Markham and Maya is a young girl living in a hunter gatherer village during the Mesolithic era. Climate change is occurring, the House Sea of Darkling|rating=5|genre=Fantasy|summary=Widowed under tragic circumstances, Charlotte Markham needs an income Grass encroaches further and so shefurther into Maya's employed by widower Henry Darrow as a governess for his sons James forest home, and Paul. Their home 'Everton' may seem a typical Victorian mansion but the town of Blackfield isn't your average English small town; the Darrow's Nanny Prum food is found murdered in a particularly grisly mannerbecoming more and more scarce. It's a mystery What to do? Can the local police but Charlotte's friend Susannah has a clue if only they'd listen to her. Meanwhile law givers in the Darrow boys' nights are spent dreaming federation of a house in villages muster peaceful ways to cope? Can the woods where their mother still lives. Charlotte decides to treat this head on and takes them for Traveller, a walk to show them there's no substance to it. However, in doing so they discover spiritual figure who interprets the nightmare that is The House wisdom of Darkling.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781164460</amazonuk>All Life, provide solutions?

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Deborah Harkness1529125898|title=Shadow of Night (All Souls Trilogy 2)Godmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby

|summary=''Shadow of Night'' moves on from where [[A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness|A Discovery of Witches]] finishes. Matthew Claremont (vampire, intellectual and, even after centuries of life, still looking a pretty decent 37 years old) and Diana Bishop (historian and witch with a pedigree stretching back to the Salem witch trials) are married and have time-walked to 1591 to look If it were not for Ashmole 782, the ancient book that Diana let slip through her fingers in 2010. They also need to find Diana a tutor to help her control casual dereliction of the powers that sheodd gentleman's chosen duty, there would no women to ignore for a lifetime. There aren't just supernatural items on the agenda though; Diana thought she knew teach well-bred daughters at all there was to know about her new spouse but there are secrets to be discovered, his connection to the historic 'School of the Night' being one of the less dangerous. Oh, and another thing, they discover that the 16th century isn't, perhaps, the best time to visit if you're a witch, especially if you need to advertise for a tutor. (I think we could have told them that if they'd asked!)|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755384733</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Pauline Chandler|title=Dark Thread|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Kate is an artisan weaver, like her mother. But Anne Sharpe was thirty-one years old when she is so full arrived at Godmersham Park to take up the position of grief and guilt that she can't even think about returning governess to twelve-year-old Fanny Austen. She had no experience of teaching but this was a case of necessity. Until the death of her craft. Because Kate's mother died in , Anne had a road accident comfortable life and Kate thinks it was all loved by both parents although her faultfather was frequently absent from the household. And When her mother died, all her father cast her off and would have nothing more to do with her. No explanation was offered but she would receive an annuity of £35 a sudden, everything gets too much - the kindly-meant but oppressive sympathy - and Kate collapsesyear. She wakes Her maid, still at the millAgnes, would receive nothing but was fortunately taken in a long-past time. Here, Kate must learn to weave the dark threads of her life into its overall picture. Until she does, she can't return home..by some neighbours. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1907869565</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=David RainMelissa Fu |title=The Heat of the SunPeach Blossom Spring |rating=3.5|genre=Literary Historical Fiction|summary=David Rain is far too young I loved the prelude to be writing this exquisitelyPeach Blossom Spring, a short chapter entitled ''Origins''. ThatUnfortunately 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 all Iperspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the war with Japan, a young mother (Meilin) and her four-year-old son (Renshu) are among those who flee. The story follows them on their journey across China, and in Renshu'm going s case eventually to sayAmerica. Oh, you need me to justify that comment? |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857892037</amazonuk>1472277538

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Sarah Quigley1916072038|title=The ConductorHouse in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell|rating=4.5

|summary=Composer Dmitri Shostakovich can block anything out whilst he's writing music: his wife Nina's voice, his children arguing, even We meet part of the side effects of living Talbot family in Yorkshire in Stalinist LeningradNovember 1811. HoweverTwenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, life is about to become more than an annoying distraction from music as Germany declares war on Russia and gradually initiates what history will come to know as the Siege of Leningrad. Shostakovich then realises, just as gradually, that his music may serve a purpose to sustain his compatriots house in the absence of sufficient food and hopehollow. His Seventh Symphony becomes a protest against oppression, but he needs an orchestra to play it The two women are angry with each other and the top musicians have been evacuated to save the countryJocelyn is well aware of her mother's cultural heritage. He therefore turns to Karl Eliasberg, the aspiring but third rate conductor of a cobbled together orchestra. Music can create miracles but, for Eliasberg strengths and his musicians, being able to play it will be the biggest miracle of all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>190880002X</amazonuk>}}weaknesses:

{{newreview|author=Umberto Eco|title=The Prague Cemetery|rating=3|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=If the popular press ''She is to be believedpracticed at subterfuge, at concealing, then those beneath a facade of us who write book reviews do so to show off our own (non-existent) talents as writers whilst trying to condemn respectability, the abilities of far greater worthdeplorable truth''.

WellHester is furious about Jocelyn's refusal to do as she was asked, not quite. I would not pretend to have a tiny iota-fragment of the talent that Umberto Eco which has. Nor would I seek to decry his latest opusprecipitated ''this violent and unexpected removal''.

On Then we are told of the other hand, I am an ordinary reader – one moreover that enjoyed The Name birth of the Rose immensely – a child and I really struggled with ''The Prague Cemetery''. I didn't struggle to get through it. It is actually quite an easy read, if you just read the surface of it. I did struggle to see the point of it. It may well just be me. I put my hands upsoon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in shame and isolation in Yorkshire.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555972</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Matt ReesAnnabel Abbs|title=A Name in BloodThe Language of Food|rating=4.5

|summary=Artist Michelangelo Merisi Eliza Acton is best known by a location: Caravaggio, his home town. He grew up acquainted with poet who has never had the ugly side of life and death, having witnessed the plague-ridden deaths of his father and grandfather on the same dayslightest inclination to boil an egg. However he was also born When tasked with the ability to create beauty in his art. He's able to make writing a living adorning the churches and fine houses of Romecookery book, but Caravaggio walks a fine line. On one side is the wildness and carousing he needs to feel alive and on the other is the need to placate the powers that be. When those powers happen to be a pope who's a Borgia and a patron who's a Borgia's nephewshe recruits Ann Kirby, then the line is very fine indeed. Add complications like a beautiful local woman and with a troubled home life-long commitment to preserving . Together, they test, craft, refine and reshape the well being world of a headstrong nobledomestic cookery, leading him to reinventing the knights of Malta, recipe book and a life of difficulty becomes one changing the face of impossibility. Then something else happens... Caravaggio completely vanishes from history, taking the intrigue up to a whole new levelcookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848879199</amazonuk>1398502227

 {{newreview|author=Austin Ratner|title=The Jump Artist|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Austin Ratner's debut novel, ''The Jump Artist'', first published in the US in 2009, is a fictionalised account of the extraordinary life of celebrated photographer, Philippe Halsman. Born a Latvian Jew, as a young man in 1928 he was walking in the Austrian mountains when he saw his father fall to his death. This would be traumatic for anyone, but the issues were compounded when he was accused of murder by the Austrian courts in what was probably anti-semitic and certainly xenophobic in explanation. Philippe's second trial, the first failing potentially because his mother had engaged a Jewish lawyer, details the fundamental lack of evidence and shoddy police work behind the accusation.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670921599</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Theresa Breslin|title=Spy for the Queen of Scots|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=Jenny is not only a lady-in-waiting to Mary, Queen of Scots; she's also one of her oldest and closest friends, brought up with her at the French court during Mary's long betrothal to the Dauphin. Jenny is fiercely loyal to Mary and so, when she overhears a whispered conversation about poison, she decides to turn spy for her queen. The French court is full of plotting and spying but, when Mary returns to Scotland after her young husband dies, Jenny discovers the warring clans of Scotland present her mistress with even more danger. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0385617054</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Maria DuenasFreya Marske|title=The SeamstressA Marvellous Light

|summary=Raised Robin Blyth is nudged into a job in Spain by her mother and unaware of her father's identitythe Civil Service, Sira moves much to Morocco following her true love, only to be left stranded his chagrin. There he meets Edwin Courcey and alonelearns that the streets of London are threaded with magic. However, there's Desperate to remove a kind-heartedcurse that threatens to swallow him, rough diamond of a local whoRobin follows Edwin to the countryside, via unorthodox where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and downright dangerous means, pushes Sira towards reliance on the one thing she's brought from Spain: her gift people shimmer with the sewing needlepower. This propels her into There they uncover a business serving sinister plot that threatens the cream lives of Moroccan ex-pat society, and that includes Nazi officers' wives and mistresses; a clientele that has possibilities that certain powers seem very happy to utiliseall magicians in the British Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0670920029</amazonuk>1529080886

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=L R FredericksB09F4CTKJR|title=Farundell|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=American Paul Asher is damaged by memories and dreams originating from World War I, or at least he thinks that's where they're from. Once the war is over and, as he's estranged from his father in the US, Paul decides to remain in the UK to find work. Work comes to him as he's asked to assist Lord Percy Damory at Farundell, the Damory ancestral home. Paul's job is straightforward: Sir Percy needs someone to whom he can dictate memoirs of a well-travelled life among distant tribes. However Paul's life at Farundell will be anything but straightforward thanks to the Damorys' apparent eccentricities, an ancestor from the 18th century who refuses to be labelled as a ghost and, of course, there's Sylvie.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184854328X</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFlights for Freedom|author=L R Fredericks|title=FateSteven Burgauer

|summary=It's the 18th century later stages of World War I and 11 year old Francis Damory is spoken to by great great grandfather, Tobiasthe United States has just entered the conflict. Nothing odd except that Tobias Petrol Petronus is dead a young American who has signed up and speaks via a portrait joined the 17 Aero Squadron. This company was the first US Aero Squadron to be trained in FarundellCanada, the family's Oxfordshire home. Hence begins first to be attached to the obsession that will take RAF and the adult Sir Francis across first to be sent into the world and through a lifetime of adventures skies to track Tobias downfight the Germans in active combat. The longer Francis looksBut before that can happen, Petrol has to master flying the more he realises that Great Great Grandfather isn't dead and that, therefore, Francis wants whatever he's onnotoriously difficult but majestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184854331X</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alissa Walser and Jamie Bulloch (translator)Christophe Medler|title=MesmerizedMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret

|summary=Celebrated scientist Set against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a secret plan (at least in his own mindcode-named Madrigal) Franz Anton Mesmer is called upon to cure discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the blindness summer of 18 year old piano virtuoso and courtier's daughter Marie Theresia Paradis1642. Despite As a loyal servant of the unease King, and Head of her parentsthe Secret Service, Mesmer installs Marie into his it is Robert'magnetic hospital' where, alongside his other patients, she settles in s duty to a regime uncover the details of treatment, including free access to Mesmer's beloved piano. Mesmer is the Paradis' last resort plan and so they're happy follow the clues to pay for success but they come to realise that uncover one of the most guarded secrets in history—especially since the final cost may not be entirely financial and he realises that plot could affect the result may not be beneficial to all partiesKing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857051008</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Mary Hoffman1471187179|title=City of Swords (Stravaganza) A Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore

|genre=TeensHistorical Fiction|summary=LauraMinnie is an 's unhappiness is hidden away where no-one can see it. But she does have ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in a releaseleafy provincial suburb. She knows cutting herself The book is wrong, but set in the relief it provides 1930s and Minnie is addictive. But Lauraexpected to live up to her mother's secretive life is upturned by expectations and find a nice young man to marry, produce children and spend the discovery that rest of her days looking after her husband and their home. Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all and neither does she is want to continue working as a secretary. As a Stravagante - result of a person who can travel through time and space. Transported to sixteenth century Fortezzachance meeting, she finds herself in drawn into espionage, working for the middle of secret service and effectively living a bitter battle for succession double life - attempting to infiltrate the city's dukedomCommunist Party of Great Britain. The Stravaganti are supporting Princess Lucia but Laura also meets Ludo, Minnie finds herself torn between what she perceives as her duty and the pretender, friends she has made - and is immediately drawn to him. And at home in Barnsbury, Laura's life is changing too, now she is a part of likes - whilst working for the time-travelling communityCommunist Party. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408800500</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Hilary MantelAfonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=Bring up the BodiesKokoschka's Doll|rating=2.5|genre=Historical Literary Fiction|summary=Thomas Cromwell is now Well, this looked very far much like a book I could love from his humble beginnings. He the get-go, which is Henry VIII's chief minister. Katherine why I picked my review copy up and flipped pages over several times before actually reading any of Aragorn is no longer Queenit. The Princess Mary has been disinherited I found things to potentially delight me each time – a weird section in the middle on darker stock paper, a chapter whose number was in the 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and so on. Anne Boleyn wears It intrigued with the crown and has produced subterranean voice a daughterman hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of it mentioned, Elizabethtoo. But there is no sign of a son and Henry is beginning to regret his secession from Rome. We pick up from Wolf Hall during you've seen the royal progress of 1535 star rating that comes with this review, and from therecan tell that if love was on these pages, we chart the destruction of the new Queenit was not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0007315090</amazonuk>1529402697

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Laurie GrahamChristina Hammonds Reed|title=A Humble CompanionThe Black Kids

|genre=Historical FictionTeens |summary=George III Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel is unfortunately best-known for his mental instability which is a pity, because he was, in many waysset against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, a forward thinker. One reaction to the absolution of his more-enlightened acts with regard to his own children was to appoint 'four police officers for beating a humble companion' for his twelfth child and fifth daughterblack man, Princess SophiaRodney King, presumably so that her life should not be limited nearly to death. Told from the cloistered residences which the Royal Family inhabited. 'Humble' isperspective of Ashley Bennett, of course a relative term and Nellie Welche was actually the daughter of novel follows her evolution from a high-ranking steward in the household silent bystander when confronted with matters of the Prince of Walesrace, but with only two years difference in age they became life-long friendsto a woman finding her voice and embracing her heritage.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0857387812</amazonuk>1471188191

{{newreview|author=Alonso Cueto and Frank Wynne (translator)|title=The Blue Hour|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Adrian Ormache, middle class Peruvian lawyer, has a beautiful wife, two daughters of the sort Move on to make any parent proud and a comfortable lifestyle. His parents divorced when he was small so, as he lived with his mother, he has fragmented memories of a gruff, distant dad. Despite his father's aloof, dictatorial manner, Adrian has always comforted himself with the fact he played a useful role as a land-bound naval officer, fighting Senderista terrorists for the good of Peru. After the death of his mother everything changes. Adrian finds documents that lead him away from his beliefs, towards a truth that will shatter more than his father's image.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434019410</amazonuk>}}[[Newest History Reviews]]