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<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Robert Merle and T Jefferson Kline (translator)Tananarive Due|title=Fortunes of France 3: Heretic DawnThe Reformatory
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=France 1568: Having persuaded 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 father Jean that itFunhouse, Robert must enlist the help of the school's safe for him ghosts – 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, having been sent to return to his studieslive with a family who run an inn, Pierre de Siorac goes back and being made to Montpellierwork there from a young age. He doesn’t stay When she hears there long though as Jean has is to be a mission for him that will take him into hanging of some pirates in the royal court in Paristown, she decides to go and watch. The fighting between the Medici-led Catholics Enthralled and horrified in equal measure, Hannah finds herself embroiled in a young boy's death at the Huguenots has quietened down buthands of two vicious pirates. She hides away, despite sending his son into the vipersso that they don' nestt find and kill her too, and then to escape them completely she runs away to sea, hedressing as a boy and joining the notorious Ned Low's reluctant to consider 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 Peace 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 St Germain scarlet fever as being 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 end use of sign language was seen as something only savages do, Ellen is sent to a school where she is taught to lip read, but physically restrained from signing. From here, she ends up in another school studying under Alexander Graham Bell who has been teaching the conflictdeaf and using a system called Visible Speech. History will prove his suspicions correct as we approach At the St Bartholomew Massacre same time, Bell is working on other inventions and ideas, and Ellen finds herself unwittingly caught up in a complicated tangle of the Huguenots which occurs… in Parisespionage.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782271937</amazonuk>|amazonusisbn=<amazonus>1782271937</amazonus>1035401614
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Claire North
|title=House of Odysseus
|rating=5
|genre= Literary Fiction
|summary= ''What could matter more than love?''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Leo TolstoyB0C7J9D21B|title=War and PeaceA Captive in Algiers (Muhammed Amalfi Mysteries)|author=A J Lewis
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=1805: Napoleon Bonaparte When we first meet our hero, his name is on the way to conquering Europe while what's left Ettore and he lives at The House of Europe (including the Russian army led by Tsar Alexander) stands in his wayBeautiful Swallows. Prince Andrei Bolkonsky quickly gets a reputation Idyllic as military hero although few know this is allied to his death wish. Meanwhile back in Russia the remaining aristocracy have no doubt that their motherland will win might sound, it's a bordello and so they continue with daily lifeEttore's mother died when he was born. PierreHe's not been short of mothers, the illegitimate son though - but for someone of Count Bezukhoff buries his life background in winelate-eighteenth-century Amalfi, women, song and more wine but it's difficult to obtain decent employment. The stint working with the death preparation of his father takes him anchovies didn't work out and bastards are considered bad luck on a journey to find happiness, the long way roundfishing boats. 12Ettore was nothing if not resourceful -year-old Natasha Rostov dreams of love and happiness, searching with agedetermined -related exuberance and inexperienceit was not long before he had a successful business as a guide for visitors. The older generation are there to help and hinder as they take their places as pawns and puppeteers in the manipulation and social climbing that's become second nature… that is until the tide of war changesHe was even saving some money.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184990846X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author= Michael Grant|title= Front Lines|rating= 5|genre= Teens|summary=1942: Hitler is pushing his way ever further, the USA adds its strength to the Alliance and women are allowed to fight in the military for the first time. Rio Richlin’s sister has already died in the war, Frangie Marr is desperate for a way to keep her family’s heads above water and Rainy Schulterman wants to kill the man who is murdering Jews. All three go to war and all three are changed. Although they do they do not start together, their paths intersect as they all take on roles that leave more scars than expected.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1405273828</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Jessica Blair|title=Tread Softly, Alice|rating=2.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Alice Ware is finally returning home to Yorkshire, after an extended stay with friends in France. Much has changed since she left, but the most exciting development has been the arrival of an elegant new neighbour, Emma Cheevey, who has inherited the estate next to their home. Alice is particularly thrilled by the arrival of Emma's handsome soldier sons: the serious but self confident Steven and his gentle, easygoing younger brother Matthew. Both men are keen to win her heart, but which one holds the key to her future?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349407320</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Anne O'BrienEssie Fox|title=The Queen's ChoiceFascination
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Joanna of Navarre may be married The 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 John IVth Duke more than a few writers mishandling it. There's such a glut of Britany but she has views of her own and isnmedia set in the era that the hallmarks we't afraid ve come to voice themassociate with it are familiar to the point of being cliched, hackneyed even . All this is simply to Charles the French Kingillustrate that it would be an easy thing to do poorly. When she defends exiled English noble Henry Bolingbroke at the French court she does so as a friend not realising what the future holds. For Bolingbroke is the future Henry IV and fate will decree But despite that Joanna will become his queen, roles that will take their toll on both of them something about it still grabs me – and something about this book's description did as a couple and individualswell.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1848454074</amazonuk>1914585526
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Ian RossNicole Jarvis|title=Battle For Rome (Twilight of Empire)A Portrait in Shadow|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=''Be warned - spoilers ahead for the first two books…''Aurelius Castus, tribune in Emperor Constantine's army is preparing for the battle everyone (including us) has been waiting for: the fight against Maxentius, Tyrant I want all of Rome. Meanwhile Castus' marriage Florence to the aristocratic Sabina has borne him a beloved son but coldness lurks between man and wife where there was hot passion. Castus' suspicions are further fed by his wifeknow my name's name being on the lips of a dying officer; truth or pre-death ramblings? Meanwhile Sabina has bought a new slave and Castus swears he's seen her somewhere before…|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1784081205</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Thomas D Lee
|title=Perilous Times
|rating=3
|genre= Fantasy
|summary= ''Hate is the path of least resistance''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mary GibsonG K Holloway|title=Gunner Girls and Fighter BoysIn the Shadows of Castles
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=''Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys'' is the latest book in Mary Gibson's Bermondsey series. This time, We begin after the Lloyd family take centre stage: Mum, Dad, son Jack and daughters May and Peggy. War is raging momentous battle in Europe 1066 and Bermondsey is not immune from daily onslaught of bombs. A tragic event one night changes everything and home-bird May decides to fly the nest in order to participate in the war effort. The war will leave no-one unscathed; the strongest hearts can be paralysed by fear and the unlikeliest of people can emerge as heroes.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>178185596X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Frances Brody|title=Sisters on Bread Street|rating=4|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Julia and Margaret are the Wood sisters, struggling to hoist themselves out day of a life William of poverty in Leeds just before the outbreak of the first world war. Well, Julia is struggling. Margaret sees her way out as being through marriage to a rich suffragetteNormandy's son, Thomascoronation as King of England. SheWilliam's an apprentice milliner position is not secure and beautiful, but both sisters have the new king has many challenges. Imposing authority through a disadvantage and it's one which grows bigger as war approaches: their father coronation is Germanimportant.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349410704</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Antonia Senior|title=The Winter Isles|rating=5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Scotland 1122: A son And William is born right to a warlord on worry. While the Scottish Islands. The warlord GilleBrideprevious king, Harold, is a man who doesn't realise his glory dead and the likelihood of more pitched battles is receding. One day the realisation does hit himover, along with a Viking raid. In the heat rebels are stirring and much of invasion his son, although only 15, must take over. Can a lad actually lead the country does not wish to recognise a people? History will tell and legend will embellish for that boy is Somerled and this is his storynew overlord.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782396586</amazonuk>1800422466
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=3949666079
|title=Noema
|author=Dael Akkerman
|rating=4.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=''This is a story about some things that happened to me about twelve thousand years ago.''
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Conn Iggulden1529125898|title=Wars of the Roses: Bloodline: Book 3 (The Wars of the Roses)Godmersham Park|author=Gill Hornby
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=The Wars of the Roses continue. Margaret of Anjou becomes a catalyst for what lays ahead and then rescues her husband, the debilitated Henry VI, from the forces of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and the recently executed Richard of York. However York's last words weren't empty rhetoric: by killing If it were not for the father Margaret has indeed unleashed the sons. Edward casual dereliction of March for one is out for revenge; a fact that throws the English throne and the safety of Queenodd gentleman's spymaster Derry Brewer into grave doubt.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>071815987X</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author= Jennifer Wallace|title= Digging Up Milton|rating= 3.5|genre= Historical Fiction|summary=Digging Up Milton appealed to me because from the description it sounded like something a little bit different. I like that it is dark but yet not entirely seriousduty, and I always appreciate it when an author tries there would no women to write in a different way, or give a book an individual voiceteach well-bred daughters at all.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1909776106</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Lesley J Nickell|title=Sons of York: Volume 2 (The Sprigs of Broom)|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=15th Century London: Through a quirk of fate young widow Janet Evershed finds herself running her late husband's cloth business, far from her York home. It's in this very shop that she meets Richard Neville, Duke of Warwick and his ward Edward, Earl of March. They may be much higher than commoner Janet but she has caught Edward's eye and what Edward wants, he gets, be it a woman or, indeed, the crown of England.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1861514603</amazonuk>}}
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Julia Franck and Anthea Bell (translator)Melissa Fu |title=WestPeach Blossom Spring
|rating=3.5
|genre=Literary Historical Fiction|summary=Put yourself in I loved the shoes of a young mother prelude to two childrenPeach Blossom Spring, who declares her intention to leave the Communist East Germany for West Berlin, and thus loses her scientist joba short chapter entitled ''Origins''. What would you expect on Unfortunately it is the other side – shops full only truly poetic part of attainable products, pleasant neighbourhoods, nice neighbours, an active and busy new life, where things might feel alien but at least you speak the same language? Well, for Nelly Senff, this is hardly the casea book that I expected more from. Once past the depressing Eastern exit procedures she is confronted with more desultory interrogations Covering Chinese history from those 1938 to 2005 as viewed through one family'welcoming' her to s perspective. When their home city is set ablaze during the Westwar with Japan, beyond which she a young mother (Meilin) and her children four-year-old son (their father, whom she never married, is long assumed dead by the authorities, if nobody elseRenshu) are practically left in a shared accommodation in a transit campamong those who flee. The shops are full of what is still unobtainablestory follows them on their journey across China, the children hate their new school – and people still look down on them as being foreign, even if they have only moved across a cityin Renshu's case eventually to America. |amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0099554321</amazonuk>1472277538
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Gregory Dowling1916072038|title=AscensionThe House in the Hollow (The Talbot Saga)|author=Allie Cresswell
|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Alvise Marangon is an artist 'resting' between commissions We meet part of the Talbot family in Yorkshire in November 1811. Twenty-seven-year-old Jocelyn Talbot and so using his guile and enterprise as a tour guide her mother have travelled in some discomfort from their home at Ecklington, to those taking the European Grand Tour house in 18th century Venicethe hollow. Everything has The two women are angry with each other and Jocelyn is well aware of her mother's strengths and weaknesses: ''She is practiced at subterfuge, at concealing, beneath a business as usual feel to it for Alvise until he notices a fellow gondolier paying his friend not to take a couple facade of English tourists. Thenrespectability, as the new Doge deplorable truth''. Hester is inaugurated a manfurious about Jocelyn's head is thrown into refusal to do as she was asked, which has precipitated ''this violent and unexpected removal''. Then we are told of the crowdbirth of a child and, soon after, Hester Talbot departs, leaving Jocelyn in shame and isolation in Yorkshire. Showing people around a typical Venice is becoming increasingly hard for Alvise – Venice is not behaving typically!|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846973139</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Lisa HiltonAnnabel Abbs|title=The Stolen QueenLanguage of Food
|rating=5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Nine-year-old Isabelle of Angouleme is betrothed to Hal, son of Hugh de Lusignan. She doesn't like him much but she's learning to gently manipulate those around her so she feels life will be interesting and rewarding. Howeverwith England's King Richard the Lionheart all changes. Isabelle will marry King John instead – a totally different prospect for all concerned. This Eliza Acton is a match that will not only be a challenge for poet who has never had the young girl but will show her the true heart of her mother and the true art of political manoeuvringslightest inclination to boil an egg. Isabelle may be the pawn in all this but it's not When tasked with writing a role cookery book, she takes to willinglyrecruits Ann Kirby, despite the nightmares of the horned man and the occurrences of a certain May night that will haunt the rest of her local woman with a troubled home life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848874693</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=Anthony Quinn|title=Blind Arrows|rating=4.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=1919: A cohort of British spies meet in the depths of Dublin CastleTogether, the prison and British intelligence hub. Their main focus is the infiltration of the IRA in a bid to neutralise their leaderthey test, Michael Collins. However there is a distraction from their usual agenda: an increasing number of IRA women are escaping, only to be found murdered shortly afterwards. Martin Kantcraft, an English journalist in Ireland is charged with investigation refine and reporting back to reshape the government powers as well as his newspaper editor. Meanwhile Lilly Merrinworld of domestic cookery, a Dublin Castle employee has also gone missing. Her loyalty to reinventing the Crown seems beyond question in recipe book and changing the eyes face of her boss, but others would argue with that..cookery writing forever.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1843445352</amazonuk>1398502227
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sven Hassel and Jordy DiagoFreya Marske|title=Wheels of Terror: The Graphic NovelA Marvellous Light
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=It has been three years since Hew was banished from Scotland and manoeuvred Robin Blyth is nudged into working for Elizabeth I's spymastera job in the Civil Service, Walsinghammuch to his chagrin. His loyalties remain with the Scottish Queen Mary but he must hide them as well as he can lest There he becomes a victim of the conspiracy fever cutting through England meets Edwin Courcey and keeping learns that the hangman busystreets of London are threaded with magic. There's also another fever cutting through Scotland – the plagueDesperate to remove a curse that threatens to swallow him, providing even more reason for Hew Robin follows Edwin to worry about the wellbeing of his sistercountryside, brother in law where the hedgegrows bristle with incantations and nephewthe people shimmer with power. If he could but go home he'd have There they uncover a surprise for them. When he gets there, there's a surprise for him sinister plot that threatens the lives of all magicians in the form of a death prophesy picture, followed by a murderBritish Isles.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846973120</amazonuk>1529080886
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=John RightenB09F4CTKJR|title=Churchill's Rogue: Volume 1 (Rogues Trilogy)|rating=5|genre=Thrillers|summary=Sean Ryan grew up in Ireland during the 20th century's first quarter and so understands death and loss. He learnt to defend what he felt right during his time as a bodyguard for Michael Collins. Therefore when Winston Churchill called upon his services in 1937 to bring a mother and child out of Germany, Ryan doesn't say no. However Ryan soon discovers this is no easy escort duty. The mother and child in question are Flights for some reason being hunted by an elite German force led by Cerberus, a code name for a sadist incarnate. On the plus side, Ryan soon discovers he's not alone. There are more like him across Europe; those with pasts that forged them into violent defenders of the vulnerable in an increasingly dangerous world. These are the Rogues and, this time, Ryan needs their help.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1492320242</amazonuk>}}{{newreviewFreedom|author=Erin Knightley|title=The Duke Can Go to the DevilSteven Burgauer|rating=4.5
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=As Regency ladies go, Mei-li Bradford is anything but conventional. For most It's the later stages of her life, she World War I and the United States has travelled just entered the world with her sea-captain father and seen exotic sights and locations that others could only dream ofconflict. Her upbringing amongst sailors Petrol Petronus is a young American who has clearly rubbed off on her, howeversigned up and joined the 17 Aero Squadron. Mei-liThis company was the first US Aero Squadron to be trained in Canada, or May the first to be attached to her friends, can drink the RAF and curse like a man and has no respect for propriety and conventionthe first to be sent into the skies to fight the Germans in active combat. She may look like a well-bred ladyBut before that can happen, Petrol has to master flying the notoriously difficult but certainly does not act like one. Therefore, disaster surely beckons when an uptight Duke shows an interest in her. His stuffy ways and conventional habits are anathema to May's free-spirited naturemajestic Sopwith Camel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0349410674</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Benjamin JohncockChristophe Medler|title=The Last PilotMadrigal: A Closely Guarded Secret
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=1566: Brothers Pierre and Samson de Siorac have been sent from their Perigore home to further their education at MontpellierSet against the backdrop of the English Civil War, a secret plan (code-named Madrigal) is discovered by Sir Robert Douse in the summer of 1642. During their time there they learn more than their ascribed logicAs a loyal servant of the King, philosophy and medicine. Indeed PierreHead of the Secret Service, it is Robert's focus is on his stomach duty to uncover the details of the plan and follow the affairs clues to uncover one of the heart, as befitting a lusty 15 year old. Not all of most guarded secrets in history—especially since the plot could affect the adventures are learned, culinary or romantic though; some lessons are a lot more dangerousKing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782271244</amazonuk>B095HY8SXQ
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Jemima Brigges1471187179|title=Brothers at ArmsA Beautiful Spy|author=Rachel Hore
|rating=4
|genre=Historical Fiction
|summary=Certain decisions are pivotal points Minnie is an 'ordinary' girl living an unexciting life in time; key moments that define everything that follows a leafy provincial suburb. The book is set in the 1930s and Minnie is expected to live up to her mother's expectations and find a nice young man to marry, produce children and spend the rest of her days looking after her husband and their home. Unfortunately, this isn't what she wants to do at all and create waves that ripple with repercussions neither does she want to continue working as a secretary. As a result of a chance meeting, she finds herself drawn into espionage, working for years the secret service and effectively living a double life - attempting to comeinfiltrate the 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 Communist Party.}}{{Frontpage|author=Afonso Cruz and Rahul Bery (translator)|title=Kokoschka's Doll|rating=2. Kindly squire Tom Norberry 5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Well, this looked very much like a book I could never have foreseen love from the impact that taking 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 weird section in two orphaned relatives would have the middle on his future happiness. This singledarker stock paper, altruistic act of kindness would set a chapter whose number was in motion the 20,000s, letters used as narrative form, and so on. It intrigued with the subterranean voice a chain man hears in wartorn Dresden that what little I knew of events it mentioned, too. But you've seen the star rating that would eventually cause a deep household rift comes with this review, and threaten to sully the good family name can tell that he had worked to hard to upholdif love was on these pages, it was not actually caused by them. So what happened?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1784624454</amazonuk>1529402697
}}
{{Frontpage
|author=Christina Hammonds Reed
|title=The Black Kids
|rating=4.5
|genre=Teens
|summary=Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel is set against the backdrop of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, a reaction to the absolution of four police officers for beating a black man, Rodney King, nearly to death. Told from the perspective of Ashley Bennett, the novel follows her evolution from a silent bystander when confronted with matters of race, to a woman finding her voice and embracing her heritage.
|isbn=1471188191
}}
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