I just read the blurb now and I realized how much of the plot it reveals. I think a huge part of my enjoyment of the book reFire trucking amazing! ----
I just read the blurb now and I realized how much of the plot it reveals. I think a huge part of my enjoyment of the book rested in not knowing much about it other than it's a Catherine Friend and there's time travel. And in my mind, Catherine Friend + time travel = great adventure. As anyone can see from my rating, that formula still holds true. :)
Artist Jamie Maddox finds herself coerced by her long time girlfriend into volunteering for an unusual experiment in looking for and documenting the physical presence of "consciousness" inside her brain. An unfortunate confluence of factors sends her into the past, specifically, the year 1560 A.D. And not just anywhere, but into the court of the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth. Jamie realizes soon enough that she isn't bodily in the past, but only her consciousness has transferred. Upon awakening from the experiment, her initial reaction had been--Is she in some kind of elaborate movie production? With movie sets so realistic that they reek of sweat, unwashed bodies and putrid rivers? It seems much more logically just a recreation of her subconscious, Tudor-fascinated mind and she is simply in a coma. But is her knowledge of the Tudors that good and detailed that she can invent historical characters' faces, foods, smells, arcane words and even entire incidents, wholesale?
More disconcerting, the body isn't hers. She can't even eat without spilling food on her half-exposed breasts. Even worse, the person who owns it may not be a simple lady-in-waiting, but an ambitious, devious, scheming woman who may be involved in some nefarious plot that will mess up history as we know it.
Can Jamie get back to her time? Can she even get back to her own body? Does she even want to? Witnessing history in the making right beside England's most important ruler doesn't seem so bad. Ang the youthful Queen Elizabeth is such a fascinating woman.
It's a race against time, the weather, and a woman who's enjoying the future just a bit too much to give it up.
The book starts off a bit slow, with a mini-travelogue of London, both past and present. It's fascinating and all, but I couldn't wait to get on with the story. Once it does (and I finally got a sense of what's going on), I couldn't stop reading till the end. This is my new favorite Catherine Friend. I loved the The Spanish Pearl and its sequel The Crown of Valencia for their audacious plots, but this is just as intriguing, and much more fun and upbeat (although also frustrating!). And, I just found a whole new way to curse out loud without offending anyone. ;)
Other aspects I loved about the book: - a glimpse into what the "real" 16th century London was like and not the romanticized versions we get from books and movies (The truth? it stinks!) - a close-up and behind-the-scenes look at the newly-crowned Elizabeth, in turns wily and unsure and sometimes needing to seek validation, before she became the formidable Queen - bits of arcane history/court politics--always more entertaining than the dry stuff we get in school - a sweet romance that I wasn't even sure had started and simply had no idea how it would end, until much later(view spoiler)[okay, I half-expected that Jamie would actually choose to remain in the past, since she seems to have found love there, and maybe she needed to to assure Queen Elizabeth's and therefore, England's course in history from being messed up like they were in Spanish Pearl, because of someone's scheming. I guessed that the other woman would attempt to keep Jamie in the past by messing with history and the Queen (shades of Spanish Pearl). So what she eventually did was a total surprise, but very smart. (hide spoiler)])
Bottom line, get this if you love history, a bit of speculative fiction and great adventure. And the bonus of a sweet love story to boot.
Rating: 4.9 (Ah ratings, this is the part of the review that always gives me a headache. How do you rate a book you love more than other books, but isn't perfect? The extended travelogue could use some pruning. Comparing this against Spanish Pearl and sequel, both 5 starrers, I feel like I love this more, although I did read those two aeons ago so a re-read might actually reverse this. )
I'm going to start with a disclaimer that I'm a huge, unabashed and hopelessly addicted fan of historically accurate lesbian romances. I'd snap up in I'm going to start with a disclaimer that I'm a huge, unabashed and hopelessly addicted fan of historically accurate lesbian romances. I'd snap up in an instant any halfway decent book that gets published in this teeny, tiny sub-genre of lesfic. So tiny that the only consistent producer of it that I know of is Justine Saracen. (Feel free to rec me anyone else! ;) So what it's come to is, anything she puts out is kind of like an 'event' for me, and not just a must-read.
The author has a distinctive style. Expect high adventure (since she has a particular fascination with women in wars, it often turns out to be misadventure ;)). Expect historical figures (or religious/mythological ones, when she strays into religion) to figure into the story. Expect our leading ladies being dropped into the thick of the action in actual historical events. And best of all, expect a happy ending. I worship a couple of historical fics (Code Name Verity and The Nightingale) because they are just so damn well-written, but alas, I could never bring myself to re-read them, because..well, they broke my heart! And while I appreciate a good, one-week cry (yep, the books were that good!), the idea of going through that again and again... my heart couldn't take it. Anyway...I'm digressing. So, the bottom line is, Saracen will put the lead characters through the wringer, both physical and emotional (but especially physical!). She'll do everything humanly (and inhumanly) possible to break them, torture them, starve them, and basically, whatever crazy people actually did to women before. But no matter how bleak and how desperate it becomes, she's gonna pull back from the brink and pull out a HEA from her rabbit's hat of tricks. It's a comfort and safety I trust in. Sort of like being a helplessly tied-up sub in a bdsm scene...lol.
So...how's the book? Typical Saracen. If you know her style. More action than introspection. Some name-dropping, or more accurately, encounters with historical figures from the past. The fun there is trying to figure out who's fact and who's fiction...without cheating with google or turning to her usual glossary at the end. As always, it's a fascinating, 'what would they have been like close-up', behind-the-scenes look at famous names. In this aspect, the book is a departure from the usual Saracen because she goes all-out. Unlike her previous plots where her lead characters move in relatively obscure circles and occasionally encounter a big name, the author placed the main character Mia Kramer, right smack into the inner circle of wartime US President FDR, and dropped her thick into wartime negotiations with the Soviets. So she has close encounters with three world leaders (FDR, Stalin, Churchill), a feisty first lady (Eleanor) and her bff, and some other White House insiders. It's a daring plot, no doubt. The initial setup could have been done better. But I grew to love how she connected the incredibly tricky and convoluted dots. Not all of it worked flawlessly. Some eye-roll moments and the occasional plot hole. But overall, it was a wild and wonderful way to bring Mia from the inner sanctums of power AND then throw her into the trenches with the lowliest troops. It's a huge stretch that was both fantastical yet plausible. And the journey both ways made for really entertaining theater, not to mention a fascinating historical trip back in time to one of Russia's darkest moments. Throw in the bonus love story and I'm in lesfic heaven.
Mia Kramer is one of a number of Russian immigrants who, upon reaching the shores of the US before the war, had their names changed to Americanized versions. She's an accountant by profession. Bored in her shoe company job and hardly able to stand her domineering father and an ill-advised affair with a married woman, Mia high-tails it out of town and goes for where all the action is: Washington DC. Volunteering for FDR's campaign gets her a toehold into the sanctums of power. But it's her Russian-speaking skills that ultimately land her the big gig, being assistant to FDR's negotiator with the Russians. Her trips with him to Russia brings her into visual contact with a gorgeous and alluring Stalin guard, the epitome of a classic Russian beauty. Mia can only admire from afar, of course. But an unfortunate turn of events (fortunate for us!) for Mia finds the two stuck in some of the worst and certainly deadliest moments in Russian times. The rest, as they say, is history.
The book starts off on a really awkward footing. The whole affair with the father and the lover felt disjointed. It would come into play later on, but at the time I read it, it felt like an unnecessary complication. I also thought the author took too many shortcuts in trying to get Mia into the Whilte House. And then her first foray into the White House read like something straight out of a fanfic. An uncharacteristic misstep for this veteran author. The book did find it's groove when Mia buckles down to work and gets sent to Russia. And the plot just takes off from there. I did find the ending to be too fairy-tale-ish but after what the ladies went through, I was willing to let them have it. Besides, I had a lot of fun trying to guess who or what the fairy godmother would be. :)
I'm not as big a fan of history as I am a fan of reading about the people behind the headlines. Even in high school, the footnotes about historical figures always made far more interesting reading for me than the text itself. Saracen takes her research into little known events about big people, and big events involving little people, and weaves these magical tales around them. And it all feels so real because they're grounded in reality--they actually happened...to someone, to maybe a number of people. But they did happen. And that's what I love most about Saracen's books. This one fits the bill perfectly, if you're looking for a realistic look at a dark and largely forgotten time in Russian history, about some amazing women who went through hell (and maybe a few who made it back to talk about it), but can't be bothered to pick up a history book or wouldn't know where to look. There's action galore, politics, intrigues, some romance, and lots of amazing women snipers.
4.5 stars
ARC from Netgalley
P.S. Technically, I feel like the book is a 4.45, but I'm going to bump it up to 4.5 stars because I'm in love with Alexia. Don't like Mia that much though. ;)...more
I'm a big fan of historical romances and Jae has written two of my all time favorites: 'Backwards to Oregon' and 'Hidden Truths'. Shaken to the Core iI'm a big fan of historical romances and Jae has written two of my all time favorites: 'Backwards to Oregon' and 'Hidden Truths'. Shaken to the Core is part of the same universe, 2 generations down the line. But it can easily be read as a stand-alone. Set in San Francisco, 1906, the book traces the lives of two women who can't be more different in terms of family background and means, caught in the midst of the catastrophic earthquake that devastated the city.
Giuliana is from Sicily. Eldest of a big brood of children born to a fisherman. After her father was lost at sea, Giuliana and her brother were forced to go abroad, all the way to 'Merica', to support the family. A cruel twist of fate sees her brother dying from illness. Illiterate and with no other feasible means of income and no savings, Giuliana is forced to work as a maid for the wealthy Winthrope family.
Kate Winthrope, only daughter and heiress of a shipping magnate, is of an age when most women of her time and standing are seriously scouting for a suitable husband. But marriage is furthest from her mind. She has a passion for photography and is considering working for a newspaper, something her parents think is completely beneath her.
Their respective struggles alone, one for dignity and survival and the other for independence, fulfillment and recognition, already lend themselves to such rich storytelling opportunities. Add surviving a natural disaster and finding love among the ruins to that potent mix and you have all the ingredients for a gripping historical romance.
My enjoyment of the book is mixed though, and almost completely divided along the lines of pre and post-earthquake. Pre-earthquake, we are introduced to the main characters and their respective situations. I didn't have a problem with the immigrant, Giuliana's story. Hers was always the more compelling, the more 'reader-empathetic' tale. But I didn't really like the rich girl Kate. Her earnestness is admirable but she's also eye-rollingly naive, especially when compared side by side with the awesome supporting character who is introduced here and who will probably get her own book (because what's the point of tantalizing us with such an inspiring character, right? ;) ) The first half is also dragged down by the leisurely pace of the book. But stick with it because things will get better once the Big One hits. Way better. I know it's weird to be clamoring for the quake, but in this book, it's a watershed moment. The book just comes alive afterwards. Mundane daily living suddenly turns into a battle for survival every minute. The playing field is literally levelled as rich and poor alike go homeless. Scenes of bravery and selflessness mix with those of cruelty and opportunism. What's more important though is that Kate literally and figuratively undergoes her baptism of fire. The Kate that emerges is exactly the kind we need our book heroines to be. Giuliana undergoes her own transformation, her own journey to enlightenment. And just as the new San Francisco rose proudly from the ruins, so do these two brave ladies blossom into their own after the quake. Equally important for romance readers, the author takes great care to make the romantic development believable and progress naturally, with an occasional nudge from an 'expert' on non-conformity. Note that it is 1906 and women have no idea about all the different variations of love.
The realism that characterized all of Jae's historical fiction is very evident again here. It would have been nice to have some kind of an appendix at the end of the book to see what parts of the book had in fact really transpired. I'd also have loved to read about real events or acts that might have inspired some fictional ones in the book. The author Justine Saracen does this in her historicals and I love how it enhances the whole reading experience. It gives a whole new depth and realism to her characters, who are often composites of real life figures. I'd also have loved to see pictures of that era, and San Francisco in particular, before and after the quake. While this information may be easily searchable online, adding an appendix lets the reader see the authors unique perspectives on historical events. (and totally pampers lazy readers too). Check out Lexxi Kitty's review here for some excellent background and pics.
The book is not without its flaws, though they're not very significant in the overall scheme of things. The first half dragged somewhat although this was probably from my irritation with Kate. I would have liked a bit more exploration of Giuliana's diaspora. She came over to the USA as an adult, but seemed too easily disconnected from her past (view spoiler)[(as soon as she fell in love with Kate :) (hide spoiler)]. Kate's relationship with her father seemed more complicated than it was shown in the book. I think there were some missed opportunities there. Some plot points felt awfully convenient. The heroics seemed too...heroic. All of which could have been dispelled if we'd had some sort of idea that they did in fact occur, and that sometimes truth is stranger and weirder than fiction.
This book has one of the most bizarre blurbs ever. London circa 1862 + space battle + Roman centurions + squid?!?!? How does all that come together inThis book has one of the most bizarre blurbs ever. London circa 1862 + space battle + Roman centurions + squid?!?!? How does all that come together in a book? Via time travel, of course. :)
Millicent, a prim and proper but rather unconventional young lady, would rather carry on intellectual discourses with her scientist brother Hubert and other solitary pursuits, than join the London social set of her day. Hubert, on the other hand is a tinkerer, inventor and all-around eccentric, who just happens to cobble together from old furniture and bits and pieces pilfered from Millicent's most treasured things, a contraption thats capable of sending someone to another time (and apparently to random places as well). And of course, Millicent just has to 'accidentally' activate said machine, setting up an incredible chain of events with reverberations thousands of years into the future, the past as well as the present.
Now before readers get turned off, the book is not a nerdy sci-fi yarn. Yes, it opens with a desperate space battle, has some icky Roman gladiator fights, and there's some bewildering time travel in between. But...at its heart, its a comedy... of sorts. Think campy, Victorian era, lesbian 'Back to the Future'... then cross it with 'Xena Warrior Princess'! :) Actually, it straddles a lot of sub-genres: steampunk, sci-fi, historical, thriller, mystery, character study, you name it. And there's even a romance there somewhere, or two, although you never know when it actually happens... lol Was it in the past? future? (view spoiler)[Maybe in the next book? There's a tasty teaser at the end of the book. (hide spoiler)]
The basic premise of Tea Machine is this (well, aside from the time travelling bit) : What if the mighty ancient Roman Empire never fell, but continued its domination of the world thousands of years into the future. What kind of civilization would we have today? Probably the same as if the Nazis had won. ;) Anyway, the author takes us to three different times in this alternate reality (past, present, future). The mystery there is, what or who caused this to happen? And how do they fix it? And even worse, if they do manage to fix it, will our main characters lose each other forever, since they've only ever met in this f-ed up reality?
Now one would think such a dire, gloomy world of death and destruction would result in a terribly depressing book, but except for a few chapters, I found myself laughing out loud through most of it. The author had a lot of fun playing up various character stereotypes. Great writing plus the overall campy tone the author chose made the book a very entertaining read.
My review won't be complete if I don't poke holes at the plot. And this one will probably leak like a sieve if you think too hard. The book doesn't take itself too seriously, so I didn't either. But here's a few big ones I couldn't help noticing: (view spoiler)[Why does the machine send people to random places not only on earth, but also in space? So it's also a teleporter but this fact is kinda glossed over in the book. Also, what's with this fascination with steam power? This isn't a reflection on the author but on the unusual popularity of this genre in general and the over-reliance of the book on it. Of all the technologies that could have been inadvertently introduced by someone going back to the past, steam power would be one of the clunkiest and most inefficient. And for flighty, know-nothing Sophie to be the one to initiate it seemed too much of a stretch. The Sophie who can't tell a man from a woman, Latvia from Rome? Granted it was Heron who made everything work, but bionic animals in only a few hundred years?? Advanced deep space travel (e.g. faster-than-light travel) and conquest in our lifetime? Not without something better than steam power :) Also, Cat's Paw Nebula may look like a lovely baby squid nursery, but it actually births stars rather than squid. :) That was entirely too much thinking--which will just spoil the fun, so I'll stop here. :) (hide spoiler)] Despite my nitpicks, the overall plot (including all the time travelling and its ramifications) is well thought out and logical. I'm hoping things will be cleared up some more in the next book. Which hopefully comes soon, because I can't wait!
Sports-themed lesfic is not my usual reading choice, mainly because I've always felt that sports action is much better watched than read. But this is Sports-themed lesfic is not my usual reading choice, mainly because I've always felt that sports action is much better watched than read. But this is book is set in pre-WWII Nazi Germany, a turbulent historical period that always lends itself to good storytelling.
Helen (American) and Meike (German) are amateur tennis players who meet regularly on and off court, in major tournaments around the world, and in bed. Meike's desire to concentrate on her singles career makes her dump Helen as both a doubles partner (for strategic reasons since Helen is a major rival) and lover. Meanwhile, Hitler wants to use Meike, who is physically a perfect model of the German aristocrat, for propaganda in furtherance of his dream of Aryan supremacy. Helen, on the other hand, sees herself being forcibly recruited by the US government to spy on Meike.
The main characters, Helen and Meike are inspired by a couple of real tennis greats of that era, and the 'greatest tennis game ever' played. The author's attempt to fictionalize the characters and the events that transpired are moderately successful, though sometimes believability was stretched too thin for comfort. Those times, it felt like the author was trying to place the characters in certain situations in order to fit the narrative, but the set-ups were not always believable or logical. E.g. (view spoiler)[Helen's cross-dressing, her spy training, her shoulder injury, her very careless reporting, in fact the whole forcing-Helen-to-spy-on-Meike situation, which just seemed like a totally pointless affair because why exactly should the US government care if Meike is a Nazi or not? Especially since the government's own spooks are so much better at sussing out the truth than Helen. Also, at one point, Meike worries about millions of her compatriots being killed or sent to concentration camps. That fact wouldn't have been common knowledge in 1938. Also, if I remember my history, the millions are Jews from other countries, not Germans. Oh and the ending is a complete fairytale, though that's par for the course for lesfic romances :) (hide spoiler)] I also found it strange that Helen has an agent representing her but no coach. As for the romantic aspect, I can't really say that there was much development, as (view spoiler)[the main characters seemed to just love each other from the start, and only their careers got in the way of their relationship. (hide spoiler)]
I was almost ready to write this off by the 60% mark but what totally saved it for me is the final third act, which saw some furious action and lots of drama on and off court. And of course, the greatest game ever played. In summary, totally get this if you're a lesfic fan who likes some intrigue, some danger, some loving, and some awesome tennis!
4 stars
P.S. YA fans might also like the book. For some reason, probably because of the way they're written, both of the leads appeared to me as YA rather than the twenty-somethings they're supposed to be.
A friend once told me she doesn't like historical lesfic because the sex is so underwhelming and I agree. Until I read this book. ;) An amazon revieweA friend once told me she doesn't like historical lesfic because the sex is so underwhelming and I agree. Until I read this book. ;) An amazon reviewer calls it 'Victorian porn'--sounds like an oxymoron, doesnt it? Unabashed eroticism in a period of prudishness and high morality. In the context of modern lesfic, this book isn't much more erotic than our usual diet of lesfic romances. But perhaps the idea of same sex relationships, and some of the more risque situations and uhm...maneuvers made readers uncomfortable. :) I do wonder though, how they missed the masterful writing, the attention to detail, the amazing characterizations, and all the other little things that elevate this book to a classic.
'Tipping' follows the adventures of a young lady from her humble oyster-girl beginnings, to her accidental but no less impressive rise fronting London's performance halls, to her fall into ignominy along the back alleys of the city and the dark recesses of secret clubs and gatherings and her eventual attempt at redemption. It is a lush and sensous tale about a young woman's coming-of-age and coming-out. We get to see another side of Victorian-era London that we rarely read about, populated by mashers, toms, renters, mary-annes, tarts, (translatio: male impersonators, lesbians, prostitutes, ???) and their patrons and keepers.
The book is a feast for the senses. The sights, sounds and smells of places like the oyster parlors in Whistable, the rowdy halls in Canterbury and West End, the dank london back alleys, the dreary working-class neighborhoods--all are so vividly illustrated we are instantly transported there. All the characters are so well drawn, most especially the main character Nan. Love her or hate her, it's impossible not to feel for her. There is a long stretch in the book where Nan descends into a self-pitying and self-absorbed mess, and buries herself in the hedonistic pleasures provided by the rich and idle. I considered not finishing the book at this point, but the excellent writing and the promise of better things to come (I peeked at reviews ;) kept me reading. And what a reward it was.
The second book in the Alpennia series focuses on the recently fallen Antuniet. After losing her brother to execution, her mother to suicide and her cThe second book in the Alpennia series focuses on the recently fallen Antuniet. After losing her brother to execution, her mother to suicide and her childhood home to confiscation, Antuniet Chazillen has left Alpennia in disgrace. While in exile, she vows to return again in triumph. But being a scientist at heart, her 'vengeance' is to gift Alpennia with a spectacular scientific discovery--which she intends to use to clear her family name and restore their honor.
Her path to success is no easy task. Battling crippling poverty, ostracization by society, the never-ending court intrigues, and a very distracting (and dangerous) attraction to her benefactress, the introverted, anti-social Antuniet must learn to navigate the confusing politics of her time, renew old friendships and build new ones, fall in love for the first time and still have time left over for crafting the perfect jewel. Phew! Busy girl ;) Which leaves her love interest Jeanne with not much to do except bring her lunch and dinner and occasionally help stir the cooking pot (of the jewels :). Jeanne is everything Antuniet is not--social butterfly, lover of women, event organizer par excellence, and in those days, possibly old enough to be Antuniet's mother!
In order to bring this highly unlikely pairing to fruition, the book spends a lot more time developing the romance (yey! for lesfic lovers) compared to the first book. Just imagine all the issues they need to overcome: workaholic vs party girl, introvert vs social butterfly, significant age-gap, multiple casual lovers, forbidden love, etc. etc. The relationship starts, sputters, picks up again, gets derailed, finally gains traction, only to run smack against 18th century mores. Huge angst-fest right there.
Behind the scenes, intrigue continues to dog the royal court of Alpennia. Rival princesses and their respective scions jostle for any advantage. Foreign interests continue their meddling ways, reaching out to both sides of the rivalry. Rumors, possible treason and assassination attempts abound and our ladies (including Margerit and Barbara from Book 1) find themselves caught in the crossfire.
There are occasional discussions of the esoteric details of alchemy as practiced by Antuniet (just as there were of visions and saints in the first book) that may cause non-geeks to zone out but alert readers will appreciate the careful attention to detail (e.g. precession shift over 200 years and distances from the equator of different cities causing inaccuracy in Antuniet's cooking 8-) )
The book features 4 POV characters in alternating chapters as Barbara and Margerit still play major roles in the book. Its amazing how the story flows effortlessly forward despite this structure. Romantic tension and kingdom intrigues weave seamlessly thoughout, culminating in a rousing climax (of the literary kind) in a melodramatic courtroom scene.
5.5 stars (5.0 for being as good as the first book + 0.5 stars for the angst) ;)
P.S. Re the lack of explicit sex -- I didn't miss it at all. The romance was just as powerful.
This book is a visceral experience--powerful, moving and very unsettling. One that leaves you emotionally drained, and knocks you off balance. The hauThis book is a visceral experience--powerful, moving and very unsettling. One that leaves you emotionally drained, and knocks you off balance. The haunting images it instills in your mind will stay with you for a few days, maybe more. It'll take another good book to erase them, or maybe a good movie. I'm having trouble getting into my next read. It seems so 'fluffy' compared to this book, even though it isn't or isn't supposed to be.
Nightingale is about two sisters. Isabelle and Vianne, victims of a family torn apart by war and PTSD. How they cope with the family dysfunction are as different as night and day. Abandoned by their father to total strangers, Vianne sought her escape at age 14 with love and marriage. Isabelle fought back with teenage rebellion, and as soon as she is able--running away repeatedly from boarding school, sneaking off to Paris by herself. Despite all her little-disguised attempts at getting attention, the cold, stone shell that is left of her father after WWI remained unmoved. Eventually, Isabelle gets caught up in the resistance movement and plays a major role in it. While Vianne is stuck with a Nazi captain for a roommate. How both of them cope with their respective roles in wartime France covers most of the book: Isabelle as an active player and Vianne as an ordinary civilian struggling day-to-day to survive and scrounge around for the next meal for her daughter.
In another place and time, Vianne would be a perfect suburban soccer mom. But Isabelle is just the risk-taker type who would probably run off with her bf, do drugs, engage in petty crime, and rack up a lengthy rap sheet before 30. But this is wartime France, and Isabelle's boundless energy, reckless and adventurous nature and passion for ex-con Gaetan makes her a perfect recruit for the resistance--fearless but pretty and innocent-looking enough that the authorities would never suspect. The two sisters are estranged throughout most of the book, as are they to their father. The first world war tore them apart. Can the second draw them back together? This book is as much about their complicated relationship as the struggles of the French people for survival under Nazi rule. There is also a very beautiful but subdued love story, that is sadly, so appropriate for the book. And the epilogue--one of the best I've ever read.
It is not everyday that we encounter a book as intense as 'Nightingale'. And that is just as well, because, well, we read to relax, to escape, to clear our minds of our daily worries, even for just a while. But occasionally we NEED something to 'rock our world', so to speak. Something unforgettable that shocks, angers and reduces us to tears. If you've ever needed a book like that, put The Nightingale on your list.
Rating: 5 stars plus a bit more, if Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ would let me.
5 stars! Didn't think i would like this after the first couple of chapters almost put me to sleep. :) But once I got used to the prose First thoughts:
5 stars! Didn't think i would like this after the first couple of chapters almost put me to sleep. :) But once I got used to the prose and realized the import of what had initially seemed like pointless minutiae, it was just Wow! simply amazing writing and world building. Loved the incredible attention to detail, logic, language and imagery. All of that plus a gripping tale of impossible love, mystery, intrigues, treachery and even magic! If only all period romances were like this, I would not have avoided them like the plague. :) Detailed review later....when I'm done with book 2.
Note: Definitely not a lazy afternoon read. One needs to give the book the careful attention it deserves. A dictionary will come in handy too. :)
Review Proper:
This book is the first of a series set in a fictional principality named Alpennia around the time of 18th century Europe. It is about the struggles of two young women against the traditional gender roles and expectations demanded by respectable society and by their particular social class.
All her life, Margerit has dreamed of scholarly pursuits rather than snagging the most eligible man her meager dowry can buy. But being an orphan means she is completely at the mercy of her uncle's financial means and generosity...or lack thereof. And that means a traditional life and future that has already been pre-planned for her--marriage to a respectable gentleman and children. A sudden fortuitous turn of events finds Margerit inheriting a huge fortune which opens doors to unlimited possibilities. But being a minor, Margerit's uncle is still in charge of her financial affairs, and therefore her life. How can Margerit escape her uncle's clutches and the endless parade of husband-shopping balls? And how can she pursue her dream of studying in university and dabbling in the mysteries of the saints? Due to the machinations of Margerit's benefactor, Margerit also inherited an enigmatic bodyguard named Barbra, who seems to have her own agenda and her own dark past to deal with. Surprisingly, the two bond over books, philosophy and a passion for learning. And thus begin their adventures in Rotenek.
The author's use of period language lends an air of authenticity to her depiction of the noble and upper class life. The prose is appropriately formal and stuffy which took a while for this contemporary reader to get used to. I admit the last time I tackled a similarly styled work (Gay Pride and Prejudice) I gave up after the first chapter. And I almost did here too. But the unusual and intriguing plot drew me in. The idea of taking traditional religious canon and worship and turning them into vehicles of magical spells is as audacious as it is logical (the author's explanation almost made it plausible). Once you get beyond the first two chapters, you realize the detailed world the author constructed is nothing short of astounding. From the physical settings, to the social structures, to the legal vagaries of inheritance and succession and most especially to the methodical and 'scientific' way of harnessing spiritual power--everything speaks of an intelligent, scholarly, well-researched and expertly-plotted book. There is so much to enjoy here. Aside from the feminist struggle for freedom from traditional gender roles, there is also a more earthly struggle for control of a vast estate, power struggles for control of the throne, a mystery or two for the reader to unearth, and lots of legal and political maneuvering in between. All that plus the archaic prose, and you have a book that requires the reader's full attention to truly appreciate. Definitely not a lazy afternoon read.
My only complaint (more of an observation really, because this book is really so much more than just a romance) is that the development of the 'romance' wasn't given all that much attention and as a result felt somewhat rushed. It is not the lack of explicit scenes. I thought the demure intimate scenes were quite appropriate and in keeping with the tenor of the book. But the jump from admiration for a best friend to lust for a lover of the same gender, for someone as conservatively raised and innocent as Margerit, merited more exploration. Also the lack of anything explicit beyond kisses means I never really found out when exactly was it that they actually took the next step.
Overall though, the book's most impressive achievement is transporting me to another world and another time, and what a grand time it was too....more
Very enjoyable, feel good read about 1940s women pilots. While this is fiction, it feels well-researched. Thankfully, no boring technical discourses oVery enjoyable, feel good read about 1940s women pilots. While this is fiction, it feels well-researched. Thankfully, no boring technical discourses on flying, planes and such. The day to day duties of flying must have been pretty mundane, as they were never in the war, but they are no less dangerous. (Their services were used mainly as support--to test and deliver sometimes rickety planes, to tow targets for fighter pilot practice and sometimes be targeted themselves! and get this--demonstrate to male pilots how bombers are so easy to fly, even women can do it, lol.) But, the author managed to inject an entertaining love story, frequent and oftentimes humorous struggles for acceptance and against discrimination, and all the little anecdotes that make pilot life so memorable for the women.
The book is set in a small town in the segregated South. The time frame coincides with the rise of the Civil Rights movement. The titular character MaThe book is set in a small town in the segregated South. The time frame coincides with the rise of the Civil Rights movement. The titular character Mary McGhee is a northerner. Caught by her employer in a compromising situation with his daughter, she is sent off to a backwater town in the South with a pile of hush money and a job recommendation. The new company she goes to work for is a mess, as it has been operating for months without an office manager. Mary busies herself with the new job, but she can't keep her mind off her new boss' wife. Outwardly, she is a picture of poise and conformity--having experienced first-hand how dangerous and painful it can be otherwise. But inwardly she burns for an attraction that is unnatural and forbidden in her time.
The writing has a very realistic feel to it. This is much more than just a romance. We follow Mary and her friends (and enemies) for a period of roughly twenty years, as they experience all kinds of emotional growth. The contrasting personalities of the protagonists were very well-drawn. From the innocent, trusting, free-spirited Lila to the uptight, fearful, controlling Mary and the wild and wonderful Sammie--yes,she deserves her own book. I enjoyed the earlier parts of the book more because of its more optimistic and romantic tone, and because of the element of danger involved in a forbidden relationship. The book slowly and subtly morphs from a romance to a historical drama. Nothing wrong with that. But the tone also becomes increasingly negative. As the two protagonists grew older and more mature and the racial relations around them grew increasingly tense, there is a lot more discord and arguing among the two that sometimes even bordered on contempt.
I also didn't like how Mary and Lila never seemed to do anything about all the put-downs, thinly veiled insults and outright threats from men who feel women shouldn't have the power they do, except to fume in private. (view spoiler)[Their endless acquiescence to Buchanan eventually irritated me. I can understand the subterfuge when their business still owed the bank, but later on, it only seemed to encourage his bigotry and meanness. I kept wanting them to do something about it. I mean why dangle the possibilities if you're never gonna take advantage of them? I would have expected either of the two, but Lila especially, to have had the guts to marginalize Buchanan somehow or minimize his influence, given how much real power and money they have in their disposal. Also I think the hurtful words spewed by Lila to Mary were a little out of character. Granted they were said in anger, but where's the makeup part? ;) Would have been interesting to read how their romance matured over the years. But it was kind of just glossed over in a sentence or two. In the latter half of the book, the romance just got buried under the weight of all the goings-on, to the point where I thought the author was leading me to expect a breakup of some sort. :) (hide spoiler)] The author did succeed in weaving Mary and Lila's story into the historical events of the time seamlessly. She gave a face and voice to the people on both sides who were caught in the conflict--especially the ordinary folks who'd rather just live and let live. As a historical fiction, this book shines. As a romance, it is a bit uneven.
I read the original fanfic version of this a long time ago. It's one of my favorite historical FF. Someone should publish this in ebook format! I read the original fanfic version of this a long time ago. It's one of my favorite historical FF. Someone should publish this in ebook format! ...more
I devour historical lesfic like other people devour their paranormals. And when it comes to this genre, Ms. Saracen is an automatic buy for me. Her naI devour historical lesfic like other people devour their paranormals. And when it comes to this genre, Ms. Saracen is an automatic buy for me. Her name on the book is like a seal of quality, authenticity, and a rollicking good read.
Antonia Forrester (what a strange name for an Englishwoman) is a nurse who is injured in Dunkirk. While recovering from her injuries, she is recruited as an operative to infiltrate Belgium. But the plane is shot down and she is lost and alone in enemy territory.
She eventually manages to hook up with the local resistance groups and thats when the action begins.
Everything about the book lived up to my expectations except for one thing--the characterization of Antonia, which I find a bit lacking, especially at the start of the book. I don't know if the author is given a maximum number of pages to keep to (BSB books are almost invariably 200+ pages only in length). A lot happens in the book, so the happenings take up most of the pages. I would have loved to get into the head of Antonia more. She could have been such a fascinating character. Why would a nurse who just cheated death jump from the frying pan into the fire by skydiving into occupied Brussels? I never did find out. I did not feel her desperation when she landed all alone behind enemy lines. These were some instances which could have been milked for their emotional impact (I want my angst! lol) but weren't--a missed opportunity, imho.
Sandrine fared better. In fact, the story really perked up when the two characters meet. The romance was quite well developed. The interactions between Antonia and Sandrine are a joy to read. There was something about their romance that I thought was a little out of place or more accurately, out of time. It was the concept of marriage and the exchange of rings. Too 21st century to fit in a 1940s f/f relationship, perhaps?
Sandrine's last minute intervention w/Rommel was a genius bit of plotting--truly vintage Saracen, and something I always look forward to in her books. It reminded me of the man-on-the-cross incident in Vulture, and the BSB reference in Sarah. I'm sorry but I have such high standards for Ms. Saracen. I was expecting--I wanted a Leni, or a Sarah, or any of those larger-than-life characters in 100th Gen/Ibis. After reading those books, the characters stayed with me forever.
Despite my rants, I quite look forward to her next book about Russian pilots. Ms. Saracen is currently without peer. She's the only lesfic author who writes lesbian romances into historically accurate stories that have engrossing, thrilling, realistic plots, and her historical fantasies are bold, somewhat heretical, one-of-a-kind mixes of history, mythology and fantasy.
In this sequel to Charity, the women's stories continue. Some minor characters in the first book get more action. For me, they were not as interestingIn this sequel to Charity, the women's stories continue. Some minor characters in the first book get more action. For me, they were not as interesting as our three original ladies. Fortunately, the 3 still figure very prominently in all the goings-on. If you like the first book, you will enjoy the sequel as well. Personally, I kept waiting for something 'big and ominous' to happen. Something with the gravity of the murder in the first book. Lots of things happen to our characters, that's for sure. But when the 'momentous' thing happened, it was so drawn out, and the big 'reveal' was so subtle, it was nearly the end of the book before I realized the twist, lol.
Note that other people who've read both books like the 2nd one better than the first, so to each their own. :) (view spoiler)[Also, no new women were turned in the 2nd book. I was kinda hoping Lena would see the light of day but, damn, she's stubborn as a mule--still stuck to that loser of a man she calls a husband. :( (hide spoiler)]...more
One of the rarest things in lesfic is beautiful prose--the kind that has a poetic and lyrical quality to it and its reading alone gives you much pleasOne of the rarest things in lesfic is beautiful prose--the kind that has a poetic and lyrical quality to it and its reading alone gives you much pleasure. Add to that the amazing imagery the descriptions evoke, and you get a book that magically transports you to another world and another time and lose yourself entirely in that world--a small town called Charity in turn of the century America. There we meet three amazing women--the diminutive but feisty Lena, town eccentric Gustie and the mysterious and slightly scary Jordis. These ladies are far from perfect, (its a joy to get into Lena's mind as she has a rather wry opinion on everyone and everything) but they do their best to get by in a male dominated world and amidst a small town mindset. There is an intriguing murder mystery and a romance to spice things up. My only complaint observation is that the romance isn't that well-developed, at least, not in the standard we are used to in lesfic. Which is probably the author's intent, as this book is more a character study of women (and a small town) that just happened to have a couple of women who love one another. (view spoiler)[I would also like to think, realistically, what choice did these two women have? It wasn't like there were any other lesbians within a few hundred miles of Charity. I'm sure like me, other lesfic readers kept hoping for the other women to discover alternatives..but alas, no matter how worthless/horrible some of the men were, it didn't happen. :) (hide spoiler)] So if you're looking for a standard lesfic romance, look elsewhere. This is a historical fiction first and foremost.
One other thing I found really satisfying is the balance the author strikes in everything--from the characterizations to the plot and everything in between. No one is perfectly good or evil. I love all-around do-gooder Lena's 'evil' thoughts, Gustie's willingness to lie and even Jordis' readiness to kill. The Indians are portrayed realistically, as ordinary folks and occasionally victims of white vices/abuses but who also seemed resigned to the inevitability of their marginalization and are just trying to get by with as much of their dignity intact as possible. There is always some thread of religious spiritualism (be it Amer. Indian or Christian) running through the book as beliefs are such a major part of people's lives then. Yet the ending (Gustie's 'vision') is also perfectly apt. The review would be incomplete without a mention of the town itself Charity. It's like a character in the book--collectively small-minded, opinionated, judgmental of anyone who doesn't conform to its strict definition of 'normal' yet strangely protective and supportive when faced with outside threats.
Nothing expresses my feelings on this book better than Vic's review.
Some parts of the book dealing with the war and other acts of violence may be harNothing expresses my feelings on this book better than Vic's review.
Some parts of the book dealing with the war and other acts of violence may be hard to read because of the graphic descriptions. But it is this 'realism' that elevates the book to a level above the usual 'women disguised as men' lesfic stories. Although the 'war years' take up roughly half of the book (and the women don't meet until after), it is still worth reading through as Henry and Virginia are both creatures of the war. The second half of the book, which is just as long as a full lesfic novel, explores the improbable romance. As Vic said, you need to slow down and savor the emotions generated by the author's words.
Loading...
