Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: Fort Pillow, Tennessee, April 1864, during the Civil War
Fort Pillow is a dramatic retelling of an actual Civil war battle. On April 12, 1864, the Confederate army attacked Union soldiers who were occupying the fort. Manning the fort was the 13th Tennessee Cavalry which consisted of soldiers from Tennessee who supported the Union rather than the Confederacy. Along with them was an artillery unit which consisted of mostly African soldiers. The defeat of Fort Pillow, and the subsequent massacre of Union troops, made "Remember Fort Pillow!" a rallying cry for African troops fighting for the Union.
The Confederate forces were led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest. After the war, Forrest would become the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Knowing that his forces outnumbered the Union troops, Forrest gave the Union officers the chance to surrender. He understood that his troops especially disliked the Union troops. This was due to the racial hatred rebel soldiers had for African soldiers, and their belief that the Tennesseans were traitors. In Turtledove's novel, Forrest warns the Union officers that he would not be responsible for the actions of his troops if they refused to surrender.
The novel tells of the events leading up to the battle, the battle itself, and the resulting massacre. Turtledove uses his usual method of telling the story by following a cast of characters. In this novel, most of his characters are actual historical figures, however there are a few fictional characters. Since we know the outcome of the battle, the events of the battle and the fate of the characters are what drives the plot forward. Turtledove tries to stay true to actual historic events. This makes for a pleasant read with few surprises.
Harry Turtledove is one of my favorite authors. His usual genre is Alternate history. Two of his Alternate history series rely heavily on Civil War history.
Fort Pillow
How Few Remain an Alternate History novel of the Civil War.
What would happen if the South won?
Liberating Atlantis - The Civil War happens in the fictional continent of Atlantis.
Check out my eBook!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Demon's Night by Guido Henkel
Genre: Historical Fiction, Supernatural Mystery, Occult Detective Mystery
Setting: Victorian London
Something is murdering the residents of London. Its victims are found dessicated, as if the very life had been sucked out of them. Reports of these unnatural deaths draw the interest of Jason Dark. Dark is an investigator of supernatural mysteries. He comes from a family of Geisterjager, or ghost hunters. He pursues the demon into London's China town where he saves the life of a Chinese woman, Siu Lin. Siu Lin is trained in martial arts. Together they work to defeat the maleficent being. Can they destroy the demon before he releases a stronger and more evil creature into the world?
I really enjoyed this novel. It is a fast paced story that keeps you turning pages. As a reader, I am not a big fan of too much description. Henkel gives the reader enough detail to understand the setting, and moves the plot along. I enjoy novels such as this, in which the author allows me to use my imagination. Henkel's novel was the storyboard to my mental motion picture.
This novel is the first in a series of Jason Dark novels. As such it does a good job of introducing Jason Dark. Like many fictional detectives, Dark has a past which I am sure will be revealed in later novels. Siu Lin will make a great sidekick for Dark. She is a martial arts expert who can fight demons in the streets of London, and in the stacks of London libraries (in two languages!).
If you are looking for a fast paced, fun read, I encourage you to give Demon's Night a try.
Demon's Night
If you'd like to read more of my reviews, give my eBook a try.
Setting: Victorian London
Something is murdering the residents of London. Its victims are found dessicated, as if the very life had been sucked out of them. Reports of these unnatural deaths draw the interest of Jason Dark. Dark is an investigator of supernatural mysteries. He comes from a family of Geisterjager, or ghost hunters. He pursues the demon into London's China town where he saves the life of a Chinese woman, Siu Lin. Siu Lin is trained in martial arts. Together they work to defeat the maleficent being. Can they destroy the demon before he releases a stronger and more evil creature into the world?
I really enjoyed this novel. It is a fast paced story that keeps you turning pages. As a reader, I am not a big fan of too much description. Henkel gives the reader enough detail to understand the setting, and moves the plot along. I enjoy novels such as this, in which the author allows me to use my imagination. Henkel's novel was the storyboard to my mental motion picture.
This novel is the first in a series of Jason Dark novels. As such it does a good job of introducing Jason Dark. Like many fictional detectives, Dark has a past which I am sure will be revealed in later novels. Siu Lin will make a great sidekick for Dark. She is a martial arts expert who can fight demons in the streets of London, and in the stacks of London libraries (in two languages!).
If you are looking for a fast paced, fun read, I encourage you to give Demon's Night a try.
Demon's Night
If you'd like to read more of my reviews, give my eBook a try.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Saturnalia by Lindsey Davis
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: Ancient Rome, 76 A. D.
This novel is one of Lindsey Davis's Falco series. She has written twenty Falco novels. Falco is a fantastic character. He has to balance his sleuthing with keeping peace in his family. Between his sisters and his divorced parents, family business can be a full time job for Falco.
Falco is aided in his investigations, and family complications by his wife, Helena. Helena is an independent Roman woman. She is the daughter of a Senator, yet she is not afraid to accompany Falco on dangerous missions.
In this episode of the Falco series, a famous Roman general has returned to Rome with a Germanic warrior priestess as a prisoner. He plans to have her ritually executed as part of his Triumph celebrations. To keep her hidden from the public eye, she has been put up with a Roman senator's family in their villa outside of Rome. When the priestess discovers his plans, she escapes into the city of Rome.
Marcus Didius Falco is called in to find the priestess. Unfortunately for Falco, this is not just a simple missing person case.
Along with keeping track of the soldiers, managing his household slaves, and raising his daughters, it looks like a busy Saturnalia celebration for Falco and his family.
I really enjoy Davis's Falco novels. Through Falco we see life in ancient Rome. Along with the temples and palaces, we visit the back alleys and tenements of that ancient city. This novel is a great addition to the series and a great read.
Saturnalia
If you would like to read more of my reviews download my eBook.
Setting: Ancient Rome, 76 A. D.
This novel is one of Lindsey Davis's Falco series. She has written twenty Falco novels. Falco is a fantastic character. He has to balance his sleuthing with keeping peace in his family. Between his sisters and his divorced parents, family business can be a full time job for Falco.
Falco is aided in his investigations, and family complications by his wife, Helena. Helena is an independent Roman woman. She is the daughter of a Senator, yet she is not afraid to accompany Falco on dangerous missions.
In this episode of the Falco series, a famous Roman general has returned to Rome with a Germanic warrior priestess as a prisoner. He plans to have her ritually executed as part of his Triumph celebrations. To keep her hidden from the public eye, she has been put up with a Roman senator's family in their villa outside of Rome. When the priestess discovers his plans, she escapes into the city of Rome.
Marcus Didius Falco is called in to find the priestess. Unfortunately for Falco, this is not just a simple missing person case.
- The Senator's brother-in-law was found beheaded on the day the priestess vanished.
- Falco's brother-in-law once had an affair with the priestess.
- Falco's brother-in-law is also missing.
- Falco has been assigned a troop of soldiers to help with the search.
- The soldiers move into Falco's house.
- The festival of Saturnalia is approaching, and with it all of the social and familial responsibilities of the head of a Roman family.
- And, Falco notices that somebody has been murdering poor, homeless vagrants at night.
Along with keeping track of the soldiers, managing his household slaves, and raising his daughters, it looks like a busy Saturnalia celebration for Falco and his family.
I really enjoy Davis's Falco novels. Through Falco we see life in ancient Rome. Along with the temples and palaces, we visit the back alleys and tenements of that ancient city. This novel is a great addition to the series and a great read.
Saturnalia
If you would like to read more of my reviews download my eBook.
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