Translated by Tara Chace
Genre: Historical Mystery
Setting: England in the 11th century
First sentence: The prior had allowed Winston to have his way.
This novel is the first in Jensen's King's Hounds series.
FYI: Some adult content - one scene in the early chapters.
Cnut (pronounced Cannute) Sweysson is on the verge of becoming king of all England. To this end he has called all of the leading nobles to a meeting at Oxford. There he hopes to unite England under one ruler and one system of laws. The nobles consist of a mixture of Saxons, Angles, Vikings, Danes, and Jutes. It is an accomplishment to gather these nobles in a state of relative peace.
The last thing Cnut needs is a cold blooded murder.
A Saxon thane has been slain. Some believe that Cnut has ordered the killing. Cnut need this murder solved quickly. But where can he find investigators without ulterior political motives?
This is where our intrepid main characters become involved. Winston is a manuscript illuminator. His work is exquisite and in high demand. Since he works independently, he owes no allegiance to any lord. His friend, Halfdan, is a former noble. He lost his inheritance when his father and elder brother fought and died on the losing side of the war. He does not hold Cnut responsible for their deaths. He knows that his father's turncoat leader is to blame.
In Winston and Halfdan, Cnut finds his neutral investigators. Cnut orders them to solve the murder before the great meeting which is in three days.
Using their wits and experience, Winston and Halfdan pursue the truth.
Will they discover the identity of the killer, and avoid any political entanglements, in just three days?
I enjoyed this novel. The translator did a great job of telling the story in English using a nice easy to read style. The occasional use of a modern English idiom made the reading fun. There is a large number of characters to keep track of. The plot mostly consists of Winston and Halfdan questioning different people and sorting out truths from lies. Then there are a few fight scenes which serve to liven things up.
For me, this novel was a fun read.
The King's Hounds - The 1st book in the series. Oathbreaker - the 2nd book in the series
Friday, January 31, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Inzared, Queen of the Elephant Riders by L. Leander
Genre: Historical Fiction
Setting: The Southeastern United States in the 1840's.
First Sentence: Bertha Maude Anderson. I never liked my given name.
This novel is the first in the author's Inzared series.
Bertha is a self-described hillbilly. She lives with her Ma and Pa, and her brother Ezra. on a hard-scrabble farm in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.
Life is hard, and the family works hard to make ends meet. So, it comes as a great shock to Bertha that her Ma buys tickets to see the traveling circus.
At the circus, Bertha immediately falls in love with the elephant and its trainer. It doesn't take much encouragement to get Bertha to run away with the circus. Bertha has a natural talent for riding the elephant, and soon she has earned a new name: Inzared, the Queen of the Elephant Riders.
The story is told through Bertha's eyes. The author gives her a unique voice. Bertha sounds like a hillbilly without resorting to stereotypical dialect.
Additionally, I must congratulate the author on choosing the high road when describing Inzared's love life. She and her love interest have a lot of chemistry. Yet the author chose not to include unnecessary graphic depictions of their romance.
I liked this book. It was not what I expected, but pleasantly so. Part historical fiction, part mystery and part romance. The pages flew by as I read to discover what adventure Inzared and her elephant would have next.
The First Book of the Series The Second book of the Series
Setting: The Southeastern United States in the 1840's.
First Sentence: Bertha Maude Anderson. I never liked my given name.
This novel is the first in the author's Inzared series.
Bertha is a self-described hillbilly. She lives with her Ma and Pa, and her brother Ezra. on a hard-scrabble farm in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.
Life is hard, and the family works hard to make ends meet. So, it comes as a great shock to Bertha that her Ma buys tickets to see the traveling circus.
At the circus, Bertha immediately falls in love with the elephant and its trainer. It doesn't take much encouragement to get Bertha to run away with the circus. Bertha has a natural talent for riding the elephant, and soon she has earned a new name: Inzared, the Queen of the Elephant Riders.
The story is told through Bertha's eyes. The author gives her a unique voice. Bertha sounds like a hillbilly without resorting to stereotypical dialect.
Additionally, I must congratulate the author on choosing the high road when describing Inzared's love life. She and her love interest have a lot of chemistry. Yet the author chose not to include unnecessary graphic depictions of their romance.
I liked this book. It was not what I expected, but pleasantly so. Part historical fiction, part mystery and part romance. The pages flew by as I read to discover what adventure Inzared and her elephant would have next.
The First Book of the Series The Second book of the Series
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Dark Monk by Oliver Potzsch
Translated by: Lee Chadwayne
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery
Setting: Bavaria, 1660 AD
First Sentence: When the parish priest Andreas Koppmeyer pressed the last stone into place and sealed the opening with lime and mortar, he had just four hours to live.
This novel is the second in Potzsch's Hangman's Daughter series.
It is the depths of winter. The small town of Schongau is a dark, dreary village. Once it had been a hub of commerce. That was before the war. Now it is in danger of becoming a forgotten corner of Bavaria.
Due to the harsh winter there has been an epidemic of a deadly coughing sickness. The local doctors and healers have not been able to stop the onslaught of infection.
On top of that, it has become increasingly difficult for local merchants to transport their goods to neighboring towns. In the forests around Schongau there have been roving gangs of highwaymen scratching out a meager existence by robbing freight wagons. It seems that someone has been telling the thieves about the merchants' planned shipments.
In a church near Schongau, a parish priest has been found poisoned. It seems that in his death throes he has left a clue which may lead to the fabled treasure of the Knights Templar.
As the plot progresses, we follow the exploits of three citizens of Schongau, and a newcomer, as they seek the Templar's treasure.
Jakob Kuisel is the hangman of the town. He is looked down upon by polite society. Yet he is well read. And he is knowledgeable about herbs and folk remedies.
His daughter, Magdelina, is very intelligent. She is more educated than most women of her time. Due to her family's low social standing, she is doomed to marry either a butcher or a hangman.
Simon is the son of the city doctor. He is trained in classical medicine. But unlike his father, he is open to learning about folk remedies from the local healers. He and Magdelina are in love.
Benedikta is a newcomer to the town. She claims to be the sister of the murdered priest. She is intelligent and feisty. She soon becomes a rival to Magdelina for Simon's affections.
The four characters begin to gather clues. Soon they are hot on the trail of the treasure. Unfortunately, there are others who are also interested in the treasure. Some believe the treasure is a hoard of riches. Others believe the treasure is a relic of great value for the church.
Will our intrepid investigators find the Templar's Treasure?
Will the power of faith guide them to a just conclusion?
For me, the grayness and bleakness of Schongau really comes through. So many of the people are in such desperate circumstances. Yet they continue to have a deep belief in the church and the power of the supernatural.
I like reading historical novels that paint a realistic picture of life in medieval times. In my opinion, this novel was not as good as the book in the series. But, that being said, I enjoyed reading it.
The Dark Monk The first book in the series
Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical Mystery
Setting: Bavaria, 1660 AD
First Sentence: When the parish priest Andreas Koppmeyer pressed the last stone into place and sealed the opening with lime and mortar, he had just four hours to live.
This novel is the second in Potzsch's Hangman's Daughter series.
It is the depths of winter. The small town of Schongau is a dark, dreary village. Once it had been a hub of commerce. That was before the war. Now it is in danger of becoming a forgotten corner of Bavaria.
Due to the harsh winter there has been an epidemic of a deadly coughing sickness. The local doctors and healers have not been able to stop the onslaught of infection.
On top of that, it has become increasingly difficult for local merchants to transport their goods to neighboring towns. In the forests around Schongau there have been roving gangs of highwaymen scratching out a meager existence by robbing freight wagons. It seems that someone has been telling the thieves about the merchants' planned shipments.
In a church near Schongau, a parish priest has been found poisoned. It seems that in his death throes he has left a clue which may lead to the fabled treasure of the Knights Templar.
As the plot progresses, we follow the exploits of three citizens of Schongau, and a newcomer, as they seek the Templar's treasure.
Jakob Kuisel is the hangman of the town. He is looked down upon by polite society. Yet he is well read. And he is knowledgeable about herbs and folk remedies.
His daughter, Magdelina, is very intelligent. She is more educated than most women of her time. Due to her family's low social standing, she is doomed to marry either a butcher or a hangman.
Simon is the son of the city doctor. He is trained in classical medicine. But unlike his father, he is open to learning about folk remedies from the local healers. He and Magdelina are in love.
Benedikta is a newcomer to the town. She claims to be the sister of the murdered priest. She is intelligent and feisty. She soon becomes a rival to Magdelina for Simon's affections.
The four characters begin to gather clues. Soon they are hot on the trail of the treasure. Unfortunately, there are others who are also interested in the treasure. Some believe the treasure is a hoard of riches. Others believe the treasure is a relic of great value for the church.
Will our intrepid investigators find the Templar's Treasure?
Will the power of faith guide them to a just conclusion?
For me, the grayness and bleakness of Schongau really comes through. So many of the people are in such desperate circumstances. Yet they continue to have a deep belief in the church and the power of the supernatural.
I like reading historical novels that paint a realistic picture of life in medieval times. In my opinion, this novel was not as good as the book in the series. But, that being said, I enjoyed reading it.
The Dark Monk The first book in the series
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Kindle Freeze
Today I was just reminded of one of the big differences between Kindles and real books.
I was in the middle of a very interesting read when my Kindle Fire just froze up. Nothing I did to wake it up seemed to work.
I eventually figured out how to do a hard reboot. (Hold the on switch down for 20 seconds.)
After a few anxious moments the device was running. Although I had to spend about ten minutes flipping pages to get back to my place in the book.
Real books don't freeze up. Kindles, being computers, sometimes do.
Don't get me wrong. I love my Kindle, and I actually prefer reading books on it.
But sometimes the things you love can irritate you.
Don't let my little rant put you off of Kindles. They are a joy to use. I actually have and use two. But make sure you know what to do when your Kindle gives you trouble.
I was in the middle of a very interesting read when my Kindle Fire just froze up. Nothing I did to wake it up seemed to work.
I eventually figured out how to do a hard reboot. (Hold the on switch down for 20 seconds.)
After a few anxious moments the device was running. Although I had to spend about ten minutes flipping pages to get back to my place in the book.
Real books don't freeze up. Kindles, being computers, sometimes do.
Don't get me wrong. I love my Kindle, and I actually prefer reading books on it.
But sometimes the things you love can irritate you.
Don't let my little rant put you off of Kindles. They are a joy to use. I actually have and use two. But make sure you know what to do when your Kindle gives you trouble.
Monday, January 13, 2014
The Beginning of the Story by Linell Jeppsen
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: Aboard a space ship traveling between Earth and a planet named Harmony.
First sentence: I swam to consciousness slowly...languidly.
This novelette is a prequel to Jensen's novel entitled Story Time . In that novel, Jeppsen's plot moves between the past and the present to tell the story of how humans came to be on the planet Harmony.
Chronologically, this novelette comes after the experiences on Earth, and before the arrival at Harmony.
In this novelette, Jeppsen fills in the back story of the plot of Story Time. We learn more about the motivations of the aliens who befriended humanity. And we discover that Harmony is not the perfect haven it seemed to be in the first novel.
I liked this book. I was a nice return to Jeppsen's Story Time universe. It seemed to me that the author had fun using her imagination to describe the beautiful, unique planet called Harmony.
I suggest that readers would probably understand this book better if they read Story Time first.
Setting: Aboard a space ship traveling between Earth and a planet named Harmony.
First sentence: I swam to consciousness slowly...languidly.
This novelette is a prequel to Jensen's novel entitled Story Time . In that novel, Jeppsen's plot moves between the past and the present to tell the story of how humans came to be on the planet Harmony.
Chronologically, this novelette comes after the experiences on Earth, and before the arrival at Harmony.
In this novelette, Jeppsen fills in the back story of the plot of Story Time. We learn more about the motivations of the aliens who befriended humanity. And we discover that Harmony is not the perfect haven it seemed to be in the first novel.
I liked this book. I was a nice return to Jeppsen's Story Time universe. It seemed to me that the author had fun using her imagination to describe the beautiful, unique planet called Harmony.
I suggest that readers would probably understand this book better if they read Story Time first.
The Favorite by Franklyn C. Thomas
Genre: Sports Fiction
Setting: New York and Las Vegas
First sentence: The tapping sound of the smooth silver ballpoint pen against the notepad sounded like a metronome gone out of control.
Michael Dane is in the fight of his life. He is a boxer who has been fighting his whole life. His father, once a promising boxer, is dead. His mother is in prison for murder. Michael himself has been in prison. Even after being released, Michael is connected with some unsavory characters.
Now, Michael has a shot at the title. He knows that this is his only chance.
Then Michael is confronted with a dilemma that may destroy his dream. First, he learns that his girlfriend is pregnant with his child. Second, he has been ordered by his unscrupulous friends to take a dive in the championship bout. His friends have threatened harm to his girlfriend and his unborn child if he doesn't go along with their demands.
What will Michael do? Will he take the dive? Is there any way for him keep his self-respect and achieve his dream without harming his girlfriend and their child?
This novel is essentially the story of a single boxing match. Round by round, punch by punch, we see the entire fight.
Between the boxing scenes, we explore Michael's past. We learn about his motivations and discover how he arrived at this dramatic point in his life.
I liked this novel. The boxing scenes were well written and very exciting. The structure of the novel helped move the plot forward without overwhelming the reader with the details of the fight. Although I don't usually read sports novels, I really enjoyed this one.
Setting: New York and Las Vegas
First sentence: The tapping sound of the smooth silver ballpoint pen against the notepad sounded like a metronome gone out of control.
Michael Dane is in the fight of his life. He is a boxer who has been fighting his whole life. His father, once a promising boxer, is dead. His mother is in prison for murder. Michael himself has been in prison. Even after being released, Michael is connected with some unsavory characters.
Now, Michael has a shot at the title. He knows that this is his only chance.
Then Michael is confronted with a dilemma that may destroy his dream. First, he learns that his girlfriend is pregnant with his child. Second, he has been ordered by his unscrupulous friends to take a dive in the championship bout. His friends have threatened harm to his girlfriend and his unborn child if he doesn't go along with their demands.
What will Michael do? Will he take the dive? Is there any way for him keep his self-respect and achieve his dream without harming his girlfriend and their child?
This novel is essentially the story of a single boxing match. Round by round, punch by punch, we see the entire fight.
Between the boxing scenes, we explore Michael's past. We learn about his motivations and discover how he arrived at this dramatic point in his life.
I liked this novel. The boxing scenes were well written and very exciting. The structure of the novel helped move the plot forward without overwhelming the reader with the details of the fight. Although I don't usually read sports novels, I really enjoyed this one.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Story Time by Linell Jeppsen
Genre: Science Fiction
Setting: Earth, and another planet.
First Sentence: Two young new helped the old woman onto the stage.
How do a small number of humans survive an onslaught of natural disasters which make Earth uninhabitable?
How do those humans survive an attack of aliens who are gleaning the remnants of Earth's natural resources and who do not consider humans to be one of those resources?
And, how do those humans come to live on a planet that is peaceful and beautiful?
The author patiently reveals the answers to these questions. She tells her story in a non-linear fashion moving from time to time, and place to place. Along the way, from different points of view, the author shows us acts of bravery and cowardice, goodness and evil, love and hate. In the end, like pieces of a puzzle, the bits of plot align themselves into an enjoyable read.
I liked this book Even though it is mostly a story of survival in a dystopian version of Earth, there was an underlying theme of hope and love. For me, that made this novel a joy to read.
Setting: Earth, and another planet.
First Sentence: Two young new helped the old woman onto the stage.
How do a small number of humans survive an onslaught of natural disasters which make Earth uninhabitable?
How do those humans survive an attack of aliens who are gleaning the remnants of Earth's natural resources and who do not consider humans to be one of those resources?
And, how do those humans come to live on a planet that is peaceful and beautiful?
The author patiently reveals the answers to these questions. She tells her story in a non-linear fashion moving from time to time, and place to place. Along the way, from different points of view, the author shows us acts of bravery and cowardice, goodness and evil, love and hate. In the end, like pieces of a puzzle, the bits of plot align themselves into an enjoyable read.
I liked this book Even though it is mostly a story of survival in a dystopian version of Earth, there was an underlying theme of hope and love. For me, that made this novel a joy to read.
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