Tag Archives: Historical Fiction

Improper Relations by Janet Mullany

American Literature March 1, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Forced to marry after an indiscretion at a ball, Charlotte and Shad resign themselves to a marriage of convenience that may not be as unlively as they had assumed. Review: Improper Relations has a cute premise, and I enjoyed the little hints of decadence that author Janet Mullany threw into her Regency setting. She does a good job creating the tension between Charlotte and Shad, and throws in just enough originality in her plotting to mask the requisite predictable complications arising from assumptions and…

Red Prophet by Orson Scott Card (Tales of Alvin Maker)

American Literature February 25, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: As Alvin Maker heads out for his apprenticeship, the French conspire to rouse the Reds against the Whites for a war that will win all of an alternate America for Napoleon. Review: I am a big fan of how Orson Scott Card has created an American history that encompasses just enough of our reality to feel authentic, but then skewed to include magic and mysticism. In Red Prophet, Card turns Tecumseh into Ta-Kumsaw, and gives him a brother named Lolla-Wossiky whose transformation will affect…

The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova

American Literature January 19, 2010 Superfast Reader 2 Comments

Synopsis: A psychiatrist takes on a recalcitrant painter who attempted to stab a painting in the National Gallery, and his fruitless attempt to get the man to talk lead the doctor to investigate the artist’s life and loves–and obsessions. Review: There’s a solidly compelling mystery at the heart of The Swan Thieves, Elizabeth Kostova’s latest jaunt through history and memory. Nothing supernatural here, but it still has an otherworldy air about it that makes the experience of reading the book haunting and delicious. For the…

Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by AE Moorat

British Literature January 5, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A tongue-in-cheek tale of Queen Victoria’s rule of a demon-infested England. Review: Capitalizing on the unexpected success of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter is wittily written and a breezy read, even if the concept feels a bit stale. Many thanks to Hodder for the review copy.

See How Much I Love You by Luis Leante

Spanish Literature January 1, 2010 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Santiago and Montse were young lovers, but after their breakup in 1975 Santiago flees to the Western Sahara with the Spanish army, to be caught up in the war between the Moroccans and the Saharawi and become lost in refugee camps until 20 years later Monste, now a doctor, sees his picture and embarks upon a rescue journey. Review: While I absolutely appreciate Luis Leante’s technical excellence and command of historical events, I really couldn’t stay engaged with See How Much I Love You.…

The Red Velvet Turnshoe by Cassandra Clark

British Literature November 24, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: 14th century nun Hildegard makes a hazardous journey from England to Italy in search of a holy relic, and finds herself embroiled a both a murder mystery and a political intrigue involving King Richard. Review: I’m afraid I don’t remember enough of Mrs. Philips’s eight grade British History class in order to appreciate Cassandra Clark’s The Red Velvet Turnshoe. I really liked Hildegard’s spunk and levelheadedness, but got lost in the details whenever the plot turned towards politics. I was also surprised by how…

Karma For Beginners by Jessica Blank

American Literature October 30, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: When her mom moves them onto an ashram, a fifteen-year-old girl rebels by falling in love. Review: I was expecting Karma For Beginners to be light and frothy and comic, but the story actually delves into some really dark psychological territory. Tessa’s free-spirited mom has been following her bliss and dragging Tessa along for the ride as long as Tessa can remember, but the ashram ends up being the place where Tessa finds her own true identity. She falls in love with the unreligious…

The Alchemist’s Code by Dave Duncan

Canadian Literature October 27, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: Nostradamus and his assistant, the dashing Alfeo Zeno, solve a politically motivated murder while keeping their alchemical doings from being discovered by the reigning powers in heavily Catholic 16th Century Venice. Review: I listened to The Alchemist’s Code on audiobook, and wasn’t aware that it was a sequel until looking up the publication date to craft this post. It definitely stands alone as a mystery novel–no backstory needed for enjoyment–but I am now curious about what I missed in the first book.

The Falls by Joyce Carol Oates

American Literature October 2, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A close look at several generations of a family living in Niagara Falls, begun by a woman widowed by suicide on her wedding day who married one of the men who helped her look for her dead husband’s body. Review: I don’t want to waste much time on a review of The Falls at all, because quite frankly it bored me. The characters were well-drawn, the prose thoughtful, the situations dramatic, but none of it added up to a damn story. I didn’t know…

The Devil’s Queen by Jeanne Kalogridis

American Literature September 21, 2009 Superfast Reader

Synopsis: A fictional exploration of the life of Catherine de Medici. Review: The Devil’s Queen is a richly imagined, evocative, sexy, thrilling piece of historical fiction. Honestly, it was not really my cup of tea, but I had to check it out because the publisher created such a cool online promo book: Open publication – Free publishing – More spells

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