Review: Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten

This was a book that I was looking forward to all year. I was pitched it way back in March or April I think and I had it circled on my calendar for my fall reading. I don’t know that I loved the cover art but I thought the story sounded great.

I don’t know much about the Russian monarchy but because I don’t know much about it, I always find books about Russian monarchs fascinating. Like many readers, whenever I think of Russian historical fiction I always think of the Romanovs but this book is not that which was just one more reason why it appealed to me—-something different.

When it was time to start reading this one, I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to sit down and get lost for a few days into a new world of courtiers and politics of the Russian monarchy.

Continue reading “Review: Tsarina by Ellen Alpsten”

Review: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

When HBO picked up this book to turn into a series, I was thrilled! I didn’t know anything about the book or the author but I know that HBO always turns out well done series so when I saw the previews for this one, I couldn’t wait.

I also have been getting more and more into the horror genre and when I was approached to do a feature and interview with the author before the HBO series released, I was intrigued and immediately said yes.

After doing the interview and reading more about Lovecraft Country, I decided to wait and watch the HBO series in favor of reading the book first so that I could then watch the series and enjoy it without it ruining anything.

Continue reading “Review: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff”

Review: Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan by Deborah Reed

The cover of this book looks so calming and elegant. The second I saw this cover it put me in the mood for some high brow literature. The only problem was that I wasn’t quite in that sam mood when I picked this one up to actually start reading.

When I first read the description for this one, it was back in early spring and was due to be released in the early summer but then it got pushed back to the fall and while I might have been ready for some heavy reading in the spring/summer, I was not in the mood for that in the fall.

But I picked it up anyway because that cover is truly stunning and I love the artistic feel of it and I thought it might be a nice change of pace from all the murder and horror I have been reading lately.

Continue reading “Review: Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan by Deborah Reed”

Review: Daughter of Black Lake by Cathy Marie Buchanan

When this book first came up for review, I simply couldn’t pass it up. I have had The Painted Girls on my TBR since it came out in 2013 so when I saw that this book was by the same author, I knew it was a no brainer….I simply had to read this book!

I love historical fiction and it’s always so hard for me to pass on a historical fiction book because I always enjoy them so much. But sometimes with any genre, it can start to feel stale. Over the years, I have started taking systematic breaks from historical fiction in favor of thrillers or horror just to change things up.

But I always end up back at the genre that I love which is what happened with this one. I knew that it was set more in the ancient Roman world rather than the traditional Tudor, Victorian, or WWII eras that are so popular in historical fiction. That immediately set it apart and I couldn’t wait to check it out!

Continue reading “Review: Daughter of Black Lake by Cathy Marie Buchanan”

Review: Murder at Queen’s Landing (Wrexford & Sloane #4) by Andrea Penrose

I absolutely fell in love with this series when I read the very first book. I can’t believe the series is only on book 4, I feel like so much has happened in these four books. It’s been quite the journey.

When I saw this one on Netgalley,  I immediately downloaded it and couldn’t wait to dive in. The book wasn’t due to come out until September and I downloaded the book in June…..needless to say I read it in June because I couldn’t wait to see what happened between Wrexford and Sloane in this book!

I read this book in only a couple of sittings and couldn’t put it down! Another winner from Penrose! Continue reading “Review: Murder at Queen’s Landing (Wrexford & Sloane #4) by Andrea Penrose”