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Review: A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent #1) by Marie Brennan
Lady Isabella Trent is the world’s leading dragon naturalist, but obtaining that distinction was no easy feat. Her journey to leading dragon scientist begins at a young age which is where this novel begins in the land of Scirland. What began as a hobby soon grew into a full blown passion. She began collecting Sparklings at a young age and ever since she saw her father’s book, A Natural History of Dragons, in his study her desire to know more about dragons has only grown. Though not everyone is enthusiastic about her hobby. Her parents discouraged her in hopes that she will find a suitable husband. Isabella enters in to what she calls her ‘grey…
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Review: Beyond the Wall: Exploring George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire by James Lowder
After recently re-reading A Game of Thrones, I couldn’t help but crave more of the epic story! I’ve read all the books at least once and after this recent re-read I’ve been scouring the discussion forums for more theories and insight into A Song of Ice and Fire. So needless to say, reading this book was a no brainer. I’ve read a lot of reviews about this anthology, and most people say that you can find better material online in the discussion groups for free. While there is a plethora of material online, a lot of it isn’t structured or supported by research which was what I was looking for….something…
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Take Two Review: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire #1) by George R. R. Martin
I’ve been nerd-ing out these last few weeks. I saw a co-worker with a copy of A Game of Thrones and she asked me a few questions about the prologue. It’s been two years since I read the first novel so I gave her a recap from memory. Well I went home and thought I wonder if I gave her the right answers…I’ll re-read just the prologue. Well the next thing I know I’m 100 pages in! I love this series. It’s so rich, textured, and character driven. I can’t say enough good things. You don’t have to be a fantasy reader to enjoy this series. It’s one of the best…
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Review: Dark Aemilia: A Novel of Shakespeare’s Dark Lady by Sally O’Reilly
The story of Aemilia Bassono and William Shakespeare is wrought with passion, love, poetry, and a little magic. While the story is about both William and Aemilia, the main protagonist of the novel is Aemilia herself. She is an illegitimate child raised in the court of Queen Elizabeth. She was taken in by the Countess of Kent who made sure she was educated and prepared to eventually become part of the Queen’s household. While at court she becomes the mistress to Henry Carey but when he tires of he she is married off to Alfonso Lanyer–a lowly court musician. But not before she meets William and begins an affair with…
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Review: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
Alba’s life is falling apart. Everything that she has been working for has literally come to a grinding halt, she has lost all hope. While working on her MPhil at Cambridge, she suddenly gets rejected and can no longer continue pursuing her passion–history. While wandering the streets of Cambridge one night, she suddenly finds herself in front of a house that she has never seen before. Mysteriously drawn to the house, Alba is met by the land lady, Peggy, who invites her into the house for some tea. As soon as Alba enters the house, she notices the hundreds of photos of famous women in British history–Beatrix Potter, George Eliot, Daphne…
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Announement: Winner The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
And the winner of The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag is…. Zoe M (tweeted about the giveaway) The winner will be notified via email. Thank you to everyone who entered and a huge thank you to the publisher for making this giveaway possible!
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Review: The Midnight Witch by Paula Brackston
In Edwardian London, change is on the horizon. War is eminent and the days of the strict Victorian caste system and societal expectations are on their way out….the modern era is upon the world. For Lilith Montgomery, this new world is not yet a reality. She is the daughter of a duke and engaged to marry Viscount Louis Harcourt, her long time childhood friend and social equal. Her father has just passed away which means society demands she be in full mourning for a year. Lilith struggles to adjust to her new life without her father but there is one thing that makes this new life particularly difficult for her…..she is…
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Giveaway: The House at the End of Hope Street by Menna van Praag
Distraught that her academic career has stalled, Alba is walking through her hometown of Cambridge, England, when she finds herself in front of a house she’s never seen before, 11 Hope Street. A beautiful older woman named Peggy greets her and invites her to stay, on the house’s usual conditions: she has ninety-nine nights to turn her life around. With nothing left to lose, Alba takes a chance and moves in. She soon discovers that this is no ordinary house. Past residents have included George Eliot and Beatrix Potter, who, after receiving the assistance they needed, hung around to help newcomers—literally, in talking portraits on the wall. As she escapes…
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Review: A Thread in the Tangle (Legends of Fyrsta #1) by Sabrina Flynn
Isiilde is a young nymph who is destine to be sold into service once she comes of age. As a royal nymph, the emperor’s daughter, she will fetch a hefty price. Isiilde has one problem though….she can’t help but catch things on fire! When she catches the royal nursery on fire with the heir’s in it, by accident or course, the emperor has no choice but to send her to the dungeon. That’s when Oen steps in and saves Isiilde from the dungeons. He begs the emperor to allow him to take her to his home island until she comes of age. Reluctantly, the emperor agrees but he plans on keeping…
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Review: Tiger’s Destiny (The Tiger Saga #4) by Colleen Houck
Kelsey Hayes life has been one wild roller coaster ride over the last two years. She has embarked on an impossible mission to break an ancient curse placed on the two brothers that she loves: Ren and Kishan. She’s fought flying monkeys, krakens, sharks, dragons, and evil sorcerers but yet the brothers remain in tiger form! She has one last task to complete but this task will come at a huge cost. The goddess Durga has one remaining gift The Rope of Fire, hidden on a volcanic island in the Bay of Bengal. Once Kelsey and the brothers retrieve the rope, they will face an epic battle between good and…