Tag: Historic Fiction

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Review: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation #1) by Lauren Willig

by The Lit Bitch25 Comments on Review: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation #1) by Lauren Willig

I feel like I just entered the most interesting florist shop in London.

I am surrounded by flowers….the Scarlet Pimpernel, the Purple Gentian, and of course the Pink Carnation….but wait I’m in a book! What the deuce are all these flowers doing in a book?? Granted…it’s decidedly less fragrant in the book than in a florist shop but still–what the deuce is going on here? Oh wait….I am reading Lauren Willig’s novel The Secret History of the Pink Carnation!

Pink Carnation is just the beginning of the flowery Regency era series. We begin with Amy, born in France she and her mother flee the French Revolution across the Channel to England were Amy’s mother has relations. Amy dreams of the day she can avenge her father who was a victim to the bloody guillotine.

Growing up with tales of upper crust spies…mainly the Scarlet Pimpernel….Amy longs to join his ranks and become an indispensable aide to the Scarlet Pimpernel while avenging her family. But one problem….the Scarlet Pimpernel has now retired.  Continue reading “Review: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation (Pink Carnation #1) by Lauren Willig” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

Review: The Rebel Wife by Taylor M Polites

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Rebel Wife by Taylor M Polites

Saturated in rich, golden prose Taylor Polites’s novel, The Rebel Wife, oozes engrossing detail and with such a commanding voice/tone from the first page….I found it difficult to put down. The novel contains whispers of literary delight from beloved American classics such as Gone with the Wind  and is told with a dark edge which echos William Faulkner.

This book was listed on Goodreads as a giveaway ARC, and this was one of the novels I was most hoping to win. The cover is striking and elegant with blazing sunset and a dark, decaying house….the cover alone beckoned me to read it.

I was over the moon when I won a copy and immediately began reading the second it arrived. I was sure the book would be good but I was note entirely sure I would love it but I was surprised…it was breathtaking.

I finished it much more quickly than anticipated…each word so powerful it was calling me home like the red earth of Tara in Gone with the Wind, I was captivated.

This Southern Gothic novel is surly on track to be a favorite among audiences with its post Reconstruction era Alabama charm. I loved how Polites describes the decaying, lost, disillusionment of the South….a far cry from the glorious antebellum days. Continue reading “Review: The Rebel Wife by Taylor M Polites” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge

by The Lit Bitch2 Comments on The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge

Challenge #4 has been entered! This might (yes MIGHT) be the last challenge for the year….not sure yet though but as I am hosting two other reading challenges of my own (Outlander and Game of Thrones) it might be time to call it quits for the moment anyway but we aren’t quite into the new year yet so who knows I might have more challenge entries on the way 🙂

So here you have it, the Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge hosted by Simply Challenging who is quickly becoming one of my fav book bloggers, she is super ambitious when it comes to reading challenges hence the name LOL :).

Again…..as noted before over the next couple of weeks I’ll be posting my entries for various challenges here as I sign up and I will also have a special page/section devoted to my entries which will have lists of books I plan on reading.

As per usual I’ll post my reviews throughout the year and add the buttons on my sidebars.

So here is the fourth challenge sign up of 2012: the Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge hosted by Simply Challenging. For more details about my entry and goals please see my the Death by Gaslight Reading Challenge 2012 page.

If you are interested in signing up or for more details about the challenge it self, please visit the Simply Challenging blog.

Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: Devoured (Hatton and Roumonde Mystery #1) by D. E. Meredith

by The Lit Bitch6 Comments on Review: Devoured (Hatton and Roumonde Mystery #1) by D. E. Meredith

To have one’s ideas be heard, isn’t that what all scientists want? That is certainly what forensic scientist, Professor Aldolphus Hatton, wants in D.E.  Meredith’s thriller, Devoured. In the budding world of Darwinism, botanical study, forensics, and science in general– Hatton is using early forensic science to solve crimes all around Victorian London hoping that this new manner of solving crime will catch fire and blaze a new path of crime fighting.

I recently read the second book in the Hatton series, The Devil’s Ribbon which I thoroughly enjoyed. Meredith and I are friends and she offered to send me a copy of Hatton’s first mystery since she knows I hate reading books out of series order. To my smashing delight, she personally signed my copy, I LOVE IT! 🙂

The series in general intrigued me as I love the Victorian era and all the ‘murder by gaslight’ kind of mysteries, and I am also a huge fan of really science-y novels….I love forensic mysteries! One of the things that I especially praised in The Devil’s Ribbon was Meredith’s knowledge of Victorian history, Devoured was equal to the same praise—Meredith really knows her stuff! Continue reading “Review: Devoured (Hatton and Roumonde Mystery #1) by D. E. Meredith” →

Book Challenges, Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Gen Lit, Literary Criticism, Reading, Reading Challenges

The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Historic Fiction Reading Challenge

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on The Lit Bitch has entered the 2012 Historic Fiction Reading Challenge

It’s that time of year again, reading challenge time! I can hardly believe it!

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be posting my entries for various challenges here as I sign up and I will also have a special page/section devoted to my entries which will have lists of books I plan on reading.

As per usual I’ll post my reviews throughout the year and add the buttons on my sidebars.

So here is the first challenge sign up of 2012: the Historic Fiction Reading Challenge hosted by Historical Tapestry. For more details about my entry and goals please see my the Historic Fiction Reading Challenge 2012 page.

If you are interested in signing up or for more details about the challenge it self, please visit the Historic Tapestry blog.