Excellent, Accurate Historical Fiction
349266
Great book.  Well written, seemingly historically accurate and interesting.  I gave me a window into a period of history I am no too familiar with.  Looking forward to reading all seven books.  And as George RR Martin said in the introduction - it is the real Game of Thrones
3785940
Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and this book was a perfect fit. It's extremely well-written and historically researched, and tells a unique and absorbing story. Julianne experiences a lot of tragedy in her life, which was likely a realistic occurrence considering the time period and circumstances. But Julianne was remarkably strong and fought her way through her experiences to build a new life. I found Julianne to be very inspiring, plus I learned so much of history that I didn't know. "The Mark of the King" is an excellent choice for fans of historical fiction.
2227
I was enchanted with this book. It's rare to find historical fiction that stands powerfully as a novel in its own right while maintaining a strict degree of historical accuracy.

The three primary characters of this novel-- Amy, Robert, and Elizabeth-- all have their strengths and weaknesses brutally exposed, yet the reader remains sympathetic to them. I came away feeling great sympathy for what had happened to poor Amy, yet I could completely understand the actions of Elizabeth and Robert. Amy married a man who time and circumstances unfortunately changed beyond recognition, and her rival in love was unfortunately a captivating figure destined to change the course of history.

Switching back and forth between the aftermath of Amy's tragic death, to the events leading up to it, this is a captivating read, and I'd recommend it to anyone interested in the life of Elizabeth I or the Earl of Leicester.
3023207
This is extremely well-researched children's historical fiction, very believably written in the first-person voice of Rosetta Douglass, daughter of Frederick Douglass. This story is engaging and tells of the injustices endured by Rosetta Douglass as her father worked to get her an education, as well as the challenges of being the daughter of a man who worked for equal rights in the North and had to spend a number of years abroad for his own safety. It neither sensationalizes nor minimizes the challenges Rosetta faces in her pursuit of an education alongside white children in the North. Because of this, the reader can fully enter into Rosetta's experiences and respond with their own indignation.

For the more advanced reader, the story of Rosetta is followed by 20 pages of historical information. The book is also peppered with beautiful black and white drawings as well as some document photos.

Highly recommended for any early elementary school library or classroom.
2043010
David Penny's Thomas Berrington series is historical fiction at its best.  Both well researched and well imagined, the books show belivable characters at the close of  Moorish Spain.  In this book, against the backdrop of an unusual serial killer and Isabella's fears for her pregnancy,  we see Thomas caught between two cultures: the one he chose and loves and respects and the other out to inevitably destroy it.  Seeing the end coming, he needs to maintain friendships on both sides, and this limits his choices , although his own nature requires that he solve the murders even when it would be easier to walk away. Penny populates the book with strong characters that I have grown to love and enjoy.  I look forward to their furthrr exploits.
4134789
Two main criteria for historical fiction are accuracy and readability. This novel scores high on both counts. There was much fascinating detail about this account, but never to the detriment of the story line. We get a highly nuanced portrait of the Borgias, even including some sympathetic scenes. There are a few perhaps too sexually graphic scenes (but, hey, it was a very bawdy time!).
2776613
Excellent!  Historically accurate account of this time period .
1643312
Great historical-fiction series. People are very real in the book, facts are interwoven with the story, very enjoyable
3192784
Very accurate with known history and locations. Another outstanding work by a master of historical fiction! Don't miss this one!
1620823
Happened upon this book by accident scanning historical fiction titles on Amazon. Captivated by the preview read of the first chapter, I bought Fever. Never expecting to enjoy this story as much as I did, I was very pleasant surprised. The author's description of characters, places, food, love and suffering are excellent. So much so I could imagine I was in Philadelphia in 1793, deathly afraid the fever would get me and my loved ones too. Highly recommend Fever to anyone that enjoys a good story accurately wrapped up in a historical event.
3840502
This story is an interesting take on what might have happened after Romeo and Juliet's story ended. The story stays accurate to the the play - almost too accurate. The characters speak in a modernized version of old English that sometimes takes away from the flow of the story, but other than that the plot and characters's are excellent. Rosaline is a strong, independent, and resource character, but isn't out of place in this time period. Benvolio was a loyal, true, and strong co-character that highlighted Rosalines impetuousness but courageous nature and combined, makes them a power couple that takes on an entire army and making this read a riveting, pleasing historical fiction romance.
2824860
If you like historical fiction then buy this book. A great, character-driven piece that has obviously been well-researched. The people and plot are backed by a fascinating look into London in the Regency era. It kept me up well into the wee hours for several nights. I'm hoping the next installment comes out soon.
4707899
As a lover of historical fiction based on actual events this novel ticked all my boxes. The story line is well developed and characters are very real and true to life.

This is a wonderful read and I would recommend it highly.
1973126
I love historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint. I learned so much about a place and a history that I never knew, and the author's descriptions were so thorough and descriptive that I could feel all of my senses engaged in the pages.

I did find the plot a bit confusing at times, but I chalk some of that up to my lack of familiarity and comfort with French location names. The time-shifting between past and press also kept me on my toes, and at times I felt a bit unmoored. But then again, so did Lia, the main character.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this smart, beautifully written novel, and I can't wait to read more from Julie Christine Johnson!
2530642
i just finished reading this novel, and I really enjoyed it. Many have commented and provided thorough analysis, so I won't repeat what's already been said. I do feel, however, that many of the critical reviews stem from a desire to have this novel be exacting in its historical accuracy. It's not a textbook, or a biography - it's historical fiction. If, like me, you enjoy reading about history through fiction, then this book will appeal to you. I learned many things about the Lindburghs that I never knew. And, I am always careful to take historical fiction at its face value. The author's note at the end does a great job of letting the reader know where Benjamin took "liberties" with the story, and she encourages further research if the reader is interested in learning more about the Lindburgh's legacy and struggles. Lastly, to the criticism that this book is like many others on the market right now - who cares if this storyline follows that of many other historical fiction books? Unfortunately, life is full of power-seeking males who are supported by strong women who often appear weak to those outside the relationship and that makes for a great storyline. I find those stories fascinating, including this one. Read it!
419386
"Catching Moondrops" is a historical novel set in 1938 in Calloway, Virginia during a period of high racial tension. It's also an awesome story and a fast read. It's the third novel in the series, but you can easily follow it without having read the first two novels. However, the impact will be higher if you've followed Jessilyn's story from the beginning. The previous two novels are also very well written, so start with "Fireflies in December" and "Cottonwood Whispers."

The pacing and world-building were excellent. I was completely pulled into the story. The characters were engaging, realistic, and complex. They dealt with realistic struggles, like losing a best friend, wondering how the future will turn out, dealing with traumatic events, and standing up for the right thing even when it's dangerous. The tension was created by a number of "normal" worries and changes in everyone's lives with spikes of high tension when lives were in danger.

Sad things happen in this novel. It's mostly about dealing with the really hard things in life, like seeing hatred spill over to harm the innocent, why God doesn't bring immediate justice to wrongdoers if He's real, and what hatred and bitterness can do to a person's life.

Many of the characters were Christians and several tried to get Jessilyn to make peace with God. However, I think many non-Christians share Jessilyn's view, so they might enjoy this novel as much as Christians.

The ending was very satisfying. There was a very minor amount of fake bad language. There was no explicit sex. Overall, I'd highly recommend this well-written, clean novel.

I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

Reviewed by Debbie from Genre Reviews
1042203
Historically accurate and very engaging characters. Very well told tale. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I'll be looking for more of her work, perhaps the Detrick Series....