Well-researched historical fiction about the Puritan period
583244
Donna Gawells debut novel In the Shadow of Salem is set in the mid-1600s and follows the life and tribulations of her 9th great grandmother Mehitabel Braybrooke during a time of Puritan religious fervor and zealotry. Mehitabel, who was raised by a doting father and a stepmother who despised her, would have been considered a fairly typical teenager today, but in a time when everything was strictly regulated and enforced by the Puritan church and its community, her behavior caused her and her family a lot of trouble.

Gawell does an impressive job of weaving a fictionalized account of her ancestor using extant court records and the knowledge of the piety and zeal of the Puritan culture of mid-1600s. The first person account of this bastard child, arsonist, drunk, accused witch makes the story even more compelling as we see a grim and harsh world through Mehitabels eyes with glimpses of grace within the parishioners and herself. Gawell shows how difficult life was in the New World, especially for servants and those who were marginalized by society. With very few rights, the poor were defenseless and vulnerable to the whim of their employers and the courts. She manages to bring to life her ancestor whose irresponsible actions and naivit as a teen cause big trouble for herself and her loved ones.

This well-researched book helps us understand the kinds of events that led to the infamous Salem witch trials and the mass hysteria that infected the area, including Ipswich, a village near Salem where the story takes place.
3741307
Sarah Dunant delivers what great historical fiction should:  an impeccable sense of place in time, based on impressive research (the book includes an intriguing bibliography).  She adds a fine cast of characters, a quiet but indomitable heroine, and an intriguing plot.  The book is simultaneously painful and elevating in its unsparing story of noblewomen assigned to lives determined by their families (read:  fathers).
I thought the denouement was a little too pat, but I recommend the book to anyone who wants to explore a little-known corner of history.  Ms. Dunant is in the forefront of today's finest historical novelists.
2799955
In her debut historical fiction novel, Jeane Westin explores the world of Queen Elizabeth I's court, particularly the early years. In a detailed, but somewhat unsure hand, Westin paints the world of sexually repressed court of Elizabeth I through the eyes of Elizabeth's ladies, whom she referred to as her "daughters." Thought Elizabeth thought of herself as a mother to the young women in her service, she held them to the same moral standard she forced on herself, which made it difficult for them to comply. In fact, in many cases, Elizabeth's "daughters" found themselves in the beds of seductive noblemen, or worse, pregnant.

The first half of the novel explores the story of Lady Katherine Grey, cousin to Elizabeth and younger sister of the doomed Lady Jane Grey who was queen of England for nine days. Though Katherine's family has been cast as traitors, Elizabeth has taken Katherine into her care and hopes to help better the reputation of her family and perhaps find Katherine a husband. More importantly, in Henry VIII's will, Katherine is named as the next heir to the throne after Elizabeth, and since Elizabeth has yet to marry, produce an heir or even name an heir, Katherine is the heir apparent -meaning she is one of the most desirable ladies on the marriage market. In a fascinating hand, Katherine's story of love and loss unfolds in a moving, unexpected way.

The second half of the novel takes place later on in Elizabeth's reign and focuses on Mistress Mary Rodgers, a commoner from a merchant family who uses her small connections to Elizabeth to become one of the queen's ladies-in-waiting. Though readers learn the rest of Katherine's story through Mary's eyes, Mary's story is not quite as compelling as Katherine's, and tends to be overshadowed by the deep tensions between Elizabeth, Robert Dudley and others at court. As Mary gets caught up in the lustful intrigues of the court, she finds that being one of the queen's "daughters" isn't as easy as she thought.

Though it has some flaws, The Virgin's Daughters is a compelling debut historical that's perfect for fans of British historical fiction. Now, I did read Westin's The Last Letter first, without the knowledge that it is actually a follow-up to this book, and I do believe that novel is superior, but it was worth going back and reading The Virgin's Daughters. The history is vivid and the details are strong, while the characters seem to come in and out of focus throughout a plot that runs the gambit from non-stop-page-turning suspense to near-painful dullness (especially in the Mary Rodgers half).

Not a bad debut, but if you're pressed for time, I'd go straight to His Last Letter.
1840535
During my reading of Mr. Emerson's Wife, I resolved to read more about the real lives of the characters involved:Lidian Emerson, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.  Historical fiction can sometimes be a little dry or heavy because it is stuffed too full of facts. Not the case here! I found Lidian Emerson to be a very sympathetic character.  She marries a famous philosopher who promises her an equal and mutually respectful relationship, but especially after she becomes a mother, he turns his back on her and treats her like a servant.  Lidian's relationship with Henry David Thoreau is what I am most curious about. The author stirs up a romance, a very believable romance, about which I very much enjoyed reading, but I'd like to know the facts.  Probably she took some liberty, but such is the playground of fiction. I did not want this book to end, and have reserved some related reading for myself. An excellent first novel!
4905849
"The Wild Queen" is a well-written, solid historical fiction novel. I'm giving it 4 stars for those that like historical fiction, and 3 stars for those that don't. If you're looking for something full of action, or the next "Divergent," this isn't the book for you.

I'm a big fan of Carolyn Meyer's books, especially "Marie, Dancing," and "In Mozart's Shadow: His Sister's Story." I've also read all of her Young Royals series, about such figures as Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette. I always learn something new when reading her books. So I was excited to dive into this one. I didn't know much about Mary, Queen of Scots, other than that she was imprisoned by Queen Elizabeth I for almost two decades.

"The Wild Queen" covers Mary's life from age 6 to 25 or 26, written by her the night before her execution. There are eight parts, each prefaced by her older self reflecting on the events of each section. The book is in the first person point of view, which lets readers get a good look into Mary's thoughts.

Sometimes I had difficulty figuring out how old Mary was, or how much time had passed, between passages or chapters. I'd have to flip back and forth to deduce if a week or years had passed. Half of the book is devoted to Mary's years in France, where she was raised in the royal household, the intended of the dauphin, Francois. Sprinkled throughout are simple French phrases, and Meyer does something I really like -- she provides the translations.

After the death of Francois, Mary returned to Scotland to rule the country she had been queen of since she was a year old. I would have liked more information on her actually ruling Scotland. There was more on her decorating various palaces and entertaining her friends than on governing Scotland.

Mary believed that she had a legitimate claim to the throne of England, and attempted to convince Elizabeth to name her as heir for if Elizabeth died without issue. To aid in that goal, she chose a second husband, not a choice many women, royalty especially, got to make. And she chose poorly, which led to even more difficult situations, such as a lord kidnapping her so he could "convince" her to marry him for her third marriage.

Meyer handles delicate issues, like rape and adultery, in a way that isn't too much for younger readers. As an adult, I also found the way she depicted those situations more poignant than something graphic would have been.

The cover is a good one. It follows the "girls in dresses" trend, but here it fits the time period and subject matter. I can imagine the girl as Mary. She has a defiant look in her eyes, a "You will listen to me, I am the queen" look.

"The Wild Queen" is a good starting point for anyone interested in the life of Mary. I'll be looking for non-fiction books now that I know her general story.
3224098
The road sides of writing are littered with road kill of bad historical fiction, a genre filled with legions of pitfalls and often executed with poor research, flat characters, or even both.  Thus fans of the genre should be overjoyed at The Illuminator, a wonderful first novel with strong characters, a well paced plot, a murder mystery, a love story, and historic details sure to delight.

Vantrease focuses on a topic little seen in historical fiction, namely the rise of Wycoff and the Lolards of England who served as many of the intellectual antecedents to the Protestant Reformation.  Readers will take great interest in the many historic characters she weaves into the tale and her deft incorporation of detail without ever falling into droning exposition.  She further captures much of the flavor of daily life that can bring this genre off the page and into the readers heart, with details of dress, commerce, class, and most importantly cuisine.

Following a fine tradition in historical fiction, Ms. Vantrease does not place actual historical characters at center stage, but instead lets them stand in the foreground, appearing occasionally, and focuses her prose on characters of her own creation.  This further allows her to explore this fascinating period.  Indeed, I found myself learning a great deal about the struggle to produce a Bible in the vernacular as well as the history of the Catholic Church in Britain.  That I could learn while at the same time enjoying a good murder mystery, a love story, and a complex family drama speaks volumes for the authors skill.

While the work does suffer from some of the pitfalls of a first novel, Ms. Vantrease's work remains well worth reading and may bode well for some wonderful things to come.  I look forward to her future works with great anticipation.
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.
1942029
I thoroughly enjoyed "Yankee Reconstructed".  A very readable bit of historical fiction that, in its historical setting, is quite a page turner.
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.
2818525
I received a complimentary copy of this book as a part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

As a lover of both history and historical fiction, I was thrilled when I was given the opportunity to read and review Jodi Daynard's The Midwife's Revolt. While a fictional tale, Ms. Daynard's blending of fictional and real characters, along with fictional and real events, gives us a unique perspective into the lives of women during the American Revolution. While much has been written about our Founding Fathers, little attention has been paid to the strength, fortitude and sacrifices made by both their wives and the wives of the average soldier.

At the beginning of this book we are introduced to Elizabeth Boylston, a young woman distantly related to Abigail and John Adams. The daughter of a gentlewoman, trained in the art of midwifery, and a judge, Elizabeth is attractive, intelligent and somewhat of a liberal thinker. Also taught the art of midwifery, Elizabeth is a young girl when her mother passes away due to illness.
Left alone for long periods of time, Elizabeth is finally granted a tutor, a man who further instills her love of learning by teaching her to read Latin and Greek, something her father and brother both fear could turn away possible suitors.

Fortunate in her choice of suitors, Elizabeth marries Jeb, a fellow patriotic thinker, and soon finds herself alone on their farm when Jeb heads off to fight in the American Revolution. While Elizabeth, or "Lizzie", misses her husband terribly, they're both supporters of independence. Unfortunately Jeb is killed at the battle of Bunker Hill and Elizabeth now finds herself running the farm on her own. Soon Elizabeth becomes friends with Abigail Adams, another woman considered unusual due to her wit and intelligence. Realizing she's met a kindred spirit, and fellow believer in a woman's ability to do more than sew and cook, Abigail soon spreads the word about Elizabeth's talents as both a midwife and a homeopathic practitioner.

As Elizabeth tends to the woman in town and the neighboring communities, she watches, and comments, on the daily struggles these women go through as they care for their homes and families, while their men are at war. A plain spoken woman with a "take charge" attitude, Elizabeth is exactly the kind of woman these women, and our country, needed during the Revolutionary War and formative years. As the war continues, Elizabeth and Abigail's friendship flourishes and we see just how remarkable Abigail Adams was.

We also see Elizabeth continuing to place herself in danger, both by traveling during the war to care for her patients and by actively choosing to become involved in the war. Dressing and masquerading as a man, Elizabeth helps the war effort by going into taverns frequented by British soldier's and reporting on what she manages to overhear.

Ms. Daynard does an excellent job developing both Elizabeth and Abigail's characters. Portraying them both as ordinary people, Ms. Daynard shows us the different relationships and needs women develop throughout their lives. Giving us insight into what society expected of women at the time, Ms. Daynard's women also show their desire for change and freedom by urging John Adams to "Remember the Ladies" when setting up our new government. They were suffragettes before their time.

Will Elizabeth get caught while spying on the British? Will she be courageous enough to open her heart to another man's love at the end of the war? I encourage you to read The Midwife's Revolt. I sure wish this book had been around when I had to study American history.
3373220
I truly enjoyed this book. It gave so much insight to this period of time ( pre-American revolution)and how women's roles were defined. The Widow Berry is such a strong character and baffles the men around her. I liked the way that discussion of  dissent about the treatment of the colonies was woven into the story in a very easy,real way. I read the second book,Bound, and loved it ,too. If you like historical fiction as a genre,these two books will make you want to know more about this time period. Very authentic and well developed characters .
3103776
A welll researched book. I  found that this book also helps one to understand the mood and mind set of the New England Puritans.
2861878
Great historical fiction that spans the landing of the Mayflower to present times - a series of generational stories of two warring families (the Hilyards and Bigelows) that covers every historical conflict in the northeast. It's a long book with many names and the beginning chapters took a while to really grip me but after that it was a fun downhill ride that I didn't want to end. Felt like I learned something from reading it too in terms of how few generations have really passed from the 17th century to now.
4377159
Well-researched, interesting and intriguing.

I usually enjoy historical novels. Firstly, I like to learn about real people, but in a fictionalized account. It usually makes the book more readable, than a straight biography. Secondly, it gives a nice balance to the YA, NA and romantic fiction books that make up the bulk of my books-to-review backlog.

I didn't find this book to be overly fast-paced or full of suspense or action. It's a slower paced book, that brings a real person to live through meticulous research and opens a window to a different time and an unusual women, who is mostly unmentioned in history.

well worth reading.
1199147
This is a historical fiction set in the times when the Danes were settling in the British territories of the Anglo-Saxons.  The story takes place in the reign of King Alfred of Wessex.

This is actually the third in a series, but it reads well as an independent story.  I had not seen the series and just came across this volume in a bookstore while living in Edenvale, South Africa in 2007.  I was not familiar with Bernard Cornwell, and was pleased with the authentic flavour and style of his writing and character development.

He comments in the story on the differences in the Germanic dialects of the Danish Vikings and the Anglo-Saxons.  The author reflects extensive historical research and projects a realism in the use of word-forms and names of places and people of that era.

The historical note at the end of the book provides some background to the characters and situation the story portrays.  The story illustrates out the reality of the complex relationships between the different Viking and related Anglo-Saxon tribes and their rivalry over the centuries of settlement of the British Isles.
1828011
This book is written in the form of letters between two friends. Elizabeth Walton and Abigail Matthews are both eleven years old in the summer of 1609, and are the best of friends. But their lives take very different paths when Abigail's family decides to leave England to settle in the new colony of Jamestown, Virginia. Saddened by their separation, the friends keep up a regular correspondence with each other. Elizabeth's life continues much as it always has, although more is expected of her as she grows into a young lady. But Abigail's is vastly changed. Shortly after arriving in the New World, she loses both of her parents -- her mother dies of starvation, and her father is killed by Indians. In the years that follow she struggles to understand why so much hardship has happened to her.

I really enjoyed the first half of this book, but in the second half it went from dealing with Abigail's personal struggle with her faith in the midst of so much tragedy, to being a bit too preachy when it dealt with the conversion of Pocahontas. Still, it was well written, and well researched with interesting historical details, both about life in Virginia and life in England from 1609 to 1614, a time period I particularly enjoy to read about. I also liked the fact that it was written in the form of letters, because it was a unique idea. I would recommend it to readers who are interested in this historical period and who do not mind the religious content, or who feel they can overlook it.
2669144
I love historical fiction, and I love pirates - especially when they are women.  This book is a fabulous blend of the two!  A glimpse into Elizabeth I's fear and dread of aging, losing her sexuality, and her power, toward the end of her glorious reign, as well as an honest look at the social conditions of the day regarding "a woman's place" through the eyse of two very powerful women, (and several power-hungry men).  Grace O'Malley's life story, and struggle for her country, is amazing and should have been explored in a novel (or hey, even plain old history!) more often.  While I have found Robin Maxwell's novels to be a bit more "simple" than I prefer in terms of character development, plot & dialogue, I truly enjoyed this story.