Clever blend of history, myth and present day!
586023
The book has a clever premise and was nicely structured. The characters felt real and their struggles were involving. I couldn't wait to find out how the girls and the Graces were freed from their entrapments. Nice blend of history, myth, and present day! It added a lot of texture and depth. Truly a story told with love and compassion for the characters!
774926
Excellent combination of historical fact and fiction.  Card has a vivid imagination that allows readers to go back in time and feel as if they were a part of Biblical history.  Just be careful to remember that truth and fiction are craftfully interwined here and not to lose sight of the important messages behind the story.
As one of my all time favorite books, I had to read Rebekah and Stone Tablets immediately thereafter.  I'm still waiting for the 3rd installment of the Women of Genesis trilogy.
2836875
As the extention of the title says, Begin Your Quest for Facts, Photos, and Fun Fit for Gods and Goddesses

What could be more exciting than reading and learning about all those amazing Mythological beings, especially illustrated in brilliant colour! This is an amazing book that fits many categories. Even this grandmother learned from it! Readers will learn mythological origins, why these origins came to be, how they evolved and changed over the years and what the main purpose of each was. What is more, we will all learn the equivalent myths from around the world, and how some myths became blended. But that is not all. There are demi-gods (half-human), deities, demons, heroes and helpful demons. Also the book will connect the mythological beings with their original geographical locations. Myths were a way of learning about the world, why nature does certain things, and how they protect us.

But mythology is ever growing. It does not stay still. As the human race progresses, so does the evolution of myths, changing with the times. I found this book to not just be informative, but to be very interesting, containing various projects for children and teens to do  and also the family trees of the earliest mythological beings and how they crossed to other races to keep the stories going. A cross-section of very old worlds and their own mythological beasts are sufficient to pique the interest of children 8 and up. Some wording may be a little difficult for younger readers due to some of the words used to describe their places in historical mythology from the Romans, Greeks, Hindi, South American, African, Wales, Australia, Asia, North American and more. Otherwise I would recommend it at any age. Author Blake Hoena and National Geographic Explorer Dr. Adrienne Mayor have done an excellent and enjoyable presentation with this book. The book I reviewed was in paperback but it also comes in hardcover and Kindle. I received this book in exchange for an honest review. The review and rating are based on my own perception.
3537388
This author has a wild imagination, that's for sure. A curious blend of ancient history and present day shenanigans that kept me interested.
2650049
Herodotus, an aspiring author, turns up at Nicolaos and Diotimas house to ask if Nico would escort him to the land of the Pharaohs. It seems he wants to write about the past, and is traveling around collecting stories, and chronicling the customs of all manner of civilizations. Given that Egypt is currently a hotbed of unrest, with the natives rising up against their Persian overlords, Herodotus needs an experienced security detail, and Nico came recommended. When Nico discovers it was Pericles who recommended him, hes convinced theres more to this than perhaps even Herodotus knows. Indeed, theres a lot at stake, namely who is the rightful ruler of Egypt. Nico and Diotima will have to navigate Persians, Spartans, cats, camels, crocodiles, and secret agents to fulfill their duty to Herodotus, and also complete the secret task to which Pericles has assigned them, if they manage to stay alive.

This is the sixth in Gary Corbys Athenian Mysteries series, featuring the husband-and-wife detective team (sorrythat was a spoiler if youve only read the first couple of books!) of Nicolaos and Diotima. Ive reviewed a couple of the other books in the series, and it never ceases to amaze me how well Gary does his homework to get the historical details right, while never sounding like a text book. Naturally, he sometimes plays a little loose with facts for the sake of story, but he knows when hes doing that, as is evident from his Authors Note at the end.

The main new character in this book is Herodotus, known to students of Ancient History as the Father of History. His HISTORIES is not only the earliest history book we know of, but it also contains accounts of historical events that we would know little or nothing of otherwise. Gary weaves some of Herodotuss stories into the narrative, as young Herodotus interviews everyone he encounters, pummeling people with questions, writing everything down on sheets of papyrus, and perhaps being a little too trusting that what hes being told is totally factual. I think its great that Gary manages to take this shadowy figure from the past, known only by his one book (at least, the only one that has survived to this day), and give him life and character, making him into someone quite likable. After reading this, you might actually want to pick up a copy of THE HISTORIES!

But history aside, the strength of Garys books is the storytelling, and he keeps the pace going, with plenty of cliffhangers, and humor. As Nicos interest is divided among various parties vying for his attention, the plot thickens, but never becomes too tangled. Theres also a very touching death scene, which I don't recall the like of in any of the other books in the series. I don't want to spoil it, but Ill say its a character I came to like, and was sad to see killed off. Its beautifully written, and liable to evoke tearsbe warned!

Fans of the series will not be disappointed by THE SINGER FROM MEMPHIS. If you're new to the series, you can certainly read this without having read the others, but don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to go back and start at the beginning (THE PERICLES COMMISSION was the first). Theres hardly any, if any, profanity, and some very mild sexual allusions. Id rate it PG15, and give it an easy five GoodReads stars.
1895179
Brilliant! This is a YA historical fantasy set in a country I know little about with a true historical event as a backdrop for the climax. Anna is from the nobility in England, though she is Hungarian through her mother, and is sent to Hungary after she ruins her sister's debut. The twist is that upper society in this alternative history is ruled by magicians, who long ago performed the Binding, which keeps magic under their control and away from the lower classes. Anna, however, is suspected to have the ability to break that spell and the revolutionaries in Hungary hope she will side with them.

The protagonist is engaging, the setting is richly described without being overdone, the minor characters are all well-fleshed. I look forward to more novels by this author.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did receive a free copy of this book through a giveaway on Brenda Drake's website, but honestly this is the best new release of 2017 that I've read.
4462402
This beautiful, clever reimagining of the familiar Trojan War story is everything we've come to expect from Carolyn Meyer... intriguing, character-driven, and well-executed.  Hermoine is such an overlooked character in Greek mythology that this exploration reads as something entirely fresh, not the usual stale perspective provided by Helen or Odysseus. The idea of Helen of Troy having a plain daughter is exciting, and Meyer's execution does not disappoint. And as always, the author has clearly done her homework regarding the mythological and historical context of her narrative.

Thank you, Ms. Meyer, for another stellar historical fiction!
4237436
I saw this author on Twitter, actually, and noted more than a passing fondness in his posts for Norse mythology and history. I completely share that fascination, so when I saw he had a book, I picked it up. His writing seemed solid. Now, what I got in this book wasn't quite what I expectedI thought it would be a standard sword-and-sorcery, but Norse! but I loved the uncommon sensibilities this book had. Let me tell you why.

The basics: Asa Oathkeeper lost her father and her inheritance to betrayal from a scheming kinsman hungry for the throne of the North. This is her quest for revenge and justice, and along the way there are dwarves, dragons, runes, magic, and gods. Solid story setup, that!

Now, I should make clear this isn't your usual fantasy novel. It completely ignores a lot of common conventions, opting to approach its telling from the standpoint of historical documents recording a saga. This has an interesting effect: theres a certain distance from the characters, but not in a bad way. We don't get to see as much dialogue or internal thoughts as the typical modern fantasy book would choose. Yet, Asa and her band, as well as the wicked King and his family, are fleshed out enough that their motivations are still very clear. And this distance allows for many years to pass, and for large-scale world-shaping events to unfold cleanly, all in the course of one book.

You can tell that the author, Colin Brodd, has a deep respect for the historical lore, culture, and mythology from which he wove this tale. I am a wee bit of a hobbyist in the field, and was so impressed by how he handles the extensive terminology of the setting, giving definitions as an organic part of the story without it feeling overwrought or clumsy. And his characters ooze the right mindset and philosophies of this time and place. They fight with honor, they embrace their inevitable deaths, and they don't lose control of their minds when they fall in love. They are a even-minded group of people, loyal and principled, holding high their oaths and their kin, carrying on through loss and sorrow because they must. I celebrated all of their victories with them. I felt for them.

I recommend this tale for the intelligent fantasy reader that wants a taste of the North from someone who clearly knows the subject very well. Brodd handles all of the jargon with ease, and does explain it all, but not in a way that will necessarily spoon feed readers! You will have to be able to separate the characters Hjalti from Hrafn from Hrefna, all very different and important, but a mental dance with names not all readers may be comfy with! Lovers of Skyrim who are just dipping their toes into this kind of setting will likely feel very comfortable with all of the jarls, thanes, and other familiar bits, and will probably love this story. I for one am also recommending this to any reader in the Asatru community that enjoys a good yarn with respect to the lore.

I was a little bummed at the ending, despite the hopeful notethe good news was that there was groundwork for book two, but the bad news was that I had to put down Asas saga for a little while longer! I hope to hear more from Brodd as an author very soon.
4088966
I read Legends, Lore and True Tales of the Chattahoochee recently and was not let down by the great information featured in this collection of stories by Michelle Smith. Her historical research was well written out and entertaining to read. The stories of Native American folklore are revised in a brilliant display of new and improved material, bringing it to the present. Lost and forgotten tales have been resurrected in the "Ghostly Legends" chapters and I especially liked the stories on the Cryptids. She included historical battles and heroes from the Civil War and much of the unusual history from the Chattahoochee Valley areas. Who knew so much strange history throughout Georgia and Alabama, took place along that mighty river? I highly recommend this book for the paranormal enthusiast or the history buff! It's a great read!
3726508
Reality and Fantasy come together in this brilliant book which I for one enjoyed, but not as I thought I would.  If you are a history buff who can't stand fantasy tales, don't bother reading this one -- the mix of fantasy and reality will only serve to confuse you!  And most likely if you are someone who enjoys mystical magical fluffy fantasy stories without the irritation of reality interfering, move onto something more ethereal.

If, on the other hand, you are someone who could handle mixing some good old fashioned, well researched historical fiction with a couple of chunks of "you got to be kidding that never could happen but wouldn't it be funny to think about it" twists of history, this book could be a pleasure for you.

Me, I'm an odd duck -- I enjoy role-playing as an avatar in a place called Second Life, in a placed based on Deadwood, South Dakota.  Those of us who enjoy spending time there participate in historical role-play - it would not be unlikely for us to use the storyline in this excellent novel as inspiration for some of our own plots.

Creative, inspiring, well-researched, but not for those who color between the lines -- a refreshing and fun read!
3744957
This is the second book in this author's series on the life of Cleopatra. I was very pleased with the first book in the series and this second one was equally a read of exceptional enjoyment. The author gives the reader a look not only at the Roman oppression and forced alliance experienced prior to the Egyptian ruler-ship during the Ptolemaic Kingdom period but also at the family life of Cleopatra. There is again a clever merging of ancient historical facts with a degree of mythology and of author-liberties in giving us an idea of how the everyday life of Cleopatra's family may have transpired. The book reads much like a novel, with continual reminders of the reality of this family of Pharaohs and Queens, the marriages between siblings and their rise to power. For readers who enjoy ancient history as I do and for readers who simply enjoy a well-written novel, this second book of the series will be a great find for them.
1772978
I love antiquity, as I'm a history buff, and this book hit the mark every time!  A fun, relatable tale set in ancient Greece with all the gods, goddesses, titans, and myth you'd expect.  Of course, it doesn't stop there... there's romance, action, pirates, brawls, and surprises galore.
I look forward to continuing this series to its fulfillment.  I giggled, thrilled, worried, and hoped along with Eno the Thracian, hero for hire, and his comrades.  What a fun read for all 13+!
379683
I didn't know what to expect with this book and was pleasantly surprised. I don't normally like fantasy books-but this one has cleverly woven together a little present day mystery, Celtic and Viking lore, biblical passages and a story that endures centuries. Because I love history and mysteries and I do love fairy tales (abridged versions), this "fantasy" read was very enjoyable!
1075226
Vampires sired from ancient Greek gods! Really a great angle for this series by K.M. Scott. I've read the entire series now, waiting for the next edition. Ancient characters like Kali, Ramiel and Vasilije are cleverly created to have witnessed and participated in history, each designed with characteristics we can love or love to hate. Great loves like Deland and Selene that have stood the test of decades. the I think the refreshing aspect of the books are Scott's use of Greek mythology. I love the historical connection to the plot as well as the mental traveling to environs mentioned. Scott as tour guide gives just enough flavor of the setting to draw readers into the action. I just love how vampire can just teleport anywhere in the world; I really need that gift! I also like how Scott adds special gifts to the evolving generations of vampire. Paranormal is my thing so Scott has a fan. Later in the series we get several colorful characters like witches, dragon shifters and werewolves. Of course some characters are more delightful than others. Steamy scenes also provide enjoyment, but we are talking vampire right? The series is a good read for me. -G
4469320
A fun, well-written and informative take on local haunted-history stories; I'm expecially pleased that Mr. Pope has given us more than the same tired bare-bones "spooky ghost stories" found in several other collections. He's obviously done his research, and has fleshed out local legends with additional information --- for example, the story of the Female Stranger: Mr. Pope located names and dates other authors never include, but which go far to complete the tale.

I would happily recommend this book anyone, not just to readers from Alexandria, Va.
3079508
I really enjoyed this book! It made me think a lot of being a behind-the-stage look at the myth of Dracula (and I couldn't help but think of the animated movie Hotel Transylvania here, sorry, LOL).
This was very well researched, but what I absolutely loved about it was the easy prose and quick reading this book proved to be. It's part guidebook, part historical narrative, part satire with lots of personal commentary from the author (which is frankly hilarious at times!). All history and geography and myth buffs should make this a must-read!
236154
I am so thrilled to read this book.  It is written by a civil engineer point of view giving the book unique and distinctive perspectives. When you enter in old buildings, you wonder what history and human drama took place in there.  This novel has precisely done that and more! What I really liked about is that it combined history and fiction so well that makes me wonder if some of the story is real...  I cannot wait for her next installment!