My Top Seven Historical Fiction Novels

Inspired by the post over at Anna's Book Blog on her top ten favorite historical fiction novels. Here are my top seven favorite historical novels:

1. Hand of Isis by Jo Graham.
   The amazon.com blurb:
   

   Set in ancient Egypt, Hand of Isis is the story of Charmian, a handmaiden, and her two sisters. It is a novel of lovers who transcend death, of gods who meddle in mortal affairs, and of women who guide empires.

   
   I love the mix of history and fantasy in this series of Jo Graham's novels.
2.  Black Ships by Jo Graham.
   The amazon.com blurb:
   

   The world is ending. One by one the mighty cities are falling, to earthquakes, to flood, to raiders on both land and sea.
   
   In a time of war and doubt, Gull is an oracle. Daughter of a slave taken from fallen Troy, chosen at the age of seven to be the voice of the Lady of the Dead, it is her destiny to counsel kings.
   
   When nine black ships appear, captained by an exiled Trojan prince, Gull must decide between the life she has been destined for and the most perilous adventure -- to join the remnant of her mother's people in their desperate flight. From the doomed bastions of the City of Pirates to the temples of Byblos, from the intrigues of the Egyptian court to the haunted caves beneath Mount Vesuvius, only Gull can guide Prince Aeneas on his quest, and only she can dare the gates of the Underworld itself to lead him to his destiny.
   
   In the last shadowed days of the Age of Bronze, one woman dreams of the world beginning anew. This is her story.

   Black Ships is set in the same world as Hand of Isis, but covers the time-period just after the Trojan War.
3. Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
   The amazon.com blurb:
   

   In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, an “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s written a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on the fan and compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together they endure the agony of footbinding and reflect upon their arranged marriages, their loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace in their friendship, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their relationship suddenly threatens to tear apart.
   
   Snow Flower and the Secret Fan is a captivating journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. Now in a deluxe paperback edition complete with an expanded Random House Reader’s Circle guide and an exclusive conversation between Lisa See and her mother, fellow writer Carolyn See, this lyrical and emotionally charged novel is, as the Seattle Times says, “a beautifully drawn portrait of female friendship and power.”

   I've read this book a couple of times now, and seen the movie, loving it every time.
4. Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran
   The amazon.com blurb:
   

   The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.
   
   The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.
   
   Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.
   
   Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

   I really need to re-read this one actually. The blurb is calling out to me again.
5. 
   Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
   The amazon.com blurb:
   

   Claire Randall is leading a double life. She has a husband in one century, and a lover in another...
   
   In 1945, Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she innocently touches a boulder in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an "outlander"—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding border clans in the year of our Lord...1743.
   
   Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire's destiny in soon inextricably intertwined with Clan MacKenzie and the forbidden Castle Leoch. She is catapulted without warning into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life ...and shatter her heart. For here, James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a passion so fierce and a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

   I remember reading this one for the first time over ten years ago. It was a book I picked up on a whim from a charity-sale table, and once I started, I couldn't put the book down. Then I discovered there were sequels...Except, I was about to go away for a month so couldn't borrow them from the library until I got back. Oh, the wait.
6. 
   Lammas Night by Katherine Kurtz
   The back cover blurb:
   

   What magic can stop Adolf Hitler - History's most evil Black Magician?
   
   Modern War
   The year is 1940
   Hitler's Germany is about to employ the secret arts of evil witchcraft to destroy England. What can stop them?
   
   Ancient Weapon
   It is the mission of John Graham, colonel in British Intelligence, to stop the onslaught of evil with an extraordinary strategy that defies all the rules of twentieth-century warfare: Unite the different witches' covens throughout England, drawing upon powers that reach back through dark centuries, in a ritual of awesome sacrifice on the first night of August, the magical Lammas Night.

   An older book that's well worth the hunt if you like historical fantasy.
7. Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
   The amazon.com blurb:
   In this literary tour de force, novelist Arthur Golden enters a remote and shimmeringly exotic world. For the protagonist of this peerlessly observant first novel is Sayuri, one of Japan's most celebrated geisha, a woman who is both performer and courtesan, slave and goddess.
   
   We follow Sayuri from her childhood in an impoverished fishing village, where in 1929, she is sold to a representative of a geisha house, who is drawn by the child's unusual blue-grey eyes. From there she is taken to Gion, the pleasure district of Kyoto. She is nine years old. In the years that follow, as she works to pay back the price of her purchase, Sayuri will be schooled in music and dance, learn to apply the geisha's elaborate makeup, wear elaborate kimono, and care for a coiffure so fragile that it requires a special pillow. She will also acquire a magnanimous tutor and a venomous rival. Surviving the intrigues of her trade and the upheavals of war, the resourceful Sayuri is a romantic heroine on the order of Jane Eyre and Scarlett O'Hara. And Memoirs of a Geisha is a triumphant work - suspenseful, and utterly persuasive.
   
   I've only read the book once, but it's stuck with me ever since.

I'd meant for this to go to a full ten books, but I'm reaching a point where they wouldn't truly be my favorites any more, only books I've thrown in to fill out the list.

Upcoming New Releases

It looks like it's going to be a very good few months for new releases. Mercedes Lackey, Kylie Chan, David Weber, Michelle Moran, Jack Whyte and more. All of them have at least one book coming out.

For Kylie Chan, it's an entire trilogy that's going to be available. Like last year with White Tiger and sequels, it's coming out one per month in September, October and November.

Earth To Hell: Journey To Wudang: Book One
Kylie Chan
Release Date: September 25, 2012

The amazon.com product description:

A fabulous story of gods and demons, shapeshifters and martial arts . . .

It is eight years since Xuan Wu, God of the Northern Heavens, living in Hong Kong as wealthy businessman John Chen, was exiled from the mortal realm. Emma Donahoe and Simone, John's daughter, are facing a new series of threats, while their best fighter, Leo, sits in Hell. They must persuade him to come home . . . but, in Hell, nothing is as it appears.

On Earth, Simon Wong, the Demon King's son, is no longer around to trouble them, but his associates have taken over Simon's underworld activities. The otherworldly stones are being targeted and are in danger of their kind being completely destroyed.

It seems that the Demon King is the only one Emma can turn to for help . . .

Hell To Heaven: Journey To Wudang: Book Two
Kylie Chan
Release Date: October 30, 2012

Currently there's no product description on Amazon.com or the Chapters/Indigo website.

Heaven To Wudang: Journey To Wudang: Book Three
Kylie Chan
Release Date: November 27, 2012

The amazon.com product description:

The third book in an addictive new urban fantasy series of gods and demons, martial arts and mythology, from the author of White Tiger. Ancient Chinese mythology comes to life in this bestselling series of martial arts and demons, dragons and gods, legends and lies ...and a journey to the depths of Hell. The demons that could control stones and elementals have been defeated, but the most powerful of Simon Wong's associates still remains - the one who can create almost undetectable copies of humans and Shen. This demon has allied with Kitty Kwok and together they plot to trap Emma and Simone in a web of copies. Wudang Mountain is enveloped by dark foreboding as Xuan Wu begins to reappear - sometimes human, sometimes turtle, but always without memory. Emma and Simone must race from Hong Kong to Hanoi as they try to rescue Xuan Wu before the demons capture him.

The first trilogy, Dark Heavens, by Kylie Chan was one of my favourites last year. All I know at this point for the Journey To Wudang books is that I've been looking forward to reading these since I finished Blue Dragon.

Mercedes Lackey has several books coming out over the next few months as well. The one I'm looking forward to the most is Redoubt, the fourth book in the Collegium Chronicles series.

Redoubt: Book Four of the Collegium Chronicles
Mercedes Lackey
DAW Books
Release Date: October 2, 2012

There's no product description yet, but this is the sequel to Foundation, Intrigues and Changes. I for one, am looking forward to more adventures with Mags, Bear and the rest of that group.

Elemental Magic: All New Tales of the Elemental Masters
Mercedes Lackey
Release Date: December 4, 2012

Again, there's no product description, but I'm willing to guess that instead of the usual Christmas Valdemar short story anthology, that it's going to be an anthology of short stories set in the Elemental Masters universe. Should be interesting to see what takes other authors have - not to mention who the authors might be. I wouldn't mind seeing some of the same names I've seen in the Valdemar anthologies.

The Ship Who Searched
Mercedes Lackey and Anne McCaffrey
Release Date: February 5, 2013

The Indigo/Chapters product description:

Tia Cade is a headstrong, smart, and very normal girl-until she contracts a terrible illness that leaves her with the bare semblance of life. Tia's only hope: to become the oldest person ever to train to be one of the legendary star travelers, the brainships  But now that Tia is free of her ravaged body, there still remains the task of finding the right partner to be her Brawn, the human element every brainship requires. And when the disease that debilitated Tia threatens thousands more, selecting a Brawn who is her true soul mate may allow Tia to find the origin of the terrible plague-and perhaps even a cure.  25th Anniversary edition featuring a new introduction by Mercedes Lackey.

My reaction on this one is: "it's been twenty five years already?" I've loved this book for quite a while now - it's my favourite of the Brainships series. I know it's not exactly a new release, but I'm including it here anyway. On the other hand, as glad as I am to see it re-released, I have to say that I prefer the original cover art.

This isn't the first time that The Ship Who Searched has been re-released. Back in 2003 it came out as a part of the book Brain Ships, which also contained the novel PartnerShips.

I'm definitely looking forward to Jo Graham's next book, which seems to be following on a trend in historical fiction - though I shouldn't say that quite as I think The General's Mistress has been in the works for a long time. Still, there seems to be an up-surge of novels set in the last few centuries in France:

The General's Mistress
Jo Graham
Release Date: October 23, 2012

The amazon.com product description:

Liberté, Egalité, Sensualité. . . .

As a spirit of change overturns Europe’s old order, strong-willed Elzelina Versfelt enters her own age of revolution. Married as a romantic young girl to a man who wanted only her money, but neither loves nor desires her, Elza refuses to be chained any longer. Leaving Amsterdam, her marriage, and her home, she flees to France—where the old rules no longer apply, debauchery is not a sin . . . and nothing is forbidden.

Yet Elza finds herself bound in a new way, to the ambitious General Moreau. And while they share pleasure, pain, and carnal adventures, she dreams of another man, an unruly red-haired soldier she first saw in the promise of a Tarot card. Drawn by this half-real, half-imagined hero, Elza defies her relationship with Moreau, and begins a perilous search across war-torn Europe. . . . But will this woman with the instincts of a survivor, the passion of a courtesan, and the gift of second sight ever find the destiny for which she has risked it all?

This stunning novel blends history with the language of the heart to tell a sensual story of an era of upheaval . . . and of the clamoring, dangerous desires of a woman’s soul.

After reading Jo Graham's novels sent in the ancient world, I'm interested to see how she handles more recent history. And the cover art looks absolutely gorgeous.

The Second Empress: A Novel Of Napoleon's Court
Michelle Moran
Release Date: August 14, 2013

The amazon.com product description:

National bestselling author Michelle Moran returns to Paris, this time under the rule of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte as he casts aside his beautiful wife to marry a Hapsburg princess he hopes will bear him a royal heir

   After the bloody French Revolution, Emperor Napoleon’s power is absolute. When Marie-Louise, the eighteen year old daughter of the King of Austria, is told that the Emperor has demanded her hand in marriage, her father presents her with a terrible choice: marry the cruel, capricious Napoleon, leaving the man she loves and her home forever, or say no, and plunge her country into war.
   Marie-Louise knows what she must do, and she travels to France, determined to be a good wife despite Napoleon’s reputation. But lavish parties greet her in Paris, and at the extravagant French court, she finds many rivals for her husband’s affection, including Napoleon’s first wife, Joséphine, and his sister Pauline, the only woman as ambitious as the emperor himself. Beloved by some and infamous to many, Pauline is fiercely loyal to her brother. She is also convinced that Napoleon is destined to become the modern Pharaoh of Egypt. Indeed, her greatest hope is to rule alongside him as his queen—a brother-sister marriage just as the ancient Egyptian royals practiced. Determined to see this dream come to pass, Pauline embarks on a campaign to undermine the new empress and convince Napoleon to divorce Marie-Louise.
   As Pauline’s insightful Haitian servant, Paul, watches these two women clash, he is torn between his love for Pauline and his sympathy for Marie-Louise. But there are greater concerns than Pauline’s jealousy plaguing the court of France. While Napoleon becomes increasingly desperate for an heir, the empire’s peace looks increasingly unstable. When war once again sweeps the continent and bloodshed threatens Marie-Louise’s family in Austria, the second Empress is forced to make choices that will determine her place in history—and change the course of her life.
   Based on primary resources from the time, The Second Empress takes readers back to Napoleon’s empire, where royals and servants alike live at the whim of one man, and two women vie to change their destinies.

I'm going to have to say that based on Michelle Moran's other books, this looks like it's going to be a really good read.

OK, I'll admit this one is a bit of an oddity. Still I think it's neat - even though there's no way I'll be able to read it. My latin's just not that good.

Hobbitus Ille: The Hobbit (Latin and English Edition)
J.R.R. Tolkien and Mark Walker
Release Date: September 13, 2012

The amazon.com product description:

Fascinating for Latin learners and for Tolkien fans of all ages, The Hobbit has been translated into Latin for the first time since its publication 75 years ago.

In foramine terrae habitabat hobbitus. (‘In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.’)

The Hobbit, is one of the world’s most popular classic stories, appealing to adults as much as to the children for whom J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote the book. Translated worldwide into more than 60 modern languages, now Hobbitus Ille is finally published in Latin, and will be of interest to all those who are studying the language, whether at school or at a higher level.

In the great tradition of publishing famous children’s books in Latin, professional classicist and lifelong Tolkien fan Mark Walker provides a deft translation of the entire book. His attention to detail, including the transformation of Tolkien’s songs and verses into classical Latin metres, will fascinate and entertain readers of all ability, even those with only a minimal acquaintance with the language.

As weird as it sounds, I want to add this to my collection.

Amusing!

I finished reading a copy of Michelle Moran's novel Madame Tussaud on Sunday, which I'd borrowed in order to read, and on Monday, guess what came in the mail? A copy of Madame Tussaud.

I'd borrowed it because I'd promised to review the book well before it came out in February, and was feeling rather guilty. The vagaries of the post office prove themselves again! What I found amusing though, was the timing of the book's arrival. The day after I'd read and reviewed it.

Madame Tussaud is definitely a good read as are Michelle Moran's other novels.

Madame Tussaud - Michelle Moran

Madame Tussaud
Michelle Moran
Crown Publishing
Copyright: February 15, 2011
978-0307588654

The amazon.com product description:

The world knows Madame Tussaud as a wax artist extraordinaire . . . but who was this woman who became one of the most famous sculptresses of all time? In these pages, her tumultuous and amazing story comes to life as only Michelle Moran can tell it. The year is 1788, and a revolution is about to begin.

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated wax museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableau of the royal family at dinner, Marie’s museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Her customers hail from every walk of life, yet her greatest dream is to attract the attention of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI; their stamp of approval on her work could catapult her and her museum to the fame and riches she desires. After months of anticipation, Marie learns that the royal family is willing to come and see their likenesses. When they finally arrive, the king’s sister is so impressed that she requests Marie’s presence at Versailles as a royal tutor in wax sculpting. It is a request Marie knows she cannot refuse—even if it means time away
from her beloved Salon and her increasingly dear friend, Henri Charles.

As Marie gets to know her pupil, Princesse Élisabeth, she also becomes acquainted with the king and queen, who introduce her to the glamorous life at court. From lavish parties with more delicacies than she’s ever seen to rooms filled with candles lit only once before being discarded, Marie steps into a world entirely different from her home on the Boulevard du Temple, where people are selling their teeth in order to put food on the table.

Meanwhile, many resent the vast separation between rich and poor. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Camille Desmoulins, Jean-Paul Marat, and Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there’s whispered talk of revolution. . . . Will Marie be able to hold on to both the love of her life and her friendship with the royal family as France approaches civil war? And more important, will she be able to fulfill the demands of powerful revolutionaries who ask that she make the death masks of beheaded aristocrats, some of whom she knows?

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom. 

Madame Tussaud is something of a departure from Michelle Moran's previous books: Cleopatra's Daughter, The Heretic Queen and Nefertiti, all of which are set in ancient Egypt and Rome. This one's set just before and during the French Revolution.

When I first heard about the book, last year, I decided I was going to read it just based on the fact that I'd really like Michelle Moran's previous books. I was expecting a carefully researched and written book peopled with vivid and interesting characters. That's exactly what I got. Lafayette, Marie, her family, Camille and so many others, not to mention the Royal Family.

Now, I will admit that my knowledge of the French Revolution is spotty at best, dating from when I was back in grade school, but the perceptions I have of what I learned back then portray it as a good thing and the leaders - especially Lafayette as being heroes, but that's not the impression I particularly got from reading the book. Instead, things are very ambiguous as they're seen from Marie's point of view - a person who had friends on both sides of the divide. Were the Royal Family and Marie Antoinette really as bad as they're made out to be? In a sense, especially as the book progressed, I found it to be rather hard to read - especially for the part of the book that describes the Reign of Terror.

I'm thinking that maybe I should do some more reading on the subject sooner or later - and for me, that feeling is a big plus when I'm reading historical fiction. Another plus in my mind is the author's note of sorts that Michelle Moran has at the end of the book, summing up the real lives such as we know them for the main characters of the book, and for what was going on at the time - what was condensed and changed from fact, especially. To me, having both those there are big bonuses. I'm also trying to remember - my copy of Janson's Art History and the other art books I have are inaccessible at the moment, if there is a painting of Camille just after his death. I'm inclined to think so, but not a hundred percent certain. It's one of the scenes in the book, where that's being talked about. I just can't quite picture it.

Overall, I really liked reading Madame Tussaud, and I recommend it, even if it's not your usual forte in historical fiction reading. It's definitely worth a try, as are Michelle Moran's other books.

Books I Read and Reviewed In September

It's been a good month, with the first ARC I've been given to review, and some books I'd been looking forward to reading.
In (more or less) reverse order from newest review to oldest, the books I read in the past month were:

Against The Tide Of Years
S. M. Stirling

A quote from my review:

There's lots of familiar ancient history, just shifted a bit by the influence of the Nantucketers. That's one of the things I'm finding that I really love about the series: the historical detail....As a lover of ancient and classical history, one of the things I like about Stirling's Nantucket trilogy is being able to go "I recognize that!" when the characters run into a place, person or culture.

Catfantastic V
Editors: Andre Norton and Martin H. Greenberg

A snippet from my review:

A great book for any cat lover, sure to leave you purring with delight (it sure did me, and kept me up nice and late, reading). I should give it five stars if I did ratings. I think I'm going to have to set up a rating system and graphics soon, given the number of times I've said that lately.

There's stories by Andre Norton, Mercedes Lackey, David Drake, Barry Longyear and many more well known and great authors included in this volume.

The Quest Of The Holy Grail
Trans. P. M. Matarasso

A snippet from my review:

The Quest of the Holy Grail is many things: engaging, fun, exciting, and to one living in the medieval world, educational. The translator figures that the work dates to between 1215 and 1230. It is also of British authorship and is described as being a spiritual fable rather than a romance. It is also considered to be a part of the Prose Lancelot cycle.

I read this book for both the Pre-Printing Press Challenge and the Arthurian Challenge.

Ghosts Of Ottawa
Glen Shackleton

A snippet from my review:

Ghosts of Ottawa is the book to go with several of the walks offered by Haunted Walks in Ottawa: there's stories I recognize from the Original Haunted Walk, which I did a couple of days ago, and there's some that are clearly from their other walks as well. The stories are given in much more detail, and believe me - reading them in the daylight won't help if you're afraid to sleep afterwards!

Bitten
Kelley Armstrong

A snippet from my review:

Bitten is the first book of Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, which is very popular among fans of urban fantasy/paranormal novels. The book focuses on Elena, the only female werewolf and her struggles to make a life for herself away from the Pack. However, she gets drawn back in order to solve a bit of a mystery. I suspect the remaining books in the series are centered on other characters and other aspects of the otherworld.

Cleopatra's Daughter
Michelle Moran

A quote from my review:

I really like the weaving of history and fiction in Cleopatra's Daughter, and the historical notes at the end of the book make it even better, as there she elaborates a bit on exactly what was historical fact, and which elements the author chose to add to the story. But, when I was reading it, I couldn't really tell them apart - mark of a good storyteller.

The Man Who Loved Books Too Much
Allison Hoover Bartlett

A quote from my review:

I loved reading this book, and I couldn't put it down, finishing it after one AM the day I started reading it. The question the book asked me was "How far would you go to get that book?" There was no slow build-up. I was caught within the first few pages. The one thing I wish there was more information on was identifying books as valuable, such as what marks a first edition. Guess I'm going to have to do some research on my own now. I have to admit, I'm now curious.

The Heretic Queen
Michelle Moran

A snippet from my review:

There's a sense of the history of Egypt that just flows from the pages of this book and permeates the story, with elements that are familiar to us, but have been given a new and different spin for the story. Michelle Moran is clearly familiar with the period, and her love of history is clear in the way she's written her novels so far. Everything seems to fit together in such a way that it's not at all jarring to the reader.

Cleopatra's Daughter - Michelle Moran

Cleopatra's Daughter
Michelle Moran
Crown
Copyright Date: 2009
978-0307409126

The amazon.com description:

The marriage of Marc Antony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time, a tale of unbridled passion with earth-shaking political consequences. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony’s revengeful rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. Their three orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome; only two– the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander–survive the journey. Delivered to the household of Octavian’s sister, the siblings cling to each other and to the hope that they will return one day to their rightful place on the throne of Egypt. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian’s family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings and desires deep within their own hearts.

The fateful tale of Selene and Alexander is brought brilliantly to life in Cleopatra’s Daughter. Recounted in Selene’s youthful and engaging voice, it introduces a compelling cast of historical characters: Octavia, the emperor Octavian’s kind and compassionate sister, abandoned by Marc Antony for Cleopatra; Livia, Octavian's bitter and jealous wife; Marcellus, Octavian’s handsome, flirtatious nephew and heir apparent; Tiberius, Livia’s sardonic son and Marcellus’s great rival for power; and Juba, Octavian’s watchful aide, whose honored position at court has far-reaching effects on the lives of the young Egyptian royals.

Selene’s narrative is animated by the concerns of a young girl in any time and place–the possibility of finding love, the pull of friendship and family, and the pursuit of her unique interests and talents. While coping with the loss of both her family and her ancestral kingdom, Selene must find a path around the dangers of a foreign land. Her accounts of life in Rome are filled with historical details that vividly capture both the glories and horrors of the times. She dines with the empire’s most illustrious poets and politicians, witnesses the creation of the Pantheon, and navigates the colorful, crowded marketplaces of the city where Roman-style justice is meted out with merciless authority.

Based on meticulous research, Cleopatra’s Daughter is a fascinating portrait of imperial Rome and of the people and events of this glorious and most tumultuous period in human history. Emerging from the shadows of the past, Selene, a young woman of irresistible charm and preternatural intelligence, will capture your heart.

The story starts out with the deaths of Antony and Cleopatra, then follows the life of their three children, Alexander, Selene and Ptolomy as they are forced to go to Rome and live in Octavian's family.

From the perspective of Selene, we meet Octavian (Augustus), Livia and a whole host of other Roman figures, including Julia, Octavian's daughter, and Marcellus, who is his heir. There's also Tiberius, the son of Livia.

This is a book that's good for both older teens and adults. There's nothing overly descriptive in terms of violence or sex, but the descriptions there are are enough to bring the scenes, characters and Roman lifestyle vividly to life. The settings of the story included the Colosseum, Capri, the Forum and the Palatine hill, among others.

There's slightly less of the descriptions of food, settings and scenery in Cleopatra's Daughter than there were in Michelle Moran's previous two books, but there's still enough to get a feeling for the world of Ancient Rome.

It's clear that the author loves ancient history, as she's done a wonderful job setting the stories she writes in that world: first ancient Egypt with Nefertiti and The Heretic Queen, and now the beginnings of Imperial Rome.

Reading Suetonius and Tacitus gave me a bit of a mental picture for some of the characters such as Julia and Livia, and I have to say, Michelle Moran's characterizations are vivid, and spot on with the ancient sources. She's woven a good story with a satisfying ending. I'll leave it up to you to decide if it's actually a "happy" ending. It does resolve all the plot points of the story though.

I really like the weaving of history and fiction in Cleopatra's Daughter, and the historical notes at the end of the book make it even better, as there she elaborates a bit on exactly what was historical fact, and which elements the author chose to add to the story. But, when I was reading it, I couldn't really tell them apart - mark of a good storyteller.

One thing Michelle Moran has done with her previous two books is inspire me to go looking for more information about the historical figures she's written about. Cleopatra's Daughter is no different.

I'm going to make this a double recommendation and suggest reading Jo Graham's Hand of Isis as well. The former is historical fantasy, while this one is historical fiction, but I think the two books go well together. Either way, Cleopatra's Daughter picks up where Jo Graham's book ended, almost exactly.

I loved Cleopatra's Daughter and I can't recommend it enough. Michelle Moran has written a book where the anticipation and the wait to read it has definitely been worth it (and the late nights reading).

Cleopatra's Daughter Arrived

My copy of Michelle Moran's latest book, Cleopatra's Daughter just arrived in the mail today. Apparently it came around 8:30 this morning and I only just noticed it now. Forget finishing S. M. Stirling's Against The Tide Of Years for now, although I'll get back to that one next week. All other books have been dropped until I've finished reading this one.

The reviews I've seen on other blogs have been so promising on top of the way I loved her previous two books, so I've been anticipating this one a lot.

It's Monday! What Are You reading? September 7

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is kindly hosted each Monday by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog.

This was definitely a slow week.

I only got The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran and The Man Who Loved Books Too Much by Allison Hoover Bartlett read.

For the coming week, I'd really like to finish reading Sir Gawain And The Green Knight. It shouldn't take a week, but I'm attempting the Middle-English version of the Early English Text Society. At the same time, I can claim to be reading the J.R.R. Tolkien translation, as I'm using it as a cheat-sheet. Getting this read would be a step towards completing both the Pre-Printing Press Challenge and the Arthurian Challenge.

Beyond that, I'd like to get Defenders of the Scroll read.

The Heretic Queen - Michelle Moran

The Heretic Queen
Michelle Moran
Three Rivers Press
Copyright Date: 2009
978-0307381767

The jacket description:

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family–with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

The Heretic Queen is the sequel to Michelle Moran's novel Nefertiti. The story focuses on Nefertari, the niece of Nefertiti, and the last surviving member of her family. This may be a sequel, but I think you could easily read it without having read the first book, and not miss much of anything. Having read Nefertiti will just make the background/history that much clearer.

Michelle Moran takes the reader on a journey into ancient Egypt that involves all the senses. The whole book is written from the point of view of Nefertari, so we see everything she does. All five of the senses are involved, from sight to hearing, taste and smell. It gives the book that much more depth.

There's a sense of the history of Egypt that just flows from the pages of this book and permeates the story, with elements that are familiar to us, but have been given a new and different spin for the story. Michelle Moran is clearly familiar with the period, and her love of history is clear in the way she's written her novels so far. Everything seems to fit together in such a way that it's not at all jarring to the reader.

I found that I got into the flow of the story a bit faster than I did with Nefertiti and it kept me up late at night just so I'd know how things turned out. I think The Heretic Queen moves a bit faster. It almost seemed to be a shorter book than the previous one. Or perhaps it was just that I'm now a bit more familiar with Moran's style. Either way, I loved it.

Nefertari is a very engaging character, and one with whom I'm not especially familiar with as a historical character. To be honest, although I'd read a bit about Ramesses the Great, I'd never even heard of her before. As a result, I have no knowledge of any historical controversies and character traits to influence me in my reading of the fictional version of her character.

Overall, I loved this book, and I recommend it to any reader who likes stories set in ancient Egypt, or even to anyone who likes historical fiction in general. If I gave books a rating, I'd give The Heretic Queen five stars! I know I'm going to love Moran's next book, Cleopatra's Daughter just as much when I get a copy.

August Review Round Up

August sure has flown by. The end of the month snuck up on me almost before I was prepared for it.

Anyway, here's my round-up of my reviews for the past month:

The most recent book read and reviewed was Curse of the Tahiera by Wendy Gillissen.

A snippet from my review:

The characters grew on me quickly and I had to know what was happening to them next. I still haven't quite shaken them out of my head yet.

The book starts out as a typical fantasy/journey, but takes on it's own dimensions and character quickly, growing into it's own storyline.

Hunting Ground, by Patricia Briggs was a book I've been looking forward to since I finished Bone Crossed back in March. It's the latest book set in her Urban Fantasy world, the sequel to Cry Wolf.

A quote from my review:

One thing I like about all the books set in this world, and Hunting Ground is no exception here, is the way the author sets up her mysteries so you think the bad guy is one character, and then throws in a twist or two, to fool the reader. So far, every single time, the villain has proven to be someone else at the end of the book.

Defenders of the Faith by James Reston Jr.
This was the first book I've been offered to review, which makes it a bit special. It examines the years between 1520 and 1536 in both Europe/The Holy Roman Empire and the Ottoman Empire. Definitely an interesting read.

A snippet from my review:

Overall though, I really enjoyed reading this book, and I feel like I learned a bit more about history, and about this period in our history especially. I'd recommend this as a good overview/introductory book about the years between 1520 and 1536. Defenders of the Faith is going to stay on my shelves as part of my "permanent" collection of books.

Stargate SG1 The Barque Of Heaven by Suzanne Woods is my current favorite of the Stargate SG1 novels I've read to date. This was definitely a five star book, and I think I'm going to have to implement that kind of rating on All Booked Up soon.

A snippet from my review:

The story is non-stop, and I found that I didn't need to have seen any of the later episodes in order to understand it (still haven't gotten past episode nine of season one). I just couldn't put it down. The characters seemed true to the series as well, and there were several points where I could "hear" the dialogue in the voices from the series.

Stargate SG1 City Of The Gods by Sonny Whitelaw. Another of the Stargate SG1 novels. A nice, quick read for a change of pace.

A snippet from my review:

City of the Gods is set within the Aztec/Mayan cultures of Mexico/Central America, which I found quite interesting. The story links with the little I know about the region/period well, although I'm sure that the story would drive anyone who really knows the cultures crazy (as have some stories set in the periods and areas I'm more familiar with).

Stargate SG1 the First Amendment by Ashley McConnell. The first Stargate novel I read.

A snippet from my review:

Ashley McConnell seems to have the character "voices" and attitudes matching the show as far as I can tell. Looking at the list of her other novels, novelizations for TV shows seems to be her particular niche. I saw a Highlander novel, Quantum Leap and several other Stargate novels listed under her name as well.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran was a very good novel, and a good introduction to her books. I'm now reading The Heretic Queen, and I'm looking forward to reading her new book Cleopatra's Daughter as well.

A snippet from my review:

With a rich and detailed landscape, Nefertiti paints a wonderfully fascinating picture of Egyptian life during the time of Nefertiti and Akhenaten. Nearly as much as King Tut, Nefertiti has captured the imagination of the world, and Michelle Moran has created a captivating picture of this powerful woman and the events of the time. Nefertiti is told from the perspective of Mutnodjmet, her sister, and a figure I hadn't heard of before I read this book.

Order in Chaos by Jack Whyte is another book I'd been looking forward to for a while. Ever since Standard of Honor came out, to be honest.

A snippet from my review:

Jack Whyte writes incredibly vivid and exciting books. On the other hand, I found that I still couldn't quite picture any of the characters in my head.

Anyway, Order in Chaos was well worth the read, and if you like historical fiction, I recommend it strongly.

Standard of Honor by Jack Whyte is one of the books I bought when it first came out, and never got around to reading. That was a mistake! The book was really good. On the other hand, waiting until now meant that I didn't have to wait for the next book to come out for very long.

A snippet from my review:

Running through all three of the books, Knights of the Black and White, Standard of Honor and the newest one, Order in Chaos is a thread that seems as though it were straight from the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail. Jack Whyte is playing with the idea of an inner order that pre-dates the Templars in this series. Overall, I'd have to say it works too. The "Friendly Families", as he terms this, certainly do seem to add an extra air of mystery to the story. Perhaps it lessens the historical accuracy, but that's why its termed "historical fiction", after all.

Library Loot - August 26

Library Loot is hosted each week by Marg of Reading Adventures, and Eva from A Striped Armchair. It's also a great way to find out more about different books.

After a couple of weeks where I wasn't borrowing books, I went back to the library yesterday. Only got two books out, but with the number of books I've bought recently, two should be plenty.

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran
Interestingly, I can only seem to find the upcoming paperback release on Amazon to link to.

The cover blurb:

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty’s royal family–with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl’s deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh’s aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family’s history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes this union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Ramesses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history.

I just finished reading Nefertiti last week, and loved it. This book looks to be just as good.

Graceling
Kristin Cashore
Amazon.com product description:

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug. When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.

This one I'm borrowing on the strength of several reviews I've seen on other blogs. The descriptions make it look like it'll be a really good read. Again, I've linked to the upcoming paperback release.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - Aug. 24

It's Monday! What Are You Reading is kindly hosted each week by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog. Now that I've participated for a few weeks, I'm finding that the meme is not only fun, it helps me set out some goals for the week.

Last week I thought I was being far too ambitious when I set out the list. It turns out that I wasn't so out of line after all.

Books I completed:

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran.
Historical fiction, the story of Nefertiti, her husband and the mysterious Amarna period in Egyptian history. I liked the book a lot.

City of the Gods by Sonny Whitelaw.
One of a number of Stargate SG1 novels I've bought. Not bad, and makes for a nice change of pace after the longer books I've been reading lately.

The Barque Of Heaven by Suzanne Wood.
My favorite of the Stargate novels I've read so far.

Defenders of the Faith by James Reston Jr.
Non Fiction. A good overview of the years between 1520 and 1536 from both the European perspective and that of the Ottoman Empire.

Currently, I'm reading Chalice by Robin McKinley, so I've met all of last week's goals.

This week I want to get Curse of the Tahiera by Wendy Gillissen read. I'm also skimming a Dictionary of Mythology that I bought yesterday. Beyond that, I have no set goals for the week.

Nefertiti - Michelle Moran

Nefertiti
Michelle Moran
Three Rivers Press
Copyright Date: 2008
978-0307381743
The jacket description:

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped by all that her strong personality will temper the young Amunhotep's heretical desire to forsake Egypt's ancient gods, overthrow the priests of Amun, and introduce a new sun god for all to worship.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people. Her charisma is matched only by her husband's perceived generosity: Amunhotep showers his subjects with lofty promises. The love of the commoners will not be enough, however, if the royal couple is not able to conceive an heir, and as Nefertiti turns her attention to producing a son, she fails to see that the powerful priests, along with the military, are plotting against her husband's rule. The only person wise enough to recognize the shift in political winds-and brave enough to tell the queen-is her younger sister, Mutnodjmet.

Observant and contemplative, Mutnodjmet has never shared her sister's desire for power. She yearns for a quiet existence away from family duty and the intrigues of court. Her greatest hope is to share her life with the general who has won her heart. But as Nefertiti learns of the precariousness of her reign, she declares that her sister must remain at court and marry for political gain, not love. To achieve her independence, Mutnodjmet must defy her sister, the most powerful woman in Egypt-while also remaining loyal to the needs of her family.

Love, betrayal, political unrest, plague, and religious conflict-Nefertiti brings ancient Egypt to life in vivid detail. Fast-paced and historically accurate, it is the dramatic story of two unforgettable women living through a remarkable period in history.

With a rich and detailed landscape, Nefertiti paints a wonderfully fascinating picture of Egyptian life during the time of Nefertiti and Akhenaten. Nearly as much as King Tut, Nefertiti has captured the imagination of the world, and Michelle Moran has created a captivating picture of this powerful woman and the events of the time. Nefertiti is told from the perspective of Mutnodjmet, her sister, and a figure I hadn't heard of before I read this book.

Unlike some of the books I've been reading lately, such as Hand of Isis by Jo Graham, Nefertiti is straight historical fiction with no elements of the fantastical. It makes for a nice change to know that everything in the book is as accurate as our current knowledge knows.

I'll admit that I couldn't help but compare Nefertiti with Hand of Isis, even though the two books are very different. I think it's because the two are about ancient Egypt, and are also told from similar perspectives.

Details can really make or break a book. In this case, I found that most of the little details about life made the book. I loved reading about the herb-lore that Mutny knew, and the uses she put her knowledge towards. I had to laugh as well at the antics of her cat, Bastet. Mine does the exact same thing, except she's no kitten.

Nefertiti is a book that can be read and enjoyed in two or three sittings, if you don't mind staying up late. However, I found it to be well worth the loss of sleep, being a captivating read. I think I've commented recently about novels making me want to find out more about a place or period. This book has turned out to be another one of those.

I'm looking forwards to the next book, Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran, due out next month.

Library Loot - August 5

Library Loot is hosted each week by Marg of Reading Adventures and Eva from A Striped Armchair.

I find it a neat thing to participate in because I like to see what people are borrowing from the library (and it encourages me to borrow books, rather than buy them).

I've only got the one book out this week:

Nefertiti
Michelle Moran

Amazon.com product description:

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped that her strong personality will temper the young ruler’s heretical desire to forsake Egypt’s ancient gods.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people but fails to see that powerful priests are plotting against her husband’s rule. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game; one that could cost her everything she holds dear.

I've been hearing quite a lot of good things about Michelle Moran on the blogs I follow, and, given how much I enjoyed reading Hand of Isis, I'm on a bit of an Egypt kick right now, so it is a good time to try a new author. Especially, with the newest book by Michelle Moran coming out next month: Cleopatra's Daughter.