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July 2014. What are you reading?

For discussions of historical fiction. Threads that do not relate to historical fiction should be started in the Chat forum or elsewhere on the forum, depending on the topic.
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EC2
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Post by EC2 » Fri July 25th, 2014, 11:04 am

I've been asked to judge the HNS Indie award so my reading for the next 4 weeks will be the 4 shortlisted novels.

Not in order of reading, but just as they arrived yesterday.

A Gift for the Magus by Linda Proud
The Subtlest Soul by Virginia Cox
The Jacobite's Apprentice by David Ebsworth
Samoa by Robert Shaffer

I'm looking forward to reading them but no feedback until after the award announcement!
Les proz e les vassals
Souvent entre piez de chevals
Kar ja li coard n’I chasront

'The Brave and the valiant
Are always to be found between the hooves of horses
For never will cowards fall down there.'

Histoire de Guillaume le Mareschal

www.elizabethchadwick.com

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Brenna
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Post by Brenna » Fri July 25th, 2014, 12:32 pm

[quote=""Susan""]Having just finished the third book of the All Souls trilogy and being somewhat disappointed, [/quote]

Wait, what? No! Ok, need additional info!

Finished "The Visitors" and it certainly ended better than it began and I'm glad I stuck with it afterall!

Now going to pick up two books from the library this morning-hmmm choices!
Brenna

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Susan
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Post by Susan » Fri July 25th, 2014, 12:55 pm

Originally Posted by Susan
Having just finished the third book of the All Souls trilogy and being somewhat disappointed,
[quote=""Brenna""]Wait, what? No! Ok, need additional info!
[/quote]

Brenna, I posted a short review here: http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/ ... php?t=6613 I didn't hate it, but it was no where near as good as the first two.
~Susan~
~Unofficial Royalty~
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fljustice
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Post by fljustice » Fri July 25th, 2014, 4:57 pm

Finished another research book, Boudica by Vanessa Collingridge--covered the same ground as Boudica: Iron Age Warrior Queen, but without the footnotes. Starting an ARC: The Romances of George Sand by Anna Faktorovich.
Faith L. Justice, Author Website
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Brenna
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Post by Brenna » Fri July 25th, 2014, 6:19 pm

[quote=""Susan""]Brenna, I posted a short review here: http://www.historicalfictiononline.com/ ... php?t=6613 I didn't hate it, but it was no where near as good as the first two.[/quote]

Thanks Susan! I find trilogies to be so difficult-the 3rd is never as good as the 1st and invariably there are loose ends. I'll take your suggestion and still read it though!

Got James Aitcheson's Sworn Sword
Anne Fortier's The Lost Sisterhood
Barbara Erskine's House of Echos and Midnight is a lonely place

Suggestion on which to read next?
Brenna

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Misfit
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Post by Misfit » Sat July 26th, 2014, 7:18 pm

Finished The Paris Affair by Theresa Grant, have The Paris Plot which is a short novella Grant wrote for her fans, then on to the last of the series under the Kensington label, A Berkely (sp?) Affair. I was going to wait and see if library would pick up the e-book, but I couldn't wait to see what happens next and there was a copy on the shelf at my local branch.
At home with a good book and the cat...
...is the only place I want to be

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MLE (Emily Cotton)
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Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
Location: California Bay Area

Post by MLE (Emily Cotton) » Sat July 26th, 2014, 8:40 pm

Just finished The Courier's Tale by Peter Walker, about the life and times of Cardinal Reginald Pole, the man who told off Henry VIII in writing. And who spent the rest of his life avoiding assassins.

It was well-crafted, considering that Walker stayed very close to documented facts and drew extensively from actual letters and publications. For a renaissance aficionado, it was fun to see little-known historical figures dance in and out of the story, doing what they actually did. I fear that it might be a little dry as fiction, though.

Also on the NF side, finished Ladies in Waiting. Extensive detail on the feminine side of Henry VIII's court.

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Berengaria
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Post by Berengaria » Sun July 27th, 2014, 6:00 pm

I am re-reading the two published books in Ken Follett's Century trilogy. Always enjoy his writing! :)
Image My 4 girls!


“No entertainment is so cheap as reading, nor any pleasure so lasting. She will not want new fashions nor regret the loss of expensive diversions or variety of company if she can be amused with an author in her closet.” ~Lady Montagu

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Nefret
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Favourite HF book: Welsh Princes trilogy
Preferred HF: The Middle Ages (England), New Kingdom Egypt, Medieval France
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Post by Nefret » Sun July 27th, 2014, 9:33 pm

[quote=""Berengaria""]I am re-reading the two published books in Ken Follett's Century trilogy. Always enjoy his writing! :) [/quote]

What time period is that? I'm hanging out in the 14th century in Kingsbridge.
Into battle we ride with Gods by our side
We are strong and not afraid to die
We have an urge to kill and our lust for blood has to be fulfilled
WE´LL FIGHT TILL THE END! And send our enemies straight to Hell!
- "Into Battle"
{Ensiferum}

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Berengaria
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Post by Berengaria » Sun July 27th, 2014, 9:52 pm

[quote=""Nefret""]What time period is that? I'm hanging out in the 14th century in Kingsbridge.[/quote]
It's the twentieth century .....very good reading!

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