What are you reading? February 2013

emr · Post by **emr** » Sun February 17th, 2013, 1:37 pm

The Woman Who Wouldn't Die by Colin Cotterill

Ash · Post by **Ash** » Sun February 17th, 2013, 2:56 pm

Hawk Quest

Tanzanite · Post by **Tanzanite** » Mon February 18th, 2013, 11:12 pm

[quote=""EC2""]Nearly finished The Agincourt Bride. I've enjoyed it. I'm not altogether sure about some of the happenings in the novel, but since it's not my period, I've gone with the flow and been entertained. [/quote]

I finished that the other day. I enjoyed it as well although I thought the middle with Catherine moving from castle to castle got a little boring after awhile. Now reading The Forgotten Queen by DL Bogdan.

Misfit · Post by **Misfit** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 12:35 am

Reading an old OOP called Bygones by Frank Williamson. 1880s Philadelphia, but I believe it goes through WWII. Good stuff so far, and not really romancy as the Zebra cover by Pino would lead you to believe. Big fat saga.

annis · Post by **annis** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 1:24 am

The Road to Sardis by Stephanie Plowman. A tale of hubris as Athens self-destructs at the height of her power by undertaking the disastrous Sicilian Expedition of 415-413 BC.

Again Plowman's work rides an uneasy line between YA and adult fiction and would, I think, have had most appeal for the sort of romantically-inclined and scholarly girl that I imagine Plowman to have been herself. The author's weakness continues to lie in her rather one-dimensional characterisation. TRTS's hero Lycius is another typically noble-minded, dutiful youth, but at least not as irritatingly priggish as Quintus from To Spare the Conquered. The story of Athens' downfall is vividly, clearly and movingly told, and I can see why readers agree that this is Plowman's best work. Famous/notorious Athenian general Alkibiades gets short shrift here - he's depicted as an overgrown spoilt brat still prepared to toss his toys out of the cot if thwarted in any way - even when the toy in question is the city to which he owes allegiance...

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 9:22 am

River of Destiny by Barbara Erskine.

Vanessa · Post by **Vanessa** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 10:20 am

Looking forward to finding out what you think of River of Destiny, Madeleine.

EC2 · Post by **EC2** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 12:30 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""]River of Destiny by Barbara Erskine.[/quote]

I really enjoyed it - thought it was a great return to form.

Madeleine · Post by **Madeleine** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 3:07 pm

[quote=""EC2""]I really enjoyed it - thought it was a great return to form.[/quote]

I wasn't that keen on the last one of hers that I read - Daughters of Fire - so I have high hopes for this one as it's had several good recommendations.

Lisa · Post by **Lisa** » Tue February 19th, 2013, 4:20 pm

[quote=""Madeleine""]I wasn't that keen on the last one of hers that I read - Daughters of Fire - so I have high hopes for this one as it's had several good recommendations.[/quote]

Same here, last Erskine I read was On the Edge of Darkness, and that just wasn't very good at all. I still have Time's Legacy on my bookshelf, unread - is that one any better?