Waiting on Wednesday: New Pompeii by Daniel Godfrey
13 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, Daniel Gordon, New Pompeii, Waiting on Wednesday
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week I’m highlighting: New Pompeii by Daniel Gordon due out in June this year. Because – replica Pompeii, hidden in central Asia and filled with Romans!
In the near future, energy giant Novus Particles develops the technology to transport objects and people from the deep past to the present. Their biggest secret: New Pompeii. A replica of the city hidden deep in central Asia, filled with Romans pulled through time a split second before the volcano erupted.
Historian Nick Houghton doesn’t know why he’s been chosen to be the company’s historical advisor. He’s just excited to be there. Until he starts to wonder what happened to his predecessor. Until he realizes that NovusPart have more secrets than even the conspiracy theorists suspect.
Until he realizes that NovusPart have underestimated their captives…
Epicly epic!
12 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: 10 epic series, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. The topic this week is:
‘Ten Books Every X Should Read’
And in this case I’ve decided ‘x’ = epic fantasy lover. So, if you want a series to really sink your teeth into here are my 10 choices for this week (all with links to 1st in series over at Goodreads):
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
- The Broken Empire by Mark Lawrence
- The Lord of the Rings by JRRTolkien
- The Kingkiller Chronicles by Patrick Rothfuss
- The Game of Thrones by GRRMartin
- The Gentleman Bastards by Scott Lynch
- The Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb – I confess that I have only read the first but I will be completing this!
- The Copper Cat trilogy by Jen Williams
- The Red Queen’s War by Mark Lawrence- yet to be completed but the first two books are excellent
- The Divine Cities Trilogy by RJBennett – again, to be completed but so far excellent.
Masks and Shadows by Stephanie Burgis
Masks and Shadows is an enjoyable and fast paced read that succeeds in combining historical facts and fantasy fiction into a carefully woven story of espionage and dark magic.
Charlotte von Steinbeck is a visitor at the Eszterháza Palace. Still in mourning following her husband’s death Charlotte accepted an invitation to the Palace from her sister Sophie, mistress to Prince Nikolaus. Charlotte isn’t the only visitor. She’s joined by a famous singer called Carlo Morelli, a Prussian spy and an alchemist! In spite of the wealth and opulence of the palace however it appears that dark plans are being plotted, blackmail is being wrought and occult style magic is creating a sinister atmosphere that fortunately most of the privileged guests are blissfully unaware of.
The story gets off to a very quick start with the death of two opera singers who have eloped together only to be quite viciously murdered. This certainly arouses the curiosity and fear around the Palace as people speculate about how the two met their untimely and grisly end. Meanwhile, this leaves the Kapellmeister, Haydn, short of two singers for his forthcoming performance for the Prince and in this respect we get to also follow in the footsteps of Anna, previously maid to Charlotte now elevated to singer following the discovery of her own musical ability.
What I enjoyed about Masks and Shadows was the combination of intrigue, dark and hidden corridors, mysterious secret societies and occult like magic blended with plenty of characters that it was easy to either like, suspect or dislike. To be honest the story feels almost like an elaborate production which fits perfectly with the musical theme that runs throughout. There is a strong cast of characters each with their own particular sequence of events and motives. Charlotte, whilst the older sister, is also the more sheltered of the two. Her younger sister Sophie is something of a spoilt brat to be honest and on more than one occasion I wished that Charlotte had used a firmer tone with her (or just slapped her!). I really couldn’t like Sophie at all – or the Prince for that matter – so in that respect the two of them were perfectly matched and deserving of each other. Charlotte and Carlo on the other hand, after a rather disastrous first meeting during which both of them manage to display an equal amount of pride and prejudice, eventually begin to develop more romantic feelings towards each other. I wouldn’t class this as a romantic story at all but there is definitely a love story taking place in the wings. Carlo is a famous singer – a castrato to be precise. I can’t profess to have known what a castrato is to be honest although the name is a little bit of a giveaway. Basically a few hundred years ago, and until the practice was outlawed, certain young men, who displayed a talent for singing and were yet to go through puberty, were castrated in order to retain a high singing voice. Of course this had other side effects and castratos, although in one respect were revered for their singing abilities were also the subject of much prejudice and ridicule.
So, what else. Well, this is a sumptuous production and yet Burgis manages to rein in the prose which leaves us with just enough detail to tantalise without being overburdened with weighty descriptions. The setting is of course the Eszterháza Palace which is actually one of the residences owned by the Eszterhazy family. Actually built by Prince Nikolaus it was incredibly isolated – a fact that adds to the fear factor in this particular story. Labyrinth style corridors make it easy for the characters to become lost and secret passageways make it even easier for those that would plot to hide away.
On the whole a very enjoyable read. Well written, fast paced, characters that you can like and dislike in fairly equal measure. No quick fix solutions or instantaneous attractions and a dark plot with creepy ghostlike manifestations.
I would certainly read more.
I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Edelweiss for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
Mystery she wrote…
11 April 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Agatha Christie, And Then There Were None, April Question, The Classics Club
As part of the Classics Club
‘Women’s Classic Literature Event 2016’
The question for the month of April is:
‘Share an interesting fact about the life of the author you’re currently reading for this event.’
My next read for the Club is going to be And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I haven’t started yet but I’ve just picked up a copy and so decided to make Agatha Christie the author of choice for this month’s question.
Now, I could just put a bunch of facts down now that I’ve read up about Agatha being home schooled or that she wrote her first books as a challenge from her sister Madge but what I found most intriguing, particularly given her style of books which have proved so very popular over the years, is the fact that she went missing herself! Life imitating art imitating life!?!?
On the 3rd December 1926 Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days sparking a major manhunt involving police, volunteers and even aeroplanes!
Her car was found fairly quickly by the police and didn’t seem to have any signs of foul play and yet at the same time held no clues as to Agatha’s strange disappearance!
Agatha’s husband was suspected of foul play. Arthur Conan Doyle tried to find Agatha using a medium and Dorothy Sayers visited the spot where her car was found to search for clues!
Finally, after 11 days of searching Agatha was found. Located in a hotel in Harrogate. To this day nobody has ever solved this mystery. It is believed that Agatha’s husband was having an affair and she did in fact divorce him later on. It is also suggested that she may have been in some form of car accident and suffered amnesia. Another theory is that she was in a ‘fugue’ state – brought on by depression.
Basically, it’s a mystery and perhaps only one that Miss Marple or Poirot himself can solve! Was it all a very elaborate publicity stunt?? Who knows but it really does go to show that truth is sometimes stranger than fiction!
What really happened people. Foul play or just a hoax??
Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey, readalong week No.4
Today is week 4 of our readalong of Kushiel’s Justice by Jacqueline Carey. The schedule and participants are below. All welcome to join in or to simply jump in with the comments. This week we cover chapters 23-29, and our host is Tethyan Books. Without further ado, to the questions with the customary warning of spoilers!
1) Given the developments since last time, what do you think the Maghuin Donn are after with Imriel? Could it be related to Dorelei’s and Alais’s dream? Were Imriel and Dorelei right to refuse their blessing?
As to what the Maghuin Donn are after I’m not really sure. Other than they see Imriel perhaps upsetting the balance somehow, in fact there is already a changing of tack isn’t there now Dorelei is pregnant? As to refusing their blessing. It’s difficult to say without knowing really what the implications of that blessing would mean. Does it have any negative connotations. If not then it perhaps seems a bit extreme to refuse it, but, it could be that the blessing means something more? Or maybe it’s a trick of some sort?
2) Imriel and Dorelei’s relationship is very honest now. Do you think their plan is a wise one or not? What do you think of the Alban custom of limited-term marriage?
I like that Imriel and Dorelei are being so honest. I do feel sorry for Dorelei and the fact that she loves Imriel. And, yes, I think it’s good that they have a plan – whether they stick to it remains to be seen because as we all know ‘the best laid plans, etc, etc’ This idea of a limited term marriage – I suppose it’s a case of swings and roundabouts isn’t it? I have mixed feelings about it. In one respect I think it’s a good idea because you wouldn’t feel trapped, etc. In another way it feels like an easy get out clause doesn’t it and I wonder whether people will really give their whole to a relationship where they know they have a limited time to give it a shot? The other thing about this arrangement, and as Dorelei has already demonstrated, a twelve month period is more than enough time for the young woman to become pregnant and have a child. So, who gets left holding the baby?? This isn’t a small thing. Will Imriel take the baby with him when he returns home – I can’t say for sure but it seems highly unlikely doesn’t it. I could be wrong though, maybe the baby will accompany him – and even if it does, for royalty it wouldn’t really have a major impact but for other young women who are not quite as privileged it seems that taking a year out to have a trial marriage could lead them with a lot more responsibility at the end of that twelve month period. That being said I don’t know enough of what sort of provision is made for such occurrences so it could be the responsibility is divided.
3) What did you think of the Alban nuptials, with respect to the ones in Terre d’Ange? Did anything in particular stick out as memorable?
It was a lot more wild and carefree wasn’t it not to mention quite long with the three day business – uninhibited is the word I’m going for. I think I would prefer the Alban nuptials. I enjoyed reading about that aspect and thought their ceremony came across as clean and simple. Although – at least the nuptial at the other end didn’t have the Maghuin Donn showing up – that certainly put a bit of a dampener on things didn’t it?
4) We get to see Hyacinthe again! What are your thoughts on his plan to not pass on his knowledge? Do you think Phedre and Joscelin are completely on board with it, and do you think this ‘secret task’ will affect Imriel’s story?
I don’t know. I suppose Hyacinthe is in a perfect position to see how badly this has all affected him and it would be tough to put somebody else in the same position wouldn’t it? Then again, to lose all that knowledge seems quite dire. I think between the three of them maybe they’ve conjured up something different than we suspect and yes, I do think this will affect Imriel’s story somehow. I have no idea how though but I’m sure Carey had something in mind when she roped Phedre and Joscelin into this!
5) Imriel’s going to start off as a Prince of Alba with a neighborly cattle raid. What do you think about this tradition? Is the violence and risk worth the respect and goodwill Imriel will likely get for it?
No. I agree with the females. It just feels silly. I prefer the Skaldi way of settling things with the holmgang. This just feels like inviting trouble where there doesn’t need to be any. Even Imriel remarked that it feels like sport – and if it’s sport that they all want then that’s what they should do – compete in some sort of games or have a competition. Not go and raid a load of cattle and potentially involve themselves in injury or death.
Here is the schedule:
Week 1: Chpts. 1-7, Mar 20 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 2: Chpts. 8-14, Mar 27 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 3: Chpts. 15-22, Apr 3 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Chpts. 23-29, Apr 10 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 5: Chpts. 30-37, Apr 17 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
Week 6: Chpts. 38-46, Apr 24 – Hosted by Emma Wolf
Week 7: Chpts. 47-56, May 1 – Hosted by Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 8: Chpts. 57-65, May 8 – Hosted by Tethyan Books
Week 9: Chpts. 66-END, May 15 – Hosted by Dab of Darkness
And here is the current list of participators:
Allie at Tethyan Books
Lynn at Lynn’s Book Blog
Emily at Emma Wolf
Susan at Dab of Darkness
Lisa at Over the Effing Rainbow
