Review - The Boleyn Reckoning (The Boleyn Trilogy #3) by Laura Andersen

Title: The Boleyn Reckoning

Author: Laura Andersen

Series: 3rd (The Boleyn King, The Boleyn Deceit)

Pages: 416

Published: July 15th 2014 by Ballantine Books 

ISBN: 9780345534132

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: Elizabeth Tudor is at a crossroads. After a disastrous winter, the Duke of Northumberland has been executed for treason while his son, Robert Dudley, claims from the Tower that the true traitor has not yet been caught. And though her brother, William, has survived smallpox, scars linger in the king's body and mind and his patience is at an end. As English ships and soldiers arm themselves against the threat of invasion, William marches to the drumbeat of his own desires rather than his country's welfare. Wary of this changed royal brother, Elizabeth assembles her own shadow court to protect England as best she can. But William, able to command armies and navies, cannot command hearts. Minuette and Dominic have married in secret, and after an ill-timed pregnancy, they take to flight. Faced with betrayal by the two he loved most, William's need for vengeance pushes England to the brink of civil war and in the end, Elizabeth must choose: her brother, or her country?  

I Give This ...

I've really enjoyed this series so far.  I love the play on "what if."  Considering that Queen Elizabeth I is one of my favorite people in history, I was also extremely curious how this would come full circle.

The author has done a fabulous job at creating a monarch that mimics so many of the characteristics of Henry VIII and Queen Anne.  I also see some of his sisters in him.  I thing his biggest flaw is what ultimately brought down his mother and lead to his father having so many wives.  He knew what he wanted and would stop at nothing to make sure he got it.  It got in the way of his friendships, his family, and in the end ... his kingdom.  Sad as it was, none of his actions surprised me.  I held my breath every time he flaunted Minuette in front of everybody.  I wish he could see how much she hated it.  As a person whose job basically demands that you be able to read people, he was horrible at it.

I loved Minuette throughout this.  She's playing a delicate game and one that she has to know might cost her everything.  She may not come right out and tell William how she really feels, but I think she does it in lots of subtle ways.  I was happy when she finally confided in Elizabeth.  It was slowing eating at her to keep such a huge secret.  I was kind of surprised at how Elizabeth reacted.  But, at this point I know she's setting up her chess pieces to win the game. 

The court is just as treacherous in the alternate reality as it was in history.  People still were tried for treason, just not the ones that I was expecting.  William never became the king destined to rule the kingdom in all its glory.  That right was reserved for Elizabeth.  I don't think she ever betrayed her brother.  She just played the hand better.  Perhaps Elizabeth was always meant to rule the Golden Age, no matter what reality you look at.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish.  It was almost like this was how it really happened.  I laughed, I cried, but most of all I just enjoyed the ride to get there.  I'm looking forward to what Laura Andersen produces next!

 

  

Review - Daughters of the Nile (Cleopatra's Daughter #3) by Stephanie Dray

Title: Daughters of the Nile

Author: Stephanie Dray

Series: 3rd (Lily of the Nile, Song of the Nile)

Pages: 576

Published: December 3rd 2013 by Berkley Trade 

ISBN: 9780425258361

Source: Publisher via Author

Description: After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?   

I Give This ...

I've sat and thought about this book a really long time.  Sometimes, the words fail a person when it comes to describing exactly what one thought of a book.  This one left me speechless.  

I went into this book with a little hesitation.  I wasn't thrilled with Song of the Nile.  But, Selene really became the women she was meant to be in this last installment.  I often felt like it was because she let go of the idea of returning to rule Egypt and she let go of Helios.  Those huge things weighed her down and really prevented her from being happy.  

By letting go of the idea of Egypt, she was able to stop bending over backwards to please Augustus.  She no longer needed to obey his every whim and obsession.  I think this also lead to some awesome confrontations with the Emperor.   So many people were afraid of him (with every right to be so), but Selene could hold her own against him.  She defied him on many occasions, and while there were definitely repercussions for her actions, Augustus was so deluded that she was never out of favor for very long.  But interestingly enough, she doesn't care what Augustus thinks.  She's going to do her hardest to protect her kingdom and her children.

Her love for Juba grows as time passes.  I think was bonds her to him is when the finally have a son together.  She sees his affections for him and her daughter even when he has to know that she is no his.  Juba would literally walk on fire for all of them.  But, his major fault is that he has a hard time standing up to Augustus and occasionally he thinks Selene's misgivings are unfounded.  But, he learns to trust her and love her.  

I was so afraid the story would fall apart after the incident with the horse stables.  How in the world would Juba and Selene ever put their lives back together?  But, when the unthinkable happens, it was beautiful to read how the two of them managed to fall together instead of falling apart.  I was also in tears at the end.  Selene's death was absolutely beautifully told.  Her version of the afterlife may differ with the beliefs of today, but it was so vivid!

I can't not give this book enough praise.  I think it beautifully highlights what was going on in Rome during this time period.  I love how the author portrayed Selene and brought her to life.  I also loved learning about the deity Isis.  She was such a prominent figure in the time before Christianity.  

      

 

B & K's Reading Daze - They Told Us Something Wonderful Was Coming

I have two girls who love to read as much as I do.  They are 8 and 5.  My oldest has grown in  leaps and bounds in the reading department and is beginning to love easy chapter books.  My youngest has most of her sight words and is beginning to start blending.  I'm so excited that this love of mine seems to be passing on to them.  So B & K's Reading Daze highlights some of the books they have enjoyed over the past month.  

This month's pick is special.  We have a family friend who is an excellent artist.  Both my girls have paintings she has done especially for them in their rooms.  So, there was never any doubt that we would pick up her first book.  She wrote and illustrated it herself!

Title: They Told Us Something Wonderful Was Coming

Author: Bev Stone

Pages: 46

Published: August 6th 2013 by Createspace 

ISBN: 9781482626988

Source: Author Gift

Description: Flowers waving? Bees dancing? The sweet sound of barking? How can that be? Explore the subtle signs of joyous anticipation as we learn the reason for celebration in "They Told Us Something Wonderful Was Coming."

I Give This ...

I'm always hesitant to review friends and families' work.  Everyone has their own tastes in literature.  But, I had reviewed some of Bev's previous rough drafts and knew this couldn't be much different.   I wasn't disappointed!

One of the biggest pluses to this short little story was the illustrations.  The author is a fantastic artist in her own rights and it shows!  The pictures are detailed, vivid, and have the painting quality.  The illustrations jump off the pages.

The story itself is cute.  It flows nicely with no jarring text that doesn't fit with the rest.  And it celebrates a wonderful message.  The whole world rejoices at the arrival at something special and I think it sends a powerful message.  

I know the author has another one in the works and I look forward to it as well!

Review - The Bitter Kingdom (Fire and Thorns #3) by Rae Carson

Title: The Bitter Kingdom

Author: Rae Carson

Series: 3rd (The Girl of Fire and Thorns, The Crown of Embers)

Pages: 448

Published: August 27th 2013 by Greenwillow Books 

ISBN: 9780062026545

Source: Publisher via Edelweiss

Description: The epic conclusion to Rae Carson's Fire and Thorns trilogy. The seventeen-year-old sorcerer-queen will travel into the unknown realm of the enemy to win back her true love, save her country, and uncover the final secrets of her destiny. Elisa is a fugitive in her own country. Her enemies have stolen the man she loves in order to lure her to the gate of darkness. As she and her daring companions take one last quest into unknown enemy territory to save Hector, Elisa will face hardships she's never imagined. And she will discover secrets about herself and her world that could change the course of history. She must rise up as champion-a champion to those who have hated her most. 

I Give This ...

After finishing The Crown of Embers, I didn't waste any time before diving into this final installment.  So much has happened since the first book that I had to know our final ending.  This book might be perfect, or so close you can't tell the difference!

Elisa has courage to spare.  She's willing to go deep into enemy territory to get back the man she loves.  The
Invierne in turn have a deep seeded history against the humans that took over their world.  They no longer have the connection to the Zafira, and they blame humans for that.  The bearers of the godstones get most of that blame.  And because of that, they have a particularly cruel reason for wanting Elisa.  I was floored to discover what it was.  Turns out they found a way to connect to the Zafira, but they need a bearer to do it.

But, Elisa is turning into the Queen I knew she could be.  She presents herself to the leaders of the Inveirne with the help of Storm.  Turns out Storm may be an outcast among his people, but he's still a prince.   Elisa makes a deal with the Invierne, but one that's not honored by all of them.  To save her kingdom she must travel through the depths of the mines back to the edges of her country.  A horrifying journey to say the least.  Here is were Elisa truly proved her weight in gold.  She makes statements, commands loyalty, and exerts herself in ways I didn't see coming.

But, she's not done yet.  Now she must travel back to the center of her kingdom and wrestle back control from the very people that should have been helping her.  Her band of misfits seem unlikely to complete all of the impossible tasks.  Because who really thought a handmaiden, an outcast, a one-eyed man, the commander of the royal guard, and a young naive queen could bring the entire world together in peace.  Of course you have to add in the misfit they pick up along the way.  I really did love Red!

I devoured this book.  It never stopped moving forward at an insane pace. It was just the right mix of everything plus that fantasy element that I absolutely loved! It ended in just the right way as well.  The only thing that I was slightly disappointed in was Elisa's true purpose.  It wasn't what I was expecting.  And in light of all that she accomplished, it was extremely underwhelming.  

I series that I will be adding to my highly recommended books!  I will keep an eye out for what the author does next!