Review: Women of the Anarchy by Sharon Bennett Connolly

  I'll be honest - even though I studied history right through school and then at University, I never learned about the period in Englis...

Friday 31 May 2019

Friday Featured: F,G

Welcome to a new weekly blog: Friday Featured. I'm going to publish, working from A-Z, a weekly list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet ๐Ÿ˜Š

This week, F-G: (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to Amazon)


Jacqueline Friedland I was alerted to this book, Trouble the Water, by a friend on Twitter, and since I've read a few books recently which focus on the history of the US, I took a look at the preview and then bought the paperback. It's one of those books that I keep picking up, and flicking through, itching to start reading but knowing that others are higher up in the queue. Anyone else know that feeling? I'm glad I purchased this in paperback form, too, because it's a really attractive cover. Set in Charleston twenty years before the Civil War, it promises to be a satisfying, sweeping saga of a read, incorporating plot threads which explore slavery, the Underground railroad, and a mystery over the true nature of the plantation owner, Douglas, and his young British wife, Abigail.


Chasity Gaines I've been aware of Chasity's poetry for a while and have got to 'know' her on Facebook and Twitter. I downloaded this new collection of poems, Requiem of the Dead, and have already read a few. Sometimes I read poetry books in one sitting, sometime I dip in and out. These poems are born of raw emotion, focusing on loss, and so I'm reading them every now and again. These are powerful images, so it's hard to read too much in one go. Fiction writers pour their emotions and experiences into their work, but are able to disguise it, giving the words to the characters. Poets, I think, are more vulnerable and this new collection of Chasity's is a brave venture, based as it is on her own experiences of loss, and the process of grieving.  I'm looking forward to reading more.

Barbara Gaskell Denvil Barbara, a descendant of Elizabeth Gaskell, is a prolific author with historical fantasy novels in her back catalogue. She's also a wonderfully supportive member of the writing community.  Blessop's Wife now has a new cover, but this is the version I read, over a year ago now. I still remember the delicious detail of 15th-century London, the house of misfits where the characters live and get to know each other. Tyballis escapes an abusive marriage, but finds herself in a different kind of danger. Can Andrew, the mysterious spy, help her? Barbara brings the medieval world to life, the sights and especially the smells, right from the first page. There are scenes which feature the aristocracy - Andrew serves the brother of the king - but this is mainly a story about the ordinary folk of London, who live by their wits. 


Elizabeth Gates I bought the Wolf of Dalriada as a paperback. Although the title refers to Malcolm Craig Lowrie, the book focuses on the story of Adelaide, sometimes referred to as Adele, and the curious circumstances in which she finds herself. We first meet her in the glittering French court, but then we see her in the household of the odious lawyer Sir William Robinson. Is she his captive, his wife, or his companion? This book is full of plot twists, intrigue, and uses journals and letters to tell parts of the story. Adele is an accomplished seamstress, and her skills are used to great effect at certain moments of the book. There are some wonderful cameos of the folk who crave status, and there is a fair amount of derring-do, too. I'm looking forward to the next volume in the series.


Kristin Gleeson Some years ago, I had a tablet which had the Kindle app. It wasn't very good, and so for my birthday last year I asked for, and received, a Kindle. Happy days! Except I forgot about all the books I'd previously bought and downloaded to the tablet. Lurking there was this gem. The blurb for In Praise of the Bees begins thus: Ireland 590 A.D. A woman is found by a track, nearly dead from appalling wounds and remembers nothing. Her terror and her injuries are so great that she is given sanctuary in Mother Gobnait's unusual community of nuns, while all around her a war is being waged in which she is a pawn. It's probably one of the first e-books I purchased, and the title alone drew me in. Kristin is incredibly knowledgeable about Irish history and I'm really looking forward to catching up with this book.


I own copies of all the above, either Kindle, e-book, paperback or hardback. As I've noted, I've read some, and dipped into others. Take a look at them; you might just find your next favourite read.

Friday 24 May 2019

Friday Featured: D

Continuing the new weekly series: Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet ๐Ÿ˜Š

This week - D  (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to Amazon)


Heather Darsie This is a wonderful - nonfiction - book about the woman more usually known as Anne of Cleves, or even the Flanders Mare. In Anna Duchess of Cleves, Heather Darsie explains the political and geographical background to the wedding between Anna and Henry VIII and her book makes for fascinating reading. You can see my review of the book here where I had to admit that a lot of what I thought I knew about this fourth wife of Henry was wrong. I had not appreciated that she, much like Katharine Parr, had a good relationship with her stepchildren, and I knew very little about the area of Europe from which she hailed and how the marriage was such a bad political decision for England. Ms Darsie has clearly done a lot of painstaking research and her love for her subject shines through. An educational but also light read.


Cathie Dunn Cathie Dunn's is one of those names that keeps cropping up across Social Media. People have been posting reviews, all of them positive, so I thought it was time I took a look at her work. A quick glance showed me that she writes across genres, with a medieval mystery romance and a paranormal Gothic story in her back catalogue. What caught my eye in this instance, though, was her Highland Chronicles, of which  Highland Arms is the first volume. I took a look at the sample, and bought the book. It's set at the time of the Jacobite rebellion, yes, which piques my interest, but the relationship between Catriona and her brother is clearly important and I like the way it is set up. The first pages are so good that I'm really looking forward to reading on. 


Wendy Dunn  I've read a lot of books about the wives of Henry VIII, but not too many which focus on Catherine of Aragon. Where to start though? Well, this one attracted my attention because of its Amazon reviews which are all, bar one, five star reviews (and that one is a four star). So I carried out my usual procedure, checking out the first pages and then downloading a sample. As with Heather Darsie's book, we get a glimpse of the woman and her life before Henry VIII dominates proceedings. Life in Spain in the court of Isabel and Ferdinand is skilfully depicted - years ago I read Jean Plaidy's series about these monarchs - Beatriz is shaping up to be an interesting character, and I'm relishing the prospect of getting cosy with a long immersion in this series of books.


Dorothy Dunnett Dunnett's books are not 'easy' reads, but nevertheless, are a wonderful reading experience. Two years ago, I was thrilled to hear that I was the winner of the inaugural HWA/Dorothy Dunnett Society Short Story Award, and part of my prize was the full set of Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles. I am slowly making my way through them but at the moment my favourite is still King Hereafter. The idea that Thorfinn was Macbeth is not universally accepted, but it completely works and certainly feels more 'real' than Shakespeare's version. The picture here is the new cover, and I prefer my copy, the original 1983 paperback version, but recently all her novels have been given a makeover. If you like historical fiction that makes you think, draws you in and holds you in the moment, and if you haven't come across her work, check it out.

Friday 17 May 2019

Friday Featured: C

Continuing the new weekly series: Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet ๐Ÿ˜Š

This week - C  (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to Amazon)


Meg Clothier I read the paperback version of The Empress a while ago, and you can find my review of it on Discovering Diamonds. I didn't know much - if anything - about the historical setting but I do now. With constant struggles for power, and frequent regime changes, these were turbulent times and Agnes, the empress of the title, has to learn to use her wits merely to stay alive. It's a bit Game of Thrones-esque, in that not all the characters make it, but it is a brilliant read. I warmed to Agnes; I liked the fact that she wasn't 'feisty', just a young girl who is shaped by her experiences. Theo, too, is a likeable, yet flawed character. The history is explained without slowing the plot, I enjoyed the dialogue even though it is quite modern at times, and the world-building is deftly done.


Elizabeth Chadwick What can I say about Elizabeth Chadwick, other than that she is simply masterful at producing historical novels which teem with believable characters and settings? Her series on William Marshal and his family, beginning with A Place Beyond Courage which features William's father and including the recent Templar Silks, are probably the last word on that most extraordinary knight and I've lost count of how many of her books I've read. I've chosen The Wild Hunt because I think it is one of my favourites. Maybe it's because it's set in Wales, but there is just something about the story of the developing relationship between Guyon and Judith which really stayed with me and this remains my favourite of all Ms Chadwick's books. So far... 


Sharon Bennett Connolly  I had the pleasure of meeting Sharon a couple of years ago and we had dinner and a long - very long, actually - chat about history. Now she has not one, but two nonfiction books available and I'm happy to say that I have hardback copies of both volumes. Heroines of the Medieval World is a brilliantly-conceived book which examines the lives of various medieval women. I know that one of Sharon's favourites is Nicolaa de la Haye, who defended Lincoln Castle. Sharon has also written about the women of the Norman Conquest, in Silk and the Sword, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and is currently working on her third book, Ladies of the Magna Carta, which will be released through Pen & Sword in May 2020 and she has, I believe, at least two more books in the pipeline.


Stephanie Churchill Stephanie has, I believe, just finished the third volume (click on her name to pre-order) in her Crown of Destiny series about, well, how to describe it? I'd say it's historical-style fantasy. From the opening page of The Scribe's Daughter, I was hooked. What a wonderful heroine Kassia is. Actually, the setting doesn't really matter because this is such a well-crafted story. The plot twists and turns are clever and unexpected, the characters wonderfully three-dimensional and there are light touches of genuine comedy which I really enjoyed. Kassia's journey is part quest, part escape, and the companions she meets along the way help her - and sometimes hinder her - to solve the mystery of what has happened to her family. All the threads are nicely tied up, but all is also set up for Volume Two. A great read.


Nicola Cornick I was delighted when Nicola sent me a paperback copy of The Woman in the Lake and again, I reviewed for Discovering Diamonds. I think I read this book in about two sittings; it is a real page turner, full of plot twists and coincidences which turn out to be anything but chance. The history of Swindon is used to great dramatic effect. The events of the past have an effect on the future, and the future also seems to affect the past. I liked the main present-day character, Fenella. She is the link between the past and the present, as we gradually find out the identity of the woman in the lake and, more importantly, who put her there. This is a really engrossing read. No point, however small, is insignificant. I also liked the way certain episodes were shown from different points of view.



I've read all of these books and can recommend them. So if you're looking for a weekend read, check them out. And join me next week when in a rather boring and predictable plot development, we move on to D ๐Ÿ˜Š

Monday 13 May 2019

Interview & Giveaway: Christine Hancock

I'm delighted to welcome author Christine Hancock to the blog. Christine is the author of a series of books about Byrhtnoth, famed leader of the English forces at the Battle of Maldon. The second in the series, Bright Axe, has just been released.



AW: Welcome to the blog, Christine and congratulations on the release of your new novel, Bright Axe. I see it's a sequel, so without giving away any spoilers, can you tell us a little about the first book in this series? 

CH: The first book in the series, Bright Sword, starts with Byrhtnoth at the age of seven. His father disappeared when he was a baby and his mother has recently died. He has been sent to the royal court at Winchester to be trained with a group of other boys to become a warrior. At the age of twelve he is called home (a village in the fens near Ely) and shown a sword, his father’s sword which will become his when he has become a man. The book, and series, is about his search for the sword, and his father.

AW: I love that you've personalised his story, and that there is a quest involved! I can see the attraction of the 'Dark Ages', but why particularly did you choose to write about Byrhtnoth?

CH: I joined a writing class. During various exercises, I found myself using the Battle of Maldon, which was not far from where I grew up, as a subject. Since Byrhtnoth was old when he died in the battle, (in his sixties, which I personally don’t consider old!), I wondered what had brought him to that point. I discovered that there was not much known about his early life and I had the subject of my book.

The mid tenth century is not as popular with writers as, for example, King Alfred a couple of generations earlier.

AW: You're absolutely right, although perhaps we are a select group, for I too have written about this period, with a novel about a contemporary of Byrhtnoth's. So I know that research for historical novels can often be difficult. What skills from your experience as a family historian were you able to use to track down the details of Byrhtnoth's life? 

CH: The original aim of joining the writing class was to write about some of the characters I have come across in my family history research, in particular a sailor who was hanged as a pirate. I have since made a start on this project and found it difficult to detach myself from the actual facts.

Byrhtnoth is not a relative, although I have roots in Essex, so you never know! I am used to using more modern sources, parish registers, census etc, or wills and chancery documents at The National Archives. I don’t know Latin and have definitely not studied Old English, so any information about the period comes from secondary sources. 

I knew little about Byrhtnoth when I started writing and not much more now, apart from some basic facts: his father’s name, who he married, the name of his daughter (perhaps) and which kings he served. I have tried to stick to what is known about the period: when kings died, any battles, and embroider Byrhtnoth’s story into the gaps. 

I think my family history interest come out in trying to work out the family relationships; who was connected to whom and how that influenced their lives. The series is about Byrhtnoth’s search for his father, which I suppose is what family history is all about.

AW: A search for family, or for identity, is something we can all identify with, I think. I suppose, though, that Byrhtnoth is most famous for his heroic stand at the battle of Maldon. Have you visited the site, and can you tell us about the problems faced there by the armies because of the terrain?


The battlefield from the air - Terry Joyce
terry joyce / Northey Island / CC BY-SA 2.0

CH: I have visited Maldon several times, mostly for a walk along the prom and a drink in the pub, or an ice cream. 

1991 was the 1,000th anniversary of the battle and there was a big event and re-enactment, close to the actual site. I attended and walked along the causeway where the battle took place.

Vikings had been raiding along the coast. They sailed up the River Blackwater and landed on Northey Island, just downriver from Maldon. Byrhtnoth was Ealdorman of Essex, the king’s representative for the area so it was his responsibility to deal with the problem. He called out the local fyrd and arrived to confront the invaders. 

The island is joined to land by a narrow causeway, only accessible at low tide. It was easy to defend but it was not Byrhtnoth’s intention to drive away the Vikings; they would only leave and attack elsewhere. Although outnumbered, he must fight and defeat them. He let the Vikings cross the causeway and the battle took place on flat land nearby.

There has been a lot of discussion about whether he made the right decision. The poem speaks of his "ofermลd" which can mean "pride" or "excess of courage" but also "recklessness". Byrhtnoth was killed and most of his supporters with him, fulfilling the ancient ideal of men dying for their lord. It is one of those heroic failures of which the British are so fond.

The Vikings left, taking Byrhtnoth’s head with them. They were perhaps encouraged by the payment of 10,000 Roman pounds (3,300 kg) of silver by King ร†thelred (the Unready) The first of many payments of danegeld in this period.

AW: I can just imagine the shivers you felt, visiting the site, and walking in the footsteps of your character. When I do that, it feels like making a real connection with the characters and getting close to history. Thanks so much for telling us about Maldon, and for chatting today. Before you go, can you tell us whether book #3 is in the pipeline? Do you have a title, and will it be the last in the series? Can you tell us anything about it?

CH: Yes, book 3, Bright Blade, is mostly written and I hope will be published later this year. It includes a fight with Erik Bloodaxe. There will definitely be a fourth. After that, it will be a case of whether I have more ideas – after all Byrhtnoth had a long life.

AW: He did indeed and I'm sure readers will be keen to dive right in to his story. Thanks again for taking the time out of your busy writing schedule to chat today.

Christine can be found on Twitter, on Amazon, and on her Blog.
And I'm delighted to say that she is offering a giveaway of the first in her series, Bright Sword, to UK readers. To be in with a chance, simply leave a comment, your contact details* and your preference for paperback or e-book. Giveaway will close at 10am BST Monday May 20 2019

* If you prefer not to leave your contact details, please do check back in a week's time to see if you are a winner!

Friday 10 May 2019

Friday Featured - B

Continuing the new weekly series: Friday Featured. I'm publishing, working from A-Z, a list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet ๐Ÿ˜Š

This week - B (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to Amazon)


Sue Barnard I've got to 'know' Sue through Facebook, where I'm constantly amused by her war against bad grammar and erroneous apostrophes and, belatedly, I realised I recognised her from her appearance on telly (Only Connect). Sue is an award-winning writer who has an impressive back-catalogue and who writes in a number of different genres and mediums. She describes herself as an author, editor and poet. The book which intrigued me was Heathcliff: The Unanswered Questions Finally Answered? in which Sue examines what happened to Heathcliff between his running away and returning to Wuthering Heights. This is been cued up on my Kindle since I read the sample pages and simply had to know more. I can't wait to get started on this one.


Prue Batten Prue is a multi-genre author who writes brilliant, elegant prose and draws her readers into the world she's writing about. She's written The Gisborne Saga, and children's books, as well as the fantasy Chronicles of Eirie, but I know of her work because of the Triptych Chronicles. I read the first in this series, Tobias, and loved the way she sets up her scenes using all five senses. The opening page is masterful, plonking the reader in the heart of the story and introducing Toby in all his pugilistic glory. When offered a review copy of Michael, I found that she had not lost her wonderful knack for painting pictures with words and I'm thrilled that the book has recently been announced as joint winner in the Chaucer awards for historical fiction. Prue has a contemporary novel, Passage, out soon.


Cryssa Bazos writes book set in the 17th century, my second-favourite period of history. She's also one of my co-editors on EHFA. Traitor's Knot is a stunning debut novel, telling a tale of love, loyalty, and the divisions of the English Civil War. Cryssa takes the utmost care over her research, agonising over details to make sure she has everything just right for the period. Her research, though, is purely to ensure that the world she writes is 'real' and doesn't get in the way of her story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, feeling as if I was there alongside her wonderfully-drawn characters,  and am excited to say that the sequel, Severed Knot, will be published on 7 June 2019. I'm even happier to say that I have an advance copy, so keep your eyes peeled for my review!


Anna Belfrage first came to everyone's attention with her time-slip series, The Graham Saga, one volume of which won the Historical Novel Society's Indie Book of the Year, but then she wrote an equally stunning and award-winning series about Adam and his love, Kit, in her series The King's Greatest Enemy. I've read the first in this series, In the Shadow of the Storm where I followed Adam and Kit from their first meeting to the dangers faced by Adam especially during the barons' rebellion against King Edward II. The latest in the King's Greatest Enemy series, under the approaching Dark, has just been announced joint winner in the Chaucer awards for historical fiction. Anna has published two books in her new series, The Wanderer: A Torch in Her Heart and Smoke in her Eyes. 


Pamela Belle I can't remember how or why I came across this wonderful series of books, but I do know that I spent all of last summer 'living' at Wintercombe. This series - four books in all - tells the story of a family who lived during and after the English Civil Wars. The first two concentrate on Silence, a young puritan wife who finds herself defending her home against the royalist soldiers billeted there. The last two books feature the younger generations of the family. Pamela is the master of the twisty yet believable plot and at times I was on the edge of my seat wondering how she would resolve things. The characters are well-drawn, and her world-building is skilful. I'm pleased to say that the books are now available as e-books with shiny new cover designs.


Nancy Bilyeau Nancy is the author of a series of historical thrillers, the Joanna Stafford Books, set in Tudor England. She's also worked as editor of various magazines and writes for a number of websites. But she's recently created a stir with her new release, The Blue, set in the world of the 18th-century porcelain trade and telling the tale of Genevieve, who wants to travel to Venice, where she hopes she might be taken seriously as an artist. She sets out to discover the secrets of 'the blue', but learns much more besides. Nancy's credentials as both author and historian are impeccable. The Blue has received fabulous reviews as well as a great deal of press attention and, after reading the sample pages, I downloaded it to my Kindle and am looking forward to reading this thoroughly-researched novel.


Steve Bivans I've got to 'know' Steve recently through Twitter, where I quickly discovered what an amusing and supportive author he is. Steve describes himself as a 'hobbit' who has a scholarly interest in Vikings. That's quite enough to make me reach for his books, but he also Tweets little character exchanges from Anno Draconis: Dawn of the Dragon (Liber Draconis Part One) and they never fail to amuse and/or it intrigue me. I've now downloaded this and am thoroughly looking forward to being entertained by these great characters. Wine saves lives,” Sigurd said with a tight grin, “Other men’s lives.” Olaf broke into full on laughter. “Ja! It does!” Olaf boomed, “Pass that pitcher back down here! Let us save the lives of a thousand men!” Steve tells me this is free for the next few days!


Sharon Booth Sharon is a Yorkshire lass, which is the setting for her books. By her own admission, she's a believer in the happy ending, but she makes her characters work for it. Sharon is a prolific author who has written a number of different series: Bramblewick, The Witches of Castle Clair, Moorland Heroes, Skimmerdale, and Kearton Bay. I downloaded There Must be an Angel some time ago, which is the first in the Kearton Bay series, and then lost my tablet, which meant that for a while I forgot about the books there. I now have a brand new Kindle and have just started re-reading 'Angel'. It's one of those where the first page just grabs you - ever so gently, mind - and sort of says, 'You're going to enjoy this'. I know I shall, and I can't wait to settle down into this book.


Niamh Boyce I came across this author in a Facebook readers' group, and I'm currently about halfway through the paperback copy of Her Kind, (having downloaded a sample initially on Kindle), and so far a lot of the plot is still a mystery. It's clear that Petronelle - the name she has to use to disguise her Irish origins - has 'previous' with Alice Kytler, but what that history is, I'm not too sure yet. This is a story of witchcraft, specifically witch hunts, but unusually it's set in 14th-century Ireland, against the backdrop of the Kilkennie witch trials. So far, everything is set up nicely. The bishop, Ledrede, is clearly going to be Alice's nemesis, but we are getting there step by delicious step, and I've yet to work out what part Petronelle's daughter will play in the story. I'll report back when I've finished it!


Kate Braithwaite I've had the privilege of working with Kate, who has written articles for us over on EHFA. I was delighted to be able to review her book recently for Discovering Diamonds. (Review will appear next month) By a lovely 'happenstance' I had just bought the book when the submissions list for 'Diamonds' came through. This tale, based on the true events surrounding Titus Oates and the Popish Plot, tells how Oates and his allegations affect one particular group of friends, and especially a married couple. Nat Thompson makes it his personal mission to gather evidence which will put a stop to Oates, but the consequences for Nat's wife, Anne, and their friends, are tragic. Get a copy of this book - you will learn history as well as being entertained.


Julia Brannan Julia and I once spent the whole day in my house, talking books, history, and drinking tea and eating cake. What a great day that was, because it was in fact the first - and thus far only - time we'd met. I'd already read the first two in her Jacobite Chronicles at that point. To discover what a lovely human being she is was a real treat and bonus! There are six books in this story, the tale of Alex, Beth, and a whole host of characters - the most memorable perhaps being Sir Anthony - and the backdrop is the troubled period leading up to Culloden. Julia is now working on a series of books about some of those other characters - The Whore's Tale is the story of Sarah, and she is busy writing Harriet's story. The Jacobite Chronicles are also currently being produced as audio books, and the first, Mask of Duplicity, is already available as an audio book.


I urge you to check out these books and maybe you'll find a new favourite author. Join me next week when, unsurprisingly, I'll be recommending books I've read, or currently own, by authors whose names begin with C.



Friday 3 May 2019

Friday Featured

Welcome to a new weekly blog: Friday Featured. I'm going to publish, working from A-Z, a weekly list of authors whose works I think you should check out. Maybe I've read some of their works, maybe I've worked with them on various projects, perhaps their books are on my To-Be-Read pile, or perhaps they are friends of mine who have news that needs to be shared. The only rule here is that it is totally unsolicited. The authors don't know I'm going to feature them, and in that way you'll know that this is simply my honest opinion. If I haven't read their work yet I'll be candid and say so, but at least one book by each of these authors is either on my shelves, or on my Kindle; it might be that I just haven't got to them yet ๐Ÿ˜Š

So, this week, naturally and logically enough, we start with A: (clicking on the names will take you to the author website; book titles will take you to Amazon)



Melissa Addey I've been privileged to read two of Melissa's books, one from each of her two series, and I loved them both. A String of Silver Beads, set in eleventh-century North Africa, and The Garden of Perfect Brightness set in eighteenth-century China. Not only did I enjoy the writing, and the stories, but I learned a great deal too about these - new to me - worlds. From eleventh-century North Africa, to an emperor's beautiful garden in China, I was dropped into unfamiliar settings but completely immersed. Melissa's first novel, The Fragrant Concubine, was picked for Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society and longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Competition.

One Sentence Summary: Melissa uses words to paint images and her writing is sublime.



Judith Arnopp Judith has written books set in the early medieval period, including novels set in the New Forest during the reign of William Rufus, and the story of the daughter of Mercia, married to the king of Wales in the years leading up to 1066, but I think it's fair to say that Tudor history is taking up more of her time lately. She has recently published a trilogy about a somewhat controversial figure, Margaret Beaufort. So far I've read the first of these volumes, The Beaufort Bride  and found myself reconsidering what I knew about young Margaret and the life she had to endure, and admiring her fortitude. Judith is also a talented seamstress with an etsy site for her exquisite Tudor head-dresses, and she can be seen regularly at Tudor events, dressed in Tudor costume made by her own fair hand. I believe Judith is working on a new book about Mary Tudor.

One Sentence Summary: Judith gets deeply inside her character's mind to deliver a realistic, moving portrayal of Margaret the child bride.


Judith Alnatt I wasn't aware of this author's work until I came across The Moon Field in a tiny second-hand book shop. It's a story of WWI, or rather life before it, and life after it, and how people coped with the changes forced upon them; the reasons men - boys - went to war, and the effect on those left behind. The focus is on the difference between home pre-war, and home post-war and how what happens to the central character, George, alters the world not just for him, but all those around him. 

One Sentence Summary: Thought-provoking tale which offers the reader more than the horrors of the trenches.



I'd urge you to look up these books - and any other by the authors. I don't think you'll be disappointed. Yes, this week's selection are all historical fiction, but that's not all I read, so stay tuned. Pick a Friday Read, and let's meet here again next week ๐Ÿ˜Š