#BookReview — From the Ashes (The Colosseum Book 1) by Melissa Addey #HistoricalFiction #AncientRome

 

From the Ashes 

(The Colosseum Book 1) 

By Melissa Addey 

Publication Date: February 4th 2021
Publisher:  Letterpress Publishing
Page Length: 318 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction

Rome, 80AD. A gigantic new amphitheatre is being built...

The Emperor has plans for gladiatorial Games on a scale no-one has ever seen before. But the Games don’t just happen. They must be made. And Marcus, the man in charge of creating them, has just lost everything he held dear when Pompeii disappeared under the searing wrath of Vesuvius. Now it will fall to Althea, the slave woman who serves as his scribe, to ensure the Colosseum is inaugurated on time – and that Marcus makes his way out of the darkness that calls to him. First in a new series.

From the threat of Pompeii in 80AD, to the ‘glamour’ of gladiator battles in the Colosseum, be transported to ancient Rome in this fast-paced and gripping historical fiction, taking us behind-the-scenes of some of the most extravagant entertainments the Empire ever witnessed. 

There’s always a sense of foreboding in any book which starts in Pompeii. As a reader, I feel a hint of nervousness, trying to think ahead, work out who will survive the disaster, and who will not. History has shown that the numbers are not on any character’s side, after all. Here, we know that Althea and Marcus must survive, but it’s the family and friends we meet in the opening pages I worry for. We know the disaster must hit, and soon, and the sense of threat really does hang over everything. 

Following a job offer he cannot refuse, and needing a scribe to help him with it, Marcus and Althea make their farewells, and head for the capital. Marcus is initially unwilling to take up his new role, but the anticipation of buying a little farm-stead and enjoying retirement just about convinces him to take on the greatest challenge of his career. This is no small-scale dinner party, or battle in Pompeii’s arena, after all – can he really bring about the magnitude of events that the Emperor will require for the inauguration of the Colosseum? One hundred days of games and entertainments? The men making the decisions believe he can. 

There is a detailed Author’s Note at the end of this novel, which I would usually mention at the end of the review, but it’s worth raising at this point. Despite it being one of the most famous symbols of ancient Rome, there is very little, practically nothing in fact, about the people who worked ‘backstage’ at the Colosseum, at any stage, including the inaugural events. And yet, given the scale of things, there simply must have been a huge group of people behind-the-scenes. It’s wonderful then, to give these people a moment in the spotlight, rather than focusing only on the gladiators and Emperors. 

In brilliant detail, we meet the teams who paint the scenery, create the souvenirs, capture and bring in the animals, train the gladiators, supply the criminals for execution and far, far more, all under the watchful eyes of Althea and Marcus. Marcus becomes Althea’s owner, much to Althea’s surprise, early on in the story, and her skills as a scribe are soon put to much better use than they ever have been for her previous master. 

When news reaches Rome that disaster has befallen Pompeii and others (how can towns and ports just ‘vanish’, people wonder, horrified), Marcus feels he must return home, to know for certain what has happened to his loved ones. We are with him and Althea as they convince a boatman to take them down the unrecognisable coastline, and are right beside Marcus, especially as he digs through the fresh ash, desperate to find any trace of his home. The devastation of the city, and those left behind, is well-captured, and Marcus’ reaction is believable and heart-breaking. 

There is little time to mourn though, as we are thrown from one problem to another, whether that’s keeping badly-travelling giraffes alive long enough, or ensuring there are enough toilet-cleaners on hand to deal with breaks in the entertainments (it seems some things never change!). 

At a wider level, Rome itself is going through a period of upheaval, with sickness and fire both threatening the city, and taking their toll on Marcus and Althea, through the loss of colleagues and, tragically, more close friends. This is as much a story of survival against the odds, as it is the entertaining of a pampered ruler. 

Despite my best intentions, I found myself racing through this book, speeding through over half of it in one night of very poor sleep. Whether in the rural comfort of Pompeii, or walking between the ancient temples of the Forum, I felt utterly transported back in time, with the sights, smells and sounds captured at every stage. We are in the rooms when people are on their sick-beds, we sit and share family meals, and we hurry through ash-and-soot-filled streets whilst Rome burns, just days before the Colosseum is due to open. We feel the despair of Marcus as he has to come to terms with what has happened in Pompeii, and the frustration of Althea, as she and Fausta, Marcus’ right-hand-woman from his former role, are forced to cover for him during his ill-advised absences from work. And we are there as Althea grows in confidence working alongside this man who was ‘given’ her with hardly a second thought. 

The relationship between the colleagues was a particularly interesting one, and I am certainly looking forward to reading more about their upcoming challenges in the rest of the series. Marcus and Althea especially, find themselves bound together by promises to which they gave hardly any credence as they were made, and yet became binding by subsequent events. The understanding which grows feels realistic, given their circumstances, and although I knew from previous history documentaries etc. that the opening events they were preparing for were particularly violent and graphic in nature, I found myself willing them to succeed every step of the way. 

In the midst of the wealth and apparent glamour of Rome though, and the still-famous Colosseum, what appealed to me most in this story was the ‘ordinary-ness’ of it all. We have all been there – a demanding manager, staff or colleagues who can’t / won’t deliver on time, suppliers struggling to meet demands – but reading about the seemingly mundane behind something so magnificent gives a real grounding to an ancient civilisation we all feel we know, even if we’ve never studied it, just by its sheer magnitude. It makes everything feel very real and relatable, and I love that in a piece of historical fiction. 

I Highly Recommend From the Ashes (The Colosseum Book 1) by Melissa Addey.

Review by Jennifer C. Wilson.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Where to buy

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Melissa Addey

I mainly write historical fiction, inspired by what I call ‘the footnotes of history’: forgotten stories or part-legends about interesting men and women. My first two series are set in very different eras: 18th century China and 11th century Morocco/Spain. My first novel, The Fragrant Concubine, was Editor’s Choice at the Historical Novel Society and The Cold Palace won the 2019 Novel London award.

To find out more about Melissa and her books visit her website.  You can also find Melissa on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

#BookReview — Forgiving Nero by Mary Ann Bernal

 

Forgiving Nero

By Mary Ann Bernal 

Publication Date: 14th February 2021

Publisher: Independently Published

Page Length: 306 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rome. The jewel of the civilized world is no longer what it was. Strength has failed the Senate. Her legions are in disarray, and the Empire has fallen into Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus Nero’s hands. His reign begins under a cloud of scrutiny, for he is the depraved Emperor Caligula’s nephew. Nero is determined to overcome that stigma and carve a name of his own. One worthy of Rome’s illustrious history.Politics and treachery threaten to end Nero’s reign before it begins, forcing him to turn to unexpected sources for friendship and help. Many of the Praetorian Guard have watched over Nero since he was a small child, and it is in Traian that the young Emperor places his trust, despite the inherent threat of reducing his mother’s influence. Traian is the father he never had and the one man who does not judge him.When Traian secretly marries the hostage Vena, it sets in motion a collision of values as Traian comes to odds with his former charge. The whirlwind that follows will shake the very foundations of the greatest Empire the world has ever known, and survival is far from guaranteed.

I am Nero. And I am your Emperor.

Ruthless, ambitious, and determined to secure her position, Agrippina saw an opportunity and took it. Her son, Lucius, would become Emperor, and she cared not who she had to step over or kill to achieve that aim. Once her son had been named Emperor, Agrippina was determined to use his youth to her advantage, and rule through him. But she failed to see the danger of what she had created.

Traian Aelius Protacius had been assigned to protect Lucius when he had been a young, frightened boy in exile in Calabria. Lucius had been a compassionate child, a little boy desperate for love. But now, as a man, he was unrecognisable. His reign had started with such promise, but there was nothing of the boy in the Emperor who stood before him now. Traian would remain loyal to Nero—as he now liked to be called. He would be the one constant. He could not abandon him, no matter what he did, and yet nor could he save him. Instead, all he could do was watch while Nero rapidly turned away from his trusted advisors and instead listened to those who fed his ego, who bowed to his every whim, and who treated him like a god.

Deep down Nero knew that his hold on the throne would always be precarious. For in truth, the throne, like the laurel upon his head, was never meant to be his...

From a fearful young boy’s first night in the Imperial Palace to his descent into madness, Forgiving Nero by Mary Ann Bernal is the unforgettable story of one of the Roman Empire’s most notorious Emperors.

Nero is one of the infamous emperors whose history has been dictated by those who wanted to see his downfall. History, after all, is not written by the loser. Bernal does not pretend that Nero was a beloved emperor, but nor does she make him quite as monstrous as we have all been led to believe. He is a competent administrator; he takes advice from learned men such as Seneca, and although he is also greatly influenced by his mother in this story, Nero is compassionate when compassion allows. History has often accused Nero of causing the Great Fire of Rome so that he could build his ‘golden house’, but Bernal argues quite rightly that this was not the case at all, and in fact, he helped those who had lost their homes—it just so happened that the fire meant he could build his palace, which in turn meant he needed money and was not afraid to demand it! Bernal has also given us a Nero who is not opposed to murder, nor is he opposed to persecution. Someone had to take the blame for the Great Fire, and the Christians just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I thought Bernal’s depiction of Nero’s mental health, especially his guilt at some of the things he had done, demonstrated her understanding of human fragility and how easy it is to travel down a path of self-destruction. His childlike behaviour in Greece, his instance on winning the laurels at the Olympic Games, caused his sanity and, therefore, his rule to be questioned. He acted like a spoilt child, and he was, consequently, seen as such. But underneath it all, Bernal hints there is still a frightened little boy who just wants to be held by his mother and told that everything would be alright. Bernal has taken the historical sources and picked through the myths and the lies, and has given her readers a more rounded view of Nero and his time as emperor.

The antagonist in this novel is surprisingly not Nero but his mother. Agrippina was a survivor. She had been abused but had somehow managed to turn the tables and come out on top. She used her beauty, intelligence and her ruthless ambition to achieve her aim. I thought Agrippina’s depiction was fabulously portrayed. She is this powerful woman, who not only influenced her son but allowed him to be convinced that he was divine. Unfortunately, Agrippina made the terrible mistake of thinking she could control this monstrous man she had shaped and created. Agrippina was a character that initially I felt sorry for because of the abuse she had endured, and perhaps, to some extent, that abuse explained some of her behaviour - she wants to be in a position of power so that such a thing can never happen again. However, her lack of empathy, the lies, the manipulation of information, and how she makes her son dependent on her made for some disturbing reading. The abused becomes the abuser, and Bernal asks her readers if Nero ever stood a chance to become the man he wanted to become. And in fact, there are several moments in this novel where Nero realises that the boy he was, Lucius, has been devoured by this monstrous Nero that his mother had fashioned in her image.

Honour and loyalty is a theme that runs throughout this novel. Nero’s benevolent nature and youthful desire to change the world came through on the odd occasion, such as when he helps those in need after the Great Fire. On such occasions, he behaves honourably. But there are moments when his extravagance and debauchery and his belief that he rules by Divine right means he loses track of what is honourable and what is not. He becomes confused, baffled even, as to what he is meant to be doing. He believes that he rules supreme and everyone should bow down to him. He demands loyalty, which history teaches us and Bernal shows us, never ends well.

Unlike Nero, who struggles throughout this book with what is right and what is wrong, Traian does his very best to be an honourable person, and although at times he is disloyal, not to Nero, never to him, but to another that he loves, he takes that act of disloyalty and does his best to learn from it, which I think demonstrated how vastly different Traian was to Nero. Acte, much like Traian, remains loyal to the memory of Lucius the boy and that memory she would never betray. Nero is surrounded by good people in this novel, but he is influenced by the wicked because those who wish him well, who want to help guide him to follow the right path, fear that if they upset him or his mother, they could forfeit their lives.

Religion and religious persecution are also explored in this story. Initially, the Christians are tolerated, to an extent. Through characters such as Vena, Bernal examines the dangers of practising a faith that differed so very much from Roman theology. Paul of Tarsus makes several cameo appearances in this novel, and his beliefs put him at odds with the Empire. The slaughter of the Christians after the Great Fire was incredibly harrowing, but masterfully drawn.

This story demanded all of my attention from beginning to end. The narrative was utterly enthralling, and Bernal told Nero’s story with a keen understanding of what makes history worth reading. Bernal has brought Nero back to life, and she has explored that life with a profound sweep and brilliance.

Bernal writes with such elegance and authority, not to mention with a keen attention to the historical detail, that a reader can comfortably immerse themselves in this story. Forgiving Nero by Mary Ann Bernal is a must-read for anyone who enjoys quality Historical Fiction.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club

Where to buy

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Mary Ann Bernal attended Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, where she received a degree in Business Administration.  Her literary aspirations were ultimately realized when the first book of The Briton and the Dane novels was published in 2009.  In addition to writing historical fiction, Mary Ann has also authored a collection of contemporary short stories in the Scribbler Tales series. Her latest endeavor is a science fiction/fantasy novel entitled Planetary Wars Rise of an Empire. Originally hailing from New York, Mary Ann now resides in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

 

Connect with Mary Ann: Website • Whispering Legends Press • Twitter.

Book Review: The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci #HistoricalFiction #WW2 @KathrynGauci

 

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac

By Kathryn Gauci

Publication Date: 1st December 2020
Publisher:  Ebony Publishing
Page Length: 272 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction / World War II

February 1944. 

Preparations for the D-Day invasion are well advanced. When contact with Belvedere, one of the Resistance networks in the Jura region of Eastern France, is lost, Elizabeth Maxwell, is sent back to the region to find the head of the network, her husband Guy Maxwell.

It soon becomes clear that the network has been betrayed. An RAF airdrop of supplies was ambushed by the Gestapo, and many members of the Resistance have been killed. 

Surrounded on all sides by the brutal Gestapo and the French Milice, and under constant danger of betrayal, Elizabeth must unmask the traitor in their midst, find her husband, and help him to rebuild Belvedere in time for SOE operations in support of D-Day.

Someone had betrayed them. That much was clear: but who?

When Elizabeth Maxwell was summoned to 64 Baker Street, London, she had hoped to hear news of her husband. To her horror, she learns that the Gestapo and the French Milice had ambushed an RAF airdrop of supplies to the Belvedere Resistance. Many Resistance fighters had been killed, and there had been no communication from the head of the Belvedere Resistance - Guy Maxwell, Elizabeth’s husband.

Having at first frowned upon Elizabeth’s marriage to Guy (for emotional entanglement between agents was discouraged) Colonel Maurice Buckmaster, the head of F Section of the Special Operations, now wants Elizabeth to go back into the field and find out exactly what had happened.

Desperate to find out if her husband is dead or alive, Elizabeth willingly agrees. She had worked as a courier for the Belvedere Resistance six months previously, and she knew the area well. It soon became apparent to Elizabeth that there was a traitor in their midst. But unearthing the traitor seemed nearly as impossible as finding out what had happened to her husband and the other members of the Resistance who had survived the vicious attack.

Elizabeth is all too aware that time is against her. The Belvedere Resistance must be in a position where they could support the Allied forces by use of sabotage and subversion to undermine the German occupying forces in time for D-Day.

Inspired by historical events and people, The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is an enthralling story that held me captivated from the very first sentence to the final full stop. Gauci has depicted an extremely violent time with an intuitive understanding of what makes history worth reading. This is a novel that does not threaten to mesmerise, it does.

Elizabeth is a character that I came to adore. She is a remarkably strong woman who takes incredible risks to find out what exactly happened. Her determination to discover if her husband is alive or dead was heart-rendering. However, Elizabeth tries to put her personal fears aside, for she has a job to do, and she is determined to do it. I don’t think I would have been as brave as Elizabeth if I found myself in such a situation, but Elizabeth remains clear-headed throughout, which saves her life on more than one occasion. She also gets on with life, despite what is happening around her. If she needs a new dress, she will make one. If a friend needs help with a medical emergency (Elizabeth is a trained nurse), she will change her plans to ensure those in need, received her help. However, there were moments where Elizabeth surprised me. For someone who came across as exceedingly gentle, she could also be coldly ruthless.

The other protagonist in this novel is Guy, but to speak of him would be to give away some spoilers and that I will not do. If you want to find out the truth about what happened that terrible night, then you will have to read the book!

Throughout this novel, Gauci explores the chaotic, not to mention the senseless brutality of warfare. The German occupying forces are determined to keep control of the populous - their weapon of choice being fear by using threats, torture, deportation and, in many cases, murder. However, there are times where the Resistance is equally brutal, as unfeeling and unforgiving. Thus reminding the reader that this is a war story, and that society’s normal rules, society’s code of morality, are swept aside. On both sides, there seemed to be a dehumanisation of those who threatened, or at least might threaten, their end goal. This meant that the general populous found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place with no control of their destiny, let alone their immediate future. But still, they try to get on with life. They try to bring some normality to this abnormal time. With hindsight, it is remarkably easy to judge those who collaborated with the enemy, but Gauci asks her readers if it was your family that was threatened, what would you do? Being a patriot may sound romantic and heroic, but when you are faced with an unimaginably difficult decision, it is easy to see why patriotism flew out the window, along with honour and loyalty.

Gauci has depicted this era’s immense suffering with an accomplished author’s skill and an empathetic understanding of human nature. So, although the Germans and the French Milice are the antagonists in this novel, Gauci does not whitewash the actions and the lengths that the Resistance were prepared to go to. There are some scenes of torture and murder in this novel that are incredibly distressing. But this was a brutal period of history, and although I deplored what the Germans did, I found myself not wanting to forgive what the Resistance did either. And although it is anger and betrayal that is behind the Resistance’s lack of humanity, it does give the reader pause for thought, and it also reminds them that there were unforgivable and deplorable acts carried out on both sides.

Gauci also explores the question of morality in this novel. The fact that there were some people who were more than willing to exploit others for their own financial gain should come as no surprise, but for some reason, I actually found it surprising. We often hear stories of remarkable courage where members of the general population hid their Jewish neighbours and friends at significant personal risk, but I have never read a story where there were unscrupulous people who exploited those whose situations were precarious. Although this type of profiteering is mentioned only briefly in this novel, it certainly struck a chord.

The distinction between appearance and reality is often a profoundly blurred line throughout the length of this book. The Resistance was successful because of its secretive nature, and because of its skill of its agents in infiltrating and gaining the trust of the enemy. The emotional terminal and abuse that these people endured from the very people they were actually helping really drove home the fact that appearance was not always what it seemed.

The attention to the historical detail has to be commended. The hours of research that have gone into this novel shine clearly through every carefully crafted sentence. Gauci knows this era well, and her dedicated research has certainly paid off, for it is a vivid and historically accurate world in which she has placed her characters.

This novel is an emotional read, and yet it is also a profoundly truthful depiction of the era and the role that the Resistance had to play in the success of the Allied invasion of France.

The Secret of the Grand Hôtel du Lac by Kathryn Gauci is a novel that once started is extremely difficult to turn away from. This is a book that demands to be read in one sitting. If you enjoy quality Historical Fiction set during World War II, then this book should certainly have a place upon your bookshelf.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Pick up your copy

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Kathryn Gauci was born in Leicestershire, England, and studied textile design at Loughborough College of Art and later at Kidderminster College of Art and Design where she specialised in carpet design and technology. After graduating, Kathryn spent a year in Vienna, Austria before moving to Greece where she worked as a carpet designer in Athens for six years. There followed another brief period in New Zealand before eventually settling in Melbourne, Australia.

Before turning to writing full-time, Kathryn ran her own textile design studio in Melbourne for over fifteen years, work which she enjoyed tremendously as it allowed her the luxury of travelling worldwide, often taking her off the beaten track and exploring other cultures. The Embroiderer is her first novel; a culmination of those wonderful years of design and travel, and especially of those glorious years in her youth living and working in Greece – a place that she is proud to call her spiritual home.

Her second novel, Conspiracy of Lies, is set in France during WWII. It is based on the stories of real life agents in the service of the Special Operations Executive and The Resistance under Nazi occupied Europe. To put one’s life on the line for your country in the pursuit of freedom took immense courage and many never survived. Kathryn’s interest in WWII started when she lived in Vienna and has continued ever since. She is a regular visitor to France and has spent time in several of the areas in which this novel is set.

Connect with Kathryn: Website • Twitter • Goodreads.

Check out Richard Tearle's fabulous new book — The North Finchley Writers’ Group #ContemporaryRomance #BlogTour #CoffeePotBookClub

 

The North Finchley Writers’ Group 

By Richard Tearle, with Helen Hollick

When a group of north London writers meet each month for a chat, coffee, and cake – what else is on their agenda? Constructive criticism? New Ideas? An exciting project? And maybe, more than one prospective romance...?

Eavesdrop on the monthly meetings of the North Finchley Writers' Group, follow some ordinary people with a love of story writing, and an eagerness for success. Discover, along with them, the mysteries of creating characters and plot, of what inspires ideas, and how real life can, occasionally, divert the dream...

Excerpt

LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF

My name – my personal and professional name – is Rob Taylor and I'm a writer. 

It is rather strange to state that as a fact after years of scribbling, despair at rejections tempered by moments of high elation when one of my stories was accepted by a respected magazine. But I can state it as a truth now, for I write regularly for several publications, and my first compilation has recently been published with a fixed contract for two more to follow. At the moment, I write short stories, but more than a few friends have encouraged me with prompts such as “You have a novel in you, you know,” and, “A short story has the potential to be a novel writ long.” I am working on the idea.

But enough of that.

About a year or so ago, I was unexpectedly made redundant. Jobless, but with a good-enough redundancy bank balance to keep me going for a bit, and a determination to do what I wanted to do – write – I took the plunge and converted the spare bedroom into a study. I started writing full time and joined the North Finchley Writers' Group, where I met some lovely people who, one way or another, gave me the encouragement to develop my ideas.

All to my satisfaction, but my wife's dismay. 

The members of our writers’ group are a very mixed bunch, as you will find out. We meet every month at a different house and whoever is the host gets to provide tea and coffee – often with cake or ‘light snacks’ – and chooses a topic for discussion. We talk, voice opinions and yes, sometimes we argue. But it is all forgotten when we walk away into the night.

Mostly.

They've had quite a turnover of members over the years. Some who came for a couple of meetings and then disappear. Some who weren't really writers but 'dabble' and think that attending a writers' group meeting makes them one. They never last long. Some have moved along and, sadly, one or two have passed on to the great Library in the Sky. Nowadays we have about a dozen or so regulars. There are one or two who are deliberately obstructive. Outspoken.  Single minded. Cantankerous. 

Some are shy and introvert and, in truth, offer little. But they listen and learn, and that is what we are all there for. To learn from others, be they best sellers or unpublished writers. Because, whatever our differences, we stick together and, if anyone is down, we stand by them and offer encouragement. If someone is on a high, then we enthuse in their success.

Most of us, anyway.

We do have a few Best Sellers. Angela Knight, for example, and Zak Nichols. Charlotte Caroll is more than adept at Regency romances, (not my bag, but, well, credit where credit's due) and Jean Hart uses her history degree to good effect, as does Hilary Jackson, albeit covering a different period of time.

I'll introduce them all properly as we go along...

Pick up your copy of

The North Finchley Writers’ Group 

Amazon

A Word From Richard Tearle 

“To the writing community, whether they be traditionally published, indie or aspiring.  

You make the rocking world go round...Writers are such a wonderful community – supportive, helpful and ever willing to give their time and expertise to one humble chap such as I. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

Richard – December 2020

 A Word From Helen Hollick

It was with great enthusiasm that I encouraged Richard to write this, his first novel. His enjoyment of creating a good story, I felt, should be shared to readers and writers, everywhere. Unfortunately, at the editing stage, Richard became ill, involving hospitalisation. In discussion with his son, rather than abandon the project or put it on hold, we decided that the best course of action was for me to continue with getting this book published on his behalf. The characters, plot – the story – are all Richard’s immense talent, I merely tidied up and added the final polish, coming in as ‘painter and decorator’ to Richard’s main role as architect, designer, and builder. 

Social Media Links:

Richard:

Website 

Helen:

Twitter • Instagram

#BookReview — The Norse Queen (The Norsewomen Book 1) by Johanna Wittenberg #Vikings #HistoricalFiction @JoWit5

 

The Norse Queen 

(The Norsewomen Book 1) 

By Johanna Wittenberg 

Publication Date: 11th February 2020

Publisher: Shellback Studio 

Page Length: 318 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction / Vikings

Ninth-century Norway, the dawn of the Viking era, -- a land shattered into thirty warring kingdoms. A woman could seize power, if she was bold enough.

Daughter of a Norse king, fifteen-year-old Åsa dreams of becoming a shield-maiden. When she spurns a powerful warlord, he rains hellfire on her family, slaughtering her father and brother and taking her captive. To protect her people, Åsa must wed her father’s killer. To take vengeance, she must become his queen.

“The daughter of this house has a proud destiny in the web of fate.”

The Norse Queen is fast-paced adventure loosely based on legendary Viking Queen Åsa of Tromøy who lived in the 9th century. We delve into a world of warriors and strong women who meet their fate head-on, and a light touch of magic that adds to the storytelling part of this engrossing novel.

Fifteen-year-old Åsa dreams of becoming a shield-maiden. Living in the small kingdom of Tromøy, on Norway’s southern tip, she grows up with a relative degree of freedom and responsibility. Following her mother’s death in childbirth, she is now the lady of the settlement, welcoming visitors and ensuring the household is run smoothly, especially when her father, King Harald, is away. But in her free time, she loves to best her brother, Gyrd, in play swordfights. Trained by old Jarl Borg, a longterm fighting companion of her father, she revels in honing her skills, like a true warrior. 

When handsome young Olaf – the son of Harald’s former friend but now enemy, Gudrød of Borre – visits Tromøy, she is instantly smitten. Her head full of romantic dreams, she is horrified when the true nature of Olaf’s visit is revealed: she is invited to wed not Olaf, but his old father, Gudrød. Angrily, she refuses the offer, as is her right, and Olaf is sent back to Borre, empty-handed. But little does she know the chain of events her reaction has caused. 

The arrival of the völva Heid, a highly respected wise-woman and shaman, in Olaf’s wake doesn’t change Åsa’s intentions, and eventually, even the healer leaves, frustrated, her parting words a soon-to-be-fulfilled warning.

Back in Borre, Olaf faces his father’s wrath. Despite his growing feelings for Åsa, yet keen to impress his harsh father, his failure sees Gudrød leave him behind when he raises his followers, including Olaf’s half-brother, Hrolf, and travels by sea to attack Tromøy. 

When Gudrød kills Åsa’s father and brother in face-to-face combat, his incredible Serkland sword cutting through their weapons like cheese, her fate is sealed. Her people dead or fleeing, she is taken to Borre and locked up by Heid in the bower, safely out of Gudrød’s clutches, whilst awaiting the auspicious date of her wedding. When she manages to escape only days before, it is Olaf who rescues her from danger. Yet even a night of frantic love-making does not stop him from taking her back to Borre. 

But an unexpected surprise awaits Åsa on her wedding night…

“But I will have my revenge.”

Åsa is a brave young girl growing up with dreams of being a shield-maiden. Yet fate has conspired against her. From the tranquil, peaceful setting in Tromøy, where she enjoyed the respect and indulgence of her people, her enforced journey to Borre to wed her father’s murderer is a steep learning curve for her. But she is also aware that these things happened all across the Viking realms (for there were many small kingdoms and earldoms). Daughters are meant to wed for political gain, to seal deals. But in her head, she is quite content to stay as her father’s host, the lady of Tromøy. When she is suddenly torn from this warm embrace of safety and security, her mind is set. She knows her life is not safe, but she is more concerned about the people left behind who – with the harvest and food stores burnt by Gudrød’s men – face starvation. This is one of her prime motivators for her escape, even though she knows, deep down, that Gudrød would chase her and wreak his revenge. 

It’s great to see a strong female character in Åsa, who, after her teenage bubble of happiness is burst, is aware of her position as daughter of a king, although fate can change swiftly. Gudrød still seeks to sacrifice her even after their wedding, but aided by the völva Heid, she realizes that there are greater forces at work, forces she can use to her advantage. Heid keeps her safe, but for how long?

Heid, the wise-woman, is another strong female character. She is highly respected amongst Viking communities. Her visions feared by ordinary men and leaders, influencing important political decisions. Her high rank is obvious from the beginning. Of indeterminate age and crippled, we learn very little about her background, until near the end, when an intriguing link to her past is revealed. Like Åsa, I remained uncertain about Heid’s true intensions, which are cleverly weaved into the plot. Heid and her apprentices keep Åsa safe – for the moment, but the völva has her own agenda.

Meanwhile, Olaf – whilst fantasizing about Åsa – still wants to impress his father, showing that he is a worthy heir. When Gudrød goes on campaign to reclaim the ancient ‘Shining Hall’ of his ancestors from the Danes, Olaf joins proudly, but when he is separated from his host during battle, and attacked, it becomes clear to him that his half-brother, Hrolf, has sinister plans for him. Olaf’s long, enforced, journey east is one of self-discovery and revelation. He has come into his own, and dreams of returning home with riches beyond his father’s dreams. At a market in Bolghar, he sets eyes on wootz, a metal used to create Gudrød’s miraculous sword and which the king has always wanted to use to arm his huskarlar – his followers. Finally back in Borre, Olaf revels in his father’s gratitude on his return with the precious gifts.

To me, Olaf is the weakest character in the story. Not weak in terms of the author’s writing, but by his own indecisiveness and eager-to-please attitude towards his father. He grew up bullied by Hrolf, laughed at by Gudrød. A boy desperate for his father’s approval. Not of harsh warrior material like Gudrød or Hrolf, Olaf has struggled all his life to gain his father’s respect. This affects all his actions, and at times I wanted to shake him for not accepting what an ogre his father really is. By the end of the novel, I still don’t trust him.

Ulf is one of the captured people from Tromøy, a true friend to Åsa. A smith, he is a quiet character who keeps his head down and gets on with the work Gudrød assigns to him in the smithy, much to the annoyance of the resident smith, Arne, who would rather see Ulf dead. And Ulf knows that his life hangs in the balance, until he can forge a sword made of wootz steel. With the precious metal finally in his hands, he must act swiftly to secure his survival – and that of Åsa.

“I must learn all I can, and protect the innocents.”

Johanna Wittenberg conveys the way of life in southern Norway beautifully. The landscapes are vivid, with all their magnificence and dangers. She recreates the seasons well, and shows us how precarious life was when stocks are destroyed or shared by force. Both at home in Tromøy as well as in Borre, Åsa’s life becomes a routine that sees her deal with the relevant duties, especially during the seasonal festivals – Jøl, and the spring, summer and autumn equinoxes, all very important to Viking life with their rituals to appease the gods to grant them a successful harvest or to keep them safe and fed during the harsh winters. The rituals form part of the visual narrative, which evoked in me a sense of wonderful, old-fashioned storytelling. Whilst the author doesn’t spare some gory details, she does this with the respect the Vikings would have accorded to the animals they slaughtered.

The smallest details bring the setting and the characters to life. Ms Wittenberg dispenses with clichés so often found in novels featuring Vikings, but instead draws on her excellent, clearly in-depth, research in creating a world full of challenges and dangers, but also beauty, joy and glimpses of happy times. Even the tiny touch of magic feels natural in the overall context of the ancient Viking communities.

The Norse Queen by Johanna Wittenberg is a wonderful novel, a saga about the challenges a young woman faces to finally fulfil her destiny. With flesh-and-blood characters, a vibrant setting, and a fast pace throughout, it really pulls you into the Viking past. Although there are two sequels, The Norse Queen can easily be read as a standalone novel as all loose strands are neatly tied up at the end. But I’ll just have to get the sequels to see what happens next.

A highly recommended read!

Review by Cathie Dunn.

The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Where to buy:

 

Amazon UK • Amazon US

About the author

Like her Viking forebears, Johanna Wittenberg has sailed to the far reaches of the world. She lives on a fjord in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, whom she met on a ship bound for Antarctica. For fascinating facts about the Viking Age, visit Johanna’s website.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads • BookBub.

 

#BookReview — Beware the Lurking Lizard (The House of the Red Duke, Book 2) by Vivienne Brereton #HistoricalFiction #Tudors @VivienneBreret1

 

Beware the Lurking Lizard 

(The House of the Red Duke, Book 2) 

By Vivienne Brereton

Publication Date: 28th February 2021

Publisher: Yuletide Press

Page Length: 302 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Welcome to the candlelit courts of Europe!

Uninvited guests at a secret wedding.

 

 A frozen River Thames.

 May Day celebrations to remember.

 The young Henry VIII, with the aid of his chief advisor, Thomas Wolsey, and against the counsel of Thomas Howard, the Earl of Surrey, is hellbent on a so-called holy war with France. This puts him at odds with his Scottish brother-in-law, James IV of Scotland, and his older sister, Margaret. 

Both Tristan and Nicolas know that time is running out for them before they have to…enter the Church - and into an arranged marriage, respectively. In the meantime, they remain at loggerheads over pretty Ysabeau de Sapincourt, the spoilt young wife of the hapless Robert.

At La Colombe, near Ardres, in Picardy, spirited little Valentine is still making mischief as she sees fit.

Across the Narrow Sea, Cecily is perfectly content in her beloved Zennor Castle, in Cornwall. 

None of them know what Dame Fortune has in store for them. Will she allow them to follow their own paths…or has she got other ideas?

The day a Howard gives up will be the one when England ceases to exist...

But Thomas Howard would do well to remember that Dame Fortune was a fickle mistress, and what she gave today she could just so easily take away tomorrow…

With a historian’s insight and an author’s understanding of what makes history worth reading, Vivienne Brereton has presented her readers with an utterly enthralling story about the House of Howard in the reign of Henry VIII. In her fabulous new release, Beware the Lurking Lizard (The House of the Red Duke, Book 2) Brereton has captured the very essence of the era. Through the eyes of the Howard family, we bear witness to the events that led up to Henry VIII’s “Holy War” with France.

There is a timelessness to Brereton’s writing. Reading this novel was effortless, and the hours slipped by unnoticed as I lost myself within the pages of this remarkable book. Brereton’s passion for this era, and her recognition of what drove the Howard family ever onwards, as well as her understanding of human nature and how easily it can become corrupted, shines through in every sentence. This kind of novel makes fans of quality Historical Fiction set in the Tudor era awfully excited.

Money and the continuing lust for power are the driving force behind the narrative of this novel. As before in Book 1, much of the story of Beware the Lizard Lurking is told through the eyes of Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk. Thomas was a character that I enjoyed reading about in Book 1, but he tried my patience in this novel. My initial fondness for this extraordinary man who had lived under the reign of six monarchs was tested. His ambition, his pride, and his desperate, one might say fanatical, desire that the House of Howards would survive and prosper to the end of time made for some unsettling reading, especially when Brereton depicts the lengths he was willing to go to if it meant achieving his aims. 

Despite his age, despite the physical disabilities that come with his advancing years, Thomas is determined to always be in the thick of the action and, more importantly, have the ear of the king. His realisation that the upstart, the Snake, Thomas Wolsey has become one of Henry’s most trusted advisers leaves an exceedingly bitter taste in his mouth and one he cannot seem to get rid of.

Thomas’ relationship with Wolsey was fascinating. Thomas has made Wolsey his enemy, his arch-enemy, and he is determined to dislike the man because of his position in court. But in his time of need, Wolsey is the one that comes to his aid, that drops everything to be with a man who is grieving the loss of his child. I felt for Wolsey during this book. He is a pawn, and a sometimes extremely unwilling one at that, for Henry’s over jubilant immature jests at Wolsey's expense to annoy Thomas. I thought Wolsey’s depiction was fabulous. He is an intelligent but extremely considerate man, who I liked very much. I am looking forward to reading more about his journey to power and then ultimate ruin in the following books in this series.

I could not help but weep for Elizabeth Stafford, and again this made me rethink my feelings for Thomas. Elizabeth “Lizzie” is all set to marry the man she loves, Ralph Neville. But the Howards, having learnt of this, are determined to put a stop to the wedding. The Howards’ ruthless and uncompromising desire to hold on to their power and increase their wealth turned my stomach. Like a condemned woman taking the final steps to the gallows, Lizzie is forced to marry Thomas’ son, who is also named Thomas. There is a viciousness, a cruelty in how this marriage came about, and it was an utterly heartrending scene to read. There are also echoes of the barbarity that Lizzie would be forced to endure in her marriage. Although there are some tragic losses in this novel, this forced marriage upset me the most. This desperate scene will stay with me for a long time. And Thomas, the elder, knowing what would become of Lizzie, for he knew his son well, might well have been moved to pity if it were not for the fact that such matters were no concern of his—and that attitude made me feel physically sick. It is fair to say, as Hartley noted, that *the past is a foreign country, but...this period’s sad reality demonstrates that women had few rights, and it really made me feel for all those women, and men also, who had been forced to wed, not for love, but because of duty and money.

There is an undercurrent of an upcoming war throughout this novel. Henry’s desperate desire, jovial excitement, and hellbent determination to pursue a costly campaign across the Narrow Sea demonstrates the recklessness that Henry approached his kingship. It also showed Thomas’ desire to stay in that inner circle that surrounded the king.

With careful use of foreshadowing, Brereton has hinted at events yet to come. Anne Bullen’s off-the-cuff announcement that she has no desire to grow old, and the innocent comments from Mary Bullen that she would never be in the position to upset the king, whereas Anne’s temper often got the better of her and would be more likely too, made for some chilling reading—especially as both sisters were young and innocent. This, I think, is one of the most significant challenges of reading Historical Fiction—you already know how it is going to end and, of course, as in this book, the story is based on historical people and events.

As I did with Book 1, I thought Brereton was incredibly ambitious to tell the Howard family’s story and the upcoming war from all sides. Despite the extensive cast list at the beginning of this novel, if you know nothing about this era, I fear you would find it challenging to keep up with who everyone was and what parts they had to play in this game of kingships and thrones. However, if you are fascinated by this era, this novel gives you a depth and an understanding of how relationships between the nations were plagued with difficulties, life-changing decisions and wavering loyalties. 

Brereton has given her readers a tautly gripping tale, and has breathed life into historical figures that have been dead for hundreds of years, and that is something that I cannot help but admire.

Beware the Lurking Lizard (The House of the Red Duke, Book 2) by Vivienne Brereton is a work of extraordinary scholarship. It is certainly deserving of a place on your bookshelf.

I Highly Recommend.

Review by Mary Anne Yarde.

The Coffee Pot Book Club

*Hartley L.P: The Go-Between, Penguin Classics, 2004.

Where to buy

Amazon UK • Amazon US

Vivienne Brereton 

Born between historic Winchester and Southampton in the UK, Vivienne has been passionate about the Tudors for as long as she can remember. This led to a degree in Medieval History at university, and the growing desire to write a novel.

However, life took over somewhat and only after stays, short and long, in six countries she called home did she finally settle down to finish her novel.

Words have always played an important part in her life, whether it's been writing, editing, teaching English, or just picking up a good book.

Having three sons came in very handy when she had to write about squabbles between the male characters in her novel. Not so handy when she took her boys to Hampton Court and one of them got lost in the maze!

Seeing 'A Phoenix Rising', the first book in the series 'The House of the Red Duke' in print for the first time was a moment of great joy for her. She very much hopes that anyone reading ‘Beware the Lizard Lurking’, the second book in the series, will enjoy the end result as much as she enjoyed writing it.

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#BookReview – Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla #AlternativeHistory #RomanEmpire #YoungAdult

 

Wrath of Olympus

 By E.M. Kkoulla

Publication Date: 8th December 2020

Publisher: PublishNation 

Page Length: 243 Pages

Genre: Alternative History / Mythology 

The Roman Empire never fell. The Gods are real. Ships are alive.

In the Province of Britannia, ruled by descendants of King Arthur and on the brink of an industrial revolution, young Maia Abella is on the run.

“What she had taken for a table was beginning to ripple, vast eddies surging through the wood and twisting the grain as, slowly and majestically, two heads emerged; Ships travelling through the substance of the building as fish through the sea, their essence reforming using the great slab of ancient oak as their medium.”

Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla is the story of Maia Abella. Abandoned at a Foundling Home when she was just a baby, Maia is an indentured servant, trapped in a life where she is all but a slave, be it without the life sentence. Maia's mistress is cruel and often mistreats her servants. Maia has to endure another two-and-a-half years of servitude until she is free to choose her own destiny. However, when, by some unknown force, Maia’s mistress is killed, Maia’s life is changed forever.

This novel is set in 2044. The Roman Empire never fell and is still in control. This alternative history world is where the ancient gods run supreme and mythical creatures still exist. At the death of Maia’s mistress, she is tested by Master Mage Raven, to see if she possesses any Potentia—the magic that comes alongside having Divine blood. But it is clear to Maia that she cannot possibly be the descendent of a god, for what parents would abandon a child of Divine blood? Regardless of her heritage, she takes on the role of learning to become a Ship. This is a great honour, for the amount of people suitable for the job is falling rapidly. To become a Ship would be the greatest sacrifice—to abandon one’s body and take the form of wood instead, sailing the seas and looking after the boat and crew. Becoming a Ship is a great honour, but is it really what Maia wants?

Maia is an incredibly strong protagonist who endures everything that is thrown her way. She battles life, her enemies, and embraces the lot she has been given with open arms. Her lack of Potentia may always be on her mind as she learns all she needs to know to be a Ship, as she trains to carry out the tasks required, but it doesn’t hold her back. Instead, she sails through her lessons with ease, an eidetic memory allowing her to remember every detail she is told, every word that she reads. She is an incredibly kind and loyal girl, who loves fiercely, willing to do anything, sacrifice anything, to save those she loves. Maia is someone that one can really get behind and support, for she is a convincing and loveable character, who is affected by things that happen to her but somehow finds the strength within to pick herself up and carry on.

This novel’s setting was captivating and interesting, set in Portus (Portsmouth) in a Roman society, where the Pendragons occupy high social positions. Admiral Pendragon makes an appearance during a ceremony, and several other such names are easy to pick out as you read, giving a sense of the historical differences between our world and the one that has been penned. With such a visual and sense of realism of the world that Kkoulla has created, one can get lost in the pages as easily as one can go adrift at sea, resurfacing only when you have read the whole story.

Maia is not alone in her journey, meeting people along the way that help her to survive, thrive and reach her full potential. One of these is Briseis Apollonia, another candidate at the Academy. Although ahead of Maia in her studies, Briseis is kind, an immediate friend to Maia, and helps her come to terms with the lifestyle that is so very different to the one Maia is used to.

Branwen, Maia’s servant at the Academy, is met with shocked disbelief. Maia is a girl used to being treated like a slave, working long hours and enduring mistreatment. So when she is suddenly thrust into a world of respect, with her own personal possessions and a servant to run her a bath in the evenings, she is understandably unsettled. Her pure joy at discovering she had a comb of her own was heartbreakingly beautiful to read about, and it was upsetting to learn of how afraid she was of being kicked out of the Academy and her meagre possessions taken from her when they found out that she had no Potentia.

After learning the history about being Ships, and all the relevant information in a classroom, Maia’s next challenge is to take that information and the lessons and put them into practice, learning alongside a fully-fledged Ship to get used to the duties of being a Ship and learning how to carry them out effectively. The Blossom is a Ship that has spent a long time training new Ships, and she is a wonderful teacher. Blossom is an interesting character, for as a Ship she has no physical body, but can move throughout the boat, travelling through the wood and appearing where she wishes. It was glorious to read about a boat where the Captain is not in charge, but commands alongside a Ship, with the crew belonging to the Ship and not to the Captain. This importance of women, or in particular, one woman, upon a boat, was an impressive detail that I found incredibly refreshing.

It is evident from the impressive narrative and in-depth detail this novel possesses that Kkoulla has spent many hours researching the history and weaving it into a world of her own. However, there were some times when I found myself lost, in need of more explanation to clarify some important aspects of this story. For example, the role of Ships, moreover, what they are and their roles in society, was not explained as thoroughly as I would have liked. Instead, small details were scattered through the novel, as if creating the image a piece at a time. By the end, I thoroughly understood what they were and why they were regarded with such importance and respect, but I would have preferred some more explanation to begin with, to avoid any confusion.

Wrath of Olympus by E.M. Kkoulla is a story of adventure, danger and friendship, and it was one that was intriguing from start to finish. Kkoulla has a skill for bringing a world to life and has a great eye for the human detail and especially, human fragility. This novel is immensely readable and a wonderful depiction of the importance of the gods in a Roman world and the incredible power that they held.

I Recommend.

Review by Ellie Yarde.
The Coffee Pot Book Club.

Amazon UK • Amazon US

E. M. Kkoulla lives with her husband and two feline overlords in the Calder Valley, West Yorkshire. After many years of teaching very small children, she decided to finally put her degree in Classical Studies, along with decades of re-enacting 16th and 17th century life, to constructive use. Her hobbies include singing in various choirs, walking in the hills and watching anything with gods, superheroes and monsters trashing the landscape.