The Muse in the Fog Book Review | Historical Fiction: April 2012

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Upcoming 2012 Historical Fiction Release! Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander

I am extremely excited to announce the upcoming release of Tasha Alexander's latest novel in the Lady Emily Mystery series! October suddenly just became a bit too far off in the distant future.

Death in the Floating City by Tasha Alexander

Publication date: October 16th 2012

Format: Hardback 320pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"The Huffington Post calls Tears of Pearl author Tasha Alexander "one to watch—and read" and her new Lady Emily mystery set in Venice proves it! Years ago, Emily's childhood nemesis, Emma Callum, scandalized polite society when she eloped to Venice with an Italian count. But now her father-in-law lies murdered, and her husband has vanished. There's no one Emma can turn to for help but Emily, who leaves at once with her husband, the dashing Colin Hargreaves, for Venice. There, her investigations take her from opulent palazzi to slums, libraries, and bordellos. Emily soon realizes that to solve the present day crime, she must first unravel a centuries old puzzle. But the past does not give up its secrets easily, especially when these revelations might threaten the interests of some very powerful people."

Pre-Order:

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Book Depository

Free eBook Promotion!

For a limited time the following retailers are offering The Stolen Crown by Susan Higginbotham for free:

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Synopsis: (From the Publisher)

"When six-year-old Kate Woodville’s beautiful sister Elizabeth makes a shocking—and secret—marriage to King Edward IV in 1464, Kate and her large family are whisked to the king’s court. Soon a bedazzled Kate becomes one of the greatest ladies in the land when she marries young Harry Stafford, Duke of Buckingham. But Kate’s fairy-tale existence as a duchess is shattered when the ongoing conflict between the houses of Lancaster and York engulfs the Woodville family.

As Edward IV fights to keep his crown, Harry’s relatives become hopelessly divided between Lancaster and York. Forced constantly to struggle with his own allegiances, Harry faces his defining moment when his dear friend Richard, Duke of Gloucester, determines to seize the throne for himself as Richard III. With lives in jeopardy and nothing less than a dynasty at stake, Harry’s loyalties—and his conscience—will be put to the ultimate test."

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Review: I, Iago by Nicole Galland

Publication Date: April, 24th 2012

Format: Paperback 400pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"From Nicole Galland, acclaimed author of The Fool's Tale, comes a marvelous evocation of a distant time and place . . . and a breathtaking reexamination of one of literature's classic villains
From earliest childhood, the precocious boy called Iago had inconvenient tendencies toward honesty—a failing that made him an embarrassment to his family and an outcast in the corrupt culture of glittering Renaissance Venice. Embracing military life as an antidote to the frippery of Venetian society, Iago won the love of the beautiful Emilia and the regard of Venice's revered General Othello. After years of abuse and rejection, Iago was poised to achieve everything he had ever fought for and dreamed of . . .

But a cascade of unexpected deceptions propels him on a catastrophic quest for righteous vengeance, contorting his moral compass until he has betrayed his closest friends and family, and sealed his own fate as one of the most notorious villains of all time.

Inspired by William Shakespeare's classic tragedy Othello—a timeless tale of friendship and treachery, love and jealousy—Galland's I, Iago sheds fascinating new light on a complex soul, and on the conditions and fateful events that helped to create a monster."

My Review:

One of the most alluring aspects of Shakespeare's plays is definitely the extreme complexity of the characters. Out of all the remarkable villains portrayed throughout his work, Othello's Iago is perhaps the most shocking with his malicious and cold demeanor, and it is this villain to whom Nicole Galland devotes her novel I, Iago.

Told from the perspective of Iago, I, Iago gives a unique take on the events which led to Iago's manipulating those around him. Nicole did a fabulous job of making the reader feel sympathy towards Iago, and eliminating any harsh opinions of his character once he began his destructive course. Although the book is based on Shakespeare's play, Othello, the book can be easily read without any previous knowledge of the original plot and characters. The only reason this book didn't receive a full 4 fleurs is due to the slow beginning of the novel. Throughout the first half of the book their was a constant sense of anticipation for the drama to unfold — though at times it was uncertain if it ever would — but half way through the plot picked up speed and concluded with a smashing finale. Overall this is a quick and entertaining read that anyone who's intrigued by Shakespeare's Othello would enjoy.

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Giveaway! The Lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory

Welcome to the Showers of Books Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader not a Writer and co-hosted by One A Day Y.A. .

Thanks to the generosity of Simon & Shuster publishing house, I have TWO brand new copies of Philippa Gregory's latest novel, The Lady of the Rivers, to giveaway!

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"A story rich in passion and legend, The Lady of the Rivers is the story of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, a woman who navigated a treacherous path through the battle lines in the Wars of the Roses.

When Jacquetta is married to the Duke of Bedford, English regent of France, he introduces her to a mysterious world of learning and alchemy. Her only friend in the great household is the duke’s squire Richard Woodville, who is at her side when the duke’s death leaves her a wealthy young widow. The two become lovers and marry in secret, returning to England to serve at the court of the young King Henry VI, where Jacquetta becomes a close and loyal friend to his new queen.

The Woodvilles soon achieve a place at the very heart of the Lancaster court, though Jacquetta can sense the growing threat from the people of England and the danger of their royal York rivals. As Jacquetta fights for her king and her queen, she can see an extraordinary and unexpected future for her daughter Elizabeth: a change of fortune, the throne of England, and the white rose of York. . . ."

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Giveaway ends April 25th

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Friday, April 13, 2012

Friday Finds at the Bookstore: Poison by Kathryn Harrison

Every Friday I will be posting my latest book discovery that I found while browsing the bookstore or the library. If you'd like to join in on the fun feel free to do so, just link back to this blog :)

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Poison

by Kathryn Harrison

Publication Date: September 1996

Format: Paperback 336pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Francisca de Luarac, the daughter of a poor Spanish silk grower, is a dreamer of fabulous dreams. Marie Louise de Bourbon, the niece of Louis XIV, dances in slippers of fine Spanish silk in the French Court of the Sun King and imagines her own enchanted future. Born on the same day—in an age when superstition, repression, and the Inquisition reign—the lives of these two young women unfold in tandem, barely touching. Each hoards the memory of her adored lost mother like an amulet. Francica's obsession with her lover, a Catholick priest, will shaper her fate. Marie Loouise is yoked by political expediency to the mad, imptoent Carlos II of Spain. But even as their twin destinies spiral inexorably toward disaster, both Queen and commoner cultivate a dangerous, secret life dedicated to resistance, transcendence, and love. Written in gorgeous prose that has the sheen of silk, Kathryn Harrison's POISONvividlyreminds us of the persistence of desire, the passion that exists between mothers and daughters, and the sorcery of dreams.

Set during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, this hypnotic, luminous, and original novel by the critically acclaimed author of Exposure tells the story of two young women--a silk grower's daughter and a queen--struggling to survive in an atmosphere poisonous to passion, creativity and love."

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Review: The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra's Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet's battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac's quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past."

My Review:

The Book of Lost Fragrances is one of those books that captivates the reader from the very first chapter. Set during modern-day Paris, Jac L'Etoile has returned to her childhood home in attempt to unravel the truth about her brothers disappearance. But soon after her arrival, she begins to discover that there is more to her family history than she ever thought possible. Haunted by fragrances long forgotten, Jac begins to see the power of scent and that her brothers belief in reincarnation might be more than a childish pursuit. As the search for her brother continues the shocking reasons behind his disappearance come to light, and if Jac doesn't solve the mystery of the House of L'Etoile soon, she just might be the next victim.

Told from multiple perspectives and spanning time from Ancient Egypt, The Napoleonic Era and present day Paris and Tibet, The Book of Lost Fragrances weaves a tale that is as strong as the fragrances spoken of within the pages. M. J. Rose did a fantastic job of creating three dimensional characters with personalities that never seemed to stop evolving. There are numerous plot twists throughout the novel, so the moderate flow of the story allows the reader to easily follow along. The highlight of this novel was the authors ability to vividly portray the scents in every scene. The reader is instantly transported to the damp mysterious tunnels, the incensed chambers of Cleopatra, a neglected mausoleum and so many other locations... all through the descriptions of scents we've experienced throughout our lives.

This is the fourth book in M. J. Rose's The Reincarnationist Series, but it can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. Overall this is a captivating and entertaining read, and there is no doubt that this novel will be brought to mind whenever a familiar scent is enjoyed.

FTC: I received this book from the publisher. As always these are my own honest opinions

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Library Loot

Library Loot is a weekly event co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.

This week I picked up:

The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"The Dovekeepers is Alice Hoffman’s most ambitious and mesmerizing novel, a tour de force of research and imagination. Nearly two thousand years ago, nine hundred Jews held out for months against armies of Romans on Masada, a mountain in the Judean desert. According to the ancient historian Josephus, two women and five children survived. Based on this tragic and iconic event, Hoffman’s novel is a spellbinding tale of four extraordinarily bold, resourceful, and sensuous women, each of whom has come to Masada by a different path. Yael’s mother died in childbirth, and her father, an expert assassin, never forgave her for that death. Revka, a village baker’s wife, watched the murder of her daughter by Roman soldiers; she brings to Masada her young grandsons, rendered mute by what they have witnessed. Aziza is a warrior’s daughter, raised as a boy, a fearless rider and expert marksman who finds passion with a fellow soldier. Shirah, born in Alexandria, is wise in the ways of ancient magic and medicine, a woman with uncanny insight and power. The lives of these four complex and fiercely independent women intersect in the desperate days of the siege. All are dovekeepers, and all are also keeping secrets—about who they are, where they come from, who fathered them, and whom they love."

Guest Post: Kate Quinn, Author of Empress of the Seven Hills

Once again I have the pleasure of hosting the extremely talented Kate Quinn here on The Muse in the Fog Book Review. Kate is the author of three mesmerizing novels set in Ancient Rome, with her newest release being Empress of the Seven Hills. Thank you, Kate, for joining us today!

"If there's a downside to democracy, it's a lack of grandeur. Most presidents nowadays leave their legacy (if any) in endless dry documents written in legalese that would put most of us into a Sleeping Beauty coma. Absolute monarchs have latitude for grand gestures when they start thinking about what they want to leave behind. Screw legal documents and legislation; the average monarch wanted to leave posterity something massive, imposing, and preferably in marble. Roman Emperors were the best at this kind of self-aggrandizement-as-city-beautification: most emperors, once they had settled any rebellious provinces, cowed any resentful senators into submission, and killed any ambitious family members, turned their thoughts to statues, theatres, temples, triumphal arches, and anything they could stick their name on to make people oooh and aaah. We're still ooohing and aaahing two thousand years later at the ruins.

Roman architecture and building programs have an important part to play in my new book “Empress of the Seven Hills,” and hopefully that's not as boring as it sounds. A scheming villain embezzles from an architectural project for campaign funds. A politician doodles arches and columns for his fantasy vacation house in between signing death warrants. A Roman girl pushes one of her suitors into a bathhouse pool, hoping it will encourage him to propose marriage. (Does it? Read to find out.) “Empress of the Seven Hills” takes place during the reign of Emperor Trajan, a hearty career soldier who spent more time on campaign trails than temple blueprints – but all his victories resulted in a hefty dose of triumphal arches, commemorative columns and other marble tokens of victory. The Column of Trajan still stands today, a massive pillar with a series of carved images that wind their way up to the top, chronologically recording the battles, marches, and eventual conquest of Dacia. A sort of carved-in-stone CNN broadcast, and marvelously useful to writers like me who are trying to untangle just what happened in that Dacian campaign so we can plunk our characters down into the middle of it. Thanks to Trajan's Column, I was able to figure out how he deployed his troops, how the enemy king died, and even such small details as the fact that normally clean-shaven Roman soldiers were being marched so fast that they had no time to shave, and thus let their beards grow on campaign. Nowadays we get our wartime news from Robin Mead's “Salute to the Troops!”; back then, you read it on a column. I think I prefer the column; far less perky to my pre-coffee morning self than Robin Mead.

Emperor Trajan also recognized the political aspects of building: he had an enormous bathhouse complex built as his personal present to Rome; a popular gift from emperors who could afford it. Public bathing was something the Romans prided themselves on. Massive monuments to leisure and cleanliness were the ultimate sign of civilization; a sort of big marble excuse note that said “See, it's ok to conquer all those other countries; they're so uncivilized they don't even bathe!” Even a lowly plebeian could pay a small fee to bask in the spa rooms and steam rooms of the Baths of Trajan, and marvel at the man who built it all. Politicians sometimes curried votes by paying a bathhouse's entrance fees for a day: “Come get a free massage and beauty treatment at the Baths of Trajan, and don't forget to vote for Mitt Romney!” Frankly I think this is an idea that needs to be revived; I have no intention of voting for Mitt Romney, but I'd be happy to let him pay for my pedicures.

Emperor Trajan's ward Hadrian is also a major character in “Empress of the Seven Hills,” and he's a man who would also become famous for the monuments he left posterity. Namely, of course, is Hadrian's Wall – that enormous crumbling structure that still stretches across the very top of England, left to us by a man who was wise enough to take one look north at a howling mass of Scotsmen, and decide “Hell no, I'm not taking them on!” Another of Hadrian's legacies is the exquisite complex of ruins still extant just outside Rome; an expanse of palaces, offices, theatres, and temples collectively known as “Hadrian's Villa.” Hadrian, an amateur architect, designed much of it himself and began building the moment he could afford it: a place where a politician who was never alone could at least be surrounded by peace and beauty.

Not all Roman monuments were about peace or beauty, of course. The Colosseum still looms over the streets of Rome, so awe-inspiring that it's easy to forget just how many gladiators, prisoners, and animals died there. And the Circus Maximus remains as a vast oval track where chariots once ran, the largest arena ever built for sporting purposes – it would take more than six Fenway Parks full of Red Sox fans to fill the Circus Maximus to full, screaming capacity. Bread and circuses; the tools Roman politicians used to sate the masses, and they needed massive marble arenas and stadiums to do it.

Maybe in the end, it's better to live in a world where there are no public executions, fights to the death for public entertainment, conquests of neighboring nations, and politicians who can buy your vote with a free massage. But I'm still glad all those arrogant, ambitious Romans existed, with their bloodlust and their wars and their desire to be immortalized in marble. If not for them, we wouldn't have so many wonderful things to gawk at."

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Powerful, prosperous, and expanding ever farther into the untamed world, the Roman Empire has reached its zenith under the rule of the beloved Emperor Trajan. But neither Trajan nor his reign can last forever…

Brash and headstrong, Vix is a celebrated ex-gladiator returned to Rome to make his fortune. The sinuous, elusive Sabina is a senator’s daughter who craves adventure. Sometimes lovers, sometimes enemies, Vix and Sabina are united by their devotion to Trajan. But others are already maneuvering in the shadows. Trajan’s ambitious Empress has her own plans for Sabina. And the aristocratic Hadrian—the Empress’s ruthless protégé and Vix’s mortal enemy—has ambitions he confesses to no one, ambitions rooted in a secret prophecy.

When Trajan falls, the hardened soldier, the enigmatic empress, the adventurous girl, and the scheming politician will all be caught in a deadly whirlwind of desire and death that may seal their fates, and that of the entire Roman Empire."

Enter for a chance to win Kate Quinn's

Empress of the Seven Hills

Monday, April 9, 2012

Upcoming 2012 Historical Fiction Release! Four Sisters, All Queens By Sherry Jones

Four Sisters, All Queens by Sherry Jones

Pre-Order:
Barnes and Noble
Amazon
Book Depository

Publication date: 5/8/2012

Format: Paperback 464pp

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

"Rich in intrigue and scheming, love and lust, Sherry Jones’s vibrant historical novel follows four women destined to sway the fate of nations and the hearts of kings. . . .

Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother—and to abide by the countess’s motto: “Family comes first.”

With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite’s illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Eléonore—independent and daring—is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens.

Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite’s duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers—Provence itself.

From the treacherous courts of France and England, to the bloody tumult of the Crusades, Sherry Jones traces the extraordinary true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions, conquests, and progeny shaped the course of history."

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Happy Easter!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Giveaway! Empress of the Seven Hills by Kate Quinn

Welcome to the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader not a Writer and co-hosted by Yara @ Once Upon A Twilight .

I am delighted to be offering one brand new copy of Kate Quinn's Empress of the Seven Hills to one lucky contestant chosen at random by rafflecopter... I just finished reading this novel and absolutely loved it!

Synopsis (From the Publisher):

""Powerful, prosperous, and expanding ever farther into the untamed world, the Roman Empire has reached its zenith under the rule of the beloved Emperor Trajan. But neither Trajan nor his reign can last forever…

Brash and headstrong, Vix is a celebrated ex-gladiator returned to Rome to make his fortune. The sinuous, elusive Sabina is a senator’s daughter who craves adventure. Sometimes lovers, sometimes enemies, Vix and Sabina are united by their devotion to Trajan. But others are already maneuvering in the shadows. Trajan’s ambitious Empress has her own plans for Sabina. And the aristocratic Hadrian—the Empress’s ruthless protégé and Vix’s mortal enemy—has ambitions he confesses to no one, ambitions rooted in a secret prophecy.

When Trajan falls, the hardened soldier, the enigmatic empress, the adventurous girl, and the scheming politician will all be caught in a deadly whirlwind of desire and death that may seal their fates, and that of the entire Roman Empire.""

Giveaway Guidelines:

This is an INTERNATIONAL giveaway!

Must be a follower via GFC (google friend connect)

Fill out the form below

Giveaway ends April 12th

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Guest Post: M.J. Rose Author of The Book of Lost Fragrances

Please help me welcome the very talented M.J. Rose, author of The Book of Lost Fragrances, as she shares with us the captivating power of fragrance.

"M.J. Rose: I've been fascinated with lost fragrances since long before I started writing The Book of Lost Fragrances... since I found a bottle of perfume on my great grandmother's dresser that had belonged to her mother in Russia. Here is one of those lost fragrances that stirs the senses and the imagination... (reasearched and described with the help of the perfume writer Dimitrios Dimitriadis)

GUERLAIN - EAU DE VERVEINE Guerlain first focused on verveine (verbena) varieties to use in perfumes in the mid-late 1800's. Eau de Verveine was released first in the 1870's and made brief reappearances in the 1950s and the 1980s before being retired from Guerlain's perfume portfolio. Eau de Verveine is the scent of high summer… sharp, uplifting notes of citrus-green lemon verbena flood the mouth with saliva with their crisp, energising aroma. Below is a prickle of something darker - perhaps carnation or clove - which adds incredible depth. There is a dry, tea-like quality that emerges as the scent dries on the skin. This impossibly rare scent evokes feelings of long days at the summer's end with the chirrup of cicadas ringing in the ears."

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SYNOPSIS:

A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra's Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet's battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac's quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.

AUTHOR BIO:

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing. Her next novel THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES (Atria/S&S) will be published in March 2012. Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many magazines and reviews including Oprah Magazine. She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com. The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Renincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and runs the blog- Buzz, Balls & Hype. She is also the co-founder of Peroozal.com and BookTrib.com.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

For more information on M.J. Rose and her novels, please visit her WEBSITE. You can also find her on Facebook.