Tag: Historical

I Am Rome (Julius Caesar: Book 1) by Santiago Posteguillo

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine Books

Date of publication: March 5th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Novels, Italy, Roman, Literature, Ancient History

Series: Julius Caesar

I Am Rome—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The runaway international bestseller–part sweeping historical epic, part legal thriller–following the trial that shaped the life of the young Julius Caesar and gave root to an immortal legacy.

Every legend has a beginning.

Rome, 77 B.C. Senator Dolabella, known for using violence against anyone who opposes him, is going on trial for corruption and has already hired the best lawyers and even bought the jury. No man dares accept the role of prosecutor–until, against all odds, an unknown twenty-three-year-old steps out to lead the case, defend the people of Rome, and defy the power of the elite class. This lawyer’s name is Caius Julius Caesar.

Masterfully combining exhaustive historical rigor with extraordinary narrative skills, Santiago Posteguillo shows us the man behind the myth of Caesar as never before, taking us to the dangerous streets of Rome where the Senate’s henchmen lurk on every corner, submerging us in the thick of battle, and letting us live the great love story of Julius Caesar and his wife, Cornelia. 

After Julius Caesar, the world was never the same. I Am Rome tells the tale of the early events that shaped this extraordinary man’s fate–and changed the course of history itself.

First Line

The woman spoke quietly to her baby as she rocked him.

I Am Rome by Santiago Posteguillo

Important details about I Am Rome

Pace:  Slow

POV: 3rd person (numerous people but mainly from Julius Caeser)

Trigger Warnings: I Am Rome contains themes that include rape, sexual assault, slavery, torture, war, classism, arranged marriage, divorce, alcohol consumption, childbirth, pregnancy, teen pregnancy, blood & gore depiction, body horror, dead bodies & body parts, knife and sword violence, murder & attempted murder, whipping, massacres, military service, and military violence.

Language: I Am Rome contains mild swearing and language that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is moderate sexual content in I Am Rome.

Setting: I Am Rome is set in and around Rome, Italy.

My Review

Julius Caesar is one of those historical figures that have fascinated me ever since I could remember. But, when I tried to read books (mainly nonfiction) that described his reign over the Roman Empire, it would bore me. I also couldn’t find a historical fiction that stuck to the facts. Because of that, I was hesitant to accept the widget when Random House sent me it. But I did, and oh boy, I am glad that I did. This book was fantastic.

I Am Rome is well-written, well-researched historical fiction that captivated me from the prologue. This book is over 600 pages long, and its length can be slow. I normally cannot deal with a slow, long book, but in this case, it worked. I could process the different parts of Julius Caesar’s life without getting overwhelmed by the information given.

The story of Julius Caesar is told in two storylines. The first storyline revolves around Julius Caesar and the trial where he prosecuted Senator Dolabella, a morally and politically corrupt politician. The second storyline follows Julius Caesar from birth to the years before he took the Senator Dolabella case. I was interested in the trial storyline (I liked how Caesar pleaded his case and presented the witnesses/evidence against Dolabella), but it was a little dry. The second storyline explained almost everything brought up in the first storyline. Yes, I know that what I said is phrased awkwardly, but it will make sense if you read the book.

What I loved about this book is that the author included footnotes at the end of each chapter. He also gave direct quotes about where cities would be in the present day and other interesting tidbits of information, so I was not left wondering about anything.

The undercurrent of I Am Rome is a love story between Cornelia and Caesar. I don’t know if Caesar truly loved Cornelia in real life, but he adored her in this book. And she returned his feelings. They did run up against a few obstacles, but love trumped everything. I adored reading their interactions because Caesar truly seemed to consider what Cornelia said.

I Am Rome is violent and bloody. The author didn’t attempt to sugarcoat the violence. He laid it all out there. Some scenes made me retch, and others made me furious. But, I kept in the back of my mind that it was in context with the period in which it was written. I did provide a list of trigger warnings above.

The end of I Am Rome was very suspenseful. The author merged the two storylines at the perfect moment. While the trial ended in a way that I expected, I was not expecting what happened after. The author left the book open for book 2; I can’t wait to read it!!

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Ballantine, NetGalley, and Santiago Posteguillo for allowing me to read and review this ARC of I Am Rome. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to I Am Rome, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Santiago Posteguillo

The American Daughters by Maurice Carlos Ruffian

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World

Date of publication: February 27th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Civil War, Race, 19th Century, Adult, Adult Fiction, African American, Family

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

A gripping historical novel about a spirited young girl who joins a sisterhood of Black women working together to undermine the Confederates—from the award-winning author of We Cast a Shadow

The American Daughters follows Ady, a curious, sharp-witted girl who is enslaved alongside her mother, Sanite to a businessman in the French Quarter of New Orleans. Sanite and her mother Ady are an inseparable duo—taking walks along the river, working together in the fields and spending nights looking up at the stars, dreaming. Ady’s favorite pastime is listening to Sanite’s stories of her families’ origins, their fierce and rebellious nature, and the everlasting love that strengthens their bond.

When mother and daughter are separated, Ady is left hopeless and unmoored, until she stumbles into the Mockingbird Inn and meets Lenore, a free Black woman with whom she becomes fast friends. Lenore invites Ady to join a clandestine society of spies called The Daughters. With the courage instilled in her by Sanite—and help from these strong women—Ady learns how to choose herself. So begins her journey toward liberation and imagining a new future. The American Daughters is a novel of hope and triumph that reminds us what is possible when a community bands together to fight for their right to live free.

First Line:

Of all the tiresome habits of men, what drove Ady, known here as Antoinette Marianne du Marche, to her wit’s end was their impulse to expand the pettiest of their lives’ moments to epic proportions.

The American Daughters by Maurice Carols Ruffin

Important details about The American Daughters

Pace: Medium. It goes to a fast pace at the end of the book (during certain events) but returns to medium after those events are over.

POV: 3rd person (Ady), 2nd person (excerpts of Ady’s journal), and 1st person (passages of people interviewed over the years about Ady’s journal).

Trigger Warnings: The American Daughters contains themes that include slavery, racism, racial slurs, rape, sexual violence, violence, murder, colourism, classism, sexism & misogyny, white supremacy, dissociation & dissociative episodes, involuntary pregnancy, and war themes.

Language: There is moderate swearing in The American Daughters. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is minor consensual sexual content in The American Daughters. The nonconsensual content is alluded to.

Setting: The American Daughters is set in New Orleans, Louisiana.

My Review

The main storyline of The American Daughters centers around Ady. It is a well-written storyline that does make it uncomfortable to read. The author doesn’t try to sugarcoat or explain away what happened to slaves. I guarantee this content will make people uncomfortable, but it needs to be read.

I liked Ady. I wasn’t sure if I liked that she wanted to join The Daughters (with her owner being one of the prominent people they were gunning for), but once she did join, she was invaluable. The most valuable thing about her was that she could read and write (English and French). Her owner decided to pass her off as his daughter and educated her. Those skills gave information to The Daughters to do what they saw fit.

Besides the main storyline (which intrigued me), I also enjoyed the excerpts the author included. The author was able to fill in some blanks when it came to Ady and her life after the Civil War while also keeping it a mystery.

There is also a thread of romance intertwined in the book. I did think that Ady met her soulmate in this person. I was also sure that this person didn’t feel the same way. It wasn’t until almost the end of the book that the author discussed that.

The Civil War also takes up a considerable chunk of the book. The author doesn’t get into detail about the battles, but he does go into detail about how the city prepped for war and its effect on New Orleans. Even when the war came to New Orleans, the author kept it to a few paragraphs at the book’s end. Of course, there were descriptions of what Ady and The Daughters did to help the Union army. The chains were mainly mentioned (and yes, it is true).

I did enjoy reading about The Daughters and their work. While fictional, I have no issue imagining something similar existed. In a city where free blacks and slaves coexisted, I find it hard not to believe that a spy ring made up of free black women and slaves existed. The Daughters did a lot of damage, but they also took hits to their numbers. Towards the end of the war, only a few were left (including Ady), which led to what happened at her owner’s house (which was poetic justice in my eyes).

The ending kept me from giving this book a 5-star review (if you can make sense of my rambling above). I was happy with how Ady’s storyline ended. But then the author posted an interview with a twist I should have seen coming. This twist was so shocking, but it made sense. I was mad that I didn’t see it coming.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World, NetGalley, and Maurice Carlos Ruffin for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The American Daughters. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The American Daughters, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Maurice Carlos Ruffin

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin

Date of publication: February 20th, 2024

Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, New York, Womens Fiction, Novels, Adult Fiction, World War II

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

In an exuberant post WWII New York City, a young woman is forced to reinvent her life and choose between the safe and the ethical, and the men who represent each…

Set in New York City in the heady aftermath of World War II, when the men were coming home, the women were exhaling in relief, and everyone was having babies, The Trouble with You is the story of Fanny Fabricant, whose rosy future is upended in a single instant. Educated for a career as a wife and mother, she is torn between her cousin Mimi, who is determined to keep her a “nice girl,” and her aunt Rose, who has a rebellious past of her own.

Forging a new life, she gets a job in radio serials. Then through her friendship with an actress who stars in and a man who writes the series, she comes face-to-face with the blacklist, which is wrecking lives.

Ultimately, Fanny must decide between playing it safe or doing what is right in this vivid evocation of a world that seems at once light-years away and strangely immediate.

First Line:

She was going to be a flower girl.

The Trouble with You by Ellen Feldman

Important things you need to know about The Trouble with You:

Pace: Medium

POV: 3rd person (mainly Fannie, but the author occasionally switches to Chloe).

Trigger Warnings: The Trouble with You contains sexism, grief, death, PTSD, and antisemitism. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is mild swearing in The Trouble with You. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Setting: The Trouble with You is set in New York City.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

In post-World War II New York City, Fannie lives her best life. Her husband is home from the war. They had just bought a house on the outskirts of New York City and were blissfully happy. But that all ends the night when Max suffers an aneurysm and dies in Fannie’s arms. Now a widow with a small child to care for, Fannie needs to bring income in. She soon lands a job as a secretary for a woman who runs radio serials. There, she is introduced to a whole new world that fascinates her. But, with the blacklist ongoing and HUAC running rampant, she is also afraid that her life could be torn apart as quickly as she built it back up. When one of the writers, a handsome man named Charlie, gets blacklisted, Fannie takes that opportunity to move ahead in her job. But with HUAC breathing down her neck, can Fannie do it? Can Fannie make a life for her daughter and herself and find love? Or will McCarthyism and helping a blacklisted writer be her downfall?

My review:

I rarely read books set in the years between World War II and the Vietnam War. So, when Saint Martin’s Press emailed the widget to me, and I read the blurb, I was very intrigued. I have heard of HUAC and McCarthy mentioned in real life (through documentaries), but I have yet to read a book set in that era. So, I decided to download The Trouble with You. I was pleasantly surprised because this was a fascinating look into the early roots of feminism and going against what society (at that time) expected a woman to be.

The main storyline in The Trouble with You follows Fanny and Chloe throughout their lives. It was a well-written, often heartbreaking story that kept me glued to the book. I ran the gauntlet of emotions while reading, and yes, that is a good thing!!

I enjoy reading books where I can see a character grow from child to adult, and The Trouble with You is that type of book and I got to see that with Chloe. But I also liked seeing how Fanny changed. She went from a grief-stricken young widow who didn’t have any work experience to a woman who wasn’t afraid to take charge and get what she wanted. That was something that I enjoyed reading because the author made it so life-like. Things didn’t happen from Fanny overnight. No, she had to work to get where she was in the radio serial field.

There was romance and a love triangle in The Trouble with You. At one point, Fanny was engaged to one man but in love with another and still grieving her dead husband. It was a cluster. But Fanny sorted it all out and ended up with the right guy.

The angle that explored McCarthyism and HUAC was fascinating to me. As I mentioned above, this was something that I had seen in documentaries. Having a book that had several of the characters deal with the blacklisting and trials was pretty amazing. The author didn’t tone it down, either. I had chills when I read the scene when the HUAC agents interrogated Fanny at her job.

I also liked that there was a feminist angle to the book. I adored Aunt Rose. She was light years ahead of time with some of her views. What she said during the bra-burning scene (at the end of the book) summed her up perfectly.

The end of The Trouble with You was the only part of the book I didn’t like. It did feel a little rushed. While I thought Fanny ended up with the right person, it didn’t gel with me. But other than that, I enjoyed the book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley, and Ellen Feldman for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Trouble with You. All opinions expressed in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Trouble with You, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Ellen Feldman

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey

Date of Publication: February 13th, 2024

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fantasy, Horror, World War I, Ghosts

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

During the Great War, a combat nurse searches for her brother, believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise, in this hauntingly beautiful historical novel with a speculative twist from the New York Times bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale

January 1918. Laura Iven was a revered field nurse until she was wounded and discharged from the medical corps, leaving behind a brother still fighting in Flanders. Now home in Halifax, Canada, she receives word of Freddie’s death in combat, along with his personal effects—but something doesn’t make sense. Determined to uncover the truth, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about haunted trenches, and a strange hotelier whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could Freddie have escaped the battlefield, only to fall prey to something—or someone—else?

November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped in an overturned pillbox with a wounded enemy soldier, a German by the name of Hans Winter. Against all odds, the two men form an alliance and succeed in clawing their way out. Unable to bear the thought of returning to the killing fields, especially on opposite sides, they take refuge with a mysterious man who seems to have the power to make the hellscape of the trenches disappear.

As shells rain down on Flanders, and ghosts move among those yet living, Laura’s and Freddie’s deepest traumas are reawakened. Now they must decide whether their world is worth salvaging—or better left behind entirely.

First Line:

Freddie’s clothes ca me to Veith Street instead of Blackthorn House, and the telegram that ought to have preceded them didn’t reach Laura at all.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Slow to medium. Once the author explained the backstories, the pacing slowed way down, almost to a snail’s pace. That caused the storyline to drag in some spots. The pace did pick up to medium at the end of the book.

POV: 3rd person (told by Laura, Freddie, and occasionally Hans Winter).

Trigger Warnings: There are scenes involving war themes & military violence (on-page), death (on and off page), blood (on page), death of parents (off page but how Laura found her mother was on-page), violence (on page), medical content (on page), injury & injury detail (on and off page), gore (on page), grief (on page), medical trauma (on page), body horror (on page), panic attacks (on page), murder (on page), gaslighting (on page), gun violence (on page), confinement (on page), suicidal thoughts (on page), xenophobia (on and off page), fire and fire injury (on page), post traumatic stress disorder (on page), alcohol consumption (on page), dead bodies & body parts (on and off page), needles (on page), physical injuries (on and off page), scars (on page), disappearance of a loved one (on page), explosions (on page), knife violence (on page), chemical gassing & warfare (on and off page), and riot (on page). If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book.

Language: There is little to no swearing used in The Warm Hands of Ghosts. There is language used that could be offensive to some people.

Setting: The Warm Hands of Ghosts is primarily set in WWI-era Belgium. There are several chapters set in Halifax, Nova Scotia. There are also stops in England and France.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Laura, a renowned WWI nurse, had been sent home when she sustained an injury to her leg. While she is recuperating, a horrific explosion of a ship kills and injures hundreds of people. Her mother was killed, and her father was presumed dead (he was at ground zero for the attack). Several days after the explosion, Laura receives a package containing her brother Wilfred’s (a.k .a. Freddie’s) personal effects. However, several things do not make sense or are missing. So Laura and her friend Pim travel to Belgium to help in a hospital in The Forbidden Zone. But Laura is also there to look into her brother’s death/disappearance. What she uncovers defies any sense of reason, and when she finds out that Freddie is caught up in that web, Laura will move heaven and earth to save him.

Characters:

The two main characters in The Warm Hands of Ghosts are the Iven siblings, Laura and Freddie. I liked that the author showcased their strong relationship on top of creating well-rounded, well-written characters. These characters were well fleshed out, and I was able to form a connection with both of them. I connected with Laura more than Freddie, but that was because she was in the book more.

Numerous other secondary characters added depth to the main storylines. But the ones that stood out the most to me were Pim, Winters, and Faland. Pim, because she was devastated and haunted by the death of her only son in this war. She was clinging to a fragile hope that he was still alive. Winters, because he was the strongest out of all the characters. His bond with Freddie transcended anything, and I liked that he saw Faland for who he was and was ready to move mountains to get Freddie back. And lastly, Faland. I will leave a minor spoiler here (because otherwise, my references wouldn’t make sense), but Faland was an aspect of the devil. He dealt with stealing souls and secrets. His entire character was contrasts.

My review:

I had eagerly waited for Katherine Arden to release her newest adult novel since The Winter of the Witch was published. I had read her middle-grade series, Small Spaces, and while it was good, it wasn’t what I wanted to read from her. So, when I saw that Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine/Del Rey had The Warm Hands of Ghosts as a wish on NetGalley, I immediately clicked that button. And I was thrilled when I saw that they had granted my wish. This book is one of my top choices for February.

The Warm Hands of Ghosts has dual storylines. Freddie’s storyline starts in November 1917 when he and Winters are trapped in a pillbox. Laura’s storyline begins in January 1918, right after the Halifax Explosion. Both storylines were well-written and well-fleshed out. The storyline did drag once Laura arrived in Belgium and went to The Forbidden Zone. But it picked back up when Winters connected with Laura. Once the storylines merged, the book flowed better but kept up that same medium-slow pace until the end.

I do have a trigger warning list above, but I want to reiterate that this book takes place on the battlefield. There are explosions, people dying, body parts, and people suffering from mental trauma portrayed in the book. This book also takes place during WWI, when chemical warfare was widely used and the effects from the chemicals were awful. It makes for a sad and often frightening background. I didn’t mind it and thought it only accentuated Freddie’s time with Faland and Laura’s quest to find him. But some people might be triggered. So, go into reading this book with care.

The fantasy angle of The Warm Hands of Ghosts was exciting and, at the same time, a little scary. Freddie got sucked into something that was beyond him, and when Winters left (unwillingly, might I add), his sense of time got hazy. I liked how the author connected music to the magic that Faland did and a mirror that showed your true heart’s desire. The haziness of Freddie’s recollections and the music make for an almost dreamlike state that Freddie lived in.

The end of The Warm Hands of Ghosts was bittersweet. I won’t get into it, but the damage that was done by the war was immense. That’s all I can say without giving away spoilers. I liked Laura’s spot of happiness on the last page.

Many thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Del Rey, NetGalley, and Katherine Arden for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Warm Hands of Ghosts. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Warm Hands of Ghosts, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Katherine Arden

Suggested Playlist (feel free to add songs or remove songs)

  1. “Holocene” – Bon Iver
  2. “The Night We Met” – Lord Huron
  3. “Wandering” – Radical Face
  4. “To Build a Home” – The Cinematic Orchestra
  5. “The Wolves (Act I and II)” – Bon Iver
  6. “Samsa’s Song” – Agnes Obel
  7. “The Lighthouse” – Patrick Watson
  8. “Your Hand in Mine” – Explosions in the Sky
  9. “Run Boy Run” – Woodkid
  10. “Sorrow” – The National
  11. “Black Flies” – Ben Howard
  12. “From the Dining Table” – Harry Styles

Of Hoaxes and Homicide (Dear Miss Hermoine: Book 2) by Anastasia Hastings

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: January 30th, 2024

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Adult Fiction, Historical

Series: Dear Miss Hermoine

Of Manners and Murder—Book 1

Of Hoaxes and Homicide—Book 2

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The second in the delightful Dear Miss Hermione mystery series from Anastasia Hastings—when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, fielding questions from both irate housekeepers and heartbroken mothers is par for the course…

“Dear Miss Hermione—what is a mother to do?”

Sensible Violet Manville and her very ladylike half-sister Sephora are absolutely bored, thank you very much. And though neither of them would ever admit it aloud, they’re missing the thrill of playing detective.

So when Violet receives a letter from “A Heartbroken Mother” sent to her alter-ego, the Agony Aunt known to the world only as Miss Hermione, her pulse can’t help but quicken. The daughter in question has gotten caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. Rumors of human sacrifices, mystical doings, and a ghost in the ruined Alburn Abbey where the Children pray have gripped the public conscious, helped along by a series of novels about the group, written by the mysterious Count Orlando, and clearly this girl has fallen prey.

Miss Hermione’s investigation soon collides with very real life when Violet discovers that the runaway daughter in question is Sephora’s dearest friend Margaret. Violet sets off to the Children’s compound in Nottintham to convince her to return to London. But with the dashing-but-frustrating Eli Marsh running around and a member of the Children found poisoned to death, Violet and Sephora—along with their ever-trusty housekeeper Bunty—may have more intrigue than they can manage.

First Line:

It is a sad day, indeed, when even an orgy does not interest me.

Of Hoaxes and Homicide by Anastasia Hastings

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pace of Of Hoaxes and Homicide is medium.

POV: Of Hoaxes and Homicide is told from Sephora and Violet’s 1st person POV.

Series: Of Hoaxes and Homicide is the second book in the Dear Miss Hermoine series. You can read this as a standalone.

Trigger/Content Warning: Of Hoaxes and Homicide have trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Sexism & Misogyny
  • Drugging
  • Dead Bodies
  • Cults
  • Disappearance of a loved one
  • Poisoning

Sexual Content: There is no sexual content in Of Hoxes and Homicide.

Language: There is no swearing in Of Hoaxes and Homicide. Some language could also be considered offensive to readers who are triggered easily.

Setting: Of Hoxes and Homicide is set in London and Nottingham, England.

Age Range: I recommend Of Hoxes and Homicide to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Violet and Sephora are mind-numbingly bored. While Sephora heads out, Violet answers letters that come to the advice column she took over from her aunt. While looking over the letters, she reads one different from the usual trivial questions of how many teapots one serves or how many aprons one needs to wear in one day. This letter asks for advice about a daughter caught up in a cult: the Hermetic Order of the Children of Aed. When Violet attends a meeting in a park with the cult members, she is in for a shock. The girl mentioned in the letter is her sister’s best friend, Margaret. Violet travels to Nottingham with that information, determined to get Margaret out. But, soon after her arrival, a man is found dead of saltpeter poisoning with Margaret hovering over him. Violet must find evidence to prove Margaret’s innocence and take down the cult. With the help of Sephora and their resourceful housekeeper, Bunty, Violet is on the case. But can she solve this case? Can Violet unearth the real killer? Or will Margaret go to jail for a crime she did not commit?

Main Characters:

The main characters of Of Hoaxes and Homicide are Violet and Sephora. While I enjoyed Violet’s character (with her longing for Ezra and her sharp mind), I found Sephora immature and a hindrance to Violet at times. Bunty should have been the ying to Violet’s yang and Sephora as one of the leading secondary characters. Regardless, I liked the characters.

My review:

When I started to read Of Hoaxes and Homicides, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I entered the book knowing it was a cozy mystery and the second book in the series. So, my expectations weren’t too high when I started reading. This book did surprise me with how much I liked it.

Of Hoaxes and Homicides main storyline is centered on Violet, and the cult, her investigation into the cult, and the murder. The storyline was well-written and kept my attention throughout the book. I did think that the POVs from Sephora were a little “meh,” but they did add extra information to Violet’s investigation.

There are secondary storylines that add extra context to what was going on with the main storyline. I found those storylines less well-written but just as enjoyable to read.

The mystery angle of the book was very well written. I liked how Violet, Sephora, and Bunty put together not only who was behind the murder but why and where that person came from. To say I was surprised was an understatement. I also expect that person to appear in later books because of their background.

There was a slight romance angle in Of Hoaxes and Homicide. It mainly focused on Violet and Ezra. For a large part of the book, her affections were one-sided. But then things happened that made me think twice about that.

I loved the letters that were sent in. What they were about were things women in that era were concerned about. I loved that Violet’s responses became grumpier the more the book went on.

The end of Of Hoaxes and Homicides was interesting. The author wrapped up the main storyline in a way that I liked. But she left something unfinished. That made me wonder (along with Violet’s letter) if that foreshadowed book 2.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Anastasia Hastings for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Of Hoaxes and Homicide. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Expectant Detectives, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Anastasia Hastings

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: October 17th, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Historical Fantasy, Magic, Historical Fiction, Historical

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | Kobo

Goodreads Synopsis:

One girl. One boy.
A promise broken.
A magic stolen.

Irinya has wanted to be a flower hunter ever since her mother disappeared into the mysterious mist of the Rann salt flats one night. Now seventeen, Irinya uses her knowledge of magical flowers to help her caravan survive in the harsh desert. When her handsome hunting partner and childhood friend finds a priceless silver spider lily–said to be able to tear down kingdoms and defeat an entire army–Irinya knows this is their chance for a better life.

Until Irinya is tricked by an attractive imposter.

Irinya’s fight to recover the priceless flower and to fix what she’s done takes her on a dangerous journey, one she’s not sure she’ll survive. She has no choice but to endure it if she hopes to return home and mend the broken heart of the boy she’s left behind.

First Line:

The man had been dead for a while, as was obvious from the stench.

Flower and Thorn by Rati Mehrotra

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: Flower and Thorn has a medium to medium fast pace.

POV: Flower and Thorn is told from Irinya’s 3rd person POV.

Trigger/Content Warning: Flower and Thorn have trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Gore
  • Violence
  • War and War Themes
  • Classism
  • Poverty
  • Sexism
  • Indentured Servitude
  • Drugging
  • Dead Bodies
  • Death of a Parent
  • Grief & Loss Depiction
  • Captivity & Confinement
  • Knife & Sword Violence
  • Murder & Attempted Murder
  • Physical Assualt

Sexual Content: There is no on-page sexual content in Flower and Thorn.

Language: Flower and Thorn had no swearing or offensive language in it.

Setting: Flower and Thorn is set in 16th-century India.

Age Range: I recommend Flower and Thorn to anyone over 21.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Since her mother disappeared when she was five, Iriniya wants to be a flower hunter. Flowers in India are magical, and because of that, they are increasingly rare. So, when her best friend shows Irinya where he found one of the rarest flowers, a silver spider lily, she promises to him to let it be. But, when Iriniya meets a handsome young man who claims to be working for the general fighting the war against the Portuguese, she feels compelled to tell him about the flower and get it for him. Soon, she discovers his promises are lies, and she has shattered the trust of her kul and best friend. Determined to win back their trust and set things right, Irinya starts a journey from the salt flats of Rann to the capital city of Ahmedabad. But, along the way, she attracts the attention of the Grand Wizer, Ishman Khan, and becomes embroiled in palace intrigue. Can Iriniya right the wrong she did?

Main Characters

Iriniya: I liked Iriniya. She made some pretty big mistakes at the beginning of the book (trusting the wrong guy, destroying the trust her best friend and kul had in her) that had tragic consequences. I agreed when she decided to right the wrongs against herself and her kul. Iriniya had some tremendous character growth throughout the book. The Iriniya portrayed at the end of the book was not the Iriniya at the beginning. I also liked how she handled adversity. She could think on her feet and anticipate what was asked of her. I only saw her hesitate when she had to leave the camel (her uncle’s prize possession). But, even then, she talked the time he could stay in the stable up from what the wizer initially said.

My review:

I have been looking forward to Flower and Thorn since I saw several blogs post early reviews. Not only were the reviews excellent, but I loved the cover. So, I was thrilled when St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books sent me a widget. Then, life happened, and I got behind on my reviews. Flower and Thorn kept getting pushed back on my schedule until this month (way past the publication date). I don’t want that to happen, but it does. Usually, my desire to read the book has faded by that point, but in this case, it didn’t. I was excited to read Flower and Thorn, and this book exceeded my expectations.

The main storyline in Flower and Thorn is centered around Iriniya and her quest to find the silver spider lily. The storyline was well-written and kept me on my feet reading it. I had no problem focusing on her adventures, even with all the background noise (the war with the Portuguese and the power play in the palace). The focus stayed on Iriniya and her quest for the entire book. The secondary storylines outlined in the book added to her storyline.

I loved the use of the flowers in Flower and Thorn. The author took everyday things we take for granted and added a mystical feel to them. Adding that these flowers are becoming an endangered breed and that levies were placed on flower hunters just added to the story. The flower’s uses were just as intriguing. They are

  • White Jasmine—cure sickness
  • Bloodread Hibiscus–mind-control
  • Sunflower—to find things
  • Bluestar—a cure for the hibiscus
  • Green Rose—used for communication
  • Silver Spider Lily—used to win wars
  • Chrysanthemum (Chrys in the book)—used to open strange doors (aka not real ones)
  • Sacred Lotus—Unknown (never really said in the book)

Almost all of the flowers (except the sunflower) were used in the book. Again, this was fascinating and frightening. The lengths that people were willing to do whatever (including murder) to get the last three flowers was scary.

I liked the bit of romance that the author threw in. Iriniya’s love interest wasn’t clear (at first, I thought she didn’t like girls or guys). But that wasn’t the case. It was more of her being so single-minded that she blocked anything romantic out. I won’t say who she ends up with at the end of the book, but I will say that I wasn’t surprised.

The end of Flower and Thorn was interesting. I liked that Iriniya’s backstory was almost fully explained (I did have some questions about who her father was). The author did leave enough of the storylines open for me to wonder if there will be another book. I would love to know more about certain storylines and people.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Rati Mehrotra for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Flower and Thorn. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Flower and Thorn, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Rati Mehrotra

A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Focus on the Family

Date of publication: November 7th, 2023

Genre: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Adult, Clean Romance, Contemporary Romance, Inspirational

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sometimes secrets just won’t stay hidden . . .
From USA Today bestselling author and Christy Award Hall of Fame inductee Tamera Alexander comes the story of two women from different centuries living in the same house who share strikingly similar journeys.

Claire Powell’s life is turned upside down when her beloved husband admits to a “near affair.” But when Stephen accepts a partnership with an Atlanta law firm without consulting her and buys a historic Southern home sight-unseen—it pushes their already-fractured marriage to the breaking point. Claire’s world spirals, and she soon finds herself in a marriage she no longer wants, in a house she never asked for.

In 1863, Charlotte Thursmann, pregnant and trapped in a marriage to an abusive husband, struggles to protect her unborn child and the enslaved members of her household. Desperate, she’s determined to right the evils her husband and others like him commit. But how can one woman put an end to such injustice? Especially if her husband makes good on his threat to kill her?

Both Claire and Charlotte discover truths about themselves they never realized, along with secrets long hidden that hold the power to bring God’s restoration—if only they choose to let it.

This Southern historical fiction novel includes:
Dual-timeline plot
Thought-provoking treatment of the themes of difficult relationships, infidelity, forgiveness, and trust
Discussion questions—you’re all set for book club!

First Line:

Surely I’d misunderstood. Stephen wouldn’t do this to me.

A Million LIttle Choices by Tamera Alexander

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pacing of A Million Little Choices is medium-paced.

POV: A Million Little Choices is told from 1st person POV (Claire and Charlotte). There are journal entries written by Claire (and, towards the end, Nettie) that are in 2nd person.

Trigger/Content Warning: A Million Little Choices has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Sexism & Misogyny
  • Slavery
  • Rape
  • Infidelity
  • Domestic Abuse & Violence
  • Divorce
  • Alcohol Consumption
  • Involuntary Pregnancy
  • Miscarriage
  • Stillbirth
  • Childbirth
  • Blood
  • Death of a child
  • Death of a spouse
  • Grief & Loss Depiction

Sexual Content: There is no on-page sexual content in A Million Little Choices. There are scenes where rape is implied, and there is a scene where Claire finds out her husband sexually cheated (nothing graphic).

Language: A Million Little Choices uses no swearing or offensive language.

Setting: A Million Little Choices mainly takes place in Atlanta, Georgia. The first few chapters are set in Denver, Colorado.

Age Range: I recommend A Million Little Choices to anyone over 21.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

When Claire’s husband, a successful attorney, announces he is taking a job in Atlanta, Georgia, Claire is upset. She gets even more upset when she finds out he purchases a historic Southern home without her knowledge or permission. With her marriage already rocky due to her husband having an emotional affair, the move and the house purchase push it to the brink. The final blow comes when her husband confesses to a sexual encounter with the same woman he had an emotional affair with. Forced to divorce, Claire questions if God is steering her in the right direction and prays for His guidance. But, when she discovers the house she now unwillingly lives in, it could be the guidance she has sought.

Charlotte Thursmann is living a hellish existence. Forced to marry when her beloved husband died a couple of years earlier, she deals with an abusive husband. As a stop on The Underground Railroad, she is committed to helping enslaved people escape their abusers and have their freedom. Pregnant and her beatings becoming an almost daily thing, Charlotte is determined to get her servants out of the house. She is also determined to get herself out. But that is easier said than done. Will Charlotte save herself, her servants, and her child? And how does Charlotte’s story tie into Claire’s? Will Claire be able to forgive her husband?

Main Characters

Claire Powell: I didn’t like Claire. She acted like a spoiled brat when it came to Stephen taking the job in Atlanta. And when they were house hunting, she was awful. Now, I did feel bad for her when it was revealed that Stephen had an emotional affair and again when he confessed to sleeping with that same woman. But, simultaneously, I felt that she had brought it all on herself. Oh, and blaming him for the death of their three-year-old was the biggest thing for me. It was an accident. It would have happened regardless of whether she had been home, and to punish Stephen (and their daughter) was out of line. She did not deserve the ending that she got. I wanted Stephen to sign the divorce papers and be happy with someone other than her. But, since I knew it wouldn’t happen, I had to settle for what I got.

Stephen Powell: I liked Stephen, and I liked that he was willing to rock the boat so he could get ahead. Taking the job and buying the house weren’t the most brilliant things to do, but he did them with Claire in mind. Also, cheating on his wife wasn’t that smart either. But in this case, Claire pushed him into doing it. Claire blamed him for things out of his control and punished him for years. All he wanted was to be treated with love and affection, and he got it from the woman he cheated with. I did like that he fought to win back Claire (not that she deserved it). But, as I said above, I would have rather him find true happiness than work things out with that shrew.

Charlotte Thursmann: I wish more chapters were written from her perspective. Despite the living hell she found herself in, she was a sweet woman. The scenes where her husband beat her were some of the more awful scenes in the book. But she was strong, and she was determined to not only protect her child but do the right thing for the enslaved people in and around her house. And she did, right up until her storyline ended.

My review:

I do not usually review Christian books. I often struggle with relying on God to help out with life issues. Also, I am not very religious (more spiritual/agnostic) and find that most Christian books do lay it on very thick with the religious angle. So, I was surprised when I started reading A Million Little Choices and realized it was a Christian romance. I had skimmed over the blurb before accepting the widget, so there’s that (note to self: read the blurbs more carefully!)

The main storyline of A Million Little Choices revolves around Claire, her husband, his cheating, and the discovery she made. While I didn’t like Claire, I thought the storyline was well-written and well-fleshed out. The author did a great job of bringing many dynamics into how Claire and Stephen’s relationship fractured. It was messy and honest, and I enjoyed reading it.

The storyline with Charlotte, her pregnancy, and her drive to help her enslaved people escape was raw. There were times when I thought that Charlotte’s husband killed her, only for her to recover. I also worried about the baby. I was heartbroken at the end of that storyline. It gutted me. But I liked how the author used that to tie Charlotte to another character in the book. I honestly can say I didn’t see that coming.

The author did lay the religious angle on the book a little thick. But, surprisingly, the author didn’t shove it down my throat. The author made the case of the main characters being reborn (or Redeemed) in the eyes of God. But in no way did she suggest that everyone had to do it. I liked that, and honestly, I don’t find much of that in Christian-based novels.

The end of A Million Little Choices was interesting. I liked how the author resolved everything (even if I disagreed with it).

Many thanks to Tyndale House Publishers, Focus on the Family, NetGalley, and Tamera Alexander for allowing me to read and review A Million Little Choices. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to A Million Little Choices, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Tamera Alexander

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books

Date of publication: December 5th, 2023

Genre: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Gothic, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Historical, Thriller, Suspense, Adult

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

An atmospheric gothic mystery that beautifully brings the ancient Cornish countryside to life, Armstrong introduces heroine Ruby Vaughn in her Minotaur Books & Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Award-winning debut, The Curse of Penryth Hall.

After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and house mate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.

To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.

First Line:

There are three things a girl wanted after the night I had.

The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The Curse of Penryth Hall had a slow to medium pace.

POV: The Curse of Penryth Hall is told from Ruby’s 1st person POV.

Trigger/Content Warning: The Curse of Penryth Hall has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Death
  • Infidelity
  • Murder
  • Suicide
  • Violence
  • Blood
  • Alcohol
  • War
  • Gore
  • Toxic Relationship
  • Grief
  • Injury/Injury Detail
  • Mental Illness
  • Death of a parent
  • Death of a sibling
  • Pregnancy
  • Classism
  • Suicide

Sexual Content: The Curse of Penryth Hall has minor sexual content.

Language: There is minor swearing in The Curse of Penryth Hall. There is also language used that people might consider offensive.

Setting: The Curse of Penryth Hall is mainly set in Cornwall. Some scenes are set in Exeter, and some are flashback scenes to Ruby in the United States and France (for The Great War).

Age Range: I recommend The Curse of Penryth Hall to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

When The Great War ended, Ruby was happy to return to England and work at a bookstore selling rare books. When her roommate (and co-worker) asks her to run a parcel of books to a remote village in Cornwall, Ruby refuses. Initially, Ruby wants to avoid taking the books. Her dear friend (and former lover), Tamsyn lives there with her husband, Lord Edward Chenowyth, in a foreboding manor called Penryth Hall. But she eventually agrees and makes the journey. When she arrives, what she encounters surprises her and piques her interest. Within a day of her arrival, Lord Edward is murdered by what the locals call a curse. According to them, Tamsyn and her son are next. Ruby vows to find Lord Edwards’s killer but is met with resistance from the townspeople and their local Pellar, a handsome man named Ruan Kivell. The closer she gets to the truth, the more the lines between normal and paranormal are blurred. Will Ruby discover who killed Lord Edward and protect Tamsyn? Or will she end up with another causality of the curse?

Main Characters

Ruby Vaughn: I liked Ruby. She was bright, bold, and wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Of course, those traits did get her in trouble at various points in the book. I liked that even though she and Tamsyn were estranged, she was willing to look into Lord Edward’s death and protect Tamsyn (and her son).

Lady Tamsyn Chenowyth: I wasn’t initially sure what to think of her. She still wanted Ruby but was afraid to act on it. But she was a devoted mother. Once I got past my initial dislike of her, I saw her as a woman who was forced to conform to what society wanted from her instead of doing what she wanted. It made me feel a little sad for her because of that.

Ruan Kivell: He was a mystery wrapped in an enigma. It took me forever to realize what a Pellar is (fun fact: a Cornish sorcerer). He did have an otherworldliness about him that made me wonder if what the villagers thought was true. I liked how he dealt with Ruby and how their relationship evolved.

My review:

I am an anomaly in the reading/blogging world. I try not to read and review anything Gothic. The layers that those books have are difficult to discuss. And when I do, I realize I am leaving something important out. I was surprised when I accepted the review request from St. Martin’s Press for the above reasons. I was also surprised that this book was easy to discuss (layers and everything).

The main storyline in The Curse of Penryth Hall centers on Ruby, her investigation into the death of Lord Edward, and the curse that haunts his family. I found the storyline to be well-written. I also loved the layers to this story. Once one was peeled back, another appeared, and another connection was made. I loved that I couldn’t tell if the curse was human-made or supernatural. The author kept that under wraps until the end of the book. Even then, when it was revealed, I still had my doubts.

The storyline with Ruby and Tamsyn, their relationship, and Ruby’s investigation into Lord Edward’s death was interesting. While the author didn’t come out and say that Ruby and Tamsyn were ex-lovers, the behaviors of both cemented my questions. Ruby’s investigation went in circles and, at times, did point to Tamsyn. But, like her, I thought it was too convenient, and I was glad when she decided to press on. Of course, Tamsyn’s behavior didn’t help her with that.

The storyline with Ruby and Ruan Kivell and their investigation into Lord Edward’s death was one of the better storylines I have read this week. I loved how Ruby and Ruan pulled and pushed at each other, but at the same time, there was respect. Their relationship transcended everything in the book, and I looked forward to their interactions. I liked how Ruan’s Pellar status came into play at the end of the book.

The mystery angle of The Curse of Penryth Hall was excellent. I had zero clue who the murderer was, and the author had quite a list of suspects. I was also taken by surprise by the murder weapon. It was mentioned in the middle of the book and brought back up at the end, which surprised me. There was also a twist regarding Lord Edward and heirs. Now, that twist was super convoluted and did confuse me in places. But when the murderer confessed, that person also explained the connection. Which, again, surprised me.

The end of The Curse of Penryth Hall was fantastic. The author wrapped all the storylines in ways that I loved and believed. I was saddened by specific events (including what happened to the murderer and why that person did what they did). I was left with questions about Ruan and Ruby’s relationship and whether it would deepen if the author wrote other books.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Jess Armstrong for allowing me to read and review this ARC of The Curse of Penryth Hall. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to The Curse of Penryth Hall, then you will enjoy these books:

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: November 28th, 2023

Genre: Romance, LGBT, Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Queer, Lesbian, Historical, Retellings, Fiction

Purchase Links: Kindle | Audible | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

Heartstopper meets A Knight’s Tale in this queer medieval rom-com YA debut about love, friendship, and being brave enough to change the course of history.

It’s been hundreds of years since King Arthur’s reign. His descendant, Arthur, a future Lord and general gadabout, has been betrothed to Gwendoline, the quick-witted, short-tempered princess of England, since birth. The only thing they can agree on is that they despise each other.

They’re forced to spend the summer together at Camelot in the run-up to their nuptials, and within 24 hours, Gwen has discovered Arthur kissing a boy, and Arthur has gone digging for Gwen’s childhood diary and found confessions about her crush on the kingdom’s only lady knight, Bridget Leclair.

Realizing they might make better allies than enemies, Gwen and Art make a reluctant pact to cover for each other, and as things heat up at the annual royal tournament, Gwen is swept off her feet by her knight, and Arthur takes an interest in Gwen’s royal brother. Lex Croucher’s Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is chock full of sword-fighting, found family, and romantic shenanigans destined to make readers fall in love.

First Line:

When Gwen woke up, she knew she’d had the dream again-and that she’d been loud.

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love by Lex Croucher

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: The pacing of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is medium-paced. The book does pick up towards the end, but the pacing for the rest is medium.

POV: Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is a 3rd person, dual POV storyline. The book is told through Gwen and Art’s POV.

Trigger/Content Warning: Gwen & Art Are Not in Love has trigger and content warnings. If any of these triggers you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Violence (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Death of parent (moderate, on and off page)
  • War (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Injury/Injury Detail (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Death (graphic, on and off page)
  • Homophobia (minor to moderate, on and off page)
  • Blood (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Alcohol (moderate, on and off page)
  • Alcoholism (moderate, on and off page)
  • Murder (minor, on page)
  • Emotional Abuse (moderate, on page)
  • Misogyny (moderate, on and off page)
  • Sexism (moderate, on and off page)
  • Grief (moderate, on and off page)
  • Religious Bigotry (moderate, on and off page)
  • Hate Crime (minor, off page)
  • Classism (moderate, on and off page)
  • Mental Health Struggles (moderate, on and off page)
  • Child Abuse (moderate, on and off page)

Sexual Content: There is sexual content in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. There are sex scenes, but the author uses the fade to afterward, and they are not graphic.

Language: There is mild swearing in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. There are also some scenes that people might find offensive.

Setting: Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is set in Camelot, England.

Age Range: I recommend Gwen & Art Are Not in Love to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Hundreds of years after King Arthur pulled Excalibur from the stone, his namesake, Lord Arthur, is betrothed to Lady Gwendoline. At odds with each other since they were toddlers, both were surprised when their fathers announced that a wedding would be happening after Camelot’s annual royal tournament.

Within hours of Art arriving, Gwen finds him kissing another boy. And, to her horror, Art finds her hidden diary. Her longing for the kingdom’s only knight, Bridgid Leclair, is written in that diary. But, when events make them realize they are better allies than enemies, Art and Gwen vow to cover for each other. But, with the tournament heating up, Art recognizing he is attracted to Gwen’s older brother, and cultists poised to try and overthrow the king, can they both uphold their pact? Or will everything they have worked to hide be out in the open?

Main Characters

Princess Gwendoline: I might be the odd one out on this, but I didn’t care for Gwen. Her attitude and inability to decide didn’t endear her to me. She was unbelievably waspish towards Art (even though he did deserve some of it) and Agnes (she didn’t deserve that at all). But, by the middle of the book, I did see her change. It was when she accepted herself that she started to become likable. She still had her moments, but her character changed for the better overall.

Lord Arthur Delacey: I liked Art right away. He comes off as a drunken fool in the book’s first few chapters. He delights in needling Gwen (his opinion of her was spot on). But, as the book went on and his backstory was revealed, I started to see how horrible his life at home was. I was a little surprised at his attraction to Gabe, but it didn’t surprise me. Also, what didn’t surprise me was the battle scene and what he did.

Prince Gabriel: Out of everyone listed here, I didn’t have an opinion of him. He had a lot to deal with. Gabe was the heir to the kingdom and came across as stern and cold. But his true nature shone through during the scenes where he was one-on-one with Gwen and Arthur. Gabe was a nerd. All he wanted to be was a scholar and hide within the library.

Bridgid Leclair: I thought he had a thankless job. He was Art’s babysitter (aka bodyguard). He did a great job protecting Art when Art didn’t shake him off. He was Art’s wingman and the closest thing to a true family that Art had. Sidney fell head over heels for Agnes (which cracked me up). During the last half of the book, he did a couple of things that surprised me. But it went hand in hand with his character. His actions showed what a great and loyal person he was.

Sidney: I thought he had a thankless job. He was Art’s babysitter (aka bodyguard). He did a great job protecting Art when Art didn’t shake him off. He was Art’s wingman and, if I am going to be honest, the closest thing to true family that Art had. He fell head over heels for Agnes (which cracked me up). During the last half of the book, he did a couple of things that surprised me. But it went hand in hand with his character. His actions showed what a great and loyal person he was.

Lady Agnes: I felt bad for her at first. She was one of Gwen’s ladies in waiting. That meant she got the sharp edge of Gwen’s temper and tongue. But she dealt with it all with a grace that I know I wouldn’t have had. She had the same reaction to Sidney that he had to her. It was funny to see them making out all over the castle. When she finally stood up to Gwen, I almost cheered!!

My review:

The main storyline in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love focuses on Gwen, Art, their pseudo engagement, love interests, and the events during and after the tourney. It was well written. While it wasn’t historically accurate, I could have cared less about that. I was more interested in the storyline and seeing if Gwen and Art would get their HEAs.

I was intrigued by the main storyline in Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. The storyline focuses on Gwen, Art, their relationship, their love interests, and, eventually, the events at the end of the book. As stated in the Main Character section, I liked seeing Gwen’s character growth. Even though I didn’t like her, she did become somewhat likable. I also liked seeing Art’s character growth and his healing.

I liked the romance angle of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. I liked seeing Art/Gabe and Gwen/Brighid’s relationship flourish. I thought they both were sweet. I loved seeing Art’s gradual realization that he had feelings for Gabe. Gwen’s feelings for Brighid weren’t as hidden, but seeing that relationship bloom was still sweet.

The last half of the book did take me by surprise. Looking back, hints dropped about what was going to happen. I didn’t notice them. So, when the shit hit the fan, I was shocked. There were a couple of scenes that broke my heart. In a warning, this is the most graphic part of the book and the saddest. But it explains so much and sets up for what happens ultimately.

The end of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love was bittersweet. I loved that the characters got their HEAs, but there was a considerable price that I am sure none of them wanted.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Lex Croucher for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Gwen & Art Are Not in Love. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

If you enjoy reading books similar to Gwen & Art Are Not in Love, then you will enjoy these books:

Other books by Lex Croucher

What the River Knows (Secrets of the Nile: Book 1) by Isabel Ibanez

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books

Date of publication: October 31st, 2023

Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Historical, Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult Fantasy, Adventure, Historical Fantasy

Series: Secrets of the Nile

What the River Knows—Book 1

Purchase Links: Kindle | B&N | AbeBooks | WorldCat

Goodreads Synopsis:

The Mummy meets Death on the Nile in this lush, immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, a rivals-to-lovers romance, and a dangerous race.

Bolivian-Argentinian Inez Olivera belongs to the glittering upper society of nineteenth century Buenos Aires, and like the rest of the world, the town is steeped in old world magic that’s been largely left behind or forgotten. Inez has everything a girl might want, except for the one thing she yearns the most: her globetrotting parents—who frequently leave her behind.

When she receives word of their tragic deaths, Inez inherits their massive fortune and a mysterious guardian, an archeologist in partnership with his Egyptian brother-in-law. Yearning for answers, Inez sails to Cairo, bringing her sketch pads and an ancient golden ring her father sent to her for safekeeping before he died. But upon her arrival, the old world magic tethered to the ring pulls her down a path where she soon discovers there’s more to her parent’s disappearance than what her guardian led her to believe.

With her guardian’s infuriatingly handsome assistant thwarting her at every turn, Inez must rely on ancient magic to uncover the truth about her parent’s disappearance—or risk becoming a pawn in a larger game that will kill her.

First Line:

A letter changed my life.

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibanez

Important things you need to know about the book:

Pace: What the River Knows was medium-paced. For the most part, it suited the book. But there were parts, mainly towards the end of the book, where I felt the pacing dragged out some scenes.

Trigger/Content Warning: What the River Knows does have trigger and content warnings. If any of these trigger you, I suggest not reading the book. They are:

  • Death (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Death of a parent (minor to moderate, off-page)
  • Murder (moderate to graphic, on and off page)
  • Grief (moderate to graphic, on page)
  • Gun Violence (graphic, on page)
  • Colonisation (moderate, off and on page)
  • Violence (on page, graphic)
  • Blood (on page, graphic)
  • Kidnapping (minor, off page)
  • Abandonment (graphic, on and off page)
  • Cultural Appropriation (graphic, on and off page)
  • Injury (moderate, on and off page)
  • Alcohol (moderate, on page)
  • Alcoholism (minor, on page)
  • Confinement (minor, on page)
  • Gaslighting (moderate, on page)
  • Cheating (minor, off page)
  • Military Violence (minor, off page)

Sexual Content: There are no sex scenes in What the River Knows. But there are kissing scenes, and those kisses get a little passionate.

Language: There is no swearing in What the River Knows. There is language that people might consider offensive but is era-appropriate.

Setting: What the River Knows takes place entirely in Egypt. The prologue takes place in Argentina.

Tropes: Orphan, Enemies to Lovers, Love/Hate Relationship, Ancient Secrets, Babysitting, Magic, Secrets, Slow Burn Romance, Powerful Artifacts, Forced Proximity

Age Range: I recommend What the River Knows to anyone over 16.

Plot Synopsis (as spoiler-free as I can get):

Inez Olivera has everything she wants in nineteenth-century Argentina except the attention of her Egypt-obsessed parents. Inez is devastated when she receives a letter informing her of her parents’ deaths. Wanting answers, Inez boards a ship to Egypt. But what she finds there doesn’t answer her questions. She finds an uncle who is closed off and angry. His associate/bodyguard, a handsome British man, keeps trying to send her home. But, after finding evidence that suggests her parents’ deaths were not the tragic accident that she had been told, Inez is determined to stay and find out what happened to them. Can Inez find out the truth? Or is everything that she had been told a lie?

Main Characters

Inez Olivera: I liked Inez. She was spunky, didn’t take crap from anyone, was inventive with how to get her way (i.e., staying in Egypt), and was determined to investigate her parents deaths. There were times that I feared for her life in the book (the one scene when she fell into the Nile had me on edge). I liked that she had layers to her, and the more time I spent with her in the book, the more layers were revealed.

Whitford Hayes: I wasn’t sure what to think of him when the book began. But, as the book continued and his backstory was explained, I started to like him. The author did something different with him; she held much of his background until the last minute. He was indeed an enigma.

My Review:

What the River Knows is a long book. It took me three days to finish. But in those three days, I relished what was written. I was immersed in the storyline and connected with the characters. And yes, like other reviewers, I was very much surprised by the ending and the epilogue. But even before that, the surprises that the author had up her sleeve were almost never-ending.

What the River Knows is a dual-POV book. The story is told mainly from Inez’s POV, but Whit gets his chapters in occasionally. Whit’s chapters explain some mystery that swirls around Inez’s parents, her uncle, and other plotlines. But, what his chapters do not do is verify his feelings for Inez.

I have read very few books centered almost entirely on Egyptian pharaohs and mythology. I enjoyed the mystery of Cleopatra’s tomb. I didn’t enjoy what was happening while Inez, Whit, and the rest of their group were looking for it. I understand why the author did it, but I still wasn’t a fan.

What the River Knows has a few plot twists that will surprise you. I did see the first one coming (sorry to the author). It was set up perfectly so that I would not miss it. This is the catalyst for everything that happens after the twist happens. The author was sneaky and added two plot twists at the very end of the book. I saw neither of those plot twists coming. So, saying I was surprised is an understatement. I was more surprised at the twist in the epilogue than I was at the one at the very end of the book.

The romance angle of the book was slow. It was so slow that I forgot it was even there until Inez was on the ship with Whit. While I had no question of Inez’s feelings towards Whit (ranging from irritation to love), I did question Whit’s. That’s all I am going to say about that.

The fantasy angle of the book was well written. But, like the romance, it was barely there until the middle of the book. I liked how the author wrote about the magic, though. It was exciting and is something that I hope the author expands on in the next book.

As I mentioned multiple times, the end of What the River Knows was a huge surprise. There was so much crammed into it that it did take me a minute to process. But the cliffhanger ending (which annoyed me) and the two twists had me up in arms (see above). It was very sneaky of the author to do that. It was all I thought about for a while after I stopped reading the book.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, NetGalley, and Isabel Ibanez for allowing me to read and review this ARC of What the River Knows. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

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