ARC Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee

Title: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue (Montague Siblings #1) 
Author: Mackenzi Lee 
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 513
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Review for book 2

Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores. 

Monty (really named Henry Montague, but never ever call him that), is about to embark on his European Grand Tour with his best friend, Percy, and his sister, Felicity. Only one thing stands in the way of Monty having the best year of his life - he is completely and hopelessly in love with Percy and Percy has no idea. Oh, and Monty's father has decided that he needs to learn to be a respectable citizen and has taken all the drunken debauchery out of his Tour. Now Monty must suffer through a year of acting like a gentleman and keeping his feelings hidden. But there is never a dull moment with Monty, and he manages to find plenty of trouble to get tied up in...and to drag Percy and Felicity into as well.

What a lovely adventure this book turned out to be. It managed to be historically accurate without feeling like a history lesson. Even though the characters were galavanting around 17th-century Europe, they felt so vivd and real - like you could run into them walking down the street in today's world. Monty is a hilariously stubborn teen who refuses to grow up. He is set to inherit his father's lands and title when he returns from his Grand Tour, and he wants absolutely nothing to do with responsibility. Percy has had to deal with multiple social stigmas for his entire life, and just wants everyone to see him as he truly is. Felicity is a woman, and is therefore stuck with all of the restrictions that her gender entails. She sets her sights higher than what society has to offer her, and surprises everyone with her strength and intelligence. The characters were wonderful and lovable despite their flaws. They were so relatable, and everyone can find something of themselves in our trio of characters.

One of the best things about The Gentleman's Guide was that although it was set in the 17th century, it explored topics that were both interesting to learn about from a Victorian perspective, and still incredibly prevalent in today's world. It explored identity, sexuality, race, friendship, responsibility, and the troublesome time between childhood innocence and becoming a respectable adult. No matter what age or time period, these are topics everyone has encountered and can relate to. It brought numerous social issues (of then and now) to light and faced them straight on. It was a powerful book with an important message, which it managed to deliver through adventure and hilarity.

Obviously, I really loved The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue and can't say enough good things about it. It was hilarious, light-hearted, powerful, intense, and meaningful all at the same time. The writing was superb and the story was engaging and amazing. I highly recommend this book, even if you don't like historical fiction. There is something in this book that will appeal to everyone. We can all find ourselves in The Gentleman's Guide and find something to learn from it.

Audiobook Review: A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

Title: A Madness So Discreet
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Publication Date: October 6, 2015
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pages: 376
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Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us. 

Grace does not speak. She has locked her voice away since the day she was sent to a Boston insane asylum as a way to hide her during her pregnancy. When her life at the asylum takes a turn for the worse, she is lucky enough to meet a doctor who recognizes her keen mind and astute observation. He helps her escape to a safer asylum where she can serve as his assistant under the cover of darkness. Grace finds a new purpose in her life, and as the family secrets surrounding her initial entry into the asylum are revealed, she finally finds peace.

Oh my goodness, I did not like this book. I started listening to it without knowing anything about the plot, but I don't think reading the synopsis would have made any difference. The synopsis and the cover of the book make it appear pretty awesome, but in reality it is a jumble of random plot lines that don't fit together. There were many aspects of this book that could have been really interesting if they had been developed properly. Unfortunately, they were not and the book really suffered.

There were two main themes or storylines in A Madness So Discreet - a girl with a troubled past and family secrets, and a girl with a secret life of solving crime. Both could be very interesting, but the transitions between them were sloppy and didn't work. It felt like the author had two different ideas and smushed them into one book instead of developing either one as it deserved.

The criminal psychology aspect of the book was really interesting, actually. The descriptions were dark and sometimes even disgusting and disturbing. I wish the entire book had been just about the crime solving, because it would have been so much more interesting and engaging. Unfortunately, it was mashed in between another plot line that didn't fit.

The conclusion of the book also felt misplaced. It didn't have much to do with the majority of the story and seemed to come out of nowhere. After following the crime solving plot line for 90% of the book, it suddenly jumped to Grace's family secrets for the conclusion and the switch was jarring. This switch could potentially have worked if the two narratives had been woven together more seamlessly throughout the novel, but instead there were swift jumps between plot lines.

Ultimately, the only reason I finished this book was so that I could write a comprehensive review. (And because I could listen to it at two times normal speed so it only took a few hours.) This book felt mashed together and unplanned and unfortunately, it has deterred me from picking up other books by this author. It's such a shame that the cover and description for the book are so misleading. This is a case of judging a book by its cover gone wrong, because the inside did not match the outside at all.

ARC Review: Now I Rise by Kiersten White

Title: Now I Rise (The Conqueror's Saga  #2) 
Author: Kiersten White
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Pages: 496
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Review for book 1

//I received this book from ALA in exchange for an honest review//

Lada Dracul has no allies. No throne. All she has is what she’s always had: herself. After failing to secure the Wallachian throne, Lada is out to punish anyone who dares to cross her blood-strewn path. Filled with a white-hot rage, she storms the countryside with her men, accompanied by her childhood friend Bogdan, terrorizing the land. But brute force isn’t getting Lada what she wants. And thinking of Mehmed brings little comfort to her thorny heart. There’s no time to wonder whether he still thinks about her, even loves her. She left him before he could leave her.

What Lada needs is her younger brother Radu’s subtlety and skill. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. Radu longs for his sister’s fierce confidence—but for the first time in his life, he rejects her unexpected plea for help. Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, he knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, will Mehmed ever forgive him?

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost. 

Last year I had the opportunity to review And I Darken early. And I loved it.  It became one of my absolute favorite reads of 2016! And then the next year was slow, slow torture as I waited for book two. But then, luckily, I got to read it early as well! In February. And the next year will again be torturous.

Now I Rise picks up very shortly after And I Darken ends, with Lada on the way back to Wallachia, where she intends to claim the throne, wreaking amazing havoc and attempting to pick up allies on the way. Lada was an incredibly strong character who I almost instantly fell in love with in the first book in this series, and I was not disappointed in her here! She makes no apologies on her way to accomplish her goals or for her means to that end. Is she brutal? Absolutely! And I loved every single sentence I read about her story. I loved watching the relationships between Lada and Bogdan, Mehmed, and Hunyadi evolve. Honestly, I could go on and on about my love for Lada, but now I have to rave about another character.

Radu. Oh, Radu's story was every bit as incredible as Lada's! At first, I wasn't too sure about the dual points of view once Lada and Radu went their separate ways, then I found myself completely loving each. My only complaint is that I wish I'd gotten a full book from each of them - a chapter here and there wasn't enough! Radu's story takes an unexpected turn in this book, with him heading to Constantinople on behalf of Mehmed and his ultimate goal of taking the city for his own. New characters and old are present as are new and old romances, all of which were incredible! Radu really came into his own in Now I Rise, accepting himself as he attempted to take control of his circumstances. I have always been able to sympathize with Radu, but this time he broke my heart a time or two.

I've mentioned that there were quite a few secondary characters important to the story, both new and old. My opinion of Mehmed definitely changed a lot during this book, although I was already on the fence with him in And I Darken. He really did keep me on an emotional roller coaster. I ended up feeling a lot of feelings I did not expect for Hunyadi! And Radu's companions in Constantinople... I'd need pages to tell you of my love for them. I have such high hopes for that storyline in the next book!

As you may have gathered, I absolutely adored this story. Each main character went in a totally different direction, but I adored how their stories played out and intertwined. Everything tied back to the first book and nothing was randomly thrown in as filler, which seems to happen in second books. Speaking of, this book never seemed to suffer from second book syndrome. There was strategic planning and awesome battles on both ends and I was always on the edge of my seat. I loved the intricacies of the battle between the Christians and Muslims and am certainly more interested now to learn more about that history. I can definitely see myself reading this series over and over!

This book spanned many vastly different locations, and all of the settings were incredibly well written. Even now I can clearly picture Wallachia, Constantinople, and everything in between. Kiersten White really has a way of writing that makes me feel like I'm actually in the action and can see everything as it happens!

I really cannot say enough good things about Now I Rise! I've already said I wasn't sure I'd love it as much as And I Darken with Radu and Lada on different paths, but it exceeded all of my expectations and left me with a serious book hangover. I am crossing all of my fingers and toes for an ARC of the next book and hoping I survive that long! If you love historical fiction and badass characters, this is definitely a series you don't want to miss!

Guest Book Review: City of Thieves by David Benioff

Hello Cornerfolds readers! I'm overjoyed to be coming to you as a guest blogger today! I'm fairly new to the book blogging community and it didn't take long to realize that this community is filled with such friendly people! So when I heard that the lovely ladies from Cornerfolds were looking for help during a very busy time in their lives, I jumped at the chance to help out. Some quick info about me: My name is Shanah (AKA Bionic Book Worm), I live in Ontario Canada, I have 2 amazing children and a loving husband, I have an obsessive (and probably unhealthy) relationship with coffee, and I read to escape the craziness of my life! I read a mix of YA and adult books with fantasy and historical fiction being my favourite genres. And it's my love of historical fiction that pushed me to spread the word of one of my favourites - City of Thieves by David Benioff.

Fun fact - His name may not immediately ring a bell, but I bet you know of his work! Aside from being an author, David Benioff is also a producer, director, and screenwriter. He's most known for being the co-creator and writer of Game of Thrones!

Bionic Bookworm | BooksAmino | Twitter

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Title: City of Thieves
Author: David Benioff
Publication Date: May 15, 2008
Publisher: Viking / Penguin
Pages: 258
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From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour, a captivating novel about war, courage, survival — and a remarkable friendship that ripples across a lifetime.

During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible.

By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for how boys become men. 

Set in Leningrad in 1942, Lev, who is arrested for looting, and Kolya, arrested for desertion, are thrown into the same jail cell as they await their execution. But instead of being brought before guns, they are brought before a powerful Soviet colonel and are given an unexpected second chance. Their mission? Bring him a dozen fresh eggs to make a wedding cake for his daughter. In the middle of the unforgiving Russian winter, these two men embark on an impossible mission. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, they are forced to travel across enemy lines to fight for their chance to survive.

The first thing that grabbed me about this book was their mission. As soon as I heard that it was about two men challenged to find a dozen eggs in the middle of WWII, I was like WHAT?! It was so absurd and unique I just knew I had to read it!

This book lends an angle of humour and absurdity to a time that was nothing close to funny. The two characters were polar opposites of each other. Lev is a shy, quiet, and awkward boy while Kolya was a handsome, confident, and sometimes (well most of the time) arrogant man. Neither of them was pleased to be working on such a quest together, but as time went on they bonded to form this beautiful friendship. Their dialogue was so funny at times that I caught myself laughing out loud along with them. As an outsider who will never experience the horrors of WWII, I find it so strange that people could find humour in the face of such travesty. This book depicts the need to find light in the face of darkness with flying colours.

The character development was absolutely fantastic. As I said above, these two characters were so far apart in their personalities and none too impressed that they had to work together. It was such a joy to read two characters who wouldn't normally be friends coming together to find common ground in a difficult situation and forming a relationship out of it. Not only were the main characters well written, but the side characters were as well. They met so many people along their journey to find the eggs. Some they knew, some were strangers, some were friendly, and some were enemies. You were given the chance to fully grasp their connections, fears, strengths and determination to survive. I also enjoyed the fact that you got to see the suffering from so many different perspectives. Each characters lives were so different and so was their perspective on what they held close to their hearts.

The writing style is something that I really appreciated, especially when it comes to this subject matter. The way he wrote was very descriptive and factual - but in the best way possible. He didn't try to write long, unnecessary or flourishing descriptions of a scene or event to impact your emotion. The way he wrote was very stark, raw and factual which, for me anyway, only increased the severity of the events and surroundings, and made them all the more powerful. Leningrad toward the end of world war 2 was a desolate and unforgiving place. They had been cut off from all supplies for over a year and people were starving. And by starving I mean they were reduced to eating candles, paper, and paste from book bindings just to get something into their stomachs. And that's what made this quest all the more impossible. Through this mission they were forced to rely on friends and strangers alike. But more importantly they had to rely on their instincts and trust in each other. With everything that they had been through to up to this point, I could only imagine that trust would be the most difficult thing to overcome. I went into this expecting it would be all about their journey in finding the dozen eggs, but it was also a journey through friendship and humanity.

I wish that I could say more about this book but I wouldn't want to spoil anything. This is really a journey that you need to experience for yourself.

I would recommend this book to both adults and young adults alike. It's not an easy read - it's heart breaking and will hit you right in your emotions. But the humour sprinkled throughout this novel gives the subject a fresh new perspective that I've yet to come across in any other WWII historical fiction. This is a story of friendship, desperation, strength, and determination. I hope you get the chance to pick this one up and I hope you like it as much as I did!

Book Review: Between Shades of Gray

Title: Between Shades of Gray
Author: Ruta Sepetys 
Publication Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Philomel Books
Pages: 344
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Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

I will admit that historical fiction is not my go to genre... especially not WWII historical fiction. I read Salt To the Sea by Ruta Sepetys earlier this year and came away having learned a lot of history and also with a fantastic story that I really hadn't expected. Despite the content of either book being outside of my comfort zone, I decided to give her another try with Between Shades of Gray. I'm so glad I did!

This is the story of Lina, a teenager in Lithuania who is suddenly ripped from her home one night alongside her mother and brother without any explanation. She is separated from her father and does not know where he is or why her family has been taken. The three of them are thrown into a train car alongside many other Lithuanians who have also been arrested for unknown reasons. While aboard the train she meets many people, but the most important is Andrius, who becomes very close to her and her brother throughout their journey.

The characters in this book were amazing. I loved Lina and her family, I loved Andrius and his mother, and I loved most of the other secondary characters introduced. Lina was incredibly strong for being such a young girl, almost to the point of being reckless, but it was easy to sympathize with her decisions. I felt for Lina's mother so much as she tried to make the best decisions for her children in such dire circumstances. Although romance is far from the main focus of this story, I loved the relationship between Andrius and Lina. The evolution of their friendship (and sometimes not-friendship) was believable and heart-wrenching at times. I could really feel how much they depended on each other during their time in the camps.

Although the characters are incredibly written, Between Shades of Gray is not an easy book to read. This is a book about a family in Soviet work camps. The trials the characters in this book face are difficult and uncomfortable to read about. But even with all of the terrible events that Between Shades of Gray covers, there are glimpses of goodness, not only in Lina and the other prisoners, but occasionally in those around them. It's nice to think that even in a time of great tragedy, there is good in the world. Ruta Sepetys also knows how to create an atmosphere that feels real. The writing is immersive, sometimes uncomfortably so, but it helped me to connect with the story and the characters on a level that a lesser writer wouldn't have been able to accomplish.

My major complaint about Between Shades of Gray is that it moved very, very slowly. I think that perhaps this works with the story because a big point in the book is that time does move slowly for Lina. Still, I did find myself wishing that things would move along a time or two, especially early on. I also didn't love the way the book ended (a bit abruptly), although I did like the information presented in the epilogue.

Overall, Between Shades of Gray was a really good read! I'm not sure what everyone else was taught in school, but this is one area that my curriculum blazed through at lightening speed and, like with Salt To the Sea, I feel like I came away knowing a lot more about a historical period than I did going in. I did have a couple of issues with this book, but not enough to detract much from my reading experience. If you're a fan of historical fiction, I recommend giving this a try!

Book Review: Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

Title: Prisoner of Night and Fog (Prisoner of Night and Fog #1)
Author: Anne Blankman
Publication Date: April 22, 2014
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 401
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In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

I decided to read Prisoner of Night and fog hot on the heels of Salt to the Sea, oddly wanting more of the World War II historical fiction I'd gotten a taste of. This is really strange behavior for me considering I usually stick to fantasy and dystopia, but I was intrigued by this book about Adolf Hitler's "niece." Admittedly, I don't know a whole lot about this time period, but I do love stories about people who learn the horrible truth about those they love. Luckily, I was not disappointed!

Gretchen is a young girl whose family has become very, very close to Adolf Hitler following her father's death. She has always been treated as his beloved niece, shielded from the horrors of the Germany that is slowly unraveling around her amidst Hitler's rise to power. Gretchen only sees the best parts of her Uncle Dolf and has been fed sugar-coated versions of his plans regarding the "relocation" of the Jews. Despite Gretchen's naivety, I loved her character. Once the truth begins to reveal itself, Gretchen goes after it instead of hiding behind her wall of ignorance as so many would do in her place. Gretchen is strong in face of adversity, even going against her own family in pursuit of the truth and I thought she was amazing for it!

This is YA historical fiction so there is obviously romance, but I found myself totally invested in it even though I didn't fully understand it at times. Daniel is a Jewish reporter who is looking into the death of Gretchen's father and ignites her passion for learning the truth. I didn't really get exactly why Daniel was interested in Gretchen's father's death, but I was honestly willing to overlook it because the bigger story was fantastic. Although Gretchen hates Daniel at first (what other choice does she have based on her upbringing, really?), she comes to understand that he is just a person like her - the first chink in her armor. I loved the relationship between Gretchen and Daniel and the mutual respect that they held for each other.

The villains in Prisoner of Night and Fog were despicable. Not only was Hitler the obvious bad guy here, but Gretchen's brother was also pretty terrifying. It was strange to see Hitler from the eyes of someone who loved him, but it was extremely interesting to watch his character devolve as Gretchen learned more and more about the man underneath the facade. I truly felt for her as her world crumbled.

Speaking of Gretchen's world, the world building in this book was fantastic! I've said before that I really don't have much knowledge about this period in history (my historical interests are thousands of years earlier), but Anne Blankman did an incredible job of placing me right in the middle of 1930s Germany. I also enjoyed how the setting seemed to get darker and bleaker as Gretchen discovered more about Uncle Dolf. This is something that I've often seen done in films, but I feel like it is much more difficult to achieve on paper.

The story itself - Gretchen discovering the truth about Hitler and her father's death, while realizing that the Jews were not villains - was interesting, if slow at times. It took awhile for the plot to really pick up, but throughout the second half of the book I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what Gretchen would find out next and whether she and Daniel would be safe in the end. There was a lot of information and a lot of names thrown at me at times and there were terms I was unfamiliar with. I feel like a glossary may have helped this book a bit for the uncultured Americans like myself.

Overall I really enjoyed Prisoner of Night and Fog! Sure, it had flaws. I felt like the way Gretchen and Daniel came together was a bit unbelievable, I was confused by some terminology, and it had a bit of a slow start. The good far outweighs the bad here though! Seeing Hitler's early years unfold from the viewpoint of someone who is essentially family was fascinating and the forbidden romance was fantastic! I definitely recommend this to those interested in WWII historical fiction and fans of Salt to the Sea!

Audiobook Review: Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys

Title: Salt to the Sea
Author: Ruta Sepetys
Narrators: Jorjeana Marie, Will Damron, Cassandra Morris, & Michael Crouch
Publication Date: February 2, 2016
Publisher: Philomel Books
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Winter, 1945. Four teenagers. Four secrets.

Each one born of a different homeland; each one hunted, and haunted, by tragedy, lies…and war.

As thousands of desperate refugees flock to the coast in the midst of a Soviet advance, four paths converge, vying for passage aboard the Wilhelm Gustloff, a ship that promises safety and freedom.

Yet not all promises can be kept.

Inspired by the single greatest tragedy in maritime history, bestselling and award-winning author Ruta Sepetys (Between Shades of Gray) lifts the veil on a shockingly little-known casualty of World War II. An illuminating and life-affirming tale of heart and hope.

Salt to the Sea is totally not the kind of book I would usually read. I read a lot more fantasy and dystopian fiction than I do historical fiction (as in I can't remember the last historical fiction I read), but the shipwreck angle of this book really caught my attention. I'm a sucker for disaster stories, so I figured this might be up my alley after all. Basically, I went in expecting to read a book about a ship sinking, but this turned out to be so much more than that!

There are four main characters in Salt to the Sea - Joana, Florian, Emilia, and Alfred - each with a unique story. I absolutely adored Joana, Florian, and Emilia. The way their stories wound together was incredible. Usually I have a really hard time connecting with characters in historical fiction, but Ruta Sepetys did a fantastic job of making these characters sympathetic and at times I felt maybe too much for them. Alfred made my skin crawl, but I also felt sorry for him, which is not something I think just any author could have pulled off. Although there is romance in Salt to the Sea, it is both subtle and extremely well done. You will not find insta-love in this book! The relationships in the book form slowly and realistically, especially amongst such extraordinary circumstances.

The narration of this story is split between all four of these characters. I don't usually care for split narration, but it actually worked really well in this case. Each character is hiding big secrets and bringing a different perspective to the events that are taking place and I don't know if that could have been achieved as beautifully had this story been told from a single perspective.

Obviously, this story is set during World War II, a time period I don't often read about, so I felt like I was being introduced to a somewhat new setting and the author did an amazing job of setting the stage. I felt like I could picture the bleakness that each of these characters was facing, despite which side they were on in the bigger picture of the war. The maritime tragedy mentioned in the synopsis doesn't actually come into play until fairly late in the book and everything up until that point is about braving a country ravaged by war. The conditions these four people face are brutal and Sepetys does nothing to sugar coat it.

My favorite thing about Salt to the Sea is that I feel like I learned something about history that I may have never learned otherwise and even got to share it with a few other people. As a teenager I was a Titanic junkie and devoured everything I could find about that and other great sea disasters, so I was extra shocked to find out that there was one even worse that I'd never even heard of. The history this book tells is incredible and heartbreaking and has shockingly been overlooked by (at least American) history teachers.

The only small complaint I have about this book is that it moved a little slower than what I usually prefer. Had I not been listening to the audio, it's very possible that I might have put this back on the shelf to be continued later. Luckily I WAS listening to the audio and was able to feel the full emotional effect of reading it all at once.

Ruta Sepetys has seamlessly combined history and fiction together In Salt to the Sea to create a heartbreakingly brutal story. I've already recommended this book to several people who I know enjoy historical fiction and will continue to do so.

Book Review: Legacy of Kings by Eleanor Herman

Title: Legacy of Kings (Blood of Gods and Royals #1)
Author: Eleanor Herman
Publication Date: August 18, 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 384
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//I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review//

Imagine a time when the gods turn a blind eye to the agony of men, when the last of the hellions roam the plains and evil stirs beyond the edges of the map. A time when cities burn, and in their ashes, empires rise.

Alexander, Macedonia’s sixteen-year-old heir, is on the brink of discovering his fated role in conquering the known world but finds himself drawn to a newcomer…

Katerina must navigate the dark secrets of court life while hiding her own mission: kill the Queen. But she doesn’t account for her first love…

Jacob will go to unthinkable lengths to win Katerina, even if it means having to compete for her heart with Hephaestion, a murderer sheltered by the prince.

And far across the sea, Zofia, a Persian princess and Alexander’s unmet betrothed, wants to alter her destiny by seeking the famed and deadly Spirit Eaters.

Weaving fantasy with the shocking details of real history, New York Times bestselling author of Sex with Kings Eleanor Herman reimagines the greatest emperor the world has ever known, Alexander the Great, in the first book of the Blood of Gods and Royals series.

Fun fact about me: I actually really enjoy historical fiction... sometimes. I have to be in the right mood for it, which is why it kind of took me awhile to get around to this one even though I was immediately drawn in by the description! My focus in college was Roman history, so I didn't get to learn a whole lot about Alexander the Great, but I was definitely excited to read his story (with a dash of magic, of course)!

Legacy of Kings is a book that tries really, really hard to do a whole heck of a lot. This isn't just one story. It's several stories told in seven points of view. Yes, you read that right. Seven. Which is kind of a lot so I'll try really hard to make some sense of it all here, but I'm warning you. This was a hard review to write.

Arguably the leading lady in this sprawling tale is Katerina. Her story (along with Jacob's) begins rather abruptly and I was immediately a little confused about these characters and why I should care about them. Kat and Jacob are essentially childhood sweethearts and Jacob's main mission in life is to prove that he's worthy of her. Eventually more is revealed about their backstories, but be warned! This book literally throws you head first into the action. From the get go, we find out that Jacob has been entered into a tournament where he has a very good chance of dying. Katerina tags along for her own reasons, which really don't make much sense to begin with either.

Prince Alexander (the Great) and Hephaestion are besties living in the palace who have a secret mission of their own. Unfortunately, Alex's sister, Cyn, is trying to make their lives difficult to fulfill her secret mission. Meanwhile, Alex's mother is working on her own (creepy) secret mission. In a land far, far away, Zofia is on her own secret mission (shockingly) to ensure she gets to stay with her one true love instead of being forced to marry Alexander.

As you can see, this story was quite a lot to take in. The characters were all pretty enjoyable, honestly. The problem that I had was not having adequate time to really get to know any of them. Zofia's story was definitely the one out of the seven that really didn't seem to have a place. I found myself confused for a moment each time her story came back to the spotlight. I actually forgot who she was once or twice! That isn't to say her story wasn't interesting, because it was. There just wasn't room in this book for everything it tried to accomplish.

I most enjoyed Hephaestion's story. He was a complex character who had an interesting backstory and felt the most genuine out of all of them. I think that out of the seven characters, Heph was the one who felt the most emotion (I'm interested in why his anger management issues seemed so important) and seemed the most real. Despite the fact that Kat was supposed to be a peasant girl, she was hard to identify with, being pretty darned good at everything she set out to do. Speaking of Kat, there is a definite love triangle (almost a love square at times) in this book, so if you're not into that you may want to avoid it. The triangle is subtle, but it's definitely brewing.

But maybe you're wondering about the magical aspects of Legacy of Kings! After all, that's what should set this apart from any other historical romance, right? Well, it's certainly interesting. There are a few different types of magic in this book and they're all really intriguing, although I wish they had been better explained. I'm definitely expecting the details of the magic to be explained in more detail in the next book in the series.

While Legacy of Kings was an interesting read, I definitely feel like it had too much going on. I was intrigued by each of the seven stories, but never felt truly invested in any of them. In fact, the only books I've read with this many storylines have been at least double the size of this one! I'm hopeful that each one will be delved into deeper, but I do wish this book had been just a little less broad. I would recommend Legacy of Kings to fans of historical fiction and stories told multiple points of view.

Audiobook review: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Title: Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) 
Author: Diana Gabaldon 
Narrator: Davina Porter
Publication Date: July 1, 1992
Publisher: Delacorte Press
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For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones...about a love that transcends the boundaries of time...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his ....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ...in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

A couple of months ago I finally finished watching Outlander season one. Having thoroughly enjoyed it, I was absolutely dying to know what happened next! Unfortunately, season two is still several months away. I took the obvious next step and read the second book in the series. I wasn't positive how much I would miss by not reading Outlander and depending solely on the TV series, but at least half the fans I spoke with said I'd be fine. So I set out on part two of the Outlander saga in hopes that it would be just as fulfilling as what I'd already seen!

The beginning of Dragonfly in Amber focused on introducing Claire's daughter, Briana, and family friend, Roger. In fact, the entire book is told under pretense of her sharing her experiences with the two of them. While I didn't particularly love these characters, I have the distinct feeling that they'll be important in later books, so I can understand why they were such a big part of this one.

But let me go ahead and say... this felt like the longest book I have ever read. Ever. Longer than anything I've read for school. In reality, Dragonfly in Amber is not even 800 pages! A book being long isn't necessarily a bad thing at all, but it isn't usually a good thing when a book seems to drag forever. The best word I can use to describe this book is tedious. Where Outlander seemed like almost constant action and romance, Dragonfly in Amber was more focused on the day-to-day existence of Claire and Jamie.

Oh, and politics. I will be the first to admit that I had no idea most of the time what the heck was going on in this book when it came to the political goings on in this book. There were conspiracies and secret musical codes and warring kings and Jacobites and on and on and on. (Maybe this is why it seemed to drag more than a history book?) There were pages and pages and pages about Claire working in hospitals, entertaining houseguests, and being pregnant. I just got bored. A lot. I was bored a lot.

The romance between Claire and Jamie was, as usual, heartwarming. It's honestly really interesting to see such a marked difference between their loving marriage and the relationships that I'm used to reading about in YA fiction. I won't lie, I love the drama of YA relationships, but it's also really nice to read about a more stable, loving marriage. The one thing that really bugged me was the use of Jamie's nickname for Claire, "Sassenach." It was cute and endearing to start, but at some point I began to wonder if he even remembered her name!

My favorite part about Dragonfly in Amber, believe it or not, was the evolution of the character Jack Randall. While I hated his guts in Outlander, I really did enjoy seeing more depth in his relationship with his brother. Not to say he is even close to forgiven for his despicable villainy, but it was certainly interesting to learn more about him. I still wish I knew a bit more about why he was such a nasty character though.

I've heard through the grapevine that this book is the least favorite of many fans and that series does pick back up. I'm not entirely sure that I'll continue on with Voyager, book three in the series, but I am glad that I read this one just to see what happened after the show. I'll definitely watch season two of the TV show though! I have a feeling it will be more interesting than the book... And who knows? Maybe curiosity will get the better of me and I'll keep reading after all.

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°o°  Notes on the Audiobook  °o°

Davina Porter really made this audiobook enjoyable! While it's true that the book did drag on, seemingly forever, she brought different accents to each character and made them likable. If I do end up continuing this series, I'll definitely continue with the audiobooks, just to hear her bring them to life!  

TV Series Review: Outlander, Season 1

Title: Outlander, Season 1
Author: Diana Gabaldon 
Creator: Ronald D. Moore
Actors: Caitriona Balfe & Sam Heughan
Release Date: August 9, 2014, & April 4, 2015
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Follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened. When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

You probably know that TV series reviews really aren't my thing and you might be wondering what the heck is going on! Well, I had never intended to become invested in the Outlander series. The books are all way more massive than anything I'd commit to. Instead, I decided to watch the show. It looked pretty good and I thought it would be a good substitution for the book series. I actually attempted to watch Outlander last year when it was still fairly new. But halfway through the first episode I was so bored I thought I might fall asleep! I toughed out episode one and didn't go back for episode two. I know this doesn't sound good for the series, but please bear with me!

A few weeks ago I found myself with nothing to watch. I had caught up with all my regular shows and had resorted to watching Ink Master on Hulu. (Don't judge me). It was only then that I remembered I had season one of Outlander waiting on me... I started with episode two because, honestly, I have to hold to the opinion that episode one was terribly boring. It definitely got better moving forward though, which caused me to binge it over a couple weeks!

To start with I thought that a time travel story would be downright ridiculous. I expected Outlander to be a shameless soap opera with a ton of gratuitous sex. I was somewhat right about the sex, to be sure, but I didn't expect that the rest of the story would be as in depth and heart wrenching as it was. Outlander is a beautiful show in a lot of ways. The music is enchanting and the landscapes of the Scottish Highlands (I'm assuming it was actually filmed there) are breathtakingly beautiful! The characters are (mostly) easy to love and sympathize with and I'm not out to fool anyone - Sam Heughan is definitely not difficult to look at. Honestly, I fell completely in love with Claire, Jamie, and their story. Captain Jack Randall is probably the most despicable villain I have ever had the displeasure of encountering in any medium, which I suppose is a job well done.

Despite all the things I loved about this show, I do feel that I should give fair warning about its content. Outlander has its fair share of sex, nudity, rape, and murder, and general violence, but it's pretty mild on language (there's a reason it's been called the feminist GoT). Not much bothers me in the TV/movie world, but there were a couple scenes of violence in this show that made me feel a bit queasy and I'm guessing that some people might find themselves having to divert their gaze. Still, all of these things lend an air of authenticity to a show depicting a 20th century woman thrown into 18th century Scotland during a time of unrest and I wouldn't let these a little sex and violence keep you from experiencing such an amazing story!

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I fell completely in love with Outlander. Season one is a complete adaptation of the first book and I have now had to start book two in the series. I had no choice, really, since season two of the show isn't scheduled for release until sometime next Spring. Because I'm picking up the series with book two and will not be reviewing book one, I thought a season one review was in order! So there you have it. Outlander is completely amazing and I totally love it, despite my attempts not to. This is a show that is definitely worth your time!

Audiobook Review: The Mirk and Midnight Hour by Jane Nickerson

Title: The Mirk and Midnight Hour
Author: Jane Nickerson
Narrator: Dorothy Dillingham Blue
Publication Date: March 11, 2014
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers 
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A Southern girl. A wounded soldier. A chilling force deep in the forest. All collide at night’s darkest hour.

Seventeen-year-old Violet Dancey has been left at home in Mississippi with a laudanum-addicted stepmother and love-crazed stepsister while her father fights in the war—a war that has already claimed her twin brother.

When she comes across a severely injured Union soldier lying in an abandoned lodge deep in the woods, things begin to change. Thomas is the enemy—one of the men who might have killed her own brother—and yet she's drawn to him. But Violet isn't Thomas's only visitor; someone has been tending to his wounds—keeping him alive—and it becomes chillingly clear that this care hasn't been out of compassion.

Against the dangers of war and ominous powers of voodoo, Violet must fight to protect her home and the people she loves.

From the author of Strands of Bronze and Gold comes a haunting love story and suspenseful thriller based on the ancient fairy tale of “Tam Lin.”

I don't remember exactly when I first took notice of The Mirk and Midnight Hour. But you know how you see a car you really like and then you see it everywhere? That's what happened with this book. I wasn't sold on the description because I'm not big on historical fiction... It's also a retelling, which is one of my favorite things ever, but I'd never heard of the fairy tale it's based on. But once I saw the cover I kept seeing it EVERYWHERE! Finally, I just gave in and decided to give it a listen.

This is the story of Violet Dancey and her Union soldier, Thomas... and it's a slow one. In fact, the soldier doesn't even come into the picture until halfway through the (really long) book! Despite that, these two characters were very enjoyable, as was the romance.

Violet has grown up in the South and has lost her brother to the war already when her father also goes off to fight. She is left with her new stepmother and stepsister, Sunny, along with her cousins unexpected houseguests. Violet is a strong protagonist who stands up for what she believes in and, even more importantly, is not afraid to change her opinions with new information. Thomas is an injured soldier when Violet first meets him and is completely at her mercy. Over a long enough period of time that it doesn't seem unbelievable, they get to know each other and eventually fall in love.

Then there are other characters... Sunny is a dimwitted moron who lets people walk all over her while simultaneously being a bully. She is such a doormat that she commits a huge offense against her loved ones that really made me want to slap her in her dumb, blonde face. Dorian is the smooth-talking cousin who you kind of know is no good from the very moment he's introduced. His character is convincingly despicable and he works well within the story as a big bad. The relationship between Sunny and Dorian is infuriating, but it's realistic enough.

I felt like the world building in this novel was sufficient, but it definitely could have been better. There was a lot of potential for amazing descriptions with all the different settings within the book. While I was able to picture some of them based on the description provided, there were other things (like the main house) that I never got a clear image of.

The story itself was interesting, but it didn't WOW me at all. Like I've already said, it was very slow. Most audiobooks are very quick to listen to, but this one seemed to drag. Honestly, though, I'd say it read about the same as some other historical romance novels I've tried. The voodoo, which I'm guessing somehow tied into the fairy tale this retelling, seemed very strange and never quite explained all the way. I'd actually say that this might have been an even better story without that added element. It honestly just seemed a little strange within what was basically a civil war historical forbidden romance story.

I do think that this was still a pretty enjoyable read. Despite being very slow to start, I did like the story. I just think that it could have been better as an original historical romance. This obviously isn't my genre and I was probably just the wrong person to read this in the first place. I'd definitely recommend it to fans of historical romance and (probably) fans of the fairy tale of Tam Lin.

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°o°  Notes on the Audiobook  °o°

Dorothy Dillingham Blue was a very enjoyable narrator! She did a great job with the southern accents, although it was obvious at times that she was not from Mississippi herself. It's hard to get that accent right without sounding ridiculous, so two thumbs up! I'd definitely listen to another book with her as the reader!

Book Review: Spartacus: Swords and Ashes by J.M. Clements

Title: Spartacus: Swords and Ashes
Author: J.M. Clements
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Titan Books
Pages: 320
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Betrayed by the Romans. Forced into slavery. Reborn as a Gladiator.

The classic tale of the Republic's most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral Starz tv show, Spartacus. Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus.

To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend.

The first in a series of brand-new original Spartacus novels.

So I am a HUGE Spartacus fan. I'm rewatching it now for the third time and, let me tell you, I'm still pretty devastated that it's over. When I found out there were a couple novels that went along with the series, I was thrilled! The first one, Swords and Ashes, is set between episodes 1x07 and 1x08, and really went out of its way to explain a few things.

The book begins with Batiatus, Lucretia, Ilithyia, Spartacus, Varro, and Barca heading to the home of Pelorus, a lanista friend of Batiatus who has died by a slave's hand, for his funeral and games. According to custom, all of the slaves in the household must die and are set to be put to death in the arena. While there is a ton of action and killing (obviously), there is actually a lot of unexpected depth to this story. There is a scheme which is slowly uncovered by Batiatus with the help of Spartacus. There are obviously some uncomfortable situations in the book - look at the source material! - but they weren't there just for the shock value and actually added to the story.

Language of the world of Spartacus abounds in this book and is easily my favorite part of the entire series! Best line in the book:

"And what of it to you, if his funeral passes without remark?"

"'I care not a shit for his departure from this world,' Batiatus said..." 

Bahaha! I died! Seriously, Spartacus is not for the faint of heart!

The characters, while already having obvious personalities on the TV show, were even more developed and we really get an unusual look inside the relationship between gladiator and lanista. Watching the friendly banter between Spartacus and Varro was both wonderful and gut-wrenching. I didn't want that part of the book to end! It was also really interesting to go back in time to Spartacus' pre-slave life and get a glimpse into the battle between him and the Getae. It comes full circle as his relationship with the Medea, the Getae "witch" who killed Pelorus, progresses. She really provides a lot of insight and foreshadowing to the events that occur in later seasons of Spartacus.

It was really fascinating to read this in conjunction with the course I'm taking on Augustus this semester. There were familiar characters such as Cicero and it was a lot of fun to kind of put a personality with the name. I will admit, though, that it took a long time to finish this one because I was getting a little burned out by all the Roman material.

Those who are unfamiliar may be pretty lost with this one, but I would definitely recommend Spartacus: Swords and Ashes to anyone who is already a fan!

(School) Book Review: Land of Lincoln by Andrew Ferguson

Title: Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe's America
Author: Andrew Ferguson
Publication Date: June 10, 2007
Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
Pages: 288
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Before he grew up and became one of Washington’s most respected reporters and editors, Andrew Ferguson was, of all things, a Lincoln buff — with the photos hung on his bedroom wall to prove it. Decades later, Ferguson’s latent buffdom is reignited. In Land of Lincoln , he embarks on a curiosity-fueled coast-to-coast journey through contemporary Lincoln Nation, encountering everything from hatred to adoration to opportunism and all manner of reaction in between. He attends a national conference of Lincoln impersonators; attends a leadership conference based on Lincoln’s “management style”; drags his family across the three-state-long and now defunct Lincoln Heritage Trail; and even manages to hold one of five original copies of the Gettysburg Address. Along the way he weaves in enough history to hook readers of presidential biographies and popular histories while providing the engaging voice and style of the best narrative journalism. This is an entertaining, unexpected, and big-hearted celebration of Lincoln and his enduring influence on the country he helped create.

Okay, head's up, guys: I don't really like non-fiction. Unless it's about Disney World. Or Walt Disney. Or any other Disney-related thing. Alas, I'm in school and I have to read books there. This was the first read of the semester and holy crap, being a senior in college is tough. This is the first time in the history of my school career that I had to read an entire book in under a week. What was I thinking?! But I did it. I even finished it on time.

Land of Lincoln is not a biography. It isn't even really about Lincoln. It's about the places that are about Abraham Lincoln. Throughout this book, Andrew Ferguson takes the reader on a journey around the different historical sites that Lincoln has inspired since his death. He interviews Lincoln enthusiasts and Lincoln "haters" alike, though it's clear which position he takes on the matter.

I feel like I did learn a lot of things I didn't know before about Abraham Lincoln (this is school, after all). For example, I didn't realize Lincoln was not a die-hard abolitionist from the beginning. I learned about some locations I'd enjoy visiting, like the temple in Hodgenville that contains the "symbolic" cabin of Abe's birth or the Disneyfied Lincoln Library and Museum*. Unfortunately, there wasn't a lot of enjoyment to be found in this book - at least not for me. There was a lot of focus on various Lincoln conventions - from Lincoln impersonators (but they don't like to be called that) to Lincoln leadership workshops (yep, that's a thing).

The last three chapters of Land of Lincoln were the best. Ferguson tells the story of his family's trip down the Lincoln Heritage Trail, which was actually a bit of fun. I enjoyed hearing from his kids and especially his daughter. I could totally identify with their dread on this long, historical trek. In the last chapter was a story of a concentration camp survivor who was inspired by Lincoln and was able to get to the tomb to pay his respects. I wish the book had contained more of these types of touching, personal accounts.

My biggest issue with this book: On page 257 of the hardback edition, Ferguson does the unthinkable. He spells Disney World, Disneyworld. This is unforgiveable. 

To be fair, I was the wrong audience for this book. Still, I had to read it and so here we are. It wasn't terrible and I've most definitely read worse books during my (very long) time in college. I'd most definitely recommend it to any Lincoln buff. In fact, I'm loaning it to my dad tomorrow.

*This museum looks epic. Unfortunately, it would seem that I am far less scholarly than the rest of my class because everyone else thinks it's dumbed down and cheesy. I think it's a fantastic way to get information to a new generation. 

Let's face it, a lot of people think museums are boring. I really believe that a lot of museums cater to a specific set of scholarly individuals and, while I enjoy learning, I am not one of them. I won't read everything on the walls, though I will walk around and try to look intelligent. 

As any Disney World junkie will tell you, the Disney company has a way of educating young people (and even not-so-young people) using unconventional methods. Universe of Energy teaches guests about, well, energy, while Spaceship Earth shows us the changes in technology since the time of the cavemen until the '80s, and The Hall of Presidents lets every average Joe hear from each of the presidents of the United States. 

Say what you will, this museum (and the Disney company) is onto something. 

School Reads: Suffer With Me

Today marked the first day of my last year of school. Finally, after four years in the military followed by about a million years of school, I'm going to graduate (in two semesters). This semester is one of the most intensive yet, including a 400 and 600 level course, among some lower level classes. Here are a few I have to read that might not be terrible.

He found Rome made of clay and left it made of marble. As Rome’s first emperor, Augustus transformed the unruly Republic into the greatest empire the world had ever seen. His consolidation and expansion of Roman power two thousand years ago laid the foundations, for all of Western history to follow. Yet, despite Augustus’s accomplishments, very few biographers have concentrated on the man himself, instead choosing to chronicle the age in which he lived. Here, Anthony Everitt, the bestselling author of Cicero, gives a spellbinding and intimate account of his illustrious subject.

Augustus began his career as an inexperienced teenager plucked from his studies to take center stage in the drama of Roman politics, assisted by two school friends, Agrippa and Maecenas. Augustus’s rise to power began with the assassination of his great-uncle and adoptive father, Julius Caesar, and culminated in the titanic duel with Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
The world that made Augustus–and that he himself later remade–was driven by intrigue, sex, ceremony, violence, scandal, and naked ambition. Everitt has taken some of the household names of history–Caesar, Brutus, Cassius, Antony, Cleopatra–whom few know the full truth about, and turned them into flesh-and-blood human beings.

At a time when many consider America an empire, this stunning portrait of the greatest emperor who ever lived makes for enlightening and engrossing reading. Everitt brings to life the world of a giant, rendered faithfully and sympathetically in human scale. A study of power and political genius, Augustus is a vivid, compelling biography of one of the most important rulers in history.

In the early morning of November 29, 1864, with the fate of the Union still uncertain, part of the First Colorado and nearly all of the Third Colorado volunteer regiments, commanded by Colonel John Chivington, surprised hundreds of Cheyenne and Arapaho people camped on the banks of Sand Creek in southeastern Colorado Territory. More than 150 Native Americans were slaughtered, the vast majority of them women, children, and the elderly, making it one of the most infamous cases of state-sponsored violence in U.S. history. "A Misplaced Massacre" examines the ways in which generations of Americans have struggled to come to terms with the meaning of both the attack and its aftermath, most publicly at the 2007 opening of the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.

This site opened after a long and remarkably contentious planning process. Native Americans, Colorado ranchers, scholars, Park Service employees, and politicians alternately argued and allied with one another around the question of whether the nation s crimes, as well as its achievements, should be memorialized. Ari Kelman unearths the stories of those who lived through the atrocity, as well as those who grappled with its troubling legacy, to reveal how the intertwined histories of the conquest and colonization of the American West and the U.S. Civil War left enduring national scars.

Combining painstaking research with storytelling worthy of a novel, "A Misplaced Massacre" probes the intersection of history and memory, laying bare the ways differing groups of Americans come to know a shared past."

From the award-winning translator of The Iliad and The Odyssey comes a brilliant new translation of Virgil's great epic

With his translations of Homer's classic poems, Robert Fagles gave new life to seminal works of the Western canon and became one of the preeminent translators of our time. His latest achievement completes the magnificent triptych of Western epics. A sweeping story of arms and heroism, The Aeneid follows the adventures of Aeneas, who flees the ashes of Troy to embark upon a tortuous course that brings him to Italy and fulfills his destiny as founder of the Roman people. Retaining all of the gravitas and humanity of the original, this powerful blend of poetry and myth remains as relevant today as when it was first written.

These are three of the... ten or so I have to read this semester. But hopefully I'll be able to make it through. Are there any interesting books you've had the chance to read in school?

Book Tour Review: Birth of an Assassin by Rik Stone

Title: Birth of an Assassin
Author: Rik Stone
Publication Date: July 16, 2013
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Pages: 430
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I received this book from the author 

in exchange for an honest review. 

Set against the backdrop of Soviet, post-war Russia, Birth of an Assassin follows the transformation of Jez Kornfeld from wide-eyed recruit to avenging outlaw. Amidst a murky underworld of flesh-trafficking, prostitution and institutionalized corruption, the elite Jewish soldier is thrown into a world where nothing is what it seems, nobody can be trusted, and everything can be violently torn from him.

Given the order to disperse and arrest a crowd of Jewish demonstrators, Jez breaks up the rally but finds his sisters in their ranks. Rushed for a solution, he sneaks the girls from under the noses of secret police and hides them in downtown Moscow. But he knows they will no longer be safe in Russia and that his own security has been compromised. His plan to cross into the Ukraine to a port on the Black Sea where he can bribe passage from Soviet soil for his sisters seems sound, but he is unaware that his every move is being observed and that he is setting in motion a chain of events that will plunge his life into a headlong battle just to stay alive. 

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Birth of an Assassin was a book a little outside of my comfort zone in more than one way: I've never read anything set in Russia and, as a combat vet, I attempt to avoid books about war. But I decided to give this one a try and I was not disappointed.

The main character, Jez, spends half the book on the run from the KGB and I'm sure you can imagine how that goes. Staying one step ahead of the game, Jez manages to stay alive while coping with loss too great to imagine. The character development is good - I sympathized with Jez and Anna... most of the time. There were a few times that Jez made decisions that made me cringe - things that seemed to be unnecessary, in my opinion. But this is war and war is a different place, I suppose. Especially when the rules are bent such as they are in this book. The main antagonist, Otto, was as despicable as he possibly could have been. I hated him almost from the start.

While it takes quite a while to gain momentum (about 200 pages), this book is a thrill ride once it does pick up. I just wish it hadn't taken so long. The biggest issue I had with Birth of an Assassin was its dialogue. I'm not sure why, but the dialogue is extremely choppy and sometimes very unnatural. I think it is best described as someone translating Russian to English, but maybe that was what the author meant it to be. I honestly checked a couple times to see if perhaps the author was, in fact, Russian. It seemed especially odd because the rest of the writing flowed perfectly. The ending was satisfying enough, though I do wish we'd learned what happened to Jez's sisters (but maybe that's coming in a sequel).

All in all, this book is a good read as long as you can overlook the dialogue and make it through the first half of rather slow intro. I'd definitely recommend Birth of an Assassin to any military or history buff!

About the Author

Do children born into poverty become impoverished adults? It happens; pitfalls and roadblocks to advancement are everywhere. Rik Stone grew up poor amidst the slum-lands of fifties North East England, and left school at 15 without any academic qualifications. He worked in the shipyards on a local river and later went into the merchant navy. Further down the line, he worked quarries in Essex in South East England. But life was without horizons until, contrary to what his teachers had told him, he found he was capable of studying and completed a BSc degree in mathematics and computing. Life got lucky for him when he took company pension at 50 and began writing. And now, here he is offering up his debut novel Birth of an Assassin, the first in a series.

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