History from a Woman's Perspective- A Book Blog

Castle of Concrete by Katia RainaPublication Date: June 11, 2019 Young Europe Books eBook & Paperback; 304 Pages Genre: YA Historical Fiction


Synopsis: In 1990-1991, when the history of Russia and the entire Soviet Union is being revisited and the rules are changing, a fifteen-year-old Jewish girl, Sonya Solovay, reunites with her dissident mother after twelve years of hiding out in Siberia–her life’s dream realized. Still, she sees herself as a typical Soviet citizen: a shy, quiet, obedient, barely-there girl, dissolving into the past, her country’s and her own. Determined to break into her new existence, Sonya tries out a shining new persona, but most of her efforts backfire. One mysterious boy notices her, wants to hear her stories, makes her feel like she is the shiniest part of his world. Everything else might as well fade away–her distant and hungry-for-gossip classmates, the equally shy Jewish friend who doesn’t always seem to understand her, the growing tension with her fierc…

This guest post by author D.K. Marley is extremely fascinating! She is the author of The Fire of Winter, which examines the life of the historical "Lady Macbeth". I have always been fascinated by this woman and wanted to know more about who she really was, and Mrs. Marley has been gracious enough to share her story with my readers! I am honored to have her as a guest post author. Thank you, D.K. Marley!
The Real Lady Macbeth
     When I first embarked on writing the novel about the real Lady Macbeth and her infamous husband, I must say that my knowledge of the two of them was entirely relegated to what I knew of them from Shakespeare’s play. Macbeth, the play, is one of my favourites of his tragedies, so I knew right off after finishing “Prince of Sorrows”, the historical adaptation of Hamlet, that this would be next on my list.

    My repertoire of research links and hours spent on this dangerous couple is immense, spanning countless articles of their life and genealog…

The Fire of Winter by D.K. MarleyPublication Date: June 1, 2019 eBook; 355 Pages Genre: Historical Fiction Source: This book was given to me by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Gruah, granddaughter of King Cìnéad III of the Royal Clan Alpin, marries two men in less than six months, one she loves and one she hates; one in secret, the other arranged by the High King of Scotland. At the age of eighteen, she lays her palm upon the ancient stone of Scone and sees her destiny as Queen of Scotland, and she vows to do whatever necessary to see her true love, Macbeth macFindlaech, beside her on the throne.

     Amid the fiery times and heated onslaughts from Denmark and England, as the rule of Scotland hangs in the balance, Gruah seeks to win the throne and bring revenge upon the monsters of her childhood, no matter the cost or amount of blood tainting her own hands; yet, an unexpected meeting with the King called the Confessor causes her to questio…