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Cloak of Scarlet (A Dericott Tale #5) by Melanie Dickerson: A Book Review

Cloak of Scarlet (A Dericott Tale #5) Author: Melanie Dickerson Genre: YA, Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance Publisher: Thomas Nelson Release Date: 2023 Pages: 334 Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: She was an orphan of no importance . . .      He was an ordinary knight serving the baron . . .       Suddenly the kingdom depends on both of them.        Violet Lambton never imagined herself as anything but average. Adopted as a young child, she’s content with her comfortable life in her small medieval town with her faith, her books, and her baking . . . and the vivid red cloak her grandmother gifted her. Her one dream: to find a love that is pure and true. Then, her beloved grandmother is robbed by the villainous Baron Dunham. Outraged, Violet finds herself in the midst of the action and determines to put an end to the evil baron’s mis­treatment of the hardw...

Sword of a Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #2) by Melanie Karsak: A Book Review

Sword of a Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #2) Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy  Publisher: Clockpunk Press Release Date: March 13, 2025 Pages: 400 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis:       Born hearing the call of Valkyries.     Dreaming of distant shores.    Torn between the past and the future.     Destined to become a legend.     Iceland, 985—      When Eirik the Red sailed from Iceland to journey west, everyone knew he was mad. Everyone knew Jörmungandr would swallow him and his crew whole. Everyone lost faith in him, including his wife, who turned to her Christian friends for solace.     Everyone gave up on Eirik the Red, except his daughter.     When Eirik went west, so did Brien, the man Freydis loved. But Freydis knew her father’s determ...

Helen of Troy by Margaret George: A Book Review

Helen of Troy Author: Margaret George Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Berkley Release Date: 2006 Pages: 636 Source: Personal Collection Synopsis: Acclaimed author Margaret George tells the story of the legendary Greek woman whose face "launched a thousand ships" in this New York Times bestseller.      The Trojan War, fought nearly twelve hundred years before the birth of Christ, and recounted in Homer's Iliad , continues to haunt us because of its origins: one woman's beauty, a visiting prince's passion, and a love that ended in tragedy.      Laden with doom, yet surprising in its moments of innocence and beauty, Helen of Troy is an exquisite page-turner with a cast of irresistible, legendary characters—Odysseus, Hector, Achilles, Menelaus, Priam, Clytemnestra, Agamemnon, as well as Helen and Paris themselves. With a wealth of material that reproduces the Age of Bronze in all its glory, it brings to life a war that we ha...

Queens of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3) by Melanie Karsak: A Book Review

Queen of the Hollow Hills (Eagles and Crows #3) Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Clockpunk Press Release Date: October 29, 2024 Pages: 364 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.  Synopsis: In the shadows of the hollow hills, a queen's destiny unfolds.      Britain, AD 38. Having defeated her enemies, Queen Cartimandua works swiftly to stabilize the north. But not all foes yield quietly. Forces move in the shadows to destabilize the Brigantes. Working to root out resistance, Queen Cartimandua finds an unlikely ally in deposed Prince Venutiux—much to his wife’s dismay. Even with King Eddin’s support, facing an unnamed enemy proves difficult. Darkness, in the shape of an eagle, looms for them all.      Yet even amongst the chaos, a glimmer of hope persists. As Queen Cartimandua and King Consort Cormag chart their new life together, a bright future seems wi...

The Heart of a Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #1) by Melanie Karsak: A Book Review

The Heart of a Valkyrie (The Vinland to Valhalla Saga #1) Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Clockpunk Press Release Date: March 5, 2023 Pages: 290 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: Born hearing the call of Valkyries.      Dreaming of distant shores.      Torn between the past and the future.      Destined to become a legend.      Iceland, 976—Freydis Eiriksdottir, born to a völva mother and berserker father, lives a quiet life on her remote farmstead in Iceland. Busy dreaming of the sea and haunted by the loss of her mother, she has no idea what the Norns have in store for her. When her father, Eirik the Red, marries the daughter of a powerful chieftain, the course of Freydis’s life changes forever.      Deciding that Freydis would be better off with the gothar, Eirik sen...

The Crow Queen (Eagles and Crows #2) by Melanie Karsak: A Book Review

The Crow Queen (Eagles and Crows #2) Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Clockwork Press Release Date: December 5, 2023 Pages: 267 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: A queen at war.       A love woven by the gods.      The looming shadow of darkness to come.      Britain, AD 38, When destiny crowns Cartimandua queen of the Brigantes, she inherits not just the rule of her ancient tribe but an imminent war. Seeking to take advantage of the upheaval amongst the Brigantes, the Parisii tribe strikes.      Cartimandua’s enemies soon discover the new Brigantes queen wears a crown of thorns and talons. Carti has no time to waste on petty squabbles. The Cailleach whispers of a looming threat from the south. Wielding ruthless strategy and strength, Cartimandua acts quickly to secure her hold on the north ...

The Blackthorn Queen (Eagles and Crows #1) by Melanie Karsak: A Book Review

Blackthorn Queen (Eagles and Crows #1) Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy Publisher: Clockpunk Press Release Date: July 25, 2023 Pages: 338 Source: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis : From ancient henges to windswept mountains, dive into a world where pagan gods rule, powerful priestesses weave magic, and fierce Celtic tribes battle for dominance.      Britain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions.      But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge.      A tangled web of political games soon unfolds. When enigmatic Prince Cormag of the Votadini shows the princess unwanted attention, the Brigantes’ alliance with the Carvetti is shaken. Cartiman...