Growing Within | Book Review | AstraDaemon

Evil is invisible, and it is everywhere.

That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. They cannot seem to escape tragedy...or the feelings that someone--or something--is stalking them...the ninety men, women, and children of the Donner Party are heading into one of one of the deadliest and most disastrous Western adventures in American history.

As members of the group begin to disappear, the survivors start to wonder if there really is something disturbing, and hungry, waiting for them in the mountains...and whether the evil that has unfolded around them may have in fact been growing within them all along.

THE HUNGER by Alma Katsu was suggested by a good friend (and fellow horror fan), and I am so very glad I read this novel. The author blends historical fiction with folklore, horror and family drama, resulting in a very believable retelling of the Donner Party demise. I love the inclusion of issues such as racism, misogyny, and bigotry towards homosexuality, making the characters more relatable, despite the time period.

Most of all, I am impressed by the science behind the evil, rather than resorting to another twist on the Wendigo trope. My friend pointed out the similarity to the movie Ravenous, and I agree, although the suspense in this story is far more spectacular than any film with this theme.

I highly recommend this novel.

As always,

AstraDaemon

Sequel to The Last Hours

THE TURN OF MIDNIGHT by Minette Walters is just as good, if not better, than the first book. There is much more intrigue to be had, as Thaddeus attempts to pass himself off as My Lord of Athelstan, in order to buy another demesne. Unfortunately, he and Lady Anne made more than one enemy by isolating Develish, and they will soon find themselves in another deadly situation.

While this novel could function as a stand-alone, having read the first book, I enjoyed reading about the changes among the characters. No one is the same person they were before the plague, and the author uses the growth of their personalities and skills to weave quite a new future for the survivors of the pestilence. I especially love the relationships which have developed among certain characters, such as Eleanor and Robert, the five young men, and, of course, Lady Anne and Thaddeus. Even the people of Blandeforde made an impression.

I sincerely hope Walters will write one more book to include the fates of the demesnes, the return of the ships from Spain, and some proper closure for some of the personal storylines. I'm not ready to part ways with Develish.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Plague On A Personal Level

When the Black Death enters England through the port in Dorsetshire in June 1348, no one knows what manner of sickness it is—or how it spreads and kills so quickly. The Church cites God as the cause, and fear grips the people as they come to believe that the plague is a punishment for wickedness.

But Lady Anne of Develish has her own ideas. Educated by nuns, Anne is a rarity among women, being both literate and knowledgeable. With her brutal husband absent from the manor when news of this pestilence reaches her, she looks for more sensible ways to protect her people than daily confessions of sin. She decides to bring her serfs inside the safety of the moat that surrounds her manor house, then refuses entry to anyone else, even her husband.

Lady Anne makes an enemy of her daughter and her husband’s steward by doing so, but her resolve is strengthened by the support of her leading serfs...until food stocks run low. The nerves of all are tested by continued confinement and ignorance of what is happening in the world outside. The people of Develish are alive. But for how long? And what will they discover when the time comes for them to cross the moat again?

THE LAST HOURS by Minette Walters makes the plague a more personal experience by sharing the fate of a demesne through several different POVs. Usually I find the women in these period pieces a little unrealistic, but the author presents Lady Anne and her knowledge in a way which is very believable. Likewise, the elevated education of Thaddeus and the other serfs is also well-explained. I also enjoy the various personalities of all the characters. The survivors of Develish are a captivating group, especially with all the drama.

Walters offers several layers of suspense. Everything from discord among Lady Anne's household, family secrets, and the threat of plague and starvation. When the threat of outsiders is introduced, the story evolves from typical historical fiction to a thrilling tragedy. The action scenes are full of surprises.

The book ends with "to be continued," so I immediately purchased The Turn of Midnight. I can't wait to find out what happens to the demesne, Lady Anne, Thaddeus and Eleanor.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Soap Opera In King's Court

THE POISON BED by Elizabeth Fremantle is a historical fiction novel set in the 1600s. Robert Carr and Frances Howard are accused of murder. Switching between the past and present, as well as the POV of both husband and wife, the author reveals the events leading up to the murder trial and outcome.

To be blunt, this novel is far more fiction than historical, and a quick google search would make the many inaccuracies quite obvious. However, I chose to read this story for the intrigue and drama, and Fremantle delivers both in a murder-mystery style. In some ways, this novel reminded me of Earthly Joys by Philippa Gregory, as Robert falls in with Northampton, the way Tradescant falls in with Buckingham.

As for the story structure, it is off-putting. I didn't mind switching between Her and Him, but the back and forth in time is not always clear, and disrupts the flow of the overall story. (I don't understand why authors think jumping around in time builds suspense.) I did stay interested from beginning to end, and read this novel in one sitting.

If you're a fan of soap operas and crime dramas, you might enjoy Fremantle's fiction.

As always,
AstraDaemon

From Slave to Gypsy

The Barefoot Queen
by Ildefonso Falcones

Set in Spain, 1748, this story is about a recently freed Cuban slave, Caridad, wandering the streets of Seville. She meets Milagros, a gypsy who sweeps Caridad into a society full of romance and art, passion and dancing, until the gypsies are declared outlaws by a royal mandate.

This is a family drama rich with historical content, and the multiple overlapping POVs add an intense layer of suspense. I had no idea how it would end, even when I was down to the last page.

With three strong central female characters (Milagros Vega, Ana Vega and Caridad), the title of Barefoot Queen could apply to anyone of them. Caridad, a former Cuban slave living among gypsies, realizes that even though she is free of the tobacco plantation, it takes more than a document to truly feel free. Milagros learns the value of family by surviving the nightmare that is her marriage, and Ana becomes stronger than even she could imagine when she fights tooth and nail against the imprisonment of the gypsies. Melchor (Ana's father, grandfather to Milagros and the man who brings Caridad into the gypsy fold) is the one who ties the fates of the women together.

I love how all the characters struggle to find their place in the world, without losing who they are inside. The details of the gypsy culture creates a deep texture to the various storylines. More than once I cried while I was reading this novel...it's impossible not to feel the emotions of the characters.

I recommend this to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Accurate Book Descriptions Are Important

EDEN GARDENS by Louise Brown is not a love story. As far as I'm concerned this is a 1940s soap opera told through the alternating POVs of two very different women, Maisy and Pushpa. Also, the story has very little to do with Maisy's relationship with Sunil, the son of her tutor. Rather, this novel highlights the misfortune the women were born into, and the various ways they deal with their personal situations.

I had zero expectations when I picked up this book, so I wasn't disappointed by the lack of romance. I feel the real theme is overcoming adversity and discovering inner strength. In some ways, this is Maisy's coming of age story, with Pushpa's perspective added for depth. In other ways, this is Pushpa's narrative about following traditions, struggling with social mores, caste division and class warfare, with Maisy's view added to emphasize the clash of cultures.

I read this novel in one sitting, and I remained captivated from beginning to end. I have no idea who decided how to present this book to readers, but I think the ones who will enjoy it the most are the ones most likely to pass it up because of the misleading description. If you enjoy family dramas with historical events and cultural settings, give this novel a chance.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Fighting Tooth And Nail

Aatu is eighteen years old, a respectable landowner, and about to marry the girl he loves. The south coast of Finland provides everything his little village requires.

It’s a peaceful life, until a band of ex-Crusaders land on the shore. With the harsh winter and lean times approaching, they cannot be allowed to stay for long. When their priests disturb things best left alone, Aatu fears a minor annoyance will become a disaster.

Aatu’s people turn to the old ways to fight the enemy, to teeth and claws instead of swords and spears. Though they are outnumbered and unused to fighting, Aatu is about to discover that wild wolves are not the most fearsome predators in this land, and even the most peaceful people can become ferocious in defense of the ones they love.

By the Light of the Moon by Blake Smith is a mix of historical fiction and the supernatural, although the author does take huge liberties with the historical part. I'm reminded of both movies Pathfinder and Kingdom of Heaven, with an original version of a familiar creature included. The story is not as predictable as one might think.

In addition to surprising readers with some rather dramatic scenes, Smith fleshes out her characters with details about personal relationships, as well as family history. By the time the end battle is over, readers will be left breathless and torn.

I will be adding this story to my Top 2018 list.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Personal History of Rachel Dupree

Ann Weisgarber’s The Personal History of Rachel DuPree is historical fiction set in the South Dakota Badlands, 1917. The story is narrated by Rachel, and, as she describes the difficulties brought on by the summer's drought, her past is revealed through her flashbacks and memories. She explains the unusual marriage agreement between herself and her husband, Isaac, an arranged marriage made fourteen years prior in the Chicago boardinghouse where she worked for Isaac's mother. We also learn about her first experiences in the Badlands, as well as her first impressions of Native Americans.

In addition to the challenges of living on a remote farmstead with starving cattle, they are the only African-Americans in their part of the Badlands, and Rachel often wonders what impact this will have on their five surviving children. Her conflicted feelings, from the beginning of her relationship with Isaac, leaves her weary of the sacrifices the family has made, including the death of two children, for Isaac's obsession with owning more land.

Influenced by her background in sociology, and inspired by an old cook stove in a sod dugout, Weisgarber spent a four-week writing residency at Badlands National Park, as well as several other visits to South Dakota, to get a feel for the pioneers of that time. She also studied the history of the African-American culture to learn what life would have been like for an early 20th century African-American woman in a remote area of the United States. Weisgarber’s dedicated and extensive research efforts highlight a perspective of American history that is rarely shown in historical fiction.

Weisgarber does an excellent job of emphasizing the harsh conditions of the drought alongside extremely upsetting descriptions of the family's thirst and hunger, and the concern that Rachel has for her unborn eighth child. Beginning with the emotions Rachel felt as she watched one of her daughters lowered into a well to retrieve what little water was left with a ladle and bucket, through her social interactions with neighboring farmers, Native Americans, and local racists in South Dakota and Chicago, until the end when she realizes that Isaac isn't the man she thought he was, Weisgarber presents a strong female protagonist with worries and concerns that portray the struggle of many women in that time period while illustrating the racial issues of the unsettled West.

By moving effortlessly between Rachel’s memories and her struggles to survive in a harsh landscape and featuring characters of great determination, Weisgarber weaves a story with many subtle layers that highlight issues today’s readers can still identify with.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Civil War Undead

Uncivil Dead by Jeremiah Coe is a Civil War story about Union and Confederate soldiers forced to make a last stand together against a zombie outbreak. Some Southerners living in a little town called Walnut Woods were sympathetic to the cause of the North, and gave information about nearby Confederate troops. Concerned that the residents of Walnut Woods would face retaliation, one-hundred Union soldiers were left behind to protect them, and to help escaped slaves make their way to the North. The garrison was actually located outside of the town, so the outbreak spread throughout Walnut Woods before anyone realized what had happened.

At first, both Union and Confederate soldiers think they are dealing with rabid cannibals, but it doesn’t take them very long to figure out they are dealing with the walking dead; it does, however, take the Union soldiers nearly halfway through the book before they realize it takes a head shot to kill the zombies…the Confederate soldiers weren’t nearly as fortunate. There is a Union doctor who tries to study the infected by tying them to trees, but he can’t find the cause or a cure.

Eventually the two opposing forces come to the conclusion that they need each other to survive the outbreak, but it’s too little, too late. Coe kept me guessing about who might make it to the end of the book, which was refreshing — I don’t care for predictable storylines. The virus was just as mysterious; it spread to both humans and animals, but the source was never mentioned or even hinted at. Coe writes in such stunning historical detail that I did some research to see if there was a real Walnut Woods where troops from both the North and South went missing without explanation, but, apparently, Coe just has a very vivid imagination. SPOILER ALERT: While Coe took some major liberties with the timeline of known American History, the North still wins.

Uncivil Dead did not have a lot of gore and not many confrontations with the undead until the last few chapters. As a matter of fact, the build-up was quite slow in the beginning, but once the two sides joined forces, the story really took off. I think Uncivil Dead is going to appeal more to the zombiephiles that have a genuine interest in the real Civil War.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Sedition

Sedition
by Katharine Grant
$12.99 Kindle version
302 pages

The setting of Sedition by Katharine Grant: London, 1794.
The problem: Four nouveau rich fathers with five marriageable daughters.
The plan: The young women will learn to play the piano, give a concert for young Englishmen who have titles but no fortunes, and will marry very well indeed.
The complications: The lascivious (and French) piano teacher; the piano maker's jealous (and musically gifted) daughter; the one of these marriageable daughters with a mating plan of her own.

---

I've never read anything quite like this, and that is saying something. I literally have no other titles in mind that I could compare Sedition to - it is THAT original. It is an unsettling story about sex, money, status, and how mixing all three can have extremely violent results. BUT, it's unsettling in that exciting way that had me rushing through the book to find out how everything set in motion would affect the lives of the main characters.

Strangely enough, it is music of all things that ties all their lives together. Not just learning to play the pianoforte, as the book's description states, but the passions that music inspires and creates. In addition to the multi-layered plot, the author provides rich detail throughout the entire story, making every scene that more delicious and disturbing at the same time.

When you finish reading Sedition, you'll be left wondering if it was ever truly about the pianoforte.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Something For Sunday

Behold The Dawn
by K.M. Weiland
333 pages
$6.99 Kindle version

"Marcus Annan, a knight famed for his prowess in the deadly tourney competitions, thought he could keep the bloody secrets of his past buried forever. But when a mysterious crippled monk demands Annan help him wreak vengeance on a corrupt bishop, Annan is forced to leave the tourneys and join the Third Crusade in the Holy Land.

Wounded in battle and hunted on every side, he agrees to marry—in name only—the traumatized widow of an old friend, in order to protect her from the obsessive pursuit of a mutual enemy. Together, they escape an infidel prison camp and flee the Holy Land. But, try as he might, he cannot elude the past—or his growing feelings for the Lady Mairead. Amidst the pain and grief of a war he doesn’t even believe in, he is forced at last to face long-hidden secrets and sins and to bare his soul to the mercy of a God he thought he had abandoned years ago."

This is historical fiction that takes place during the Crusades, set in "the Holy Land" in 1192, blending fact and fiction with detailed descriptions. The story begins in Bari, Italy, from the point of view of a Scottish tourneyer named Marcus Annan. His traveling companion, Peregrine Marek, is indentured to him after Annan saved his life in Glasgow, and Marek believes Annan would be better off seeking absolution in the Third Crusade.

After a tournament, Annan is approached by a monk known as The Baptist. This monk tells the tourneyer he must bring the man called Matthias of Claidmore to the Holy Land to confront Bishop Roderic about the crimes committed at St. Dunstan's Abbey, sixteen years ago. Annan informs The Baptist that Matthias is dead; the monk suggests that the Earl of Keaton may also have knowledge of Roderic's unholy transgressions which puts him in danger of the Bishop.

Annan reluctantly makes the pilgrimage, but refuses to seek absolution by taking the oath of a Crusader, despite Marek's insistence to ask God's forgiveness. When Annan does find the Earl, he is asked to protect the Earl's wife, Mairead, from the Norman knight, Hugh de Guerrant, who is one of the Bishop Roderic's corrupt knights. It soon becomes apparent that Countess of Keaton's enemies are also Annan's. With the help of Marek, the tourneyer attempts to take Mairead to safety before the Bishop has all of them killed.

Weiland uses the flowery language of historical adventure, and the thoughts of multiple characters, to underscore the Christian themes of that period in history. It is a tale of betrayal and redemption that ascends time and location while remaining anchored against the backdrop of the Crusades. Weiland also includes a glossary of words that are unfamiliar in modern times.

K.M. Weiland does such compelling work of presenting a conflicted male character that many readers fail to realize she is a female writer. An old, but good story.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Throwback Thursday: Intrigue, Tragedy and Love

A Triple Knot
by Emma Campion
480 pages
$7.99 Kindle version

Joan of Kent, cousin to King Edward III, is going to be betrothed to a potential ally, but she is not resigned to her fate as a political pawn, especially after her father's execution at the hands of her own kin. She then pledges her love to another man.

Reading historical fiction has always been a personal indulgence of mine, but I get nervous selecting a novel by an author that is unknown to me. Luckily, Campion has an excellent writing style. She allows the emotions of her characters to tell the story, and this works quite well for a plot centered on the drama of personal relationships and unwanted love triangles.

Even when the POV switched between characters, there were no jarring moments as the story flowed between secrets, confessions, confrontations and revelations.

I wouldn't dare compare Emma Campion to Philippa Gregory...I think Campion deserves to be recognized as a talented storyteller in her own right.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Shakespeare, The Womanizer

The Tutor: A Novel
by Andrea Chapin
368 pages
$11.84 Kindle version

This story is set in 1590, the year Queen Elizabeth’s Spanish Armada victory did nothing to stop her persecution of the English Catholics. Katharine de L’Isle is a thirty-one-year-old widow, in a household filled with turmoil. A new schoolmaster named William Shakespeare arrives and disrupts life at Lufanwal. Katharine is at first appalled by him, but soon finds herself drawn into Shakespeare’s verse, in ways that will change her forever.

If not for the drama of the supporting characters, I'm not sure I could have finished this book...the "relationship" between Katherine and William hardly progressed from one chapter to the next. I wasn't expecting them to jump into bed together or anything like that, but it was frustrating to watch two emotionally shutdown people trying to connect over poetry. Unlike other readers, I don't think anything built up between the couple other than heartache and bitter disappointment.

I would have preferred to read more about Katherine's interactions with the other characters; I realize that the point of this novel is the "romance" between Katherine and William, but their interactions always seemed so superficial, aside from their collaborations on the poetry.

If you are expecting anything like Philippa Gregory, don't...best if you don't have any expectations for this novel at all, and just enjoy it for whatever you can get out of it. Although, I am not sure fans of Shakespeare are going to enjoy seeing him portrayed in such an unflattering light. I do appreciate the thought the author put into accounting for Shakespeare's lost years.

My overall impression is that Chapin put too much into attempting to show readers how intellectual she is, rather than cultivating her creativity/imagination into entertaining story-telling.

As always,
AstraDaemon

The Life of Catherine de Valois

The Queen's Lover
by Vanora Bennett
590 pages
$6.49 Kindle version

After reading Vanora Bennett's Figures in Silk, I looked forward to reading another novel by the same author. I noticed right away her style of writing had changed slightly. The book told the story of Catherine de Valois (mother of Henry VI), from the time she was a young girl to the coronation of her son, in multiple points-of-view...sometimes it was Catherine's thoughts; sometimes Christine's, Owain, Henry V, and a few others. The POVs change frequently within the same chapters, but they are easy to keep track of. The novel itself is divided into separate books, which allows the narration to suddenly jump in time, location and tone. I don't think it makes any difference to the storyline, but it adds depth to the various characters.

I found the description of Catherine's childhood to be extremely disturbing. I can't imagine royal children starving, or being so severely neglected. Christine was such a big part of Catherine's life, and a great influence on Owain, yet the mention of her death is not what I was expecting for a character of that importance. There are other odd moments in the book; for instance, Dame Butler is emphasized as a beloved servant, but then she makes a snotty remark about young Harry acting like a baby. The abuse Warwick was able to get away with is also very upsetting. I don't understand why someone would be allowed to beat a future King in such a way. I can't believe after Catherine's own miserable childhood, she would let anything bad happen to her own son. It's no wonder King Henry VI was known to go mad as an adult.

I love Part Seven with Jehanne of Arc. It helped me figure out where I was on the timeline...it is very difficult to remember what the date is at any point in the novel. However, by that point in the book, I was under the impression Catherine is more concerned with her love affair with Owain than the well-being of her son, Harry. If I was supposed to think she is a strong female, I never did. I can't summon up respect for someone so selfish, and Catherine always seems incapable of helping herself -- even towards the end of the novel. The Cardinal is actually more of a favorite.

Overall, the story is entertaining, but the Historical Postscript left out the detail of Catherine's death. After reading a novel based on her life, it would have been nice to know how she died. I think I prefer the writing style of Figures in Silk, but I would recommend this novel to anyone interested in historical fiction from this time period.

As always,
AstraDaemon