3 StarsFirst off, I love the writing of Jon Courtney Grimwood. He is an exceptional author. This book is no exception, it is well written, detailed, and atmospheric. This book is a fantastic time piece and it really brings to life the 14th century.I am not sure why I lost interest at the halfway ...
Gave it until about half-way to get more interesting. It didn't.(I might have kept reading if the syntax had been less disjointed. At times it read as if a copy-editor had gone through and removed all past perfect tenses and at others as if dependent clauses had been turned into full sentences to...
The characters and fantasy historical setting are very interesting, descriptive and solid.However, the extreme violence and brutal acts of misogyny, though true to the period, are not for the faint of heart and quite disturbing. Also, women are categorized and labeled as seductive, sweet virgins...
We read this book for my speculative fiction book club and it was an interesting trip, not as thoroughly enjoyed by some members of the club as other books, but interesting nonetheless. The novel tells two stories, one of Lady Neku, a thirteen year old girl from the far future (maybe) who has go...
"Cyberpunk set in alternate-history North Africa?" says I. "Sounds interesting."And that was my first mistake.I was expecting William Gibson crossed with, oh, The Years of Rice and Salt. What I got was more in the spirit of Dan Brown--an action-adventure with pasted-on Exotic Setting.I should hav...
At the time, Raf was being bumped up a chain of command like the problem he was.“…sef,” said a whisper in Raf’s head.“Captain Yousef.” Raf offered his hand.The man looked pleased to be remembered but slightly embarrassed all the same. “Major Yousef, Excellency. I’ve been promoted.”“Congratulation...
Eat, keep the rest, and go . . . Those were the words he wanted to say as he looked at Captain Towler’s weather-beaten face and the rat-faced soldiers behind him. Amelia had returned from a run to say a stag and three hinds had come down to the valley floor from the higher slopes, and were scuffi...
Tycho looked at Atilo’s page. The boy was growing, his shoulders were broadening. Training with Atilo had put muscle on his slight frame. Lady Desdaio obviously saw to it he was properly fed. “Your master knows you’re here?” The boy stopped, shuffled his feet for a second and resumed walking. Tyc...
“Zara would like this…” “Probably,” said Raf, glancing at his Omega a second ahead of it beeping to remind him that he should be somewhere else. Pashazade Ashraf Bey was in demand. Three weeks after the shocking murder of Lady Jalila by a renegade T...
Atilo ordered. Iacopo bowed, checked the knots holding the gondolino were secure enough to defeat the waves washing over the Molo, and glanced longingly towards the food stalls lining the muddy start of the Riva degli Schiavoni. Darkness came early in winter. But the city still ate late. The Riva...