Napoleonic wars

REVIEW: Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Crucible of Gold by Naomi Novik

Dear Ms. Novik, Though I fretted for almost two years waiting for this book, I can see from your author’s notes that you’ve had a lot to keep you busy having had your own little egg, as the dragons would say, in the interim. Still, what a book you’ve written for us. Excitement, danger, new [...]

REVIEW: The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

REVIEW: The Mischief of the Mistletoe by Lauren Willig

Dear Ms. Willig, I admit I haven’t read the latest in the “Pink Carnation” series “Blood Lily” so when Jane sent me the arc for “The Mischief of the Mistletoe” I inwardly cringed. Oh dear, I thought, there’s no way I can get “Lily” read in time so I’ll just have to plunge in and [...]

REVIEW: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Tongues of Serpents by Naomi Novik

NOTE: Though I’ve attempted to avoid spoilers, at this point there isn’t any way. If you’ve not read all the books preceding this one, read the review at your own risk. Dear Ms. Novik, Well, it has taken the better part of two years to get my hands on the next Temeraire book but it’s [...]

REVIEW: Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer

REVIEW: Barely a Lady by Eileen Dreyer

Dear. Ms. Dreyer, When a friend told me that you had started this historical series, despite the fact that I’m pretty much Regencied out, I was delighted. After all, you’ve written some wonderful category novels such as “A Soldier’s Heart,” and “A Rose for Maggie” that I love. After I finished it, all I could [...]

CONVERSATIONAL REVIEW: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

CONVERSATIONAL REVIEW: Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale

Dear Readers: It has been five years since we've had a new Laura Kinsale book to read, and Lessons in French is quite a departure from her last book, Shadowheart. Callie, or more properly, Lady Callista Taillefaire, is a 27-year old thrice-jilted heiress who wants nothing more than to live in relative peace – and [...]

Friday Film Review: Horatio Hornblower (TV series)

Friday Film Review: Horatio Hornblower (TV series)

Horatio Hornblower (1998-2003) Genre: Adventure, War, Drama Grade: series as a whole, B+ After my review of “Captain Blood,” there was a call for more swashbuckling films. I do plan to eventually do more of these but I thought I’d detour slightly in this direction. It is swashbuckling, it is war, it is the Navy [...]

REVIEW: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

REVIEW: Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Warning: may include spoilers Dear Ms Novik, After finishing “Empire of Ivory,” I wondered where you’d take me in the follow up book. Answer: through the wringer. “Victory of Eagles” sees Temeraire and his captain Will Laurence having to face the results of their actions – seen as treasonous by most of the military – [...]

REVIEW: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

REVIEW: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

Dear Ms. Bourne, It’s taken me a while to get around to reading your debut, The Spymaster’s Lady. Back in the winter, Robin asked me if I would review it in a conversational review with her before your next book came out, and I promised that I would. When I got to reading it last [...]

REVIEW: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

REVIEW: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

Dear Ms. Willig, Oh, what I’ve been missing by not reading your books earlier. Now having devoured “Pink Carnation” and the newest in the series, “The Seduction of the Crimson Rose,” I’ve been sucked in by your witty style, your fun characters and the entire world of early 19th century flower spies. What I still [...]

REVIEW: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

REVIEW: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig

Dear Ms Willig, Of course I’ve heard of your series of novels set during the Napoleanic Wars featuring dashing spies named after flowers. Why hadn’t I read one until now….honestly I don’t know. Perhaps I thought the modern bits featuring a English history major trying to track down the identities of the spies was just [...]

REVIEW: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

REVIEW: The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne

Dear Ms Bourne, My blogging partner Jane and I usually have similar tastes in historical novels. Usually, I say, because we’ve been known to disagree at times. And it’s those times that I almost hate to do a review and have to say, sorry but I think this one sucked. I’m glad to say that [...]