Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
New York Times bestselling author Paula Brackston’s The Little Shop of Found Things was called “a page-turner that will no doubt leave readers eager for future series installments” (Publishers Weekly). Now, Brackston returns to the Found Things series with its sequel, Secrets of the Chocolate House.
After
her adventures in the seventeenth century, Xanthe does her best to
settle back into the rhythm of life in Marlborough. She tells herself
she must forget about Samuel and leave him in the past where he belongs.
With the help of her new friends, she does her best to move on,
focusing instead on the success of her and Flora’s antique shop.
But
there are still things waiting to be found, still injustices needing to
be put right, still voices whispering to Xanthe from long ago about
secrets wanting to be shared.
While looking for new stock for the
shop, Xanthe hears the song of a copper chocolate pot. Soon after, she
has an upsetting vision of Samuel in great danger, compelling her to
make another journey to the past.
This time she'll meet her most
dangerous adversary. This time her ability to travel to the past will be
tested. This time she will discover her true destiny. Will that destiny
allow her to return home? And will she be able to save Samuel when his
own fate seems to be sealed?
Review:
Like the first book in the series, The Little Shop of Found Things, Secrets of the Chocolate House has many charming qualities. In the present day, it has a small village setting filled with interesting characters. The section set in the 18th century has many details of life at that time. And along with time travel, there is a heart-wrenching tale of impossible love. With much to recommend this book, I must say that I did have some issues with the time travel aspect of the book. But overall, this was an enjoyable adventure.
What I Liked:
Small Village Setting:
I adore books set in small towns (or in the case of this British novel, small villages). The sense of community, the various neighbors, shop owners, and tourists create a setting that I wish were real so I could visit!
18th Century Life:
When Xanthe travels back to the 18th century, the author gives us so many small details of food, clothing, eating, and manners, that I felt as though I had made the journey with the character. This attention to detail is one of the reasons I love reading historical fiction.
Romance:
This isn't a conventional romantic book. While Xanthe has several men vying for her attention, she is pining away for Samuel, the man who she connected with so strongly in the 18th century. The author created a realistic portrait of how one would behave (with all the social constraints imposed on people of that era) when one's heart wants someone they can't have.
What I Was Mixed About:
Time Travel:
Of course, when one is reading a book about time travel, one has to have a willing suspension of disbelief in order to accept it. But when the reader buys into that fantasy they still know that there are rules that must be followed. Usually, they are spelled out, and we can understand how this universe works. But in the case of Secrets of the Chocolate House, the rules kept changing to suit the plot. The explanation given is that every time traveler ("Spinner") works differently. Some need a specific object to Spin, other can use multiple objects, or none at all. This was confusing. Plus some of the time travel that Xanthe does towards the end of the book don't even follow Xanthe's time-traveling parameters. It would have been easier to accept all of this if the rules were more consistent.
Rating:
Release Date: October 22nd, 2019
Author: Paula Brackston
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Genre: Historical/Fantasy Fiction
Page Length: 320 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: Despite some inconsistent logic, this was a fun time-travel adventure. I will look forward to the next installment.
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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Miss Ada Quicksilver, a
student of London's Lovelace Academy for Promising Young Women, is
spending her holiday in Ireland to pursue her anthropological study of
fairies. She visits Dublin's absinthe bars to investigate a supposed
association between the bittersweet spirit and fairy sightings.
One
night a handsome Irishman approaches her, introducing himself as Edward
Donoghue. Edward takes absinthe to relieve his sleepwalking, and she is
eager to hear whether he has experience with fairies. Instead, she
discovers that he's the earl of Meath, and that he will soon visit a
mysterious ruin at Newgrange on the orders of his cousin, the beautiful,
half-mad Queen Isolde. On learning about Ada's area of study, he
invites her to accompany him.
Ada is torn between a sensible fear
of becoming entangled with the clearly troubled gentleman and her
compelling desire to ease his suffering. Finally she accepts his
invitation, and they arrive in time for the winter solstice. That night,
the secret of Edward's affliction is revealed: he is, in fact, a lord
in two worlds and can no longer suppress his shadow self.
Little
does either of them realize that their blossoming friendship and slowly
kindling passion will lead to discoveries that wrench open a door sealed
for centuries, throwing them into a war that will change Ireland
forever.
Review:
Having been to Ireland in the past year, the premise for this book really drew me in. Irish lords, the Fey, some romance... I was really hoping for a fun faerie story set in Ireland. But, I should have guessed by the cover that this was more of a hunky Lord bodice-ripper (i.e. erotic fiction) than fantasy historical fiction. That being said, this was a fun little romp in the hay.
What I Liked:
Irish Folklore:
I really enjoyed the use of all the Irish myths and folklore. The author must have spent considerable time researching this to incorporate these legends into the faerie characters. Each plays an important role in the war between the Fomorians (ancient foes of the Fey) and the Irish.
Characters:
I liked all of the Irish characters, particularly the Irish Queen, Isolde. She is a totally made-up character (as the last king of Ireland ruled in the late twelfth-century), but so fun and fearless, that I wanted to believe she was a real person. But all the Irish characters reminded me of why I loved visiting the Emerald Isle. They were all friendly, open people. No wonder Ada felt so at ease there.
Faerie Story:
The story centers around how each of the central Irish characters has an alter-ego historical Fey spirit who inhabits them. I loved the concept of their ancestors taking over their bodies to replay ancient rivalries and passions.
What I Was Mixed About:
There was something that really bothered me about the story. I wish the author had made it clear earlier in the novel that this is an alternate reality Ireland. I was wondering why there was no mention of British oppression or even the terrible Irish potato famine of the mid-eighteen hundreds. Then, about a third of the way in, it became apparent that this Ireland had seen none of those hardships. While this served the story well, it also took away some of the core elements of what has shaped the Irish spirit.
What I Didn't Like:
Generally speaking, I am not a fan of erotic fiction. I just think it doesn't add much to the story to include a blow by blow of who touched whom where. But in the case of this historical fiction, it seemed completely implausible to have Ada, a young, orphaned student, fall into bed with a relative stranger. Even in an alternate reality, she would be labeled a wanton woman. And that would be not just scandalous, but disastrous for a single woman at that time.
FYI: Explicit sex scenes
Rating:
Release Date: October 15th, 2019
Author: Sharon Lynn Fisher
Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
Genre: Historical Fantasy Romance
Page Length: 288 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: If you enjoy erotic fiction with plenty of fantasy and alternate Irish history, this is a fun book.
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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Xanthe and her mother
Flora leave London behind for a fresh start, taking over an antique shop
in the historic town of Marlborough. Xanthe has always had an affinity
with some of the antiques she finds. When she touches them, she can
sense something of the past they come from and the stories they hold. So
when she has an intense connection to a beautiful silver chatelaine she
has to know more.
It’s while she’s examining the chatelaine that
she’s transported back to the seventeenth century. And shortly after,
she's confronted by a ghost who reveals that this is where the antique
has its origins. The ghost tasks Xanthe with putting right the injustice
in its story to save an innocent girl’s life, or else it’ll cost her
Flora’s.
While Xanthe fights to save her amid the turbulent days
of 1605, she meets architect Samuel Appleby. He may be the person who
can help her succeed. He may also be the reason she can’t bring herself
to leave.
Review:
I'll be honest. I requested this book, not just for it's description, but for it's pretty cover and charming title. I was so happy that my instincts were on target with this book. This novel has it all: a great story, suspense, romance, and tons of historical details. Once I started it, I could not put it down!
What I Liked:
Historical Details:
The author must have done extensive research because the historical details of daily life in the seventeenth century are impressive. Everything from what people wore, to how one asked to use the restroom ("Where is the necessary room?") are a part of the story. These authentic details are what make me feel like the characters are really in that time, and are one of the pleasures of reading historical fiction.
Characters:
I really liked the main character, Xanthe, who has seen her share of injustice. This helps her to identify so strongly with Alice who is wrongly accused of stealing back in the seventeenth century. In order to save her (and her own mother in modern times), Xanthe must use her ingenuity to solve the mystery of why Alice is accused, and what has become of the stolen items. Xanthe is both practical and impulsive, which I find endearing.
Xanthe's mother, Flora, also has many challenges. She is in the middle of a divorce, and is fighting to maintain her independence despite having a chronic illness. I loved Flora's determination and how she rooted for Xanthe.
In fact, the mother/daughter relationship in this book is one that I liked very much. There are very few depictions of healthy adult parent and child relationships in fiction. While Flora does depend on Xanthe's help, she never takes advantage of her daughter or guilts her into helping out. Their obvious mutual affection and respect are what I will strive for with my own children.
Time Travel:
Any book about time travel risks losing the reader due to it's implausibility. This book solves that by taking time to really map out the logic in this universe. How does this work? How can Xanthe realistically pull off going back in time without being found out (and risk being deemed a witch)? Won't people in her own time question where she has been? The author answers all these issues, and that keeps the reader in the story.
via GIPHY
Story:
The novel itself is has several parallels between the story in the present day and in the past. In both, Xanthe is an outsider trying to make her way. Xanthe has been seriously ill-used by her modern-day boyfriend, and has trouble trusting men. She also must decide if she can trust Samuel in the past. Xanthe was wrongly accused of a crime in the present, and Alice faces the same thing in the past. Of course, the consequences of being branded a criminal in 1600 were far more severe than they are now. But the idea of losing control of one's own life to a nameless judicial system is the same.
Despite all the exposition, the story was fast-paced and I could not stop reading. I was constantly worried that Xanthe would be caught out in both time periods.
I also really appreciated that, even though this is the first book in a series, the story line was wrapped up in this book. It is one of my pet-peeves that series books stop mid-scene without any resolution to the main problem! Thankfully, this did not happen in this book.
Romance:
There are moments where I could not stop but to draw comparisons to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. The romance between Xanthe and a man from the seventeenth century is believable and heart-wrenching. But I also wanted to know if there would possibly be some heat between Xanthe and a certain young man in the present. After such an epic romantic experience, will Xanthe be able to love anyone else? Is she destined to pine away for a man long dead? This may be answered in future novels, as I am happy to say that this is the first book in a series!
via GIPHY
Rating:
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Author: Paula Brackston
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (St. Martin's Press)
Page Length: 320 pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: Not as steamy (or violent) as Outlander. Nevertheless, this romantic time travel series will keep you reading late into the night.
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Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way. Also I have linked the book cover to Amazon. If you buy the book through this link, I will get a small fee.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Nahri has never believed
in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century
Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better
than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars,
healings—are all tricks, sleights of hand, learned skills; a means to
the delightful end of swindling Ottoman nobles.
But when Nahri
accidentally summons an equally sly, darkly mysterious djinn warrior to
her side during one of her cons, she’s forced to accept that the magical
world she thought only existed in childhood stories is real. For the
warrior tells her a new tale: across hot, windswept sands teeming with
creatures of fire, and rivers where the mythical marid sleep; past ruins
of once-magnificent human metropolises, and mountains where the
circling hawks are not what they seem, lies Daevabad, the legendary city
of brass--a city to which Nahri is irrevocably bound.
In that
city, behind gilded brass walls laced with enchantments, behind the six
gates of the six djinn tribes, old resentments are simmering. And when
Nahri decides to enter this world, she learns that true power is fierce
and brutal. That magic cannot shield her from the dangerous web of court
politics. That even the cleverest of schemes can have deadly
consequences.
After all, there is a reason they say be careful what you wish for . . .
Review:
I have a confession to make: I didn't know much about this book when I requested it. I was solely attracted to it's lovely cover! But, to my utter delight, I found this book to be full of surprises. With a fun, self-reliant heroine, an intricate world based on Arabic mythology, and a wonderful look into Arabic culture, this book was very entertaining.
What I Liked:
Characters:
Nahri is a resourceful thief and con artist, making her own way on the tough streets of 18th century Cairo. She has always been able to heal others, and uses her gift of knowing what's wrong with someone's health to swindle them out of their money! Not exactly an angel, is she?
But, one night when she is performing a fake exorcism, she unwittingly calls upon a Djinn warrior, and unleashes a chain of events that reveal her true identity.
I loved how self-reliant Nahri was. She was not a damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. But she did have a lot to learn about looking past her own needs and being there for others. Her story arc is fun to follow, and I loved how she matured as the novel progresses.
Most of the other characters were men, such as the warrior, Afshin, and the two princes Ali and Muntadhir. Each had their own private demons to slay. Ali, in particular, was very young and inexperienced in the ways of palace politics. He learns the hard way about whom to trust, and lend his support to.
The only other significant female characters were the cranky servant Nisreen, and the spoiled princess Zaynab. Both characters seem, at first, to be two-denominational, but later show depth as their situations begin to be understood by Nahri.
World-Building:
Except for some exposure to the stories of Aladdin, the mythology of Arabic culture is not something I am familiar with. I found the intricate world of the Djinn to be exciting and fun to discover. And there is a lot for the reader to learn! There are six tribes of Djinn, each with different traditions and beliefs. And there is another group of half human/ half djinn people called Shafit. They are treated with contempt and used as slaves by some of the tribes. I loved the tension between the different groups as they try to live with each other.
There are also a wide range of creatures to encounter such as Ifrit (creatures who are the enemies of the Djinn), Simurgh (firebirds), Zahhak (fire-breathing lizards), Peri (air elementals), and Ghouls (zombies). It is exciting to read how the main characters work with (or clash with) each creature. This aspect kind of reminded me of Rick Riordan's Lightning Thief books!
Arabic Culture:
Oh, the food! I am a person who tends to explore different cultures through culinary experiences. The descriptions of curries, pastries, and teas will make your mouth water!
Along with food, many of the characters follow various practices of the Muslim faith, including traditional attire, customs about men and women interacting, and daily prayer. These details enriched my understanding of the culture and I loved them.
What I Was Mixed About:
As a reader, I was really excited by the intricate world-building and complex society of the city of Daevabad. But I was also really confused, at times. Thankfully, there was a glossary of terms at the end of the book to explain some of the language. But there needed to be much more in the glossary, along with an explanation of the six tribes of Djinn. I kept getting them all mixed up! Hopefully the finished copy will have a nice chart to help the reader keep everything clear.
Rating:
Release Date: November 14th, 2017
Genre: Historical Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Page Length: 528 pages
Source: Edelweiss
Format: ARC E-Book
Recommendation: An exciting fantasy filled with the magic and romance of Egypt. Strong characters and the rich culture of the region make this a treat!
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