A one point this past week, it looked as if I would only be reviewing one book this week. This is until I picked up a terrific novel that I could not put down. So instead of one book, this weeks review is double feature and these two couldn’t be more different. One is YA fantasy set of novellas that goes along with a much bigger series, while the other is a Historical Fiction novel that stands out as a terrific read.
As this is my first review I will state how I review the books. First off these are just my opinions and I don’t expect everyone to agree with them. Secondly, the judge the books on how well they kept my interest, how well written they are and overall just how good they were. There will be no spoilers in the reviews and I grade on a 5 star scale. 4 and 5 star reviews and ones that highly recommend you go out and read. 3 star reviews are ones that while I liked the book, they are not must read. 1-2 star reviews are books that i will not recommend. With that on with the reviews and I will start with the Queens of Fennbirn by Kendare Blake.
The Queens of Fennbirn is a set of two novellas that go along with the Three Dark Crowns series. The series is one I highly recommend so I was intrigued to read the two novellas. The downside with novellas is that it seems like as soon as you start getting into the story, the story ends. That is a problem with most novellas and not solely related to this book. The two novellas in the book are The Young Queens and the The Oracle Queen. They each tell a very different story, but each in a way relates to the main series overall.
The Young Queens opens with the birth of the three queens who will become central the main series. The story makes a point of showing how close Katherine, Arsinoe and Mirabella were to each other before they were whisked away to different families. It also shows how the three families thought about the idea of raising a new queen and the challenges they each present. The main series seems to focus more on Katherine, but here, Mirabella seems to take center stage which I do really like. Out of all of the sisters, Mirabella seems to have the most character development in the series and this story shows that she was a complex character to begin with. She cares deeply for her sisters and some of her actions in the series can be explained by what happens in this short story.
By contrast, The Oracle Queen shows that the ruthlessness of Fennbirn politics dates back many years. A common tale told on the island is the story of the last oracle queen Elsabet. This queen saw that she was going to be overthrown and so she killed off three entire families in a fit of madness. The story however, tells it from a different point of view. The novella tells how Elsabet was drugged so that her oracle gift couldn’t be used and her own Black Council plotted against her and framed her. What is particularly interesting is just like in the main series, the Arron family leads the plotting. The lore in this story is wonderful as is the buildup and payoff. It really gives you the sense that position of Queen is a dangerous one.
Overall, these two novellas are wonderful to read. Blake continues to craft and expand upon her fantastic world and lore that she has created. It is well written and really gives some insight into the main series. The only downside of the book is these are just novellas. I kept wanting more out of the stories and unfortunately I couldn’t get it. That is the only downside to the book but because it’s such a big one it brings it down a star for me. I would still go out and read this especially if you have read the Three Dark Crowns Series. Verdict- 4 Stars.
Moving on from a novel of fantasy to a Historical Fiction novel that is one of the best I have ever read. Written by Susan Holloway Scott, I, Eliza Hamilton tells the story of the wife of Alexander Hamilton, Eliza, from her point of view. Beginning at their first meeting and lasting till Alexander’s death during a duel, the sheds some light on one of the lesser known figures of the founding.
While this book is certainly taking advantage of the success of the Broadway smash hit musical Hamilton, the book is a phenomenal read. It is beautifully written, expertly described and makes you feel like you are truly there listening as Eliza tells her story. The book is told through first-person narration style which works out perfectly for this book. You really get the sense that you sitting at the home of Eliza Hamilton as she tells the story of how she fell in love with Alexander, struggled with his political career, was crushed by a scandal only to rebound and love him more before his death in duel. And I think for me that is the strength of this book. The book does a superb job of detailing Eliza’s struggles and how despite all that, her love for Alexander endured.
The writing in this book is top-notch. I loved how it was written and easily it shifted from period to period. Bringing in historical figures also helps this book and those are very well done. Toward the end of the book, as Alexander faces political battles left and right, the book does an excellent job of describing all of them and not only how they affected Alexander, but more importantly for this book, how it affected Eliza. The family ties are intertwined in this book very nicely as well. I also never got the feeling that this book was embellishing history. This book felt true to the record and never seemed to forget that this was a historical novel.
I finished this book in one day which alone should tell you my thoughts on the. I LOVED this book. I could not put it down as I just did not want to stop reading it. It is beautifully written, well researched and tells a fantastic story of a woman who we often forget about. I don’t care that this is capitalizing on the success of Hamilton, it is a great read in its own right and I believe that anyone how has an interest in the Founding period of America, Historical Fiction or is just looking for something new to read should this book. This is one of the easiest recommendations and ratings I have ever given the book is that good. Verdict- An easy 5 stars. Go out and read this book.
The Reader's Corner 