Historical Fiction Book Reviews

Review: 36 Moons by Chris Guest

36 Moons by Chris Guest

The magic of young love can have deadly consequences in 36 Moons, a new work of historical fiction by Chris Guest. Set near the turn of the 17th century in the countryside of Salem, Massachusetts, this tangled tale of love, innocence, and puritanical suspicion is a shadowy escape.

Fabian is just coming into manhood, and while his family has certain expectations for his romantic future, fate has other plans for the handsome farm boy. When a beautiful young stranger named Emma Radcliffe appears on his land, he is captivated in an instant, sending Fabian down an eye-opening, life-changing, […]

2021-02-23T09:31:43+02:00January 19th, 2021|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay

It Happened in Silence by Karla M. JayEmbedded firmly in the past, but echoing eerily in our present, It Happened in Silence by Karla M. Jay is a novel ripped from the American shadows, a visceral peek at the darkness.

Willow Stewart is a mesmerizing and relentless main character, though her relationship with her brother, Briar, is the unbreakable engine that drives this slow-brewing story. This interwoven tale of family, resilience, betrayal, and the moral evolution of a nation is powerful and stirring, but also subtle and humble in its storytelling. The novel is a striking meditation on America of the past and present, particularly when it […]

Review: In the Shadow of Gold by Michael Kenneth Smith

In the Shadow of Gold by Michael Kenneth Smith

Tracing a legendary Confederacy treasure through the twists of time, In the Shadow of Gold is a sparkling piece of historical fiction by author Michael Kenneth Smith. As the president of the Confederacy races away from imminent capture, the treasury of the retreating Southern army takes another set of dubious tracks. A subject that has been hotly debated for decades by treasure hunters and historians alike, this is the dramatic reimagining of what happened to that long-lost trove of Confederate gold.

A tangled string of intertwined plots brings a group of fascinating characters into focus, helping to full realize the […]

2022-09-21T11:31:00+02:00December 1st, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Review: BooAlert Vol. 1: Trail of Tears by Moe Mae

BooAlert Vol. 1: Trail of Tears by Moe Mae

A real estate appraiser and a “sensitive” finds herself deeply entangled in a tragic mystery stretching more than a century into the past in Boo Alert: Vol. 1 Trail of Tears by Moe Mae. In her quest to understand why these troubled specters are seeking her out, and what secrets of the past they hold, she draws the attention of an ancient evil that may spell her ultimate downfall.

Lauren’s unique abilities are front and center in the plot, from the very first chapter, but it is quickly apparent that something is changing within her. She has begun seeing the […]

Review: Uri Full of Light by Holly Sortland

Uri Full of Light by Holly Sortland

Capturing the root, growth and revelations of romance during a tumultuous time in history, Uri Full of Light by author Holly Sortland is a vivid cultural snapshot and a delicate exploration of personal evolution.

Readers are immediately introduced to Hannah and Uri, the former a bold young woman with a penchant for white lies and profanity, and the latter being one of the few Jewish boys in his school – well-trained in letting conflict roll off his shoulders, to a point. This first impression is an important foundation, setting the tone for much of the authenticity that bubbles over throughout […]

2020-11-16T05:57:14+02:00November 15th, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews, Lead Story|Tags: |

Review: Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality by Thomas Schultz

Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality by Thomas Schultz

Destiny-starred lives collide in Plagues and Princes: The Great Mortality, a dark historical fiction novel set in medieval England. A powerful tale of death and betrayal boasting exquisite language, unforgettable characters, and a tangled knot of a plot, author Thomas Schultz delivers a bold first piece of his new trilogy.

Thomas de Parr is a free-thinking young man in a world that crushes such spirits; he is faithful to his maker, but also insatiably curious, and dangerously independent. Surviving human history’s most horrific plague is only the beginning of this unpredictable adventure, which pits this young nobleman against the […]

2020-11-24T08:05:31+02:00October 23rd, 2020|Categories: Book Reviews|Tags: |

Descent Into Hell by F. Della Notte

Descent Into Hell by F. Della NotteF. Della Notte opens a door to the rich traditions of old New York in Descent Into Hell, a captivating new novel about the Italian-American experience and the bonds that link us all.

Buddy, an unlikely half-Irish, half-Italian cop in the 1940s, is thrown into his own backyard to tackle a massive crime ring. The powerful family ties of this complex story make for a suspenseful tangle, while the relentless pace of the story will keep you gripped to the very end. As one might expect, it isn’t long before his new career and his own blood clash violently, […]

Review: Summer in Gettysburg by Evelyn Landane

Summer in Gettysburg by Evelyn Landane

A brother and sister duo find themselves at the heart of their family’s oldest mystery in Summer in Gettysburg, a paranormal, time-jumping whirlwind by Evelyn Landane.

More than a century earlier, Summer Walker is trying to find some sense of peace in the bubbling cauldron of the Civil War, while also navigating the blushing waters of youthful romance. This richly written novel is set in two primary timelines, but the narrative arcs are tied closely by blood and family and an ancient house that holds many secrets, and more than a few ghosts.

The present-day plot feels like a […]

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