Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Monday, July 30, 2012
Review: The Darkest Day by Britt Bury
Title: The Darkest Day
Author: Britt Bury
Series: Immortal Heat, book 1
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Source: Review copy from publisher
Format: E-book
“ALL-CONSUMING DESIRE . . .
Izel Campbell was raised to believe she is an immortal Fionn with the magical skills of persuasion. But when she travels to Scotland to visit her ancestral home, Izel discovers that she is actually the world's last living human. Forced to run for her life, Izel crosses paths with Kelvin Kerr, the Campbells' greatest foe-and the most magnificent warrior she has ever seen.
BURNS BRIGHTEST . . .
A thousand-year-old battle chief of the Kerr clan, Kelvin lives only to avenge his father, who died at the hands of the bloody Campbells. Honor demands he kill the Campbell heir, but when he learns that the lovely Izel is both Campbell and human, Kelvin is torn between duty and desire . . .
ON THE DARKEST DAY”
The Darkest Day is
the first book in the new series Immortal
Heat by Britt Bury.
Following
her grandfather’s summons Izel Campbell travels to his house in Scotland, but
when she arrives she finds the house deserted with no sign of her grandfather.
Sworn
enemies Campbells (Fionns) and Kerrs (Pookahs) have been battling for over
thousand years; Kelvin Kerr, the Kerr’s battle chief has been waiting for years
for the arrival of the Campbell’s heir also known as The McCall. Killing The
McCall is his only objective in life. He is lie in waiting for him to arrive
but to his great surprise the McCall is not a He is a She, Izel Campbell.
Soon
after Izel’s arrival something starts to happen to her, a spell placed on her at
birth by her grandfather starts to lift, bringing in her radical physical and
emotional changes. Izel never felt any kind of emotion in her life and now all
this new feelings are coming rushing to her. And not only that, but her
physical appearance also changes from a very simple woman to a voluptuous and
sensual one.
Kelvin
doesn’t know what to think, to fulfill his plans for revenge for the murder of
his father he needs to kill Izel, but not only she is a woman, according to his
“nose” she is also the last full human on earth and also if his nose doesn’t
lie, she is his mate; talk about complications.
Izel
doesn’t know who Kelvin is; she has lived all her life in the States, far from
the Campbells and with almost no information of her family. Kelvin offers to
help her look for her grandfather and with no other option she accepts his
help. Kelvin’s plan is to take her to Kerr castle before deciding what to do
with her. But Izel being a full human complicate things, he scent is maddening
and if any creature that feed of blood or flesh gets her smell her life will be
in peril. Now not only he can’t kill Izel, he will have to protect her to bring
her safe to Kerr castle.
I
liked that Izel had a good sense of humor and have a great inner strength, but
sometimes I wanted to slap her. I understand everything was new to her, I can’t
imagine living for twenty-five years without feeling a thing and then suddenly
getting all the rush of emotions. That must be more than overwhelming, but it
was not a valid reason to made decisions that were childish and irresponsible, decisions
that put her life and Kelvin’s in danger. At the end she was a lot better, she fought
for what she wanted and she became a real leader to her people, I admired her
for it.
Kelvin
is great hero; he is not only a mix of highlander warrior with immortal sexy on
the side but he is also an honorable, caring and protective man. One thing that
had me rolling my eyes a little bit was his razorback nature, every time it was
mentioned I was picturing this wild pig and I didn’t find it sexy. I’m glad it
was just his essence and he didn’t shift into it. I think the razorback was a
weird choice of animal for Mrs. Bury.
Kelvin
and Izel’s relationship was one of “Mine” at first sight; in this case it works
because of Kelvin’s nature. I loved how they fought their attraction, building
the tension page after page. Also because of Kelvin’s nature he can only mate
with his fate female during the winter’s solstice, if he has sex with her
before that night they won’t be mated. This helped build the tension even more
because I didn’t want them to have sex before that night.
There
is an array of secondary characters; we meet some characters from the Pookah
side of the family and some from the Fionns. Some I would love to learn more
about like Kelvin’s brother and cousins and Izel’s friend Ramsey. We also
learned about other creatures like witches, demons, vampires and more.
The
world Mrs. Bury has created is somehow different from the rule; I liked how in
this world due to evolution humans are an extinct species, I think that was a
nice and different touch. I also liked how rich in mythology this book is, but
at the same time I would have liked to learn a lot more about the different
kind of creatures, I think some things were too vague and would have need more
information. I’m hoping to see that in future books.
There
was a glossary at the end of the book that would have helped me a lot if I had
seen it before reading the book.
The
end was a good end, one that let things open for future books. I’m looking forward
to second book of this series.
All
in all, The Darkest Day is a good and
fun debut novel, one that will leave you wanting for more. I recommend this
book to paranormal romance lovers.
My
Verdict: 4 Paws
Other reviews
Goodreads
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Movie Trailer: The Odd Life of Timothy Green
"Academy Award®–nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” an inspiring, magical story about a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim—and their small town of Stanleyville—learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts."
Trailer
Friday, July 27, 2012
Early Review: Red by Kate SeRine

Title: Red
Author: Kate SeRine
Series: Transplanted Tales, book 1
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Kensington Publishing
Source: Review copy from publisher
Format: E-book
“ ‘My name is Tess Little. But everyone calls me Red.’
Once upon a time, a spell went awry, stranding Make Believe characters in the ordinary world. Since then, Tess “Red” Little—a/k/a Little Red Riding Hood—has worked as an Enforcer for the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. But, consider yourself warned—she’s not just some waif with a basket of goodies. All grown up and with nothing to lose, a gun and combat boots is more her style. And Red’s new assignment threatens to be short on happily ever afters…
Someone is murdering transplanted Tales in gruesome fashion. The list of fictional characters capable of such grisly acts is short and includes more than one of Red’s old flames. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s another complication, in the form of sexy, enigmatic Nate Grimm, the FMA’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. Used to following her own rules and living life on the edge, Red has managed to avoid taking on a partner until now. But Nate’s dark side makes him perfect for a case like this. That is, if she can trust him. Because if there’s one thing Red knows for sure, it’s that believing in the wrong person can have big, bad consequences…”
Red is the first book in the
new Transplanted Tales series by Kate
SeRine.
After
a spell went awry some of the characters of Make Believe (Tales) were expelled
to the world of Here and Now. After years of living with the Ordinaries (normal
people) they have an organized society controlled by the Fairytale Management
Authority (FMA).
Tess
“Red” Little is one of those Tales. Red is not only a well-known Tale she is
also one of the most feared enforcers of the FMA.
When
Tales are being murdered is a grisly way Red is call to investigate, but this
time she won’t be alone, she will be partnering with Nate “Death” Grimm.
This
case is completely different from anything Red has worked before, for once
there are only a handful of Tales capable of committing those crimes and from
the short list three of them are Red’s old flames, including the first man that
broke her heart, the one she hasn’t been able to forget, Seth “Big Bad” Wolf. If
that wasn’t enough for her to deal with, there is something weird going on
between her and Nate, something she doesn’t want to feel, attraction… or is it
love?
After
Julie from Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks told me how much she loved this book
I decided to give it a try, but I have to be honest, I was a little bit
skeptical about it, I went into it not knowing what to expect and thinking that
Red was going to be another of many common
takes on Fairy Tales, but to my great surprise Red is like nothing I had ever read before, ok, it’s a take on
Fairy Tales but completely fresh and original.
Tess
“Red” Little a.k.a. Little Red Ridding Hood is a great character. She is smart,
witty and with a very strong personality. She doesn’t trust easily and prefer
to be alone than to experience again another betrayal. We learn the “truth”
behind her tale, how she fell in love with Seth “Big Bad” Wolf and what
happened after that. We see how his actions affected her life and made her the
woman she is nowadays.
Nate
“Death” Grimm is the dark, mysterious and sweet Grimm Reaper, don’t take me
wrong he can be vicious if needed but usually he is gentle and caring. He is
the perfect gentleman the men what to be and women want to do. Nate is a
delightful character to read and very easy to like.
From
the beginning there is an obvious attraction between Nate and Red. Nate cares
deeply for Red and Red fights the attraction every step of the way until there
is nothing left for her to do but to accept her feelings. That’s not as easy as
you may think, Red’s history has made her wary of men, but Nate is a persistent
sweetheart that earns her love by caring for her. *swoon*
The
secondary characters in this book are incredible original and multidimensional.
You may be asking how are they original if they are the Fairy Tales characters
we know since childhood? My answer is they are the same and much more, the way
Mrs. SeRine writes them made them new and completely brilliant. I can guarantee
you after reading this book you won’t see Snow White with the same eyes and you
will never wish for a Prince Charming in your life.
This
new world Mrs. SeRine has created has not only Fairy Tales characters, but also
expect unexpected characters from legends, literary works, and so much more.
Mrs.
SeRine writing is clever, well paced and fluid, and even though I guessed
fairly on who was the villain in the story I can honestly say that that didn’t
deter my enjoyment of the book.
I
recommend Red to anyone who wants to
read something fun, fresh and different, especially if you like kickass
heroines and swoon worthy heroes.
I’m
really looking forward to reading the second installment in this new and
ingenious series, The Better to See You
(February 2013).
My Verdict: 4 ½ Paws
Other books in the series
Red
(August 2nd)
The
Better to See You (February 2013)
Along
Came a Spider (TBA)
Other reviews
Goodreads
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Early Review: Moonglow by Kristen Callihan
Title: Moonglow
Author: Kristen Callihan
Series: Darkest London, book 2
Genre: Paranormal Historical Romance
Publisher: Forever
Source: Review copy from publisher
Format: E-book
“Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .
Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .
Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .
Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.”
Moonglow is the second
installment in the Darkest London series
by Kristen Callihan.
After
completing her year of mourning, widow Daisy Craimore is ready to live her life
to the fullest and leave the memories of her awful marriage behind. During her
first outing as a free woman she and her companion discovered the mauled body
of her best friend and are attacked by a monster, her companion didn’t survived
the encounter.
Lord
Ian Ranulf is on his way home when the smell of blood and werewolf calls to
him; immediately he goes to investigate. A Lycan himself he knows how to
recognize the different smells. He finds two mauled bodies and a victim in
shock. A need to protect awakens in him when he sees the woman who survived the
attack. He takes her to his house; he needs to know who she is, what happened
and how much she knows. But his real excuse is to have her close to him. What
he doesn’t know is that this woman is not other than Miranda’s sister, Daisy (Firelight, first book in the series).
When
Daisy awakes she realizes she is in a strange house and soon after all her
memories from the attack come to life.
Ian
explains to her that he is a doctor and he found her and brought her to his
home to treat her.
After
some investigating he realizes Daisy is still in danger from this werewolf. He
wants to keep her close to protect her but convincing Daisy of this it’s not as
easy as he may have wanted, especially when Daisy discovers he is the infamous
Lord Ian Ranulf.
I
liked Daisy since the moment I met her in Firelight,
I love her strength and her love for life. I loved how close she was to her
sisters, I loved that even in a bad marriage where she was unhappy she always
found something to smile for.
In
Moonglow she was all that and much
more. Now she can breathe in peace, her abusive husband is dead and she is out
of mourning, she is ready to live to the fullest again without caring about
what society thinks.
I
loved how despite all the suffering caused by her husband she is still a happy
and kind person; that more than anything else shows us her strength.
In
Firelight I wasn’t sure what to think
about Lord Ian, I liked him and I didn’t liked him. But in Moonglow we learn more about his past; after that it’s easy to
understand his actions and there is no other option left to us but to like him
and wish him the happiness he so much deserves.
Ian
and Daisy are perfect for each other; both have strong personalities that
balance each other perfectly. Even though there was an attraction since their
first encounter the relationship developed slowly. Daisy doesn’t trust his
intentions because she knows he was infatuated with her sister Miranda. And Ian
has promised himself never to get involved with a “mortal” again. But the more
time they spend together and know each other the harder it is for them to find
excuses not to be together.
I
love the banter and the tension between them. Mrs. Callihan is an expert in
building tension between characters, keeping us eagerly waiting for the next
touch, the next stolen kiss, until that final encounter that steams the pages.
I
loved how Mrs. Callihan interweaves the character from Firelight to this story. We see where Lord Archer and Miranda are
in their lives; we also learn more about Daisy and Miranda’s older sister,
Poppy. We also see more of Poppy’s husband Inspector Winston Lane.
In
Moonglow we are also introduce to new
and interesting characters, one of them is Ian’s valet and almost friend, Jack
Talent. I really loved him, I love how protective he was of Ian and I loved
that he always spoke his mind. I really hope to see more of him in future
books.
The
world Mrs. Callihan created in this series is extraordinary. I loved how she
masterfully combines the historical and paranormal aspects of the story,
bringing us something new and refreshing in each book.
I
have to be honest, I was a little bit worried about reading Moonglow, I loved Firelight so much that I was afraid this second installment
wouldn’t meet my expectations, but I’m happy to inform you that Moonglow is an excellent sequel, one I
liked as much if not more than Firelight.
The
end of Moonglow is not a cliffhanger
but one that left me looking forward to the next installment of this series, Winterblaze. Winterblaze will feature Poppy and her husband Winston.
Moonglow could be read as
a stand-alone but I won’t recommend you to do that, Firelight is also a great book that deserves to be read. I
recommend you to read them in order to better understand the motives behind the
actions of the characters.
I’m
looking forward to February 26th, 2013 to the release of Winterblaze.
My Verdict: 4 ½ Paws
Other books in the series
Ember
(Novella-prequel)
Moonglow
(July 31st)
Winterblaze
(February 26th, 2013)
Other reviews
Goodreads
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
Review: The Siren by Tiffany Reisz
Title: The Siren
Author: Tiffany Reisz
Series: The Original Sinners,
book 1
Genre: Erotica, BDSM
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Review copy from publisher
Format: E-book
“The Siren is a modern-day retelling of My Fair Lady with uptight English literary fiction editor Zachary Easton as an unwilling Professor Higgins and well-known wild child Nora Sutherlin as his erotica-writing Eliza Doolittle.
Zach only has six weeks left at Royal House New York before he heads to Los Angeles to take over as Chief Managing Editor at Royal West. When his boss orders him to help Nora Sutherlin rewrite her latest novel, Zach agrees to work with her only if he is given complete control over the fate of her book. If Nora doesn’t rewrite it to his satisfaction in six weeks, Royal won’t publish it.”
The Siren is
the first book in The Original Sinners series
by Tiffany Reisz.
I
have to start this review by telling you that this is not your normal romance,
don’t expect a HEA and expect many out of the comfort moments.
Nora
Sutherlin is a famous erotica writer, she is working in her next book; the most
special book she has written yet. She wants this book to be published by an
important and respected publishing house.
Here comes Zachary Easton, editor of Royal West Publishing house. His
boss approached Zach, he wants to publish Nora’s book and wants Zach to work
with her as her editor. For Zach erotica isn't serious literature and the last
thing he wants is to work with an erotica writer. He accepts the job with the
condition he will have the last word about publishing the book, if he thinks
the book is crap he won’t allow the book to be published.
Zach
is completely opposed to the idea until he meets Nora. She is not the typical
writer he is used to work with; she is a young and beautiful woman with an
incredible sex appeal and so sure of herself that is refreshing and frustrating
at times. After Zach reads her manuscript he realizes the book is not perfect,
needs a lot of work but the potential is there, Zach recognizes that Nora is a
talented and serious writer. The question left is will Nora be able to
withstand the pressure he will inflict on her or will she break under it.
What
Zach doesn’t know is that Nora is used to be under pressure and likes it. Nora
is not only a writer, she is also a prominent figure in the BDSM world. She was
a submissive for over thirteen years until four years ago when she ended her
relationship with her Dom, Søren. After that she became a well-known
Dominatrix. People pay her to inflict pain and humiliation, some cases ending
with sex.
Nora
has a “living-intern”; Wesley is a nineteen-year-old university student who is
everything Nora isn’t. He is innocent and pure and he's in love with Nora. He is
a good Christian boy who doesn’t approve of Nora lifestyle but is there for
her, waiting for the perfect moment to proclaim her love for her.
There
are books that affect you in a way you can’t understand and The Siren was one of those books. This
book not only took me out of my comfort zone many times it also made me want to
learn more about the D/s lifestyle to try to understand the issues this book touches.
Nora
is bigger than words; she is one of the most complex characters I have ever
read. She is a strong, self-assured woman who knows what she likes and wants
and how to get it, but at the same time the more we know her the more we can
see under her layers, and under that tough façade there is delicate and fragile
woman in need of love and protection. We also see that after four years of
having left her Dom (Søren) she is still pretty much in love with him. She has
her reasons not to be with him but sometimes the heart overwrites the brain.
We
learn about Nora and Søren’s relationship through the recollection her memories
and their relationship was one of extremes. She fell in love with him when she
was just fifteen years old, he was a lot older than her and in a position power
over her, I don’t want to give much away about it, let’s just say I was very
uncomfortable with it when I learned about it. To add to that Søren is a
hard-core sadist, he trained Nora since a young age to be his submissive, they
didn’t consummate their relationship until she was twenty years old but still their
relationship was somehow disturbing.
“Simple game—he’d fill a wineglass with one of his expensive reds and set it on the edge of the table. Then he would fuck me. Hard.” Nora grinned as Wesley flinched. “If I thrashed too much, or fought him and knocked the glass off…then the wine wasn’t the only red that we spilled that night."
A night with him meant waning pleasure and waxing pain, waxing pleasure and waning pain. He brought her through the cycle over and over again. The pain brought her body to life. The pleasure was always most acute when it followed the pain.
Søren
doesn’t have many page-time in the book but when he is present either in
memories or in an scene he is one of those characters that overshadows the
rest, his presence is like a big dark cloud that engulfs us all in its shade. I
wanted to hate him for what he is and for what he does but I couldn’t, I’m not
saying I liked him because I didn’t. But I couldn’t do more than to want to learn more
about him, to try to understand the why of his actions, but now, after thinking so much about him I don’t think
there is a “why”, he is who he is and that’s it.
Zach
is an uptight man who lives a life in black and white and rarely steps out of
the lines. All this changes when he meets Nora, but there are many complications
in their situation, for once he shouldn’t be attracted to her, he works with
her and a relationship between them is a no-no and for other part after a year he is still mourning the separation from the wife he still loves.
Wesley
is like a ray of light that filters through the clouds in a dark day. He is
only nineteen but sometimes he acts beyond his years. His heart is pure and we
see it in clear contrast to the other characters. In a sense Wesley sees Nora
as many of us readers see her, he doesn’t understand her lifestyle and her
decisions but he accepts them and is there for her. He only wants love without
pain for Nora, but what he doesn’t understand is that for Nora pain means love.
For her the bruises left by Søren are marks that show his love for her, they also show that she belongs to him and she always wore her bruises proudly.
“Kid, Søren could eat you for breakfast and not even need to chew. Don’t ever fuck with a sadist, Wesley. For Søren, torture’s just foreplay.” “Why did you stay with him?” he’d whispered. Nora had grinned at him, and she saw a new fear in Wesley’s sweet brown eyes. “I like foreplay.”
As I said before this is not a traditional romance, The Siren is a lot more. It’s a book about conflicted characters that are shadows of their own selves because they are missing their other half. It’s also a not-easy journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
Tiffany Reisz writing is fluid and organic, and perfect paced. The world Mrs. Reisz created is complex and unique. As I said before The Siren took me out of my comfort zone and it made experience and feel things no other book has ever done before. The topics touched in this book are not for the faint of heart but the way Mrs. Reisz writes them are so masterfully done that you can only accept them as necessary in the story.
Tiffany Reisz writing is fluid and organic, and perfect paced. The world Mrs. Reisz created is complex and unique. As I said before The Siren took me out of my comfort zone and it made experience and feel things no other book has ever done before. The topics touched in this book are not for the faint of heart but the way Mrs. Reisz writes them are so masterfully done that you can only accept them as necessary in the story.
With
The Siren I broke my personal record
on most re-read paragraphs, some I re-read because I wanted to understand the
situations better, some others because I wanted more. Fortunately, the second
book in the series, The Angel, will
be release on September 18th, saying I’m eagerly waiting for it is
an understatement.
The Siren is one of my
favorite books of the year, one I recommend to anyone with an open mind who is
willing to be taken out of her/his comfort zone by an extraordinary book.
My Verdict: 5 Paws
Other books in the series
The
Siren
The
Angel (Sept. 18th 2012)
The
Prince (November 2012)
Other
reviews Goodreads
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Movie Trailer: Cosmopolis
"New York City, not-too-distant-future: Eric Packer, a 28 year-old finance golden boy dreaming of living in a civilization ahead of this one, watches a dark shadow cast over the firmament of the Wall Street galaxy, of which he is the uncontested king. As he is chauffeured across midtown Manhattan to get a haircut at his father's old barber, his anxious eyes are glued to the yuan's exchange rate: it is mounting against all expectations, destroying Eric's bet against it. Eric Packer is losing his empire with every tick of the clock. Meanwhile, an eruption of wild activity unfolds in the city's streets. Petrified as the threats of the real world infringe upon his cloud of virtual convictions, his paranoia intensifies during the course of his 24-hour cross-town odyssey.
Packer starts to piece together clues that lead him to a most terrifying secret: his imminent assassination. Cronenberg revisits subjects that fascinate him: how the organic and the psychological are inextricably intertwined, society's anxieties and phobias, and letting repressed impulses and paranoia run wild. COSMOPOLIS is a culmination of his masterpieces that addresses the alarming global financial crisis of today's world.
It is a hauntingly prophetic fable that turns the future into history and suggests that the archaic might be our eerie future.ROBERT PATTINSON."
Trailer
Friday, July 20, 2012
Review: The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc by Nancy Goldstone
Title: The Maid and the Queen: The
Secret History of Joan of Arc
Author: Nancy Goldstone
Genre: Non-Fiction Historical
Publisher: Penguin Group
Source: Review copy from publisher
Format: E-book
“The untold story of the extraordinary queen who championed Joan of Arc.
Politically astute, ambitious, and beautiful, Yolande of Aragon, queen of Sicily, was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Caught in the complex dynastic battle of the Hundred Years War, Yolande championed the dauphin's cause against the forces of England and Burgundy, drawing on her savvy, her statecraft, and her intimate network of spies. But the enemy seemed invincible. Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming she carried a divine message-a message that would change the course of history and ultimately lead to the coronation of Charles VII and the triumph of France.
Now, on the six hundredth anniversary of the birth of Joan of Arc, this fascinating book explores the relationship between these two remarkable women, and deepens our understanding of this dramatic period in history. How did an illiterate peasant girl gain access to the future king of France, earn his trust, and ultimately lead his forces into battle? Was it only the hand of God that moved Joan of Arc-or was it also Yolande of Aragon?”
The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc by Nancy Goldstone is
the story of two remarkable women, Yolande of Aragon and Joan of Arc.
The
title of this book could be a little bit misleading for some (it was for me). The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc
is more about Yolande of Aragon involvement and manipulations that brought
Charles VII to the French throne and consequently triumph of France in the
Hundred Years War than about Joan of Arc, even though she is also included in
great part of the book.
This
book is divided in three parts, Before Joan, Joan of Arc, and After Joan.
In
Before Joan we learn more about Yolande of Aragon’s childhood, marriage and
involvement with the French monarchy. We also learn about Charles VI madness
and the lengths his followers went to keep it hidden. We learn about his
marriage to Isabella of Bavaria and the power struggle in the French court. We
also learn how Yolande of Aragon “worked” to marry her daughter Marie to the Dauphin.
In
Joan of Arc, we learn about the prophecy that brought Joan to the light, we
also learn about the Dauphin’s inadequacy to take the reins of a country in
dire need of a ruler.
The
author doesn’t tells us that Joan of Arc was a pawn used by Yolande of Aragon
but give us some information that make us consider it. Yolande needed a way to
shake the Dauphin and make him start to believe in himself and Joan of Arc was
that person. Joan made him believe he was the rightful heir to the throne and
days later Charles VII was crowned. She also leaded the French army to some
victories. But sadly as with many pawns when they were needed no more they were
put aside and that same thing happened to Joan. But Joan couldn’t keep still,
she needed to fight and without a strong support she left one more time to do
battle only to end captured and sold to the English. Her capture as we well
know ended in her trial for heresy and her condemnation to be burned at the
stake.
Mrs.
Goldstone gives us an inside to the trial and Joan’s last months of life. To
the injustices that were committed against her and to the fear this young girl
produced in others. She also shows us how Charles VII did nothing aid her.
The
third and last part, After Joan, shows exactly that, what happened after Joan
died and the consequences of her dead. We see how finally Charles VII reached
an agreement with the opposite party (Duke of Burgundy), ending years later with
the victory against the English and with that the end of the Hundred Years War.
We continue seeing how important Yolande of Aragon was to this cause, but now
she is old and ready to retire from court.
After
twenty-five years of Joan’s execution an investigation authorized by Pope
Callixtus III studied her trial, pronounced her innocent and declared her a
martyr.
I
found this book compelling but tedious at times. There were a lot of
interesting facts but some parts were a bit boring. Also on the beginning
keeping all the names straight took some work on my part.
I
really liked to learn more about Yolande of Aragon, I knew who she was but I
didn’t know the importance she had in all the events of the time. She was a
very smart woman who was able to command in a world ruled by men. France not
only owes a debt to Joan of Arc but to Yolande of Aragon.
My
last thing to say is that this book is a non-fiction historical book; don’t
expect a historical fiction novel because you won’t find it here. Saying that,
if you are into non-fiction historical this book is for you, if not, keep away
from this book.
My Verdict: 3 Paws
Other reviews
Goodreads
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Covers of the World: Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill
Today in Covers of the World we have Some Girls Bite. Some Girls Bite is the first book in the Chicagoland Vampires Series by Chloe Neill.
1. From left to right: English US edition and English UK edition.
2. From left to right: French edition and German edition



3. From left to right: Italian edition, Polish edition and Hungarian edition.
From these covers my favorite is the Polish edition, I love the model, the hair and the colors, I love how pale she is and her eyes, it almost shows her otherness. The others covers I could do without them...
The English US, Hungarian and Italian covers use the same formula, model infront of a big (Period) house. From those I like the colors of the Hungarian cover but the house looks as if it's falling apart and what is with the sunglasses in the Italian edition?
My least favorite is the English UK cover, followed closely by the French edition. The English UK edition with the light behind "Merit" looks more like a Scifi cover than an Urban Fantasy or Paranormal and my problem with the French edition is that the model doesn't look at all like Merit.
What do you think of these covers?
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