Review: The Web by Megan Chance

The Web is Megan Chance's second book in the Fianna Trilogy. In the first book, The Shadows, we were introduced to our main characters the Knox family, the Devlin family, and the Fianna or Finn's Warriors as they come to be known. Set in New York City in 1874, Megan Chance uses the turbulent times in Irish and American history as a backdrop for the introduction of legends and magic that these families had thought mere stories told to children. In the second book they have been confronted with the realities that these long ago legends pose on them in their present lives. In this Grace Knox must make a choice that will not only affect her life, but all of Ireland. In book one Grace thought that she knew exactly where her life was headed. She would enter society as planned, find a husband, and everything would be wonderful. The first part was going well, Patrick Devlin had come home from Ireland and made his intentions known and it seemed as if Grace's plans were set. Until an ancient ritual was set in motion and the Fianna were summoned from their long slumber. Now Grace was caught between the safe, comfortable life she thought she wanted and a powerful but dangerous magic that was her birthright. As a if that wasn't enough, she was also caught between two men who loved her and wanted to protect her, but were also fighting on opposing sides. They each wanted what was best for Ireland, but had very different ideas about what that meant.

Megan Chance weaves a beautiful web of mystery and magic In this series that not only keeps you guessing, but draws you in and makes it believable that elves and Irish legends could be roaming the streets of New York unbeknownst to the average citizen. She captures the atmosphere of the city during the late 1800s in a very vivid way. Not only do you see how the very rich live, or the very poor, but every type in between. In this series Megan Chance takes the reader from one side of the city to another in a variety of travel modes. The descriptions of people and places give you insight to the era as if you were there and the unrest and riots were happening in your city. Megan Chance incorporates everything you could want in a fantasy book with everything you could want in an historical fiction.

Review: The Shadows by Megan Chance

Set in New York in the late 1800s The Shadows by Megan Chance paint a picture of the economic and cultural issues being faced during that time of economic depression, specifically for those of Irish descent. The incorporation of the myths and legends into this novel pull the magic of Ireland's past into the more modern setting. Chance manages to balance the two in a believable fusion.

Grace Knox, seventeen year old Victorian debutante, is the focus around which the stories she had heard as a child have come to life in a time when she wants nothing more than to live without the fears the economic distress has had on her family. To her Ireland is very far away and has no bearing on the choices affecting her future, but there are many other Irish Americans who do not hold that opinion and are in fact helping the rebellion in Ireland to overthrow Britain and gain their Independence.

Megan Chance creates a rich world for readers to dive into. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Review: The Visitant by Megan Chance

In Megan Chance's novel The Visitant, Elena Spira is sent to Venice to escape a mistake that could disgrace her family, and to atone by caring for the ailing Samuel Farber. But the crumbling and decaying Ca’ Basilio palazzo, where Samuel is ensconced, holds tragic secrets, and little does Elena know how profoundly they will impact her. Soon she begins to sense that she is being watched by something. And when Samuel begins to have hallucinations that make him violent and unpredictable, she can’t deny she’s in mortal danger.

Then impoverished nobleman Nero Basilio, Samuel’s closest friend and the owner of the palazzo, arrives. Elena finds herself entangled with both men in a world where the past seeps into the present and nothing is as it seems. As Elena struggles to discover the haunting truth before it destroys her, a dark force seems to hold Samuel and the Basilio in thrall—is it madness, or something more sinister?

Chance keeps you guessing till the very end as Elena tries to uncover the hidden secrets that the residents of the Basilio keep. Chance shows readers the side of Venice that the tourists do not see, and Elena learns that the City of Dreams she is now in is not the same as what she read in her guide books. The romance side of this novel pushes the boundaries a little with what might be considered appropriate for young adult readers, but the issues dealt with are more realistic and translate well from the late Nineteenth century to today.

Review: Lumière by Jacqueline Garlick

If you are looking for a mystery that is reminiscent of Jules Verne and a gothic romance rolled into one than Jacqueline Garlick's Lumière is sure to please. Set in a post cataclysmic society that seems very Victorian, our heroine is faced with many trials. Having witnessed the event that cast their world into a constant state of darkness at a young age and then losing her father to the same terrible event, seventeen year old Eyelet Ellsworth has had to keep many secrets from the suspicious people of Brethren. Finally faced with the choice of submitting to the fears of the people for being different and being either locked away in an asylum or even killed, or running away to the dangerous wilds outside the cities boundaries, Eyelet chooses to run in the hopes that she can find one of her father's old inventions that holds the hope of a better future.

This book is filled with fast paced adventure and a unique setting that draws the reader in. Jacqueline Garlick has created a world with such vivid places and characters that I was unable to put it down. Her ability to create a classic romance is refreshing, and will appeal to many. I look forward to seeing more from her.

Review- Arivaca by John Poulsen

John Paulsen has created a captivating story in which the lives of two young Americans have been swept up in an adventure that began centuries ago in a time and place completely different from what they know.

Arivaca teaches these young adults about themselves and a culture that still thrives today, but has a secret war between good and evil that they become involved in. The culture is Judaism and although the characters are not Jewish themselves, they become involved in the events surrounding the underground war. Using relics thought to be lost, but in Paulsen's literary world they were hidden away to be kept safe, the main characters engage in the protection of the relics.

Full of action, adventure and a bit of romance, this novel gives you a bit of everything. I enjoyed having a non-Christian centered book about Jewish relics and believe it will be informative as well as entertaining.

The Ways of the World by Robert Goddard

Robert Goddard has brought the intrigue of politics in the aftermath of World War I to life in this thrilling murder mystery. We follow young James Maxted as he pursues the truth of his father's death during the Paris Peace Conference. James has manages to survive the war as a fighter pilot only to be plunged back into danger. The aptly name book shows that James has much to learn about the Ways of the World now that the war has changed Europe.
Action and adventure await readers in this historical fiction that shows a side of the Paris Peace Conference not told in history books. Robert Goddard will keep you guessing as diplomats become traitors and trusted friends turn into spies. Will James Maxted survive peace?

Book Review: Gill Jepson's Out of Time Series

Gill Jepson has released three out of the four books in his Out of Time series and I eagerly await the conclusion to this adventurous time traveling tale. Without going into detail, this series centers on the Furness peninsula in Britain and is wonderfully rich in details about the history of the area. Gill Jepson's family is from the area and he grew up on its stories. He uses the people and places from the area and his own family history to create a backdrop of colorful characters that help the heroes on their quest.
   With regards to the writing style, there are a few issues with scene transitions that seem a little abrupt. They do not impact the story line, but it can be disruptive for readers. The plot twists and quest elements involve the reader in the chase. The series is well suited to middle school and high school readers of both genders.

Book Review...

   Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers mixes romance and danger with a girl's story of coming of age and understanding how the world is not as black and white as we might want it to be. The writing is wonderfully rich in detail. LaFevers transports the reader back in time to an era in French history when the political landscape looked quite different from what we know today. This book is as full of spies and assassins as any James Bond type story and will appeal to readers who enjoy cloak and dagger novels. As for the romance aspect, there are several female characters to keep an eye on, but it is the main character that the reader will be most interested in.
   This book is best suited for young adult women, but it is most certainly not limited to that audience. The historical background is well done and will hopefully inspire more readers to chose historical fiction in the future.

Geography

One of the facets of a novel is the location. When you are setting out to describe a historical place make sure you do your research and know how the geography has changed in the intervening years. For many places this means man made changes in rivers, mountains, draining swamps, creating islands or any other method used to make more habitable land areas. In some cases in the Middle East and Africa the opposite is true. The desert as we know it was not nearly so widespread in Ancient times. Most of the Middle East was in fact quite fertile and green. Mountain ranges are in a constant state of change as well. Mt Everest keeps growing to greater, more challenging heights. The landscapes of today are not the same as those of our predecessors.

Cities and towns can change just as rapidly as any landscape. Buildings rise and fall, streets are laid over old fields and ruins are all that remain of once prosperous neighborhoods. In many areas this happens in even as short a span as a single decade.

It is the job of an historian to preserve as much of the past as possible for future generations, but it is writers who are able to really bring alive those long lost places and paint a picture with words. A good writer can resurrect a lost civilization out of the ruins of the modern landscape with the right research. Until next time, keep reading and writing.

The League of the Delphi Book Review

The League of the Delphi by Chris Everheart is a thrilling mystery that keeps you guessing right to the end. Follow Zachary White as he delves into family secrets that lead him into the distant past to uncover a dangerous present. Chris Everhart's writing balances the thrill of the chase with the mystery of an intricate puzzle. The characters are wonderfully developed and the town comes alive on the page. Rich with a variety of culture, Everheart brings a wider world to small American town. Excellent read for young adults. This book has it all, action, romance, history and mystery.    
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15766944-the-league-of-delphi" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The League of Delphi (The Delphi Trilogy #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1343076856m/15766944.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15766944-the-league-of-delphi">The League of Delphi</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2854680.Chris_Everheart">Chris Everheart</a><br/>
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   Hello readers. I hope everyone has had a great holiday season. I have been busy with parties and family, but now I am ready to get back to business.
   My first book review of the year is on Ronit Lowenstein-Malz's novel Escape in Time, translated from Hebrew into English, and illustrated by Laurie McGraw. Set to publish April 2015, this young adult novel is based on real life events surrounding a Jewish-Hungarian family and their struggles during World War II.
   This wonderful narrative revolves around two main characters, Miri and Nessya. Nessya is a young Jewish girl living in modern day Tel Aviv with an understanding of the Holocaust, but no real connection to it. Miri is her grandmother who lived through the events of World War II as a young girl herself, but has kept this from Nessya. The story unfolds in a vivid and memorable way as Miri's recollections of the war and its horrors are brought to life.
   Although marketed to young adults, I believe it would be well suited to all ages as young as 12 and up. Young readers today will have no trouble understanding the events and details of Jewish-Hungarian life as Miri explains them to Nessya. Unlike many Holocaust novels, this one gives just enough detail to show what it was like to live through a war without becoming too morbidly gory and giving nightmares making it better suited as a first introduction to the events for young readers. It also shows the fighting spirit of Miri's family and what can be accomplished even in the darkest of times.
   Historical fiction such as this enriches our understanding of the past and helps to give clarity to the future. Encouraging younger generations to better understanding the past is how we can try to ensure that such events to not happen again.