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Dandelions in the Garden (Countess Elizabeth Bathory, #1)

Charlie Courtland,

Robert Helle (Editor (2011 ed.))

Discussion: Historical Fiction

Why we're reading this: Historical fiction about the infamous female mass murderer, the 16th century Hungarian countess, Elizabet…more
[close] Historical fiction about the infamous female mass murderer, the 16th century Hungarian countess, Elizabeth Bathory. Book one of two-part series.

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Historical Fiction

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What Members Thought

Jan 15, 2010 Laura rated it liked it

Books are a subjective business, and it doesn't mean a book is bad or good because it isn't someone's cup of tea. Although the idea of "Dandelions in the Garden" was intriguing to me when I first heard of it, but it really wasn't my cup of tea once I got beyond chapter 1. I felt a little disappointed because I couldn’t connect with the characters, even though they were well articulated with well-defined personalities, but I often had trouble believing in them. It’s just me, I guess. With that sa Books are a subjective business, and it doesn't mean a book is bad or good because it isn't someone's cup of tea. Although the idea of "Dandelions in the Garden" was intriguing to me when I first heard of it, but it really wasn't my cup of tea once I got beyond chapter 1. I felt a little disappointed because I couldn’t connect with the characters, even though they were well articulated with well-defined personalities, but I often had trouble believing in them. It’s just me, I guess. With that said, overall it was a good read. It flowed along well enough, in spite of the inconsistent style; it was too modern to be historical, and some of the banter was too silly to fit in with the rest, which lead me to think of it as more in the fantasy genre instead. After the first three or so chapters I gave up on trying to connect the character, Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess with the historical figure, Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess; once I made that disconnect, it became easier for me to continue reading and enjoy the book. (This is always the danger of writing about historical figures, the believability factor.) It had many gems that showed the author's research and interest in the subject, but the lack of proofreading was unfortunate ("reigning in" the horse, when it should've been written as "reining in" and other improper sound-alike word use scattered throughout the book) the work could've been so much better with proper attention. Inconsistent formatting of paragraphs was also an unfortunate issue; careful preparation of the manuscript coding and proofreading of the pre-publication PDF also catches things like spacing issues. It's an investment to publish a book (self, indie imprint, or traditional) and the extra effort to make the reading experience as smooth as possible is ultimately the author's job even when there is a fresh pair of eyes pitching in to help. It’s always a learning experience to go through the process, and with practice it gets easier, and it becomes instinctive as to what needs to be done to make it right. I do applaud Charlie Courtland’s determination for making “Dandelions in the Garden” (and the second volume, The Hidden Will of the Dragon) happen, goodness knows, the effort to take on such a work is an amazing endeavor; she truly has a talent and a vision that is unique and I do hope to see her grow as an author. ...more

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