Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
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What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
I finished The Automobile Club of Egypt by Alaa Al Aswany. It's about Egypt in the 1950s. I thought it was strong in some areas, weak in others. I gave it three stars.My review
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tamara wrote: "Alice wrote: "I started The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro."I read that recently. I loved it."
Good to know, Tamara! I'm enjoying it :) I can almost 'hear' the English accent!
Just finished the first six books in Winston Graham's Ross Poldark series. Loved them! It was easy to visualize Aidan Turner et al. in the roles of Ross, Demelza, Elizabeth, George, and the others. I've just ordered the remaining six books, which I believe take the story into the next generation.
Enjoy Sherry! I spent last December and January reading the Poldark series. I enjoyed most of them. Perfect for long winter nights somehow...Alice, Remains of the Day is one of my very favorite books. I hope you also like it. So beautifully written.
Renata, I'm liking it a lot - the style is subtle and reserved but is magnetic :)
I finished both Oil and Marble: A Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo and Legionary: Viper of the North over the weekend. Both are 4 star readsOil... is the story of the creation of two of the greatest masterpieces in western art - the Mona Lisa and Michelangleo's David. Both Leonardo and Michelangelo were in Florence between 1501 and 1505 and this is there story. According to the way the author portrays their relationship - the didn't care for one another to put it mildly:)
Viper is the story of the beginnings of the Gothic Wars in 376AD and is also a good read. The author does write good battle sequences and has a plausible explanation for the causes of the wars - also 4 stars.
Bit of a slow old start to the New Year for me..reading a Cookbook before I continue with my Hist Fic books.
I started the year with some fluffy Elizabeth Chadwick (The Running Vixen) and now I'm continuing my GoT binge with A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold part 2... Wow! Over the top. And the hits just keep on comin'...
I'm reading Geraldine Brooks'
. I have to say her writing is magnificent.
I’m reading the second book in Robyn Young’s Brethren series, Crusade. I just finished Brethren. Very good. Different from her later books, but still very good. Interesting to see how a favorite author’s first series compares to her later work...
Am in the midst of
The Chronicles of Iona: Exile on Columba of Iona. Fascinating on Columba's story and of Scotland [before it became Scotland as we know it].Also
Rebellion's Forge, 3rd part of a trilogy on conflict between England and Wales in the 12th century.
Eileen wrote: "I'm reading Geraldine Brooks' . I have to say her writing is magnificent."I've been eyeing Geraldine Brooks but haven't taken the plunge yet. Enjoy!
Renata wrote: "I’m reading the second book in Robyn Young’s Brethren series, Crusade. I just finished Brethren. Very good. Different from her later books, but still ve..."I'm dying to read her Brethren series after enjoying her Insurrection Trilogy. Too many books, too little time!
Laura, we thoroughly enjoyed THE BRETHREN series, and are now reading Book 2 of the INSURRECTION Trilogy.
May, good to hear you also liked the Brethren series. I really enjoyed the Insurrection books also. Her new Court of Wolves is due out in March :) I couldn’t make it that long without reading something else by her!Jane, I liked K.M. Ashman’s series on Wales. Not many other books on the Southern Kingdoms of Wales & that period, I don’t think? His most recent The Warrior Princess, which seems to be part of that series is also on my TBR...
Renata wrote: "May, good to hear you also liked the Brethren series. I really enjoyed the Insurrection books also. Her new Court of Wolves is due out in March :) I couldn’t make it that long witho..."Renata, have you read The Golden Hive by Eleanor Fairburn? It's an older book on Princess Nesta.
No, but it looks good Jane! Thanks for the recommendation!
More romancey, Renata?
Laura wrote: "I started the year with some fluffy Elizabeth Chadwick (The Running Vixen) and now I'm continuing my GoT binge with A Storm of Swords: Blood and Gold par..."Many, many years ago I used to read a lot of Chadwick. She is such a good writer. Not many better female writers in hist fic in regards to the quality of writing.
Yes, Terri and the quality of the action is different. Not as complex, intricate or beautifully written as her later books.The romance is not heavy in comparison to many other HF out there (of the “non-bodice ripper” variety). And the theme seems to be fading somewhat from the first book to the second. If anything, the “action” scenes come a bit harder and faster. If Young’s Battle scenes are less finely drawn then in later books they are every bit as vivid. I only find it interesting how very much her (to me) style has changed and grown, yet is still recognizably Robyn Young in the best ways (well researched historic details, keen intelligence, an astute view of the politics of the times - on multiple sides of given conflicts and always - compelling stories with wonderful characters). To me the books suffer only in comparing Robyn Young to Robyn Young!
Interesting isn't it that an author could have such a dramatic shift from one trilogy to the next. Something must have happened to her as a writer..an epiphany, a moment of vast self reflection...to come out all guns blazing with Insurrection. Must have learned so much about herself during her Brethren Trilogy and decided to develop herself to be a different researcher and writer.
Whatever she did, she pulled it off!
I LOVE Elizabeth Chadwick!! Her William Marshal series I could read again and again.
I liked her William Marshall two volume set also. However, I found it a little too romancy for my tastes. I don't think I've read anything else of hers.
Terri, I totally agree with your observations on the change in Robyn Young’s writing from the BRETHREN series to the INSURRECTION. Often reads like a different writer entirely. Any idea where this Change has come from??
A King's Ransomby Sharon Kay Penman. I am halfway through the book and have found it immensely enjoyable. Since November, I have re-read, in order, Ms. Penman's other books in this series. So, if you are going to read her books, read them in order. Happy New Year, everybody!
I am currently reading The brothers of Gwynedd by Edith Mary Pargeter.
Allie wrote: "I LOVE Elizabeth Chadwick!! Her William Marshal series I could read again and again."I agree they are excellent books. Here written word is beautiful and research is very good.
I needed a book that is not a mystery or historical so I started
by Marissa Meyer. Very good world building. It is superhero super power book. Something different than my usual books.
I finished An Odyssey: A Father, a Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn. It is a brilliant combination of critical analysis of Homer's Odyssey, a family memoir, and a travelogue. In the process of conducting a seminar on Homer's Odyssey, Mendelsohn interrogates his own relationship with his father. I thought it was an amazing book and gave it 5 stars.
My review on goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
May wrote: "Terri, I totally agree with your observations on the change in Robyn Young’s writing from the BRETHREN series to the INSURRECTION. Often reads like a different writer entirely. Any idea where this ..."I think she perhaps just grew up. And I mean that in a non offensive way.
She was young when she wrote Brethren. Maybe she was writing what she thought was her taste and then as she kept writing the trilogy, she started to develop her real taste.
I really feel that with Insurrection and the current trilogy, Robyn Young allowed herself to write how she wanted to write. Perhaps now she is writing for herself.
Also, she is a master at research. Sometimes I wonder if the actual depth of research she does turned her into a better interpreter of history.
I went back and looked at her blog posts, and your interview with her also Terri...I agree that she seemed to deepen, mature and “turn herself loose” as a writer-in terms of her beautiful facility with language. Perhaps the commercial success of the Brethren series gave her the freedom to write as she wished in terms of less publisher interferences? As a former bookseller/book buyer I’m just being cynical here. I also noted there were just 2 years between each release date of the Brethren books, then another 2 to the first Insurrection book. I may not have said it clearly earlier, but I felt the ingredients for her mature style were all there in Brethren (great research, insight into conflicted characters both on the small and large stage, and well drawn battle scenes). Something just dug her deeper or took her up a notch between the two?
I’m reading the 3rd book of the Brethren series now, and it’s already much more like Insurrection to me than the first book in the series. Maybe Scotland was her Muse lol? (the portion I just read also deals with Stirling Bridge...). Hmmm. Sorry - did not see a better thread for this...
Thank you, both of you, for your insights. This makes sense. The more she writes, the clearer her voice... The more the research , the richer the characters and plot details...
After your posts I thought about starting the Brethren trilogy but a "not recommended" from my library put me off. I am now inclined towards Insurrection, though.
Finished The Remains of the Day. Didn't like it as much as I thought I would. 3.7 stars if I may. The ending left me with an empty feeling.https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I think I'll tackle the Brethren trilogy soon. I have a few books to finish, but I feel I need to get this Brethren series knocked over. It is here ready to go.
Jane, I am so sorry your library started you away from the Robyn Young’s Brethren Trilogy. If you are interested in the Templars, it is worth reconsidering.
make that “steered”... hate auto correct 😏
May wrote: "make that “steered”... hate auto correct 😏"You just have to keep your eyes open.
May wrote: "Jane, I am so sorry your library started you away from the Robyn Young’s Brethren Trilogy. If you are interested in the Templars, it is worth reconsidering."The best one I've read on the Templars is The Last of the Templars by William Watson. I've reread it several times.
I find that odd that your library would be so harsh with these books Jane...I’d be curious what you think of the Brethren series, given your interest in the Templars. They’re certainly as well written and researched as the K.M. Ashman books we both like...perhaps the librarian compared early Robyn Young to later Robyn Young also? Than again, so many books, so little time lol!
I’m now feeling inclined to re-read Insurrection as the series’ somewhat dove-tail into each other...
Did they give reason for not recommending, Jane?
Terri wrote: "Did they give reason for not recommending, Jane?"I just sent you a PM.
Two on the road to publication by Five Directions Press, my own WIP, and The Long Way Home by Louise Penny.All good, although some need work. The Louise Penny, however, is a joy (and my first by her)!
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
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Authors mentioned in this topic
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It's about the time Leonardo and Michelangelo were both working in Florence (1501-1505), and appearently didn't care for each other.