Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

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General Discussions > What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)

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message 9651: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Bill just finished WAR LORD. I’m ready!! However, I am ambivalent... knowing it is the last of Uhtred.


message 9652: by happy (last edited Feb 27, 2021 02:09PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I also just finished War Lord

I enjoyed it. Mr Cornwell can still write a good battle scene :) I found it a bit formulaic and I wish his son had more of a presence in the book, but....

solid 4 stars

Another one I just finshed is a bit of a buddy/travelogue book by a couple of the stars of Ms Gabaldon's Outlander series, Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

Clanlands Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan

This is NON Fiction and really can't decide what it want to be - a buddy story, a travelogue around Scotland, a history of Scotland or just what.

The two authors rent an RV and go touring Scotland all the while shooting a TV show about how they are learning about there heritage (both authors are native born Scotsmen). There is a bit of good history, a lot of Whiskey consumed, a lot of tearing each other down. The two of them visit many of the important battle sites in Scotish history - Bannockburn, Glencoe, Culladen along with explaining (sort of) how the Clan system developed and worked.

Two much of the buddy/travelogue for me - 3 stars


message 9653: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I just finished another NF history -

Notre Dame The Soul of France by Agnès Poirier

One of the books on Notre Dame that was written immediately after the fire of 2019, the author gives a brief history of the iconic Cathedral and just what it means to French people, believers and nonbelievers alike -

Very short (160+ pages), but a good read 4 stars


message 9654: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments I’m into the WAR LORD!!! I think the laundry will have to wait... 😉


message 9655: by Laura Tenfingers (new)

Laura Tenfingers | 178 comments May wrote: "I’m into the WAR LORD!!! I think the laundry will have to wait... 😉"

Enjoy! I just read it recently and really liked it. But now what?🥺


message 9656: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Just posted elsewhere that I have finished WAR LORD. I really liked the way this last piece of Uhtred’s saga was completed.
However, I agree with Laura Tenfingers: what’s next??


message 9657: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments May, because of your stars for A Gentleman in Moscow, I am reading the book.


message 9658: by Tara (new)

Tara (taragilbert76) | 16 comments Never let Utrhed or Sharpe die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


message 9659: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Linda, I look forward to your thoughts when you finish!! Enjoy!


message 9660: by Nev (new)

Nev March (nevmarch) | 13 comments Just finished the original 1945 book The Ghost and Mrs. Muir And loved it!
5 Stars! Will post a review to my blog @nevmarch on goodreads, fb and insta.
I alternate classics and modern novels to expand my repertoire, and try different authors and genres to keep it fresh. Writers need to feed that creative engine!


message 9661: by Anita (new)

Anita (nitteke) | 9 comments Finally started the Plantagenet series by Sharon Kay Penman. Finished When Christ and His Saints Slept, currently reading Time and Chance. So sorry to have discovered this amazing author only now.


message 9662: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Anita, I so glad you are enjoying her!! I have her last book waiting for me, now. Wishing you wonderful reading!!


message 9663: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments I’m re- reading “With the Old Breed” by Eugene “Sledgehammer” Sledge. Before that I read “Dutch Girl” - about Audrey Hepburn growing up in occupied Holland during the WWII. The last year was particularly hard on civilians as there was little or no food availability. Hepburn was between 11 and 16 during this time and as a growing adolescent the lack of a proper diet affected her health for the rest of her life.


message 9664: by Anita (new)

Anita (nitteke) | 9 comments May wrote: "Anita, I so glad you are enjoying her!! I have her last book waiting for me, now. Wishing you wonderful reading!!"

Thank you May 😉


message 9665: by Bobby (new)


message 9666: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I have finished The Yield by Tara June Winch (5 stars) and have started another Aussie award winner, Bruny.
Bruny by Heather Rose


message 9667: by Michaela (new)

Michaela | 98 comments The Yield is on my tbr list! Good to hear you liked it Terri!


message 9668: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I recommend it, Michaela. She's a lovely writer. There may be elements of it lost to non-Australian readers (which is inevitable due to the familiar setting) but I think it should still appeal outside of Australia. it's not a book meant to gratuitously entertain. Its a beautiful literary novel.


message 9669: by happy (last edited Apr 23, 2021 05:20PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I just finished Conn Iggulden's most recent

The Gates of Athens (Athenian #1) by Conn Iggulden

I enjoyed it - solid 4 stars.

I think this series is going to be set during the Persian invasions of Greece. This one covers the time between the Battles of Marathon and Thermopylae. The main characters are two of the Athenian commanders at Marathon - Xanthippus and Themistocles. In addition to the two battles, Mr. Iggudlen goes into some of the messy politics of Athens that got Xanthippus exiled between the two battles and recalled just before the events of Thermopylae. After his recall, "X" became one the commanders of the Athenian Fleet supporting the Spartans at the Pass. Mr. Iggulden spends more pages telling of the fleet action the the what the Spartans and their king accomplished.

I thought the naval battle sequence were very well done.

Like I said - solid 4 star read.

also posted in the Conn Iggulden and Greco - Persian Wars Threads


message 9670: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Getting ready to enjoy Sharon Kay Penman’s LAND BEYOND THE SEA!!


message 9671: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments May wrote: "Getting ready to enjoy Sharon Kay Penman’s LAND BEYOND THE SEA!!"

The Land Beyond the Sea by Sharon Kay Penman

It's sad that I won't be able to read any more of her books for the first time :(

FTR, I enjoyed it.


message 9673: by Jane (last edited Apr 24, 2021 08:51AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Bobby wrote: "A Man at Arms"

I'm reading that one also.
Also Der erste Tod des Marc Aurel: Historischer Roman. When does Marcus Aurelius appear, other than epigraphs at each chapter head?


message 9674: by Michaela (new)

Michaela | 98 comments I know Haefs Jean, but don´t know this book. Wonder what you´ll think about it further!


message 9675: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Michaela wrote: "I know Haefs Jean, but don´t know this book. Wonder what you´ll think about it further!"

I'm not thrilled with it so far, Michaela. It drags so far. It's a new one so that's why you didn't hear of it. Main characters are interesting: a soldier who is also a member of a "Special Service" and an actress in a mime troupe. M.A. hasn't appeared except for quotes from his writings at the head of each chapter. There's talk of a conspiracy involving bigwigs. But I'll persist although Haef's writing style is difficult for me.


message 9676: by Michaela (new)

Michaela | 98 comments Thanks for your thoughts Jane, and sorry for the typo in your name! ;)


message 9677: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Michaela wrote: "Thanks for your thoughts Jane, and sorry for the typo in your name! ;)"

No problem: both names are female derivations of the name John.
Oh, I'm sure there will be a love interest between the two main characters later on. Gosh, the Spurius Pomponius Carnuntum series was much easier reading. I hope there will be more.
I think Haefs uses too many synonyms.
I might get more out of it if there were an English translation I could read.


message 9678: by Michaela (new)

Michaela | 98 comments I understand about the difficulties in reading Jane. That´s why I mostly read historical novels in the German translation, if available.


message 9679: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Apr 26, 2021 09:17PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I have just finished reading Peter Carey's Theft: A Love Story and have started a thriller by an Aussie author, Either Side of Midnight by Benjamin Stevenson.

Sorry no links for those books. I'm on a mobile device and Goodreads have no bloody add book/author! Seems contrary to the whole point of the site, to not have that feature available on all devices. I'm not even using the app. I'm on the website via mobile.


message 9680: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments ah, I've clicked on 'Desktop site' in firefox and now I can use the features. Where there's a will, there's a way.

Theft: A Love Story

and

Either Side of Midnight

voila! book links


message 9681: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Michaela wrote: "I understand about the difficulties in reading Jane. That´s why I mostly read historical novels in the German translation, if available."

Unfortunately, for this one there is none in English.


message 9682: by Michaela (new)

Michaela | 98 comments Protector by Conn Iggulden, second in the Athenian series, from Netgalley. Also posted in the Iggulden thread.


message 9683: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments I'm reading a new take on the Robin Hood Legend

Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk

This one is an ERead, so it might take awhile:)

So far it has been interesting.


message 9684: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Promised Land / Roger Booth
Galla Placidia and Ataulf. 5th century Gaul & Hispania.


message 9685: by Gwendolyn (new)

Gwendolyn Brooks | 1 comments I've not read any Ancient and Medieval History this month, but, I did read a beautiful work of fiction set in 1960s China: Swimming Back to Trout River: A Novel by Linda Rui Feng. Like many others, I've been putting off reading War Lord by Bernard Cornwell, because it's the "last" Uhtred book, but I am planning on reading it next, to be followed by one of Gabaldon's Outlander novels, The Fiery Cross --- yes, I know, I am "late" to the "party" with this one, but I only started reading the series last year.


message 9686: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Happy, I cannot wait to read your review on NOTTINGHAM! I’m already intrigued.


message 9687: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments May - it is a bit different take (view spoiler)


message 9688: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments Hearthstone by CJ Samson. Really enjoy reading his mystery/thrillers.


message 9689: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Marilyn wrote: "Hearthstone by CJ Samson. Really enjoy reading his mystery/thrillers."

He is good !

Heartstone (Matthew Shardlake, #5) by C.J. Sansom Heartstone

Wolf of Wessex by Matthew Harffy Wolf of Wessex


message 9690: by Sherry (new)

Sherry | 145 comments I've just finished Melissa Addey's From the Ashes and thoroughly enjoyed it. Two unlikely characters must work together to arrange inaugural games for the new Colosseum, against the backdrop of Vesuvius's eruption, an epidemic, and fire. Well researched and well told. My review: goodreads.com/book/show/56970973-from...


message 9691: by happy (last edited May 29, 2021 04:27PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Here's a link to Sherry's review itself (When I clicked on the link in Sherry's post it took me to the book

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Nice review - on to the ever growing Mt TBR it goes :)


message 9692: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Happy, my thoughts, exactly!!


message 9693: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments I’m reading LADY CATHERINE and The Real DOWNTON Abbey. Not ancient nor medieval, but decided to share anyway... 🤗


message 9694: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments I just ordered (thanks to happy) The Anglo-Saxons: A History of the Beginnings of England by Marc Morris. As soon as I clicked to buy I saw $20 flash before my eyes and I thought I had ordered a hard copy by mistake. Nope. It’s the Kindle price. Anyway, being the Angle-phobe that I am plus history nut I’m still looking forward to it. I just have to finish Lamentation by CJ Samson first.

Now that I’m here, I just wish more of our group would check in. It’s like since Uhtred has left us, so has everyone else. “Come baackkk, Little Sheba…Come back!”


message 9695: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments Love Daniel Silva! Love him! 😊👌😊


message 9696: by May (new)

May (mayzie) | 968 comments Feeling the same about the group….
“Hellloooo! Anybody out there?”


message 9697: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 237 comments May wrote: "Feeling the same about the group….
“Hellloooo! Anybody out there?”"


*raises hand* Here!


message 9698: by Michelle (new)

Michelle (michellehartline) | 237 comments I'm reading Avenger of Rome, and enjoying every minute of it!


message 9699: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Reading “Project Hail Mary”!
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir


message 9700: by Marilyn (new)

Marilyn (mbk1857) | 415 comments Okay. Thanks to Michelle I just picked up on The Centurions by Damian Hunter. Thanks for the tip.


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