Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion
General Discussions
>
What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)
Seems like the old formula, definitely. You got to like the characters, at least the main character, or it sure can get draining in books where characters are really all the story is focused on.
At the moment... Hmm... Few different titles :) Great expectations by Mr Dickens, The Moorland murderers by Michael Jecks, just started book by Mary Watson (which will be published soon), waiting with another book from Cradle series plus have one to finish with my son (as this one was his choice).
I was reading another book by John Grisham but I am now thinking I will have to give him up. He’s just gotten to be a flaming liberal; too much for me. Many subplots and nothing’works out happyily. Great page turners but when his books end, they just END. Yuk! Reading is supposed to be pleasurable.
The Last Wish….first of The Witcher stories!
I've got two on the go.
and
I've recently finished a couple HF novels - one by Doherty and the other is a group effort that include Ruth DownieThe Doherty
This a the first book of a two book series ( read the second book first). This one is set the time around Agincourt and its fall out. The main plot driver is "Did Richard II really die at Pontiffract?" People are popping up all over claiming he is still alive - obviously Henry V is very concerned about this. Good solid entertaining read 4 stars
The other is the story of Boudicca's revolt in 60AD Britain.
This is a series of 7 novellas that tell the story of Boudicca's Rebellion. The hook is that each of the novella's are written by a different author. The story spans from the time Boudicca is flogged and her daughter raped to her death following the destruction of her followers by Paulinus in 61 AD. The story is told from various viewpoints - both native and Roman. I really enjoyed it - solid 4 stars
Currently reading a WWII novel by P.T. Deutermann
I will post short write up in the correct era threads
I just finished the first novel of the trilogy, The Awakening Land: The Trees, The Fields, & The Town by Conrad Richter. This is a terrific story of the building of America around 1800. The dialects and jargon used in the writing makes it seem like you're reading a different language, but it's as easy to read as your own...It's wonderful!
I finished Hooligans and its follow on 
While a part of the same "series", Fire does not share any characters or plot points with Hooligans. In fact none of the books in the series share characters or plot points. They are grouped as a series only because they are set in the Pacific during WW II.
Fire is the the lightly fictionalized account of the USS Benjamin Franklin (CV-13) that was struck by 2 250 KG bombs while she was launching aircraft 50 miles off the coast of Japan and suffered catastrophic damage and crew losses. More than 800 members of her crew died, making the Franklin have the second only to the USS Arizona for crew members killed during the war.
Excellent read I rated it 5 stars
also posted in the WWII thread
I've started Steven Saylor's latest
This one is a continuation of his roman history series and is set between the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Constintine the Great
About 1/4th of the way through and it is up to his standards.
Reading The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. There are fifteen books in the series, but this is the first I have read. I have no idea if this is Book One or Book Fifteen.
Just finished THE HOUR OF THE WITCH by Chris Bohjalian set in Boston 1662. Really well done!!
Linda wrote: "Reading The White Princess by Philippa Gregory. There are fifteen books in the series, but this is the first I have read. I have no idea if this is Book One or Book Fifteen."I think it's number 5, but I could be wrong. At lease you now know where in the series you are ;)
@Michelle you are right, it is number 5 in the series :) I read few, but still few left from the start of this series LOL
I just started "The Lawless Land" by Boyd and Beth Morrison (sorry, I don't know how to enter this as a link on Amazon Fire tablet). Good story so far.
David wrote: "I just started "The Lawless Land" by Boyd and Beth Morrison (sorry, I don't know how to enter this as a link on Amazon Fire tablet). Good story so far."
Here you go - I hope I got the right one :)
happy wrote: "I've started Steven Saylor's latestThis one is a continuation of his roman history series and is set between the reigns of Marcus Aureli..."
I finished this one - excellent as always. In this the final volume of his Rome trilogy, Mr. Saylor follow the Pinarii family from the reign of Marcus Aurelius through the rise of Constantine the Great - roughly 160 yrs.
Obviously the author does not include every emperor in he narrative, but some of those he does include are interesting - the most being Elagabalus. A young man who tried to force the worship of the Syrian Sun God, Elagabal on to Roman Society. He was also know for other eccentricities including extreme sexual decadence. He is portrayed as an early Transsexual figure. He appearently collected men who were well endowed.
The author even provides an alternate explainition for the ChiRho that Constantine supposedly saw before the Battle of the Malvian Bridge. According to the author it was often used by editors as a sign that a particular passage was exceptional.
The rise of Christianity and the Roman Aristocracy's reaction to it, is a recurring theme in the novel. As a believer, it was a bit jarring to hear Christians referred to as Atheists, but from everything I've read, that is how the non Christian elites thought of them.
All in all a good read - solid 4 stars
also posted in the Roman thread
Currently reading Conn Iggluden's
Really enjoying The WallaceI've always loved Braveheart and knew it dealt loosely with the facts. I had no idea how loosely until now. Braveheart is pretty much entirely bollocks from a historical perspective.
The Wallace, on the other hand, is outstanding.
Adrain, who is the author of THE WALLACE?
Oh, right. We read 6 or 7 of his novels before we took our Heritage Tour of Scotland … years ago!
I'm currently reading Ben Kane's latest
This is the final volume of his trilogy on Richard the Lionheart
So far so good - this is living up to Dr. Kane's standards and my expectations.
I am doing a reread of the Sharpe series. I'm on the second. I love this series!
Michelle wrote: "I am doing a reread of the Sharpe series. I'm on the second. I love this series!"Me too. Now you've got me thinking about doing it again, but I might have a look at that Lionheart series first. Never read Ben Kane.
I enjoyed Ben Kane's Eagles of Rome series, but haven't yet picked up any of his others.
I'm in the middle of 'A storm of swords#1' and about 30% or so of 'The book thief'
Happy, are you reading CRUSADER by Ben Kane?. I have been trying to get it via our Independent Book store. They had not been able to access it…
May,Crusader is the second book of the trilogy and yes, I've read it - solid 4 stars
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The King is the final book of the Trilogy - I covers Richard's return from the Outremer, his imprisonment and finally his death, roughly 1192-1199
Also, I ended up getting all three volumes as E-books for my Nook. I haven't seen them in a dead tree version.
I'm reading through a German historical novel: Capsarius: Historischer Roman about a man who time-travels back to 68 A.D. in Germania when Domitian ruled. At first, he feels everyone is a re-enactor, but then since the soldiers only speak Latin and know no German, he finds out he's really back there in time and he's in the midst of the real McCoy. A Centurion and a scout take him under their wings.
Adrian wrote: "Musst man auf Deutsch lesen?"Not necessarily. I just wanted to practice from what I learned years ago; I'm surprised how much I remember, although I still use the language dictionary from time to time. I really don't understand every word, but I get the gist. This particular one I suspect has a lot of dialect.
Reading Crusader by Ben Kane also currently. I’ve been absent from this group for some years after a second stroke. Went for an ischemic stroke to a hemorrhagic. Now pretty much recovered and retired living on Eastern VA. Shore of US. Missed you all, particularly Terri. Hope all are well- grateful my brain is somewhat intact if not waking functions 100%
Renata wrote: "*Walking functions"Renata, we haven't met since I joined up relatively recently, but I am sending my well-wishes out to you! From your neighbor in Virginia Beach.
Renata! Wow! So glad to see you back!
Hi Renata! I'm kinda new in group. Hope books keep you feel good.I'm reading Appointment with death by Agatha Christie at the moment and The lady of the Rivers by Philippa Gregory :)
Hope you're as well as can be, Renata. ❤️ Good to hear from you.
I've just reread Giles Kristian's Raven trilogy (starting with Blood Eye). I had loved the first 2 books but for some reason never read the third. Just went back and read all three in a row. What a ride!!!! These are some of the books that got me forever hooked on Viking historical fiction (along with Uhtred of course and Robert Low's crew). It has held up well and had me in its grip as tightly as the first time around. I seriously cannot get enough of this stuff.
The ending seemed pretty open-ended almost like he hoped to continue. I guess he's not going to but it would have been really cool if he had!
THE HEART’S INVISIBLE FURIES by John Boyne
Welcome back, Renata!! So glad you have recovered enough to enjoy a good read!!
Adrian wrote: "Really enjoying The WallaceI've always loved Braveheart and knew it dealt loosely with the facts. I had no idea how loosely until now. Braveheart is pretty much entirely bollocks fr..."
I've wanted to read that for a while, glad to her you're enjoying it. My library doesn't have it so I tried my luck with Jack Whyte's books and Robyn Young and Robert Low, about the same subject and time period. It was a good deep dive into it.
Renata wrote: "Reading Crusader by Ben Kane also currently. I’ve been absent from this group for some years after a second stroke. Went for an ischemic stroke to a hemorrhagic. Now pretty much recovered and retir..."Stroke - Oh, NO!! my father recently had a minor one (fortunately) - very scary. He didn't have the classical symptoms - only his vision was affected ( he went semi blind ) and his doctors couldn't figure it out. All his blood nrs were normal, and other indicator of a stroke were negative. Finally his Dr sent him for a CT scan and found some bleeding in the part of his brain that controls sight. It took a few weeks, but his sight is now back to about where it was before the event and he is as onery as ever:) (Thank whatever God you believe in)
Laura Tenfingers wrote: "Adrian wrote: "Really enjoying The WallaceI've always loved Braveheart and knew it dealt loosely with the facts. I had no idea how loosely until now. Braveheart is pretty much entir..."
I personally like both the Jack Whyte and Robin Young books, I haven't read The Wallace yet, but did pick it up for my Nook, so it is on the radar - who knows when I'll actually get around to it.
Wow, Happy! Wonderful to hear they found what caused it and that his sight came back!!
I finished Terms of Enlistment last night, (military sci-fi), and enjoyed the heck out of it. One section of the book reminded me of Blackhawk Down. I switched genres to HF right after, so I'm currently re-reading Sharpe's Fortress.
Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction
Books mentioned in this topic
M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (other topics)A Court of Betrayal (other topics)
Imperium (other topics)
The Handfasted Wife (other topics)
The Swan-Daughter (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Harris (other topics)Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Carol McGrath (other topics)
Ken Follett (other topics)
More...
I looked at your Legion just now and recognised the name. And yet, when I went to his author page, the book I..."
Yes, this book was the same type of material that you mentioned in your review, Terri. And I love a good Roman sword and sandal book. To compound the problem with the tale is the MC himself. Holy cow, what a sulker! Not just a walking, talking Pity Party, but a jerk with a really bad attitude as well. Not that I expect Miss Manners in the legions, but sheesh! Couldn't stand any of the characters actually.