Ancient & Medieval Historical Fiction discussion

2137 views
General Discussions > What Are You Reading Right Now? ( Hwæt béon ðu bocrædung?)

Comments Showing 1,951-2,000 of 10,106 (10106 new)    post a comment »

message 1951: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis Mark wrote: i am glad you are liking them, i have only read the first 2."

Don't give up on this series. Finished the 4th book:Murder for Christ's Mass By far the best of the lot. The writing is more polished, the characters and main storyline deeper, and sub-storylines of human compassion. This series of 6 books was spread over 4 libraries, so I'm hoping the 5th will arrive tomorrow:Shroud of Dishonour, and the 6th will show up next week. Quick reads, 250-300 paperback pages each, a nice, light change.


message 1952: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) | 1505 comments @Tim on Caesar. From that purveyor of gossip Suetonius: "the Elder Curio referred to him in a speech as 'Every woman's man and every man's woman.'"


message 1953: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Tim wrote: "@Terri: Please consider publishing your work. IMHO there isn't enough HF set in 11th century England, a fascinating, very violent time. the possibilities for adventure are enormous. I've read that you should write the sort of book you want to read and given what we know about your HF tastes if you do that its bound to be a great read. ..."


You don't sound like a hippy.

Thanks for the lovely compliment. :)
I agree. 11th century was a turbulent time. Britain changed forever in the period. And dramatically.


message 1954: by Laurentiu (new)

Laurentiu Lazar (laur1989) | 82 comments My reading of Pride of Carthage advances really slow since I tend to google a lot of names and places. I'm losing more hours searching than reading.


message 1955: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments It will only get worse.
There are sections where the book gets slow, so you will get even more stuck with your wheels turning. :)


message 1956: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I just can't settle on a book today, I started with Niccolo Rising (The House of Niccolo, #1) by Dorothy Dunnett Niccolo Rising and then Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1) by Peter Tremayne Absolution by Murder and then A Plague of Poison (Templar Knight Mystery #3) by Maureen Ash A Plague of Poison and now I'm starting The Medici by Paul Strathern The Medici

Good thing I have 4 more books on the stack, I might start them all today. :)


message 1957: by John (new)

John Phillips | 63 comments Dawn wrote: "I just can't settle on a book today, I started with Niccolo Rising (The House of Niccolo, #1) by Dorothy Dunnett Niccolo Rising and then Absolution by Murder (Sister Fidelma, #1) by Peter Tremayne Absolution by Murder and then [bookcover:A Plag..."

l feel your pain mate, trying to choose between several books myself


message 1958: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments A Pig of Cold Poison (Gil Cunningham, #7) by Pat McIntosh I do like this series.


message 1959: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I am on a bit of a reading hiatus.
I finished my last book a couple days ago and I am waiting for our group read The Coffee Trader to come into the library for a March 1 start.

I should be reading something though....I feel naked with no book to curl up with. Especially since it is raining a lot and flooding here I love reading when it's raining. :D


message 1960: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I just talked myself into checking out my bookcases to find something to read.
I am starting this.
Eight Lives Down The Story of a Counterterrorist Bomb-Disposal Operator's Tour in Iraq by Chris Hunter
Eight Lives Down: The Story of a Counterterrorist Bomb-Disposal Operator's Tour in Iraq


message 1961: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Very pleased to hear it, Derek. :)


message 1962: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments You are welcome. :)


message 1963: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Now reading The Falcon of Palermo by Maria R. Bordihn


message 1964: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I am reading The Counterfeit Guest. It is book two in a series. I have not read book 1.
It is a book I bought out of a bookstore bargain bin about 3 years ago and I keep avoiding it.
I am making myself read it.

Not bad so far. Very Pride and Prejudice.


message 1965: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I finished The Falcon of Palermo I liked it but it was nothing special. I also finished The Fall of Rome A Novel of a World Lost by Michael Curtis Ford which I really enjoyed!


message 1966: by Nate (new)

Nate | 416 comments I'm a few hundred pages into When Christ and His Saints Slept. Great stuff so far, but it's disturbing how much the commoners got used as destructible resources in the nobles' wars. Also in the middle of Sharpe's Fortress, which is typically fun Sharpe stuff.


message 1967: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Nate wrote: "it's disturbing how much the commoners got used as destructible resources in the nobles' wars..."

Sadly, it is a pattern throughout history. And still happens.


message 1968: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Yes, it does. There's that awful modern euphemism: collateral damage...


message 1969: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Speaking of collateral damage...I have finished The Counterfeit Guest by Rose Melikan and have started
Ghost Plane The True Story of the CIA Torture Program by Stephen Grey Ghost Plane: The True Story of the CIA Torture Program


message 1970: by Lia (new)

Lia (lia_mb) | 638 comments I reading Uncommon Grounds The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast and The Ghosts of Cannae Hannibal & the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic by Robert L. O'Connell to complement the group reads.
Starting Khan Empire of Silver (Conqueror, #4) by Conn Iggulden , couple of chapters into Caravans by James A. Michener , and every now and then some paragraph of The Religion of the Ancient Celts by John Arnott MacCulloch


message 1971: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis I'm waiting for Imperium (Cicero, #1) by Robert Harris to arrive at my library later this week.

While I wait, I'm clearing off some short stories from Kindle. This one is first up:

The Rose of Fire (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, #0.5) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón


message 1972: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Lia wrote: "I reading Uncommon Grounds The History of Coffee and How It Transformed Our World by Mark Pendergrast and The Ghosts of Cannae Hannibal & the Darkest Hour of the Roman Republic by Robert L. O'Connell..."

Some great choices there, Lia. I especailly like the ones you chose to compliment the group read.


message 1973: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Monica wrote: "I'm waiting for Imperium (Cicero, #1) by Robert Harris to arrive at my library later this week.
..."


I am going to try to get to Imperium this month. It was in my reading schedule, but because I am still waiting for The Coffee Trader to come into the library it has pushed my schedule back.


message 1974: by Chris (new)

Chris  | 419 comments Monica and Terri hope you both enjoy Imperium as much as I did. The others in the series are great too.


message 1975: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Chris F wrote: "Monica and Terri hope you both enjoy Imperium as much as I did. The others in the series are great too."

Ditto - I really like Harris' Roman Books


message 1976: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis Chris & Happy, good to know. I'm looking forward to Imperium.


message 1977: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (drokka) | 2675 comments I got this too, but I probably won't get to until the summer. I am glad to hear many people enjoy it.


message 1978: by Lia (last edited Mar 05, 2013 09:00AM) (new)

Lia (lia_mb) | 638 comments Thank you Terri.
OMG! The "am" is missing in my opening sentence [blush]. The grammar police will out to get me now.


message 1979: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments haha. I tell you Lia, there probably isn't a post i don't edit after I have posted it, because my typos are everywhere. Some I just think 'ah stuff it' and I leave them. :)


message 1980: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis Has anyone read this series by Kathryn Swinbrooke? I was wondering how the writing compares to Maureen Ash, author of the Templar Knight mysteries.

A Shrine of Murders (Kathryn Swinbrooke, #1) by C.L. Grace


message 1981: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Cool covers on that series.


message 1982: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Monica wrote: "Has anyone read this series by Kathryn Swinbrooke? I was wondering how the writing compares to Maureen Ash, author of the Templar Knight mysteries.

A Shrine of Murders (Kathryn Swinbrooke, #1) by C.L. Grace"


It's Paul Doherty in case you didn't know. Have you read any of his other stuff.

His Hugh corbett are very good. Like the Maureen ash books.


message 1983: by Monica (last edited Mar 06, 2013 04:18PM) (new)

Monica Davis Mark wrote: "Monica wrote: "Has anyone read this series by Kathryn Swinbrooke?

Whoa...had no idea that C.L. Grace was a pen name for the dude in the picture! Thanks, Mark! I have the first of the Swinbrooke series on order from the library. I'll look for the Hugh Corbett books as well.


message 1984: by Mark (new)

Mark | 1885 comments Recommend the The Rose Demon by Paul Doherty it's fantasy ish but a very good read.


message 1985: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis Mark wrote: "Recommend the The Rose Demon by Paul Doherty it's fantasy ish but a very good read."

Thanks, Mark. I just checked online and my library system does not have it. Not willing to pay $5 for ILL, but I will ask the librarian if they intend to purchase a copy.


message 1986: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I'm about 40% through After Rome A Novel of Celtic Britain by Morgan Llywelyn It's very good so far and an easy read. Title tells what the book is about---post Roman departure from Britain and beginning of Saxon invasions...


message 1987: by Monica (last edited Mar 06, 2013 09:19AM) (new)

Monica Davis Jane wrote: It's very good so far..."

That's good to know, Jane. Some of the early reviews for that book have been unfavorable. I liked Morgan Llywelyn's writing in Lion of Ireland


message 1988: by Jane (last edited Mar 06, 2013 09:01AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Hmmmm, I'll have to try that one. I'm surprised, with Ms. Llywelyn's surname, she didn't write mostly Welsh hf, rather than chiefly Irish. So far the book kind of reminds me of Rosemary Sutcliff's The Lantern Bearers by Rosemary Sutcliff except it involves two cousins instead of brother and sister, during the same time period.


message 1989: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Blood Money by Laura Rizio. Taking a little break from hf. My next will be one of the hf books that is free and came to me via Monica! Thank you, again, Monica.


message 1990: by Carol (new)

Carol (ladygyn) | 304 comments All The books I have read by Paul Doherty in whatever nom de plume he utilizes are entertaining and well worth reading. I recently read his The Straw Men and Midnight Man which were continuations in a series involving a monk sleuth. They are good adventures and informative about the time of John of Gaunt.


message 1991: by Monica (new)

Monica Davis Carol wrote: "All The books I have read by Paul Doherty in whatever nom de plume he utilizes are entertaining and well worth reading. I recently read his The Straw Men and Midnight Man which were continuations ..."

Thanks for that feedback, Carol!


message 1992: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Finished the WW II book I was reading so I am starting Ruth Downie's
Semper Fidelis (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #5) by Ruth Downie


message 1993: by Dawn (new)


message 1994: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Mar 06, 2013 10:59PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Looking forward to seeing what you think of Rome by Manda Scott, Marina.
The subject matter and scenery is very close to home for you. :)


message 1995: by Laurentiu (new)

Laurentiu Lazar (laur1989) | 82 comments I'm at the third chapter in Pride of Carthage, I've been reading less due to a busy week. Today I've got a free day and I hope to progress at least 200 pages.

So far, the only thing that bothers me are sudden changes of the narrative, one moment I'm with Hannibal the other with someone else. This books seems to keep true to most of the things in the period, with minor changes. Also the writer makes good description, very detailed.


message 1996: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments That was a problem I had with the book too, Laurentiu.
The narrative changes. I think mainly it botheerd me because I wasn't as interested in the Roman narratives. I was reading the book for the Carthaginian perspective.


message 1997: by Jane (last edited Mar 07, 2013 08:42AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Monica wrote: "Jane wrote: It's very good so far..."

That's good to know, Jane. Some of the early reviews for that book have been unfavorable. I liked Morgan Llywelyn's writing in Lion of Ireland"


I have finished it and enjoyed it. There were really no slam-bang battles. It was basically how the two cousins, opposites in personality, coped with the post Roman/Saxon influx situations facing them. I took the cousins as microcosms of what might have actually been done to face the new civilization...


message 1998: by Jane (last edited Mar 07, 2013 08:40AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments happy wrote: "Finished the WW II book I was reading so I am starting Ruth Downie's
Semper Fidelis (Gaius Petreius Ruso, #5) by Ruth Downie"


I loved this book; I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. I've perused Garrison Life at Vindolanda A Band of Brothers by Anthony Richard Birley and Life And Letters On The Roman Frontier Vindolanda And Its People by Alan K. Bowman about the amazing Vindolanda Tablets, discovered and deciphered by archaeologists in north England at the ruins of the Roman fort of Vindolanda. I feel Downie used some of these letters as a springboard for her novel, adding her own brand of storytelling and humor.


message 1999: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Not for Glory by J.R. Tomlin. I re-started reading today. I love these books about Scotland and Jamie Douglas, but this last book of the series is a little harder to get into.


message 2000: by happy (last edited Mar 09, 2013 10:50PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Finsished Semper Fidelis - Fun quick read, decent mystery. I'll post a more complete review later in the proper thread :)


back to top