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 2751: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Jul 22, 2013 05:23PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments The Light Bearer is hist fantasy so I wouldn't read that one. Is Eagle and the Raven fantasy? Some people have shelved it as fantasy. Eagle in the Snow I read the start of on Amazon and didn't like the writing.
The Three Legions I will add to my tbr on your recommendation.


message 2752: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Jul 22, 2013 05:23PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Checked out Boat of Fate. I'll add that one and The Siege too. Will consider them. As long as the Siege isn't pretending to be British soldiers like so many out there, :-)

Edit: already had The Seige in the tbr.


message 2753: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Jul 22, 2013 05:23PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Omg!! Hahaha!! Look at some of these covers of The Three Legions.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
That one made me laugh so hard it brought tears to my eyes.


message 2754: by Jane (last edited Jul 22, 2013 06:15PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Didn't I say old-fashioned? I read the one with the banner.


message 2755: by Jane (last edited Jul 22, 2013 06:07PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Terri wrote: "The Light Bearer is hist fantasy so I wouldn't read that one. Is Eagle and the Raven fantasy? Some people have shelved it as fantasy. Eagle in the Snow I read the start of on Amazon and didn't like..."

I didn't see fantasy in Eagle and the Raven, unless you count the fact there were Druids in the story, but they weren't major, to my thinking. I seem to remember their function was to carry messages between the different tribes and to act as healers, not much, if any spell-casting. I guess I was in the mood for Eagle in the Snow's strange style and have still liked it after rereading. Three Legions may be old fashioned, but it's not as dour as EITS.


message 2756: by Jane (last edited Jul 22, 2013 06:15PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Terri wrote: "Omg!! Hahaha!! Look at some of these covers of The Three Legions.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
That one made me laugh so hard it brought tears to my eyes."


I never really looked at them closely. I see what you mean except the banner; the three portraits are 3 of the main characters. There's really not much sexy in the book, and what little there is, is pretty inoffensive these days. I guess luridity was the style for covers back then.


message 2757: by [deleted user] (new)

Terri wrote: "Omg!! Hahaha!! Look at some of these covers of The Three Legions.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...
That one made me laugh so hard it brought tears to my eyes."


LOL! That cover that is featured is hilarious! You'd think it was a corny romance novel by looking at that. Classic!


message 2758: by Jane (last edited Jul 22, 2013 06:39PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments It isn't a romance novel. I guess they thought those stupid covers would sell the books. I don't think the banner was corny, only those other three.


message 2759: by [deleted user] (new)

Oh, I know Jane. It's an old book. Those type covers probably did help sell books at that time. The banner one wasn't corny at all & I don't, for a second, question your taste in books. I just thought that one cover was funny. If you say it's good, I believe it :)


message 2760: by Jane (last edited Jul 24, 2013 06:31PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Thanks, Derek. I appreciate the vote of confidence. I thought three of 'em were ridiculous and misleading.

BTW, I guess my taste in books is--ahem--eccentric. :)


message 2761: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Yeah the banner one was fairly normal looking but the others are so kitsch.
I would really love to have this one blown up as a poster and put in a simple black frame for my library.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17...

It is actually so corny its cool!


message 2762: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments I think I promised, then forgot, to post the link to my review of Marie Macpherson's The First Blast of the Trumpet. The review is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/....

As mentioned previously, I did not give a star rating because of the interview, but I enjoyed the book very much.

Currently seeking refuge from my research on Tatars in Hilda Reilly's Guises of Desire (19th-century pre-Freudian Vienna), while gloomily contemplating the necessity of finishing (Bryn will understand) Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde: Baba Tukles and Conversion to Islam in Historical and Epic Tradition.


message 2763: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Just started "Shadow on the Crown". Shadow on the Crown by Patricia Bracewell


message 2764: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments I have started Templar's Acre (Knights Templar, #32) by Michael Jecks Templar's Acre


message 2765: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Terri wrote: "Yeah the banner one was fairly normal looking but the others are so kitsch.
I would really love to have this one blown up as a poster and put in a simple black frame for my library.
http://www.good..."


The banner one?


message 2766: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments The cover you and Derek were talking about.


message 2767: by Jane (last edited Jul 24, 2013 06:55PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Just got home from the library bending under a load of 8 mostly fat books; I hardly know which to start first... but I will finish Taliesin first, which I'm still enjoying.
@Terri, I will let you know the extent of fantasy. Of course, you could probably say the isle of Atlantis is fantasy. The whole culture was invented by the author; it had elements of ancient Greek culture. I'm reminded of another imagined culture: the invented Amazon culture in Last of the Amazons. From peeking ahead in the novel, I believe Atlantis is destroyed...
I see nothing fantasy among the Cymry [Welsh] so far. To serve the purposes of the novel, Lawhead has not kept strictly to the exact chronological order of historical events.


message 2768: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Sounds like a fun trip to the library!
Yes, do keep me posted on Taliesin.


message 2769: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I see online if the library has something I'd like to read; if so I put a reserve on it, then once a week I go in, return stuff I've read, and pick up stuff that's on hold for me. It's easier than ambling back to the stacks, then schlepping stuff to check out. I've gotten good suggestions from GR, plus the library catalog has blurbs from reviews. If I do it this way, my chances of getting "dogs" are much fewer.


message 2770: by Bryn (new)

Bryn Hammond (brynhammond) | 1505 comments C.P. wrote: "... while gloomily contemplating the necessity of finishing (Bryn will understand) Islamization and Native Religion in the Golden Horde: Baba Tukles and Conversion to Islam in Historical and Epic Tradition..."

Gee C.P. I thought you'd got to the end of that one already!!!


message 2771: by Bobby (new)

Bobby (bobbej) | 1375 comments Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave 1841-1853 by Sue Eakin Pretty amazing account of a "free" man being enslaved.


message 2772: by C.P. (new)

C.P. Lesley (cplesley) | 564 comments Bryn wrote: "Gee C.P. I thought you'd got to the end of that one already!!!"

Alas, no. I remain perpetually stuck 80 pages from the end. Plus I've waited so long now that I have to skim the previous 130 pages to remind myself of what I have already forgotten.

Such a good book. I don't know why it acts like lead on my eyelids. I think it must be the sheer quantity of the footnotes.

But ... 80 pages! I am going to force myself to finish tonight.


message 2773: by Paul (new)

Paul Bennett (hooverbkreviews) | 51 comments My current reads are Tyrant by Cameron Christian and Strategos 2 by Gordon Doherty. My first CC book...as for Mr Doherty, I am a big fan.


message 2774: by Dawn (new)

Dawn (caveatlector) I am positive that Mr Doherty will be thrilled that you are a big fan. :)


message 2775: by Erie (new)

Erie Morgan (amadeusfan27) | 1 comments The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde


message 2776: by Paul (new)

Paul Bennett (hooverbkreviews) | 51 comments Paul wrote: "My current reads are Tyrant by Cameron Christian and Strategos 2 by Gordon Doherty. My first CC book...as for Mr Doherty, I am a big fan."

Oh we're twitter mates. :-)


message 2777: by happy (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Catherine wrote: "happy wrote: "I personally enjoyed Bringing Up the Bodies much more than Wolf Hall. Maybe I just got used to Mantel's writing style (Shrug). Also the time span in Bodies is much less than Hall."
..."

I understand that is the plan


message 2778: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (last edited Jul 25, 2013 03:44PM) (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Paul wrote: "My current reads are Tyrant by Cameron Christian and Strategos 2 by Gordon Doherty. My first CC book...as for Mr Doherty, I am a big fan."

Coincidentally, I only just mentioned on our group's Facebook page yesterday that I am infatuated with the cover on Strategos#2
I think it is awesome.


Strategos Rise of the Golden Heart (Strategos, #2) by Gordon Doherty
Strategos: Rise of the Golden Heart


message 2779: by Steven (new)

Steven McKay (stevenamckay) Taliesin is complete fantasy but, I thought, a great book. The series gets progressively worse though as the author turns everything into a recruitment drive for Christianity.


message 2780: by Steven (new)

Steven McKay (stevenamckay) On Gordon Doherty's covers: I liked them so much, I hired his designers to create the one for my own debut novel. I recommend them highly.


message 2781: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Steven wrote: "Taliesin is complete fantasy but, I thought, a great book. The series gets progressively worse though as the author turns everything into a recruitment drive for Christianity."

Because I loved Byzantium, I have been keeping my eye out for another adult fiction of his that could equal it. But I don't want fantasy, I want straight fiction.
And I don't want his YA stuff. I read the first one of those and did not go in for it.
Hood


message 2782: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Steven wrote: "On Gordon Doherty's covers: I liked them so much, I hired his designers to create the one for my own debut novel. I recommend them highly."


They are very nice. He needs to keep that designer on the pay roll. :-)


message 2783: by Luciana (new)

Luciana Death of Kings! Cornwell.
Amazing!!!!!


message 2784: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments That is a good one. :-)

Here's the link for that one.
Death of Kings


message 2785: by Jane (last edited Jul 25, 2013 05:42PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Terri wrote: "Steven wrote: "Taliesin is complete fantasy but, I thought, a great book. The series gets progressively worse though as the author turns everything into a recruitment drive for Christianity."

Beca..."


I think any fantasy there is has a place--am I wrong, or does all or most Arthurian stuff have fantasy? I DO agree with Stephen w/ what he said about the religion. I felt ok at first, but I'm getting more and more uncomfortable with it as it progresses. A little was ok but it's being overdone. I'm enjoying the novel though.

Taliesin I'd like to read at least the next 2 in the cycle.


message 2786: by Sandra (new)

Sandra | 32 comments Just started Death of Kings by Cornwell. Just as good as the others in the series.Death of Kings


message 2787: by Lariela (last edited Jul 26, 2013 12:47PM) (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Jane- Have you read Helen Hollick ~ Pendragon's Banner trilogy?
It's King Arthur sans fantasy.


message 2788: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments No, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you.


message 2789: by Jane (last edited Jul 26, 2013 01:17PM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I started The Virtues of War: A Novel of Alexander the Great, interesting, so far.
I am keeping my eye out for certain aspects, though.


message 2790: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Is that the Steven Pressfield novel? I've only read Gates of Fire, and that was a long time ago.


message 2791: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Yes, it is. I've read about half, and although it's interesting, I don't think it touches Gates of Fire.


message 2792: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Lariela wrote: "Jane- Have you read Helen Hollick ~ Pendragon's Banner trilogy?
It's King Arthur sans fantasy."


I just put a hold on all three volumes at the library. They should come in for me sometime next week. They are sent over from other branches.


message 2793: by Jane (new)

Jane | 3480 comments Steven wrote: "Taliesin is complete fantasy but, I thought, a great book. The series gets progressively worse though as the author turns everything into a recruitment drive for Christianity."

I'll just have to skim or skip those parts!
I'd like to continue with the cycle. According to the book review excerpts on our local library system website, Merlin is the weakest of the five.


message 2794: by Lariela (new)

Lariela | 187 comments Jane wrote:
"I just put a hold on all three volumes at the library. They should come in for me ..."


Nice. I read those over Winter break.


message 2795: by Virginie (new)

Virginie I just finished Till we have faces by C.S. Lewis. This is the revisited story of Psyche and Cupid. The story is told with Orual's (one of Psyche's sisters) voice so if you do not like first person narrative, "self discovery theme," and religious matters, that story will not be for you. If you are, however, fond of deep and intriguing characters then give that book a chance. C.S Lewis is a master of writing and just for the love of his plume, one may still enjoy the work without liking the subject. Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis


message 2796: by Terri, Wyrd bið ful aræd (new)

Terri | 19576 comments Thanks for your thoughts, Virginie. People around here always appreciate when people share a few thoughts on the books they are reading. :-)


message 2797: by Jane (last edited Jul 27, 2013 08:41AM) (new)

Jane | 3480 comments I am now rereading The Bridge on the Drina
by Ivo Andrić. The novel spans four centuries; you'll get some flavor of Balkan history.

Edited: I looked up some pictures of this bridge on the internet last night. It's gorgeous and is a UNESCO Historic Site.

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/Euro...


message 2798: by Linda (new)

Linda (ladylawyer8650) | 1702 comments Caesar's Sword by David Pilling. A free book through our freebie finders. (I think it was Anne. If I leave this site to make sure it was Anne, I will lose this comment.) Any how, the book is off to a good start! It may still be on the freebie list. (I think it is, but if I leave this site....)
From my Nook


message 2799: by Richard (new)

Richard Denning (richard_denning) | 10 comments Revelation by Sansom. That is in the Shardlake series.
Very excellent Tudor mystery fiction


message 2800: by happy (last edited Jul 27, 2013 10:15PM) (new)

happy (happyone) | 2782 comments Just starting Ralph Peters's new novel on the American Civil War - covering Grant's offensive in Virginia

Hell or Richmond by Ralph Peters


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