A Royal Marriage by Rachelle McCalla

Release Date: 27/11/12
Publisher: Harlequin (Love Inspired)
Pages: 288
Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Historical Romance/Religion

Synopsis: Despite her protests, Princess Gisela, headstrong daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne, must enter into a diplomatic marriage. Yet en route to her wedding, her ship is attacked and she's gravely injured. Rescued by a renowned healer, King John of Lydia, Gisela recuperates at his Mediterranean castle. The handsome, widowed ruler soon has her reevaluating her beliefs on love and marriage …but only if King John could be her groom. Their love is forbidden, and duty requires him to deliver her to her betrothed. Unless they can find a way to join their hearts—and kingdoms—with love, faith and honor.

Review: When I first started reading this I was enjoying it immensely and then the Religion heavy content kicked in and it started overshadowing the Historical Romance side of the story. Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing against religion in novels or in general. In fact i read the Amish Romance stories but they are a lot less Religion heavy than this book (odd considering they are set in a religious community).  I also think it prudent to point out that I am NOT an Atheist just to make it clear that this is not an anti-god splurge.

At the beginning of the story it is the peril and romance that takes center stage, followed swiftly by the threat of war and some fighting. But then the religious side creeps in, sneaky and not so there at first, but then it hits you like a hammer and I found it hard to focus on Gisela, John and there budding romance. One part that particularly annoyed me was that John seemed more alarmed at the thought of the church splitting than losing the woman he loves and the lives that would be lost during a war that would cause said split of church.  Now I understand that this was a different time period but still, it bugged me a lot. 

If you can get past that and focus on the romance and the complicated military plots and betrayals then there is a good story underneath it all. And I was thrilled with the ending. The idea that Love will conquer all has always been a big thing for me and I love the idea. So for that reason this book still gets three out of five, because it is, underneath it all, a compelling love story. It helped that the characters were well fleshed out and with personalities that could be related to. I could understand the reasoning for John and Gisela trying to avoid there feelings even if i didn't like there stubbornness.

Maybe I'm a good old fashioned romantic but if you love someone, really love someone, then they are most definitely worth the struggle to be with.

The Girl in the Mask by Marie-Louise Jensen

Release Date: 01/03/12

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Pages: 320

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Historical Fiction/Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: Set in Georgian England, fifteen-year-old Sophia is trapped by the limitations of living in a man's world. Forced by her father to give up everything she loves, Sophia is ordered to make a new life in Bath. By day, she is trapped in the social whirl of balls and masquerades. By night, she secretly swaps her ball gowns for breeches, and turns to highway robbery to get her revenge . . . When one man begins to take a keen interest in her, Sophia must keep her distance, or risk unmasking her secret life.

My Review: There's something to be said about how awesome a book is when it keeps me reading until 3.40 AM and believe me that hasn't happened in a while so hats off to Marie for writing such an absorbing book.

I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but sometimes it can feel like the same story retold. Not in this case. The story itself had so many bumps, twists and turns I could no sooner predict the ending than I can tomorrow's weather :)

Sophia was a one of a kind character and though sometimes her acts of rebellion made my stomach clench just knowing how much trouble she would get into, I couldn't help but cheer her along. I related to Sophia on so many levels since staying indoors for too long drives me nuts and as for not reading, well, if my father had been like hers I think I would have gone insane. Separating a girl from her books? Disgraceful!

Her father was just...urgh! I think I have my new favourite villain although he is closely followed be Sophia's Aunt Amelia.

Now as for the lovely Sophia robbing at night? I loved it. Granted there is something very naughty about the idea but ultimately something very romantic and rebellious that I just can't seem to explain properly and I have to admit that the girl has guts, especially considering the people she steals from.

Add in the lovely Mr Charleton, some political scandal, some pretty intense peril and a not so expected ending and you have a book that will keep you turning the pages until you reach the end.

If there's one thing I have learned from reading Miss Jensen's books it's that if I were to exist in some of these past times, I think I would have been arrested ;-) Anyway, go read this book! For fans of historical fiction with a dash of action and romance, this a must read.

The Rogue's Princess by Eve Edwards

Release Date: 07/07/11

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 257

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Fiction

Synopsis: 1586 – London, England. Sixteen-year-old Mercy Hart is the daughter of one of London’s richest – and strictest – cloth merchants. Kit Turner is an actor and the illegitimate son of the late Earl of Dorset. A chance encounter finds Kit falling for the beautiful Mercy’s charms, but their love is forbidden. A merchant’s daughter and a vagabond – it simply cannot be. If Mercy chooses Kit she must renounce her family name and leave her home. Will she favour duty over true love, or will she give Kit his heart’s desire?

My Review: I'm dying to read another book in this series, especially after reading this one because the Lacey chronicles just keep getting better and better with each installment! The one major thought I had while reading this was: 'Why can't I find a guy who will write romantic verses that I can see from my window?'

It may be the truth that romance isn't alive in present day, or it may not. But the romance is definitely alive in this fantastic example of Historical Romance and I think I fancy Mr Turner (yet another character crush to add to my growing list)

It isn't just the romance that makes these books amazing, but also the attention grabbing description of the period in which the story is set; it is incredibly and masterfully detailed. Whether it's the dress designs, the way people acted, the prejudices or just the relationships, there is a lot to be learned about the 1580's in this book and I'm sure it'll stick in my brain a lot longer than if I'd learned it in my history class (not that we studied this time period much)

Mercy and Kit seem to be a typical example of forbidden love but with a lot more excitement and, by the end, with a lot more at stake. The last 100 pages or so had me reading so fast I lost track of time, which is always a good sign when reading a book. Some people will argue that these sorts of books are predictable, but I disagree, there is nothing you can predict in this story even if you're certain Mercy and Kit will get their happily ever after, and there are enough twists and turns to keep even the most cynical reader guessing.

If you like your historical romances with humour, fun, drama and some peril (and home made cooking) then this is definitely going to be an awesome read for you :)

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

Release Date: 03/02/11
Publisher: Puffin
Pages: 324
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Fiction

Synopsis: 1584 – Surrey, England When Lady Jane Rievaulx begins service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled at the court’s newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey. Despite her previous courtship with his older brother, James is the man she truly loves. And for his part, he cannot deny his fascination with her. However, James is setting sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Lady Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, there is only one man to save her. Will Master James return to his lady ­- before it’s too late?


My Review: This is the second in The Lacey Chronicles and just as amazing as the first. Though I still maintain that living in this century probably would have resulted in me locked in the tower for offending some noble, you can't deny the escapism and realism that this series provides.  
The fact is that Eve Edwards writes with skill and in such a way I was able to pick this up and immediately lose myself in the story of a character whose story actually started in the previous book.


Lady Jane drew me in on so many levels; she's flawed and knows it, she's a strong female character who doesn't give up and she's one hell of a kick-ass heroine (considering the time this is set in, this stands out a lot!) Her connection to James is electric and, as in the previous book, I wanted to kick some sense into the lead male character, admittedly though at least he had a good reason for what he did.

I found that the peril in this novel was somewhat more intense than the last due to the way the plot played out and I was hoping and praying for a happy ending.

There is no shortage of romance and to top off the main storyline, there's another romance as well which is just as challenging and epic as the main storyline and also deals with racism and discrimination on some level. Love is love regardless of class, colour or religion and it will always win out in the end, that's my opinion anyway.

Summed up, this is an exceptional example of historical fiction/romance and I say to Miss Edwards, please write more books!

Time Breaking by Barbara Spencer

Release Date: 01/11/11
Publisher: Matador
Pages: 232
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Fiction

Synopsis: Fifteen-year-old Molly is gauche and awkwardly tall, a great disappointment to her parents who only have time for their careers. Constantly at loggerheads because Molly is determined to become a swimmer, the family go to stay in a 17th century manor house now used as a religious retreat. Inadvertently, Molly triggers a time-chute and reappears in 1648, at the end of the Civil War, to find she has taken the place of Molly Hampton, the eldest daughter in a Puritan family. 


After suffering a beating, an entire morning spent in chapel, a smelly privy, a muddy farmyard, and cold water to wash in, Molly labels the seventeenth century "barbaric" and is hell-bent on escaping back to her own life. But the manor house belongs to Sir Richard Blaisdale, a Royalist family, and is barred to her. Forced to continue with the charade, Molly meets Richard, supposedly her best friend, only to find herself falling in love with him. Gradually, Molly begins to change her mind believing that she can stay and take Molly Hampton's place, little realising that danger and disaster lie in wait for her...


My Review:  Miss Spencer strikes again with an incredible story that will pull you in and not let you go. This woman deserves way more recognition than she gets for her superb story-telling,  and she's a wonderful lady as well (I've met her and have a signed copy of 'Running', another of her novels).  So I'm starting my review by saying: READ THIS! Especially if you love historical fiction/fantasy/time-travel.


The descriptions and realism alone make this book a stand out and once you add the emotions and romance it becomes  a very difficult book to put down.  I felt every pain that Molly felt, her frustration, her indecision and ultimately how she came to terms with her life and her plans for the future.

Molly's relationship with Richard was refreshingly different among the many romances for young adults in existence today and I found her independent streak, though it caused her a lot of trouble, to be much more appealing than if she'd taken the easy route.

Perhaps one of the things that affected me the most was the relationship between Molly and her family. I hate a certain member of that family and just thinking about how enclosed Molly must have felt (both the Molly from our time and the Molly from the past time) is enough to make me feel very claustrophobic. And the parallels that can be drawn between the two Molly's and their families (though for different reasons) is very eerie.

There is one particular revelation that left me feeling like my stomach had dropped a foot,  due to the fact it was a 'my god, did that really happen?!' moment. It  was so unexpected and so heart-wrenching. Will Molly stay with Richard, will she go home? All I will say is prepare to be taken on many twists and turns and be confronted with a few 'I never saw that coming!' moments.

I really can't praise this book enough. Time Breaking is a stellar example of historical fiction, unputdownable, emotional and it just plain blew me away. Wow. 

The Other Countess by Eve Edwards

Release Date: 01/07/2010
Publisher: Puffin
Pages: 333
Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Synopsis: It's 1582 and eighteen-year-old Will Lacey's family is in trouble. After years of wasteful spending, his late father has run Lacey Hall to near ruin. Tasked with marrying his family back into fortune, the new Earl of Dorset is all set for a season at court to woo not just the Queen but potential brides with his jousting skills. But when Ellie – a strong-willed girl with nothing to her name but a worthless Spanish title – catches Will's eye, he faces a bigger battle than he could ever have anticipated.


My Review: Oddly enough it was a song I heard that put me in the mood for some Historical Fiction (The Chevalier by Serenity) and though this is a completely different era it satisfied my need for history, queens, lavish dresses and some heart-stopping romance.  Summed up...this book is absolutely awesome!


Things aren't smooth sailing for either of the main characters or for Lady Jane (another favourite of mine!) and I spent most of the book mentally screaming at both Will and Ellie: 'Oi, will you two just forget duty and get together already?!' but since this is the 1500's one has to remember that duty was an important thing back then.  Does this have a happy ending? I won't spoil it for you, but it has plenty of scandal, one particular obnoxious rude man, some incredibly emotional romance and a some truly strong female characters. I can't recommend this book enough :)

The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan

Target Audience: Kids/Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical fiction/Fantasy/Adventure

Those who have read my other Rick Riordan reviews will know I'm a huge fan of his books and I'm now loving this series as much as his Percy Jackson books (though Percy will always own that little piece of my heart).  With the Kane Chronicles, Mr Riordan has brought the ancient Egyptian gods to life in a way no History teacher I've ever known has ever done.  If you'd like to learn a little more here's a synopsis for you:

Following there victory against Set, Sadie and Carter Kane are now recruiting and training other young magicians in the world. But things aren't as peaceful as they might be and now the great serpent Apophis is breaking free of his prison; if he succeeds then he will swallow the sun and plunge the world into darkness. There only chance is to awaken the sun god Ra, but in order to do that they need the Book of Ra and unfortunately the Book of Ra is scattered. With only a few days until Apophis breaks free, will Sadie and Carter be able to save the world?


This book is pretty much a roller-coaster ride of adventure, humour, peril and really amusing Egyptian gods. I have to admit I thought I'd read most things, that is until the legend that is the Dwarf God; Bes. whom I will rave about in a little bit..
I found the adventure and plot in this book to be more involved and exciting then the first in the series, maybe because all the intro stuff was out of the way in the first book. Whatever the reason, the action kicks off from page one during a museum break-in and swiftly progresses with little pause (I was glad about this, I've read way too many books with far too much babble)

What I did notice was the sheer peril in some areas which even I found to be a little scary. For example, there's a part where one of the characters gets a glimpse to Apophis' cage and coupled with the detailed description I felt honestly terrified of that snake escaping, and I'm not even scared of snakes! Coupled with the race to get the pages of the Book of Ra and what you have is an incredibly scary, funny (inappropriate at times, but who cares?) and totally amazing egyptian adventure.

Once again, the story is split between Sadie and Carter and as usual this lends to some differing and interesting story telling. Sadie has many qualities she shares with Carter but is also very different. Carter seems to think a lot more whereas Sadie is a bit more impulsive but both are stubborn at times.  Either way, I loved them both!
Bes, the Dwarf God, was another favourite character of mine. He was funny, helpful, unforgettable and ultimately the most selfless character I've come across in a long time. I really really hope we hear more from Bes in the future (fingers crossed!) despite how the book ended. Actually, just give the guy a series of his own, he is that awesome!

In short, I can't really find any fault. This is as near perfect as an historical fantasy fiction book gets and if your having a particularly bad day; lock yourself in a room and have a good giggle, because it will make you laugh. The plot will suck you in, the characters are unforgettable and the ending is epic.

Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fiction/Fantasy/Historical Fiction



I've had a pretty little signed edition of this for a while now that I got second hand from Amazon and I love it to bits, but didn't get around to reading until about three weeks ago. I really really liked this, lots!!!
In a world of vampires, werewolves and other evil yet romantically inclined creatures of the night, it made a refreshing change to be in such an ancient and raw world.
So without any further ado here is a brief synopsis for those a little curious:


"Six thousand years ago. Evil stalks the land. Only twelve-year-old Torak and his wolf-cub companion can defeat it. Their journey together takes them through deep forests, across giant glaciers, and into dangers they never imagined.

In this page-turning, original, and spectacularly told adventure story, Torak and Wolf are joined by an incredible cast of characters as they battle to save their world, in this first book in the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness."

For a book aimed at children this is one scary book! Not in a disgusting gross zombie way, but in a creepy, heart stopping, 'BOO!' way. The tension at times is incredible and I felt myself looking around me in-case I was being watched by evil spirits etc (you know, as you do when it's late at night and your reading about possession).

All that aside though this is a thrilling adventure novel that becomes  race against time to save the world from some seriously potential evil and the scene was so well described I could clearly picture Torak and the wolf struggling to stay alive against all odds, and how awesome is a book that tries to see things from a wolf's point of view in certain chapters?

I have to admit that on some parts of the journey i was left holding my breath waiting to see what happened next, particularly when it came to the bear stalking both Torak, Renn and the wolf it was scarier than most horror novels I've read, and things got pretty tense. I think what makes this book so amazing, isn't just the quality of the writing and adventure but it's contrast to the world we live in.  It seems crazy in comparison that today we see it as a tragedy if we don't get chocolate when 6000 years ago you had to hunt or be hunted.


It was the characters however, that really stole the show. Torak is admirably brave and the way he continues on the quest his father sent him on, despite his misgivings, demonstrated how loyal he was too. Renn was pretty incredible too although she did annoy me at first, but as the novel progressed she grew on me and I really came to like her.  And as for wolf? man that little cub is so adorable and brave :-D 


If your looking for a book of adventure, good vs evil and with some magical/mystical legend mixed in this is most definitely the book for you and I would recommend this to everyone out there. If it's on your to-read pile and you haven't read it yet...why not?

Sigrun's Secret by Marie-Louise Jensen

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

This is the fourth book I've read by Miss Jensen and once again she doesn't disappoint, if anything this is now my favourite of her novels and it blew me away with it's plot, mystery and romance. Set in a time when Vikings were exploring new places and with Norse legend throughout this is one book you don't want to miss. I will also mention that this is a loose sequel to Daughter of Fire and Ice as the main character is the daughter of the main characters of Daughter of Fire and Ice. You can read this as a stand alone, but be wary of this if you plan to read Daughter of Fire and Ice.

Breaking in a young colt so that it can be ridden and helping out her mother in her healing duties, Sigrun is eagerly awaiting the return of her father from sea, along with her childhood friend Ingvar and his family. The joy of both families return, however, is short lived as because of a long kept secret by her father, Sigrun is forced to leave her home in Iceland along with her brother and father, leaving behind her mother and the blossoming relationship between her and Ingvar. As a parting gift, Sigrun is given an amulet which appears give her powerful gifts, but is it enough to help her and her father in their exile?

As far as story lines go this is one twisting and adventurous one as Sigrun and her group sail from Iceland to Jorvik with only a few supplies and some money. I loved how realistically this is written and it was very easy to picture the dangerous seas, cruel slave trade and the oh so stubborn pride of men.
Jorvik itself was busy and very different from the Iceland that Sigrun left and it was amusing to read about her outrage at certain practices (such as the use of toilet facilities lol) and I can relate in some way to that bewildering sense of being in a new place. To put it bluntly, it's scary, no matter how far you travel.
Having said that, this book is not just about different places but also about finding change within yourself, and that Sigrun clearly does. It was wonderful watching her grow in so many different ways and coming into herself in a way that would not have been possible had she stayed in Iceland.

As well as all that, there's also a lot of mystery and suspense, which I won't spoil in my review but it involves romance, a woman and a lot of intrigue. There's also a lot of plotting and scheming and I absolutely love that in a book, I like to guess who the bad person is, even if I do nearly always guess wrong.
Perhaps one of the issues I had the strongest opinion on was the whole argument about honour, shame and revenge and clearly Sigrun agrees with me, though I won't say anymore as it would spoil it, but you'll understand once you read it.
As for the slave trade? Well don't get me started on that, I could go on for hours!

In a nutshell. this is a brilliant and romantic book and if you don't love the ending then I'll be very surprised. I can't wait to read Marie's next book; The Girl in the Mask which is due for release in March 2012.
If you haven't read any of Marie's books yet and you love Historical fiction with some romance then give them a go.
On a personal note, I will confess to singing Leaves' Eyes songs in my head while reading this pretty much every time a Norse god was mentioned or the word Viking or, well, pretty much the whole book. What can I say? It's not a far stretch! If you listen to Leaves' Eyes, you'll get what I mean :-)

Between by Cyndi Tefft

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Fantasy/Romance/Historical Fiction

First of all I'd like to say a big thank you to Cyndi for asking me to review this for her, it's always an honour to be asked :-)
As usual I'll start my review with a brief, spoiler-free synopsis:
Lindsey waters is on a date when tragedy strikes and she is killed in a car accident, but for Lindsey, this is only the beginning. Soon after her death a very handsome Scot names Aiden appears who tells her he is there to transport her to heaven.
But as Lindsey and Aiden spend more time together and their attraction grows, Lindsey finds herself resisting the lure of heaven itself in order to be with him. Can love really be strong enough to transcend the boundaries of life and death?

If your reading the above and thinking it sounds to similar to other supernatural and paranormal love stories then you couldn't be more wrong. Between takes all of the elements that are needed for a good romance and has a twist of it's own.
The idea of a transporter is a fascinating thing to me, after all, how can we be expected to die and immediately know where to go? The answer? We can't. Therefore it'd be nice to have a guide, and that is what Aiden is.
This story does not start gently and I was taken aback a little (in a good way) by the beginning because I did not see it coming at all, which is weird, because I knew that Lindsey was dead from the start because of the synopsis.
In relation to that however, I will confess that the story goes a little slow just before the middle, but this soon picks up again and it wasn't much of an issue at all.
There's also a massive twist half way through that I honestly didn't see coming, and my jaw literally dropped because it was the last thing I was expecting!

I really really loved the all the trips to various times and places (although I won't say too much because I don't want to spoil anything) through the eyes of both Lindsey and Aiden. To me this made the whole afterlife seem much more adventurous and having the ability to look back at things is a fascinating concept, especially when considering the fact you may notice different things while looking at something you've already experienced (again I will say no more, I shall spoil nothing!)

Ultimately this is a romance with an historical twist and if your a Scottish fan (or if your an eighth Scottish like me) you will be drawn in by the Scottish history and landscape just like I was. If your not a Scottish fan, then it really doesn't matter because this is a truly enchanting story and not to be missed in any way, shape or form.
And as for Aiden himself, well I think I fell for him, every girl in the world young or old dreams of finding a man who is that devoted, loyal and romantic and Aiden is all that and more *swoons while typing*
I challenge any woman reading this, not to want Aiden, I really do!

In summary, I loved this novel. Cyndi has created a very imaginative and original world that has no bounds or limits, I have to admit, I would never have imagined an afterlife like this.  Romantic, pacey and with several jaw-dropping twists, I think all readers will be left longing for the next in the series. Amazing book!

The Diamond Secret by Suzanne Weyn

Target Audience: Young Adults/Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

As i'm sure i've mentioned a thousand times before, i have a major soft spot for fairy tale re-tellings and the story of Anastasia is no exception.

I remember watching the animated movie years ago when i was a kid and thinking how stupid Anastasia was for choosing the guy over being the princess.

This was before i was a teen and my sweet romantic side came out. My opnion is very different now, and if given the chance between royalty and the guy i was in love with, i'd personally make the same choice as Anastasia.

That's one of the things that make this story so appealing in my eyes. Every girl, at some level, dreams of meeting the man who they love so much and, loves them in return, that they'd give up everything just to be with them. And that to me is the very essence of this story and the aspect that makes it most popular.

The other reason this sort of fairytale is so popular (at least to me) is the fantasy of being rescued from a world that is sometimes cruel and diffcult and given a chance to shine and be something different, instead of being stuck in your normal and everyday life.

If, on the off chance, the romance doesn't sparkle for you, then the mystery and adventure surrounding the story will capture you until the very end. Even if you have heard the original story this one still offers a few surprises and even i didn't see the final surprise surrounding Anastasia's survival coming.


If your looking for a nice cosy night in to unwind after a hard day at work (or school) then this is definately the book for you. Curl up in bed with your cup of tea, a bar of galaxy and read a truly romantic, stunning and adventure filled novel.

Between Two Seas by Marie-Louise Jensen

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Having read 'The Lady in the Tower' and 'Daughter of Fire and Ice' i really wanted to read this, and i wasn't disapointed! One of the things that appeals to me about Marie's books are that you can read them in any order, there's no undue pressure to enjoy them all as part of a series, and because of this i found it easier to sink into the narrative and know that there's a beginning and an end, with no long waits for a sequel :-)

The general premise of the story was fascinating and heartbreaking. Marianne, whose Mother dies, bids her with her final breath to seek a better life in Skagen, Denmark, where her Father lives. Wanting to carry out her Mother's final wish and to find the only member of her family remaining, Marianne sets out to Denmark, not just in search of her Father but of a new life.

I found Marianne quickly became one of my favourite literary characters of all time, she was brave, stubborn, strong and made a feisty protagonist. I was just impressed with the sheer amount of crap she endures and yet doesn't give in. She has a few weak moments and panics a bit, but then what do you expect from someone who finds themself in a strange country with no friends? Other standout characters for me were Mikkel, who i found wonderful as the strangely different guy of Skagen who dislikes fishing.

Peter, the romantic interest of the novel, was fun to read about, although his attitude to marianne at some points did annoy me (bear in mind though it is the 19th century!) but he does make up for it later.

Christensen was the ultimate sort of bad guy of the book, although by the end i did soften towards him, especially once you hear his story.

I thought the pace moved just nicely, as a historical/romance/adventure should, and it still contained enough twists that left me thinking 'Well, i didn't see that coming!' and believe me, it takes a lot so surprise me in a book.

Overall, i found this a wonderful historical romance with fantastic blended elements of an adventure story, and i loved the way the breathtaking landscapes and seas of Denmark came to life on the pages. Keep writing your wonderful books Marie! I for one will be reading them.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Target Audience: Teens/Young Adults
Genre: Historical Fiction/Fantasy/Romance


There's something to be said about gothic victorian novels, especially when it's blended with a fantasy world and mythical magic.
Set first in India and then in England, A great and Terrible Beauty follows Gemma Doyle after her mother is murdered and she is sent to a boarding school to complete her education.
While there she meets some strange friends, discovers some sinister secrets and stumbles across a beautiful new world that gives her and her friends a chance of freedom that victorian England can't, but are they as safe as they appear?

One of the most beautiful things about this book was how fantasy and reality seemed to blend so well, and the idea of being to travel astrally into another world almost seems possible, even if the Realms do sound a bit terrifying in parts, most of it sounds like the perfect place to be.

With regards to Gemma, she was so brilliant to read about and i couldn't help (as a rather fierce equalitist) getting very angry on behalf with all the men in her life trying to make decisions for her. Reading about her rebel and making her own choices in life was inspiring, even if it is fiction, there is a lot to be learned from Gemma's attitude to life and the way she deals with everything.
Other taboo issues are also handled very tactfully. One of these was the arranged marriage that Pip was forced into against her will, with a man over twice her age, and whom she doesn't love. This eventually becomes a major factor in a devestating choice she makes near the end of the novel, which affected me deeply (yes, i'll admit i cried my eyes out reading this).

For those romance fans, there's even a touch of love, in the form of a rather nice Indian man called Kartik, who Gemma finds herself constantly drawn to, but as i found out as i read on, there's a lot more to him than meets the eye. But still, you can't deny the chemistry between the two characters, though it is very slow burning at first, but all in all, thats the kind of romance i like to read about!

To summarise, i found this book a very enjoyable adventure, and it was definately addictive enough to read the sequels. With both laughter, love, adventure and with some seriously heartbreaking scenes, this is a book all fans of historical/romance/fantasy books will love :-)

Libba Bray is a genius!