Book Haul: Barnes & Noble

It is a travesty to man-kind that my last book haul was in 2011. 2011!

I am quite ashamed of myself. But alas, things get in the way (new job, uni, etc.). That, and my favorite bookstore that was a mere 5 minute drive from my house went out of business (*cough*BORDERS*cough*).

Anyway, I am proud to announce that as of May 18, my book famine has ended! Check out the sneak peeks of the titles I hauled home, courtesy of my (somewhat) local Barnes & Noble.

Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Every girl wants what she can't have. Seventeen-year-old Gloria Carmody wants the flapper lifestyle--and the bobbed hair, cigarettes, and music-filled nights that go with it. Now that she's engaged to Sebastian Grey, scion of one of Chicago's most powerful families, Gloria's party days are over before they've even begun ... or are they?

Clara Knowles, Gloria's goody-two-shoes cousin, has arrived to make sure the high-society wedding comes off without a hitch--but Clara isn't as lily-white as she appears. Seems she has some dirty little secrets of her own that she'll do anything to keep hidden...

Lorraine Dyer, Gloria's social-climbing best friend, is tired of living in Gloria's shadow. When Lorraine's envy spills over into desperate spite, no one is safe. And someone's going to be very sorry...

The Heretic Queen by Michelle Moran

The winds of change are blowing through Thebes. A devastating palace fire has killed the Eighteenth Dynasty's royal family--with the exception of Nefertari, the niece of the reviled former queen, Nefertiti. The girl's deceased family has been branded as heretical, and no one in Egypt will speak their names. Nefertari is pushed aside, an unimportant princess left to run wild in the palace. But this changes when she is taken under the wing of the Pharaoh's aunt, then brought to the Temple of Hathor, where she is educated in a manner befitting a future queen.

Soon Nefertari catches the eye of the Crown Prince, and despite her family's history, they fall in love and wish to marry. Yet all of Egypt opposes the union between the rising star of a new dynasty and the fading star of an old, heretical one. While political adversity sets the country on edge, Nefertari becomes the wife of Rameses the Great. Destined to be the most powerful Pharaoh in Egypt, he is also the man who must confront the most famous exodus in history. 

Madame Tussaud by Michelle Moran

Smart and ambitious, Marie Tussaud has learned the secrets of wax sculpting by working alongside her uncle in their celebrated was museum, the Salon de Cire. From her popular model of the American ambassador, Thomas Jefferson, to her tableu of the royal family at dinner, Marie's museum provides Parisians with the very latest news on fashion, gossip, and even politics. Though many people are starving and can no longer afford bread, Marie's business is booming. In salons and cafés across Paris, people like Maximilien Robespierre are lashing out against the monarchy. Soon, there's whispered talk of revolution.

Spanning five years, from the budding revolution to the Reign of Terror, Madame Tussaud brings us into the world of an incredible heroine whose talent for wax modeling saved her life and preserved the faces of a vanished kingdom.

Nefertiti by Michelle Moran

GENRE

Adult Historical Fiction (457 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Nefertiti and her younger sister, Mutnodjmet, have been raised in a powerful family that has provided wives to the rulers of Egypt for centuries. Ambitious, charismatic, and beautiful, Nefertiti is destined to marry Amunhotep, an unstable young pharaoh. It is hoped that her strong personality will temper the young ruler's heretical desire to forsake Egypt's ancient gods.

From the moment of her arrival in Thebes, Nefertiti is beloved by the people, but she fails to see that powerful forces are plotting against her husband's reign. The only person brave enough to warn the queen is her younger sister, yet remaining loyal to Nefertiti will force Mutnodjmet into a dangerous political game--one that could cost her everything she holds dear.

MY REVIEW

After reading Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran, and being thoroughly impressed, I couldn't resist this next read. Ancient Egypt has held my absolute adoration since I was a young child, so any historical fiction on the subject I am instantly drawn to.

With this second book of Michelle Moran's, she has rightfully earned a place in my favorite historical fiction author list. Her writing is absolutely fantastic. She is outstanding at balancing the emotion of a good fiction while keeping intricate historical research in play. Let me tell you, for the duration of this novel, I lived and breathed Ancient Egypt. It is so easy to slip into the history the way Michelle Moran writes it!

I will say that at first I was a bit put off by the fact that this novel is actually narrated by Nefertiti's sister, Mutnodjmet, rather than Nefertiti herself. But in the end, I thought this choice in narrator made the story all the more potent. It was really a testament to the kind of power Nefertiti held as Queen of Egypt, and how that power affected her family. Mutnodjmet was a completely reliable narrator, which I think Nefertiti wouldn't have been, just given her character.

Speaking of the characters, they were all very well written. Wow, was Nefertiti absolutely ruthless! I think sometimes it's very hard for authors not to take more of a modern stance on re-interpreting some of these historical figures. I don't know how Michelle Moran does it. She makes each character so touching to the reader, but still retains their historical characteristics.

The plot was gripping and never dull. Since many events in Ancient Egypt are really open to historical interpretation, I think some authors make their plot a little too grandiose and unbelievable. But Michelle Moran connected the dots, so to speak, in a way that is completely believable.

This was an excellent read. I really did have a hard time putting this one down. Every aspect was engrossing, from the characters to the plot. The world of Ancient Egypt Michelle Moran created was absolutely stunning. This, my friends, really is historical fiction at its best.

MY RATING

5*****

Book #15 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

ARC Review: The Dig by Audrey Hart

GENRE

YA Fiction / Fantasy (208 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Zoe Calder has always been an outsider. Stashed away in boarding schools since her parents died, Zoe buries herself in the study of ancient worlds. Her greatest thrill is spending her summers with her archaeologist aunt and uncle on digs around the world. And one day, while investigating a newly unearthed temple in Crete, Zoe discovers a luminous artifact that transports her to ancient Greece.

As Zoe quickly learns, the Olympian Gods are real, living people—humans with mysterious powers… Powers that Zoe quickly realizes she has come to possess, as well. However, when the people of ancient Greece mistake Zoe for an Olympian, the Gods must restore the balance of the ancient world… No matter what.

Zoe is forced to play a confusing and dangerous game as Hera rallies the gods against her—all except for Zeus, the beautiful, winged young god who risks everything to save her.

MY REVIEW

This book was sent to me by the author, Audrey Hart, as an ARC ebook. After I read the synopsis, I knew this book was going to be right up my alley.

I've always held a fascination with Ancient Greece. I think it's the whole god-human interaction. The myths of Greece tell of many instances where the gods fall in love with mortals, which always intrigued me. It's almost like the gods had some unquenchable desire for humans, even though they were all-powerful and immortal.

Anywho, I absolutely loved this book! This was really the first book in a very long time to make me laugh out loud. Not just a little chuckle, but a big booming laugh that probably made my mother think that I was crazy. There's so much humor in this novel, it's really impossible not to crack a smile.

I have to say my favorite part of this novel was its heroine, Zoe. Really, she was one of the most well-written leading females I've read in quite a while! It was so incredibly easy for me to relate to her. I think a lot of younger readers out there will really connect with Zoe and her "outsider" status and awkwardness with boys. I certainly did! Zoe has such an amazing voice throughout the novel, it's really very hard not to connect with her.

I also really like the perspective Audrey Hart takes on the gods of Ancient Greece. When it comes down to it, the gods are really nothing more than immortal humans. Audrey reminds us that we are all human, especially when it comes to a thing like love. No one is really truly perfect, so why don't we all just embrace it?

Another thing I quite enjoyed was that when Zoe first travels back to Ancient Greece, she realizes that even though the people speak Greek, it's an archaic form of the language she can't understand. The history geek in me totally ate this up. It made her time travel all the more believable.

The story was really fast-paced and had me turning pages like a maniac. I really couldn't put it down! It was very well-written, without any over-complicated plot to confuse readers. It was a very easy read, but that doesn't mean it was any less exciting. There are many references to modern pop culture, which keep the book current and refreshing.

All in all, this was a really great book. Like I said before, I haven't had a book make me smile in a very long time! This was a really great read, with an exceptionally great heroine. Don't pass this up!

Oh, and I will definitely be reading the sequel, as the end of the book is a semi-cliff hanger!

MY RATING

4.5****/*

(This book is available on Amazon.com)

Sphinx's Queen by Esther Friesner

GENRE

YA Historical Fiction (347 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Hunted... Overnight, every aspect of Nefertiti's life has changed. She is no longer living at the royal palace as the intended bride of the crown prince. Instead, she is being chased by the prince and his soldiers for a crime she did not commit.

Hidden... Traveling with two of her dearest friends, including the crown prince's brother, who helped her escape, Nefertiti takes shelter in the wild hills along the Nile's west bank. She must rely on her own resourcefulness and skills (all those secret archery lessons prove very useful) as the fugitives fight to survive.

Haunted... But the need for justice gnaws at Nefertiti. She is determined to plead her case to the Pharaoh and set things right. As she begins to question long-held sacred beliefs--a questioning that could alter the fabric of Egyptian society--her extraordinary journey from commoner to royalty brings adventure, intrigue, and romance.

MY REVIEW

Esther Friesner has to be one of my favorite YA Hist. Fic. authors. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, Sphinx's Princess, and this sequel was no exception to Esther Friesner's standard of literary gold.

Nefertiti is such a complex, robust heroine, you can't help but root for her to win. Definitely one of the best female leads I've ever read. She possesses such a passion for life, it's infectious! It really helps her come alive in the story and on the pages in front of you; she's not just a face in a history book anymore, she is a living and breathing human being, with a wonderful spirit.

Ms. Friesner has such an incredible talent when it comes to plot. She writes such an incredible story... I literally could not put this one down! As soon as you think you're sure of what's going to happen next, something incredibly unexpected happens, and you'll be dying to turn the next page.

The historical setting was fantastic, as usual. It feels like you're standing in Ancient Egypt, following Nefertiti around as her story unfolds.

One of the things I really enjoyed about this novel was how Ms. Friesner built her story on the rock that is the power of forgiveness. Even after all the horrible things that Nefertiti has been put through, she learns to forgive those who have done wrong against her (and trust me, if I were in her shoes, I don't know if I could be as forgiving as she turned out to be). Nefertiti's forgiveness made the story all the more special and touching to the reader.

Ms. Friesner also knows how to play up the part of being a human being... that is, we are all human, and we all make mistakes. We can be manipulated, cheated, framed... but it is all part of life, and the key is, we have to learn from those mistakes. That fact alone made the story all the more relevant and believable in the 21st century.

All in all, this was a wonderful book. Esther Friesner really has a talent for breathing life into historical figures we don't know much about. I think if the real Nefertiti read this book, she would be proud of the work Ms. Friesner put forth.

MY RATING

5*****

Book #8 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Cleopatra's Daughter by Michelle Moran

GENRE

Adult Historical Fiction (411 pgs.)


SYNOPSIS

The marriage of Marc Anthony and Cleopatra is one of the greatest love stories of all time. Feared and hunted by the powers in Rome, the lovers choose to die by their own hands as the triumphant armies of Antony's rival, Octavian, sweep into Egypt. When their orphaned children are taken in chains to Rome, only two--the ten-year-old twins Selene and Alexander--survive the journey. As they come of age, they are buffeted by the personal ambitions of Octavian's family and court, by the ever-present threat of slave rebellion, and by the longings deep within their own hearts.

Emerging from the shadows of the past, Sele must confront the same forces that destroyed her mother and struggle to meet a different fate.


MY REVIEW

After reading this novel from cover to cover, I can honestly say that Michelle Moran should be regarded as a great, up-and-coming historical fiction novelist. She definitely should not be ignored.

Just a quick note... Even though this book is categorized as adult fiction, the oldest our protagonist Selene gets in the book is 14, although the children act very mature. But in the world Selene lives in, it is easy to see why she acts as mature as she does; why, at only age 14, she is already an adult.

Moran's novel presents a compelling insight into ancient Roman life, which--although archaic--is definitely not devoid of intrigue and fantastic stories. Her historical research is meticulous, and very evident throughout the novel. I applaud Moran for intricately weaving her story of Cleopatra's daughter into history; rather than creating a story and adding history to it, Moran took the written history and enhanced it, giving it meaning and life.

Selene, Cleopatra's daughter, is a memorable and extremely relateable character, and was very enjoyable to read. One of the traits Selene embodied most--which made her so believeable--was the unavoidable human longing for home. Throughout the novel, Selene longs to return to her homeland and take back what was rightfully hers, no matter if an entire Roman legion stands in her way.

Another part of Selene I really enjoyed was her unwavering caring for those she loves most. Her tie to her twin brother, Alexander, shows just how dearly she cares for her family, even her friends for that matter. She would risk anything for those she loves, and I admire her for that.

Michelle Moran really communicated to me just how precarious royal life in Rome was. Everyone lived (or, in some cases, died) on the whims of Ceasar. There were so many secrets, so many hidden stories. People put on a different face for Caesar then they did anyone else, especially those with much to risk. This fact alone lent a nice bit of drama to the story, and certainly kept characters on their toes.

Moran was able to create a powerful, driving plot that keeps you turning page after page. As intricately historical fiction books can sometimes be too heavy on the history, Moran manages to balance the history with the plot extremely well. This book was never, ever boring.

All in all, this was a really great read. This book truly surprised me, and in the best of ways. Michelle Moran cannot be ignored any longer... her knack for historical fiction is fantastic! Take the journey into the world of Ceasar's Rome... you won't regret it.


MY RATING

4.5****/*


Book #2 in Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

GENRE

Y.A. Historical Fiction (365 pgs.)

SYNOPSIS

Although Nefertiti is the dutiful daughter of a commoner, her inquisitive mind often gets her into situations that are far from ordinary, like recieving secret lessons from a scribe. And her striking beauty garners attention that she'd just as soon avoid, especially when it comes to her aunt, the manipulative Queen Tiye, who has set her sights on Nefertiti. The queen wants to use her niece as a pawn in her quest for power, and Nefertiti must leave her beloved family and enter a life filled with courtly intrigue and danger. But her spirit and mind will not rest as she continues to challenge herself and the boundaries of ancient Egyptian society. With control of a kingdom at stake and threats at every turn, Nefertiti is forced to make choices and stand up for her beliefs in ways she never imagined.

MY REVIEW

Esther Friesner has slowly but surely become one of my favorite YA Historical Fiction authors. And once again, she delivers the goods in this story of yet another famous female historical figure.

I was really enchanted by Nefertiti's character in this novel. She's not just another cookie-cutter YA Historical Fiction female protagonist... she has flaws, which make her extremely believeable and likeable as a person. Esther Friesner gives a soul, a voice to the famous historical name, and I love how she does that. Now, when I read another boring passage about Nefertiti in a history book, I can think of Esther Friesner's Nefertiti, and a whole new person comes to life on the pages in front of me.

Ms. Friesner also succeeds in writing a killer plot! Wow! There are twists and turns, lots of court intrigue, and deceptions that literally had my jaw dropping. I really enjoyed having an exciting plot... I mean come on, what reader doesn't?

All of Friesner's characters are extremely well-written, as usual. She gives a unique voice to each of them. From Nefertiti's manipulative Aunt Tiye, to the deceitful Prince Thutmose, to the kind and loving Amenophis, each character has a voice, and an important role to play in the story. Esther Friesner does not cut corners here.

But the one thing I love most about Esther Friesner's writing is the historical accuracy. My goodness, it doesn't get any better than this. By far one of the best novels I've read from a historical stand point. The settings are lush and beautiful. I am in ancient Egypt. Esther Friesner also does a great job at helping the reader to understand the complicated Ancient Egyptian religious system. I actually didn't fully understand it up until I read this book. But wow, the descriptions and history are spot on.

Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me from when I was a small child. This is the ultimate historical fiction novel for Ancient Egypt lovers. The history is truly amazing. Once again, Esther Friesner delivers a powerful historical fiction novel jamp packed with a great female protagonist, believeable characters, dramatic plot twists, and amazing setting. A truly great read!

MY RATING

4.5****/*