Tanzanite's Castle Full of Books

Roch Miquel, a young policeman with a brilliant future and a beautiful mistress, investigates an assassination attempt on Bonaparte's life. His father, a former Jacobin, has risen from the lowest rungs of society to owning a tavern. Roch's investigation takes him through the dark alleys and glittering salons of post-revolutionary Paris, and the studio of the prominent painter David, himself a former Jacobin rallied to Bonaparte.   Old Miquel is soon arrested because of his political sympathies, and threatened with deportation or summary execution. To save his father, Roch must discover and arrest the assassins before it is too late. As he hunts them down and faces their chief, Joseph de Limoëlan - a historical character - he tests the limits of his loyalties and discovers the meaning of truth.  For The King is a historical thriller, a police procedural, a tale of love, betrayal and redemption.

Every Sunday Tanzanite highlights books that will be released during the upcoming week. She hopes you will find something you will enjoy!

This is quite a week for new releases!

The Early Loves of Anne Boleyn by Josephine Wilkinson.  Non-fiction.  US and UK release September 30, 2009.  The story of Anne Boleyn's early life, told in detail for the first time. Anne Boleyn is perhaps the most engaging of Henry VIII's Queens. For her he would divorce his wife of some twenty years standing, he would take on the might of the Roman Church and the Holy Roman Empire; he would even alienate his own people in order to win her favour and, eventually, her hand. But before Henry came into her life Anne Boleyn had already wandered down love's winding path. She had learned its twists and turns during her youth spent at the courts of the Low Countries and France, where she had been sent as a result of her scandalous behaviour with her father's butler and chaplain. Here her education had been directed by two of the strongest women of the age - and one of the weakest. Returning to England she was courted by three different suitors in three very different circumstances. The first was James Butler, with whom an arranged marriage was designed to settle a family dispute over the earldom of Ormond. Anne then captured the heart of Henry Percy, whose genuine love for her was reciprocated and would have lead to Anne becoming countess of Northumberland had the couple not been cruelly torn apart in the interests of politics and worldly ambition. Lastly, Thomas Wyatt, the dreamy young poet and ambassador who was captivated by Anne but who stepped aside when he saw that he had a rival: none other than the great King Henry VIII himself.



Queens and Courtesans:  Women of Power in Medieval England by the National Archives. Non-fiction.  UK release September 30, 2009.  Queens and Courtesans explores the lives of the extraordinary women who dominated kings and countries, raised armies and fought their rivals tooth and nail. From Matilda, whose determination to win the throne over her cousin Stephen plunged England into civil war, to the scheming beauty Elizabeth Woodville whose secret marriage to Edward IV nearly tipped the balance in the Wars of the Roses, they sought to achieve and retain power at any price. Illustrated with original portraits, letter and documents from The National Archives, this absorbing book reveals the successes and failures of these remarkable women.




 
 
 
 
 






The Tudor Rose by Margaret Campbell Barnes.  US and UK release October 1, 2009.  One woman holds the key to England's most glorious empire in this intimate retelling of the launch of the Tudor dynasty.  A magnificent portrait of Elizabeth of York, set against the dramatic background of fifteenth century England. Elizabeth, the only living descendant of Edward IV, has the most valuable possession in all of England—a legitimate claim to the crown. Two princes battle to win Britain's most rightful heiress for a bride and her kingdom for his own. On one side is her uncle Richard, the last Plantagenet King, whom she fears is the murderer of her two brothers, the would-be kings. On the other side is Henry Tudor, the exiled knight. Can he save her from a horrifying marriage to a cut-throat soldier?  Thrust into the intrigue and drama of the War of the Roses, Elizabeth has a country within her grasp—if she can find the strength to unite a kingdom torn apart by a thirst for power. A richly drawn tale of the woman who launched one of the most dramatic dynasties England has ever seen, The Tudor Rose is a vibrant, imaginative look at the power of a queen.






The Red Rose of Anjou by Jean Plaidy.  UK release October 1, 2009.  When Henry VI becomes king, it is soon clear that he would be better suited to a quiet life than to ruling the country. Richard, Duke of York, is convinced that he would make a better king and has more right to the crown, and he will stop at nothing to claim it. But Margaret of Anjou, Henry's new French wife, is a formidable woman who is just as determined to keep Henry on the throne. Most powerful of all is the Earl of Warwick, the kingmaker, and with his support of Richard of York the War of the Roses begins. When Henry VI lapses into madness and eventually meets his mysterious end in the Wakefield Tower, Margaret directs all of her ambition towards her young son. Passionate and impulsive she begins scheming for him, and in doing so dashes headlong into disaster...
 



 
 
 
 
 
 



 
 
 
 
 
The Ides of March by Valerio Massimo Manfredi.  US and UK release October 2, 2009.  March, 44 BC. Rome, in all her glory, has expanded her territories beyond the wildest dreams of her citizens, led by Caius Julius Caesar - Pontifex Maximus, dictator perpetuo, invincible military leader and only fifty-six years old. He is a man in command of his destiny, who wields enormous power throughout the vast empire. However his god-given mission - to end the blood-splattered fratricidal wars, reconcile implacably hostile factions and preserve Roman civilization and world order - is teetering dangerously close to collapse...His power is draining away. None of his supporters can stop the inexorably evolving plot against him and prophecy will explode into truth on the "Ides of March" and the world will change forever. This is political thriller laced through with all the intrigue and action surrounding one of the most crucial turning points in the history of western civilization.


 
 
Lady Jane Grey:  A Tudor Mystery by Eric Ives.  Non-fiction.  UK release October 2, 2009.  US release October 19, 2009.  'A highly ingenious solution to the mystery of Jane Grey's thirteen-day usurpation of the throne. Ives' research skills are formidable and will make this book essential, if provocative reading' - John Guy. Lady Jane Grey is the queen England rejected and one of the most elusive and tragic characters in English history. Here, Eric Ives, master historian and storyteller presents a compelling new interpretation of Jane and her role in the accession crisis of 1553, with wide-ranging implications for our understanding of the workings of Tudor politics and the exercise of power in early modern England. This title: presents a vivid portrait of Lady Jane Grey, one of the least studied figures of English history, depicting Jane as a forceful, educated individual; subjects Jane's writings to an original literary and religious analysis; demonstrates that Edward VI's will gave Jane and her supporters strong legal grounds for her claim to the throne; offers a fresh assessment of other characters involved in the 1553 accession crisis - including Edward VI, Mary Tudor, and John Dudley, the duke of Northumberland; and, illuminates the inner workings of Tudor politics and the exercise of power in Early Modern England.

On a July night in 1918, the Imperial family of Russia and their servants were brutally murdered amid a hail of gunfire in an Ekaterinburg basement by Yakov Yurovsky and his men. According to the man assigned to investigate the families fate, the bodies were taken into the woods, dismembered, doused with gas and sulfuric acid and burned to ashes. With no bodies to prove otherwise, this account later became the official version of the Soviet government. And for the greater part of the 20th century, it is what everyone believed – a barbaric end to an already tragic story.


In the late 1970’s, the conscience of one of Yurovsky’s son gets the better of him and he reveals a hand written copy of his father’s report to the Soviet government on the family’s death. This report provided a completely different account. Along with scientific information about the affect of sulfuric acid and fire on bone, a pair of Russians embark on the search for the burial site of the Romanovs. They are successful; but they both know that the late 1970’s is not the time to reveal what they have found. They rebury the family and wait.

Ten years later, in an era of glasnost and perestroika and amid the crumbling of the Soviet Union, it is time. The revelation is obviously met with a lot of skepticism, but fortunately, scientific technology has come to a point that the identity of the 9 bodies can hopefully be established. The search for answers – amid emerging science, political infighting and the rush to be the one to identify the bones as the royal family – make up the bulk of Massie’s follow-up to his 1969 book Nicholas and Alexandra. It is fascinating stuff – think CSI meets history.

Once the 9 bodies are identified, there is a mystery still to be solved – only 5 of the bodies belong to the royal family. Missing are the tsarevich, Alexei and one of his sisters (either Marie or Anastasia). Adding to the mystery is the case of Anna Anderson, a woman many believed was really Anastasia who must have miraculously survived the massacre. Massie provides information both for and against her claim and then details the often ridiculous court maneuvering that followed her death as a number of parties fight over some medical tissue samples which they hope can establish her identity once and for all.

A brief chapter is devoted to a rift between different branches of the Romanov family and the (at the time) current “pretenders” to the Russian imperial throne. A family tree would have been nice to help sort out the competing claims and personalities. Despite the scientific and medical jargon that dominates much of the book, it is pretty readable and easy to follow. After reading about all of the scientific and political craziness that surrounded the discovery and testing of the bones, it really is amazing that it happened at all.

Massie published his book in 1995 but, unknown at that time, the actual final chapter in the Romanov story had not yet been written.   In 2007, two partial skeletons were discovered in an area not far from where the original burial site was located. DNA analysis was done on the bones and in 2009, it was announced that Alexei and his missing sister had been found. The mystery of the fate of the entire Romanov family was finally solved – almost 100 years after their deaths.

The modern smoking gun:  “DNA evidence… is like the finger of God pointing at someone and saying, ‘You’re the one!’” A district attorney commenting on the infallibility of DNA evidence.

Rating:  Very Good

Last week as part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week I listed some of my favorite historical fiction blogs and mentioned that I was thinking about starting a new weekly feature highlighting some of the blogs that I follow since the use of readers means that there are fewer opportunities to discover new blogs listed in sidebars.  So, every Friday, I'll feature 5 blogs that I follow (selected randomly) - most of them are book and/or history related but once in a while I might throw in something fun!  I hope you discover a new blog or two!


Historical-Fiction.com - As the name suggests, Arleigh's site is devoted to historical fiction!  She often has great giveaways and is a huge Jean Plaidy fan (she has another site devoted to Plaidy)!



Confessions of a Book Addict - I "met" Clare through an online forum (I can't remember now if it was Philippa Gregory's or the Historical Fiction online forum) and have been following her blog for quite a while.  She reads a combination of historical fiction and fantasy and is a fellow dog lover.  Her Cavalier King Charles spaniel Rosie is just adorable!


The Anne Boleyn Files - I recently discovered this great site devoted to debunking the myths about Anne Boleyn.  Her site has tons of information and includes book reviews, Q&A's, commentary and Tudor related events.  She also has an arrangement with a couple of jewelers who make gorgeous Tudor inspired jewelry (much of it modeled after jewelry worn on Showtime's The Tudors).  I've bought several of the pieces and wear them all the time!


The Period Movie Review - Another recently discovered blog that focuses on historical films and costumes.  The site features reviews, costume commentary and screen caps.  Movies are easy to find via either the alphabetical or time period index.  I could easily spend a lot of time here drooling over the beautiful costumes!


Reading Adventures - Marg is one of the moderators at Historical Fiction online and her blog was one of the first ones I started reading (when I discovered there was such a thing as a blog!).  Marg reads a lot of historical fiction and romance.  She is also one of the contributors to Historical Tapestry (which was on my historical fiction short list) and participates in a ton of challenges!

Conquest: The English Kingdom of France by Juliet Barker. Non-fiction. UK release October 15, 2009.













Stealing Fire by Jo Graham. US and UK release May 30, 2010.   It's about the death of Alexander the Great and the beginnings of Ptolemaic Egypt, as seen through the eyes of Gull/Charmian's incarnation in that time, a soldier named Lydias of Miletus. Alexander is dead in Babylon and his empire is crumbling. Can anything be saved? Or is this a descent into another dark age? Will Lydias and his friends (including that time's Cleopatra and Emrys) be able to preserve their world? Or will everything they have fought for be lost?


The Voice of the Falconer by David Blixt. UK release June 10, 2010; US release June 30, 2010.
In the tradition of Dorothy Dunnett and Bernard Cornwell, David Blixt’s latest volume in his historical epic of early Renaissance Italy picks up eight years after the end of The Master of Verona. Having been placed in charge of ‘Cesco – the bastard child reputed to be the only male progeny of Francesco (‘Cangrande’) della Scala – the political & economic leader of Verona – Pietro Alaghieri has been raising the child in exile in Ravenna. Now 1325 and the word goes out that Cangrande has died – now the question of succession is in the air and the only viable option is the unpleasant nephew, Mastino, now sixteen.
In Ravenna, Dante Alaghieri, Pietro’s father, has been dead for some years and while he was reviled in life, in death his former hometown wishes to claim him – and his body – for themselves. Even if it means hiring grave-robbers. But robbers are the least of Pietro’s concerns – Cesco is beginning to figure out that there’s something unusual about his parentage that is being kept from him, and someone else has apparently figured out the riddle of ‘Cesco’s parentage and is determined to take him out of the picture. With all of their lives at stake, not to mention the tentative peace of Italy, Pietro must act to protect them all. But far behind the scenes is a mastermind pulling everyone’s strings – one who stands to lose, or gain, the most.


The Eagle of the Ninth Chronicles by Rosemary Sutcliff. Reissue. UK release June 2010. Three outstanding books in one edition by a world-renowned author The Ninth Legion marched into the mists of northern Britain-and they were never seen again. Four thousand men disappeared and their eagle standard was lost. It's a mystery that's never been solved, until now . . . So begins the story of The Eagle of the Ninth, set against a backdrop of Roman Britain and featuring a young soldier, Marcus Aquila, who sets off into the unknown north to find out what happened to the lost legion. Following on from this are The Silver Branch in which two young soldiers uncover a plot to overthrow the Emperor, and The Lantern Bearers which is set at a time when the Romans are leaving the shores of Britain and tells of Aquila who, having served in the Roman army, is now returning home to his farm-but when he gets there everything he knows and loves has been destroyed and so he sets out to seek revenge. To have three such exciting stories in one volume is a treat for fans old and new.

In 1914 Olga Nikolaevna, (better known as Olga Romanov) is a young woman full of hope for the future. As the eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II, she is learning her public role and also enjoying innocent flirtations with the numerous young guards about the palace. One in particular, Simon Hendrikov, catches her eye and he is of course smitten with the beautiful, albeit unattainable, princess.

Little do they know that world events are about to come crashing into their lives, disrupting everything they know and ushering in a new world no one could have imagined. The Snow Mountain begins shortly before the assignation of Franz Ferdinand that would set the world at war. At first, the conflict seems to have little impact on the day-to-day lives of Olga and her family. But as alliances are made, more and more of Europe is drawn into the conflict and it becomes apparent that it’s not going to be over soon.

Intertwined with the story of Olga and Simon is that of American diplomat Joe Calvert, allowing Gavin to explore the political and diplomatic implications of the war as well as the realities of Russian life for those that don’t live in a palace. As the war rages on and goes badly for the Russians, the Tsar and his wife become increasingly unpopular and the seeds for revolution are sown.

Told in third person, the story is primarily told from Olga’s point of view. As a result, Tsar Nicholas, Alexandra and Rasputin are minor characters, but seeing them through the eyes of Olga brings a slightly different characterization. Although she loves her parents, Olga realizes that her father may not be the best ruler and certainly was not cut out for military command and her mother tries to control things that she shouldn’t. Olga also has little tolerance for Rasputin and his influence on her parents and she doesn’t understand why they don’t see him for the charlatan that he is.

Shortly after the war breaks out Olga and her sister Tatiana receive training to help out in the local hospitals. For the most part, Olga is extremely popular with the people and as she begins to fill in for her mother at public ceremonies, she is approached by a member of the extended family with a scheme to try and save the Russian monarchy. Olga refuses – a decision that will haunt her later as their captivity at Tobolsk and Ekaterinburg heads towards its inevitable conclusion.

Since the story does not focus on the Tsar or Alexandra, their children are often the center of scenes at the royal palaces – playing games, talking and fussing amongst themselves and generally, being kids. One of their favorite winter pastimes gives the novel its name. Olga and Simon’s relationship is not the sort of romance with a lot of chemistry or passion – perhaps its purpose was to humanize Olga and to provide a little bit of balance to a story that is about war and its affects on people’s lives. I know virtually nothing about the ins and outs of World War I and very little about the Russian Revolution, but Gavin appears to have a pretty good grasp on the political maneuverings and makes it fairly easy to understand. The major criticism I have of the book is that at times there is very little dialogue and it sounds more like a history book than a novel (although it is very readable).

For me, the worst part about reading any book about the Romanovs is the ending – it’s never easy or pleasant. The short period of time the family spent at The House of Special Purpose is covered in a few pages. What stands out about them is the sense of resignation Nicholas, Alexandra and Olga have about their fate – they know what’s coming and unfortunately, so do we.

Rating: Good

Every Sunday Tanzanite highlights books that will be released during the upcoming week. She hopes you will find something you will enjoy!
The House of Borgia by Christopher Hibbert. Non-fiction. UK release September 24, 2009. The name Borgia is synonymous with the corruption, nepotism, and greed that were rife in Renaissance Italy. The powerful, voracious Rodrigo Borgia, better known to history as Pope Alexander VI, was the central figure of the dynasty. Two of his seven papal offspring also rose to power and fame – Lucrezia Borgia, his daughter, whose husband was famously murdered by her brother, and that brother, Cesare, who served as the model for Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. Notorious for seizing power, wealth, land, and titles through bribery, marriage, and murder, the dynasty’s dramatic rise from its Spanish roots to its occupation of the highest position in Renaissance society forms a gripping tale. Erudite, witty, and always insightful, Hibbert removes the layers of myth around the Borgia family and creates a portrait alive with his superb sense of character and place.

In 1295, Joanna of Acre, daughter of England’s King Edward I is widowed. Not long after her husband’s death, rumors begin to swirl about the young widow and one of her husband’s knights, Ralph Monthermer. As the king begins an investigation into the matter, his daughter decides to come clean and admits to her father that she is in love with the young knight and that the feeling is mutual. Her honesty doesn’t bring her the desired result however as the king imprisons both of them – Joanna in a convent and Ralph in Bristol castle – while he decides what to do with them.

The Love Knot explores the story of Joanna and Ralph in a rather unconventional way – through a series of 10 letters written between Joanna and Ralph and also from the clerk (Henry Trokelowe) sent to interview the pair to Edward. Edward is no doubt angry with his daughter, but he is also trying to determine whether two specific rumors are true: did his daughter commit adultery with the knight and did either Joanna and/or Ralph have anything to do with the mysterious death of Joanna’s husband, Gilbert “the Red” de Clare.

Through these letters we learn how the relationship between Joanna and Ralph came about and developed. We also learn some not so nice information about Joanna’s husband. Could these have been the motive for murder? Or was Gilbert’s death just an unfortunate coincidence? Henry is determined to get to the truth but Joanna and Ralph are equally as determined to keep their secrets.

Most of the letters are between Joanna and Ralph, and they are beautifully written and intimate declarations of love and devotion. They also recount their separate interviews with Henry and for Joanna, the everyday things in her life at the convent. Such details from Ralph’s imprisonment are lacking, but we can only suppose that he would want to spare the woman he loved those details. Joanna is fiesty and willing to fight for the man she loves - in one letter she describes one heck of a fight she had with her father where she punches him in the mouth!

Henry is unmarried and has his own ideas about love and the attraction between two people. He has read extensively on the subject, but the more he talks to Joanna and Ralph, the more he realizes that what he thought he understood about love isn’t necessarily the case. He struggles with the vague answers the pair give him about the “whens” and “whys” of their love for each other but eventually comes to the conclusion that it was Edward himself who gave his daughter every reason to want to find and experience true love for herself.

The Love Knot is a love story with a little bit of mystery thrown in. One thing I found out while poking around the internet about their story is that Vanessa Alexander a pseudonym for author Paul Doherty. I have never read any of Doherty’s books written under his own name, but I will admit to being surprised that this was written by a man. Not that men don’t have feelings and aren’t capable of expressing them, but at times the emotions expressed were of a depth and sentiment that you don’t often see coming from a man.

For those interested in connections, Joanna and Gilbert are the parents of Eleanor de Clare, the primary character in Susan Higginbotham’s The Traitor’s Wife. Susan has a great article on her website about Joanna and Ralph (be warned however that it will give away Joanna and Ralph’s secret).

Rating: Very Good

Young Bess: The Girl Who Would be Queen by Margaret Irwin. US release March 1, 2010. Growing up in the shadow of her dead mother, the infamous Anne Boleyn, young Princess Elizabeth has learnt to be continuously on the watch for the political games played out around her. It is never certain when one might rise, or precariously fall, out of royal favor. When her distant father, Henry VIII, dies, the future brightens for Elizabeth. She is able to set up a home with Henry's last wife, Katherine Parr who now has a new husband, Tom Seymour. Tom, however, is playing a risky game. Marrying a widowed queen is one thing, flirting with the King's daughter and second in line to the throne is another. As the adolescent Elizabeth finds herself dangerously attracted to him, danger encroaches upon herself and the kingdom...


Katherine of Aragon and Juana, Archduchess of Burgundy by Julia Fox. Non-fiction. UK release February 1, 2011.
'Sister Queens' retells a familiar story in a completely fresh way. It's a gripping tale of love, of sacrifice, of the demands of duty, and of the conflict between ambition and loyalty. Katherine (better known as Katherine of Aragon, Henry VIII's first queen) and Juana, daughters of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, were sister queens. While their royal birth conferred entry into a world of privilege and plenty, as it did for their two siblings, Isabella and Maria, it came with a devastating personal price-tag. Since monarchs operated within an international as well as a domestic setting, it was inevitable that Ferdinand and Isabella would use their children as dynastic pawns, but daughters, unlike sons, were expendable. They might be happy, they might not. It was largely a matter of chance. Isabella and Maria, married to Portuguese princes, both died young and far from home. And when they too were sent as brides to foreign shores, Katherine and Juana were to need all their courage, resolve and inner strength as they faced the harsh realities of life in a male-dominated world.

We encourage you to be creative with this! Please choose one or two questions to answer or try to answer all the questions in five words or less. Or choose a picture to answer a question! Brevity is the goal of today!




Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack?
No - chocolate and books don’t mix!

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea ofwriting in books horrify you?
I use post-it flags

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?Laying the book flat open?
Bookmark; occasionally guilty of flat open

Fiction, Non-fiction, or both?
Both

Hard copy or audiobooks?
Hard copy only

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are youable to put a book down at any point?
Prefer end of chapter

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop to look it up right away?
No

What are you currently reading?
The Snow Mountain by Catherine Gavin

What is the last book you bought?
Anne of Cleves by Elizabeth Norton (pre-ordered)

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?
Only one

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?
I can read anywhere, anytime…

Do you prefer series books or stand alone books?
I read both

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?
Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)
By size (allows me to stack books on top so more book fit on the shelf!)

Several weeks ago, I listed The Queen's Lover by Vanora Bennett on Weekly Wishlist but at that time I didn't have any information about the book. It turns out this is actually her book released earlier this year in the UK - Blood Royal, which is about Katherine of Valois (you can see my review of it here). It will be released in the US on March 16, 2010.

A daughter of royal blood, Catherine de Valois is born in troubled times. Surrounded by pageantry, raised amid the intrigue and instability of the French court ruled by her lunatic father, King Charles VI, and depraved mother Queen Isabeau, Catherine’s only friend is Christine de Pizan, a remarkable poet and scholar. Though their relationship is short, Christine’s tutelage will guide the princess through a tumultuous life filled with treachery and passion. Soon the young royal must leave France as bride to England’s King Henry V, a prize in his victory over France. Terrified at marrying this strange man at once a foreigner, an enemy, and a rough soldier, Catherine steadfastly fulfills her duty. But within two years she is widowed, and mother of the future king of England and France. Caught between warring factions and threatened by the powerful lords of the English court and her own scheming brother, Catherine must use her cunning to survive and protect her infant son. Yet she is not without allies of her own, including Owain Tudor, the bold Welshman who rises from obscurity to become head of the queen’s household and her most loyal companion—a relationship that will change England’s fate.

In this 6^th volume of Whyte’s Camulod Chronicles, we finally come to the moment of truth for young Arthur Pendragon – when he pulls the sword Excalibur from the stone and sets out on his destiny as the High King of Britain.  Once again narrated by Caius Merlyn Britannicus, The Sorcerer: Metamorphosis provides plausible explanations for some of the best known components of the Arthurian legend.  Unfortunately, they don’t come until the last 70 pages (out of 500).

The rest of the book, as Merlyn explains early on, recounts the events that laid the groundwork for what was to follow and why they unfolded the way that they did.  Having kept Arthur hidden for a while from his enemies in a remotely located old Roman fort, Merlyn decides it is time for them to return home to Camulod.  Except for Arthur.  Merlyn decides Arthur should spend some time among his father’s people and learn their ways.  It will also provide Arthur with continued safety since he will not be where everyone expects him to be – with Merlyn.  At first, Arthur is less than thrilled at this proposition, but his trust in Merlyn wins out and so for most of the book, Arthur is again only a minor character.

Through the organization of the scattered population into outposts of Camulod capable of defending themselves to the increasing quest for land from the invading Saxons and Danes, Merlyn continues to fight for his dream of a united Britain under a great king – Arthur.  He finds unexpected allies in his cause, including some who can give legitimacy to Arthur’s claim.

But before Arthur can be crowned king, Merlyn deals with those who think they have their own claim and would like to eliminate Arthur.  From this effort will come the legend of "Merlyn the Sorcerer" as he sets out to teach Arthur’s enemies the meaning of fear.  His campaign becomes perhaps a little more successful than he anticipated due to a case of mistaken identity and an opportune fall into a fire. 

Much like The Fort at River's Bend (the 5th book), not much really happens, yet in some ways, perhaps everything happens.  Every event builds on a previous one and provides an explanation for what is to come.  Had any of the events been left out, could Whyte's have built his story in the same way? Yet, I couldn't help but feel that it could have been done with a lot fewer words. As in much of the rest of the series, the training of men to fight, military strategy and battles comprise the majority of the book.  Some of it is interesting and some of it, not so much.  There are two books left in the series (not counting the stand alone book, Uther).  Hopefully now that Arthur has become king, my patience with the series will be rewarded with a strong finish. 

Rating:  Average

Today for BBAW is interview day where we interview another blogger.  Due to some confusion with email addresses (close doesn't cut it with email addresses!) I actually have two interviews to post!  So, I would like to welcome Sarah from The Reading Zone and Veens from  Giving Reading A Chance.  My thanks to both of you for participating and I've enjoyed "meeting" you!  First up, Sarah:

1.  How long have you had your blog and what prompted you to start it?

Well, back in Aug, 2008 I started posting on my book blog. Before that I had a personal blog as well. One day while surfing, I actually saw a variety of blogs posting about books they have read and their thoughts on it! I was also interested in reading and thought it as a very good idea! And that's how I started my blog! Well in 2009 unfortunately, my email id got lost and then deleted as well... with that my blogs got deleted as well. I was out of action for many months. I thought of not starting any blog at one point... starting all over again from scratch seemed to me so Sad!!! But then my friend Nidhi tempted me enough and we started the blog again from scratch! I was so SURPRISED when I found that many of my felow bloggers remembered me and commented on my first post! It was great and I have not stopped ever since!

2.  What are you favorite types of books to read?

I don't have a favorite genre. I like to experiment with different kinds of books. I love reading Historical Fiction though!

 

 3.  Who are your favorite authors and what is it about their books that you like so much?

Recently I fell in love with the writing style of Georgette Heyer - I read Footsteps it the Dark, though the plot was not that great [ predictable]. She is great and I lve the way she showcased subtle sarcasm with a mask of humor. I loved that. Then I love Khaled Hossenni, I have read just one book by this author, and I have his 2nd book in the TBR pile. Recently I have also fallen in love with Michelle Moran's writing. There are many many more!

 4.  Did you like to read as a child and if so, what were your favorite books or authors?

I loved to read as a child! We had summer holidays back then after schools were finished and we used to go to my parents place that was 3 days in train! Dad, used to buy me loads of Tinkle, Archies and books like that to keep me from pestering him! You won't believe I had the biggest collection of Tinkle in my class and I was VERY proud of it. In school, I would read everything that was allowed for us to read - Noddy, I remember was my favorite! And now I can't remember what all I have read! Then as years passed I was a die-hard fan of Nancy Drew, Secret Seven...those were great days!!

 

5.  How many books are on your TBR pile?

20-30! And the amazing thing is I buy books even when all of them are waiting for me!

 

6.  Do you keep all of the books you read?  If not, how do you determine which ones you will keep and what do you do with the rest?

I keep all the books I read. But sometimes, I give some books I loved to my friends too!

 

7.  Do you finish every book you start (no matter how bad you think it is)?  If not, at what point are you willing to give up?

No! I have given up on one book... it was chick-lit and I just couldn't go on! And I was sure there was no point in pursuing it either! Well I decide to give up, when no matter what the story doesn't pull me in at all!

 

8.  Has you reading choices or style of reading changed since you started blogging?

Oh! Yes, most definitely. Now I have read so many genres that I would never have read of not for my fellow blogging freinds. A BIG thank you to all of them for that!

     

9.  Do you have a method for deciding what to read next?

Well no! I can read only one book at a time. But I start a couple of books together, and the one which holds my interest the most, I read first! Right now I am trying to read as much for the challenges I have joined!

 

10.  When you are not reading or blogging, what else do you like to do?

Well I watch movies, I like doing that! Then I like traveling. That's about it!

 

11.  What do you do in your real life?

I work as a software engineer!