Three of my favorite authors have releases scheduled for tomorrow:
Christina Dodd: Into the Shadow
Lynn Viehl, Twilight Fall
Joanna Bourne, My Lord and Spymaster.*
Think about a trip to your local bookstore tomorrow.
__________
*I found this one yesterday
Showing posts with label joanna bourne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label joanna bourne. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Spymaster's Lady -- Review
This book is jaw-droppingly good.
You should read it as soon as possible. You should buy, not borrow, because you're going to want to re-read it. Probably as soon as you turn the last page. Whatever 1-through-n scale you use to rate books, this is an n+1. It goes to eleven.
If Sydney Bristow were dropped into 18th century Napoleonic France, she'd be Annique Villiers... or at least, her best friend. Fans of contemporary urban fantasy/romance will instantly recognize Annique's ass-kicking, never-say-die, I've-been-in-tighter-spots-than-this style. In fact, this is probably a great gateway book for you if you think you don't like historical romances--the historical period is almost irrelevant. Other than the political situation, there are virtually no historical details in this book-- and you don't miss them. In a very real way, this is a timeless story of power, ethics, loyalty, and what happens when you drop love into the mix. Annique, Grey, and the supporting cast are characters that live larger than life-- they are prominent players on the world chessboard and it's not surprising that when love takes them, it takes them in a big way.
The pacing and complex character development makes the plotting feel intricate and exciting... but in actuality, the basic plot is a very simple -- not to say easy-- moral dilemma. I don't think I've ever read anything so good that consisted so much of the heroine mostly thinking about how to do the right thing-- and about what exactly that thing is.
It's the voicing and the characters that make it a must-read and have Bourne's fans clamoring for more. Within Annique's point of view, the diction and thought processes are thoroughly French, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A snip:
Another favorite snip, full of Annique's wry and fatalistic personality:
I'm an instant fan. I am clamoring for more. In particular, I can't wait to get more of the delicious Adrian (a secondary character who travels with Grey and Annique) and hopefully a few glimpses of how Annique and Grey are adjusting to their happily-ever-after.... Sadly I guess I will have to keep waiting; the next book is not about Adrian. Neither is the one after that. Bourne's blogpost on upcoming releases.
Ah well. Something to look forward to.
You should read it as soon as possible. You should buy, not borrow, because you're going to want to re-read it. Probably as soon as you turn the last page. Whatever 1-through-n scale you use to rate books, this is an n+1. It goes to eleven.
If Sydney Bristow were dropped into 18th century Napoleonic France, she'd be Annique Villiers... or at least, her best friend. Fans of contemporary urban fantasy/romance will instantly recognize Annique's ass-kicking, never-say-die, I've-been-in-tighter-spots-than-this style. In fact, this is probably a great gateway book for you if you think you don't like historical romances--the historical period is almost irrelevant. Other than the political situation, there are virtually no historical details in this book-- and you don't miss them. In a very real way, this is a timeless story of power, ethics, loyalty, and what happens when you drop love into the mix. Annique, Grey, and the supporting cast are characters that live larger than life-- they are prominent players on the world chessboard and it's not surprising that when love takes them, it takes them in a big way.
The pacing and complex character development makes the plotting feel intricate and exciting... but in actuality, the basic plot is a very simple -- not to say easy-- moral dilemma. I don't think I've ever read anything so good that consisted so much of the heroine mostly thinking about how to do the right thing-- and about what exactly that thing is.
It's the voicing and the characters that make it a must-read and have Bourne's fans clamoring for more. Within Annique's point of view, the diction and thought processes are thoroughly French, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A snip:
context: she regains consciousness after being knocked off a horse
It was entirely typical she should have a view of stubby pine trees to look at for her last minutes of life. Typical she should be stretched flat in soggy, cold mud. She tried to compose her mind to a nobility suitable for such a serious moment. What she thought upon, however, was her stupidity in trusting Henri's horse and how uncomfortable she was and how hungry her belly felt and how radiant were those tiny drips that quivered down the needles of the pines... the drips that slid along the pine needles and fell one by one onto her face.
She waited. Minutes passed. Nothing happened, except that she became more wet.
It came to her that she was not going to die. Or at least, not just immediately.
Another favorite snip, full of Annique's wry and fatalistic personality:
Context: she tried and failed to escape
She could feel savage satisfaction coursing through his body. He was positively gleeful to trap her like this. She became very afraid of him.
An hour ago, she had set her hand against his heart and wanted nothing more than to stay beside him. She would now do exactly that. The universe had been treating her with great sarcasm lately.
I'm an instant fan. I am clamoring for more. In particular, I can't wait to get more of the delicious Adrian (a secondary character who travels with Grey and Annique) and hopefully a few glimpses of how Annique and Grey are adjusting to their happily-ever-after.... Sadly I guess I will have to keep waiting; the next book is not about Adrian. Neither is the one after that. Bourne's blogpost on upcoming releases.
Ah well. Something to look forward to.
Friday, April 4, 2008
I Y Andrea…
Do you have an Andrea? You should! Every book lover should.
Andrea works at my local Borders. On the days when she happens to be working and I happen to be browsing, it is a scary and wonderful thing – wonderful for my reading experience, scary for my budget.
Andrea loves romance, historical romance, romantic fantasy, romantic suspense, and most of the cross-over genres. Happily, her tastes align really well with mine and she reads everything. If I ask her who’s new and good, she’ll rattle off 3 or 4 names that I haven’t heard of. If I tell her I’m tired of historicals and I want something more contemporary, or paranormal, or fantasy, she’ll have something for me. About a year ago, I confessed that Nora Roberts’ Circle Trilogy had finally dragged me kicking and screaming into the realm of vampire romances, she talked me into reading JR Ward—I did not go willingly!-- and you all know how that turned out.
Over the years, she has introduced me to--among many others-- Loretta Chase, Stephanie Laurens, Christine Warren, Susan Anderson, Lois McMaster Bujold, CL Wilson, and of course, JR Ward. She has never, ever steered me wrong. So if she tells me I should read something, I read it.
Most recently, she suggested Grimspace by Ann Aguirre and Clockwork Heart, by Dru Pagliassotti. The first is more space-opera-ish than I usually read, but fun nevertheless. It reminded me a lot of Briggs’ Mercy Thompson books in terms of the pacing and the way the romance develops a bit over several books—well, I hope; the 2nd book is due out soon, with available excerpts and word is she has a contract for books 3 and 4.
Clockwork Heart is a bit more steam-punky, though it isn’t a typical speculative/ alternative earth history. It takes place on its own world, where the technology takes a couple of different twists from ours, primarily around a lack of semi-conductor technology and the use of a lighter-than-air metal called ondinium. Combined with a strict caste-based society, there’s an intriguing whodunit mystery along with a lovely romance. Both characters turn the assumptions of their castes upside down, and have a bit of a struggle to be able to truly *see* each other. The book has some interesting things to say about power structures and bigotry and the masks we wear with each other.
Andrea also recommended Joanna Bourne but they were stocked out. It’s next on my list though, because if Andrea says I should read it, (say it with me) I’m gonna read it!
Andrea works at my local Borders. On the days when she happens to be working and I happen to be browsing, it is a scary and wonderful thing – wonderful for my reading experience, scary for my budget.
Andrea loves romance, historical romance, romantic fantasy, romantic suspense, and most of the cross-over genres. Happily, her tastes align really well with mine and she reads everything. If I ask her who’s new and good, she’ll rattle off 3 or 4 names that I haven’t heard of. If I tell her I’m tired of historicals and I want something more contemporary, or paranormal, or fantasy, she’ll have something for me. About a year ago, I confessed that Nora Roberts’ Circle Trilogy had finally dragged me kicking and screaming into the realm of vampire romances, she talked me into reading JR Ward—I did not go willingly!-- and you all know how that turned out.
Over the years, she has introduced me to--among many others-- Loretta Chase, Stephanie Laurens, Christine Warren, Susan Anderson, Lois McMaster Bujold, CL Wilson, and of course, JR Ward. She has never, ever steered me wrong. So if she tells me I should read something, I read it.
Most recently, she suggested Grimspace by Ann Aguirre and Clockwork Heart, by Dru Pagliassotti. The first is more space-opera-ish than I usually read, but fun nevertheless. It reminded me a lot of Briggs’ Mercy Thompson books in terms of the pacing and the way the romance develops a bit over several books—well, I hope; the 2nd book is due out soon, with available excerpts and word is she has a contract for books 3 and 4.
Clockwork Heart is a bit more steam-punky, though it isn’t a typical speculative/ alternative earth history. It takes place on its own world, where the technology takes a couple of different twists from ours, primarily around a lack of semi-conductor technology and the use of a lighter-than-air metal called ondinium. Combined with a strict caste-based society, there’s an intriguing whodunit mystery along with a lovely romance. Both characters turn the assumptions of their castes upside down, and have a bit of a struggle to be able to truly *see* each other. The book has some interesting things to say about power structures and bigotry and the masks we wear with each other.
Andrea also recommended Joanna Bourne but they were stocked out. It’s next on my list though, because if Andrea says I should read it, (say it with me) I’m gonna read it!
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