September, 2023

"The Other Princess" by Denny S. Bryce

After her entire family is slaughtered, African Princess Aina is rescued from death by Captain Forbes and presented to Queen Victoria as a gift.  Renamed Sarah and taught to be English, she initially lives with the loving Forbes family.  She is introduced to Queen Victoria and begins a confusing journey between households.  Living between two worlds, Sarah must decide who she is, and who she wants to become.

Overall this was a well written and engaging story.  I enjoyed reading the passages about Africa, I've read very little about the continent.  I felt for Sarah, at the same time seeing the advantages her connection with the royal family brought.  Overall, well worth reading!

"Crossroads of Granite" by Michael Reit

This is the third book in the Orphans of War trilogy.  It was a fantastic and well awaited conclusion to the story.  It brings the stories of Nora, Christiaan, Floris, and Lisa full circle.  I enjoyed the entire series, but this may have been the best.  Christiaan, ended up in Mauthausen concentration camp, which I have visited.  The author did a fantastic job of conveying the horror of the camp and the extreme circumstances of the steps.  Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

"Into Siberia" by Gregory Wallance

Russian enthusiast George Kennan traveled to Siberia in 1885 to explore the Siberian exile system.  Expecting to find a humane and advanced imprisonment system, he saw the brutality, senselessness, and inhumanity of the system.  After returning home to the US, he began to speak out against Russia, changing the landscape of American-Russian relations forever.

George Kennan was an interesting explorer and humanitarian.  It was exciting to read about his life and travels.  I was particularly interested in reading about Siberia, as I knew very little about the exile system before picking up this book.  What a horror!  The author did an excellent job weaving history into a story.  Overall, highly recommended.

"Hammer of the Dogs" by Jarret Keene

After nuclear weapons destroyed the world, pockets of civilization fight over resources and technology.  Lash is one of the oldest students at a paramilitary school set at the Luxor on the destroyed Vegas strip.  The school teaches that cyborg Jesus will restore the world.  When lash is captured by the school's enemy, she realizes that her life has been based on a lie.

I'm not sure how to rate this book.  It wasn't what I was expecting.  I do not particularly enjoy the cyborg, technology-mad stories.  I prefer the dystopic novels where technology has been destroyed.  I had a hard time relating to Lash and the other characters.  Despite this criticism, the book was well written and well paced.  I'm sure many will enjoy it.

"Lilith" by Nikki Marmery

Brought to life in the Garden of Eden, Lilith is the daughter of Asherah, and Yahweh.  When Adam begins to dominate her, Lilith refuses, and is cast out.  Searching for Asherah, she realizes that she is missing and Yahweh is behind her disappearance.  When Lilith realizes that Eve has been created as Adam's helpmeet, she tries to speak to her, and shows her the Tree of Knowledge.  Granted immortality, Lilith move through history, seeking Asherah and finding ways to restore balance and regain Paradise.

I could not put this book down.  It was well written, and the character development was master level.  I enjoyed the author's interpretations of biblical history and loved how she weaved Lilith throughout.  I can't recommend this book enough.  I look forward to reading more from this author.

"Followers" by Raziel Reid

After Lily is arrested, she is taken in by her famous reality TV star aunt and cousins.  Thrust into the reality TV spotlight, Lily must decide who she is, and what she is willing to put up with.

I had a hard time with this book in the beginning.  It isn't really for my demographic, and the emoji's, slang, and focus on social media just didn't appeal to me.  However, as I kept reading, I began to feel a kinship with Lily, as she struggled to come to terms with her dysfunctional family and learned to be ok with herself.  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.

"The Women" by Kristin Hannah

When her brother's plane is shot down over Vietnam, Frankie is determined to honor his memory.  Impulsively, she joins the Army Nurse Corp and is shipped away from her conservative family and idyllic life in California.  Thrust into the jungles of Vietnam, she is shocked and overwhelmed by the horrors of war.  Two nurses take Frankie under their wings and help her survive and even thrive.  When her tour is over, Frankie returns home, only to be spit upon, looked down at, and vilified for her service.

Wow.  Just wow.  I'm not sure I've read much about Vietnam, and was appalled at how the public treated these returning heroes.  Frankie not only had to deal with an unpopular war, but with being denied because she was a woman.  It was definitely a double blow.  The book itself was well written and engaging, I am very glad that it included experiences and troubles after the war.  I think so many books stop when the hero goes home.  Overall, highly recommended!

"The Library at Mount Char" by Scott Hawkins

I'm not entirely sure how to describe this book.  It is truly an original work of art.  It contained fascinating, multi-dimensional characters who constantly surprised me.  It was well paced, and hard to put down.  The story itself was both horrific and wonderful at the same time.  I look forward to reading more from this author!

"The Porcelain Maker" by Sarah Freethy

In 1929 Germany, Max, a Jewish architect, and Bettina, a painter, meet and instantly forge a connection.  Years later, when the Nazi's come into power, their relationship is threatened.  When Max is arrested, he is sent to Dachau, where he works at a porcelain factory.  Bettina, determined to survive, marries a Nazi official for safety, and works to find her way into the porcelain factory.  In the 1990's, Clara, Bettina's daughter, begins searching for the identity of her father, and the secrets that her mother kept from her.

I enjoyed the WWII storyline, but felt that the modern storyline was unnecessary.  It took focus away from Bettina and Max, and slowed everything down.  The modern day story unraveled in a very expected manner and did not contribute to the story.  Overall, 3 out of 5 stars.