『Meet colorful kings and queens from days gone by - men and women who ruled with strength, courage, and an unwavering faith in God. Their stories span more than thirteen centuries and 1,300 years of history.
"The King with the Blazing Faith" - Osward of Northumbria "The Emperor and the Grubby Little Churchman" - Charlemagne "The Princess Who Wanted the World" - Matilda of Scotland "Flowers in the Snow" - Elizabeth of Hungary "The Princess Who Said, 'No'" - Victoria of England』
Kakaku：699 saved$6.99
Del Rey
Usually ships in 1 to 3 weeks IPhone 3G used's review (Waiting for the next one) 『I too, read this series when I was younger and although 15+ years have passed, they remain my favorite series of books. I have been eagerly awaiting the re-release of these books and will purchase them again, as an adult, for a quick, fun read.
I definitely recommend them for someone who's introducing their teenager to reading. I hope they get sucked into the story as much as I did.』
(Beloved fantasy stories) 『I first read these books as a 7-year-old second grader. I still have the entire series lying around somewhere. Reading them as a child, I was absolutely enchanted. I re-read them as an adult, and they are still captivating. These stories are absolutely excellent for young readers, particularly young girls, who want a great role model. Sheila is courageous, strong, and innovative; I love her creative mind. (Wait until you see how she fends off the first perceived enemies in the "other world"!) Whether you're a parent looking for something to read to/with a child, or an adult fantasy lover, you will enjoy these tales. You can probably find the original six novels for sale used, too. (I was always hoping they would come out with more :)』
(Wonderful Book) 『I absolutely love these books. I only found the firt two at a clearence book store in the mall, and I truly fell in love with the books. Granted, they are more for young preteens than teenagers, but those of you who love a great fantasy story, this is a series for you. They should really put these books back into print, it would really be worth it if they would. So many people would love them, and I really hope publishers make them available again soon. I only have the first three, but have been going through pains to get the rest, seeing as how they are all so expensive these days. Keep looking though, it would really be worth your while if you could bye the books.』
(About Time!) 『It's about time that they got around to print Secret of the Unicorn queen again. I love these books. They are the perfect adventure fantasy books for young adults. A little romance, some fighting and good triumphs over evil like any good tale. While they were printed over 10 years ago, they have never gone out of fad. Now all we have to do is wait till the other books come out in print too.』
(An underrated series) 『I read the 'Secret of the Unicorn Queen' many years ago when they were first released, I adored them then and I'm glad to see that things that I loved then are still present now.
The series follows a young teenage girl name Sheila who has a pretty normal life, the only thing out of the ordinary is her relationship with Dr. Rite an eccentric scientist.
When a accident happens involving his affectionate cat and a untested invention Sheila finds herself in the world of Arren, where unicorns are real, magic exists. She meets a group of women determined to free the land from a tyrant. Sheila joins them and can't help but get caught up in the fight.
While the book doesn't break any barriers and doesn't bring anything new to the genre it's still a solidly written story with likable characters, and engaging plot and even a few laughs.
Though intended for younger readers I think this series has appeal for older ones as well and not just as nostalgia.』 『DISCOVER THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN QUEEN
When her eccentric friend Dr. Reit invents an amazing transport into other worlds, Sheila McCarthy accidentally falls through the portal into the kingdom of Arren. There, Sheila finds herself part of a band of warrior-women. Astride unicorns, they gallop toward a dazzling city made of marble. But will they arrive in time to stop the evil king and his wicked wizard henchman from carrying out their deadly plans? And will Sheilaeverbe able to return home?
Thus begins the spellbinding story of an ordinary teenager trapped in an extraordinary place. Swept Away!andSun Blindare the first two novels in the dazzling adventure The Secret of the UnicornQueen.
The Secret of the Unicorn Queen is the newest addition to the Del Rey Imagine program, which offers the best in fantasy and science fiction for readers twelve and up.』
Kakaku：200 saved$2.00
Xlibris Corporation
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (An entertaining tale with a few flaws) 『This is the tale of a golden brooch and how it wreaks havoc on the lives of fourteenth century English and Irish. The brooch is imbued with the spirit of a malevolent Irish queen, but it is highly desired thanks to a clever lie propagated by its fourteenth century discoverer. He claims the brooch was owned by St. Patrick and will bring luck, and though he dies the day after its discovery, no one ever suspects. We watch as the brooch continues to bring disaster everywhere it goes. In the fourteenth century, our main character is John de Bermingham. We accompany him when he is fostered to an Irish family, when he has his first love affair, and throughout many other ordinary and extraordinary events as he struggles to save Ireland from the conquering English.
I like Birmingham's idea, that this period in English and Irish history is so destructive that it allows him to introduce an external force as a frame for a historical novel. It's a clever device and this is a great story. Birmingham has no trouble with plotting; his novel is a roller coaster powered by history and takes no time to get going. I knew all the history he was introducing except for a few of the Irish segments, but I still found it to be an exciting and at times unpredictable read. His research on the de Bermingham family and the period is evident, and he uses that knowledge to great effect here.
I did have a few issues, however, namely with some of the dialogue. This is a self-published work and though it has had one professional edit, it could use another to reach its full potential. Some of the dialogue could be more effective and realistic, a few commas are missing, and the Latin doesn't seem to make sense. I didn't like John very much (though his arrogance is a part of his journey, so it makes sense, and he does repent by the end), but I loved some of the supporting cast - my favorites were Avalena and Deirdra. Both of them are excellent in their own ways.
This is a novel that needs some work, but has a ton of potential and is certainly entertaining. I'll happily be reading Mr. Birmingham's next book.』 『"The struggle for the survival of Ireland in the 14th Century"
An Irish monk scribes the tale of an ancient Irish Queen whose tormented soul is imprisoned in a second century Gaelic brooch, The Golden Harp. The demonic destruction spread by the evil queen's spirit will lead to the death of one of every three individuals in Ireland in the early 14th Century. The Queen's Tale chronicles the journey of the brooch as it travels from Ireland into England, then to Scotland, and back again into Ireland, leaving a trail of death and destruction. Two individuals vie for the right to possess the brooch believing it to be a sacred relic of St. Patrick's that will protect the one who wears it from all danger.
John de Bermingham, the second son of an Irish baron, is first to wear the brooch. He is obsessed with winning an earldom and becoming the English king's justiciar of Ireland. Despite being betrothed to one of the earl of Ulster's daughters, he rescues and falls in love with an Irish princess, deemed unsuitable. Three times he will regain possession of the brooch. Only a sacred rosary given to him by a mysterious Italian Franciscan friar protects his life. Unknown to John, he can defeat the ancient evil in the brooch if he is able to pass four preordained tests in his journey of life. The first is a test of devotion, where he bestows the brooch to an unattainable love. The second is a test of obedience, where he must give up the brooch to a weak king. For the third test he must decline to become a king. In the fourth and final test, he of Anglo-Norman heritage must become more Irish than the native Irish, and unselfishly give up his life for the undeserving king.
The second to control possession of the brooch is Edward II, King of England. He is weak and easily manipulated by false friends, seeking only wealth and power. He would rather thatch and dig ditches than be king. Married to Isabella of France, he prefers the couch of his male lovers to her. He gives the brooch to three of his favorites, who die violently. He leads England into civil war and the loss of Scotland. Only after being imprisoned, by his queen and her lover, and forced to abdicate, does he grasp and repent his folly.
After defeating the English at the battle of Bannockburn, the Scottish King, Edward the Bruce, gives permission to his younger brother, Edward, to invade and conquer Ireland. Edward Bruce leads his army of seasoned Scots into Ireland wearing the Golden Harp Brooch. He had taken it from the slain body of Edward II's favorite nephew at Bannockburn. After three years of Bruce's terror and defeat of defending armies, John de Bermingham steps forward to lead the Anglo-Norman militias of Ireland into the final battle against the never defeated Bruce, whom the native Irish had crowned "High King of all Ireland".
The historical novel is based on actual historical events and individuals Only the motivations and inner feelings of the main characters are based on the author's imagination. Of the twenty-four characters in the novel, only four are fictional.
The opening sequence of the novel starts with a monologue given by the novel's narrator, an Irish Dominican monk from Athenry, County Galway.
Grey Friars Church, London - 1528 A.D.
An Irish Monk speaks...
"Have I gone mad? For the past two days I, Seamus Cassidy, a lowly Dominican priest, have been conversing non-stop in Gaelic with the devil. I am upset and fearful as to why this evil spirit from the depths of hell has chosen to disclose to me an incredible tale which reveals some of the darkest secrets of the fourteenth century.
Kakaku：400 saved$4.00
Arcadia Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (An excellent book covering long gone trolley lines) 『This is a fascinating companion book to the previous Arcadia book by Stephen L. Meyers, which covered the long gone streetcars of Manhattan. This new publication covers the trolley lines of New York's borough of Queens which were gone by 1939, as well as the obscure traction properties on Long Island that disappeared during the 1920s. Like other Arcadia books, it is primarily a photo book with sufficient text to accompany the photos and provide historical information. Although some Queens trolley lines were operated into the 1950's by the New York City Transit System, the private companies, such as the New York&Queens County and the Steinway lines, met their demise during the depression years of the 1930s. It is these properties, along with the aforementioned Long Island operations, that Mr. Meyers concentrates on in his book. The photographs are top quality and beautifully reproduced and the well organized text fully complements the many photos.I highly recommend this book to those interested in a fascinating look at these interesting trolley lines. There are few people around these days who remember them and Lost Trolleys of Queens and Long Island will provide an excellent time travel experience into the past.』 『An amazing assortment of electric trolley lines once traversed the towns and villages of Queens and Long Island. With names like Jamaica Central, Northport Traction, Ocean Electric, and the Steinway lines, some meandered across meadows and hills while others sped over elevated tracks. There was even one line that had streetcars but no tracks. In the end, all of them helped stitch the countryside into the concentrated suburban area it is today—with barely a trace of the trolleys left anywhere.』
Kakaku：599 saved$5.99
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Quite the Paige-turner!) 『One of the best Charmed collection books I've ever read. There were several unsuspected plot twists, quite the coup for any reader bored with clear, follow-through endings. After finishing, it was interesting to reflect that the title has a double meaning... This Charming book focuses on Paige, and even if she's not your favorite sister, you'll find yourself twisting and turning along with Paige, and come away with a new admiration for her strength of character as The Charmed Ones take on a curse of fairy tale proportions.』
(Prince Charming surely awaits) 『The Queen's curse is an alright book. it was a little slow but the novel flowed well. The use of magic was good and Piper's witt is hilarious. All in all if your a Charmed fan then read it.』
(Your Majesty Indeed) 『Emma Harrison has done a great job in this book. Unlike some of her fellow Charmed writers, she does not hold back on the magical mojo, and instead piles every page of the book with it. This effect, though brutal on screen, is perfect on paper. There is nothing quite like reading through a 200+ page book, but even of you are a fan of it, there is still that little element of boredom. Harrison tries her best to eradicate most of that boredom, noticeably throughout the book, by slamming on the action and magic hard and fast. The end was magnificent, and though the plot was not perfect, the effort put into the book was.』
(nice story) 『paige is having romantic woes, wondering if she will ever meet mr. right and how will she hide her powers. out of nowhere she meets colin, who is just too perfect. after a few dates he asks her to marry him and is interrupted by none other than his fiance.
of course paige is majorlly ticked off. but colin explains that he is from tarsina, which is in another dimension and that if he does not marry a pure magical being by his birthday, all of the mortals of his kingdom will die.
of course good hearted paige agrees to at least see the kingdom and bring leo and her sisters along for the ride. there they find a fairytale of a kingdom, with bad guys in some of the most unlikliest of places.
the story is well written, it takes you back to childhood where every little girls dream was to meet prince charming. it starts out a little slow and will almost make you not read the rest. but hang in there.』
(Different plot from most other charmed books... but awesome!!) 『Emma Harrison's best work to date. I enjoyed this book, no doubt about it. It is a story about how Paige finally meets her Prince Charming, (or so she THINKS), she gets the impression of what a flawless person Colin is, but never expected to be proposed to on just the 4th date!! This book is like a supernatural romantic fairy tale story, with the requisite curses and hexes placed on some innocent people, based one on person's nonsensical beliefs, with some "unfair" dilemmas on these people. But what differentiates it from a regular fairy tale is the fact that the charmed Ones were involved!!! You know the usual discussions, bickering, brainstorming, flipping-of-the-Book-Of-Shadows and vanquishing spells. The only difference is that there were no big, grotesque demons to vanquish and no potions to throw at them (those loyalists, Sinjin and his guards don't count).
In my opinion, I don't think this book was impeccable, by any means, as most of Emma's stories tend to an itsy-bit long-winded and draggy, but nevertheless, her writing style packs and amazing load of suspense, unexpected twists and turns in the story and slapstick humor. My main complaint about the book is that it ends with a quick, efficient and impromptu spell, by the Charmed ones, which seems pretty obvious, in most impossible situations. And in some situatuons, like the transferring of powers to Corrine from her Grandma seemed obvious too. Also, what about the other loyalists? I know they were imprisoned in the dungeon, but that's it?! It needs more details about what happened to them. Other than that, two thumbs up to Emma for writing this fabulous Charmed novel!!
』 『While trouble brews, a ring is placed --
But evil may have hidden its face.
A perfect prince and love's true tale...
Show the secrets; we must not fail!
Paige has finally met her Prince Charming. Funny, smart, sweet, and beyond good-looking, Colin is fantastic. By the time he's gotten her phone number, Paige is completely smitten. And he isn't evil, which is definitely a plus. In fact, he seems pretty much perfect. After just a few dates, Colin asks Paige to marry him -- and she accepts. The last thing she expects to find out is that not only is Colin really a prince -- of a magical kingdom no less -- but he's already engaged!
So what else is Prince Perfect hiding? Apparently that there are major dark forces gathering to overtake his kingdom, Tarsina, thereby upsetting the balance of good and evil in the world. The only way Colin can save his realm is to marry a magical being by his twenty-fifth birthday. Which is next week. Enter Paige -- and exit Corrine, Colin'srealtrue love. When Leo confirms all this with the Elders, the Charmed Ones kick into high gear. It's off to Tarsina, but will there be a royal wedding...or a royal disaster?』
Kakaku：999 saved$9.99
TokyoPop
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Typical Fun Shojo!) 『Honestly, my fiance loved this series. Typical Shojo drama. There is a Princess, this is a mysterious world and a lot of Manga drama!! It is a very good series if you are fans of The Twelve Kingdoms, Vampire Knight,or Wild Ones!』 『Yuna decides that she loves Phantasma and wishes only for the happiness of its people. For this reason, she requests Ehren to find Rieno so that she can say her last farewells before she fully embraces her duties as Queen. She then throws herself into her work without even stopping for food or sleep in order to rid herself of lingering thoughts of Rieno. Will the strain be too much for Yuna to bear?』
Kakaku：195 saved$1.95
Pocket
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (It's OK - Rainy Day Read) 『Just finished this first book in Buckley's series. I liked the time period and the character of Ursula. But, the writing is very basic and the plot lines and dialogue became very redundant. Maybe it's my fault, but I just couldn't keep track of the group of characters that were suspects - who they were and how they related to the victim.
To sum up, there just wasn't 326 pages worth of content. The 2 and 3 star ratings for the other books in the series really ring true. I probably won't be continuing with the series. 』
(Weak on plot) 『Good historical scene-setting and characters. Sticks pretty close to the famous Amy Robsart affair. Way too much romance and gothic touches. Main weakness is the plot, which wanders and drags with quite a lot of repetitiveness. I really enjoyed the sensual quality of the background - visual, auditory, olfactory. It came alive. I will try one more of this series.』
("Once more I saw the spoor of treason, how it prowled from one victim to another.") 『
A recent widow with a small child to support, Ursula Blanchard is fortunate to catch the attention of Sir William Cecil, Secretary of State to the new queen, Elizabeth, only eighteen months on the throne. Cecil finds a position for Ursula as one of Elizabeth's Ladies of the Presence Chamber, assuring a monthly income, although the young widow remains in dire financial straights. The court is currently rife with rumors of a romance between Sir Robert Dudley and Elizabeth, not the least of which is the matter of Dudley's wife, Amy, who is ill and isolated at their estate at Cumnor. When gossip insinuates a threat to Amy's life, so that Robert will be free to marry the Queen, Elizabeth and Dudley enjoin Ursula to go to Amy and assure her of their concern for their safety. Ursula agrees to the task, leaving behind a gentleman seeking to win her favor, Matthew de la Roche.
Amy Dudley is indeed pitiful, distraught at the loss of her husband's affections and suffering from what her physician has diagnosed as a terminal illness. Sympathetic to the young woman's plight, Ursula wins Amy's trust, reexamining Dudley and the Queen's motives for sending her on the mission. Certainly, strange comings and goings on the estate warrant suspicion as court rumors infiltrate even Cumnor. Unfortunately, Ursula cannot prevent the inevitable. When Amy suffers an "accident" that takes her life, it is impossible to determine the cause and Ursula reevaluates her position as servant or pawn to the Queen. Her own man killed while on a journey to deliver a vital message, Ursula sets out to find his murderers, at the same time stumbling upon a plot to challenge Elizabeth's throne.
Elizabeth's reign draws gossip by its very nature, as suitors and sycophants gather, currying royal favor and jockeying for power. Anyone close to the Queen is a target for malicious scheming and Dudley is no exception, a threat to others who would have the Queen's favor. With the best of intentions, the honorable Ursula is caught in a conundrum not of her making, doing the Queen's bidding yet unable to protect Amy Dudley from her fate. Her own future in jeopardy, Ursula is at the core of the scandal caused by Amy's death, faced with decisions that will not only determine her future happiness but influence the direction of the country. Luan Gaines/2006. 』
(3.5 stars - a bit slow at times) 『Ursula is a strong, independent woman, but not unrealistically so for her background or position. The mystery is okay, but the characters and depiction of the period kept me involved. Although it dragged a bit at times, Buckley paints a wonderful picture of the life and intrigues of court life. I would read another.』
(First in an Intriguing Elizabethan Mystery series) 『The first in a series of mysteries by British author Fiona Buckley, set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I. If you loved the movie ELIZABETH, you'll love this series. Ursula Blanchard, a recently widowed woman, must leave her young daughter in the care of a servant and make her own way in the world as a lady in waiting to young Queen Elizabeth I. At court she finds herself encountering intrigue at every turn and is soon offered an opportunity to serve the Queen and earn some extra funds which she can use to support her young daughter. Rumors abound that nobleman Robin Dudley is having an affair with the Queen, and that he is poisoning his wife to free him from his marriage. Ursula must go to his home to protect Dudley's name, and through him the Queen's. But once Ursula arrives, she begins to have doubts, especially after the warnings she receives. Is there something to the rumors? And if so, is Dudley the one behind them, or is there something even more dangerous and sinister afoot?
If you know your Tudor history, you're going to love this series. It's full of people, places and customs of the period, very well researched. Even the central mystery of the plot is based on fact, like all of Fiona Buckley's books. There's a subtlety to the plot, and a great deal of political and religious intrigue mixed in. It's quite rich and pleasantly complex.
What I most enjoyed was the detailed account of the daily life of a gentlewoman. There seem to be a lot of books about daily life of the working class and peasants, many more on the life of the nobles. What you don't often see are the middle class, which is what makes Ursula Blanchard such an interesting heroine. She is caught between the two classes, at the mercy of the nobles and trapped in their plots and games, yet high enough that she can be a player (or pawn) in those same games.
This is a great start to a very intriguing series.』
『
Loyal Servant. Devoted Friend. Perfect target.
Rumor has linked Queen Elizabeth I to her Master of Horse, Robin Dudley. And what rumors, at that: but for his ailing wife, Amy, Dudley would wed her majesty, the gossipmongers are whispering. To quell idle tongues, Elizabeth dispatches Ursula Blanchard to tend to the sick woman's needs. But not even Ursula can prevent the "accident" that takes Amy's life. Did she fall or was she pushed? Was Ursula a pawn of Dudley and the Queen?
Suddenly Ursula finds herself at the center of the scandal, trying to protect Elizabeth as she loses her heart to a Frenchman who may be flirting with sedition against her Queen. She can trust no one, neither her lover nor her monarch, as she sets out to find the truth in a glittering court that conceasls a wellspring of blood and lies.』
Kakaku：280 saved$2.80
Berkley Trade
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. IPhone 3G used's review (Great read) 『I bought the book for sharon shinn's story cause I am a big fan of her 12th house stories. The other authors are decent but not up to my standard』
(disappointed) 『I was disappointed with all the stories in this book, they were not up to what made me fans of these authors.』
(A mixed bag (three and a half stars)) 『It seems that the people who read this anthology fall into either of two groups: romance readers who love Kurland's story and mostly dislike the other ones and fantasy readers who pick the book up for Shinn's story and don't know what to make of the rest.
The plots are neatly summed up in the book description, so I'll just give you my impressions.
"A Whisper of Spring": Sometimes the impossible is closer than you think. I'm more of a fantasy reader, so Kurland's story was very nice, life-affirming, cozy, predictable and perfectly forgettable to me. No background building whatsoever. Maybe if it were a full-length book... Well, it's obviously a part of her Nine Kingdoms series, with another story published in the anthology "To Weave a Web of Magic" and a full-length novel "Star of the Morning" coming out in December 2006, so there's still hope. Three stars.
"When Winter Comes": Fight for the ones you love and you'll get rewarded. I love Sharon Shinn, so I liked her story very well, though it started as slow as her novels tend to, which may be annoying to unaccustomed readers. The story is a spin-off of her novel "Dark Moon Defender", the third volume of her Twelve Houses series. Even though it can easily be read without knowing the series, I suspect that in order to get a better feeling of the political/social background it would be best to have read at least "Mystic and Rider" first. Four stars.
"The Kiss of the Snow Queen": I've no idea what this story was about. Deveraux' story was the one in the lot I simply disliked and was bored by. It's not that it was badly written. I suppose that there may even be some readers who'll love it. However, the mix of Christian faith and Norse myths combined with the fairy tale of the Snow Queen and stuffed with both modern slang and medieval archaisms was... chancy, to put it mildly. I'm not usually bothered by such things (obviously, since I love Shinn's books), but some readers who are serious about their religion may even find it offensive. And if there was any romance at all, it was not between the hero and the heroine. Two and a half stars.
"A Gift of Wings": Love heals. I've never read anything by Monette, so I was pleasantly surprised. The best story in the anthology, in my opinion. It was maybe too obviously a 'healing' romance, developed against a background of a 'whodunnit'. Intricate world building, very interesting characters. This story is a bit darker than the other ones. What some readers may not like about it is that the heroine is obviously the stronger partner and the hero does a lot of crying, sometimes coming across as seventeen rather than thirty, but, hey, he's entitled ;-) I think I'm going to give her novels a try. Four and a half stars.
In my opinion, this anthology is such a mixed bag that each person will find a different story to his or her liking, but never all of them.』
(5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others) 『I got this book for the first story, "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland. I love her writing, while the other authors here just aren't my style. I love the way Lynn's stories are all clean... the romance is real love, rather than sexual "chemistry." This story didn't disappoint me. The emotion and tension is there, even though not even a kiss can be found in its pages. It is a BEAUTIFUL story of two people who discover that the chance that they never thought possible, has been given to them... to be together.
Iolaire, an elfin priness, has been kidnapped by the evil Lothar of Wychwold. Her brother seeks out Symon, the mage king of Neroche, to help rescue her. The rescue is swiftly accomplished... but Iolaire cannot return to her home... and Symon finally dares to believe that maybe he can have her as his own.』
(Excellent Compilation) 『I bought this book for the Sharon Shinn story, as I am a big fan of her Mystic and Rider series, and this story ties up a few loose ends. I also enjoyed the other stories, but the real treasure was Sarah Monette's short story, A Gift of Wings. It's a beautiful story, and extraordinarily well-written, so I give this book 5 stars for not only living up to my expectations as far as Sharon Shinn's story, but also introducing me to an exceptional new author for me.』 『From four of today's most imaginative authors come four stories of love as pure as the driven snow that will warm the coldest of hearts.
USA Todaybestselling author Claire Delacroix delivers an enchanting tale of a gifted seer who receives a vision of a man whom she was not meant to marry, but was meant to love.
USA Todaybestselling author Lynn Kurland spins a story of a mortal man and an elven woman who endure both the mundane and the magical in their quest to remain together.
Award-winning author Sharon Shinn writes of a brave young woman who saves her sister's magically- gifted child, only to receive an unexpected gift of her own.
And newcomer Sarah Monette's romantic novella tells of a warrior maiden trapped in a deadly storm with the only man she ever wanted, whose scars she must heal if he is ever to want her.』
Kakaku：140 saved$1.40
NAL Trade
Usually ships in 1 to 3 months IPhone 3G used's review (Just like the cover this book is beige (and clearly no research was done on the subject)) 『This book sat in my to read stack for two years or so (ever since it was published) and I never got around to reading it. To admit a completely stupid emotion I even felt guilty for having it sit around for so long getting no attention from me. But regardless when I did pick it up and read it I was a little...stunned. Not because this was some fantastic novel that redefined my life or because it was the worst piece of trash ie ever read that left me attempting to scrub my brain with soap to get the bad words out of my head. Not I was stunned because a more mediocre novel I have never read.
I guess it's a good thing that the cover was beige because this whole novel was just.....bla. While apparently the plot is like, edge of your seat, biting your fingernails, peeing in your pants exciting, in reality it's dull. It doesn't even have the imagination to be confusing, it's just boring.
So Gwenith (in reality this should be called a book of Queen Isabella and Gwenith the random royal Welsh girl) had her whole family destroyed by Edward Longshanks during his campaign to get ride of the Welsh princes of Wales and had vowed to her dead grandmother to everything she can to get ride of the present Edward, Longshanks son. Being a lady of waiting to Queen Isabella she gets a chance when a Welsh knight pleads his master's case to her and asks that the queen might meet with his master, Mortimer.
Doesn't sound bad-well it is. On top of all of the historical inaccuracies (and there are soooo many-either this author did no research and went off of what she learned from movies like "Braveheart" or there was no editing at all or both. I mean fiction is fiction, but in historical fiction you need to get the facts strait-you can pay with character emotions, things that are disputed by the historical communities...but not strait out facts!) The plot inches along at a snails pace. Even the action parts of the book are boring. There are only two interesting things in the whole book in fact, one is Isabella and Edwards fights which are really something and the other is the intimation that Edward III is not the son of Edward II, but his real father is never named.
Anyway, this book is a great way to put yourself to sleep. I managed to finish it, but unless you like sleeping all the time or being in a catatonic state, I wouldn't recommend it.
One star. 』
(Queen of Shadows by Edith Felber) 『This lady Edith Felber should write more historical novels. Tres bien!!! She definitely rates among the top authors of historical novels. If it didn't have two sex explicit scenes I would want it to be placed in all school libraries. The girl students nowadays love this kind of literature but this book wouldn't pass the approval of our school board.』
(Waste of time and money!) 『I realize a historical fiction is fiction but usually the author does research and builds the fiction around the facts. I am not an expert and even I picked up on the inaccuracies (not just the dates, places and events but the customs, speech, dress, etc.) I gave this book one star because of the historical figures she started with and the only good parts in this book are Isabella's interactions with Despenser. I can't say this would even be a good book if you like romance because the love scenes were not fantastic. Over all this book is poorly written and I am not sure it's the writers fault or the editor. There's so many mistakes it's hard to read through it. The characters are weak, the plot is weak, details of the period are not that discriptive or all wrong. It's so unbelievable, it's comical. As I was reading this book, I thought if it became a movie it would be a cartoon. If your looking for a good historical fiction, look for Sharon Kay Penman or Anya Seton or even Philippa Gregory.』
(Good Story but Full of Inaccuracies) 『First of all, the term "Majesty" was not used until Henry VIII styled himself as such a couple of centuries later. There are many other details which are inaccurate and for the avid reader of Historical Novels, (NOT historical romances) it was sometimes difficult to get past them to enjoy the story. This author was not as thorough on her research as she should have been. Two authors who ARE who I love and I have read nearly everything they've written are Margaret George and Sharon Kay Penman. As a descendant of Edward I, Edward II and Edward III, I am particularly interested in historical fiction from this time period. The author should be aware that unlike historical romances, the readers of historical novels DO know their history.』
(Terrific historical novel) 『Queen of Shadows is a marvelous book. I liked it so much I wrote a blurb for it. I have written myself about dark ages and medieval Britain, and Edith Felber captures so well the color, the sights, the sounds, the smells of a medieval English court. Isabella (whom I had always thought to be a villainess) comes across as a strong woman who has the guts to take her destiny (and that of her country) into her own capable hands. This is the first review I have ever written for Amazon, but I didn't want potential readers to miss out on this wonderful book because of a highly dyspectic previous review. Joan Wolf』 『In fourteenth-century England, beautiful Queen Isabella-humiliated by her weak, unfaithful husband-is emerging from the shadows to take her revenge. But her newly arrived, twenty-oneyear-old Welsh handmaiden, Gwenith de Percy, also seeks vengeance-against the English invaders who crushed her beloved Wales. Isabella's once-golden marriage is now her penance. Due to his rumored relations with men, Parliament forced Edward to share his throne-a demeaning arrangement that torments Isabella.
With the help of her secret, noble lover, Roger Mortimer-an enemy of her husband, imprisoned in the Tower of London-the queen plots to take control. Thrilled by this turn of events, Gwenith realizes that a king cannot afford to be weak-especially when his formidable, discontented queen seeks his power as her due.』
