Kakaku：599 saved$5.99
Candlewick
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (It shoots, it scores!) 『Though published through a children's book publishing house, you cannot say that this is necessarily a book intended for the eyes of kids only. Anyone who has ever loved the WNBA, anyone who has a favorite player that is featured in this book, and anyone who loves poetry OR basketball will enjoy this book. A ribald collection of photographic images and odes to individual WNBA players, Charles R. Smith Jr. has created the ultimate loving tribute to twelve of his favorite muses.
First of all, I am not personally a WNBA fan. So in reviewing this book I can't tell you whether or not the twelve women featured in this book are the current top twelve players, the past top twelve players, or just random players that Smith thinks are especially talented. For each woman pictured here, Smith has written a poem. We begin with "Fly Swatter", dedicated to the great height and skill of Margo Dydek. This poem, like all the others, shows a picture of the woman featured in sepia tones doing exactly what the poem says she's doing. So Tina Thompson's poem "T 4 2" shows her scoring a two-pointer while Nykesha Sales's, "The Bomb" shows the ultimate jump shot. The poems are written with a bouncy fast-paced style that's sure to please any burgeoning poet or sports fan. For example, a poem about Ticha Penicheiro says, "Racing and running/and spinning and swerving/ in total control/ while feeding and serving/ delicious assists/ with wrist-flick tricks/ Chef T serves/ dishes with slick/ style and/ skill". They're all like that. Tricky enjoyable little spots of poetry that laud some of Smith's favorite players and talents.
In the back of the book Smith has included little bios of each player and the reason he wrote the poem he did for each. If the poems themselves were complimentary, these bios are positively worshipful. Still, I think what Smith has done here is give each person an individual identity. A lesser writer (or fan, for that matter) might be tempted to lump these women into a single group without individual personalities or traits. Smith works hard to display each person with the dignity and talent they so rightly possess.
The book's covers are apparently made of cardboard, which struck me as a little odd. Still, despite this bizarre packaging the book's a worthy addition to any sports fan's home. If you've been scouring the shelves for WNBA poetry and have found yourself coming up short, I believe you'll be happy to find this little number ready and waiting for you. It may not contain the most thought provoking poems in the world, but it accomplishes what it set out to do. It praises its subjects fervently and beautifully. 』 『"Young basketball fans will have a hard time keeping still. . . . A great choice to energize poetry units."— BOOKLIST
Margo Dydek, Ticha Penicheiro, Chamique Holdsclaw . . . these are just three of the twelve women profiled in a dynamic group of poems honoring some of the best female players in professional basketball. With action photographs and kinetic lyrics illustrating each player’s style, HOOP QUEENS will grab the attention of any kid who loves basketball — and score a slam-dunk with teachers of poetry.
An International Reading Association Children’s Choice
IPhone 3G used's review (Something for everyone to knit) 『As a novice knitter, I was thrilled to receive The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits: 19 Projects, Step-by-Step Instructions, Basic to Advanced Stitches delivered to my doorstep. I pulled out my odds and ends of yarn, scissors, different-sized needles and sat down on the couch with the book.
Once considered your grandmother's sport of choice, knitting has made a comeback in the past few years--well beyond the kitschy Christmas sweaters or `70s tea cozies. So it was nice to delve into a book that reaffirmed the fact that knitting is once again in style with a whole new generation.
I consider myself primarily a "scarf" person, favoring simple, mindless patterns I can accomplish in front of the television. The Craft Queen's Guide to Hip Knits is a nice departure from the "scarf maker" in me. The book's introduction gives a rundown of the basics, from casting-on-and-off methods to increasing or decreasing rows and learning to read patterns and pick the right needles.
Giving the projects in the book a "wow" factor are the large, minimalist photos of balls of yarn and completed projects. This knitting pattern book has such stunning photos--full-color pages of thick, purple yarn, sumptuous textures and "hip" projects.
There are 19 projects offered, from beginner (like me) to advanced, but even the advanced patterns don't seem particularly daunting. Projects run the gamut from fingerless gloves, pillow covers, scarves, shawls and a lampshade. Don't be turned off by the kitsch factor of knitting a lampshade, though; it's actually appealing.
Armchair Interviews says: Nice book for all levels of knitters.』
(Very hip) 『This book was lots of fun. I have yet to actually knit any of the patterns, but I know I will. I may never knit all of the patterns but this is just one of those knitting books that elicits both smiles and creative juices. I would definitely recommend it for everyone but a very first time knitter - it's definitely not your standard basic "learn to knit" book. It's a great addition to my collection of knitting books』 『* Fun and funky styles for beginning knitters! * Cool, fun projects: leg warmers, mitts, scarves, pillows, throws--and lampshades! * Each chapter introduces a new technique and great projects to practice with!
Beginning knitters, cheer up. Now you can learn to knit exciting, amusing designs by Catherine Tough, known for her witty accessories. A section on getting started shows all the basics. Then it’s time to make stylish leg warmers, mitts, scarves, pillows, throws, and more, following step-by-step instructions and clear illustrations. Big needles make many projects fast; fun yarn combinations and clever, cute embellishments make them all hip.』
IPhone 3G used's review (Every page is a pin-up - gimmee a break!) 『This is the second book in the series, so if you've gotten this far, then yo may already be a ware of many of the weaknesses in this book.
Firstly, the printing and binding is not so good. Illustations have a lot of color and these are printed well. However, where the pages are glued together overlaps with the printed frames of the comic. So, in order to read dialogue near the edges of the page, you have to really pry the pages apart and try and look in the crack then guess what the part of the word that you can't see is. This is doable, when trying to decipher a word. It makes viewing an entire picture at once impossible.
The story is OK. It flows nicely in and out of back stories for the characters and world. I didn't get so pulled in, but I can see how a person could get really into the series. I was distracted by the over-the-top-flowery language that the characters often use, and the fact that all women were poured into whatever they happened to be wearing at the moment. It's very over the top. Any of these women could have been instantly transported to a strip-club scene in a rap video and fit right in. Every page is a pin-up - Give me a break, please! That may well be a plus for the gentlemen fans out there.
Overall this is a very skippable comic, but might be worth taking a look at were it to be reprinted so that the whole page is visible.』
(Crossgen's best title (it's NOT only girl comic)) 『OK, after reading Sandman, I tried Preacher. First book was great, others not so. I tried all kinda books, some were good like first issues of Strangers in Paradise and Mangas like Oh My Goddess and Blade of Immortal, there were some nice Marvel Knights like Paul Jenkins' stuff, but then I discovered Crossgen, well written comics which have well illustrated stories. I LOVED Meridian, The First, and , of course Mystic. They can be rated teen or all ages. Buy all trades of Mystic, both original writer and Tony Bedard were great.
I got all trades of Mystic and read comics that follow. It's a SHAME if nobody publishes those comics collected as trade five, six and so on, because they get greater and greater near the end.
As far as I know, Mystic and just a slightly weaker Meridian have story ending logically, there is a wrap up. Sojourn was more popular, but CrossGen bankrupted before story ended. Sniff :(』
(Another fine TPB in the mystic series) 『This is the second TPB (Trade Paper Back) combining issues 8 through 14 of Crossgen's Mystic Series.
The story is if anything stronger than the first voulme as we get an explaination of several previously introduced but mysterious characters. The production values are excellent with great color reproduction. The art is beautiful, the beautiful women are gorgeous, the monsters are truely monstrous.
The plot for this arc revolves around the guild masters who have lost their sign of legitimacy, the ancient guild spirits, and are desperate to not lose political power. Nearly maddened by the fear they hatch a plot to release the most horrible threat the planet of Ciress has ever faced and then betrayer her again. It's a plan of absolute madness...obviously there are going to be problems. (In fact they will still be trying to clean them up in volume 3; but this is still a nicely selfcontained story arc.)
A 5-star book with a place of honor on my shelves.』
(Female power abounds) 『Rite of Passage binds the first seven issues of Mystic. At first glance, it looks like a typical chauvinistic guy comic with scantily clad large bosomed women. Thankfully, they turn out to have brains as well as beauty. At the heart though, it is a story of the power of sisters, and how, in spite of typical sibling rivalry, when one is in trouble, the other always comes through. Magic makes the work of Ciress go round, and Genevieve has spent years studying and preparing for her induction into the Guild Masters, a group of leaders that protect and control magic. When her socialite younger sister Giselle shows up to support Gen, Giselle unintentionally usurps all of the power� including that meant for her sister. The seven magical spirits are drawn into Giselle, whom it turns out has been marked as a powerful mystic. Genevieve, though angry at first, quickly sides with her sis when the Guild Masters would destroy Giselle to get their powers back. Much of the first seven issues is caught up in setting the basic plot of a character who needs to become a hero but isn�t sure how. A mentor and guide in a slightly feline form offers advice along the way as Giselle fights against those who would strip her of her newfound powers. It is unclear by the end of issue seven exactly what the Guild Masters did and what the new Mystic will do, but the drama is high andcharacters interesting. The art is bold, rich and vibrant, with beautifully filled in backgrounds. The lavishly illustrated pages are a homage to nouveaux style art popularized in the early 19th and 20th centuries, devilish monsters and creepy skulls and roses abound. The bonus of the seven in oneedition are commentary by the creators, writers and artists. All seven covers are appended. I didn�t find this appealing enough to want to collect the whole set, but my personal tastes in comics run more to romance manga style or fantasy rather than scifi. Recommended for most graphic novel collections.』
(Great art and good story but mixed arc) 『This is a reprint of issues 21-26 of Crossgen's Mystic series bound as a paperback (a TPB - Trade Paper Back). The art is excellent and the story good but I rated it only 4 stars because the combination of issues in this volume don't quite hang together.
#21 is the defeat of the demon queen left over from the previous TPB, which has some repercussions covered in 22-23, 24 involves a fight with a very powerful Ingra. #25 and 26 are the beginning of an arc where main protagonist, Giselle, must prove herself to the 7 guilds and truly learn her craft. This is a great seperate arc which will unfortunately now be split between 2 TPBs (this one and the successor). I really like the arc that begins in #25 and should continue through #31 (7 issues, one for each guild, or style of magic); this arc is going to be a really well done and I'm looking forward to it.
The art is excellent (the beautiful women are beautiful, the monsters are monstrous). Good productions values - the colors are really vibrant. Good story except for the arc problem described above. A fun read. I bought this TPB even though I own the original comics for the convenience of having them bound together.』
『Ciress is a world that runs on magic, and those with the most magic run the world. Genevieve Villard was in line to become a great leader, but during her Rite of Ascension something went horribly wrong. Her sister Giselle, a flibbertigibbet society girl, was conferred not only the power that was rightly Genevieve’s but that of every other Guild Master on Ciress. Now Giselle must come to terms with being the magical protector of her entire planet – if the Guild Masters let her live that long. The second volume ofMysticintroduces Animora, a demon queen brought back to life in a dubious scheme of the Guild Masters to regain their powers. They swiftly learn what it is to make a deal with a devil, as Animora double-crosses the Guild Masters and threatens to enslave all Ciress. Only the power of Giselle`s mysterious sigil and the combined wisdom of the Guild Spirits can stop Animora`s evil. PUBCOMMENTS Ron Marz has been writing comics since 1990, giving up a journalism career when he found that it was more fun to make up the stories. In those years, he has written extensively for publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, Image, and Acclaim. You've read his work in the pages ofSuperboy,Silver Surfer,Star Wars Tales,StormWatch,X-O Manowar,DC vs. Marvel, the Amalgam titleDr. Strangefate, and most notablyGreen Lantern. He brought his skills and voracious fans with him to CrossGen, where he writes the titlesScion,Sojourn,The Path, andCrossgen Chronicles. Ron received a Harvey Awards nomination as Best Writer in 2002 for his work onScion, which was also nominated for Best Continuing Series.』
Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Ace
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. IPhone 3G used's review (Awesome!) 『I got this book first before the first 3 and I loved it. Made me want to buy the other first books. Ms. Chester brings to life the characters masterfully. The queen starts off unsure of herself and isnt perfect, which is great. Its nice to see people make mistakes and I LOVE Talmor. Chester brings to life so many new lives and cultures, I love it!』
(Review for Queens Gambit) 『In my opinion Queens Gambit was not as bad as most of the readers say. Although Pharesa disappointed me during the story with her foolishness towards her husband and not being strong until right when the story is about to end. Chester should've put more time going in detail with Talmor. I really liked this book and I haven't read The Sword, The Ring and The Chalice but now I would like to since most people say that triology is even better than this book. One thing I really liked was Talmor's personality and with the authors very good writing ability you actually feel the emotions in the story and when you read about how Talmor has had a hard life, you really wanna HUG him. Well thats only my opinion though. Overall this book was a good Fantasy.』
(Made me want more) 『I disagree with the other reviewers. I picked up "Queen's Gambit" before the trilogy, loved it, and am now reading the trilogy.
The book was well written and had wonderful momentum and pacing that kept me reading.』
(Definitely not a great book) 『After reading The Sword, The Ring, and The Chalice Trilogy, I couldn't wait to read The Queen's Gambit. However, this book really disappointed me. I expected this one to be as good as the trilogy, but I was wrong! This book starts out pretty good. It keeps the readers going by talking about how Pharesa is weak and is in a dangerous situation. However, I expected Pharesa to get stronger and stronger as the plot flows. Pharesa is a whiny wife who doesn't want to turn against her husband until it's too late. Chester should develope Pharesa's personality more, but she didn't. So in the end, I still think Pharesa as a weak woman. Also, we didn't get a lot of information about Talmor's personality except that he's brave and loyal. Chester could go a little bit beyond that. Some events in the novel come out too suddenly. For example, Pharesa realizes her love for Talmor in just like a blink of eyes, and there's not a lot of foreshadowing before this abrupt realization. I think Chester could make the characters closer before having them admit their love to each other. Moreover, Chester should write more about the life of Dain. Well, this is my opinion. I personally think it's not worth to buy this book. It is interesting to know what's Pharesa's life like after The Chalice, but I really wouldn't buy it if I were you.』
(More Unanswered Questions) 『I was looking forward to this book wrapping up some of the dangling threads from The Sword/Ring/Chalice trilogy. Not only were my questions not answered, I am now left with many more dangling plotlines.
I found Pheresa to be a weak, whining character who doesn't begin to buck up until almost the end of the book and is definitely not deserving of her love interest, who, by the way, is about fifty times more interesting than she is. Very disappointing, although I enjoy Chester's style. Quite disappointing for a book I was very much looking forward to.』
『The throne was her destiny-until Princess Pheresa lost her groom, Mandria's heir, to the dark magic. Now her fate is uncertain. Her enemies are strong. And her only ally is the last man she would ever choose-and the one man she should never love.』
Kakaku：500 saved$5.00
Arcadia Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Interesting Book On Mt. Carmel&Queen of Heaven) 『I ordered this book recently because I'm going to Chicago for a week and plan on visiting the cemetery... The book has some great info in it and very nice photographs... The only thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't list the locations in either cemetery where the people are buried but it does include a photo...』
(wish I bougt it long ago) 『Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries (IL) (Images of America) I always wanted to go visit all these gangster graves, just like every one of your customers I was thrilled and delighted to have found this book.your book was so helpfull, it was an amazing experience been infront of all those gangsters from the 20's. and to find them on my first visit. thanks to your book I found every one that i was looking for.thanks for such an extraordinary and helpfull book. D.Olmedo Stockton, CA』
(Great, except for all the errors...) 『Having lived literally across the street from the north entrance of Mount Carmel for 3 years several years ago, I was excited to see a book written about it. The content I thought was great. I learned all about the monuments I saw everyday from my apartment window. What really bugged me were the errors in dates. For example, on page 72 it is written that James Vincent Gibaldi "was born on July 2, 1903 in Licata, Italy" and that he "arrived at Ellis Island in 1906 at the age of one". Huh? He only aged one year over the course of three? On page 76 it is noted that William 'Willie' Heeney was born February 13, 1887 and died July 13, 1951. According to the text, he "died of throat cancer at the age of 61". My math would put him at 64. These were just a few of several obvious errors I saw and it got me wondering how many more of the "facts" presented elsewhere in the book were accurate. It really ruined the enjoyment of the book for me, because now I don't know what is true and what is not. I don't know if it was the author or the editing, but someone should have really double-checked this book before publishing it.』
(Remembering Especially the OLA Fire Victims) 『This small book is richly illustrated with the architecture of the cemeteries. The reader also gets insights into the customs involved in funerals. For instance, visiting the cemetery was once a regular Sunday-afternoon outing, and the Catholic Church lifted the ban on cremations in 1963.
Both famous and non-famous people are buried in these graves. Many are children who died at a time when child mortality had still been common. Those interred include sports figures such as Elmer "Moose" Vasko of the Chicago Blackhawks, and Father Martin Jenco, a onetime Beirut hostage. It is sobering to realize that the grave of Al Capone not only gets visited, but also that people leave such things as cigars, cash, and religious medals on it (p. 59).
Considerable detail is devoted to the aftermath of the Our Lady of the Angels School Fire of December 1958 (pp. 91-98). There are many photos of the victims and the funerals. All 3 of the nuns killed, along with 11 children, are buried at Mount Carmel. Another 45 children are buried at Queen of Heaven Cemetery. This leaves 36 child victims buried elsewhere.
』
(A Book For Cemetery Connoisseurs) 『Prowling cemeteries searching for the graves of the famous and infamous is cheap and enlightening entertainment. I have to admit my main interest in this book was chapter four entitled "Gangsters in Granite." I have visited Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemetery twice in search of the graves of the infamous gangsters from the 1920's and found all but one, Machine Gun Jack McGurn even though I knew what stone to look for. Jack is supposed to be located somewhere in Section O. This book includes all of those whose graves I took photos of with a nice description of each. I would have liked if the graves of Roger Touhy and Jake Lingle had been in the book as well. Both men also reside at Mount Carmel. It is well to keep in mind that behind the name of each stone is a story even though it may not be well known to the world. For those looking for Al Capone enter the cemetery from Roosevelt Road. To the right the name "Capone" is hidden behind some shrubbery. Just a pop fly away as you enter the cemetery and turn to the left is the grave of Frank "The Enforcer" Nitti or "Nitto" on the headstone. Near the Bishops' monument are the graves of several other bootleggers who met an early demise. Kudos to the individuals who put this book together.』 『From the heartbreak of dozens of families burying their children after the notorious Our Lady of Angels School Fire to the serenity of a grieving mother, who six years after the death of her daughter finds her wedding-clad body in peaceful repose; from the lawlessness of the bootleg era, punctuated by such ignominious figures as Al Capone and Dean O’Banion, to the patriotic triumph of one of the flag bearers of Iwo Jima, Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries have provided the final chapter in the colorful lives and tragic events that have marked the city of Chicago for the last century. It denotes the final resting place of the churches’ bishops and cardinals as well as the city’s beloved parents, grandparents, and children. Mount Carmel and Queen of Heaven Cemeteries offers a unique glimpse into the history of Chicago during a time that saw massive immigration, rising industrialization, two world wars, and numerous tragedies, by chronicling the lives and stories behind the individuals who are interred there.』
IPhone 3G used's review (I was there) 『Pretty interesting reading the reviews. I was there at the time this was written. Rozz told his story to Melissa, in thoughts of co-writing the book. Melissa took notes from Rozz, then he must have pissed her off, she published the book without him. The writing is VERY clumsy, but it kind of gives it a Quentin Tarintino feel. It does describe an interesting time in Portland and rock history』
(Rossi 'vs' Brite) 『I read this biography first and then "Courtney Love: The Real Story" by Poppy Z. Brite. Both definitely have their flaws and strong points. Each contributes different facts and stories, so if you read both you get a pretty complete picture of Courtney Love's life.
ROSSI:
This biography gives much more detail and depth into Courtney's life. The writing style is a bit haphazard and choppy, but is still understandable and more interesting than Brite's. The one main fault against Melissa Rossi is that she doesn't cite any of her sources which leads you to wonder where she got her information. She does admit that she never interviewed Courtney and this was "unauthorized."
BRITE:
A little easier to follow, but kind of feels like an overview. I wish she would have gone into more depth on some issues. Also Poppy Brite desperately needs an EDITOR! The mistakes don't really affect the story, but they certainly don't give the reader much faith in her abilities. Lots of color pictures and an extensive bibliography.
Neither book is really above the other and both books are entertaining reads for a cheap price.』
(What can you say?) 『OK, so this "most" unauthorized bio on Mrs. Love-Cobain, falls under the "mediocre" category. For several reasons,the first being that author Melissa Rossi cannot write. The whole flow of the book feels uneven and choppy even though it's mainly written in chronological order. While you have a good phrase every once in a while, you also have sentences that leave you wondering if she's just graduated high school. She chops it up and throws in uneccessary facts about herself and unimportant characters in the story. She seems to know a few big words that are thrown in there, but then the rest is bland and unbearably simple. It feels as though she wrote it, and then went back and revised with a thesaurus. And then there's her "sources". These are somewhat a mystery at times, and alot of it seems to rely on Love's former flame, Rozz Rezabek. And the whole thing reads like a bad history book, just relaying events and quotes while throwing in the occasional "insight" which repeats itself over and over and over(she's messes up but she always comes back to fix it, wow what a resilient gal she must be). The strongest point of the bio is the basic outline of her life and the photos. So if that's all you're looking for, here it is.』
(fantastic book) 『this book is fantastic. whenever i put it down, it was by force. melissa rossi did a great job writing it, telling itlike it is, showing the good and bad sides of everything, and its a great read.<3』
(What a horrible collection of gossip. . .) 『The author claims to have respect for Courtney's achievements, but every page of this book drips with scorn. At one point she wastes an entire page reviewing Ms. Love's appearance in a derogatory manner, only to report on Ms. Love's plastic surgery later in the book with even more scorn. Lady, make up your mind.
At the beginning of the book she reports on her one-time co-author's scheming to make money off of Courtney's private thoughts, and then later describes said co-author's relationship with Courtney purely from his point of view, despite the fact that he is willing to say or do anything for the sake of publicity.
The good parts: Nothing, really. Read the book by Poppy Z. Brite, if you want good.』
『
"I am not a woman. I'm a force of nature."
Courtney Love knows exactly what she is. She created herself: demon diva, goddess of grunge, media super-icon, wife of the late rock megastar Kurt Cobain. Lead singer of the band Hole, her persona is larger than life -- bellowing, ranting, riling up the masses. She was made for the spotlight, and she rules it like a dark angel, her on- and offstage presence seething with such power, venom, and raw sexual fury that she obliterates everyone else on the music scene today.
"I want to be the girl with the most cake."
Courtney Love may have achieved her goal of becoming a self-made celebrity, but her hungry climb to fame wasn't easy. It took her from a troubled childhood to the sleazy underworld of strip joints to the hardcore drug scene. She was institutionalized as a juvenile delinquent, tormented as a rock groupie, and driven to near suicide as a grieving widow. Then there was her tumultuous relationship with Kurt Cobain -- a sweet-and-sour marriage of twisted passion that ended tragically with a shotgun blast.
Here at last the true Courtney Love is revealed...the headstrong hellraiser in a baby-doll dress...the raucous performer ripping up the airwaves, at war with her public image and herself...the unstoppable survivor forever rising from the ashes only to burn more brightly....』
Kakaku：400 saved$4.00
PublishAmerica
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (great read) 『this is a history book that does not read like one.it really a focus about a family that just so happen to be royal.it alot about the relationships of sister who fate or destiny end up very different.』
(How could I know?) 『There were many wrong words that were used in this book so I had difficulty enjoying it. 'Discrete' for 'discreet,' 'free reign' (should have been 'free rein') and 'peruse' instead of 'scan' immediately come to mind. The proofreader appeared to be asleep at the switch too when, among other examples, 'surely' became 'surly.'
The story was okay, but just okay. Too much about two rather uninteresting members of Victoria's tribe.』
(Thoroughly entertaining and very well written) 『I don't usually like "historical fiction". Usually the authors take too many liberties with the people they are writing about and probably without even trying hard distort the truth.
However, this book is not like that at all. Theresa Sherman has done considerable research and has put together a lovely book about the Hessian sisters, granddaughters of Queen Victoria and daughters of Princess Alice, Queen Victoria's second daughter.
I began by thinking that I would read it, as I often do, in concert with other books. I rarely read one book at a time. But within the first sitting, I found that I had to keep reading. I had to know what was coming next.
It is interesting different look at the thoughts and motivations behind the historical happenings that lead to among other things, The Great War and World War II.
But it is a very precise look at Princess Victoria of Hesse who married Prince Louis of Battenberg and the family that they were part of.
Of the four sisters, Victoria and Irene are not as well known as Alix who became Alexandra Feodorovna, Empress of all the Russians and Ella who also married into the Russian royal family and became the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna.
With this book, Theresa Sherman has brought Princess Victoria of Hesse, grandmother of Prince Philip, the consort of Queen Elizabeth II, and her family into much sharper focus.
』
(Royal Mob Review) 『Preferring normally to read a non-fiction/history piece over that of its fictionalized represenation, I picked up this with some skepticism. Interested in the history of British monarchy, I found this a compelling read in that it strenuously adheres to fact while adding the writers clearly nuanced perspective of the mental complexities of the participants that allows a clearly plausible fictionalized narrative. Because she knows so well the stories and personalities of these individuals their actions and words in this book lack any of the trite or artificial nature of many historic novels.
That said, the subject of the book is fascinating, which are the four daughters of Princess Alice, second eldest daughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. The sisters all led complex lives filled with both passion and tragedy --- the most famous being the youngest who became the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna upon her marriage to Nicholas II, the last Emporer of Russia, while the elder is the grandmother of the present Elizabeth II's husband, Prince Phillip Duke of Edinburgh.
I strongly recommend this book -- and hope that others will enjoy it as much as I did!』
(E. Freedman) 『I've never been a fan of anything Royal. My friend suggested this book,telling me how much he loved it. I bought it thinking I would read a little every so often. That idea was short-lived. After starting I couldn't put it down. This is a wonderful Book. I felt the author knew these people. It's as if she witnessed their lives, their stroy. Interesting and Beautifully written. I'm looking forward to Ms. Sherman' next effort.』 『The Royal Mob is the story of the four beautiful Princesses of the House of Hesse, granddaughters of Queen Victoria, who come of age during the zenith of European Royalty. Each makes a brilliant marriage that will bring her both happiness and heartbreak. The eldest, Princess Victoria, marries the handsome Prince Louis of Battenberg, the former lover of Lillie Langtry. The next, the exquisite Elisabeth, is swept off to the unbelievable splendor of the Romanov court by Grand Duke Serge, while Irène dazzles Prince Henry of Prussia and takes her place at the court in Berlin. Alix, the youngest, marries the man she has loved since childhood, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and becomes the fabled Empress Alexandra. From such exotic locals as Russia, Bulgaria and Ottoman Jerusalem, to the drawingrooms of Sandringham, The Royal Mob is told as an intimate memoir of the eldest sister, Princess Victoria of Hesse, who was the favorite granddaughter of Queen Victoria. Starting in the court of the Queen Empress and ending at the marriage of Victoria’s grandson, Prince Philip, to the future QueenElizabeth of England, The Royal Mob is the lavish and exciting story of the last royal courts of Europe.』
Kakaku：209 saved$2.09
Luna
In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. IPhone 3G used's review (The Destined Queen) 『This is one of the best fantasy books I have ever read, and that is saying quite a bit as I read about two books a week. The only thing I would recommend if you intend to read The Destined Queen is to first read it's prequel, The Wizard's Ward. It will help you to better understand it's sequel so you are not as confused as could possibly be. I let my sister read both books, but she read The Destined Queen first and was greatly confused. However after she read the Wizard's Ward, she understood a lot more of the book.』
(Great follow up to The Wizard's Ward) 『This was a great follow up to The Wizard's Ward. I liked how the characters from the first book were incorporated into the second. I also liked that some of the characters were more complex (some bad characters were really good, and some of the good characters were really bad). There were certainly twists in the story that I was not expecting, and the action heats up in the second half of the book.』
(perfectly delightful) 『I thoroughly enjoyed The Destined Queen. The sea battle was exciting. The love elements are passionately written. The danger elements are mixed in perfectly. Deb Hale keeps you in suspense while her characters struggle to find a way to succeed in their individual quests. If you enjoy romantic adventure, you should buy this book.』
(Stunningly simplistic) 『I did not find this book even mildly interesting. The characters were simplistic and Maura was almost infantile. Tired plot with clumsily handled dialog. Unbelievably boring.』
(romantic fantasy at its very best) 『When Maura Woodbury started on her quest to find the Waiting King she was destined to marry him as she was THE DESTINED QUEEN. She is accompanied by outlaw Rath Talward. They fall in love but it is not until the Sacred Glade that Rath is revealed as the Waiting King, the reincarnation of King Elzeban who is destined to return to help Umbria in the darkest hour which is now as the cruel and oppressive Hans rules with an iron fist.
A small bird carrying a message tells them to go the Vestan Islands. When they arrive, the islanders, who fled Umbria when the Hans invaded, give Rath an army to free his countrymen. As the rightful king returns to the homeland Maura must find the staff of Velarken which will grant Rath one wish he must use wisely if he is to defeat the Hans without turning into a tyrant like them.
THE DESTINED QUEEN is romantic fantasy at its very best. The love between the two protagonists gives them the strength against overwhelming odds to believe they can defeat their enemies if they listen to their hearts as well as to their heads. The common people rally around this legendary king but more is needed to oust the enemy from their homeland. Deborah Hale's romantic fantasy is a moving and beautiful tale showcasing two characters who capture the readers interest because they are flawed people trying to do the right thing ever when they are not sure which course that is.
Harriet Klausner 』 『Can the Queen who has once done the impossible ever be free?
After awakening the "Waiting King" -- the one destined to free her country from the long occupation of the Han -- Maura Woodbury thinks her duty to her country completed. But Maura's task has only just begun. Rath, once a notorious outlaw, has no magic, and thus no power to expel the invaders from their kingdom. Yet the people expect a miracle. And so Maura, still new to using life-magic, is their only hope . . .
Maura must journey into the unknown, searching for a magical staff -- one that will grant the awakened king one grand wish. But separation from her consort breeds jealousies, devastating secrets and ties to an intimate enemy. Stricken by doubt, Maura and Rath are tempted to ignore the call of fate -- but what will happen to the country if they do?』
