Kakaku：799 saved$7.99
Berkley
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (An excellent historical mystery) 『Diane A.S. Stuckart's THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT opens a limited new mystery series featuring Leonardo da Vinci and his young apprentice, who take on the role of sleuths. A living chess game is to be engineered by da Vinci but when one of the 'pieces' is stabbed to death, it's up to him to uncover the murderer in this excellent historical mystery. 』
(Makes You Wish for a Sequel) 『This is the kind of book that makes you wish not only for a follow-up book, but that you already had it so you could jump right in.
The story, the characters, the setting and the writing are just superb. This is what I picture when I see or hear the phrase "a good book." That's just what it is, a really, really good book. I can't even imagine how you could possibly be disappointed in this book.
One of the little gems of this mystery novel is the realization that there are really 3 mysteries - 2 normal and one more "meta." The first is the whodunit? murder mystery. The second is whether (and how) anyone will discover the secret about the narrator of the book, the apprentice.
The third mystery appears when the author so perfectly captures those moments of belief from the Renaissance ("his humors were out of balance") and the modern reader has the intriguing puzzle of figuring out what's really going on with modern day understanding. They don't detract in any way from the book, but add a wonderfully neat set of minor little, "Hmmm, that's what they used to think back then, but today that'd be..." that reoccur at least 3 or 4 times throughout the story, and just add all the more to enjoyment.
I highly recommend this book, and like all the reviewers to date, hope this is only the beginning of a series. 』
(Well-written and Engaging Historical Mystery) 『From the parenthetical (a Leonardo da Vinci mystery) it seems clear that the publisher and author of this book intend to make it into a franchise. I certainly hope so, because the writing sparkles and really brings to life Renaissance Italy. The book is set in the period of Leonardo da Vinci's life in which he was the chief engineer and artist at the court of Milan. Events are told from the point of view of one of Leonardo's young apprentices, Dino, who has the misfortune to find the dead body of the cousin of the Duke of Milan when he goes missing during a living chess match which has been staged by Leonardo for the entertainment of the court.
Leonardo and Dino interview suspects and search for clues, and we are taken into the world of northern Italian nobility, artisans, and peasantry, as the two investigators turn the castle, the Sforza family crypt, and the town of Milan upside down trying to find the murderer before he or she can kill again. In reading this book, besides being enormously entertained, I learned about the history and strategy of chess, how art was created during the Renaissance, how clothing was made in the Renaissance, how Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked and a host of other things that made the time period come alive for me, which is all you can really ask of historical fiction. I would definitely have given this book 5 stars had the ending not gotten a little too complicated for its own good. And since I fully expect and look forward to reading more from this author a small note to her -- try not to introduce so many paragraphs with the words "So saying..." it was the one distraction in what was otherwise absolutely beautiful writing. I can't wait for more in this series.』
(Both rich and entertaining) 『A captivating mystery novel that unfolds in the magnificent Sforza castle of Renaissance Milan. The fast moving plot is filled with surprising twists and turns, making the book hard to put down. Besides the suspense and intrigue, one feels drawn into a colorful panorama of castle life filled with vivid characters from high ranking nobility to skilled workmen to humble servants. Of greatest interest is the unique life of the genius Leonardo da Vinci with his young apprentices, with details of their everyday tasks of mixing paints, preparing frescos, making brushes and the like. This book is not only a marvelous mystery but also a rich and entertaining cultural experience.』
(Highly recommended historical mystery) 『My assumption about a mystery series featuring Leonardo da Vinci conjured up visions of the wise and white-haired Leonardo using his vast years of knowledge and genius to wrestle with mysteries and solve crimes. However, I was delighted to find instead in this book a fresh look at Leonardo as he was in his handsome, russet-haired prime while employed as court engineer to the Duke of Milan.
The book's narrator is Leonardo's young apprentice Dino, whose master is charged by the Duke to solve a murder that occurs during a living chess game that provides the book's motif. Dino is tasked by his Master to undertake various assignments and don several disguises to help Leonardo gather clues, spy on suspects, and uncover dangerous secrets. Along the way, we also learn a surprising secret regarding Dino's true identity.
The narration colorfully evokes Milan during the Renaissance, contrasting the pageantry of court life with an apprentice's lowly station. We follow Dino's unfolding tale through a labyrinth of colorful characters who reveal their all-too-human strengths and failings. As Leonardo is viewed through Dino's eyes, he retains an important element of mystery himself, though we are given enough of his personality and genius, his powers of deduction, and his amazing inventions to make him come alive in this intriguing tale.
My hope when I read any historical mystery is for the setting to be fresh and vivid, to experience the story through appealing characters, to enjoy a page-turning plot, and to learn something fascinatingly new. In all these ways, this well-written book succeeds and provides a delightful read.』 『The first book in an exciting new series featuring Leonardo da Vinci and his young apprentice.
Court Engineer Leonardo da Vinci conjures a living chess game for the Duke of Milan using his royal court as chess pieces. But when one‘piece’ is murdered, da Vinci’s scrupulous eye for detail is needed to find the killer.』
Kakaku：1849 saved$18.49
Trafford Publishing
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (Gate of Galithonel) 『I loved this book so much. I was truly hooked immediately because I connected with the characters deeply. I wish they all existed in real life because I would just love to hang out with them!!! I recommend this book to everyone. You will be on an adventure till the end of the book and then excited to read the sequel!!
』
(Fabulous Fantasy Novel!) 『It is hard to put this book down once you start reading it! I'm actually reading it through for the second time, and I STILL can't wait to read what happens next. The story is well crafted, the characters are people I want to know (well, except for the evil King), and I definitely want to live in the Elven Realm. In the meantime, I want the sequel!』
(Definetly worth reading again and again!) 『A truly epic tale that made a lasting impression on me. I identified with the disillusionment with modern industrial culture that the main character, Earth woman Kassanderae, experienced. The beautiful elven race resonated strongly with my values of reverence for the earth and all beings, and their way of compassionate stewardship for life. The heroic journey of Kassanderae brought out my own inner hero and I found myself ready to step out courageously into the world, facing whatever may come, all for the greater good. This book is full of insight on many levels and sure to inspire anyone who reads it. In the past I haven't "found the time" to read books. Now I find myself eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!』
(Couldn't put it down) 『
Reading this book is like going and seeing a movie with a really good story. You know -- the kind where you're so entertained you never stop to wonder how it's going to end. I like the suspense of a woman in a foreign place addressing un-heard of challenges. And the characters are interesting and complex. The heroine, Rae, is a dynamic woman with a lot goin' on. Plus, she's HOT! And the elves are cool, gentle warriors. I found the Gate of Galithonel an exciting, page-turner with intrigue, mystery, and suspense. I couldn't put it down. 』 『Can One Woman Save the Elves?
It has been two hundred years since the Gate last opened, spilling forth an enemy that irrevocably altered the world. Now comes Earth-woman, Kassanderae, a strangely-clad Visitor with even odder ideas, landing right across the path of a mysterious traveler. Rae never dreamt going out for a jog could lead to such adventure, as she falls through the prehistoric portal into a story of ancient prophecy, accidental magic, and monarchical madness.
Saved from the start by the Golden Son, she is stunned by his beauty. Yet already he hides a secret, too shameful to admit. And as the threat of death presses upon them, she has a few surprises of her own in store, as he learns she is his fate in more ways than he could imagine.
In an enchanted world, a race against time to save a long-forgotten people is coming to its end. And as the Wise Ones brace for extermination, one question remains unanswered: WHO IS THE VISITOR? What strange twist of fate spat her forth at this historic moment? Could she be the one for whom the wizard waits? Will she lead the elves to victory, or does her destiny lie elsewhere?
Slip through the Gate of Galithonel and join one woman’s journey of subterfuge and self-discovery as she finds her gifts for a world in crisis and discovers the secrets of a wondrous race: energy masters, gifted healers, devoted lovers…Immortal Elves.』
Kakaku：2495 saved$24.95
Amereon Limited
Usually ships in 24 hours IPhone 3G used's review (The Ultimate May-December Relationship!) 『I have long been enamoured of the story of Queen Victoria, but this is one thing I had not known about until I began really reading about her! Plaidy writes a wonderfully flowing novel about the charming young Victoria - newly ascended to the throne of England - and her Prime Minister, Lord Melbourne. As if she doesn't have enough to deal with, the young Queen finds herself falling in love with her advisor, and the feelings are likely reciprocal. Once again, Plaidy does a marvellous job of bringing one of the lesser-investigated (or perhaps more covered-up!) stories of a past monarch. The book is a fast, engaging read, and not at all dry or filled with too many tedious, unneccessary facts about the story (as too many historical novels are!). For anyone wishing to know a little bit more about Queen Victoria or the history of England's monarchs -- this is a book (and author) I highly recommend.』
IPhone 3G used's review (An excellent addition to the literature on drag queens.) 『This a wonderful treatment of drag queens. The text is very sympathetic and imformative and the photographs are fabulous. Many of the photos have quotes from the drag queens that are helpful hints about dressing or windows into their souls. The author of the text is a sometime crossdresser. This book is a treasured part of my personal library.』
(Fabulous) 『This book was absolutely fabulous. It provided much information about drag and doing drag.fabulous.』
IPhone 3G used's review (this book is incrdible) 『The QueenMary has to be the most incredible oceanliner to this day , no other ship has acomplished more in the past 60 years. the Titanic could'nt even compare to the history of the QueenMary.』 fetish『 Two Weeks with the Queen (Cascades) 』
Morris Gleitzman
Kakaku：411 saved$4.11
Collins Educational
IPhone 3G used's review (Superb) 『An excellent book dealing with the very important issues of death, separation and grieving particularly from a child's perspective. Aimed at the tween market, I couldn't fault it.
For older teens, there might have been more development of the parenting issues particularly what made two otherwise non-dysfunctional parents sentence one of their sons into exile with an uncle and aunt that could well have been the model for the Dursleys (Harry Potter) while the other son was dying of cancer. Even written in 1990 I couldn't believe Morris Gleitzman included this in his story.
大満足！北国のホタテ・いくら・ボタンエビがぎっしり！
