Here’s my review of an outstanding historical novel that I read with an especially alert writerly eye, for reasons I explain in my post. The Wool Translator involves characters from medieval England, Paris, Bruges, Granada, and elsewhere who, at first, seem impossibly unrelated. Part of the enjoyment of this book is how they all come together into one plot, even though everyone wants to keep them apart. This is a good one.
If a Victorian Great Britain in which beings with magical powers exist sounds fun to you, you’ll enjoy my review of Luanne G. Smith’s The Raven Song.
I think Rust in the Root is one of the most worthwhile books I’ve read recently, a fantasy twist on American history and the role of Black Americans. It’s entertaining as well as thought-provoking. I hope you enjoy my review.
This historical fantasy is both a magic-filled thriller with a delightfully creepy villain and a romance with hesitant Victorian “lovers.” There’s a house that’s truly out to get its owner, among other dangers that manage to be both funny and frightening. Read on for my review.
With The Hidden Palace, follow-up to her historical fantasy The Golem and the Jinni, Wecker returned with a layered novel of many complex characters, including even richer developments of the golem and jinni, completely intriguing magical beings. Here’s my review of this enticing book.
Here’s my review of a quirky time-slip novel set in Egypt. A modern tourist tumbles into the ancient world and along with a cat-headed girl assists a mummy–and herself–to find happiness.
On my blog, an interview with Simon Rose about Revenge of the Witchfinder, 3rd bk in his Stone of the Seer series, historical fantasy for young adults.
With her Royal Spyness series, Rhys Bowen excels at giving readers lighthearted mysteries with a chewy under layer of thought-provoking elements. I particularly enjoyed Love and Death among the Cheetahs. Here’s my review.
Here’s my review of Lesley Penelope’s engaging fantasy set in Washington, D.C. in 1925 that incorporates Black folk traditions of magic.
My review of Julia Fine’s What Should Be Wild, a fairytale-like novel of a wild wood and several generations of magical women who live there. Both dark and dryly humorous.
