Kaseys Korner

The Becoming

The gushing I did over 'The Awakening' has subsided. boohoo. Why does that have to happen???

Was the year between books too long? I know I had high expectations going in ~ I dared to believe the excitement I felt at the end of book one would keep escalating but unfortunately, it plateaued or even (yikes) plummeted.
The second book in a trilogy can be like the middle of a really long novel, where it drags and lags and takes work to stay engaged if the author isn't careful. That's exactly what happened in 'The Becoming.' It seemed like I read endless, endless, endless filler material before anything happened. There was some character development, plot points set, etc., but (I can't believe I'm saying this!!!) the novelty of Talamh and especially Breen had tarnished. The place is still fantastical but the action proceeded at the pace of a tortoise. When I can walk back & forth from the cottage, thru the Welcoming Tree, to Nan's house in my sleep ~ there's been too much trivia.

Breen (our heroine) took a slide back into the uninteresting category. Dang, she'd barely crossed over to interesting in 'The Awakening.' Where I thought there'd be "wow" in the development of her magical abilities, there was "hmmmm." So she can light fires with a wave of her hand, ride a dragon, and do a little healing ~ from the daughter of a powerful Taoiseach, I wanted fireworks in the sky. Maybe her human side is just too dominant? The one battle, at the end of the book, she had to be told multiple times to fight. What????? I can't quit feeling she still wanted to be the insignificant wallflower we were introduced to in the beginning of book one and not the Savior of the Fey we keep being told she actually is.... What is wrong with this picture?? And when is this dichotomy in her personality going to merge into one kick ass woman?? She's only got one more book to make it happen...

As far as that budding romance between Breen and Keegan, there were more sparks with her friend Marco and his love interest Brian than there were between the two main characters. It takes halfway thru the book until they get past "hey." Nora, Nora, Nora ~ what's up with that?? Zero tension or chemistry, leaves a girl flat. That is not AT ALL what we want, even from a romance on simmer! Something needs to be kicked up a notch and quick.

Despite the disappointment, I will definitely read the last book when it's published later this year. I expect a crescendo of activity and hopefully a brilliant ending. It seems that would be the only fitting conclusion to a trilogy that started so well...

 

 

 

The Vanished Days

Susanna Kearsley covers her subject matter thoroughly. You can never rush thru the reading, there's too many little bits that will come into play down the road. If you've missed them, you'll be left scratching your head! This book, case in point!

Having said that, I had NO IDEA 'The Winter Sea' was part of a trilogy!!! That was the very first book of this authors I ever picked up and it made me an instant fan. 'The Vanished Days' was written out of order and now that the series is finished (I think??) and I know it's the prequel, I'm feeling motivated to reread the others in order. I read 'The Firebird' (3rd book) so far apart from 'The Winter Sea' that I didn't even connect the dots they were related. Definitely need a reread!!

This book is a return to form for Ms Kearsley. I've felt a few of her recent books were off the mark (like the last book 'Bellewether') but this one was fantastic. Stick with it, it's a slow building story but it unravels like a dream. There are times you want it to move along faster, but trust me, now I see all the pieces were necessary and worth the patience. The heroine grabbed my heart from the onset and the ending absolutely turned the book upside down. I had to read it twice!! Absolutely brilliant!!!

It's always interesting to see how a book title connects to the story & this one is beautiful. Touches on regrets which many of us have about decisions we've made in our lives. This quote I love, "I think often of the vanished days that Captain Gordon spoke about—the ones that are behind us that we cannot live again—and how he wished it might be possible to make the clock run backward so that we could live those days a second time, and live them better."

Lots of well researched Scottish history woven throughout the book (Jacobites, religious tensions, restitution from the Equivalent, the one attempt Scotland made at colony building, etc., etc.) which makes it as informative as it is engrossing.
4.5 Stars (maybe 5, I'm still considering...)

 

The Botticelli Secret

This was so much bawdy fun and by that, I mean because of the verbalizations of Luciana, our happy-go-lucky protagonist who starts the book as an unapologetic prostitute. Other than the vulgar things that come out of her mouth, there's no sex in the book, should that be off-putting to you. If you don't get thrown off by her crudity, especially in the beginning chapters, and just settle into her free spirited personality, it's a fun romp across Renaissance Italy particularly once she's paired up with her counterpart, Monk-in-training, Brother Guido della Torre. Two more opposite characters there couldn't be but they work together magically.

I know very little about Art and neither did Luciana but the biggest clue there was something important about the "cartone" she stole of the infamous Botticelli painting "La Primavera," was everyone coming up murdered around her. To think there was a message/meaning buried into any beautiful painting would be far removed from my mind. Out of curiosity, I had to google the real painting & while magnificent, I still would have missed any communication transferred so subtly. It's an interesting, harrowing adventure following the two characters while they deciphered that message tho and a fantastic idea to build a book around.

Fun read. Unlike anything I've read previously and charmingly irresistible book to start off the New Year. 4 stars but the cover alone gets FIVE ~ can we just say "cover lust??!!" That dress is splendiferousl!!

The Second Blind Son

What a great way to end 2021 ~ catapulted back in time in a historical fantasy!

When I moved on to this book, I thought I was going to read a sequel to 'The First Girl Child' but it's NOT a sequel. 'The Second Blind Son' was written in conjunction with the former book. The timeline is the same, the events that unfold are the same, it's just told from different POV's. It's almost as if the author wrote one incredible story, decided it was too big of a tome and too awesome to be edited down, so she separated out these characters, and voila ~ book two! Although to clarify, that's not what she said in the authors note.

I did not mind being back in Saylok and reliving all the memorable events. Hod & Ghisla's story was definitely worth investing time in and easy to see why Ms Harmon wanted to tell it. I downgraded the stars from 5 to 4 just because so much was repetitive.

Both books are wonderful reads tho and highly recommended.

 

The First Girl Child

All I can say was I entered the world of Norse mythology and got swept away!

A fictional star shaped island pulled up from the ocean floor by the Norse God 'Odin' & populated by the peoples of his six sons, all with animal characteristics and names. Intriguing right? Each clan inhabited a separate point of the star with the Temple and King's castle in the center.

The story snared me right away. I love the notion of runes, Temple Keepers, palace intrigue, mythology, etc. and even tho the authors note said the island was completely fictional, the book is so well written you could almost believe it existed.

Amy Harmon is one of those talented authors who I think could write any genre. I've yet to read anything by her that I didn't like. 'The First Girl Child' is comprehensively built, without a lot of distraction or slow points and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. I found myself holding my breath that it would work out the way I wanted.

What a sweet magical escape. I found I didn't want to put it down & because I couldn't bear to leave this world behind, I'm already deep into the second book!

Faery Tale

Not sure I would have picked this book up had I not just enjoyed the first two books in Signe Pikes 'The Lost Queen' series. You know how you find an author you like & then search to see what other books they've written? Lo and behold, the search results turned up 'Faery Tale.'

This appears to be her first book and I found so many references in it that she incorporated into her new series. I have an undeniable interest in Faeries, have cultivated two fairy gardens in my own yard and have had a few inexplicable experiences in the past few years that have made me wonder more about what exists in the "Other World' or even if there are other realms coexisting with ours. The author posed the question that belief in something is a matter of faith, like believing in God or Angels and if a person can believe in those unseen things, why not faeries too?? The opposing argument can be made that the intuition/messages she believed she was receiving from the faeries could also be from spirit guides, angels, etc. ~ why must it be from faeries?? Whichever camp you fall in, if you're alert to energies in the environment or are open to receiving messages from your inner voice/universe, there's no dispute something else is working in tandem with us.

Her other argument for their existence is that in every mythology (if you believe faeries to be mythological creatures) there's a kernel of truth & in every corner of the globe, faeries exist in one form or another. How can that be, at a time when the world wasn't as small/connected as it is now, that every culture featured them in stories, fables, whatever??? It's a thought provoking question.

Ms Pike had some interesting experiences on her 3 month sojourn around the British Isles, seeking evidence of their existence. A person who wants concrete, black & white verification would no doubt scoff at the miniscule proof she turned up. A more openminded person might view her experience differently. I say what have we to lose by opening our minds more?? Even if we just tune into the energy around us, we're all the better for it.

Btw, this book is not solely a devotion to her search for "enchantment" as she termed it, it was also a journey of grief and a therapeutic exercise in dealing with the loss of her father. It should be mentioned as that's also a part of the story and took me by surprise.

The Forgotten Kingdom

I could not put this down!!! For me, 'The Forgotten Kingdom' is a rare instance where the sequel surpasses the original novel. Told from three POV's ~ Languoreth, her twin brother Lailoken and her daughter Angharad ~ none of the perspectives are sleepers. I was equally eager to get back to each of their stories, although Angharads pulled at me just a tad bit more than the other two. I think because she transforms so much throughout the book. From our introduction to her as a child, thru her coming of age journey, the hints at the abilities and gifts she's born possessing are truly intriguing. It's evident she's far from fully finished developing those skills. How will I ever wait for book three to find out what she's truly capable of becoming ????!!!! I don't know.

I have to say, I was delighted by the re-appearance of Ariane, a pivotal character in both Languoreth and Angharads spiritual development. I love the message that gets repeated throughout the novel, “We may not always have the choice we would like, but we always have a choice.” I'll be thinking of that next time I find myself in a sticky situation. The women in this trilogy are really remarkable and developed so three dimensionally. It's heartening to read. The only disappointment in this 2nd book (& it's a very very minor one) was the missing romance component. Maybe something to come for Angharad and Artur?? fingers crossed... But the sizzling chemisty we came to know/feel between General Maelgwn and Languoreth in 'The Lost Queen' was pretty much a "non-thing." Can't figure out why Ariane helped facilitate their romance if it was meant to go nowhere?? Or is it?? Hmmm.

What an epic, epic story in a land that already enthralls so many of us. The sequel is more everything. It reaches out & encompasses the whole area of current day Scotland, introducing us to more cultures, peoples and characters. We also get more insights into the development of the legend of Merlin. More peeks at the turbulence of this period. Signe Pike is proving herself to be a tremendous storyteller and writer, bringing the 6th century of this area to vivid, pulsing life. I can see her brilliant work easily turned into a series or brought to life on the big screen. I can tell you (after blowing thru the first two novels in this trilogy) that I'm reading whatever she feels like writing.

Now the waiting begins. Book three. tick tock.

The Lost Queen

Drop me into the early middle ages and hear me sigh with happiness!

Wow, what a turbulent period in history but so so fascinating. The Gods of the Old World clashing with Christianity. I never thought the area of (what we currently know as) Scotland was big enough to house four different peoples ~ Picts, Scots, Britons and Angles. This tale, told thru the eyes of Languoreth, demonstrated how difficult their co-existence actually was. Languoreth, as many royal women throughout history were, was a pawn in a marriage alliance designed to strengthen her birth families position in the Kingdom. It's a dangerous alliance she finds herself in, precariously balancing two opposing factions and as much as I'm dying to continue her journey, I loved the lead up to her marriage just as much. The World of Wisdom Keepers and Healers and the magic that these people were still attuned to is crazily hypnotic. How did we lose all of that so fast?? There's something so intriguing about people who are called to these positions and are born with these gifts.

There's also a forbidden love story within these pages that made me sweat with worry because of the danger its discovery would bring about. I'm almost afraid to see if it can stay secreted away or if it comes to light.

'The Lost Queen' is another book that is sold "to fans of Outlander." I don't see the similarities? or what the point is of making that analogy?? It's extremely well written historical fiction and any lover of that genre will likely find it appealing. Taking place in the 6th century, with Arthurian connections, this book stands on its own merits. I loved everything about ~ so much so that I'm moving straight to the 2nd book in the triology.

P.S. I do want to know more about Ariane!!

 

Shelter

The saddest most engrossing book I've read in quite awhile. Completely had me enthralled and that's a really strange thing considering all the violence that's encapsulated in these 336 pages.

Beautiful, beautiful writing about real family trauma. A lot of sympathy shifts from one character to another as the story unfolds. Then extraordinarily, (almost impossible to fathom actually) at the end, a feeling of hope.

I don't know how Jung Yun pulled that off?? I was on the verge of detesting almost every character in 'Shelter' but somehow I'm left softened on every front. It's downright bewildering the genius in that.

5 star read all the way. Beware if you have triggers of rape & domestic abuse.

The Scribe of Siena

If 'Outlander' is the gold standard by which readers rate time travel books, this one falls a bit short in comparison. I mention 'Outlander' only because it's touted as appealing to fans of that series. Thank goodness we could start and end this piece of fiction in one book versus multiple tomes.

One of the biggest takeaways from the book (for me) is learning about how immensely Siena suffered from the Plague (or Black Death,) than did her neighboring cities. I had absolutely zero knowledge about this before I started reading. Though 'The Scribe of Siena' is described as a sweeping love story, I viewed it more from the mystery angle of why it was decimated so badly and the authors attempt to solve that puzzle. The protagonists brother (who remains largely a mystery as he's never fleshed out as a character) began uncovering clues then unexpectedly died leaving our heroine, Beatrice, to carry on. If you don't get hung up on the details of how a neurosurgeon effortlessly switches into the role of historian, then shifts 600+ years back in time on a thought then it's an interesting premise to think a power hungry family from nearby Florence had something sinister to do with it.

Putting the underlying mystery aside, the love story aspect of the book was pretty much a non event. I definitely didn't get caught up in the allure of Gabriele Accorsi like I did Jaime Fraser but then neither was there much of a build up between Beatrice or Gabrieles characters or frankly much interaction between them at all. I can only say don't expect to be swept away in a romance.

Lots of difficult things to believe in the book, the main one being Beatrices' transport between centuries. The author suggests it's a person in another period that calls the character there. I found that much harder to buy into than a portal (like the Stones were in Outlander.) If only it were that easy... Also a bit of a stretch that anyone could go so far back in time and fit in so easily.
Beatrice lucked into a job, a place to live and a support system almost instantaneously. It is a fictional work tho so do we give all the incongruities a pass on that count???

If you have interest in medieval Italy or historical fiction in general, maybe this one is for you?
There are interesting tidbits throughout the pages but on the whole it was a bit slow and left a lot of unanswered questions. Maybe it was too ambitious for the author to think she could cover so much ground in one book??