If you've never tried historical fiction before, now is a great time to start! Personally, I had never read much historical fiction before starting this blog, but now I can honestly say I enjoy it very much thanks to some wonderful authors and books I've been introduced to. Keep reading to find out more about a few historical novels definitely worth reading! Come back tomorrow for some mystery...Mystery/Detective novels, that is.
The Cross and The Dragon by Kim Rendfeld
A tale of love in an era of war and blood feuds.
Francia, 778: Alda has never forgotten Ganelon's vow of vengeance when she married his rival, Hruodland. Yet the jilted suitor's malice is nothing compared to Alda's premonition of disaster for her beloved, battle-scarred husband.
Although the army invading Hispania is the largest ever and King Charles has never lost a war, Alda cannot shake her anxiety. Determined to keep Hruodland from harm, even if it exposes her to danger, Alda gives him a charmed dragon amulet.
Is its magic enough to keep Alda's worst fears from coming true--and protect her from Ganelon?
Inspired by legend and painstakingly researched, The Cross and the Dragon is a story of tenderness, sacrifice, lies, and revenge in the early years of Charlemagne's reign, told by a fresh, new voice in historical fiction.
Praise for "The Cross and the Dragon"
"Kim Rendfeld has an addictive style of writing. The strong characterization... held my interest, and I took particular pleasure in the originality of the setting. The Cross and the Dragon is a book I truly enjoyed reading."
Roberta Gellis, author of the Roselynde Chronicles
"This sweeping epic... [is told] in an elegant, convincing manner. The author gives us... realistic and likeable characters, making it a pleasure to dive in to a multi-layered tale."
Publishers Weekly (manuscript review, 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award competition)
The Cross and the Dragon is available from from Kindle on Amazon US, Amazon UK, paperback (US and Canada), B&N, Kobo, and Indigo.
"Gambler, gaoler, soldier, sailor, smuggler, spyman, traitor, thief
A battle of wits against the brutal forces of Napoleon’s tyranny over Europe
On a summer night in 1812, a boy sets fire to a house in Paris before escaping over the rooftops. Carrying vital intelligence about Napoleon’s Russian campaign, he heads for England. But landing in Kent, he is beaten almost to death.
The Foreign Secretary, Lord Castlereagh, is desperate for the boy’s information. He is even more desperate, however, to track down the boy’s assailant – a sadistic French agent who knows far too much about Castlereagh’s intelligence network.
Captain George Shuster is a veteran of the Peninsula, an aide-de-camp to Wellington, now recalled from the continent and struggling to adjust to civilian life. Thomas Jesuadon is a dissolute, living on the fringes of society, but with an unrivalled knowledge of the seamy underside of the capital. Setting out to trace the boy’s attacker, they journey from the slums of London to the Scottish coast, following a trail of havoc, betrayal, official incompetence and murder. It takes an unlikely encounter with a frightened young woman to give them the breakthrough that will turn the hunter into the hunted.
Meanwhile, the boy travels the breadth of Europe in the wake of the Grande Armée, witnessing at first hand the ruination they leave behind and the awful price of Napoleon’s ambition.
This companion to M.M. Bennetts’s brilliant debut, May 1812, is a gripping account of deception, daring and determination, of intelligence and guile pitted against brutality. Bennetts brings to vivid life the harrowing devastation wrought on the civilian populations of Europe by Napoleon’s men, and the grit, courage and tenacity of those who stood against them."
Get your copy today from Amazon or the Kindle Store.
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Love historical fiction! Once again, beautiful covers, both of you!
ReplyDeleteI agree, they are both gorgeous covers. To be honest, since starting this blog, historical fiction has become a surprise favorite of mine. I never read much before Bennetts' "Of Honest Fame" and it really just blew me away! I've just started reading Rendfeld's "The Cross and the Dragon" and so far I am enjoying it quite a bit. I would definitely encourage readers to give these authors a try even if they aren't normally historical fiction readers.
ReplyDeleteOHHH these sound like wonderful reads to add to this book addicts collection thanks so much for introducing me to such wonderful reads:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and checking these books out!
Deletei just found you searching for groups on goodreads.com. looks like some great stuff here! Thanks for the giveaways!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you found us! Thanks for stopping by and checking out these great books!
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