Historical

Naomi Novik just keeps on getting better with each book she writes in the historical fantasy with dragons. I guess you could say that in modern warfare as opposed to the Napoleonic Wars, helicopters and fighter planes would be doing the work of the dragons, with Temeraire being the lead dragon character.

This time Naomi Novik has taken us to Europe, especially Turkey where they take the dragon eggs and fly home via Prussia - but it is a hard journey with several crew losses.

When I was growing up, Tony Robinson was one of my heroes (and still is), with his many TV appearances in series like Blood and Honey and Stay Tooned, and audio cassette readings.

In this book (which he wrote with Richard Curtis - one writer of classic 1980's comedy Blackadder) he presents a retelling of events in Homer's epic poem, The Iliad, and chooses to see the whole story from the point of view of one character, Odysseus. The result is well written, pacy and often truly hilarious.

A beautifully descriptive novel set in India in the 1940s and 1850s, wonderfully interwoven, with a satisfying romantic finale.

Some irritations of course, the precocious child Billy, the inability of characters to talk to each other and a certain incompleteness in the character of Evie which means she fades a little and one cares less about her.

But for a sight, smell and sound of India past and present, and a complex and subtle tale this takes some beating.

Any student of history will probably be aware of the ongoing controversy and debate surrounding the Royal Air Force's strategic bombing campaign during the Second World War. Primarily that debate focuses on the attack by the RAF and US 8th AAF's raids on Dresden in the spring of 1945 - and despite that raid being the factor that polarises, it is only one small part of the story.

The latest in this fascinating time travel series following Clare, a 20th century nurse and doctor, traveling back to 18th century Scotland and the colonies to be with her now husband, the Highlander Jamie.

Excellent well drawn characters, good dialogue and description, intriguing plots and sub plots, plus interesting detail of everyday life back then, particularly, for me, on the medical/herbal front. Mix in some celtic mysticism, and in this volume some native American wisdom and set in a period of great change, and you have a really good read.

This is Historical fiction at it's best,an extremely well written and exciting book.Paul Dowsell writes in a very
adult way and he does not spare his readers feelings.The Reader is entering the violent world of the 16th century
where childhood is nonexistent and everyone must look after themselves.

Another huge book ! I found it only possible to read comfortably sitting at a table - are publishers deliberately trying to force readers buy Kindles ?

An intriguing Victorian novel about a girl called Esperanza Gorst, who is employed as a lady's maid to Baroness Tansor but, Esperanza has been sent by her guardian to perform certain tasks.

I enjoyed this book very much becouse as the plot enfolds I gradually learned more about Esperanza's former life and the reasons for her being there. The main themes of the book are obsessive love which affects future generations. Murder and fraud are skilfully woven into an intricate plot that will keep the pages turning until the end.

This is the latest book in the Matthew Shardlake series,who is a lawyer and a champion for the poor. Queen Cathrine Parr has asked Shardlake to investigate a case for one of her retainers into the Kings Court of Wards which had a reputation for bribery and corruption.The story is set in the time of King Henry's War with France. Henry is preparing for War and the troops are being mobilised.

The story is set in 1889 as the great powers of Europe are scrambling for territory in Africa. The last territory is the kingdom of Matabele and Mashonaland, ruled by the benevolent tyrant King Lobengula and policed by his 20,000 warriors, Cecil John Rhodes wants the land at any price in order t0 extend the British Empire.