Search

Nerd Girl Loves Books

Book recommendations and short reviews just for you!

Category

Historical Fiction

The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman

a marriage of opposites

4 stars

A enjoyable historical fiction. Continue reading “The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman”

The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) by Roshani Chokshi

the gilded wolves

4 Stars

A very good, historical fiction YA Fantasy. Continue reading “The Gilded Wolves (The Gilded Wolves #1) by Roshani Chokshi”

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

Once upon a river

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard book to describe. It’s part folktale, part mystery, part romance and part magical fairy tale. The story starts off slowly, but stick with it. As it unwinds, the pace picks up until its tragic, but wonderful, ending.

During a dark midwinter’s night in a small inn by the Thames river, the regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories. A badly injured stranger bursts through the door carrying a little dead girl. After the healer tends to the injured stranger, she inspects the body of the little girl and discovers she’s alive. The regulars speculate as to how the little girl could be alive. Is it a miracle, magic, science or something else? Continue reading “Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield”

Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness

Time's Convert

4 stars

I really enjoyed this book. It’s set in the same world as the All Souls Trilogy books. This book centers on Marcus, Matthew de Clermont’s son, and his fiance Phoebe. The story begins with Marcus’ life as a young boy in rural Massachusetts just before the Revolutionary War. Fleeing an abusive home, he runs away to join the military to fight the British. While there he begins training with various medical doctors and starts tending the troops. During one brutal campaign he meets Matthew in a field hospital. When he later takes ill and is about to die, Matthew offers to make him a vampire, and Marcus accepts. The remainder of the story centers on Marcus’ journey from young vampire to present day. Continue reading “Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness”

Silent in the Sanctuary (Lady Julia Grey #2) by Deanna Raybourn

Silent in the Sanctuary

4 stars

This is another good book in the Lady Julia Grey mystery series. When the book opens, Julia has been in Italy for the last 6 months with two of her brothers. She and her brothers are summoned back to their home in England by their father. When they arrive, they find the home filled with family and guests. Among the guests is Nicholas Brisbane – the one person she was trying to forget. Not only has he been elevated to a Lord, but he’s engaged to be wed. Continue reading “Silent in the Sanctuary (Lady Julia Grey #2) by Deanna Raybourn”

The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox

The witch of willow hall

3.5 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first gothic historical fiction book I’ve read. The writing was well done and the story was interesting, but I have mixed feelings about this book. It seemed to float between several genres and the story became a bit muddled in the process. Continue reading “The Witch of Willow Hall by Hester Fox”

Dark Tide Rising (William Monk #24) by Anne Perry

dark tide rising 2

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Commander William Monk book I’ve read, and although this is the 24th book in this series, I was able to enjoy the book without having read any of the other books. There was enough information given about the characters to understand what was going on, even if I didn’t perhaps know all of the relevant information.

In this book, Commander Monk is asked to assist a distraught husband whose wife has been kidnapped and ransomed. Monk agrees to help the husband drop the money off to the kidnappers and retrieve the wife. When the hand-off goes horribly wrong and the wife is murdered and the money stolen, Monk fears that one of his own men betrayed their plans and caused the wife’s death. Continue reading “Dark Tide Rising (William Monk #24) by Anne Perry”

Witchmark (Witchmark #1) by C.L. Polk

Witchmark RD3 fixedbleeds new dress

4 stars

This was a fun, quick read. The story is set in a world similar to England after WWII. A group of wealthy families control the weather with their unique magical abilities. Miles Singer had an unhappy childhood and was fated to be enslaved by the interests of his family or committed to a witches asylum. All he ever wanted to do was become a doctor and heal people. Miles fakes his own death, runs away and joins the military, who put him through medical school. Right after he finishes his training, war breaks out between Aeland and Laneer and Miles is sent to the front. Continue reading “Witchmark (Witchmark #1) by C.L. Polk”

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

fawkes

4 stars

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, fun read. It’s a young adult, historical fiction fantasy book. England is suffering from a plague that turns infected people’s body to stone. If the infection spreads enough in the person’s body, it is deadly. Thomas Fawkes is the son of legendary Guy Fawkes. He has been infected with the stone plague in his eye, which he needs to hide from the public. Continue reading “Fawkes by Nadine Brandes”

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑