The Penelopiad

And we, the twelve who were later to die by his hand
At his father’s relentless command,
Sailed as well, in the dark frail boats of ourselves
Through the turbulent seas of our swollen and sore-footed mothers
Who were not royal queens, but a motley and piebald collection,
Bought, traded, captured, kidnapped from serfs and strangers.

Capsule summary: Odysseus’ return to Ithaca, from his wife’s point of view.

Capsule review: Disappointing, until the last 30 pages or so (beginning with chapter 24) when it suddenly turns amazing. The impetus for this retelling, according to Atwood’s introduction, was the execution of Penelope’s twelve handmaidens, which gets little more than a mention in the original poem. “I’ve always been haunted by the hanged maids,” Atwood writes, “and, in The Penelopiad, so is Penelope herself.” Unfortunately Atwood’s rendering of Penelope is so sketchy and flat that it left me unsatisfied. It isn’t until the story tackles the aftermath of the maids’ killings and the injustice dealt them by modern analyses that the full force of Atwood’s anger reveals itself like a punch to the solar plexus:

You don’t have to think of us as real girls, real flesh and blood, real pain, real injustice. That might be too upsetting. Just discard the sordid part. Consider us pure symbol. We’re no more real than money.

Reviewed by Laura Taylor, December 2011, on Beyond the Blurb; reprinted here with permission.

The Winter Sea

Being a big fan of historical fiction I was excited to dive right into this book. First of all, I want to say that this is a beautifully written book and I loved the atmospheric scenes of Scotland, the great job the author did with the local dialect, no easy feat there, and the witty banter between Carrie and her agent, Jane, Carrie and Jimmy, Carrie and Graham, and Carrie and Stewart.

I also loved the premise–the idea of genetic memory–and have read postulations on the idea that memories could be passed down to our descendants as well as eye and hair color. It certainly makes sense to me as I have come to understand that even our hands have a memory of their own. Yes! That hand-eye coordination that gunslingers have? It isn’t all connected to the brain, you know, it’s kept as memory in the limb. Okay, off topic here.

Genetic memory aside, I found the frequent juxtaposition between the first person POV in the present time and the 3^rd person POV as Carrie plunges into the memories of her 16^th century ancestor somewhat jarring. I’d get all cozy into one story and in the next chapter I’d be dumped into another story and another time.

I also felt that the author used her present day character to give the reader historical lessons as a way to set the stage for her ancestral story, but I would rather she had allowed her readers to have the intelligence to know their history, or go look it up. And as a writer, I’d always been taught to show not tell, so these passages felt like instruction from a school teacher.

I thought both stories could have quite frankly have stood alone and I would have happily read both, I just didn’t enjoy reading them in one book.

Last, but not least, I felt cheated to hear Carrie discussing the ending with her agent. If the author needs to rewrite the ending to suit her readers, please let her do it off-stage. As a reader this is sure not what I paid for! What next? Will the author ask the readers how the story should end? BTW: I knew how it was going to end the minute she mentioned the stranger in town.

Okay, I’m sure this author felt a strong need to try something new, and obviously her editor and publisher thought it terrific or it wouldn’t have sold and after all, this is only one person’s opinion and it’s still a darn good sight better than many historical fiction.

Reviewed by guest reviewer RP Dahlke, November 2011.

Saint Nick and the Fir Tree

Tree is really a yew but likes to pretend he’s a fir. After all, yews make people think of all kinds of sad scenarios while firs bring the cheer of Christmas. Who wouldn’t want to be a fir? Tree also has a sense of adventure so when Santa Claus comes to town for his annual after-Christmas vacation, Tree is absolutely thrilled when Santa gives him a present and asks him to take a walk.

Wait—take a walk? Trees can’t walk! Then again, this IS Santa and Santa DOES mean magic so off they go. To avoid being spotted by the neighbors, Tree is in disguise with sunglasses and a tasseled ski cap. Santa and Tree have a grand old time until they get lost in the snow…and find the body. Has there been foul play? Is a murderer on the loose?

At this time of year, we become more and more frantic as Christmas approaches and it’s a pleasure when we find a few moments to just relax and enjoy the season. What better way to spend those few moments than reading—perhaps aloud to family and friends—such a charming tale as this? Saint Nick and the Fir Tree is the perfect little story to get one in the proper mood for the holidays.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, December 2011.

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Congratulations to Melba L. May, winner of a copy of

“Saint Nick and the Fir Tree” by Nancy Adams!

Swords of Eveningstar

FR Date 1348

Ed Greenwood is not only the creator of the Forgotten Realms (1975), but a legendary giant in the word of fantasy. Mostly known for his Elminster books in the Realms, Greenwood has written hundreds of books, articles, and fantasy games. Greenwood’s books are full of detail, sometimes to the point of being confusing for readers, and can not be read lightly.

Greenwood’s series, The Knights of Myth Drannor, introduces readers to Florin Falconhand, a ranger, Jhessail Silvertree, a mageling, Islif Lurelake, a warrior, Doust Sulwood, acolyte of Tymora, and Semoor Wolftooth, acolyte of Lathander are a young, inexperienced, group of kids from Espar who dream of a life of adventure. Adventure is what they get when Florin saved King Azoun’s life and grants them a royal charter to become a legal adventuring band in Cormyr, called The Swords of Eveningstar. King Azoun sends the Swords to the Haunted Halls, in book one, to prove themselves and gain experience. Before setting out on their adventure, the Knights add four more to their group: Agnnor Wildsilver and Bey Freemantle, fighters, Alura ‘Pennae’ Durshavin, a rogue, and Martress Ilmra, a sorceress. Additionally, Lady Narantha Crowsilver, who is smitten with Florin after he rescued her, takes along as an unchartered member of the group.

Swords of Dragonfire
Wizards of the Coast, 2008
ISBN 978-0786948628
Mass Market Paperback

As the adventurers begin the task set by King Azoun, unbeknownst to them, several mages and wizards are watching and intent on using the Swords to their own advantage. Horaundoon, a Zhentarim Red Wizard in hiding, Old Ghost, a Zhentarim spirit, Taltar “Dauntless”Dahauntul, Ornrion of Arabel, and Vangerdahast, the Mage Royal to King Azoun, all are playing close attention to the Swords. By the end of book one, the Swords of Eveningstar are anointed by Queen Fifaeril as the Knights of Myth Drannor and sent on their next quest.

Book one, The Swords of Eveningstar, introduces many characters and their individual plots which can be confusing to inattentive readers. The characters themselves are well fleshed out and the plots very detailed. There is a lot for readers to absorb in one book.  The story picks up in book two, The Swords of Dragonfire, where several plots that began in book one come to fruition and the inexperience and too trusting ways of the Knights continue to throw them into disastrous situations. In book three, The Sword Never Sleeps, the Knights again find themselves the target of suspicion from Vangerdahast and just can’t seem to get themselves to Shadowdale without finding more trouble.

The Sword Never Sleeps
Wizards of the Coast, 2009
ISBN 978-0786950157
Mass Market Paperback

Eventually, the Knights do arrive in Shadowdale as the trilogy comes to an end. However, the story abruptly ends with their arrival and fans of the realms will be well aware that there is more to the tale of the Knights as they appear is other Greenwood books, later in the FR time. The story of how Florin, Jhessail and additional new Knights become the guardians to keep wayward adventurers out of the ruined and haunted city of Myth Drannor or the details of Doust becoming the Lord of Shadowdale are not addressed in this series, even though fans are given this information in Greenwood’s book Spellfire. The Knights become classic Greenwood characters who will frequently make cameos in other Greenwood tales around the Realms. The Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy provides the history behind this loyal band of heroes who are dedicated to protecting the Realms.

Fans of the Forgotten Realms must read Greenwood’s books so as to not miss out on much of the lore that makes the Realms the incredible fantasy word it has become.

Reviewed by Brenda Cothern, November 2010.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball

It’s Christmas and Cora Crowder just can’t get into any kind of Christmas spirit.  None of it feels right.  She’s a relatively new Christian, with minimal support in the city.  Her family puts the “fun” in dysfunctional, so they are more of a downer than anyone needs.

Simon Derrick is the serious man who is the boss of Cora’s boss at work.  They really don’t know each other until they are both at the same odd bookstore at the same time.  They also both receive tickets to a well-kept secret: The Sage Street Annual Christmas Ball.  Neither really has any intention of going.  This is a romance, so the reader knows better.

Paul writes a believable love story about two people from varying backgrounds, united by their faith.  She manages to interweave fairies and wizards into this faith without a great deal of hoopla and uproar; all things are possible.  While reading this, I was reminded a great deal of Grace Livingston Hill’s work (updated quite a bit) and also of the works of Emilie Loring.  Fans of either author should be happy to read Ms. Paul, if they haven’t already.

Reviewed by P.J. Coldren, April 2011.

Storm of the Dead

FR Date: 1376-1377

Lisa Smedman’s second new book in the Lady Penitent Series, Storm of the Dead, continues transforming the world of the Forgotten Realms (FR). This series is a must read for any fan of the Drow race or the Forgotten Realms. Marked changes are apparent on the goddess Eilistraee, as the result of events that occurred in Smedman’s Sacrifice of the Widow. Fans who have not read Sacrifice of the Widow may be confused by these changes, even though Smedman gives a brief, one sentence reference explanation.

The two Drow goddesses, Loth and Eilistraee, mother and daughter, continue to play their game of sava, the multi-level, chess style, Faerûn game, when an unexpected guest arrives. The Drow goddess of vengeance and all things dead and undead, Kiaransalee, is insulted that Loth and Eilistraee would play sava without inviting her. Kiaransalee soon agrees to the terms of the game, (winner take all and the looser forfeits not only their worshipers but their life) and with a sweep of Loth’s hand, she is added to the board.

Each chapter begins in the familiar FR style, providing the “Year of…” and the DR date, allowing Faerûn historians to easily place these events into the Forgotten Realms timeline. Characters from the Sacrifice of the Widow continue to be manipulated by the goddesses playing their game. Qilué, Q’arlynd and Halisstra Marlarn, and Cavatina continue to struggle and adjust to the changes wrought by the goddesses while several new characters are introduced to fans. Kâras (assassin of the Dark Lady), Valdar (Cleric of Vhaeruan), Master Seldszar (head of the College of Divination), and Wendonai (a balor demon of the Abyss) are all put into play along with scores of Kiaransalee’s minions.

The story educates fans with information on Sshamath, a city ruled by the heads of various Arcane Colleges, and The Acropolis, Kiaransalee’s primary temple. Readers will focus on the stories of Q’arlynd, Halisstra, and Cavatina as they are affected by Kiaransalee’s entrance to the sava game.

Smedman’s Storm of the Dead, starts (and continues) to be action packed and ends with yet another “Oh My God, No Way!” experience. This book is a classic Forgotten Realms style story that offers in-depth insight into the Drow pantheon. Readers are quickly immersed in Faerûn and the Drow pantheon transformations as they follow designated and undecided heroes through this adventure. For Forgotten Realms fans, this book continues the story of the historical Drow pantheon changes. Dungeon and Dragons or other fantasy fans will feel right at home with the races, characters and combat, both melee and magical.

Reviewed by Brenda Cothern, August 2010.

Three Bags Full: A Sheep Detective Story

Suppose you were walking down a country lane someday and came across a flock of sheep. What would you do? Hope they wouldn’t suddenly decide to stampede and mow you down? Ignore them and walk past? Not me. I’d be checking out each one to see who is Miss Maple or Othello or Mopple the Whale or any of the other delightful sheep in this book.

When I first picked it up, I thought this would be just another cute animal sleuth mystery. After only a few pages, I knew I was wrong.

This flock of charming Irish sheep finds their shepherd murdered and, being a rather educated group, they decide they need to solve his murder. George, you see, used to read to them every night and they’ve learned quite a lot about humans although, unfortunately, he never finished reading their first detective novel so they’re not entirely sure what they’re doing. Led by Miss Maple, they set out to do their best detecting, with shades of Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, determined to find the killer since the village humans don’t seem to be working at it very hard.

The mystery here is fairly slight with a neat twist at the very funny denouement but the character development of the sheep is wonderful, equal to some of the best human character development I’ve read. You just can’t help liking these animals and wanting to know more and more about them individually. They have much more interesting backstories than you might imagine and you’ll come away from this book being absolutely sure there’s a lot more to the woolly beasts than you ever dreamed all those times you’ve driven past them in a field. I bet you’ll never ignore sheep again.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, June 2007

Sacrifice of the Widow

FR Date: 1372-1375

Lisa Smedman’s new book, Sacrifice of the Widow, is the first of three in the new Forgotten Realms (FR) series, The Lady Penitent. This series is a must read for any Forgotten Realms fan. It brings about the Drow transformations that changes the world of the Forgotten Realms forever and offers the story behind the Drow Pantheon changes in the Forgotten Realms Role Play Game books.

The two Drow goddesses, Loth and Eilistraee, mother and daughter, play a game of sava where the moves they make upon the board change the land of Faerûn. Each is intent on winning the game, a game that has been going on for as long as mortals have been in the Realms. A wager is proposed by Loth that the winner take all and death is the reward of the looser, witnessed and enforced by Ao, the overgod. As the goddesses move their pieces about the board, their mortal worshipers progress through the Realms, doing the bidding of their goddesses while Vhaeruan, brother to Eilistraee and Loth’s son, plots treachery unbeknownst to them.

Each chapter begins in the familiar FR style, providing the “Year of…” and the DR date, allowing Faerûn historians to easily place these events into the Forgotten Realms timeline. Fans will recognize Qilué, High Priestess of Eilistreae and Chosen of Mystra, as she scrys another familiar character, Halisstra Marlarn, Eilistraee’s Champion and wielder of the Crescent Blade. Qilué watches as Halisstra is slain, despite Qilué’s help, but doesn’t realize that Halisstra won’t be joining Eilistreae in her eternal dance. Fast forward three years and we meet a new character, Halisstra’s brother, a wizard and the only other surviving Marlarn after the fall of Ched Nasad. Q’arlynd’s adventure begins when he locates a portal to the surface and makes contact with priestesses of Eilistreae after accidently killing one of their sisters. He learns his sister made her way to the worship of Eilistreae and begins a plot to rebuild House Marlarn with his sister as its head and he at her side. Another new character is introduced to fans when the Darksong Knight and novice priestess to Eilistreae, Cavatina, is order by Qilué to retrieve the Crescent Blade from the Daemonweb Pits, Loth’s home plane.

The story focuses on Halisstra’s own transformation and struggle between her new nature & her old conscience and desire to serve Eilistraee, while Vhaeruan’s plot, through his worshipers, unfolds and Q’arlynd, in typical Drow form, tries to find his most adventitious niche. The adventure is fluid and has a natural progression that carries the reader along. The combat scenes are typical, and somewhat predictable, for a Forgotten Realms novel. This book gives a stand alone story with the sava game as the carry over factor to the series. It also offers the “Oh My God, No Way!” experience that will have readers referring this book to their friends who are Forgotten Realms fans.

Smedman offers not only a classic Forgotten Realms style story but also an insight into the Drow race that has not been seen since R.A. Salvatorer’s War of the Spider Queen Series or Elaine Cunningham’s Starlight & Shadows Series. Dungeon and Dragons or other fantasy fans will feel right at home with the races, characters and combat, both melee and magical. For readers who have never experienced the Forgotten Realms and the lands of Faerûn, check out this book and you will quickly become immersed in this world.

Reviewed by Brenda Cothern, August 2010.

Prince of Bryanae

Elven Captain Willow lives her life by discipline. She expects nothing less from those around her. Little does anyone realize how fragile that strong surface is beneath.

Childhood terrors are the worst. When people from the horde who’d taken over Willow’s birth kingdom come to her new home to wreak havoc, the staunch warrior is paralyzed with fear for the first time in over a hundred years. They kidnap her Prince right before her eyes. Then, the Queen busts Willow down to private.

Devastated, Willow goes AWOL to recover her Prince. With memories from a tortured past haunting her and some dicey friends, including the suave Captain Snyde and far-too-young Tamlevar, the deck is stacked against her. But, Willow’s got more than discipline. She’s willing to risk everything to stop her new home from being destroyed.

I haven’t read a well-written female heroine as strong as this since Elizabeth Moon. What’s really surprising is Getzin‘s ability to write sympathetic and real women. Prince of Bryanae is well worth a read for fantasy lovers.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, November 2010.

There are now less than a handful of authors whose hardcovers I will pick up without reading at least to Chapter Two. Emma Bull is one of that handful. She’s only produced a few books in her literary career, but I find her writing to be as finely honed as Damascus steel–with a terrible beauty to match. If I had checked and realized that Territory was a Western, I might not have even read it.

That would have been a big mistake.

Most people who know my book habits would describe me as a voracious reader. If I like a book, I’ll devour it in one sitting. In this case, I took a week to drink in the setting and the people and to occasionally read back.

Territory takes place in Tombstone, AZ, circa 1881. The town is barely in its toddler stage, born of greed and men’s need to find a new life.

Bull‘s point of view characters are Mildred Benjamin, a recent widow, who works as a typesetter for the local paper and writes serial fiction on the side. Jesse Fox is an Eastern educated drifter who started out training to be a mining engineer til he discovered he had a talent for horse training. Fox has been told by a Chinese physician, Chow Lung, that he has a gift for magic and should use it. Til now, Fox has postponed that suggestion.

Mildred and Fox both discover there is dark magic afoot in Tombstone. More than one magician is fighting over the land rights. For certain, they know that one of those dark magicians is Wyatt Earp, brother to the Deputy US Marshal, Virgil Earp.

Along the way, we experience Western life firsthand. Ironically, fire breaks out in one of the hotels while the town’s mayor is away trying to purchase a fire wagon for the town. The mining company is fighting folks with claims in town (including Mildred Benjamin) so they can acquire more space. As an aside note, President Garfield is assassinated. News comes via the telegraph–not the ‘up close and personal’ media of the television.

There’s a mystery woven tightly into this fantasy landscape. Characters are well-written and the descriptions literally take you there–to the point of tasting smoke and dirt when the fire first breaks out. The story’s spin is one that’s not commonly told–and an interesting one.  Territory is hard to put down, but I found myself doing that and re-reading a bit earlier than I’d left the book because I actually did want to make this one last. This is one of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long time.

Territory is not the first fantasy depiction of Tombstone, AZ during the OK Corral era. “Spectre of the Gun” (an original “Star Trek” episode) had Captain Kirk and his landing party inadvertently cast in the role of the Clantons and McCourys.

History purists:  Territory doesn’t quite match the historical accounts; however, we all know that history is written by the victors. Clanton (who survived the OK Corral) unsuccessfully tried to prosecute Wyatt Earp and companions for murder. There are two sides to the story and Bull‘s version definitely paints Earp with a dark brush.

Reviewed by Rebecca Kyle, July 2007.
Review first published on amazon.com in 2007.