eyes.2c Reviews

Highland Devil  (Murray Family #22) by  Hannah Howell                                   Mora Ogilvy finds herself fleeing for her life from relatives who definitely seek her demise. An attempt to steal a horse leads her into the way of Sir Gybbon Murray. Of course this is just the beginning of the self inflicted and otherwise mayhem that fills the pages for these two. Along the way we engage with some favorite's from past stories. Mora's older brothers have probably been killed off in France where they were being employed as mercenaries. Her youngest brother she guided towards safety before slipping away in another direction. Now all she has to do is survive, and maybe even more. A pleasing read with some whimsical touches, including the rather wonderful small cat Freya and the way various characters respond to our Freya. To be honest Freya was rather the highlight for me. So to...

Spinning Silver: A Novel by Naomi Novik   A gripping story that seems to combine Rumpelstiltskin with overtones of several other traditional tales and comes up with something completely different. The lands of Lithvasn are under perpetual winter, frozen in place by the Staryk, a deadly race that remind me of high elves, far above humanity in their scale of being. A young Jewish girl, Miryem, daughter of a moneylender, takes it upon herself to regain debts owed the family. Debts that have left the family close to starvation. In doing this she shows a solid business head and the family fortunes are turned around. She turns dross into gold. And this is exactly why she attracts the attention of the Staryk King, who seems to be a cross between an arrogant Elf Lord and the male equivalent of the wicked Ice Queen. Another young woman from the same village is hired by Mireym to work off her father's debts. This is a turning point for Wanda. Her father is physically abusive and t...

The King's Witch (Frances Gorges Trilogy #3) by Tracy Borman                               The cut and thrust of politics and religion during Tudor times and on into the early 1600's reign of King James of Scotland, leaves the gap between trust and mistrust frighteningly narrow.  The removal of women healers as witches from villages and elsewhere during this time was harrowing. Purges throughout history in the name of religion, powered by fanatics have dogged humanity. The King's Witch touches on the dichotomy between James 1's personal life and his actions towards the general populace, spurred on by his fears of witchcraft and papists. A well researched, historical novel that pulls the reader instantly into the action. The story of Lady Frances Gorges, daughter to the Marchioness of Northampton and Sir Thomas Gorges, a talented healer taken by her outrageous dukely uncle to the new court of James I,...

The Privilege of Peace (Peacekeeper #3, Confederation #8)   by Tanya Huff                            Plastic data sheets, rogue Silsviss, the presence of the much disliked and inept commander General Morris, Warden Torin , Craig and the rest of the Strike team have their hands full with new developments that bring up old challenges. Devious plans are being hatched by the Humans First fanatics. The finding of data sheets similar to the plastic from before has everyone including the elder race, the H'san on edge.  After Warden Torin's  Strike Team's last mission, where information about the H'san and their ancient, deeply hidden weapons cache, Torin's trust of them has devolved even further.  "The H’san were the Eldest of the Elder Races. They sang to the dawn. They loved cheese. For most of the Confederation, that was enough." But not for Torin! Presit of course becomes involved and with a...

The Orphan's Wish (Hagenheim #8) by Melanie Dickerson                               An interesting take on Aladdin joins Melanie Dickerson's insightful series of traditional folk and fairytale retellings, set in the German dukedom of Hagenheim. The vision Dickerson brings to these works is so original. I am always in awe of the prism through which the stories are told  and the wellspring of creativity Dickerson seems to flawlessly draw upon. That said, for all its interesting perspective, I didn't warm to Aladdin's story in the same way that I have to others. The tale of a young boy rescued by a monk from an Oliver Twist type start to life in Palestine, who journeys to an orphanage in Hagenheim and then to Lüneburg. A tale of love, courage and friendship. Growing up with the Duke of Wilhelm’s daughter Kirstyn, Aladdin and she become inseparable. As he becomes older Aladdin realizes he must leave to m...

Tempting the Laird (Highland Grooms #5) by Julia London What a great read! I loved the character of Catriona Mackenzie, aka Cat. Her passion for her cause, her humor, her way of disarming a situation. The brooding yet resigned duke, Hamlin Graham, Duke of Montrose, who the neighborhood is convinced murdered his wife. His ward Eula is such a poppet. It was charming the way Eula insisted on calling him Montrose and each time he would patiently correct her. As when Eula was tying the Duke's silk neckcloth,  ' “You look very fine, Montrose,” [Eula] said, eyeing him closely. “Your grace,” he reminded her. “Your grace Montrose,” she returned with a pert smile.' To be applauded and noted is that Cat is older than most leading ladies, in her early thirties, and, 'For whatever reason, fate had not seen fit to lead her to drink from the trough of marital bliss, and now, frankly, it was too late.' So Cat turned her energies elsewhere. As I said before Cat is stout he...