eyes.2c Reviews

The Unicorn Hunters : A Novel  by Katherine Arden        ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Reading Katherine Arden’s notes gives me a glimpse into her fertile and often whimsical imagination, always with an edge. Loosely based around Anne, the Duchess of Brittany, her plans and contrivances to avoid marriage to Charles VIII of France, a proxy marriage to Maximilian of Austria, her valiant attempts to keep her duchy and people free. All of which came to naught. Here in Arden’s tale Anne seizes the moment, aided by magical forces and a unicorn the true story gives way to a startling story of light, duty and magic woven unhesitatingly through the pages. I love that Arden has connected the Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries in the Cloisters in New York City to the tale. As always—a splendid read! A Del Ray ARC via NetGalley.                                               Many than...

Runes of Battle (Rune Song Trilogy #2) by G.N. Gudgion   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Adelais is on the run heading for Vriesland. She needs to escape and learn how to control her rune song usage. The Anakritis-General, Ghislain Barthram has people looking for her, following her trail and secretly notifying him by homing pigeons. The secret of which he keeps close, not wanting others to learn of this simple method of communication, relying on subterfuge to muddy the waters of truth. This time Adelais vows to take notice of her wolf guides and the ravens. She takes some respite with her friend Lady Agnes married to Leander de Fontenay. Whilst in hiding in a small castle on their lands Adelais takes the opportunity to learn how to fight with a sword, and ride the war trained destrier, Allier, a present from Humber Blanc. Humbert is the leader of the Guardians, and like a father to her. A man Adelais has come to admire. She  never imagines her journey will take her and her companions within the r...

In the Realm of Ash and Sorrow by Kenneth W Harmon        I must say I really had no idea what I was getting into with this story. I found it stunning, compassionate and yet could hardly read some parts. An American bomber, dropping propaganda pamphlets warning people to leave Hiroshima was shot down. Bombardier Mica Lund tries to scramble out, his parachute becomes entangled and he dies on impact. All this happens just as a war widow  Kiyomi Oshiro is passing nearby. In the moment of his death their eyes lock and they become joined in the spirit world. A spirit world that Kiyomi and her daughter Ai can enter when asleep. So begins an amazing encapsulation of this time in Japan, including the strict customs around living arrangementsand many beliefs. It sounds somewhat corny but it wasn't. It was respectfully written, unrolling like a deceptively intricate Japanese scroll painting. The bombing  of Hiroshima was hard to read but again depicted sen...

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology #1)   by Robin LaFevers    As usual I was grasped by the power of LaFevers writing. I found myself totally keyed up fully there with these young woman assassins thrust into a life that can unravel in an instance, a life where their choices are really few except to keep going, keep protecting; and when they're deeply undercover, to await a sign! But what if that sign never comes and you have no way of ascertaining what might be or not be? A deeply addidictive  medieval historical fantasy set loosely at the time of the court of Queen Anne in fifteenth century medieval Brittany in the latter part of the French Breton war.  Right in the thick of things are the assassin novices who serve St. Mortrain (the god of Death). Underlying all is the old age story of women being used in the struggle of intrigue and politics, where noble daughters are bartered to ensure the continuation of the rule of the powerful. Three na...

Fog Season (Tales of Port Saint Frey #2) by Patrice Sarath What's not too love! The adventures of the two sisters of the House Mederos, recently fallen from grace and the regard of the very fickle high society of Port Saint Fey continues with an unexpected turn of events, or two! We have  a host of biting new characters and those who have become more three dimensional. Sisters Tesara and Yvienne are continuing with their brilliantly bad habits. They are both in danger of being questioned by Abel Fresnel who has powers unlooked for. Their secrets are in grave danger. The emergence of Vivi being in charge of the house is a master stroke. Tesara is being pursued by the former nemesis--The Guildmaster, and a new more frightening entity, the Doc emerges. BTW, I made sure to read the first in the series before reading this sequel and feel that that was crucial for my understandings. I was captivated from beginning to end can't wait for the next in this very robust historic...