#historicalfictionreviewer

[bibliobethblog]

A few years ago now, I read two of Kate Quinn’s absolutely brilliant Empress of Rome series and really loved them. Then for some reason I can’t pinpoint, she slipped off my radar and I didn’t explore any more of her historical fiction. Well, thank goodness for the members of #hfbookclub choosing The Rose Code as our monthly buddy read. It reminded me of how fantastic the authors writing is and how beautifully she develops her characters. ⁣ ⁣ The Rose Code is set in 1940 in the UK where specific women are being asked to help with the war effort in the mysterious and top secret Bletchley Park. Three very different young women, Osla a sparkling debutante dating Prince Philip of Greece, forthright and sensible Mab and quiet genius Beth who has a knack for difficult puzzles. ⁣ ⁣ All women assist to some degree with the decoding of enemy messages but as the story unravels, we find out much more about each woman as an individual. We know about difficulties in their past, stresses in their present and worries for their future. However, by 1947, one woman is confined to an asylum and the friendship between the three has been destroyed. ⁣ ⁣ This is primarily a story of war and loss for our female leads who undergo an incredible amount of pressure in both their working and personal lives, during such a tumultuous time for the world. It’s a narrative rich and detailed with so many different layers and avenues to explore that it’s a pleasure to get lost in it. The characters burst off the page with their individuality and vibrant personalities to the point where I felt truly attached to them as the story progressed. ⁣ ⁣ It appears I now need to read everything Rose Quinn has ever written, 😂 this is a stonkingly good read and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it! ⁣ ⁣ 4.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 ⁣ ⁣ ⁣#bookstagramuk #scottishbookstagrammer #readingonmykindle #therosecode #katequinn #historicalfictionreview #reviewingbooksonthegram #unforgettablereads #highlyrecommendedbooks #booksandplants🌵📖 #booksaboutwomenbywomen #booksaboutworldwar2 ⁣ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpx6n2BLprs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[bibliobethblog]

Cunning Women is described as a book for fans of The Essex Serpent (one of my favourite books) and The Mercies (on the TBR) so I was excited to get to it with the #hfbookclub organised by the lovely @r4ch4elreads ⁣ Packed full of atmosphere and tension, this novel follows a small fishing community in the early 17th century. Our female lead, Sarah has a birthmark that marks her as a witch, just like her mother. Torn between her desperation to just be an “ordinary girl,” and her curiosity for what her powers could bring her, Sarah hopes that her younger sister, Annie is not marked by witchcraft. On meeting a farmer’s son Daniel, she begins to hope of a normal life with the potential for love. ⁣ ⁣ However, the family are already shunned by many of the community for their strange ways and when a new magistrate is appointed, determined to root out all evil and ungodly ways, Sarah’s dream (and the lives of her family) are in real jeopardy.⁣ ⁣ I had so many mixed emotions regarding this book. I loved the setting, and thought some of the characters incredibly intriguing, specifically Sarah who wasn’t your atypical “perfect” female lead. Saying that, I couldn’t really connect with the relationship between Sarah and Daniel. The connection between them seemed to accelerate so quickly that it made it difficult to believe in. I’m quite particular with romance in novels - it has to feel authentic and sadly in Cunning Women, it didn’t quite hit the mark. ⁣ ⁣ That isn’t to say though that I wouldn’t read anything else by this author. I liked the writing style, the setting and the obvious research that Elizabeth Lee has undertaken to write this novel. ⁣ ⁣ 3.5 stars 🌟 🌟 🌟 💫 ⁣ ⁣ #bookstagram #scottishbookstagrammer #bookreview #cunningwomen #elizabethlee #witchybooksofig #booksandflowers #bookclubreads📚 #buddyreads #historicalfictionbookstagram #prettybookslovers #historicalfictionreview #historicalfictionreaders https://www.instagram.com/p/ChC_hfCrv4L/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=