The Dead Sea cipher by Elizabeth Peters
8 June, 2008
*****
Yet another standalone Elizabeth Peters with an archaeological subject. Great sense of place if a little implausible by the end. I should probably not be reading all these so close together – they’re getting a bit predictable in their unpredictability.
Genre: Mystery
Read: 31/05/2008
Harriet by Jilly Cooper
2 June, 2008
*****
Marvellous stuff as always. This is the one where she gets pregnant by an attractive idiot and ends up nannying for a writer. Hero a bit too opaque (as always) but its part of the charm in this retro romance. I’ve read this more times than I can remember.
Genre: romance
Read:
31/05/2008
An offer from a gentleman by Julia Quinn
28 May, 2008
*****
Good re-working of the Cinderella story. Fluffy, but doesn’t cop out on reality entirely (as we find out in later books).
genre: historical romance
read: 17/05/2008
The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley
13 March, 2008
ISBN: 978-0441068807
I cannot remember when I first read this book and I have read it many times (often in the bath) so I am on my third copy of it….
Plot: Dreamy, bookish orphan girl, Harry, goes to live with her brother at a remote imperial fort in the desert. The book is set in an alternate early 20th/ late 19th century where magic exists but most peole don’t know of it or believe in it. Harry is kidnapped, finds her feet amongst desert peole and through hard work and mystical powers saves everyone AND gets her prince charming by the end of the book.
Characters: Fantastic – The goodies are goodies, the baddies are inhumanly evil and they are all true to their motivations. I always wanted to be Harry…. it is not all black and white and there are some good meaty shades of grey in there to keep things interesting.
What to love: Everything – the action, the romance, the plot , the way magic works in this universe – it is all brilliant!!!
What to loathe: Nothing – It is pretty darned perfect
Buy, Borrow or Bin: Buy several copies
If this book was a drink it would be: The perfect cup of tea – satisfying mentally, physically and emotionally.
OK now I have to go read it again….
