Poetry of Reading

The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin

by Natasa Djordjevic - 7:16 AM

Ling Suyin was the late Emperor's consort, known for her stunning beauty and reputation as the supreme seductress across the Empire. After years of navigating the treacherous Imperial Court, Suyin simply desires a peaceful place away from the palace's intrigue. Upon her former master's passing, she was granted a lovely home near the river, far from the Imperial Court.

Li Tao is a ruthless warlord who was raised on the streets of Luoyang. He rules a province and has the foresight and skill to understand the changing winds within the Empire. The Empire has fractured, war has breached the horizon, and Tao knows he will be forced to stand against Imperial forces.

Before Suyin could be granted her wish, an anonymous note sent to Li Tao led him to kidnap her and entangle her in palace politics. Aware that rival Governors want to eliminate the late Emperor's courtesan, Tao must determine if the secrets she holds justify her execution. As Imperial forces approach his province, Tao offers Suyin her freedom in exchange for a night in his bed. However, they soon realize that one night is not enough for either of them. What starts as a single night evolves into a love that has the potential to bring down an Empire.

"The Dragon and The Pearl" is Jeannie Lin's remarkable sequel to "Butterfly Swords". The story had me hooked from the beginning. It's a captivating and refreshing read. In this novel, Ms. Lin turns the villain from "Butterfly Swords" into a hero with a unique twist, and she delivers an engaging tale set during the Tang Dynasty. It's a must-read novel of the year.

No Comments

Tombland by C.J. Sansom

by Natasa Djordjevic - 3:41 PM

“Never in England were there so many gentlemen and so little gentleness.”

In 1549, after the young King Edward inherited his father Henry VIII's throne, there was an uprising against Edward's guardian, the Lord Protector Somerset. The rebellion was led by two brothers from Norfolk named Kett, and the story focuses on the city of Norwich, which was the second-largest city in England at that time.

In all of Sansom's Tudor novels, the story revolves around the hunchback lawyer, Matthew Shardlake, and his sidekick, Jack Barak. They are sent by Edward's older step-sister, Lady Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth I), to investigate a gruesome murder near Norwich at the time of Kett's Rebellion.

Shardlake's character continues to evolve and the plot is truly excellent. It's a gripping story filled with outstanding historical insights and detail.

No Comments

Month of July : Best of Quotes

by Natasa Djordjevic - 5:31 AM

No Comments

Shield of Thunder by David Gemmell

by Natasa Djordjevic - 9:20 AM

“Nothing of real worth can ever be bought. Love, friendship, honour, valour, respect. All these things have to be earned.”

The story takes place about a year after the events of the first book, focusing more on the characters Odysseus, Kalliades, and Banokles. It revolves around the events leading to the war between Agamemnon and Priam, and the years leading up to the siege of Troy. The plot also details how friends become enemies and enemies become friends. The book includes many battles, is vividly described for easy visualization, and features engaging and likable characters. There's a nice twist at the start of the book involving Helikaon and how he overcomes his predicament, demonstrating how knowledge can be seen as mysticism.

No Comments

Butterfly Swords by Jeannie Lin

by Natasa Djordjevic - 7:33 AM

“None of us deserves the things we have been given. We can only spend the rest of our days earning them.”

During the journey to her arranged marriage ceremony, Ai Li learns shocking secrets about her betrothed, Li Tao, a powerful governor and war hero whom she has never seen. She discovers that he is plotting against her father and may have been involved in the murder of one of her brothers. Unable to become the wife of a warlord with malicious intentions, Ai Li decides to break tradition and escape to inform her father about Li Tao's betrayal. This decision puts her at odds with her family's expectations and risks dishonoring their name. As the only daughter in a family of warriors, Ai Li is determined to face the dangers and intrigues of imperial politics. On her way back, she encounters pursuit and attacks but is eventually rescued by Ryam, a barbarian warrior.

Ai Li and Ryam, two very different individuals, come together under unexpected circumstances. Unbeknownst to both of them, their destinies become intertwined the moment they lay eyes on each other. When Ryam first sees Ai Li, he is captivated by the brightness she brings into his dark world. Her kindness and beauty deeply affect him, marking the beginning of an extraordinary adventure. Despite initial mistrust, Ai Li and Ryam ally. Ai Li needs to return safely to the imperial city, and Ryam feels compelled to protect her, even from himself. As a foreigner, he is unlikely to be associated with her enemies.

There are a few plot elements that could have been improved, but overall, Butterfly Swords is extraordinary.

No Comments

Lamentation by C.J. Sansom

by Natasa Djordjevic - 3:43 PM

“This, I thought, was how the real power-play went: conversations in corners and gardens, nods, shrugs, inclinations of the head. But nothing in writing.”

Another fantastic Shardlake novel that skillfully blends historical facts with a complex yet compelling plot and storyline. This book is one of C.J. Sansom's best works and brilliantly sets up the next story for the post-Henry VIII era. As always, I appreciate the author's detailed descriptions of the fashion and attitudes of the time, as well as the vivid depiction of life in the medieval period - you can practically smell the streets after heavy rain with Mr. Sansom's descriptions! I also enjoy the human aspects of Master Shardlake's life during these times - it shows that human sensibilities existed even then, despite the harsh and politically charged conditions of the time.

The plot of this book is quite typical of the series, although its development is a bit slow and more complex, with many characters involved in various twists and scenarios. It can be hard to keep track of things as the story evolves and crime-solving options expand. However, Master Shardlake does a great job of handling plausible scenarios and keeping readers informed of his clear thinking. The ending is excellent and not entirely predictable, as it keeps you wondering and guessing right up to the end.

No Comments

Month of June: Best of Quotes

by Natasa Djordjevic - 7:33 AM

No Comments

The Queen's Lady by Eve Edwards

by Natasa Djordjevic - 5:02 AM

The book features different characters, so it can be read as a standalone novel if you haven't read the first one.

The story is a bit predictable, like a typical romance novel: a beautiful woman in need of rescue and a man willing to save her, regardless of her lack of fortune and his own lack of inheritance. The plot keeps you on your toes. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story.

No Comments

Sword of Kings by Bernard Cornwell

by Natasa Djordjevic - 2:58 AM

"Everything ends. Summer ends. Happiness ends. Days of joy are followed by days of sorrow. Even the gods will meet their end in the last battle of Ragnarok when all the evil of the world brings chaos and the sun will turn dark, the waters will drown the homes of men, and the great beamed hall of Valhalla will burn to ashes. Everything ends."

"The Saxon Tales" immerses us in the story of how Alfred the Great's vision of a united England came to be. It is narrated by Uhtred of Bebbanburg, a character who embodies the complex historical, cultural, linguistic, economic, warrior, and chivalric aspects of his time. Mr. Cornwell has us see through Uhtred's eyes as he navigates these often conflicting forces from his early years to his reflections as an elderly man, a seasoned participant in Alfred's frequently threatened but never-conquered vision.

We have had few authors with Cornwell's imaginative reach. He is a scholar of historical detail, possessing a deep and nuanced understanding of human nature and what drives us to achieve great things. He comprehends how human relationships develop over time, for better or for worse, and how the technologies of an era are often used by human beings to significantly impact the outcome of events.

Cornwell combines all of this in a masterful storytelling style that sweeps the reader's imagination up into the epic and carries them along the tumultuous, racing tide of consequential history.

“Sword of Kings” is the 12th novel in this saga. It is as rich and viscerally engaging as the previous eleven. Mr. Cornwell never disappoints.

No Comments

Heartstone by C.J. Sansom

by Natasa Djordjevic - 3:43 PM

"Politics is like dice: the better the player, the worse the man."

In "Hearthstone", C.J. Sansom presents an intricate mystery set in Tudor England during the reign of Henry VIII. The story follows Matthew Shardlake as he takes on Queen Catherine Parr's request to investigate the death of Michael, a tutor to two children who are now Wards of the Crown. It is revealed that the children's guardian, Nicholas Hobbey, had terminated Michael's tutoring to serve his interests. Before his death, Michael left a note pleading for help for one of the children, Hugh, who was being mistreated by Hobbey.

Matthew had already planned to journey to the same area in his quest for the truth. He had set for himself the task of learning what had happened to Ellen Fetti-Place nineteen years ago that had driven her to madness and to become an inmate at Bedlam. Matthew had met her two years ago while visiting a young boy who was also an inmate at Bedlam. Although Ellen had seemed to be the sanest inmate there, she was too terrified of the outside world to set foot out of Bedlam's protective doors.

Samson intertwines these tales with the historical events of the time, providing an enjoyable read for lovers of historical fiction.