Skip to main content

#MGMonday #BookReview "The Golden Book: The Blademaster of Golara" by David H Mines

 I love fantasy books, and I love adventure so, put those two genres together, and I get very excited! I was, therefore, delighted when I was offered the opportunity to review this book. The author sent me a copy in exchange for an honest review. The book can be purchased here. Summary Matthew is an average boy who doesn't realise his father is the Blademaster, a title given to one person capable of wielding the sword of the elements. This sword can metamorphosise, depending on what the Blademaster needs. The sword of wind can creating tornados, while the sword of water can manipulate (you guessed it!) water. When Matthew's father goes missing, and is presumed dead, Matthew is given a special book that can transport him to his father's native world. There, he finds out that he is the new Blademaster and begins a quest to seek out the evil Black Knights and hopes to find what happened to his father. Reviewing... The Plot I love stories about parallel worlds, and it's alw...

#HistFicThursdays - Christmas Snippets - Merry Christmas to All!

 As it's very nearly Christmas, here are a few little Christmas samples from my writing. Since Christmas is a big deal in the Crowvus household, it's unsurprising that it tends to be a big deal in my books, too! Last year, I shared these Christmas samples from Beneath Black Clouds and White. Here are this year's words...

The service was beautiful. Throughout much of it, Francesco simply stared at the illuminated altar, unable to bring himself to speak or move. It was like a dream being played out around him. He had not attended the chapel since his arrival and he could not believe the difference the season had made. As he stood there, he could imagine this as the seat of the first nativity, and he heard the words of the liturgy and the music of the psalms drawing him only further into this belief.
~ from Poisoned Pilgrimage (you can find the opening of this novel in the Embark Journal)

And so Christmas found the two sisters in very different ways. The Jenkyns’ Christmas was rich and extravagant, filled with expensive meats and sweet pies, toys of the highest calibre for Timothy and hand woven lace and linen for Arabella. Petrovia Lodge observed a far smaller but equally appreciated feast. Josiah and Beatrice were old enough now to join Imogen and their father at the table, and each was dressed according to the celebration. Penny and Anne were invited to join them once the table had been laid and served. Although presents were not as plentiful as in the Jenkyns’ household, there were nothing but smiles from those gathered at the table. Further soldiers were Josiah’s present, once more from an anonymous benefactor, whilst Beatrice received a porcelain doll that she could clothe in one of several dresses that accompanied it. Mr Tenterchilt was delivered a sword of such beauty and balance that he declared at once that it could only have come from one of the skilled continental workers in London. Imogen had received a gift too, though she was far less certain of hers. It was a silver chain with a single pearl hanging from it. It caught the light in the most peculiar way, shining with rainbow colours and, though she loved it, she did not dare wear it without knowing who had sent it and with what purpose it had been sent.
~ from Day's Dying Glory

“My dear Imogen,” Imogen read. “Congratulations on the arrival of your son, and I trust this Christmas message, though being written seven weeks early, reaches you all in good health. The contents of the box is your Christmas gift from Henry, Lizzie and me. We discovered the gentleman on Henry’s estate has a good stock and-” Imogen paused to read ahead and a genuine smile covered her face as she gasped. “Oh, quickly!” she continued. “Open the basket.”
Josiah leaned over the basket and untied the two straps before he lifted the lid and looked in. He was met by two wide eyes which stared back at him from the curled up creature in the bottom.
“It is a puppy,” Beatrice squealed, dipping her hands into the basket and pulling out the spaniel. Anne gave a slight laugh while Penny folded her arms and shook her head.
“Miss Catherine seems intent on making work for me even when she is halfway around the world.”
“She goes on to talk about Gulliver,” Imogen continued. “He was our spaniel when we were children. And she wishes us all a wonderful Christmas and health and happiness for the new year.” Imogen smiled at Anne and considered the arrival of Gulliver many years before. “He looks just like him. What shall we name him?”
~ from Blind Folly of the Heart (which might make an appearance in 2023!)

I wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas!
I hope you get a wealth of books, and that you also have the time to enjoy them!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Masterworks: Legacy - Samantha Wilcoxson - Interview

  Today is the last of a series on nine interviews I'm sharing on the Crowvus Book Blog. These are from the authors of the short stories included in the  Masterworks  anthology by the  Historical Writers Forum . We're running through chronologically, some are video interviews, others are written. I am delighted to welcome the fantastic Samantha Wilcoxson, who is sharing the artist inspiration for her short story Legacy , as well as the appeal of James A. Hamilton, and the delights of researching. First of all, tell us a little bit about yourself, what you write (besides Masterworks!), and what inspired you to begin writing. I was inspired to write by my love of reading. After watching me read, write reviews, and keep journals for twenty years, my husband asked me why I didn’t try writing, so I did! Without really planning on it, I ended up writing historical biographical fiction. I’m drawn to a tragic tale but also to lesser known historical figures with emotive stor...

#HistFicThursdays - Apollo's Raven - Linnea Tanner - Book Blast

 If you've been following this blog for a little while, you might remember me sharing a fabulous guest post about this book in 2022 (which you can read here ). It's always great to welcome Linnea Tanner onto the Crowvus Book Blog, and I'm delighted to be taking part in her Coffee Pot Book Club book blast blog tour. So, let's meet the book... A Celtic warrior princess is torn between her forbidden love for the enemy and duty to her people. AWARD-WINNING APOLLO’S RAVEN sweeps you into an epic Celtic tale of forbidden love, mythological adventure, and political intrigue in Ancient Rome and Britannia. In 24 AD British kings hand-picked by Rome to rule are fighting each other for power. King Amren’s former queen, a powerful Druid, has cast a curse that Blood Wolf and the Raven will rise and destroy him. The king’s daughter, Catrin, learns to her dismay that she is the Raven and her banished half-brother is Blood Wolf. Trained as a warrior, Catrin must find a way to break t...

#HistFicThursdays - Muskets & Minuets - Lindsey S. Fera - Book Excerpt

   This week, I'm delighted to once again be teaming up with  The Coffee Pot Book Club ! Today I'm sharing an excerpt from the stunning book,  Muskets & Minuets  by Lindsey S. Fera! So let's begin by meeting the book... Love. Politics. War. Amidst mounting tensions between the British crown and the American colonists of Boston, Annalisa Howlett struggles with her identity and purpose as a woman. Rather than concern herself with proper womanly duties, like learning to dance a minuet or chasing after the eligible and charming Jack Perkins, Annalisa prefers the company of her brother, George, and her beloved musket, Bixby. She intends to join the rebellion, but as complications in her personal life intensify, and the colonies inch closer to war with England, everything Annalisa thought about her world and womanhood are transformed forever. Join Annalisa on her journey to discover what it truly means to be a woman in the 18th century, all set against the ba...