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kalliegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
I enjoyed this one slightly less than many of the previous just because Mary seems a bit swayed to superstitions and is jumpier than her character should be. It didn't feel true to her character thus far. Another great setting in Romania and small town mysteries though.
cjlehr's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bargainsleuth's review against another edition
5.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com.
When we were married more than 20 years ago, I began listening to audiobooks from the library. I was on a Sherlock Holmes kick at the time, and devouring every pastiche I could get. One of those books was [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590945421l/91661._SY75_.jpg|891863], the first volume of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery series. I was skeptical until I listened to the audiobook, and was immediately hooked. At the time, there were only three volumes in the series, and over the years I have patiently awaited each volume as it has been released. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Castle Shade via NetGalley and Bantam Books in exchange for an honest review.
I took my time reading Castle Shade, savoring every page. I think I was spoiled by having a Mary Russell book come out just a year ago, because they normally don’t come out once a year. But thanks to the pandemic, many writers, include Laurie R. King, put their nose to the grindstone, as it were, and were able to put out another book. In that respect, the pandemic is great for readers.
Once again, Laurie R. King weaves a tale full of ambiance and character studies. I admire how her fluid descriptions of various settings brings them to life. I normally have a hard time imagining how things look, but not with King’s prose. I could picture Castle Bran and it’s exterior and interior with ease. The village and it’s inhabitants come to life right off the page under the author’s expert writing.
The thing I appreciated about Castle Shade was the multiple levels of intrigue and mystery. Just when I thought I had figured out part of the mystery, King throws in some more information that creates another mystery that must be solved. There are so many different layers going on, but it’s not confusing. It just compels you to keep reading, to keep up with Mary and Sherlock, to keep gathering clues to solve the myriad of mysteries going on.
While Mary is quite the independent woman who does quite well on her own despite her relative youth (relative to my youth, that is. She’s the same age I was when I discovered her books and I was nowhere near as smart), it’s when she and Sherlock work together that I enjoy the most, and there’s plenty of that in Castle Shade. At this point in their relationship, they’re always on the same page, and can anticipate each other’s moves. In fact, Mary counts on that ability for Holmes to find her when she goes off in the search of more information, not knowing where she’s going to wind up.
Because of Castle Shade, I will most likely look up history books to find out more on Queen Marie of Roumania and that branch of Queen Victoria’s and the Russian Romanov’s family. Queen Victoria had something like 90 grandchildren so it goes without saying that I do not know the history of most of her descendants. That’s what I think makes the best historical fiction so interesting; it can make you reach out and learn more about some aspect of history for which you have little knowledge.
Castle Shade goes on sale to the public on June 8, 2021.
When we were married more than 20 years ago, I began listening to audiobooks from the library. I was on a Sherlock Holmes kick at the time, and devouring every pastiche I could get. One of those books was [b:The Beekeeper's Apprentice|91661|The Beekeeper's Apprentice (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes, #1)|Laurie R. King|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1590945421l/91661._SY75_.jpg|891863], the first volume of the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes mystery series. I was skeptical until I listened to the audiobook, and was immediately hooked. At the time, there were only three volumes in the series, and over the years I have patiently awaited each volume as it has been released. I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Castle Shade via NetGalley and Bantam Books in exchange for an honest review.
I took my time reading Castle Shade, savoring every page. I think I was spoiled by having a Mary Russell book come out just a year ago, because they normally don’t come out once a year. But thanks to the pandemic, many writers, include Laurie R. King, put their nose to the grindstone, as it were, and were able to put out another book. In that respect, the pandemic is great for readers.
Once again, Laurie R. King weaves a tale full of ambiance and character studies. I admire how her fluid descriptions of various settings brings them to life. I normally have a hard time imagining how things look, but not with King’s prose. I could picture Castle Bran and it’s exterior and interior with ease. The village and it’s inhabitants come to life right off the page under the author’s expert writing.
The thing I appreciated about Castle Shade was the multiple levels of intrigue and mystery. Just when I thought I had figured out part of the mystery, King throws in some more information that creates another mystery that must be solved. There are so many different layers going on, but it’s not confusing. It just compels you to keep reading, to keep up with Mary and Sherlock, to keep gathering clues to solve the myriad of mysteries going on.
While Mary is quite the independent woman who does quite well on her own despite her relative youth (relative to my youth, that is. She’s the same age I was when I discovered her books and I was nowhere near as smart), it’s when she and Sherlock work together that I enjoy the most, and there’s plenty of that in Castle Shade. At this point in their relationship, they’re always on the same page, and can anticipate each other’s moves. In fact, Mary counts on that ability for Holmes to find her when she goes off in the search of more information, not knowing where she’s going to wind up.
Because of Castle Shade, I will most likely look up history books to find out more on Queen Marie of Roumania and that branch of Queen Victoria’s and the Russian Romanov’s family. Queen Victoria had something like 90 grandchildren so it goes without saying that I do not know the history of most of her descendants. That’s what I think makes the best historical fiction so interesting; it can make you reach out and learn more about some aspect of history for which you have little knowledge.
Castle Shade goes on sale to the public on June 8, 2021.
gmamartha's review against another edition
4.0
Continuing journey across the globe to Riumania in 1925.
donnadeck's review against another edition
3.0
This was a delightful, easy read.
The presence of the Holmes' (Sherlock and Mary Russell) is requested by Queen Marie of Romania. The elegant beauty has received threats against her young daughter. Transylvania has a long history of problems with strigoi (vampires to you and me) and it is up to Mary and Sherlock to figure out who is making the threats, why they are making them, and what they are willing to do to carry them out. Along the way there are rumors of witches, people back from the dead, and just a little involvement from Mycroft.
I've not read the previous books in this series and there was no confusion in following anything. I plan to pick up the first one in the series to see what I have missed.
I recommend this to anyone who would like some Holmsian entertainment.
The presence of the Holmes' (Sherlock and Mary Russell) is requested by Queen Marie of Romania. The elegant beauty has received threats against her young daughter. Transylvania has a long history of problems with strigoi (vampires to you and me) and it is up to Mary and Sherlock to figure out who is making the threats, why they are making them, and what they are willing to do to carry them out. Along the way there are rumors of witches, people back from the dead, and just a little involvement from Mycroft.
I've not read the previous books in this series and there was no confusion in following anything. I plan to pick up the first one in the series to see what I have missed.
I recommend this to anyone who would like some Holmsian entertainment.
kleonard's review against another edition
3.0
I've been sorely disappointed in King's more recent Russell books, so I was wary of this newest installment. While at least Holmes and Russell are together in this one, they're at an apparently rough patch in their still-young marriage, and we're once again lacking the wit and fun of the first several books in the series. However, at least the plot works, more or less, and the supporting characters are pretty well written. But Russell and Holmes being on tiptoes with one another makes the book uncomfortable to read, especially if you've read others in the series. In addition, I know King has a mandate not to let Holmes get too old, but the timeline for all of the books is getting crowded to the point of absurdity, even if it is a fictional world.
bookminx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
rebroxannape's review against another edition
4.0
"Your mother says you like detective stories."Conversation between Mary Russell and Ileana, Royal Princess of Roumania
"I do. They're so clever, people like Sherlock Holmes and Father Brown. However, I have to tell you my heart belongs to Bulldog Drummond, said the future Queen.
"Good choice."
Once again, Laurie R. King smoothly melds real historical figures with the latest adventure featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. In this tale, we have Queen Marie of Roumania, her daughter Ileana and her lover and great Romanian patriot, Barbu Stirbey. It is set primarily at Castle Bran, Marie's beloved home and supposedly the setting of Bram Stoker's Dracula. But we also travel throughout Roumania and Transylvania.
Mary and Holmes are asked to investigate some strange happenings at Bran Castle. Mycroft suspects they are political orchestrations to undermine the Queen who is rightly much beloved by the Romanian people. There seems to be an effort to tie sinister happenings around the castle and the town such as abductions, dead people coming to life, witchy doings, and even vampirism to the Queen. Having done my due diligence and read up on the political situation and Marie's relationship to her feckless son, Carol, a political explanation of the mystery seemed credible indeed. I will only say that it is much more interesting than that.
There is plenty of adventure and action as well as mystery, as Mary survives abduction and attack, discovers the source of a ghost-like presence in a secret room, and, with Holmes, races to save the life of a likable local girl. As always, there is amusing banter between Holmes and Mary, and intriguing and titillating insights into their unique relationship. We also get a rare glimpse into Holmes' inner thoughts regarding his wife, his marriage, and the challenges of his brother Mycroft's presence in their lives.
Four and a half years of being married to Mary Judith Russell, and he was still finding the adjustment difficult.
For his entire adult life, until the night he signed his full name upon a church register, Sherlock Holmes had been accountable to no one....when he judged it necessary, he had bullied, ignored, and lied, even to his friend Watson, without hesitation.
But not to a wife. A wife meant a contract of a different sort....Serving the needs of brother and Britain had become increasingly incompatible with his partnership with Russell.
It looks like things might be coming to a head between Mycroft, Holmes, and Mary. By the end of this book, you have not only been on an adventure, but feel like you've been a guest in Dracula's Castle, come to know important, compelling, if little known personages in history, and traveled through the countryside and villages of Transylvania and Roumania. It's maybe not for everyone, but I welcome each book in this series. I always feel a little more enlightened about something.
https://rebekahsreadingsandwatchings.com/
wendy1519's review against another edition
3.0
Love this series
I really enjoy this series and this was a good solid contribution to it. I found it an enjoyable read.
I really enjoy this series and this was a good solid contribution to it. I found it an enjoyable read.
tanac's review against another edition
Thoroughly enjoyed it. The atmosphere and setting were great. Side characters were ok. Personal growth? Welll… Mary continues to become her own person, which sometimes means making decisions that seem less than wise. Sherlock also has a moment or two of introspection.
Perfectly good novel, but I don’t know that it’s going to be one that I reach for when I want a quick hit.
Perfectly good novel, but I don’t know that it’s going to be one that I reach for when I want a quick hit.