Take a photo of a barcode or cover
moonlightcupofcocoa's Reviews (247)
informative
medium-paced
Thank you to Pen and Sword and Netgalley for the advance copy! As always all thoughts shared here are 100% my own.
Now I must confess, I am pretty newbie to anything and everything Tudor. While I have dipped my toes here and there in medieval history, I only know the bare minimum when it comes to Medieval English history specifically.
This book found me at exactly the right time as I started reading more about the Tudor era and, in my opinion, it was the best introduction I could ask for when it comes to some of the major figures and how they connect with one another.
The nine couples explored by the book are by no means the only influential couples from the era. Some weren't even long-term successful (I know, it's not a shocker when Henry VIII is on the list), while others may not have necessarily been romantically connected. But they all certainly left a mark, be it politically, religiously or culturally.
One of the things I especially appreciated is the author explored the couples from a holistic standpoint without shying away from their pitfalls. At the same time, the spotlight wasn't just on the more popular figure. The influences, accomplishments and the legacy of both figures are presented to the reader. Not only that, but the book does a great job debunking some of the common myths about some of the figures or the couple together.
Overall, as a newbie, I enjoyed this book and learned a ton! Whether you're curious about the couples, or you're being introduced to them like me, this is a valuable read.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Now I must confess, I am pretty newbie to anything and everything Tudor. While I have dipped my toes here and there in medieval history, I only know the bare minimum when it comes to Medieval English history specifically.
This book found me at exactly the right time as I started reading more about the Tudor era and, in my opinion, it was the best introduction I could ask for when it comes to some of the major figures and how they connect with one another.
The nine couples explored by the book are by no means the only influential couples from the era. Some weren't even long-term successful (I know, it's not a shocker when Henry VIII is on the list), while others may not have necessarily been romantically connected. But they all certainly left a mark, be it politically, religiously or culturally.
One of the things I especially appreciated is the author explored the couples from a holistic standpoint without shying away from their pitfalls. At the same time, the spotlight wasn't just on the more popular figure. The influences, accomplishments and the legacy of both figures are presented to the reader. Not only that, but the book does a great job debunking some of the common myths about some of the figures or the couple together.
Overall, as a newbie, I enjoyed this book and learned a ton! Whether you're curious about the couples, or you're being introduced to them like me, this is a valuable read.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Religious bigotry, Murder, Colonisation, War
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and Netgalley for the advance copy! All opinions shared below are 100% my own.
"Chess Club: The Winning Move" b Rebecca Donnelly is an excellent read for children looking to find their place in the world. What starts as a way for Halima to find other chess players turns into a found family for all four main characters.
When I first picked up the book (I try to read all books before gifting or recommending them to my nieces and nephews), I assumed that Halima will be the protagonist. It's very difficult to find muslim representation in children literature where the focus is not on religious identity. That's something I especially appreciated about Halima's depiction here. While, yes, her faith is an important part of her identity, it's not all she thinks about. She is simply a middle grade girl who, alongside her best friend, is trying to start a chess club.
I was delighted to find out that while Halima is the driving factor of the book, there are also three other main characters:
- Jem, Halima's bestie and neighbour, who is bright, creative and a true friend through and through. She's also a great rep for neurodivergent and queer children.
- Daniel, a smart introverted boy, who long for a mystery and, along the way, discovers himself and makes new friends.
- Parker, a fun-loving creative boy, who wants to make a name for himself after living in his family's shadow most of his life and feeling like he's always doing what others expects him to do.
Each chapter presents the unfolding events from one of the four main characters' POVs. They all get a chance to shine and readers will find at least one of them relatable.
The story is pretty cute. It does actually have an interesting plot twist that is revealed in epilogue that I myself found very creative. Overall, it was a delightful quick read.
The reason I am giving this book 5-stars, however, is I really admire how the book introduces young readers to the history and rules of chess using illustrations and the story itself. You emerge from the book having learned not just the names of the pieces or their movements, but a lot of terminology from the chess world, some of the openings and even tournament rules and flow. It's done in an approachable and fun way and is fully integrated in the story that I think makes it effective at teaching the reader without throwing too much at them.
All in all, this was a delightful read and I'm planning on purchasing it for my family.
You can also find me on: Instagram
"Chess Club: The Winning Move" b Rebecca Donnelly is an excellent read for children looking to find their place in the world. What starts as a way for Halima to find other chess players turns into a found family for all four main characters.
When I first picked up the book (I try to read all books before gifting or recommending them to my nieces and nephews), I assumed that Halima will be the protagonist. It's very difficult to find muslim representation in children literature where the focus is not on religious identity. That's something I especially appreciated about Halima's depiction here. While, yes, her faith is an important part of her identity, it's not all she thinks about. She is simply a middle grade girl who, alongside her best friend, is trying to start a chess club.
I was delighted to find out that while Halima is the driving factor of the book, there are also three other main characters:
- Jem, Halima's bestie and neighbour, who is bright, creative and a true friend through and through. She's also a great rep for neurodivergent and queer children.
- Daniel, a smart introverted boy, who long for a mystery and, along the way, discovers himself and makes new friends.
- Parker, a fun-loving creative boy, who wants to make a name for himself after living in his family's shadow most of his life and feeling like he's always doing what others expects him to do.
Each chapter presents the unfolding events from one of the four main characters' POVs. They all get a chance to shine and readers will find at least one of them relatable.
The story is pretty cute. It does actually have an interesting plot twist that is revealed in epilogue that I myself found very creative. Overall, it was a delightful quick read.
The reason I am giving this book 5-stars, however, is I really admire how the book introduces young readers to the history and rules of chess using illustrations and the story itself. You emerge from the book having learned not just the names of the pieces or their movements, but a lot of terminology from the chess world, some of the openings and even tournament rules and flow. It's done in an approachable and fun way and is fully integrated in the story that I think makes it effective at teaching the reader without throwing too much at them.
All in all, this was a delightful read and I'm planning on purchasing it for my family.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
emotional
informative
medium-paced
First things first, special thank you to Pen and Sword and Netgalley for the advance copy! As always, all opinions shared below are 100% my own.
While the 'The Brontë Family: Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise' by Catherine Rayner takes the reader through the lives of the Brontë, this book is less of a biography and more of a detailed psychological analysis of each member of the Brontë family, from their parents to the writers themselves. The book examines the early influences on each of their lives, the earliest losses and even the birth order, and how those continued to impact the relationships between the siblings all their lives. Balancing modern studies with historical context, we get a much more accurate view of each of them from birth to death.
There is a special focus on the youngest Brontë, Anne. Even though I have yet to read any of the siblings' works, I have long been aware that Anne Brontë is only relatively recently getting the attention she deserves in the literary world. Reading the book, I was a bit surprised to find out that this wasn't by chance, but may have been orchestrated by her very own sister! It was shocking to me to find out that even on her death bed, and beyond, her life was being dictated by her family.
While the displayed events and analysis puts a special focus on the strained relationship between Charlotte and Anne, I didn't think it was done with cruelty. Yes, there is much to blame Charlotte for, but the author does a good job also bringing up reasons and excuses for the behaviour. Something I, as someone being introduced to the Brontës for the first time, really appreciated.
All in all, this is an enlightening read that I recommend to anyone interested to learn more about the authors behind the books. Just from paragraphs and snippets shared in this book, one can see the influences impacting every word. I am now more excited than ever to read their novels!
You can also find me on: MoonlightCupOfCocoa (@moonlightcocoa)
While the 'The Brontë Family: Sibling Rivalry and a Burial in Paradise' by Catherine Rayner takes the reader through the lives of the Brontë, this book is less of a biography and more of a detailed psychological analysis of each member of the Brontë family, from their parents to the writers themselves. The book examines the early influences on each of their lives, the earliest losses and even the birth order, and how those continued to impact the relationships between the siblings all their lives. Balancing modern studies with historical context, we get a much more accurate view of each of them from birth to death.
There is a special focus on the youngest Brontë, Anne. Even though I have yet to read any of the siblings' works, I have long been aware that Anne Brontë is only relatively recently getting the attention she deserves in the literary world. Reading the book, I was a bit surprised to find out that this wasn't by chance, but may have been orchestrated by her very own sister! It was shocking to me to find out that even on her death bed, and beyond, her life was being dictated by her family.
While the displayed events and analysis puts a special focus on the strained relationship between Charlotte and Anne, I didn't think it was done with cruelty. Yes, there is much to blame Charlotte for, but the author does a good job also bringing up reasons and excuses for the behaviour. Something I, as someone being introduced to the Brontës for the first time, really appreciated.
All in all, this is an enlightening read that I recommend to anyone interested to learn more about the authors behind the books. Just from paragraphs and snippets shared in this book, one can see the influences impacting every word. I am now more excited than ever to read their novels!
You can also find me on: MoonlightCupOfCocoa (@moonlightcocoa)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Alcohol
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Thank you to Netgalley and Pen and Sword for the advance copy! All opinions here are 100% my own.
I didn't know who Rena Stewart was but I always love learning about amazing women from antiquity to modern times. And just something about Rena's photo on the cover drew me in, so I decided to read the book.
I am so glad I did! Rena Stewart was, still is in my heart after reading this book, a vibrant, intelligent and strong woman who not only trailblazed female journalist careers at the BBC, but played a key role in translating Hitler's Will! But those accomplishments aside, it's the way she approached her life, her connections and how she achieved those feats that really stood out to me. Her strength and her warmth are inspiring!
The author did such a brilliant job bringing us not only the details of her life, but capturing her voice. In the majority of the book, Rena is telling us her story using her own words with side commentary or added notes by the author bringing us more details or adding context. The way it's done fully engages the readers and made me personally feel as if I was sitting with 100-year old Rena as she told the story.
I especially appreciated the author's attention to detail. While Rena's story is the main focus of the book, the author included more to help us really get to know the amazing woman. From photos to her relationships and friendships and even a playlist of her favourite songs, it was just so easy to get immersed in this.
All in all, I am honoured to have learned about Rena. I really wish she got a chance to read the book herself as unfortunately she passed away during the process, but I know she'd appreciate every word.
You can also find me on: Instagram
I didn't know who Rena Stewart was but I always love learning about amazing women from antiquity to modern times. And just something about Rena's photo on the cover drew me in, so I decided to read the book.
I am so glad I did! Rena Stewart was, still is in my heart after reading this book, a vibrant, intelligent and strong woman who not only trailblazed female journalist careers at the BBC, but played a key role in translating Hitler's Will! But those accomplishments aside, it's the way she approached her life, her connections and how she achieved those feats that really stood out to me. Her strength and her warmth are inspiring!
The author did such a brilliant job bringing us not only the details of her life, but capturing her voice. In the majority of the book, Rena is telling us her story using her own words with side commentary or added notes by the author bringing us more details or adding context. The way it's done fully engages the readers and made me personally feel as if I was sitting with 100-year old Rena as she told the story.
I especially appreciated the author's attention to detail. While Rena's story is the main focus of the book, the author included more to help us really get to know the amazing woman. From photos to her relationships and friendships and even a playlist of her favourite songs, it was just so easy to get immersed in this.
All in all, I am honoured to have learned about Rena. I really wish she got a chance to read the book herself as unfortunately she passed away during the process, but I know she'd appreciate every word.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, War
Minor: Sexism
informative
slow-paced
Thank you to Netgalley and Yale University Press for the advance copy. As always, any thoughts shared in my review are 100% my own.
"The Brothers Grimm: A Biography" by Ann Schmiesing is a thorough biography of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, usually referred to as the Grimm Brothers. You know, the ones who published all those fairytales? Reading this meaty book, however, quickly introduces the readers to a much more comprehensive view of the brothers as well as the history of Germany.
From their childhood and education to their political stances and literary accomplishments, the book has everything. While the author takes the readers through the lives of the two brothers, we learn about their social connections and literary contemporaries. We are given much context regarding the dramatic political upheavals that Germany, and Europe as a whole, was experiencing at the time. We are introduced as well to their unusually strong bond, seeing one or both of them suffering emotionally, mentally and physically at the mere idea of being separated.
While I went into the book expecting to learn about the fairytales and how they came to be collected, I ended up learning much about their other works as well such as their German Dictionary and 'The German Grammar'. The book also discussed the reception of each of the works, so we're exposed to what their critics and contemporaries agreed and disagreed with.
In addition to that, we explore how the different editions and iterations of their books transformed over time. How the same fairytale changed across the different editions highlighting the brothers' own biases and methodology such as the effect of the widespread antisemitism on their writing, as well as, that of their religious beliefs and general societal expectations and norms. An example is how Rapunzel's story was edited in later editions to remove references to pregnancy out of wedlock.
This is not a light read and can be very academic in its presentation, but I still found it very approachable despite knowing next to nothing about the men or Germany's history. All in all, I feel I've emerged from the deep dive much more knowledgeable and better equipped to critique the brothers' works.
I recommend this book if you would like a well-researched, in-depth biography of the Brothers Grimm and an exploration of their works as well as the history of Germany.
You can also find me on: Instagram
"The Brothers Grimm: A Biography" by Ann Schmiesing is a thorough biography of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, usually referred to as the Grimm Brothers. You know, the ones who published all those fairytales? Reading this meaty book, however, quickly introduces the readers to a much more comprehensive view of the brothers as well as the history of Germany.
From their childhood and education to their political stances and literary accomplishments, the book has everything. While the author takes the readers through the lives of the two brothers, we learn about their social connections and literary contemporaries. We are given much context regarding the dramatic political upheavals that Germany, and Europe as a whole, was experiencing at the time. We are introduced as well to their unusually strong bond, seeing one or both of them suffering emotionally, mentally and physically at the mere idea of being separated.
While I went into the book expecting to learn about the fairytales and how they came to be collected, I ended up learning much about their other works as well such as their German Dictionary and 'The German Grammar'. The book also discussed the reception of each of the works, so we're exposed to what their critics and contemporaries agreed and disagreed with.
In addition to that, we explore how the different editions and iterations of their books transformed over time. How the same fairytale changed across the different editions highlighting the brothers' own biases and methodology such as the effect of the widespread antisemitism on their writing, as well as, that of their religious beliefs and general societal expectations and norms. An example is how Rapunzel's story was edited in later editions to remove references to pregnancy out of wedlock.
This is not a light read and can be very academic in its presentation, but I still found it very approachable despite knowing next to nothing about the men or Germany's history. All in all, I feel I've emerged from the deep dive much more knowledgeable and better equipped to critique the brothers' works.
I recommend this book if you would like a well-researched, in-depth biography of the Brothers Grimm and an exploration of their works as well as the history of Germany.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Minor: Incest, Xenophobia, Antisemitism
informative
medium-paced
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Pen & Swords for the advance copy! As always, all opinions shared here are 100% my own.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that I love learning about women history from antiquity to more recent times. Seeing that my family is originally from Egypt, when I saw that this book is about African women of the Ancient World, I was immediately intrigued. Now I admit that I thought it'd cover more about everyday women from the time, but I will always be excited to meet more epic queens. Especially lesser-known ones.
The book covers nine different queens and female leaders from different countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria and others. Each chapter is around twenty or so pages which allows for relatively quick reads.
While I enjoyed learning about some of the less familiar figures, I admit that the flow of the book didn't quite work for me. While it does cover epic women, the book often went into detailed tangents that in my opinion made it difficult to focus on the figure being discussed. While I will always appreciate background context especially about topics that are new to me, in this case, the extra context was often about secondary topics that ultimately weren't particularly important or related. Significant time was often spent on the tangents making me feel like I've only learned the basics about the titular woman in the end.
I was also surprised that the book had figures from the 16th century and even the 19th century as I thought, per the book’s title, the focus would be on antiquity. I do wonder if perhaps a shorter time period could've given more focus allowing for more details and cohesion across the book.
There were unfortunately two incorrect facts stated in the book that I've since then shared with the awesome people at Pen and Sword, who were not only supportive but immediately took action to see them corrected. While I didn't appreciate that the author didn't do due diligence for the topics, the publisher as always went above and beyond for the readers and that's why despite my many problems with this one book, I cannot wait to read more books by the publisher.
It shouldn't come as a surprise that I love learning about women history from antiquity to more recent times. Seeing that my family is originally from Egypt, when I saw that this book is about African women of the Ancient World, I was immediately intrigued. Now I admit that I thought it'd cover more about everyday women from the time, but I will always be excited to meet more epic queens. Especially lesser-known ones.
The book covers nine different queens and female leaders from different countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Algeria and others. Each chapter is around twenty or so pages which allows for relatively quick reads.
While I enjoyed learning about some of the less familiar figures, I admit that the flow of the book didn't quite work for me. While it does cover epic women, the book often went into detailed tangents that in my opinion made it difficult to focus on the figure being discussed. While I will always appreciate background context especially about topics that are new to me, in this case, the extra context was often about secondary topics that ultimately weren't particularly important or related. Significant time was often spent on the tangents making me feel like I've only learned the basics about the titular woman in the end.
I was also surprised that the book had figures from the 16th century and even the 19th century as I thought, per the book’s title, the focus would be on antiquity. I do wonder if perhaps a shorter time period could've given more focus allowing for more details and cohesion across the book.
There were unfortunately two incorrect facts stated in the book that I've since then shared with the awesome people at Pen and Sword, who were not only supportive but immediately took action to see them corrected. While I didn't appreciate that the author didn't do due diligence for the topics, the publisher as always went above and beyond for the readers and that's why despite my many problems with this one book, I cannot wait to read more books by the publisher.
dark
informative
slow-paced
Thank you to Netgalley and Pen & Sword for the advance copy! As always all thoughts shared here are my own.
'The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years' by Kathryn Warner is less of a usual book and more of a reference. The book starts by setting the scene before the first round of the Plague raged across Europe. Who were the ruling figures, what were they doing and who were their families., Then, chapter by chapter, we are exposed to names, ages and family trees of many of the individuals and families that met their demise.
In the introduction of the book itself, the goal is pretty clear:
"Journal of the Plague Years aims to give names to some of the people of England who died in the Black Death and those who lived through it, and to recreate a little of their lives wherever possible."
And this is exactly what the book succeeds in doing. I am honestly in awe at how much the author was able to gather about all those people. Who was married to whom? Who were their children? What happened to their loved ones after their passing? What about their wills? I honestly didn't expect all of these details.
While the information is presented in a factual manner, something about just giving names to all those people and realizing that once upon a time, they were real persons with dreams, hopes and full lives is heart-wrenching. The accounts shared are truly horrifying in their ... simplicity. Entire families vanished. Children lost all of their parents, siblings and relatives within days. Young daughters were wed off by the next surviving guardians to 'protect them' as others greed after their inheritance.
This is not a book you read for entertainment, nor is it a book to read casually. This is an ideal reference for anyone exploring the medieval times and the plagues. And it does so brilliantly.
You can also find me on: Instagram
'The Black Death in England: Journal of the Plague Years' by Kathryn Warner is less of a usual book and more of a reference. The book starts by setting the scene before the first round of the Plague raged across Europe. Who were the ruling figures, what were they doing and who were their families., Then, chapter by chapter, we are exposed to names, ages and family trees of many of the individuals and families that met their demise.
In the introduction of the book itself, the goal is pretty clear:
"Journal of the Plague Years aims to give names to some of the people of England who died in the Black Death and those who lived through it, and to recreate a little of their lives wherever possible."
And this is exactly what the book succeeds in doing. I am honestly in awe at how much the author was able to gather about all those people. Who was married to whom? Who were their children? What happened to their loved ones after their passing? What about their wills? I honestly didn't expect all of these details.
While the information is presented in a factual manner, something about just giving names to all those people and realizing that once upon a time, they were real persons with dreams, hopes and full lives is heart-wrenching. The accounts shared are truly horrifying in their ... simplicity. Entire families vanished. Children lost all of their parents, siblings and relatives within days. Young daughters were wed off by the next surviving guardians to 'protect them' as others greed after their inheritance.
This is not a book you read for entertainment, nor is it a book to read casually. This is an ideal reference for anyone exploring the medieval times and the plagues. And it does so brilliantly.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(I read this book for Ifrits and Inks Book Club)
The book starts out simple enough. We have our protagonist, Louie, and her djinn companion, Qadir. The setting seems vibrant. I want that coin of hers. Good, good, good.
Hold on! We have a second protagonist! Oh hey, Prince is sweet enough. A bit naive. It’s okay, we love him even if he wants to smuggle a large carpet back into the palace he just snuck out of. He reminds me of a golden retriever and I like golden retrievers.
… wait, is there a third protagonist? I usually don’t like that many characters in the focus. But Aisha is kinda epic, maybe I’ll give her an exception.
So far, lovely readers, things are fine. Fun, but nothing epic. Then, all hell breaks loose. The moment those three start their mission, it all changes. The story takes a darker turn, runs at a good pacing and honestly managed to surprise me quite a bit (even if one could guess who the villain is).
What I found more impressive, however, was the fact that it didn’t do this at the expense of character development. Not only did I enjoy, and get attached, to all three main, characters and many of the side characters, the book also managed to give each of them enough space to grow and shine that by the end of the book they’re pretty changed.
I, also, really loved that the book embraced its One Thousand And One Nights roots, but made it its own. You will notice elements from the original tales, but they evolved into a piece of the overall lore of the book wonderfully. I am intrigued by the djinn, ifrits and ghoul lore especially!
While I’ve seen some people say they didn’t enjoy that the writing style itself is a bit simplistic, I honestly didn’t feel that way. Perhaps it wasn’t as poetic or flowery, but that didn’t detract from the story that was being told. I thought the writing style was perfect for the pacing and the genre.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was hooked immediately into the sequel!
You can also find me on: Instagram
The book starts out simple enough. We have our protagonist, Louie, and her djinn companion, Qadir. The setting seems vibrant. I want that coin of hers. Good, good, good.
Hold on! We have a second protagonist! Oh hey, Prince is sweet enough. A bit naive. It’s okay, we love him even if he wants to smuggle a large carpet back into the palace he just snuck out of. He reminds me of a golden retriever and I like golden retrievers.
… wait, is there a third protagonist? I usually don’t like that many characters in the focus. But Aisha is kinda epic, maybe I’ll give her an exception.
So far, lovely readers, things are fine. Fun, but nothing epic. Then, all hell breaks loose. The moment those three start their mission, it all changes. The story takes a darker turn, runs at a good pacing and honestly managed to surprise me quite a bit (even if one could guess who the villain is).
What I found more impressive, however, was the fact that it didn’t do this at the expense of character development. Not only did I enjoy, and get attached, to all three main, characters and many of the side characters, the book also managed to give each of them enough space to grow and shine that by the end of the book they’re pretty changed.
I, also, really loved that the book embraced its One Thousand And One Nights roots, but made it its own. You will notice elements from the original tales, but they evolved into a piece of the overall lore of the book wonderfully. I am intrigued by the djinn, ifrits and ghoul lore especially!
While I’ve seen some people say they didn’t enjoy that the writing style itself is a bit simplistic, I honestly didn’t feel that way. Perhaps it wasn’t as poetic or flowery, but that didn’t detract from the story that was being told. I thought the writing style was perfect for the pacing and the genre.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and was hooked immediately into the sequel!
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for the ALC! As always all opinions shared below are 100% my own.
I think I should start this with a confession. I may be American, and I may enjoy learning and reading about the 19th century, but for the longest time I have never been interested in Westerns. To a great extent, I found most stories and legends, fictional or not, to blend together in my head. I can safely say that I've also heard very little about women in the wild west. They always seemed to be on the sidelines or in the background adding very little to the ongoing conflicts.
That's why when I saw the cover, I found myself intrigued. "Queen of All Mayhem" by Dane Huckelbridge is the biography of the most dangerous woman in the west, Belle Starr. The woman went from the daughter of a relatively well-to-do family to an infamous outlaw who not only associated with some of the most dangerous criminals of the time, but was a terrifying figure to cross herself.
The author has done such a wonderful job not only researching the woman herself, but presenting facts, exaggerations as well as (at times) conflicting accounts in a non-confusing way. The book, also, did a wonderful job introducing the audience to both the civil war as well as a lot of the political, cultural and societal dramas that unfolded after. I can safely say I breezed through the book and didn't find a single minute boring.
While this is a non-fiction biography, the writing is far from dry. The narration by George Newbern practically transports you to the setting. All of this comes together to make sure that it's an interesting experience for the readers/listeners.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. While I disagree with a lot of Belle Starr's actions and views, I enjoyed learning about a female outlaw for once, but also learn about the wild west in such a well-executed manner.
Also, why don't we wear feathery white hats anymore?
You can also find me on: Instagram
I think I should start this with a confession. I may be American, and I may enjoy learning and reading about the 19th century, but for the longest time I have never been interested in Westerns. To a great extent, I found most stories and legends, fictional or not, to blend together in my head. I can safely say that I've also heard very little about women in the wild west. They always seemed to be on the sidelines or in the background adding very little to the ongoing conflicts.
That's why when I saw the cover, I found myself intrigued. "Queen of All Mayhem" by Dane Huckelbridge is the biography of the most dangerous woman in the west, Belle Starr. The woman went from the daughter of a relatively well-to-do family to an infamous outlaw who not only associated with some of the most dangerous criminals of the time, but was a terrifying figure to cross herself.
The author has done such a wonderful job not only researching the woman herself, but presenting facts, exaggerations as well as (at times) conflicting accounts in a non-confusing way. The book, also, did a wonderful job introducing the audience to both the civil war as well as a lot of the political, cultural and societal dramas that unfolded after. I can safely say I breezed through the book and didn't find a single minute boring.
While this is a non-fiction biography, the writing is far from dry. The narration by George Newbern practically transports you to the setting. All of this comes together to make sure that it's an interesting experience for the readers/listeners.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. While I disagree with a lot of Belle Starr's actions and views, I enjoyed learning about a female outlaw for once, but also learn about the wild west in such a well-executed manner.
Also, why don't we wear feathery white hats anymore?
You can also find me on: Instagram
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
First and foremost, thank you to NetGalley and Pen & Sword for the ARC! As always all opinions shared below are 100% my own.
This is a solid read for anyone new to and interested in Victorian England, and of course more specifically, the Jack the Ripper mystery.
I will preface this by saying that, while I am obsessed with everything Victorian, I actually knew next to nothing about the case other than general timeframe. While I love mysteries, and occasionally do dip into true crime, it's not usually a genre that attracts my attention for some reason. So I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy this book.
That ended up being not an issue at all! While the title mentions 'Charles Lechmere', one of the key suspects, he doesn't actually take center stage until perhaps the last 30 pages or so. Instead, the book does a wonderful job introducing the readers to each of the victims followed by each of the suspects before digging deeper into analyzing Jack the Ripper's methodology and the titular person.
Despite my limited prior knowledge, I will say the author does present a compelling case, while still acknowledging areas where investigations regarding other suspects might still lead to different outcomes. It felt like a fair and balanced presentation overall.
Because of the length of the book, it is on the shorter side around 200 pages or less, some sections -- particularly those about some suspect profiles -- felt a little too brief. A few times I found myself wishing for more detail regarding why certain suspects were dismissed. But, also, going too deep might've hurt the book's pacing especially as they weren't the focus. Honestly, the fact that I wanted more probably just means the book succeeded in sparking my curiousity.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. As heartwrenching as it was to read about the victims, the book sheds light on the dark side of Victorian London and is a good introduction for any budding Ripperologist.
You can also find me on: Instagram
This is a solid read for anyone new to and interested in Victorian England, and of course more specifically, the Jack the Ripper mystery.
I will preface this by saying that, while I am obsessed with everything Victorian, I actually knew next to nothing about the case other than general timeframe. While I love mysteries, and occasionally do dip into true crime, it's not usually a genre that attracts my attention for some reason. So I was a little worried that I wouldn't be able to enjoy this book.
That ended up being not an issue at all! While the title mentions 'Charles Lechmere', one of the key suspects, he doesn't actually take center stage until perhaps the last 30 pages or so. Instead, the book does a wonderful job introducing the readers to each of the victims followed by each of the suspects before digging deeper into analyzing Jack the Ripper's methodology and the titular person.
Despite my limited prior knowledge, I will say the author does present a compelling case, while still acknowledging areas where investigations regarding other suspects might still lead to different outcomes. It felt like a fair and balanced presentation overall.
Because of the length of the book, it is on the shorter side around 200 pages or less, some sections -- particularly those about some suspect profiles -- felt a little too brief. A few times I found myself wishing for more detail regarding why certain suspects were dismissed. But, also, going too deep might've hurt the book's pacing especially as they weren't the focus. Honestly, the fact that I wanted more probably just means the book succeeded in sparking my curiousity.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. As heartwrenching as it was to read about the victims, the book sheds light on the dark side of Victorian London and is a good introduction for any budding Ripperologist.
You can also find me on: Instagram
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Rape