Author: whatcathyreadnext

My Week in Books – 26th January 2020

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MyWeekinBooks

On What Cathy Read Next last week

Blog posts

Monday – I published an introduction to my Buchan of the Month, Sir Quixote of the Moors by John Buchan.

Tuesday – This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was Most Recent Additions to my Bookshelf. I also joined the blog tour for A Messy Affair by Elizabeth Mundy.

Wednesday – WWW Wednesday is the opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next…and have a good nose around to see what other bloggers are reading.

Thursday – I shared my review of Hitler’s Secretby Rory Clements.

Friday – I published my review of The Lady of the Ravens by Joanna Hickson.

As always, thanks to everyone who has liked, commented on or shared my blog posts on social media this week.

New arrivals

The Widow’s Mite by Allie Creswell (ebook, courtesy of Rachel’s Random Resources)

Minnie Price lives in an impressive, gated mansion on a superior street in an affluent area of town. But in spite of the apparent comfort of her surroundings she has barely enough to keep body and soul together. She has retreated to a single room where she subsists on things bought as cheaply as possible or – better still – picked up for nothing. Her friends and neighbours are oblivious to her plight, too occupied with their do-goodery to see the need underneath their noses, while her unfeeling step-children do all they can to wrest from Minnie the little that she has.

Then one day, a caller arrives with what seems to be a life-line; a fund of money left behind by Minnie’s late husband of which her step-children know nothing. It is hers – legitimately hers – if only she can jump through the complex logistical hoops to release it.

61fg+BR7jTL._SX342_The Time Machine by H G Wells (audiobook)

When a Victorian scientist propels himself into the year 802,701 AD, he is initially delighted to find that suffering has been replaced by beauty, contentment and peace. Entranced at first by the Eloi, an elfin species descended from man, he soon realises that this beautiful people are simply remnants of a once-great culture – now weak and childishly afraid of the dark. But they have every reason to be afraid: in deep tunnels beneath their paradise lurks another race descended from humanity – the sinister Morlocks. And when the scientist’s time machine vanishes, it becomes clear he must search these tunnels, if he is ever to return to his own era.

On What Cathy Read Next this week

Currently reading

Heaven My HomeTBR#7Katherine20200118_131258

Planned posts

  • Top Ten Tuesday: Book Cover Freebie
  • Waiting on Wednesday
  • Book Review: Burning Cold by Lisa Lieberman
  • Blog Tour/Book Review: The Other You by J.S. Monroe
  • Book Review: Katherine by Anya Seton
  • Buchan of the Month/Book Review: Sir Quixote of the Moors

#BookReview The Lady of the Ravens by Joanna Hickson #HistFic

whatcathyreadnext5 Comments

The Lady of the RavensAbout the Book

“My baptismal name may be Giovanna but here in my mother’s adopted country I have become plain Joan; I am not pink-cheeked and golden-haired like the beauties they admire. I have olive skin and dark features – black brows over ebony eyes and hair the colour of a raven’s wing…”

When Joan Vaux is sent to live in the shadow of the Tower of London, she must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of this new England under the Tudors. Like the ravens, Joan must use her eyes and her senses, if Henry and his new dynasty are to prosper and thrive.

Format: ebook (400 pages)                  Publisher: Harper Collins
Publication date: 9th January 2020  Genre: Historical fiction

Purchase links*
Amazon.co.uk | Hive (supporting UK bookshops)
*links provided for convenience, not as part of any affiliate programme

Find The Lady of the Ravens on Goodreads

My Review

The Lady of the Ravens is a fictionalized account of the life of Joan Vaux, lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII. Through Joan’s privileged access, the reader gets a glimpse into the marriage of the King and Queen and of life at Court.

Opening shortly after the Battle of Bosworth and early in the reign of Henry VII, it’s apt that the collective term for a gathering of ravens is a ‘conspiracy’ for it’s a time of unrest, shifting allegiances, the threat of revolt and pretenders to the throne. It’s no wonder that Joan should set such store by the welfare of the ravens who make the Tower of the London their home given the legend that their presence ensures the nation’s security. Joan is also drawn to the ravens for their cleverness and the beauty of their sleek plumage. With her dark hair and olive skin, that sets her apart from other ladies of the Court, she feels an affinity with them as “fellow misfits”.

The book will appeal to readers who like their historical fiction well populated with historical fact. I confess that, whilst appreciating the depth of research, I found the first half of the book a teeny bit slow. I was also a little distracted by the occasional use of modern phrases such as ‘dress to impress’, ‘super-intelligent’, ‘top-security secrets’ and ‘kept under wraps’. However, once the action moved to Kent and Joan’s life was centre stage, I found myself falling under the book’s spell and eager to find out what lay in store for Joan and those close to her.

The book ends at the point of Prince Arthur’s marriage to Katharine of Aragon and before significant events in Joan’s own life, including her part in what would come to be referred to as Henry VIII’s “great matter”, leaving open the prospect of a follow-up book.

The Lady of the Ravens is a well-crafted historical novel set in an interesting period in England’s history. I received an advance review copy courtesy of Harper Collins via NetGalley.

In three words: Detailed, well-researched, authentic

Try something similar: The White Princess by Philippa Gregory

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About the Author

Joanna Hickson spent twenty five years presenting and producing News and Arts programmes for the BBC. Her first published book was a children’s historical novel Rebellion at Orford Castle but more recently she has turned to adult fiction, concentrating on bringing fifteenth century English history and some of its fascinating principal characters to life.

She is married with a large family and gets inspiration from her Wiltshire farmhouse home, which dates back to her chosen period.

Connect with Joanna

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