Loving the Headsman's Daughter : A Medieval Romance Fantasy
by Oscar Manta
My rating: 4.2 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In the Spring of 1558, Denis, having finished his apprenticeship was traveling to Rouen looking to a position at the armory. On the way, one evening having not found an Inn, he followed a stream until he came upon a campfire where he was surprised to find a beautiful redhaired woman, alone. Jacquette and Denis share dinner and the evening together, by morning Denis is sure she was a dream. Denis continues into Rouen and life goes on as normal except that he can't get he can't get Jacquette out of his mind. The town of Rouen was getting ready to have a public execution involving the beheading of two men and the torture and death of three others. A famous Headsman, Chastain and his family have been called in to take care of the deaths. A few days before a the execution, Denis walked into the Tavern and there he saw Jacquette, but he could not approach her, finally she went out back and he was able to talk to her. They made plans, and would meet again. What follows is the story of Jacquette and Denis falling in love, dealing with her job, his wrongful imprisonment, and so much more. Loving the Headsman's Daughter is medieval romance with a modern twist. Author Oscar Manta spices up this novel with police corruption, sizzling romance, and forbidden loves.
Loving the Headsman's Daughter may be set in medieval times, as the novel starts in the Spring of 1558, but the ideas of romance and the relationships that unfold in the story are purely modern. They might have actually occurred during the era, but it is not recorded history. While I was reading this I was I was surprised time and time again by the twists and turns in the story, and the twisted thoughts of some of the people in the novel. I thought it was a great read, definitely an adult book and there might be some readers offended by some of the relationships in the book. Really, it was worth the time to read to read it, something new and different.
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The Thirteenth Tower
by Sara C. Snider
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
In a medieval time period of manor houses and servants, of travel by walking and visiting troops of entertainers that created a festival in town, we are introduced to Emelyn. Emelyn has the unique history in town has the baby that was left on the doorstep of the manor house and they allowed the housekeeper to raise the baby and she became a servant girl. Everywhere she goes she see's pity in the eyes of some, promise in the eyes of a few but no real hope for her in the town of Fallow. Just outside of town is a large tower, this is the home of the Magistrates, of Magi what they really do is unknown to most and Emelyn knows even less about them, but as she is on an errand the morning of the village festival she sees two of them walking past the manor house. The evening of the festival becomes strange and unsettling, a young man Corran befriends Emelyn and rescues her from a dance which everyone seems entranced in but her. The Magi come and offer her escape, and she and Corran follow. The Thirteenth Tower follows Emelyn and Corran on this journey, which will become on of self-discovery for Emelyn. Sara C. Snider does a wonderful job of wrapping a message into a neat package of a story.
The Thirteenth Tower is about the Magi towers, but it is also about discovery. Emelyn will discover who she really is on this journey, what she is capable of where she wants to go with her life. She will face fears and challenges that she never expected and find truths that she never imagined. This is not only about Emelyn, but we learn about the Magi, about two in particular Percival and Aldren, two completely different men. One willing to go to any lengths necessary to gain knowledge no matter the cost, the other determined not to repeat his own mistakes. Sara C. Snider not only gives us a story on the growth and development of a little girl, but on the corruption that power and absolute knowledge can also bring. Humanity is the balance and it must always be weighed when counting the costs of gaining knowledge. This is a great book for young adults and older readers as well. It has a theme and story that should entertain and well as educate readers.
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