Rebecca Hill
Vikings have often been misportrayed in history. Unfortunately, they were given a bad rap - instead of focusing on who they really were.
This book takes a great look at the real history of the Vikings, and who they were and how they lived. I really enjoyed reading this one. It is full of great facts and information, giving the reader the ins and outs, leaving room for more research in the future.
Check it out!
You might want to eat before you read this book - because so many of the recipes in here sound scrumptious! Sabine Winn, leaves behind a treasure trove of recipes and remedies. As the book states, many of the remedies are dangerous, so these are NOT to be attempted at home, however, they are fascinating to read - as it gives an insight into the time and the “healing” that was going on at the time.
The book begins with a nice little history - and then dives into the recipes and remedies. I am going to admit, I was not really sure what to expect, but I found myself giggling at some of the ingredients, as well as some of the remedies and what they were used for. Sometimes the cure is actually worse than the disease!
For the recipes - there are so many that I want to try! I am a foodie, and you have to wonder how different the recipes will be today, as compared to their original baking (and I am sure ingredients that were not added to the recipe), as well as baking methods.
I love that this was broken into sections, so you have like items together - and ohhh you can almost smell some of them from the pages! If you enjoy cooking, or trying new things, you need to check this out!
Please do not try the remedies at home.
What a cute read! I absolutely loved this book! I read it with my boys, and they really liked it as well. Another fabulous book from Michelle!
If you enjoy military history, then this book is for you! Dive into facts, theories and so much more! The author, Constantinos Lagos brings a new perspective to the many different theories that have been thrown around for centuries.
The Persians were a force to be reckoned with, masters of war and defense, But the Greek force managed to route and defeat the Persian military. The back and forth among historians has often led to heated debates, and many different thoughts as to how the Greek military could unseat such a heavy favorite of the ancient world.
Lagos dives deep into history, bringing the backgrounds to the forefront, and giving a fresh perspective of this age old battle. For military historians, this is a must read book! It is one that is going to have you scribbling notes, and running to the library looking for documentation and more information. One of the best books of the year! His findings might just surprise you...
If you or your child enjoy a good ghost story - this is a great book to read together! Full of different stories from different continents, this will be one book to leave you feeling a little spooked - and yet intrigued with the many different ghost stories from across the world.
I read through this in a few hours, and I will let my son read it as well. Perfect for an evening read!
Rosalind Anderson has undertaken a piece of history, that is so often overlooked, and given it a breath of fresh air. Scottish history of any type can be difficult to write. Thankfully, the Jacobite Rebellion has been well documented.
The role of the Murray family was profound, and the many different nuances that they underwent. I was fully drawn into this book, as the details given flowed perfectly throughout.
In many books, it is easy to get lost, especially when there are so many names and places to remember. While this book is full of each, I didn't find myself losing where I was, or who was who.
Well worth the read!
Get a look at the real inside story of the history of Magic and Witchcraft. The many different areas, folklore, and history can be blurred at times - with fiction overtaking fact a lot of the time.
In this book, Frances Timbers goes through everything - the myth, the legends, and the real history behind witchcraft. While Christianity had a huge effect on the practice, driving much of it underground, there were some horror stories that emerged during this time.
King James of England wrote a book on witches, and sadly, many took it to extremes that rocked Europe to its core. Innocent people were put to death over the rumor, and communities turned on each other as they battled to find the “witches” and save themselves in the process. Witchhunters and inquisitors came in, and the issue grew to epic proportions.
This was an amazing book and one that I really enjoyed. I loved reading the different stories, the history, and getting a more full story of what was going on, and why it happened.
If you are a fan of Sherlock Holmes, then you need to pay attention! While we do not have Sir Arthur Conan Doyle any longer, there are many who have undertaken to write and maintain the character of Sherlock.
Now if you are anything like me, you have gobbled up the BBC series on Sherlock (and have probably watched them multiple times). But a new Sherlock Holmes book hit the scene, and this is one that you are going to want to read! Get ready to fall in love with Sherlock all over again!
My Review of Five Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The five stories that were included in this book were in short - awesome. I enjoyed the stories immensely. As I was able to engage and felt as though I was reading through an actual Conan Doyle book. I have to admit that I was not sure what to think - so many people have tried to write Sherlock and have failed - so I was a bit tepid about jumping in. However, the book met and exceeded all my expectations.
Each of the stories included were well done, and they fully flesh out the characters, without giving to much of the who dun it away. Here are the premises of the stories - as stated on goodreads.com:
1-Extreme danger. Children's lives are at risk.
2-Holmes prevents an injustice and triumphs over a greedy family.
3-A train arrives 3 years late. Only Holmes can solve this one.
4-Holmes battles blundering politicians and a master criminal.
5-An elaborate crime with a strange motive.
You are going to want to grab this book and read it! It only took me about an hour to read through, but it could have been longer and I would not have minded. This is a perfect time to be reading and staying away from people, so grab and read!
The role of women in history has often been hard to decipher. Since much of what we know of the women comes from the brief snatches of history that we get from their menfolk, fleshing out these powerful women in their own right has never been easy.
Eleanor of Aquitaine is probably one of the best recorded, as she was very active in her role as Countess and Queen. The fact that she queen of France, who then divorced her husband and then married Henry, going on to become the queen of England raised some scandal - and a lot of documentation on her. When she rebelled against her husband with her four sons later on, that alone would have secured her role in history. But she was more than just a trophy - she was active, issuing charters in her own right.
The women portrayed in this book bring a new life to many of these women to have been mere footnotes in history before. This was a great book and one that I really enjoyed reading.
When Maggie's family decides to move to Kentucke, there are a lot of unknowns. As they move across country, they are wary of Indian attacks, and other issues that can beset travelers. Leading their group is Daniel Boone, and they make their way to Boonesboro.
There, Maggie and several other girls are taken captive, but her captor is not from the same tribe as the others. As they move in a different direction, Maggie begins to give up hope that she will ever be rescued. When she makes it back to Boonesboro eventually, she finds that her family is gone and she feels as though she may never see them again. She leaves, going back with the young Indian brave that helped her get home. As they grow, they marry and start a family. But Maggie still wants to see her family...
Oh, this book was amazing! I cannot wait for book two! The story was fabulous and I was drawn into Maggie's story, in such a way that I was disappointed when the book ended.
The Civil War between Stephen and Matilda has long captivated historians and readers alike. Cousins fighting over who the crown truly belonged to - and the issues of a woman being on the throne - makes for captivating reading.
This book is no different, and you are going to get sucked in from the beginning! Get ready for the best game of thrones you will ever read!
On the death of King Henry I, the throne should have passed to Matilda, his daughter. While she was not the first choice, she was what the king had left after the White Ship disaster. However, her cousin Stephen swooped in and claimed the crown for himself, setting off decades of a civil war that threatened to tear England apart. While England was not truly ready for a woman to rule, Stephen might not have been the best choice - he was rather soft in several areas (although thank goodness, because we got William Marshall through his softness).
The years of war did not lessen the duties that Matilda had as a wife and mother, and her sons grew up under the banners of war, both from their mother and father. While this could have raged indefinitely, the final resolution was brought about after the death of Stephen's son Eustace (who if we are being completely honest, would have been a horrible king), and put Henry, Duke of Normandy on the throne.
I cannot say enough good things about this book! While I know the ins and outs of this Civil War, Matthew Lewis brought it around in a few ways that I had not considered before. I found myself going back and forth, and comparing different theories through his writing.
Absolutely loved it - and I will be adding this book to my student approved reading list for future semesters!
King Arthur has been the basis for legends and myths for years. There have been thousands of books, movies, and theories on who the real King Arthur was, and if could have really existed.
Andrew Beattie takes on the myth and goes in-depth to each story, movie, legend, and location that has been associated with Arthur over time. From the murky beginnings to the modern re-tellings, Arthur is stripped from the dark and brought forth in a series of locations and places. Each chapter deals with a different theme, and each time you are going to be dreading the chapter coming to an end. The book is full of great information and has a thorough breakdown of the entire story, from its creation to modern.
If you are an Arthurian lover, then you are going to LOVE this book! Definitely worth the read, and a chance to retrace the story in the Footsteps of King Arthur.
A quick rundown: When Philip returns to Hell, he is not sure what he is going there for. Death needs his help, and while Philip has remembered a lot of his past lessons from the first time he was there, there are many different dynamics going on in this book. Philip is going to have to face some truths that are hard to swallow. As he works with his friend Satina to help Death find the Die of Death, they are going to find an adventure beyond their wildest imaginations.
I absolutely LOVED this book! It was one of those, really hard to put down, oh my goodness I have a book hangover books. Once you start reading, you do NOT want to stop. There is something about Philip's character that just resounds with everyone, and he is a very relatable character.
When I first started to read, I was not sure if this book was going to follow the fabulous storyline from the first book, but I was not disappointed at all. It does not drag, and the story keeps you moving, engaged, and want to find out what is going to happen next. You cannot turn the pages fast enough to figure out what is going to happen next.
This book is one that you are going to love! While we are all on quarantine, this is the perfect series to pick and read through!
Gibbeting has been portrayed in movies and books, often with a more “romantic” view of what their original intent was. The true history of what these gibbets represented was much more brutal, a deterrent for those who were thinking about committing crimes.
From the rise of the gibbet to the last man put into one, the History of Gibbeting takes us through the reasons behind why they were used, the crimes committed, and the hope that by hanging in public view, it would stop anyone from wanting to commit similar crimes. For a while, gibbeting was popular, giving the community a sense of justice being served, while punishing the perpetrator with the lack of a decent burial. But as with most sensations, this one eventually burned out,
This book gives a great background of the rise and decline of gibbeting, the many different crimes, perpetrators and the reasons (or lack thereof) for the crime being committed. I loved this book, and it was fascinating to read the many different accounts and try to figure out why the judges would sometimes order the gibbeting of the condemned.
Highly recommended! Fabulous read and engaging!
If you enjoy the Tower of London, then you really are going to need to grab a copy of this book. Get the ins and outs of daring escapes, fires, prisoners of renown, and the little known history that lay behind the Tower of London.
While reading through this book, there were several pieces that were presented that I was acquainted with, but there were many that I had never heard of. We know of some of the higher profile nobility that were held within the tower, but this book gives you so much more.
A great and amazing read - I look forward to hearing more from this author in the future! Well written, and full of wonderful information, this book is a winner!
The Scare Street team has done it again! These stories are among the bizarre, and will make you think twice about ordering or buying something second hand.
What if that perfect collectibles piece was not quite what you thought it was? The three stories in this book all follow a pattern - collectible and second hand items that are not quite what they seem, or what they might appear at the first glance.
If you are looking for a good quick thrill, then you need to read this book! It was amazing!
If you were offered money to stay in a haunted mansion overnight, would you do it?
Step into Drake Mansion where a group of people are playing to win a chance at a million dollars - which will be split if they all stay in the house, or one winner taking the entire thing as the night goes on. As they work through trying to figure out the secrets that the house holds, there is more at play than just a couple of ghosts, and what they uncover, with the help of an old journal goes farther than just sitting around waiting...
Oh my, I was not sure as I started the book whether I was going to like it or not, but when it started to pick up, man did it pick up! This went from a 3 star to a 5 star read really fast! I was blown away with how the story managed to turn and reveal much more than I anticipated! Great for a rainy weekend read!
This was a really good read, although I would not recommend for lower aged kids. This needs to be 14+ on the reading age.
Great read, with enough spook factor to make your skin crawl, and keep you invested in the story
This book was one that made me sit back and think! I found so much information that I had never considered! We know the side of the royals, they are well documented, but what about the landed gentry? Knights? There are so many different aspects of life that have not been expounded upon as much. This book delved into those shadows. What happens if you had bastard sons, but no legitimate? What about daughters?
These children, although accepted by their parents, were still considered born “on the wrong side of the sheets.” While today, many will turn a blind eye, in medieval times, this was not the case. Illegitimate sons were barred from many types of inheritance, although there were some that found the loopholes.
Helen Matthews brings to light many of these children, their families, and the different aspects of their lives - many of which we may not know about. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learning about a different part of medieval history, one that is not often discussed, except for royal bastards.
This book is definitely worth the read! Grab it now!
What a great book! Jeri Westerson does a fabulous job of weaving this tale together, bringing readers on an adventure that is going to stay with them long after the book has finished.
Grab Traitor's Codex this weekend and dive into an adventure that will leave you breathless!
I have not read the first 11 books in this series, but I think I might start at the beginning and work through, reading this one again at the end. There are some things that I feel would have made more sense if I had read the other books first.
If you are familiar in any way with medieval history, then Simon de Montfort is a name that you will have heard, at least once. In the Rebellion Against Henry III, the life of Simon de Montfort, and his role in the rebellion against the king becomes much more clear.
With the many nobles who raised arms against the king, Simon was at the forefront. The rebellion though is a bit misleading. It was more than one, it was long, and it was bloody. There was not a simple ruling that put it down or nobles who simply had their feelings hurt and were placated by lands, money or promises. These were nobility out for blood, and it was blood they got. For the Marcher lords wanted much more than empty promises and royal favors...
David Pilling goes through the entire rebellion - from the threads that began to pull to the bloody end. I was able to learn so much more, and gleaned so much information from this book! For those who love medieval history, military history, or royal history - then this is a book that you are going to want to pick up. It is laid out in a way that no matter the level of learning you have in medieval studies, it is understandable, easy to follow, and informative.
Calling all history lovers! When it comes to finding and dissecting information on The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt, there have been so many different theories thrown around. There are some huge names in the field of Egyptology, and although they may not always agree on everything, their information helps those who are interested in the history, especially ancient history, can give a lot of insight and steps into learning.
When I started reading The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egpyt, I was completely hooked! I have been a fan of Egyptian history since I was a young child, and this book was an Egyptian history lovers dream! The tombs, especially those of the ancient pharaohs, have a lot of draws. The most famous, of course, is that of Tutankhamen, as it was the most intact tomb that was ever discovered. But there is more to a tomb than just the treasure. The art, the craftsmanship, and the overall majestic nature of the tombs are works of art in themselves. The hieroglyphs included in the tombs, as well as some of the pieces that were found inside, have given us so much information and glimpses into the lives of those who lived thousands of years ago.
Publication Date:
Available Now
Publisher:
Pen and Sword Books
Star Rating:
5/5 stars
My review of The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt
Overall, this book was amazing. I felt as though I was walking through the tombs myself. Having some prior knowledge of the history and lives the ancients went a long way into making this book more understandable. In order to really enjoy this book, you have to have a working knowledge of Egyptian history. This is not for those who are just diving into the work. However, whatever level of history you are at, this book was amazing.
There are more to the tombs than just the enclosures. There are temples, monuments, and so much more! The Royal Tombs of Ancient Egypt brings this long romanticized world into a more historical focus, giving a lot of insights into the burial practices, the hopes for the afterlife, and even the details that went into the work on the tomb. Grab your virtual archaeological tools, and dig into this amazing book!
We all know how the royals lived in Ancient Egypt, but what about the regular, everyday people? Their lives are often overshadowed by the larger than life figures of their leaders.
How to Survive in Ancient Egypt dives into the lives of the everyday Egyptians - their food, poetry, death, and clothing. It was a fascinating read, and one that had little quips of humor and jokes throughout. Charlotte Booth takes their lives, and breaks it down into easy to read sections, leaving nothing out!
I enjoyed reading through this! It was a fun look into the way that everyday Egyptians lived. Getting a glimpse into some of their poetry, foods, and more was eye opening and enlightening! This is a great book for those who enjoy history!
Women in history, especially as far back as this book goes, have often been overlooked. Many of them were not documented, past a few footnotes here and there. There are some notable exceptions, such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, and Empress Matilda - both of these women were more then mere footnotes - they stomped their way into the pages of history with gusto and determination.
However, women were just not considered essential. Now, we want to know more. We know that they were more involved than just running the households and pumping out babies for their husbands. They were strong, determined, and often very stubborn beings, who could influence and manipulate the events around them (and if you don't think that is the case - go back to Rome, and the manipulations of the royal women - that will raise a few eyebrows).
As we read through Women of Power in Anglo-Saxon England - I both enjoyed and disliked it. There were aspects where the information was great - it was real, tangible history. But then there were the parts where it felt the author was stretching just a little to much.
I get it, history was written by men (cause if women had written it, it would have been a lot more detailed in some aspects - and not just the military history - no offense to our ancient historical writers). Women were not seen as integral parts, or worth noting their contributions, mainly because, if they had a decent idea, it would be told to a husband or father, and claimed as that persons brilliant idea.
This book was both fascinating and disastrous. I loved that there were some historical evidences to lead back to these women and the lives that they lead. But there were the pitfalls, and had the feelings of “I am not sure where to go with this here... so lets throw this in.” I felt that it rambled in areas, where it could have been more succinct, and left the reader with a more concise narration, instead of trying to draw out to make the book longer.