Historical Book Review: Ingvar: The Gods' Forsaken Son

Ingvar: The Gods' Forsaken Son by Wayne Armstrong

Publisher: self published

Date: August 2019

Genre:Historical Fiction, Norse / Icelandic Historical Fiction

Pages: 210

Available: amazon in ebook and paperback

Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Plot: Ingvar: The Gods' Forsaken Son is the story of the eldest son of a fictional Norse King who has fallen under the sway of Gyda, his second wife and mother of his second son, Thorir. Ingvar is worried that his step-mother will convince the King to name Thorir as his heir. Ingvar organizes a mighty expedition and sets sail seeking fame and fortune. Unfortunately, a storm blows him off course and his plans are dashed when he is taken and sold into slavery in Spain. Despite his predicament, Ingvar is determined to return home and claim his throne. 

Characters: When not killing innocent farmers, enslaving their families and robbing monks and monasteries, Ingvar is a likable enough man. He loves his wife and children and he inspires respect and loyalty in his crew. An uncomplicated man, he is predictable in his choices and actions. The evil step mother and her son are both one dimensional and without real depth of character. They do just what you think they are going to do. There are lots of bit characters who assist or hinder Ingvar along his journey.

Writing: I thought the writing was excellent. Without typos or grammatical errors, the pace is fast and the story zips along.  No complaints here. 

History: I thoroughly enjoyed the historical aspect of this book. I have read several books in this time frame, including the Bernard Cornwell Saxon series, set slightly later in the 10th century. This one is particularly well researched.  The inclusion of the Emir of Cordoba and Muslim Spain was a treat. From the petty kingdoms of the British Isles to the monks of Mont Saint Michel, Armstrong takes us on a whirlwind tour of 8th Century Europe. I did not see anything that I found out of character/ unrealistic for the time period. 

Overall: I found this an enjoyable read. I admit to skimming some of the battle scenes as I had a hard time following them in my mind and there are a lot of them. I do wish there was more intrigue and suspense to keep me guessing what will happen next. The overall story is one of action; straightforward and without surprises. 

Recommendation: I would recommend this well written novel to fans of historical fiction, especially those with an interest in the Dark Ages, military history, Vikings and sea-going adventure stories. There's ample good history to be gleaned from this book. There are quite a few battle scenes, but I didn't think the violence was overly graphic. 

My Rating: I give this book 4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: The Braided Stream by Harper Swan

The Braided Stream (The Replacement Chronicles Part Four): by Harper Swan 

Genre: Historical Fiction, Prehistoric Fiction

Published September 2019

Pages: 268

Available in ebook and paperback

Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. If you are interested in purchasing this book or viewing it on Amazon click on the book cover which has a link to its page. 

The Plot: The Braided Stream is the fourth is a series which chronicles the lives of Raven and Leaf who lived in a prehistoric world alongside the Neanderthals. I read it as a stand alone novel. (I will now go back and read the earlier books!) but I never felt lost in the series. The Neanderthals, known as the People, are dying out and Elder Woman, the cagey leader of her clan is determined to see to the survival of her family. To do this, she kidnaps Leaf and his daughter Wren, members of the Wind Clan, and a separate race, known as Them. Elder Woman hopes they will mate with her children and grandchildren and propagate a new generation. Raven tracks the pair back to the clan's cave and struggles to free her child and mate even as she reunites with Elder Woman's son Chukar.

The History: Little is known about the cultural lives of our prehistoric ancestors. When did they achieve true speech, when did religion arise and in what form, what was the nature of their relationships? This void gives authors, a blank canvas on which to create the world of prehistoric peoples almost from scratch. Jean M. Auel's 1984, Clan of the Cave Bear, is one of the most celebrated books in this genre. That being said, fans of Ms. Auel will be delighted with the world and characters created by Harper Swan. She paints a vivid, realistic picture of the lives of these people. I felt like I was squatting in front of the hearth fire alongside Raven eating raw liver.

The author does a great job of creating language, cultural norms and religion for her characters as well a differentiating the abilities between the two early hominid species. I appreciated that Swan created strong women in Raven and Elder Woman, both take charge women who lead their clans with their intellect and their nurturing natures.

The Writing: Harper's writing is clean and crisp and very well edited. The pace clips along and there are no slow bits. I was never tempted to skip ahead. I was happy to see that the dialogue is written in modern English with no manufactured words or stilted grammar meant convey an archaic language.

Overall: I really enjoyed diving into the prehistoric world of Raven and Leaf. I read Auel's books back in the day and was a huge fan. I found this book equally enjoyable.

Recommendation: I would highly recommend The Braided Stream to fans of Jean Auel, you're sure to enjoy it. Anyone who is curious about prehistoric peoples and how they may have lived. There is a fair amount of 'conjugal relations' in the book, but it is not graphic and in keeping with the rest of the book.

Rating: I give this book 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Historical Book Review: A Thousand Mothers by Brenda Marie Webb

A Thousand Mothers by Brenda Marie Webb
Released: November 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction; Holocaust/ Jewish history
Pages: 378
Available: ebook and paperback

Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Plot: A Thousand Mothers is the moving story of a group of women who come together in Ravensbruck, a Nazi Concentration Camp in Germany, to save the life of a newborn child. 

Characters: The first half of the book focuses on a large group of women who steal, lie, cheat death, and allow unspeakable things to happen to themselves and others, in order to preserve the life of Flora, an infant born at the camp. Against a backdrop of brutality and the constant killing of prisoners, the women sacrifice themselves for this child. For a while, I feared there might really be a thousand mothers. Because there are so many of them, I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and had to go back and reread bits to refresh my memory. It was difficult to see much difference in their personalities. 

Part two of the book whizzes through Flora’s life after she is rescued from Nazi Germany and adopted into an American family. Her early life is given a brief outline before the final segment of the book which takes place when she is a grandmother. We learn what became of many of the women who protected Flora as a baby as she reconnects with her past. There is a whole new set of characters to keep up with in this part. The story is told in third person omniscient, so the voice and point of view changes rapidly as well. 

The History: Webb nails the history of Ravensbruck, in all its gory details. The plight of the women, each from a different background, is terrifying. The conditions of the camp are told in graphic detail as is the despicable nature of the German prison guards, doctors and staff. I do have to say, not to diminish what anyone suffered in these camps, I thought there might have been too much focus on the atrocities which I found took away from the story. 

The Writing: The writing is good, the book well edited. I don’t like third person omniscient as a point of view, but I understand why the author chose it, with so many characters, clamoring to get her attention. 

Overall: It might sound as if I didn’t enjoy this book, which is not true, I did. I found the story of Flora compelling and well told. But, I was overwhelmed by the cast of characters, and sorry that I did not know them a little bit better. 

Recommendation: I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, stories of determined women, readers interested in holocaust stories and Jewish history. There is a lot of death and dying in this book, as one should expect in a book set in a death camp, so reader beware.

I rate this book 4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟



My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: Wanders Far by David Fitz-Gerald

Wanders Far by David Ritz-Gerald
Released: May 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction, folklore
pages: 198 (paperback)
Available on: Amazon in paperback and ebook

Reviewers note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You really can't judge a book by its cover. The gorgeous cover of this novel totally sold me. What a face. But, I have to admit the story, the tale of Wanders Far was a disappointment for me. 

The book opens just before his birth. His family lives along the Mohawk River in New York, centuries before Europeans settled the North American continent. The year is 1125. The writer has done his homework and we learn a lot about the daily life of the Native Americans who populated the area, which I found of interest. Although, I think the author went overboard on the blow by blow process of making a canoe. I was also surprised that in the minutia of the daily life of the Native Americans, there was no in-depth exploration of their religious life and/or ceremonies. That is until Wanders Far's story is pretty far along. 

After Wanders Far is born, we trail after him on his walk-abouts, of which there are many. As a young child, 5-6 years old he travels miles and miles alone through the wilderness, never coming to any harm. (Okay, it is folklore, I'll give it a pass) At first his family looks for him and then give up. Wanders Far will go when and where he wants.

The author tells us that Wanders Far is an 'Old Soul' and indeed we learn he is a special child. Wise beyond his years, he has visions of the past and the future. We learn what his vision are and sure as shootin a few chapters later the very same thing happens. We are told he plays an important part in creating the Iroquois Confederation.  All very interesting in concept, but not in the telling.

So, why didn't I like this book. The writing. It drove me crazy. After the first chapter, I put the book down and went to Amazon to see if it was a Middle Grade book for 4th graders. The writing is childish and highly repetitive.  If you can say something once, why not say it three or four times? 

The dialogue was also strangely modern. At one point the father says, 'Good job' son. Another person says, 'wow', and Wanders Fars admits he 'goofed off'. The language seems incongruent with the time period. The author acknowledges this fact and asks us to overlook it. Why not just rewrite it? 

There is no tension, no suspense, no nail biting will he do it moments. Everyone just trundles along. Even the one bad guy is a cartoon character. I was never afraid for Wanders Far, never said, I can't believe that just happened or I didn't see that coming or what on earth did that mean. Nope, the book reads like: he did this, then he did that, then he did this again, and yep, he did that. The author tells us everything, but shows us nothing. 

Did I hate the book? No. Did I like it? Not really. Did I learn something from it? Yes. So was it worth reading? I find value in learning new things, so I can answer yes to this. But, I was glad to reach the last page.

Now, I go to Amazon and Goodreads to post my review. There are multiple other reviews already there. Most are five stars. Wait, what? Did I miss something? I go back and re-read about half the book. I look for deeper meanings or some reason for the plodding redundancy of his storytelling. I can't find it. Maybe I am deficient, this is over my paygrade, or something else is missing. Whatever, I could not connect to this book. Clearly, other people have thoroughly enjoyed it. Just not me. So, take my review with a grain of salt and don't let it put you off the book, if it sounds like it's up your alley. 

Recommendations: This is tough. If you want to learn about the daily lives of Native Americans give it a read. But a pass if you are looking for a great story.

I give this book 2 1/2 stars

My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: In A Gilded Cage by Susan Appleyard

In A Gilded Cage by Susan Appleyard
Self-Published 2017
Genre: Historical Fiction
pages: 320
Available in paperback and ebook


Reviewers note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. If you are interested in seeing more about this book, click on the cover above and it will take you to its Amazon page.

PLOT: In A Gilded Cage is the story of Elizabeth, known affectionately as Sisi, born in 1837 into the royal Bavaria house of Wittelsbach. Raised in a family with a forward thinking father and a reluctantly indulgent mother, Sisi has a delightfully unconventional childhood. At the age of 16 she travels with her older sister who their mother hopes will catch the eye of their cousin, Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria. To her surprise, it is Sisi who wins the heart and hand of the most powerful monarch in Europe. But, Sisi, is unprepared for the strict environment of the Hapsburg court, where every move and word is analyzed and one misstep can bring unhappy consequences. 

CHARACTERS: Elizabeth is a complicated character and Appleyard does a good job of bringing her to life. From petulant child-bride to a woman fighting for her place in the world we follow the evolution of Elizabeth as she comes into her own as Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary. Her battles with her controlling mother-in-law and her dedicated but emotionally detached husband pull the reader into her world. Despite being one of the most admired and talked about women of her age, her life is miserable and those of us along for the ride feel pity for the woman she becomes.  

HISTORY: Meticulously researched, the waning days of the Hapsburgs and the Austro-Hungarian empire spring from the pages of this book. From the stiff court manners. the exhausting schedule of balls and social events to the daily routine of dressing, we become intimately acquainted with her world. I enjoyed the political/military history of the region as well, especially the description of the Hungarian fight for autonomy. 

WRITING: The writing is good, the pace is steady. I was never bored and found myself surprised that I had reached the end of the novel. Some of the themes are a bit repetitive but did not distract me from enjoying the book. 

CONCLUSION: Although a work of fiction, this is a serious look at the life of Elizabeth, Empress of Austria. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, biographies, and royalty.

I rate this book 4 Stars!

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My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Fiction Book Review: The Ship's Carpenter by D.E. Stockman Adventure on the High Seas

The Ship's Carpenter by D. E. Stockman 

Published September 2019 by Fireship Press

Pages: 219

Genre: Historical Fiction, Nautical, Military 

Available: Paperback and E-book

Reviewers Note: I was given a free advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. If you are interested in purchasing this book, I have created a link to it's Amazon page, just on the book cover above. 

The Plot: Set in the tumultuous mid-1700s the story follows Abraham, a ship carpenter, as he seeks employment on both sides of the English Channel. Abraham's dream of a peaceful life with his love Yvette is swept aside by the vagaries of war. From Brest, France to London and on to the North American continent, Abraham crosses paths with dashing naval captains including French brothers Francois Saint-Aloüarn and René-Louis Saint-Alouarn, English Captain, Washington Shirley and one of the most famous sailing ships of his time,  the Renommee. There are some side-plots which, although somewhat interesting, were not intrinsic to the storyline, and felt forced into the plot. I also felt the story ended rather abruptly. It was a 'wait, what just happened' moment for me, but I suppose that's the nature of war.

This book is the first of a series of three books. The story of Abraham continues in book 2. 

The Characters:  Abraham, the ship's carpenter, plays a central role in the story.  He is a man caught between, two belligerent superpowers; England and France. The author introduces additional characters as the war progresses, who grow in importance as the story unfolds. I think Stockman did an excellent job fleshing out his male characters. My biggest quibble with the book is the female characters, especially Yvette. I found her flat, one-dimensional and not authentic to the time period. That being said, the main characters in this book really are the ships themselves. You get a sense that the author loves these sailing ships and all things nautical. The human characters are secondary.

The History: The author, David Stockman, spent 10 years researching this book, and it shows. I don't know a mizzen mast from a poop deck, but Stockman takes you on a tour of his ships from their beginning in the shipyards of France and England to their final destruction in battle. The time period covers what historians call the War of Austrian Succession in Europe and King George's War in North America. It lasted from 1740 to 1748. 

The Writing: The writing was very good and the book well editing. The pace is fast, and the book is a quick read. 

Conclusion: I really enjoyed reading this story. I love history and appreciated the research and effort that went into this book. For a first-time author it's excellent work. Although there is a love story in the background, there is little of what I would consider Romance in this book. 

Recommendation: I would recommend this book to lovers of historical fiction, military history, especially those who love all things nautical and fans novels such as the Horatio Hornblower series. 

You can buy The Ship's Carpenter here.

I rate this book:  4 1/2 stars 

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My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

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Book Review: Queen of the Flowers by Delia Cerpa

Queen of the Flowers, Memories of a Puerto Rican Girl by Delia Cerpa

Published 2019 by 3L Publishing

Genre: Memoir, Coming of Age

Pages 236

Price: $19.95

Reviewers Note: I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Plot in brief: This is the story of Delia Cerpa, known to her family as Garin, the youngest of 10 ten children. Garin’s father commits suicide when she is just a baby, leaving her mother to raise her kids and run their small family farm alone. Garin’s world is a tropical paradise, despite having no electricity or running water. Her book describes a life of subsistence farming in a close knit family, supported by their local community. Garin shares the story of her life in Puerto Rico until she and her mother immigrated to New York, when she was 13 years old, to join her siblings already living in the Bronx.

Characters: Garin shares her family with us, especially her mother, the Widow Cerpa, a strong woman, who survives in a male-dominated culture. We get to know her siblings, from the oldest, Juan, who takes over as head of the family to the second youngest Maria Mercedes, as they grow to adulthood. We also meet many relatives, neighbors and teachers along the way. Cerpa describes a unique way of life, almost unknown in our busy modern world. Despite being poor, they were rich in love and family.

The Writing: So what’s not to like about this book? In a word, the prose. The book reads as if written by the 13-year-old Delia and not a woman with a PhD. Is this intentional? I’m not entirely sure. There are numerous typos throughout the book. The storyline bounces from paragraph to paragraph. One paragraph might be about planning a party and the very next about sugarcane harvesting with no clear section break. The author repeats herself endlessly, and the grammar is atrocious. For example: Maria Mercedes looked at me with her shaven head. And: Neighbors and relatives began to arrive. Julio and Don Cruz Munoz went to get the house building materials in town. Neighbors and relatives began to arrive early in the morning with building tools and gathered around the tobacco ranch.... Students who had worms were administered medicine for worms. Okay last one: The hens and chicks kept feeding where they were already eating. Ay, Dios Mio, I wanted to poke my eye out by the end of the book.

Conclusion: If the writing style was intentional, I didn’t like it. If it wasn’t, then shame on the editor. $19.95 is a lot of money for an ill-written book. I don’t feel I can recommend this to anyone unless the price drops significantly. If I wasn’t reviewing this book, it would have been a DNF for sure.

I rate this book 2 Stars

My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan Shalev

Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections by Susan Shalev
Self-Published December 2018
198 pages
Genre: Biographical Historical Fiction

Reviewers Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Of Bitter Herbs and Sweet Confections is a wonderfully written book. I was immediately pulled into the story of Tanya and her family. The year 1939, ten-year-old Tanya has no concerns other than hanging with her friends and members of a successful Jewish family. Her father makes sweets, her grandfather runs a successful bakery. Life is good, and then it’s not. War rolls through Poland, flattening everything in sight. Tanya’s father wisely decides to flee, leaving behind his company and their beautiful apartment. With little more than the clothes on their back they head east into Russian. 

This is a tale of survival, and resilience under dire circumstances. Riding out the war is Siberia is no picnic as the family moves from town to town, seeking safety.  Even with peace comes more challenges, as Tanya and her family struggle to regain some semblance of their former lives. 

Written in first person, this narrative is fast-paced and intimate. Although fiction the author based the story is based on the real-life experiences of a young girl retold as a grown woman. The characters are well drawn and leap from the pages. Tanya was a delight, and I found myself cheering for her from start to finish. 

Congratulations to Susan Shalev on this amazing novel. 

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Jewish history, history of WWII, the holocaust, and historical fiction.


I would rate this book 4 ½ stars

My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: When Sally Comes Marching Home by Richard Milton Post War Thriller

When Sally Comes Marching Home by Richard Milton

Published 2019 by Bowater Books

Genre: British Historical Fiction, Action Thriller 

Plot: In 1946 Major Sally Honeychurch, finds herself demobilized and teaching in a girl’s school. Life is dull compared to her work in the war for the Special Operations Executive, where she spent two years behind enemy lines. She’s called back to action when the City of London is threatened. Sally must use all her training to save the city from destruction.

Characters: Sally Honeychurch, tall, blond and extremely smart, is a well drawn and believable character. I quickly found myself cheering her on, a spunky woman in a male-dominated world. But she is not without her flaws, which makes her human and a better hero. I appreciate that the ‘bad guys’ are also human, a mixture of good intentions and evil outcomes. The men who help and hinder her along the way, overcome their male bias against her as she races to save the day. 

History: The author is well versed in English history before, during and after the war. I found the book fascinating simply from a historical standpoint. I enjoyed learning about the rise of Fascism in England in the pre-war years and some interesting tidbits concerning HRH Edward, Duke of Windsor. Woven through the story are many ‘real’ characters which added a sense of reality to the story.

Writing: Told in third person, past tense, the book zips along. It is well written, the pace is fast, the story action packed. Although there is quite a bit of historical information packed between the pages, it never bogs down the story. The last few chapters will have you on the edge of your seat. The resolution of the story does not disappoint. 

Conclusion: I really enjoyed this well written action-packed story. A sharp clever main character and a page turning story make for a winning combination. I don’t give out many five stars, but this one fits the bill.

My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend

Historical Book Review: The Thin Gray Line by Michael Kenneth Smith: A romp through the American Civil War

The Thin Gray Line, by Michael Kenneth Smith
Published: May 2019
Independently Published
Genre: Historical Fiction, American Civil War
Pages: 411
Price: $13.99

Reviewers Note: I was given a free uncorrected proof in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Plot: Prepare to suspend all disbelief in order to enjoy this far-fetched coming of age story. This is the tale of wonder-child Luke Pettigrew, a teenaged Confederate soldier, who assigned to be a medic at the battle of Shiloh, because, as he tells us, 'he's good with farm animals'. As the tide turns against the Confederates on day two of the battle, Luke finds a horse and rides into the Union lines to retrieve a fallen confederate battle standard and despite coming under heavy fire returns uninjured. Thereafter he is taken prisoner. While a POW near Columbus, Ohio, a prominent local businessman helps him to escape from prison. Luke promptly falls in love with the man's niece, who is visiting from Tennessee. No explanation is given as to why a prominent man would risk his life and reputation to help Luke escape. Luke makes his way back to the South and the Confederate Army and is made one of Jeb Stuart's scouts because, 'he's good on a horse'. At some point during the three-day battle at Gettysburg, Luke is shot in the thigh. Miraculously and without explanation, Luke makes his way, over 650 miles, to his hometown of Crossville, Tennessee without seeking medical treatment. How he does not die of gangrene, bacterial infection or blood loss is left to the imagination. A local drover, Clyde McCallister, picks him up at some point and he and his wife amputate Luke's injured leg. Whew, all that in the first few pages and the book hasn't even started yet.

Don't worry I'm not going to spoil the plot. Luke recovers from his amputation and learns to walk again. He leaves the McCallister's home and begins an epic adventure which takes him to Richmond, Virginia. Along the way he works again as a medic, meets a spy, runs a smallpox hospital, saves abandoned slaves, learns to help other amputees, and adopts a young black girl, and he's not even twenty years old.

Besides just a story the author raises multiple ethical and moral issues which Luke wrestles with the entire book; parental love and approval, the issue of slavery, the humanity of slaves, and or course the war. This results in frequent flashbacks to earlier years which slows the momentum of the story.

The Characters: Luke is a boy scout kinda guy, upstanding, kind to children, protective of women. Everyone seems to know who he is, including the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis. Luke is given responsibilities way above his pay grade, doctors, soldiers, businessmen have total confidence in him within minutes of meeting. Some characters Luke interacts with are almost caricatures or just flat out unbelievable. The spy, Cuff, is probably the most gullible spy I ever read about.

The History: The author clearly knows his Civil War history, and the writing is at its best when he is describing battles, soldiers and strategy.

The Writing: The prose is bland and simple for the most part, but the author occasionally slips in a bit of descriptive writing that is incongruous to the rest of the text. For example: "...the hoar frost melted in a stubbornly yielding shadow that portended fair weather." I have no idea what that means. Thankfully, there isn't too much of that in the book.

Conclusion: I was excited to read this book but was really disappointed in the story which had too many 'that would never happen' moments. I think it could have benefited from a good editor to tighten up the plot and sharpen the writing.

I give this book 3 stars (barely) in hopes that the finished product is better than what I was sent to review.

My Ratings: 

1  Star: Not good at all, do not read!

2  Stars: Read only as a last resort, no other books available

3 Stars: Good, enjoyed it, will recommend with reservations

4 Stars: Really good, read this book!

5 Stars: So good, I might read it again sometime! Highly recommend