If you’re bored with the same old formulaic novels, we have three unique books to share with you. And for one of the books, there’s a lesson about not judging a book by its cover …
1. The Raven’s Heart, by Jesse Blackadder
Loosely based on real characters and events from the reign of Mary Queen of Scots, The Raven’s Heart is an imaginative tale of political intrigue, secret passion and revenge. It was the winner of the Varuna HarperCollins Manuscript Development Award.
I found it hard to compare this book to any other historical novels I’ve read. It was surprisingly raunchy. I won’t reveal too much, but let’s just say that the female heroine is very confused about her sexuality.
The plot:
Scotland, 1561. A ship carries Queen Mary home from the French court to take back control of her throne. Masquerading as a male crew member, Alison Blackadder plots to gain the queen’s favour so she can win back her family’s castle and lands.
About the author:
Jesse Blackadder is the Australian author of After The Party. She wrote The Raven’s Heart about a real Blackadder family in 16th century Scotland.
Critics’ feedback:
“Jesse’s novel is gripping from the first few pages. Her writing and research paints an intriguing, intimate glimpse into Queen Mary’s life and character.” – The Courier Mail
“Erotic and sexy, dark and eerie, adventurous and playful, The Raven’s Heart is a delicious read.” – author Hayley Katzen
“A rip-roaring story set in 16th century Scotland, The Raven’s Heart is beautifully written.” – author Katherine Howell
Click here to buy this book, or for more information.
2. Love, Always by Harriet Evans
I picked this book up thinking it was “trashy” chick lit fiction due to its brightly coloured, girly cover. But it was much better than I expected. I’d categorise it as a dramatic book rather than chick lit. It reminded me a lot of Kate Morton’s The Distant Hours.
The plot:
Love, Always does include romance, but the suspense element of the story is more interesting as the soon-to-be-divorced lead character, Natasha Kapoor, discovers the diary of her long-lost diary of her aunt Cecily, who died in a suspicious accident when she was 15. Several chapters of the book are written by Cecily, who wrote this diary 40 years ago.
There were some really compelling characters in this book. There was also a cross-cultural element as Natasha was half-Indian and half-English.
About the author:
Harriet Evans is a London-based author, who has written two other fiction books.
Critic’s feedback:
“From Daphne du Maurier to Mary Wesley, Cornwall has been the setting for some of fiction’s most heated melodramas. Harriet Evans, a former publishing executive turned novelist, has also taken the Cornish coast as the backdrop for her third novel, a family saga about unsuitable desires and cliff-top wobbles.” – The Independent
Click here to buy this book, or for more information.
3. Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder
Poison Study is a fantasy thriller with a very intriguing and original storyline. It’s volume one of a three-part series.
It became a word-of-mouth bestseller when it was released a few years ago. There are 250+ reviews on Amazon.com and most reviewers gave it five stars.
The plot:
The heroine of the story is Yelena, a condemned murderess with burgeoning magical powers, who is saved from the gallows in exchange for becoming a food-taster to the Commander of Ixia. She longs to escape, but is being slowly poisoned by a lethal toxin and relies on the Chief of Security for the daily antidote. But as rebels target the commander, it becomes increasingly clear that Yelena may only be able to cheat death once …
Interesting author fact:
Maria V. Snyder used to be a meteorologist!
Critics feedback:
“Both a riveting romance and spellbinding fantasy, Poison Study is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they’ve read it.” – Publishers Weekly
“A nifty little tale of intrigue featuring a worthy protagonist that makes for a commendable debut for Maria V. Snyder. Her storytelling in this maiden effort is solidly engrossing” – SF Reviews
Click here to buy Poison Study and its sequels, Magic Study and Fire Study, for only $26.95.
