Historical Tour de Genre discussion

Geesh, I am so behind! Oh well, it's just been tough trying to decide which genres some of my books fall into!! LOL! so many books blur the lines...

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Genre: Historical Paranormal/Fantasy

5 Stars
This book is amazing. I loved the authentic historical feel to the book. The characters were WONDERFUL!! Will is a great character and somehow even worse than Jace (from the Mortal Instruments) but more likable than Jace. Tessa is a great female lead who shows strength, determination, honor and bravery. But Jem was my favorite. A brave shadowhunter who loves what he does but who also has the ability to be sweet and loving beyond measure. *sigh* I highly reccommend this one!!

I was unsure on this but after reading the definition that Charlie is using- I think it fits. It is as true as it can be to Victorian England can get- with shadowhunters, downworlders and demons.

The Reckless Bride by Stephanie Laurens
Genre: Historical Romance/Regency

5 Stars
This was typical Stephanie Laurens. A great, romantic historical novel with lots of mystery and intrigue! Rafe and Loretta were great characters and I had a lot of fun following them on there trek across Europe, battling attackers and dodging Black Cobra Cultists. Rafe is so heroic and interesting- a man who wants a woman who is his intellectual equal! Loretta was a fun character to watch as she came into her own and left behind the mask of prim and proper to be the woman that she is at heart. Such a fun read, I could not put it down. It is also great that you can read the books out of order and not really have the story ruined for you.

The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell
Genre: Historical YA/Paranormal

5 Stars

Okay, first let me say that this book took me forever to read, like two months, because every time I'd pick it up the kids would do SOMETHING that required immediate action. It was like a curse. Finally, I told the husband that I HAD to finish the book and that I was off duty until such a time that it was finished. I locked myself in the bedroom and read. Crazy, I know, but it worked!

Amelia van den Broek goes to visit her cousins in Baltimore in the summer of 1889. She's there to attend balls and wear new dresses in order to secure herself a good match. Her brother has sent her from Maine in hopes that she will find someone from good society to marry so that he'll no longer have to worry for her future but one evening, Amelia sees something in the vespers, the light at the end of the day. It's the time of the great Spiritualist movement so once word gets out about her "visions," everyone wants her to read for them. As Amelia experiments with her ability, she learns that not all her visions are happy and safe. She also falls for Nathaniel, a young artist, who is not a member of Society but a poor young man who scrapes together what he can to fund his painting. She knows that he isn't a good match but she can not keep herself from meeting him and dancing with him. But she also knows that Nathaniel has secrets of his own. When Amelia sees a tragedy happen within her close circle of friends and then another, she tries to keep the deaths from occurring but when they do despite her best efforts, what will happen to her? What chance does she stand with Nathaniel?

The Vespertine is an amazing book that is unlike anything that I have ever read. It takes a few chapters for you to see how it is a YA, Paranormal/Fantasy, Historical novel but in the end it is just sheer brilliance. Some people have a hard time reading the book due to the way it is written with the period speak and flash backs. I really enjoy period books though, so I was really into this book. I know there is a companion book The Springsweet that is slated to be released next year. You can learn more about the books on Saundra's website and you can follow her on Twitter!! Be sure to read this if you get a chance, it is sure to be on everyone's Best I've Read 2011 lists!!