11 Mar 2013

It's Monday What are you (and I reading)?


Alrighty, I found this Meme and have decided to take part. It is hosted by a Blog called Book Journey and its owner Sheila who says "This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well"

So here are the books I am reading the in Christian Historical Fiction/Fantasy Category which this Blog is devoted to.
I have just about 100 pages still to go of 'A Trail of Ink: The Third Chronicle of Hugh de Singeton, Surgeon' by Melvin Starr. This is the third in a series of Medieval Murder mysteries set in the 1360s in Oxfordshire, England, featuring Hugh a surgeon and Bailiff of the village of Bampton on the Weald. 

Synopsis from Amazon "An excellent medieval whodunit by the author of The Unquiet Bones and A Corpse at St Andrew's Chapel

Some valuable books have been stolen from Master John Wyclif, the well known scholar and Bible translator. He calls upon his friend and former pupil, Hugh de Singleton, to investigate. Hugh's investigation leads him to Oxford where he again encounters Kate, the only woman who has tempted him to leave bachelor life behind, but Kate has another serious suitor. As Hugh's pursuit of Kate becomes more successful, mysterious accidents begin to occur. Are these accidents tied to the missing books, or to his pursuit of Kate?


One of the stolen books turns up alongside the drowned body of a poor Oxford scholar. Another accident? Hugh certainly doesn t think so, but it will take all of his surgeon s skills to prove.


So begins another delightful and intriguing tale from the life of Hugh de Singleton, surgeon in the medieval village of Bampton. Masterfully researched by medieval scholar Mel Starr, the setting of the novel can be visited and recognized in modern-day England. Enjoy more of Hugh s dry wit, romantic interests, evolving faith, and dogged determination as he pursues his third case as bailiff of Bampton"


So far, Hugh was won Kate's affections and her promise of marriage, but gained a deadly enemy in the form of Sir Simon Trillowe, a rival for her affections. son of the Sheriff of Oxford, who seems determined to stop him from marrying Kate at by any means necessary.... 
I really like this series, and this installment is good so far, I have written a some reviews of previous titles by clicking the links here and here.

Yesterday I started on 'A Cast of Stones' by Patrick W Carr, which I have from Netgalley.

Amazon describes it as  "An Epic Medieval Saga Fantasy Readers
Will Love

In the backwater village of Callowford, Errol Stone's search for a drink is interrupted by a church messenger who arrives with urgent missives for the hermit priest in the hills. Desperate for coin, Errol volunteers to deliver them but soon finds himself hunted by deadly assassins. Forced to flee with the priest and a small band of travelers, Errol soon learns he's joined a quest that could change the fate of his kingdom.

Protected for millennia by the heirs of the first king, the kingdom's dynasty is near an end and a new king must be selected. As tension and danger mount, Errol must leave behind his drunkenness and grief, learn to fight, and come to know his God in order to survive a journey to discover his destiny.

So far, I am not hugely impressed. One thing I dislike is Medieval novels in which the characters speech is full of modern terms and phrases- and this seems to be one of them, also the writing style seems a little- unsophisticated. I have read less than 40 pages however, and try to finish most of what I read. It won't be finished this week however, as I am a full -time  student, and study means I don't always have much time to read for pleasure. 

So that's it from me- hope people have liked my contribution. What are you reading? Feel free to leave a comment.

3 comments:

  1. I've noticed some very disturbing trends in fiction writing lately, and the mis-use of dialog is one of those that really gets my hackles up. It makes it more difficult to read when the narrative is peppered with too many modern phrases if the book you're reading is in one way or another historical. That's why I tend to stick to the same authors over and over again. I know they will satisfy me.

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  2. Awww I hope the 2nd book turns around and you start liking it once you get more into it.

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  3. I hope you enjoy your reading choices this week!

    Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out

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