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Title: Coyote, Buffalo, and the Rock

Subtitle: An Adaptation of a Traditional Native American Folktale (Told by the Sioux of the Great Plains)

Author: Gini Graham Scott

Narrator: Trevor Weller

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-05-18

Publisher: Changemakers Publishing

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Coyote, Buffalo, and the Rock is an adaptation of a traditional Native American folktale told by the Sioux of the Great Plains.

In the story, Coyote gives the gift of a blanket to a rock as he takes a walk with buffalo. When it gets cold and rains, Coyote takes it back. But the rock objects and chases after him. What will happen when rock finally catches him and teaches him a lesson?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

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Title: Graced 1943

Subtitle: The Grace Family Chronicles, Book 1

Author: Courtney Williamson Milford

Narrator: Roberto Scarlato

Format: Unabridged

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-19-17

Publisher: Courtney Williamson Milford

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Set against a backdrop of World War II, the Grace family and friends live in and operate out of Gracestone, a Miami Beach luxury estate. Most of them are "Graced", meaning they have special powers: Navigators can get anywhere without a map and are never lost; Incapacitators are never bested in a fight and can turn any item into a weapon; Knowers can learn all there is to know about any topic just by concentrating on it for a few moments. There is no finite number of Graces, and a person can be Graced in more than one way.

In Graced 1943, the first book in The Grace Family Chronicles, the characters are focused on protecting the children of Gracestone. Kidnapping is always an issue, mainly because its patriarch, Henri Grace, is a Midasian Multiplyer, meaning he can multiply wealth, and he has passed this rare Grace onto one of his grandsons. Greedy people and even the US government target Midasian Multiplyers, hoping to exploit their ability to make money.

Like most Americans in the mid-1940s, the Grace family and friends are enmeshed in World War II, and the action moves to the atomic weaponry lab in Los Alamos, NM, and to Europe and South America, and then back again to Gracestone for Henri's wife's ill-advised Christmas Ball in December of 1943. Be warned: The ending is a cliffhanger, and it leads into the second book in the series, The Atherlings 1944.

This series has the feel of an old-fashioned radio soap opera crossed with a comic book and a war drama. The cast is large, and their lives intermingle, sometimes in surprising ways. Graced 1943 is for anyone who enjoys actions tinged with humor in a setting that features real history and larger than life characters.

Members Reviews:

Not for me

I'm giving this three stars, even though I just barely got into it. I'm sure it's right for other people, but I stopped at 9%.

Five Stars

Cannot wait to read next one

Fantasy, History, and Adventure

This book follows the Grace Family during WWII. The family is "Graced" with special powers that each member individually possesses. These powers are used in various ways both to help protect the family in Miami, as well as aid the United States as it enters the war. The story takes us all over the world and I enjoyed the historical aspect of it. There are a few inaccuracies, but I don't feel it took away from the story as a whole.

There are A LOT of characters and many generations of the Grace family, and this made it difficult at times to follow the story. Keeping track of all the names, as well as all of their special powers and what they mean, was a bit daunting. It felt like every few pages a new character or back story was introduced, and this tended to halt the forward movement of the story.

Overall, it was a fun mix of historical fiction, fantasy/sci-fi, and action/adventure, but as other reviewers have mentioned, this book could really use some more editing. In addition to fixing the many typos, paring down the characters and backstories could really help turn this into a major page-turner.

Are You Graced?

This story is about multi-generations of family members Graced with special powers, for example, a Seeker, a Locator, a Healer, etc. The story takes place during WWII and the Grace family are all using their special powers to help the U.S. government with the war effort.

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Title: The Pharaoh's Destiny

Subtitle: Pharaoh Queens Trilogy, Book 1

Author: Markie Madden

Narrator: Harriet Seed

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-12-17

Publisher: Metamorph Publishing and Markie Madden

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The year is 1477 BCE, and history is about to change....

Hatshepsut, the great kings wife, is thrust into a world of intrigue and politics when her husband, Pharaoh Thutmose, dies suddenly, leaving Egypt with an heir who is barely two years old. The Queen must step into the role of leader, and there are few whom she can trust.

When Hatshepsut is crowned as Pharaoh, she grooms her daughter, Neferure, to take the place of heir, rather than Thutmoses infant son from another woman. Neferure, though young, is still older than the boy who should by all rights be king.

The future of Egypt rests in the hands of a single woman, the most powerful woman in the ancient world. Can Pharaoh Hatshepsuts people accept her unorthodox reign and her plans to usurp the mens place as rulers of a Kingdom, decreeing that only women are suitable leaders?

Members Reviews:

History and passion come alive

As a lover of historical fiction, I was pleasantly surprised to find a book that covered an aspect of history I've never read about. Egypt with its pyramids and monuments is intriguing, and it's always been a mystery to me (and no doubt many others) how they constructed those massive structures. In this book, Madden answers questions I didn't even ask along with many I did. And who knew that a woman had not only been crowned King at one time, but that she was a greatly respected Pharaoh who brought about significant economic and social growth?

But this isn't just dry history. The real Hatshepsut was, no doubt, a remarkable woman, but Madden has painted a portrait of a woman of passion, as well as compassion and intelligence. When the Pharaoh, her husband-brother. dies leaving no successor but the infant child of a harem wife, Hatshepsut is left to rule as regent. But when the god, Amun, reveals that her destiny is to be king, she sets about making it happen. Through positive action, generosity to peasants, respectful relationships with the priests, and an ambitious building program, she is accepted and respected by all.

The Pharaoh's Destiny is a fascinating and compelling historical account with a few fictional elements thrown in. Madden has expertly woven the history and architecture of Egypt into a love story and an homage to the first woman king of Egypt. Very worth the read.

The life of a great Pharaoh

The author does a superb job of using historically known facts and weaving a story of the life of Hatshepsut, the female Egyptian Pharaoh in 1477 BCE. A time when children barely out of the nursery were expected to take on adult rolls and married early in life. Hatshepsut was not quite 20 when she became the Pharaoh due to the death of her half-brother husband.

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Title: Alias Grace

Subtitle: TV Tie-In Edition

Author: Margaret Atwood

Narrator: Sarah Gadon

Format: Unabridged

Length: 15 hrs and 57 mins

Language: English

Release date: 12-07-17

Publisher: Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Now a major Netflix series - Atwood's most captivating, disturbing and satisfying work since The Handmaid's Tale.

'Sometimes I whisper it over to myself: Murderess. Murderess. It rustles, like a taffeta skirt along the floor.' (Grace Marks)

Female fiend? Femme fatale? Or weak and unwilling victim? Around the true story of one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of the 1840s, Margaret Atwood has created an extraordinarily potent tale of sexuality, cruelty and mystery.

Sixteen years have passed since teenaged Grace was locked up for the cold-blooded murder of her employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his lover, Nancy Montgomery. Saved from the gallows where her alleged accomplice was hanged, Grace claims to have no memory of the events which changed her life forever.

Dr Simon Jordan is an expert in the field of amnesia. His objective is to unlock the dormant part of Grace's mind and discover the truth behind one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of all time. Was Grace an unwitting accessory or a cold-blooded killer?

Members Reviews:

True-life case explored from multiple perspectives

Would you consider the audio edition of Alias Grace to be better than the print version?

I have read Atwood before on paper, and usually with detailed and complex stories, paper works best for me. But with only a few lead characters and a fairly straightforward story, audiobook works well for this particular listener.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the psychological aspects of Grace's character, everyone was trying to determine her guilt, her state of mind - and it all came together at the end nicely.

Which character as performed by Sarah Gadon was your favourite?

Grace - well-acted and voiced.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not at 16 hours in length! I was happy to listen in chunks as I knew it was the sort of story that would unfold slowly with lots of backstory to cover.

Any additional comments?

Reminiscent for me of Emma Donoghue's historical work, this caught my attention after Atwood's recent TV adaptations. I've been a fan of hers for years, loving The Handmaid's Tale, Oryx and Crake and The Blind Assassin, so it felt strange but refreshing to try a 'true story' by the dystopic writer.

A convicted murderer, Grace Marks, is visited by a new doctor, keen to dig deeper into the psyche of the young woman who in 1843 was involved with a double killing. Is she guilty? Was she a willing participant? Mentally unwell? She insists she cannot remember the events of the murders...

Over time, Dr Jordan meets with Grace and she tells him her story, about her life. It's a rather fascinating look at a time of class distinction and builds nicely from childhood to the day of the killings.

You're never quite sure what to think of Grace - innocent or conniving murderess? The doctor has his own life and story away from his patient, though I wasn't too interested in this.

The voices are all provided by one female, and I forgot all about this, even though the narrator voices Dr Jordan as well as Grace - he did a great job of bringing them both to life. Grace is a meeker prospect, a lower class young girl who speaks at length to her doctor.

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Title: Simply Sinister

Author: Heron Grey

Narrator: Eugenie Watson

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-22-17

Publisher: Clean Reads

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Penelope Brook is caught in the malicious game of her betrothed. With little hope of salvaging her honor or retaining her freedom, Penelope fights instead for vengeance. But at what cost? Defying the laws of the ton, she seeks the aid of a notorious social exile. Her betrothed, however, is not so easily routed. His brutal machinations endanger all Penelope holds dear: a secret family legacy, liberty, reputation, and a tentative love for her roguish compatriot. In the sinister labyrinth of disgrace, nobility and survival, will the price of honor and revenge be too great?

Members Reviews:

Not your cookie cutter historical romance

I knew this story was going to be something different when the heroine ran up to the hero and asked him for help while obviously being chased by some rather disreputable men. He answered "No," and she kept on running. She's not some drop dead beauty and he's no paragon of virtue. So many romance novels read like "paint by numbers" storylines, and I really appreciate when an author comes at it from a totally unexpected angle.

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Title: The Last Great Dance on Earth

Author: Sandra Gulland

Narrator: Kim Handysides

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 21 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-21-17

Publisher: Audible Studios

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

The Last Great Dance on Earth is the triumphant final volume of Sandra Gulland's beloved trilogy based on the life of Josephine Bonaparte. When the novel opens, Josephine and Napoleon have been married for four tumultuous years. Napoleon is Josephine's great love, and she his. But their passionate union is troubled from within, as Josephine is unable to produce an heir, and from without, as England makes war against France and Napoleon's Corsican clan makes war against his wife.

Through Josephine's heartfelt diary entries, we witness the personal betrayals and political intrigues that will finally drive them apart, culminating in Josephine's greatest tragedy: her divorce from Napoleon and his exile to Elba. The Last Great Dance on Earth is historical fiction on a grand scale and the stirring conclusion to an unforgettable love story.

Members Reviews:

Mesmerizing Trilogy

Titles: The Many Lives and Secret Sorrows of Josephine Bonaparte, Tales of Passion, Tales of Woe and The Last Great Dance on Earth.

Author: Sandra Gulland

Published by Harper Collins Publishers, Inc.

Backup References: Goodreads, Amazon

Theme: Historical Novel

Written in the form of fictional diaries, Sandra Gulland manages to enthral the reader throughout three difficult-to-put-down books. From a feminine perspective, she starts by describing Rose's (Josephine) as a young girl in Martinica and takes you from her somewhat humble roots to her acquiring grace, elegance and diplomatic skills, her unhappy first marriage, the joy of having two children, her suffering during the Terror, her lovers, her agreeing to marry the "rude Corsican", the intimacy inside their bedroom, Napoleon's rise to power, their learning royal protocol, the complexities of war, politics, endless intrigues, betrayal, his exile and her death.

Credible. Extremely well researched. Fast paced. Three page turning history novels worth cherishing.

Josephine. Empress. Wife. Mother. Friend.

The way these novels are written gives you an intimate look into what life as the wife of Napoleon must have been. I laughed when she laughed and wept when she wept. A truly beautiful novel to read.

Loved All 3 of These Books!

I loved all the Ms Gulland's books about Josephine. I knew very little about Josephine other than her connection to Napoleon before reading these books, I quickly became engrossed in her personal journey during very difficult times before, during and after the turmoil in France and Europe. I would highly recommend to read all three books to understand her as empress, mother, wife, friend, business woman and her stuggles with the role assigned to women during her lifetime. The trilogy is well written and though you pick up a lot of historical awareness of the time, it is an easy and engrossing read and history presented in a dry format. (Malmaison is definitely on our itinerary for France!)

Great end to a great series

Loooove this series! Gulland did not simmer out on the third book of the series. I couldn't wait to see how this series ended, but at the same time wanted it to go on forever. Her characters are so rich and complex and real. Her descriptions made me feel like I was right there in the action with the characters. I just loved the character of Josephine! I loved how it was written in diary entries that didn't feel like fake "dear diary" entries.

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Title: The True History of the Kelly Gang

Author: Peter Carey

Narrator: Gianfranco Negroponte

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 11-09-17

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Ned Kelly is a convict, murderer and thief who became an Australian legend. This is his personal interpretation of the harsh world around him, written for his daughter: 'I lost my own father at 12 yr. of age and know what it is to be raised on lies and silences my dear daughter you are presently too young to understand a word I write but this history is for you and will contain no single lies may I burn in hell if I speak false'.

Members Reviews:

Ned Kelly is a fascinating character in the work of Peter Carey

I think this book was superb storytelling at its finest. The reader enters the world of Ned Kelly and gains an understanding of the conditions that made him into an outlaw legend. Kelly's mother was very young when he was born and thus they almost grew up together and are extremely close, as the story demonstrates. However it is the cultural social structure of Australia that is fascinating and helps the reader understand the creation of such an outlaw. Australia was a prison colony at a time when England was constantly suppressing the Irish people. Thus many poor rebellious Irishmen and their families came to Australia where English protestant wardens oversaw the pioneer areas, taking sides with the powerful landowning English protestant squatters and suppressing the Irish. Poverty and suppression create certain mental and social conditions that were seen in Australia, in Ireland, and among African Americans in the Southern states. Justice is so elusive when it lies in the hands of the powerful that those without power have to create their own local home-grown justice. Such is the case with Ned Kelly and his family. The narrative shows the development of Ned Kelly's character step by step as he encounters a world where the cards are stacked against him and his people. Carey uses a sentence structure that takes two minutes to master and reflects the way that thoughts cascade from the human mind in clusters of sentences. In this regard he reminded me somewhat of William Faulkner, however Carey is far more easy to read than Faulkner. The characters and events are vivid, the plot moves at a reasonable pace considering the number of years that the story covers. I highly recommend the book. It is full of action but also thoughtful reflection as Kelly is fully cognizant of what he is becoming and the ways he might exploit this notoriety.

Creative, Sympathetic Story of an Australian Folk Hero

I read this book before a trip to Australia, and it helped me appreciate how Kelly is something of a folk hero in that country. The author takes a creative approach by telling the story from Kelly's perspective. It is tough to read because there is no punctuation and reads the way an uneducated immigrant from Ireland might talk. Over time you get used to it, however. You can't help but develop sympathy towards Kelly, because you understand his moral compass and realize how mistreated he was by outsiders growing up. Read the book, then visit the Melbourne Goal to hear more about Kelly and his Gang.

Brilliant

I read this on a flight to Australia and could not put it down. This is an extremely well written and well researched book, written in Ned Kelly's voice. Carey has captured the language and cadences of the time. So much of this time in history was unknown to me. How dreadful and hard life was for the early settlers and particularly for Irish migrants to Australia.

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Titel: Der junge Falke (Schwert und Krone 2)

Autor:: Sabine Ebert

Erzähler: Gabriele Blum

Format: Unabridged

Spieldauer: 17 hrs and 9 mins

Sprache: Deutsch

Veröffentlichungsdatum: 11-02-17

Herausgeber: Argon Verlag

Kategorien: Fiction, Historical

Zusammenfassung des Herausgebers:

Von großen Intrigen, gierigen Herrschern und harten Zeiten.

Anfang 1147 sorgen Hungersnot und Weltuntergangspropheten in deutschen Landen für Verzweiflung. Unter König Konrad wollen Zehntausende ins Heilige Land, während die östlichen Fürsten planen, mit ihrem "Wendenkreuzzug" slawische Gebiete an Elbe, Havel und Küste zu erobern. Fast alle Männer ziehen in den Krieg - und die Frauen müssen allein mit Missernten und Angriffen fertig werden.

Der junge Friedrich von Staufen, später als Barbarossa bekannt, macht sich als Ritter im Kreuzzug seines Onkels, König Konrad von Staufen, einen Namen. Doch der Kreuzzug scheitert katastrophal, und der König kehrt schwer erkrankt zurück. Die Machtkämpfe im Reich entflammen von Neuem - und Friedrich greift entschlossen nach der Krone.

>> Diese ungekürzte Hörbuch-Fassung wird Ihnen exklusiv von Audible präsentiert und ist ausschließlich im Download erhältlich.

©2017 Droemer Verlag, ein Unternehmen der Verlagsgruppe Droemer Knaur GmbH & Co. KG, München (P)2017 Argon Verlag GmbH, Berlin

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Title: Odin's Wolves

Subtitle: Raven, Book 3

Author: Giles Kristian

Narrator: Philip Stevens

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-26-17

Publisher: Random House Audiobooks

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 1 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Odin's Wolves by Giles Kristian, read by Philip Stevens. We lusted for an even greater prize: one that can never be lost or stolen or burnt.... Raven and his fellow Vikings have suffered. Good men have died. Hard-won treasure has been lost. But for these Norsemen, there is something more precious than gold or silver, and that is fame - for this is what a warrior leaves behind when he has breathed his last. And so the brotherhood sail for Constantinople, the city they call Miklagard. There, it is rumoured, both riches and glory are to be found, but the journey takes them through unknown and dangerous waters - from the wind-whipped marshes of the Camargue to the treachery and faded glory of a once-mighty Rome. For Raven and the Wolfpack there is a high price to pay for the fame they seek. Miklagard's streets may seem paved with gold, but they also run with blood.... A brilliant, brutal new chapter in the story of Raven, this is historical fiction at its most authentic and exciting.

©2017 Giles Kristian (P)2017 Random House Audiobooks

Members Reviews:

epic

Phenomenal. epic tale told brilliantly.

held in the grip of the tale from start to finish

A must read

Very entertaining.

I've read this last trilogy, as I have the first set Sigurd trilogy God of Vengeance : The rise of Sigurd. I would definitely recommend for good reads. Although I found the last two, Raven 2: sons of thunder and this book very well told & read by Philip Stevens. I have put them in my pile of "to read again" along side Matthew Harffy , David Gemmell, Conn Iggulden & Bernard Cornwell

Odins wolves

I have found this book enjoyable to listen to. I especially liked how it flows from book 1 to 3. And look forward to the next one

NO! DON'T STOP!

BRILLIANT!

Such a tale it must not end there. Has to be at least one volumes worth just to get them back to the lands in the north. Following that at least a series going off to upset the North American indigenous peoples with a Volva to add to the possibilities. Thank You Giles, thank you Audible.

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Title: The Sworn Virgin

Subtitle: A Novel

Author: Kristopher Dukes

Narrator: Barrie Kreinik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 08-08-17

Publisher: Harper Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 8 votes

Genres: Fiction, Historical

Publisher's Summary:

Dukes' gripping historical novel tells the tale of a desperate Albanian woman who will do whatever it takes to keep her independence and seize control of her future...even if it means swearing to remain a virgin for her entire life.

When 18-year-old Eleanora's father is shot dead on the cobblestone streets of 1910 Albania, Eleanora must abandon her dream of studying art in Italy as she struggles to survive in a remote mountain village with her stepmother, Meria.

Nearing starvation, Meria secretly sells Eleanora into marriage with the cruel heir of a powerful clan. Intent on keeping her freedom, Eleanora takes an oath to remain a virgin for the rest of her life - a tradition that gives her the right to live as a man: She is now head of her household and can work for a living as well as carry a gun. Eleanora can also participate in the vengeful blood feuds that consume the mountain tribes, but she may not be killed - unless she forsakes her vow, which she has no intention of ever doing.

But when an injured stranger stumbles into her life, Eleanora nurses him back to health, saving his life - yet risking her own as she falls in love with him....

Members Reviews:

Never an un-dull moment

The story of a woman struck by tragedy and revenge I understand, but this story was such a drag on "My Soul". I listened to the entire book, so it wasn't the worst book in the world, but I am so glad it's over. The narrator didn't do male voices very well, but the young girl was fine. I don't remember the setting (country) nor the time (century) if it was ever even mentioned. I would have liked to know that, but I believe it to be somewhere near the early 1900's and in Turkey, but I could be mistaken. I feel as if it could have had more meat if it were to be written in more modern day and her actions had changed the face of male bigotry, but it did nothing of the sort.

Not worth finishing

Started out beautifully with a rich culture and wonderful description, but the main character was whiny, narcissistic and wishy-washy. I couldn't empathize with her or any other character after the first part of the book. I kept going hoping it would get better, but jen it just abruptly ended after she changed her mind for the 100th time.