Ladies by the Lake

  The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a historical fiction novel about a actress making her way and carving out a place for herself in Hollywood, getting 7 husbands along the way.  When I first started the book, it took me a while to get into reading it, because the first handful of chapters are the lead up to Evelyn's story. However, the rest of the book is spectacularly written. The story is written as a biography of Evelyn, starting with Monique (her biographer) asking her who her one true love is. Evelyn answers Celia St. James, a woman. Evelyn's seven husbands (and one wife) tell the story of her efforts to hide her sexuality from the societal norms from the 50's through the 80's-- when she quit acting. Throughout the book, Evelyn is shown to be morally gray- she lied, deceived and manipulated people and the press to gain-- and keep-- her fame and money through her tumultuous relationships.  I would highly recommend The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo to anyone who ...

     "The Blackthorn Key" is a historical fiction novel written by Kevin Sands. Set in 17th-century London, the story revolves around Christopher Rowe, an apothecary's apprentice, and his adventures in a world filled with alchemy, mystery, and danger.     The book opens with a series of gruesome murders that seem connected to a cryptic code, leaving Christopher and his friend Tom to unravel the hidden secrets and decode the mysterious messages. The two  uncover a plot that could threaten the entire city. The novel is a blend of historical accuracy and fantastical elements, incorporating alchemical puzzles, potions, and a richly detailed portrayal of London during the time of King Charles II.      The challenges faced by Christopher and his friends emphasized themes of friendship, loyalty, and sacrifice, adding depth to the narrative. I felt a genuine connection to the characters, sharing in their triumphs and feeling a pang of sadness at thei...

     Greywaren is the final book in the Dreamers Trilogy that I have been reading for the last couple of months. As I stated in an earlier blog post about the 2nd book, I discovered this series through reading the main series it is a part of; the Raven Cycle. I really enjoyed the first two books in the series (along with the main story) so I had high hopes for this book, and I can say with confidence that this book surpassed those expectations.      The main reason I enjoyed this book so much is due to it finally giving answers to most of the mysteries that have been present throughout even the main series. Many of which relate to the magic system/worldbuilding that I am a big fan of. The main form of magic in the series generally has to do with certain kinds of people (known as dreamers) who can take things they dream out of said dreams. But there are also seemingly impossible creatures and abilities of some people that have at first glance no connection t...