aristocracy – Cannonball Read 17

Dynasty Building in Tudor and Stuart England

A Woman of Influence: The Spectacular Rise of Alice Spencer in Tudor England by Vanessa Wilkie

May 16, 2024 by Pooja Leave a Comment

Alice Spencer, the youngest daughter of a wealthy farmer, was just another building block in the Spencer dynasty, but the marriage that made her the Countess of Derby was just the start of her spectacular rise through the ranks of Tudor England. This book answered a very important question that’s been bothering me for a very long time: Why did medieval aristocrats splash around so much money on frivolous luxuries? I knew the answer had something to do with amassing power and influence, but it’s […]

If you insist on me not dying horribly, I suppose I have to indulge you.

The Magpie Lord by K.J. Charles

A Case of Possession by K.J. Charles

Flight of Magpies by K.J. Charles

August 22, 2023 by carmelpie 2 Comments

You’re a fool, and I’m another. Between us, we barely make a village idiot. ― K.J. Charles, A Case of Possession I see. Things must be bad if you’re voluntarily telling me the truth. ― K.J. Charles, Flight of Magpies “Are you in this conversation, or just skulking?” “Mostly skulking.” Stephen had a particular knack for making himself unobtrusive. He was mildly impressed that he’d been noticed. “But I have a licence to skulk.” ― K.J. Charles, Flight of Magpies CBR15Bingo: Queer Lives square and […]

I’m starting to wonder if I have an anger problem…

Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know: The Extraordinary Exploits of the British and European Aristocracy by Karl Shaw

March 30, 2021 by TheShitWizard 3 Comments

Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know is a tongue in cheek tour through the terrible deeds of our so-called superiors that will still make you want to kick the door in of every last aristocrat in the land to give them a proper shoeing. Shaw takes us through some of the eccentrics, the gamblers, the rakes, the soldiers, the imbeciles and the many, many rapists and murderers that have made up our ‘betters’ – Byron, whom the title refers to, is by far and way […]

Fantasy Novel Takes Aim at Slavery

October 9, 2014 by Valyruh Leave a Comment

Another urban fantasy contribution by Ilona Andrews, part of their Edge series which I find especially attractive. The Edge is a semi-magical no-holds-barred dumping ground that lies between the Broken, a land of shopping malls and ordinary unmagical lives like ours, and the Weird where powerful magic rules and those with the strongest magic and/or the most exalted lineage rule. Charlotte de Ney is an unequalled physician from the Weird who broke the cardinal rule of healers like herself, and so fled into self-exile in […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

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