If you're interested in Greek mythology, you'll definitely want to check out our latest First Impressions pick, Jennifer Saint's debut novel Ariadne. In this feminist-tinged reimagining, Ariadne, daughter of King Minos and Pasiphae, longs for independence as she finds herself a pawn in the machinations of mortals and gods alike.
Our online Book Club discussion of The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake is now open, so if you've read this fabulous historical fiction novel, please join us; if not, visit the book's page on BookBrowse to read about it.
Also, see below for new books for members to request and more!
Very best,
Davina
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Each month we give away books to BookBrowse members who live in the U.S. to read and review. Members who choose to participate receive a free book about every 3-4 months. Here are their opinions on one recently released title. |
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Ariadne
by Jennifer Saint
Reader Reviews
"Jennifer Saint reimagines the myth of Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos of Crete and half-sisters to the dreaded Minotaur. It is a thrilling and yet tender tale of two sisters longing for the same thing: a life free of their tyrannical father and the ominous presence of the Minotaur. It is a story of love lost, won, and lost again, told by the sisters themselves. Saint gives readers a wonderfully feminist retelling of the ancient Greek myths. Highly recommend." - Peggy K. (Westminster, CO)
"It was a delight to read Ariadne and to be reacquainted with Greek mythology in a very fun way. Great interaction between the gods, goddesses, demigods and mortals. The book has everything, lies, love, passion, action and hate. Ariadne would be good for a book club discussion." - Roberta R. (West Bloomfield, MI)
"I was swept into this novel's ancient world before I had finished the prologue and stayed there, mesmerized, until the conclusion. Ariadne and her sister Phaedra, daughters of King Minos, tell their story in prose so beautiful it borders on poetry. The novel's great strength lies in giving voice to many of the women in Greek myths. It gave me a new and fresh perspective that resonated with its similarity to our times. An outstanding book." - Joan R. (Chicago, IL)
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Flatiron. Historical Fiction. 320 pages. Published May 4, 2021
Number of Reader Reviews: 25, Readers' Consensus: 4.6/5.0
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The Girl in His Shadow
by Audrey Blake
From the Reviews
"A suspenseful story of a courageous young woman determined to become a surgeon in repressive Victorian England. Fluidly written, impeccably researched, The Girl in His Shadow is a memorable literary gift to be read, reread, and treasured."
-- Gloria Goldreich, author of The Paris Children
From the Discussion
"Excellent! The characters were engaging, the time period was well-portrayed, the medical stuff was fascinating, and the ending wrapped up nicely. I enjoy reading historical fiction, even more so when I learn something new about the time period. This one gave me a lot of new knowledge." - Jessica F
"I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found that the authors engaged me from the first pages with their characters quickly without bogging me down with excessive descriptions and detail. There was an excellent balance of technical writing, historic references and personal dialogue and interaction. A very enjoyable book that I have already recommended to a friend for her book club this summer." - barb23703
"This book kept my attention from the beginning. I always enjoy historical fiction about women pushing beyond the boundaries that women were expected to adhere to in their time. This one didn’t disappoint." - LWReads
Audrey Blake is the pseudonym of Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois.
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Sourcebooks Landmark. Historical Fiction. 384 pages. Published May 4, 2021 |
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For Members: Available to Request Now |
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Books are mailed to members free of charge with the understanding that they'll do their best to either write a short review or join an online discussion, depending on whether the book is assigned for First Impressions or the Book Club.
Due to publishing restrictions, books are only available to US residents. Members who take part fairly regularly generally receive a book about every 3-4 months.
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BookBrowse offers hand-picked read-alike recommendations for more than 4000 books and 3000 authors. For example: |
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