This is the second book of the Pink Carnation series, and accordingly, a second romance takes place along with it.
In this book, we find out that England isn’t the only country sprouting florally-named spies: the Pink Carnation has reason to believe that the Black Tulip – a notoriously vicious and deadly spy – is on the way to Ireland to stir up a rebellion. Said rebellion would be the first move leading to an all out invasion by Bonaparte’s forces and finding the Black Tulip, who has left behind a rather gruesome trail of bodies, may be the only way to stop it. Otherwise, the Irish rebels will be impossible to root out. After all, it’s not lik they’re going to post a sign: “Rebel Uprising and Jubilee” followed by date, time, and location of all their weapons.
The story itself does not have quite the flair of the first, but I think the books make for a good evening in. I call this category “comfort reading”. It won’t knock your socks off or change the world, but it’s a nice little interlude. I would give it a 4, but with the recommendation that you read the first book so you know what you’re getting into. Starting in the middle of things can be difficult when it’s because you’ve grabbed up the second book and not because that’s how the story was written.

First off, no I haven’t magically gotten ahold of the book before the publishing date and no spoilers are posted herein (or whatever). This is merely my way of saying “Yippy, Dark Lady’s Chosen comes out in less than a month and I’m looking forward to it!”

That being said, I feel like it’s been forever since I’ve seen a new book from the Chronicles of the Necromancer series. Of course, my life has been busy enough lately that last week seems about two years ago. It has been a while since I’ve sat down and read any of the books in the series, but I do remember loving them all and I know I’m going to have to sit down and read them again before I dive into the new book.
Gail Martin is a wonderful writer, and I have to say I remember her books as being more accessible to readers in terms of language than other books in the genre. The stories themselves are just as complex as the best of Tolkein, Goodkind, or Jordan. Still, you may wonder why I’m having such a fit just because the book is almost out instead of waiting until I can read it and give it a proper review. (It is not because I haven’t been reading. Trust me.)
So, why the fuss over Dark Lady’s Chosen? Partly because I feel like I’ve had to wait so long, but also because the last book ends in a cliffhanger to end all cliffhangers. I don’t say that lightly – I have read a lot of cliffhangers and few have made me crazy like this one. Honestly, if I think too hard I start turning into the narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper, only obsessed with books. (Okay, maybe not that extreme.)

I really have to find out what happens next. As a device of suspense, the cliffhanger worked. I’ve been in suspense for about a year now – thankfully human are capable of pushing things to the back of their minds so I haven’t really gone crazy over it. Still – I’ve read cliffhanger endings before and not really minded having to wait a year or so to find out what happens next, but this was one of those situations where (again) I was glad I hadn’t been reading it in public because I was yelling at the book. If I recall, mostly things like “No! You can’t do that! How can it just end there!? Where are the missing pages??? Pages have to be missing. It can’t just…END!”
Also, I just really enjoy the story and the characters like in any other well-written story told by a talented author. I’m glad that these stories are being published and gaining in popularity. We need more good books out on the shelves. So go do your part and buy this when it comes out, or get a friend to buy you a copy while they’re out getting theirs. Even better: make it a group event! Because once the books are sold out the bookstores will have to order more! Hah! My diabolical plan just might work…

In the meantime, visit the website, read up on the excerpts and check out the cover art! http://www.chroniclesofthenecromancer.com/DarkLadysChosen.html

The Wheel of Time series has been a highly popular fantasy series since the first book came out. In 2007 Robert Jordan, the original author, passed away. This was a great blow to the literary community. Fans were devastated.
Then there came the question: What will happen to the books? The series wasn’t finished and everyone was waiting for the last book – which is now divided into three volumes because of its size. Book 1 of 3: The Gathering Storm.

Jordan’s wife and editor, Harriet McDougal, took the matter into her own hands and chose Brandon Sanderson – a talented author and a fan of the series. So, with Sanderson writing and Jordan’s notes and outlines, the series will be brought to a close.
Today, Sanderson and McDougal appeared at a Borders bookstore in Dallas, TX for a book signing scheduled to start at 2pm. We arrived at about 2:15, running behind and finally, at 5:45pm we emerged triumphant with a copy of The Gathering Storm signed by both Brandon Sanderson and Harriet McDougal.Why so long? Well, partly because of the crowd and partly because I was in the penultimate group, the fourth round of goodness only knows how many people, with only a few stragglers behind me with yellow wristbands. (Mine was orange!) Mr. Sanderson even apologized for the wait – like he would be at fault. He had such a great attitude. I would’ve been all curmedgeonly and snarky if I’d just been sitting there signing books and answering questions for so long!
However, Mr. Sanderson was very gracious after having spent several hours surrounded by (slightly rabid, crazed) fans and explained in answer to my question that he hadn’t had any hand cramps because they’d been on tour for three weeks now and he’d grown accustomed to all the writing. After all the other, sort of gushy, fans I almost felt obligated to have a question for him, but the fact is I’m only about three-quarters of the way through Book I: The Eye of the World. (Which I will review in all its awesomeness as soon as I’m finished.) I have also been looking at Sanderson’s Misborn trilogy in the stores, but as my reading list is pretty long at the moment I haven’t read more than bits and pieces while standing in front of the shelves.
So…you get the idea. Any question I could come up with would be rather superfluous. After I’ve read some more of the Wheel of Time series, or I’ve read the Mistborn series, I’m sure I’ll have question aplenty.
He was probably tired of questions anyway – even if he was being such a great sport about it all.
If you’re still reading the blog thanks, and…please tell us why. In the meantime, go grab a book

First off, I’m too lazy to even google the title and name to make sure I have it totally right – and my knee is currently out of commission so I’m not getting up to grab it from my bookcase, either…so I apologize if I got any part of the title or name wrong. I’ll fix it later.

Now, imagine a world where the Scarlet Pimpernel was a real person instead of a creative fictional character and imagine that after his identity is discovered another floral-named spy steps in to take his place. Then imagine that a young girl is moved from France to England with her English mother during the revolution, only to find that shortly after her departure, her father was sent to the guillotine. So…she plots to follow in the footsteps of these illustrious spies and find Sir Percy Blakney’s succesor, the Purple Gentian.

There is a frame story that, so far, has very slowly made its way from one book to the next as these characters are “reasearched” for the sake of historical discovery, but it is at this point negligable and neither adds nor subtracts anything from the main stories. The trick in this book, the first of a series, is to figure out just who the Pink Carnation may be. Is it aforementioned young girl, or simply the name for the man who succeeded the Purple Gentian? And while we’re at it, just who is the Purple Gentian anyway? Blakeney, under a new nom de guerre, or someone else?

This book is primarly a historical romance, but the premise is admirable and the idea of other “famous” English spies like the Scarlet Pimpernel being “real” parts of history is fun. It makes for an entertaining read, though I find some characters a little annoying.

I wouldn’t say it’s a must-read, but if you’re going to be home on a rainy day and want some “fluff” reading then this wouldn’t be a bad choice for material.