The Huntress - Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is an author who can draw you into her stories, whether it be her ones set in Rome or now the last two set during or after the Second World War.  This story introduces us to Jordan, who is suspicious of the new woman who enters her fathers life with a secretive past.  There is also the story of Ian and his partner Tony who are hunting down Nazis in post war Europe.  Joining them on the hunt is Nina, another woman whose past that even her husband doesn't know about it.

While I wanted to enjoy the book, I found that there wasn't enough back story for me.  Ninas story with the Russian Night Witches was the most compelling part of the novel, although she was not the most likable character at least she seemed somewhat real.  The pacing of the book felt wrong to me with the  middle of the story just dragging and  the end was predictable and rushed.  A week after reading it, it has become a bit forgettable.  2/5

The Alice Network - Kate Quinn

Kate Quinn is one of those authors that you can escape into her books and picture the story straight away.  From the first few pages I knew I was going to enjoy it, and looked forward to being able to head to bed to read my book each night.

Like most historical novels, this book has two story threads.  Charlie St Clair, a young American socialite who in 1947 comes to Europe to search for her young cousin Rose, who was last heard of in France several years earlier.  When her search begins she meets the rough and tough Eve Gardiner, who has her own story of being in France over the first world war.

Their story begins to weave together as both women begin to rely on each other as they travel between cities searching for clues.

At moments the characters came across a bit cliched and predictable but I did like that they were a little flawed and trying to overcome their demons,  that made the story still feel a little fresh and not the usual war story.  5/5

Empress of the Seven Hills - Kate Quinn

Empress of the Seven Hills - Kate Quinn (2012)

I am sooo glad that I discovered Kate Quinn, her three books of Rome can transport me in an instant to a land of togas and soldiers.  For me, I was a bit distracted as this was my work Kindle read, and I only could read it during my half hour lunch breaks, so it was several weeks of broken reading.

Vix was my favourite of the narrators, and I would have been happy to just have his story told, and I was a little bit distracted by all the voices.  I love me a big strong centurion.

3/5

Daughters of Rome - Kate Quinn

Daughters of Rome - Kate Quinn (2011)

I really loved Kate Quinns first novel Mistress of Rome, and I was looking forward to this one.  So much in fact, that I saved it up as my Christmas read, to sit in the sun and relax reading it. Don't laugh - my dad did the same thing at his place, choose a special book to read in the holidays.

For me, the story was a bit hard to get into at the beginning, but once started I enjoyed reading about the two sisters and their cousins in the year of the four emperors.  I like the melding of real and imaginary characters, it makes you feel a bit less guilty about reading about randy centurions if you learn a little history.

So a 3/5 from me, and I am already waiting for her next book.

Mistress of Rome - Kate Quinn

Mistress of Rome - Kate Quinn (2010)

Sometimes a work of historical fiction sucks you into the time period, so much that the characters and their stories feel real and you can picture them moving about in their world. Kate Quinn does a wonderful job of telling the story of Thea, a Jewess who finds herself a slave girl to the deplorable Lepida. Her fortunes rise and fall, as she becomes a prostitute, then a singer who catches the eye of an Emperor.

Rome came alive for me, and it has been a long time since I have looked forward to bedtime by curling up under the warm duvet and reading some more pages. For that it may have to be a 5/5 as I would be happy to recommend this book to everybody - rush out and buy it.

Apparently Kate Quinn wrote this in four months, and is going to write a sequel and a prequel - so I will be hanging out for them to arrive in the bookstore.