4.5 stars

Review: Eromenos

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EromenosEromenos by Melanie J. McDonald
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

I sat down to read just a few pages of Eromenos by Melanie J. McDonald and I couldn’t put it down. I read the entire novel in one sitting and wanted more. Though there are numerous books about the emperor Hadrian and from his viewpoint, this is the first one I’ve come across that features the dead lover Antinous. Here the young Antinous tells his life and how he became the emperor’s favorite and the events that led to his death. The story is beautifully written with obvious historical research but a fascinatingly complex twist to Antinous’ actions and reasons. This isn’t a romance, though there is love, it’s more a compelling examination of a young man’s life. Continue reading →

Review: Death by Misfortune

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Death by Misfortune (Bill Turner, #2)Death by Misfortune by A.M. Riley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars rounded up

Death by Misfortune is a whirlwind story from start to finish. I feel almost as if I sped read the novel with it’s frantic pace and engaging manner. I couldn’t get enough and this is easily a book I’ll read again and again. It’s not perfect once you stop and try to put the various pieces together but the excellent writing and complicated, flawed characters will suck you in from the start and never let go. The ending is very good even with no exuberant happy endings, there are beginnings and the complex characterizations leave you rooting and hoping things may work out. For fans and those new to this author, this is an excellent book you simply won’t want to miss.

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