Cleopatra's Shadows by Emily Holleman | Rating: ★★★★☆

As a note, a printed galley of this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

Ah, yes. Historical fiction. It’s a tricky genre to tackle, even amongst the most seasoned authors. Mostly there are two ways that historical fiction can go, as I see it. There’s no real black and white between the two; either it’s a hit or it’s a miss.

In this genre, it can take the past we know from textbooks and other forms of history and bend it into an intriguing thrill ride that is equal parts fiction and nonfiction. Or they can trip all over themselves and create something that is nothing more than a rewrite of history to fit their needs and their needs alone.

Emily Holleman’s spin on history in Cleopatra’s Shadows is fun, dramatic, fascinating and shines light on a time in history that is often forgotten. Holleman’s writing is a blast to study and she really put in a great deal of effort to bring this story to life, this much is obvious from the start. It isn’t easy to capture history and spin it into something such as this, but Cleopatra’s Shadows is an exception and an absolute delight.

It’s also the first historical fiction that I’ve enjoyed in ages–I hope you agree, too!

The Paris Winter by Imogen Robertson | Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

As a note, this novel was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for a honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

It's not that I hated The Paris Winter, or didn't like it. I quite liked it, but I think I expected much more from it than it gave in the end, which is no fault but my own. Imogen Robertson has a great talent when it comes to writing a world in historical fiction that comes to life right before your eyes. Her writing doesn't feel awkward or out of place, instead, embraces the past warmly in a way that is accurate to its timeline. She manages to do with historical fiction what other authors fail -- she makes it sound real and true.

She weaves plots effortlessly together and tangles us in the lies, secrecy and more of this very world. We get to follow a few characters in the novel and each one has a voice that is both unique and fascinating. Each woman has a voice that differs from the other, and a vast difference in social standing, and it makes the story all the more interesting to read each person and their POV. I daresay it's the biggest saving grace of the novel and the reason that I've given it a 3.5. The characters are just so fascinating to me that I was drawn into their minds almost instantly.

The Paris Winter isn't a difficult read by any means and at times borders on a territory that could be extremely boring to readers. But fans of historical fiction will surely flock to this read and devour it on a nice personal day spent reading, eating and having a nice drink. It's perfect for those who wish to relax and untangle webs of suspense; a vivid tale that will captivate its target audience as the story unravels. Although the novel itself isn't extraordinary, or something we've never seen before, it is a thoroughly entertaining story that can be finished within a small time frame.