January 20, 2020 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Golden Wolf is the third and final book in the series about the lives of Ragnvald, his sister Svanhild, and of their family, friends, and enemies. The first book, The Half Drowned King, focused on the young Ragnvald and Svanhild as they came to adulthood and fought to claim …
January 9, 2020 by David McCan | Fantasy | No Comments
The Providence of Fire by Brian Staveley is the second book in the Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne series. I enjoyed the first book, The Emperor’s Blades, and was looking forward to this one. It continues the stories of the three royal siblings, two princes and a princess, whose lives …
June 30, 2019 by David McCan | Literary | No Comments
Jodi Picoult’s Vanishing Acts is the story about Delia, her daughter, her father and mother, and her friends. Delia was raised by her father and since her mother died he did everything he could to give her a good childhood. She is engaged to Eric, one of her childhood friends, …
June 13, 2019 by David McCan | Fantasy | No Comments
The Fell Sword is the second book in Miles Cameron’s five book “The Traitor Son Cycle” series. It picks up where the first book left off. The book is about a company of mercenaries and their captain, the Red Knight. In this installment, the company comes to the rescue of …
May 29, 2019 by David McCan | Mystery | No Comments
The book New Iberia Blues is the 22nd Dave Robicheaux book by Jame Lee Burke. Dave is a sheriff’s deputy, he has a new partner who is pretty and he likes her, but there is a large age difference, which makes things awkward. They find the body of a young …
March 9, 2019 by David McCan | Historical Fiction, Science Fiction | No Comments
Kindred by Octavia Butler is a very creative way of looking at the horrible and troubling history of slavery in the United States. In Kindred, the protagonist, Dana, time travels from the 1970s to the American South in the years before the Civil War and the end of slavery. In …
February 16, 2019 by David McCan | Historical Fiction, Legal Thriller | No Comments
This review contains spoilers. The Reckoning, by John Grisham, returns the reader to Ford County Mississippi during the 1940s to 1050s where an unusual murder takes place. Pete Banning, cotton planter, husband, father, and decorated war hero, one day walks into the Methodist church and shoots the pastor. There is no …
January 20, 2019 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough is one of the best written and best told stories that I’ve read in a long time. It is the story of Artemisia Gentileschi, a young painter in Rome in the early 1600s. It is a man’s world and women have little say in their …
Masterfully Told Story – Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough Read More »
December 21, 2018 by David McCan | Fantasy | No Comments
Fire & Blood, by George R R Martin, provides the background history for the Game of Thrones series. Purportedly, the narrative is the piecing together of the various histories of the Targaryen royal family’s uniting of the seven kingdoms and rule of Westeros, so as to present the most accurate …
Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones by George R R Martin Read More »
September 27, 2018 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
The Sea Queen by Linnea Hartsuyker continues the story that began in the Half-Drowned King. Ragnvald has sworn to King Harald, who wants to unite all of Norway under his rule. The first book focused on Ragnvald’s rise as a warrior, and his sister Svanhild played a more minor part. In …
August 31, 2018 by David McCan | Historical Fiction | No Comments
Age of Iron is a fun book that takes place during a time just prior to the Roman invasion of Britain. It is historical fiction and an adventure story. At its heart are three characters. Dug is a middle-aged warrior. He would prefer an easy job as a guard or …
August 10, 2018 by David McCan | Fantasy | No Comments
First off, let me say that Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is not Harry Potter fan fiction. There are a ton of parallels. Simon, the main character, is the “Chosen One.” He was an orphan. He is attending a school for magicians in England. His roommate Baz, and the start …
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July 31, 2018 by David McCan | Fantasy | No Comments
I love creative fantasies with rich, unique world building. In A Darker Shade of Magic V. E. Schwab brings that to the table. In the story, there are parallel worlds which are each very different, but have one thing in common: they each have a London. There are four Londons: White, Grey, …
July 18, 2018 by David McCan | Mystery | No Comments
Are you a C.J. Box fan? If so, you are in for a treat. Off The Grid is a great story and probably the best Box ever. There is a lot going on. The Governor asks Joe Picket to investigate some unusual activities. One of Joe’s daughters is in danger …
June 29, 2018 by David McCan | Legal Thriller, Mystery | No Comments
Betrayed begins with Judy Carrier in a funk. Judy is an associate attorney at the all women’s law firm of Rosato and Associates. Her boss, Benedetta Rosato, has dumped a large number of cases on Judy. Judy doesn’t feel good about these new cases, but doesn’t feel she has any say in …
How Judy Got Her Grove Back – Betrayed by Lisa Scottoline Read More »