We are almost through these winter months and hope you have all had a wonderful month full of reads and teas! Due to lots of travel and social events, there are not as many reads this month but please read on below to see what I did read this month.
Horses of Fire by A.D. Rhine
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Horses of Fire is the first collaborative novel of authors Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson, writing as A. D. Rhine. It is a Trojan War retelling set in the late Bronze Age through a feminist lens and centered on four women: Andromache the doting wife of Prince Hector; Helen the war prize of Prince Paris; Cassandra the Trojan priestess; and an imagined servant Rhea, a horse whisperer and war refugee. All in all, it is a well written character and plot study of a side of the famous Greek Mythology Trojan War that’s not really explored in great detail in other retellings. It will definitely make you rethink your love for the classic Greek heroes and kings that are thrust on you because of its one sidedness.
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The writing is good, the characters are well developed and the historical and archeological facts are mixed into the plot beautifully. The reason I gave it 4.0 stars is because it dragged slightly and some areas became a bit repetitive and tiresome. Also, the ending is surprising and abrupt. However, the sequel to be released this June will hopefully wrap up any loose threads.
The Speed of Falling Objects by Nan Fisher
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If you are a fan of coming-of-age survival stories, then you should consider The Speed of Falling Objects. It’s a story that follows protagonist Danny Warren and her journey toward discovering her true self that she hid away long ago.
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However, this novel is not to be mistaken for fine literature. It focuses a lot on terrifying jungle scenarios and survival (albeit far-fetched in numerous circumstances), so character and relationship development often fall by the wayside.
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Summary: Seventeen-year-old Danny Warren keeps her head down, studies hard, and works to fulfill everyone else's needs. She is certain her mom's bitterness and her TV star father's absence are her fault.
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When her father asks her to join him on the film of the next episode of his popular survivalist show, Danny is determined to prove she is not the disappointment he left behind. Everything changes when their small plane crashes in the Amazon, killing some on board and creating a treacherous physical, mental, and emotional journey for Danny and the survivors.