Candace Robb

I was fortunate to receive an ARC of Ms. Campion's second novel and wow, I really enjoyed it! Having gone into it knowing very little about Joan of Kent and the Edward III Court, I learned a great deal and had fun doing it. What a fascinating story of scheming to further one's ends, when all the time those ends are shifting as quickly as waves in the sea. Although by no means a romance, there are some wonderful stories of what one did in that time to acquire, and keep a spouse and love show more played a surprisingly larger role in it all than I thought. Surely, there were political arrangements, but underneath it all, there were love relationships that withstood unbelievable storms. I thought Joan of Kent was very well portrayed, as were the royals and periphery characters. Each one was both frustrating and likable, once I understood all the threads involved. It is one of those books that kept me up nights researching the characters' real lives, to see what they looked like, how their lives unfolded after the scope of this novel. Ms. Campion brought 14th Century England and surrounding countries to vibrant life, pestilence, festering wounds as well as the pageantry and opulence of the court(s). My only small complaint (which possibly could be flushed out with the final edition), is it would have been very helpful to have a more comprehensive (flowchart-type?) Dramatis Personae in the beginning as it became a bit confusing how everyone related to each other. Many were cousins, nephews/nieces and such and it was kind of hard to keep that straight. And some of the major players were left out. The first 30 pages or so were a lot of characters, titles and connections and I had to constantly flip to the list of characters at the front, but not everyone was in there. But it was a small complaint and so, highly recommended if you like great historical fiction that sinks you into another place and time. show less

1375 Medieval Mystery

What can I say! Forever I’ve been fascinated by Magda Digby, the Riverwoman, her dedication, her wisdom, her insights. More than other characters she’s called to me. So fitting to have a story devoted to Magda, skilled healer, reliever of suffering, attuned to the impossible, and mentor to Owen Archer. Two of my favourite medieval characters.
Magda’s daughter Asa has returned to York. Impatient , greedy for knowledge, Asa has blamed Magda for her own shortcomings show more with her healing abilities. She has brought with her Einor, a cousin. One whom Magda sees possibilities for if he can overcome his greed.
The mystic aspect of Magda is grounded in the forest and the river. She lives outside of York. Available to those who seek her, yet far enough away to be not too caught up in the action of those who believe her a witch. The ordinary folk watch over Magda. One must take a coracle to reach her. Magda’s house is an upturned boat in the middle of the River Ouse with a dragon carving over the door. A dragon that protects our pagan healer. A dragon she connects with. Indeed as she reflects on things, Robb gives us a gorgeous insight into Magda’s thoughts. “ Eyes closed, Magda was one with her dragon, diving into the rich brown water, welcoming the flow against her skin, her hair riding the currents, replenishing body, heart, and mind… Magda sought release, racing through the waters, spinning, leaping, diving, one with her dragon.”
Owen Archer sometimes catches a glimpse of that tie.
“ Turning back toward the house, Magda touched the dragon’s head, and for a moment it was as if the two became one, woman and dragon, completing each other, a being of fire and water, her scales aglow, hovering in the air, then gracefully diving into the river, but also Magda the woman Owen had always sensed, a warrior woman but with wise eyes that drew him in, clearing his mind of doubt.“
It’s a time of pestilence. Plague is marching North. A physician, a leech, Bernard has spoken out against the healers and midwives. He’s fixed his eyes on Magda for poisoning opinion against her. The cleric Dom Jerome appears to be supporting Bernard. Who will help the poorer of the community? Magda has been accused of sickening a merchant and causing his factor’s death. Suspicion combined with religious fervour is ugly. Owen is investigating. Somehow Asa is caught up in this focus on Magda.
It’s also a time for Owen to pay attention to his gifts. His ability to see what others can’t. Blind in one eye Captain Owen Archer has become more aware of nuances.
Archer and Brother Michaelo have their hands full trying to handle people’s fears about the plague, an unexplained death, the firing up of the populace by a suspicious leecher, and theft.
There’s movements within movements at work here. Greed, evil and death stalk the folk of York. Magda does what she can. As does Archer.
A superb blend of mystery, pestilence and mysticism.

A Canongate Severn House ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change show less

Candace Robb's Owen Archer series is one of my regular historical mystery pleasures. Robb adds to the series regularly—and I know with each new title that I have several hours of reading fun ahead of me. Set in the 14th Century at a time of instability in the English government and conflict between competing noble families, these books are peopled by characters walking fine lines of competing loyalties.

Owen Archer, an archer (what else?) who had to leave soldiering when he lost an eye, now show more serves as Captain of the Bailiffs in the city of York. His wife is an apothecary. Between his work enforcing the law and her work healing the sick and injured, they frequently find themselves with puzzles of a criminal nature to solve.

This time, two dead bodies have appeared within religious precincts in a single night, killed in very different manners. Are they related? Are they connected to the installation of a Neville to the second-highest church position in England? Then there's another body... This volume also brings back a friend from one of the earliest titles in the series, a friend whose loyalties Archer isn't sure of. What connections, if any, does he have to the murdered men?

A Choir of Crows is a great "beach read" for anyone who enjoys historical mysteries. Not that you have to read it on the beach—it's just the kind of little pleasure you give yourself when you have a few hours of relaxation available.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions are my own. show less

A Snake in the Barley is the next entry in the long-running Owen Archer mystery series, and honestly, I don't know how this author manages to come up with engaging mysteries book after book. This instalment features Tom and Bess from the York tavern, and I was thrilled to get to know them better and have them feature in their very own mystery.

Being book fifteen in this series, it is hard to keep developing Owen and his family as we have gotten to know them pretty well, so I was glad the show more focus was on developing the characters around Owen. Although Tom and Bess feature in older books, we don't really know a lot about them so it was nice to have their characters in the foreground and learn more about their history. I thought the author did a great job weaving the past into the present and how that eventually has consequences if you haven't dealt with major things from your past. Although the concept of PTSD and other mental illnesses did not really exist during this period, the author managed to include that in that book but from the perspective of the time period which we know doesn't really go well for those who suffer.

The descriptions of the time period are well done, and I like how the author does not romanticize the past. I personally would not want to live during this time period as it was pretty rough and disease ran rampant through people's lives. Although it was sad to read about those downtrodden people, it was the reality. In fact, I think it was probably worse than even the descriptions showed in this book. Hunger, cold, homelessness, starvation, disease, etc.. all all realities of this time, much worse than in today's world. Although it can be bleak however, the author shows a nice balance of what life is like for those who work hard and are comfortable, and the reliance on each other in order to survive.

Verdict
A Snake in the Barley has a mystery that was quite fascinating and although it was quite a complex case, with a lot of people involved, I was captivated by the concept of how you can't really run away from your past actions. It can be hard to keep track of all the players, especially if you are not familiar with the books, and there were quite a few secondary themes running through the story. However, the author managed to pull them all together in the end in a satisfactory way. This was definitely another entertaining entry to the series, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. show less