An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce
Goodreads Blurb: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge opens with the story’s hero, Peyton Farquhar, hanging bound from a bridge, awaiting hanging. Farquhar is a Confederate sympathizer in the American Civil War and has been brought to this end by a Union spy. The novel was unique in its time for its jumbled chronology and is also famous for its surprising conclusion.
Uncovering Celtic Mythology: A Beginner’s Guide Into The World Of Celtic Myths, Fairy Tales, Folklore, Warriors, Celtic Gods and Creatures by Lucas Russo
Goodreads Blurb: Relive the magic of captivating legends and folktales in this rich collection on Celtic Mythology In 58 BCE, when Julius Caesar – the famous Roman general – wrote a commentary on the Gallic wars, he described the “Celt” speaking people who lived in the area then known as the Gaul.
These people had their own culture, gods, and beliefs – called Celtic Mythology – which were very different from the Romans.
The influence of this mythology, however, was not limited to a small territory. This culture spread across Europe, especially to the western nations of Britain, Ireland, France, and Spain.
The legacy of Celts is still alive, and you may even have encountered these traces of Celtic
The languages spoken by modern-day Irish, Scottish, and Welsh people King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table The legends and pop-culture depictions of the shrieking spirit of Banshee Conan the Barbarian, a very famous character appearing in films as well as comics Bran Stark, from Game of Thrones, who becomes the Three-eyed Raven The above examples are just a handful of successors from the ancient Celtic culture, and the last two draw direct inspiration from Celtic mythology.
Goodreads Blurb: Brother turns on brother. The throne of England is at stake. The deadly Wars of the Roses have begun…
Elizabeth Woodville, a woman of extraordinary beauty and ambition, secretly marries the newly crowned boy king. While she rises to the demands of her exalted position and fights for the success of her family, her two sons become the central figures in a famous unsolved mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the lost princes in the Tower of London.
They ruled England before the Tudors, and now internationally bestselling author Philippa Gregory brings the Plantagenets to life through the dramatic and intimate stories of the secret players: the indomitable women.
Goodreads Review: As usual an excellent read from Philippa Gregory. A book based on real historical events, guesswork, and one kind of insulting rumour. It’s up to the reader to guess which one is which.
Goodreads Blurb: He’s the perfect man. It’s a perfect lie.
Nina Swann is intrigued when she received a condolence card from Nick Radcliffe, an old friend of her late husband, who is looking to connect after her husband’s unexpected death. Nick is a man of substance and good taste. He has a smile that could melt the coldest heart and a knack for putting others at ease. But to Nina’s adult daughter, Ash, Nick seems too slick, too polished, too good to be true. Without telling her mother, Ash begins digging into Nick’s past. What she finds is more than unsettling…
Martha is a florist living in a neighbouring town with her infant daughter and her devoted husband, Alistair. But lately, Alistair has been traveling more and more frequently for work, disappearing for days at a time. When Martha questions him about his frequent absences, he always has a legitimate explanation, but Martha can’t share the feeling that something isn’t right.
Nina, Martha, and Ash are on a collision course with a shocking truth that is far darker than anyone could have imagined. And all three are about to wish they had heeded the same warning: Don’t let him in. But the past won’t stay buried forever.
Uncovering Norse Mythology: A Guide Into Norse Gods and Goddesses, Viking Warriors and Magical Creatures by Lucas Russo
Goodreads Blurb: Delve into the fascinating history of Norse mythology with these thrilling tales of battle and magic…What do you think of when you hear the words “Norse mythology”?
Chances are, your mind goes straight to Thor or Odin, some of the most well-known Nordic gods.
But their stories barely scratch the surface of the complicated and fascinating myths of ancient Scandinavia.
As Germanic tribes clashed and reconciled, a rich and detailed realm of the gods was created through the melding and exchanging of stories and characters that reflected the complicated historical events around them.
The clash of the Vanir and the Aesir, or the old and new gods, is thought to be indicative of a real conflict between two tribes that later found a way to coexist.
Through developing an understanding of the stories that remain, you will learn about the intricacies of ancient Nordic culture.
Beginning with the historical background of the Viking Age, you will become familiar with the creation myth and discover the complicated family trees that the gods and goddesses of Asgard created.
Uncovering Greek Mythology: A Beginner’s Guide into the world of Greek Gods and Goddesses by Lucas Russo
Goodreads Blurb: Get to know the Greek gods and goddesses, from the mighty Zeus, to the temperamental Poseidon, the beautiful Aphrodite, and every character from A to Z.Who were the Olympians, and where did they come from?Why were the Titans overthrown?How did these and other mythology tales shape Greek culture and civilization?Scholars have long been fascinated by the Greeks, and even today we are entertained by the stories of their mythology and pantheon.The Greeks developed an entire religion around powerful, vengeful gods, benevolent yet fierce goddesses, and bizarre couplings that created some of the strangest creatures in the world’s mythologies.Who wouldn’t want to hear about Zeus and his command of lightning, Hades and how he found his bride, the wisdom of Athena, and so many other stories that capture the imagination.These stories can do more than just entertain; they can also inspire and teach us lessons that were penned by the Greeks themselves.Starting with the creation myth, this book will take you through the stories of the Titans, introduce the Olympians, bring in the demigods, and sneak a peek at the monsters that made up the mythology.You’ll learn who all the gods and goddesses were in relation to one another, mythological explanations for natural events, and why any of this still matters today.In addition, you’ll The names, powers, and significance of all the major Greek gods and goddessesRich stories based around the Greek pantheonMoral lessons and cultural values important to the Greeks, preserved in their mythologyA brief history of Greek civilization and how they worshipped their gods and goddessesCreatures of Greek mythology that still feature in modern tales todayAnd so much more Greek history!Up on Mount Olympus, along the shores of the Mediterranean, and deep in the Underworld, gods, goddesses, demigods, and creatures linger in the mind and stories of an ancient culture.This culture gave us science, philosophy, and a rich mythology that never stops enticing us.
Goodreads Blurb: College student Nadine is done with other students tormenting her about her powers. To show her classmates what she’s capable of, Nadine teams up with her two best friends and her boyfriend, Lucas, to compete in the school’s annual magical sporting event. Join the team as they fight zombies, face ghosts, and brew potions on their quest to win the spooky Haunted Tournament.
Goodreads Blurb: Ross Poldark returns to Cornwall from war, looking forward to a joyful homecoming with his family and his beloved Elizabeth. But instead, he discovers that his father has died, his home is overrun by livestock and drunken servants, and Elizabeth, having believed Ross dead, is now engaged to his cousin. Ross must start over, building a completely new path for his life, one that takes him in exciting and unexpected directions….
Goodreads Blurb: Fashion designer turned amateur sleuth Maddie Springer can’t wait to spend the holidays with her boyfriend, LAPD Detective Jack Ramirez. It’s their first Christmas together, and Maddie wants it to be perfect. But between her zany family and wacky friends, Maddie’s having a hard time finding alone time with her man. But come Christmas morning, this is one holiday she’ll be sure remember… naughty or nice!
Goodreads Review: In which our brave heroes must face off pushy mothers, crazy neighbours and loopy friends to get their just rewards – a quite evening at home just with each other. Really universe, was that too much to ask? Really?
Goodreads Blurb: Jacquetta, daughter of the Count of Luxembourg and kinswoman to half the royalty of Europe, was married to the great Englishman John, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Henry VI. Widowed at the age of 19, she took the extraordinary risk of marrying a gentleman of her household for love, and then carved out a new life for herself.
Goodreads Review: A fantastic tale of power, women and witchcraft … oh and there’s some men doing something stupid with roses in the background. But all joking aside this was a brilliant book well worth the read for anyone interested in history and the women who helped forge it.
The Wee Writing Lassie 