Welcome to Litsy!

This was good but very slow and very long.

In the 1300s, bubonic plague is causing widespread death. While the (vile) Lord of the manor is away, Lady Anne hears of the pestilence and brings all her villagers inside the protection of the moat and cuts off contact with the outside world. Lady Anne and her people remain disease-free but eventually find their stores dwindling and some must venture out to see what's left of the outside world.

Bummer deal. I‘ve enjoyed mysteries by Minette Walters, but this combo of historical fic and mystery is poorly written all round. The characters are static & wooden, there‘s tons of info-dumping, and the mysteries just… aren‘t. I do love a well-written Plague novel but my #Bookspin isn‘t it. Better luck next time. ⭐️1/2

I enjoyed every second I spent reading this. The Black Death is interesting on its own, but my favorite part was how the Lady of Develish and all of her serfs made accommodations so they could survive the pestilence. Lady Anne was ahead of her time in methods for cleanliness and sanitation, and the grace and love she showed each class of people that worked for her made her a pleasure to read about. Waiting on my hold for the second book!! So good.

Started this morning and loving it so far!!

Set in Dorsetshire, England in 1348 just as the Bubonic Plague makes landfall and begins to spread. This subject, time, and location are all in my wheelhouse and I‘m excited to have a book like this to fall into this weekend.

DNF at 50%. I really wanted to like this book. I loved the medieval, Black Death in a small village setting, but the writing felt cheesy and none of the characters were particularly likeable. I don‘t want to read any more and I don‘t really care what happens to any of them so I‘m bailing. 🤷‍♀️

1. My parents married one week after meeting in person.
I sang at Carnegie Hall, my favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla.
2. What The Dead leave behind, The Last Hours, The Cruel Prince
3. Belle, to discuss books.
Thanks for the tag @Butterfinger
Anyone else want to play? #litsylearn

Giving audiobooks another go. My library didn‘t have this but Hoopla did.

Set in Dorset in the 1340s, this will count for England in the #ReadingEurope2020 challenge. Sorry, but I can‘t lump all of the UK countries into one so I‘ll find some other choices for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

1. Reading, playing games and watching movies, prepping for challenges.
2. The Last Hours
3. @SShiney @SilverButtonBooks @saigeofgreengables
Thanks @Cupcake12 for the tag!

Who would have thought a novel about the Black Death could be so engaging and, as Julian Fellowes says, enthralling? The will to survive in a land turned desolate is a big theme, but also ingenuity. Secrets play such a huge role too in this. Walters is a masterful storyteller. Lady Anne is an amazing character, and I can‘t wait to see what happens next!

Thanks to everyone who joined in for the #LiteraryCrew #Buddyread . The ending!! 😨

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We‘re on our final week of the latest #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ! I have a few more pages in last week‘s section to finish up, but I‘m also getting ready for book two in January (post on this to come out later today or tomorrow). What are your thoughts as we enter this final segment of reading?

I‘m so happy to be part of Litsy! And since three milestones converged in December I will give a book to three people from their TBR‘s. Post and share your favorite read of this year and your most anticipated read for 2020. I will pick a winner in three days- (yes on Christmas Day). Be sure to tag me and use #Thankyougiveaway so I can throw your name in the bowl. Books will be purchased and shipped either through book depository or amazon.

Final total for #11thHourReadathon . I‘m also playing g catch up for #LiteraryCrew and am about to start the prior week‘s section.

This is such a good and haunting book. In many aspects, the revolutionary ideas presented on disease prevention are way ahead of its time, and yet it‘s these ideas that may make some survive the Black Death. I‘ll post a little later with my thoughts on the book, as the #buddyread moves into its final week of reading.

It‘s Week 5 #LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead participants! Once again, I‘m a little behind, but I can‘t wait to hear what everyone thinks about the week 4 reading! Feel free to comment below.

Also, the next read will be book two, The Turn of Midnight. Instead of assigned readings each week, what if we say January is dedicated to Midnight? I can post prompts throughout the month, and we can discuss fully at the end. What do you think?

What an excellent read! I loved all the characters minus Eleanor. But if an author can write a character that you hate, it‘s the mark of a good author. #tbrread #wintergames #tmskellington

#LiteraryCrew #BuddyRead ers...welcome to Week Four of our readings! Week Three saw a more complicated plot line. What are your thoughts from this week? Mine appear in the comments, under a spoiler tag.

Playing catch-up for the #LiteraryCrew #buddyread and came across this quote in the week two reading. I love quotes that give me pause and almost take my breath away.

Lady Anne‘s words: “‘It will be as if we never existed if our history cannot be read.‘”

#LiteraryCrew #buddyread friends: we‘ve finished week two of our reading! I‘m playing catch up today on this section, but I‘m loving this book so far! I also ordered book two, so we‘re totally reading that book next.

What are your thoughts on this section? Please use the spoiler tag if you think your comments are spoiler-worthy.

I love reading the enthusiasm for this book in your posts!

I LOVED this book! I listened on audio- but I def want a hard copy- this will be in my favorites of the year and decade ❤️❤️❤️ @Librarybelle I‘m so glad you are hosting a buddy read- this was not on my radar and I would have really missed out.

We‘re starting week two today for the latest #literarycrew #buddyread . England in 1348, with the advance of the bubonic plague.

To those reading - any thoughts to share so far?

I wanted to keep reading! For me, the narrative is well-flowing and captivating. More comments as spoilers below ⬇️⬇️⬇️

#libraryhaul
Ready to start the tagged book tonight for #literarycrew 😀

Tomorrow begins the next selection for the #LiteraryCrew #Buddyread . I‘m anxious to begin this tale! Feel free to join us...this is a low key buddy read with weekly check ins. Feel free to post with #LiteraryCrew , and don‘t forget to tag me!

Is it wrong of me to root for Eleanor‘s death?

Did some audio baking before football. @Librarybelle I‘m really enjoying this book! This is also snack round 1 for #mrbook1inamillion #litsypartyofone #24b4monday

Am enthralled with this book! Downloaded because of a read along hosted by @Librarybelle If you like historical fiction, plague and great characters check it out! I will want an in hand copy of this - if only to be able to loan to friends.

The next #LiteraryCrew #Buddyread will be The Last Hours! We‘re traveling to England in the 1300s, when the Black Death stalked the country.

We‘re a low key buddy read group - the above timeline is a suggested reading time line. Read at your own pace. I check in with everyone at the end of a read week. Please use the listed hashtags and tag me in any posts you make. I‘m tagging those who have expressed interest in this book. All welcome to join!

#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush Day 5

Anyone who would like to play, please join in! Post 7 book covers that you love over 7 days, with no explanation.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has a magnificent way of developing the characters and the story takes you on a journey back into the 14th Century in such a well-told manner, it's as if you are part of it. I have already started Part II, The Turning of Midnight, as I just can get enough of this great Tale of The Black Death.

4⭐ this book tells the story of the struggle to survive during the black plague of the 1300's Lady Anne is beloved by the serfs; her husband Sir Robert is a cruel evil man. This is how the story begins the plague sweeps across England. Thaddeus braves the unknown to find answers and Anne's people try to survive cut off from the world
Definitely recommend

Sitting on my front porch braving the humidity! My next book! Don't know how I picked this to buy, it's rather chunky, but I must admit I 💗💗 chunksters! More development and details!
#78percenthumidity
#rememberthiswhenitszerodegrees
#lazydaysaregoodforreading

Dorset 1348 and the plague starts to sweep through the country. This is the story of Lady Ann and her people. This book is over 550 pages long however I never felt the length. The struggle to survive the plague and the political intrigue of the time were enough to keep me turning pages. Be aware that this book end on a cliff hanger of sorts so you will want to pick youthful second novel the minute you finish.

Fast paced- read it with great enjoyment & then: argh!!!! Cliffhanger.
I had no idea this was the first in a series.

Ended up being quite cool on my latest #bookclub book. It‘s the story of Lady Anne of Develish, who decides to try to save her manor‘s serfs during the Black Death by a very unconventional quarantine. I like this premise but I think it needed to be developed WAY better than it is in this book. Lady Anne‘s actions drive the story but the author doesn‘t spend anywhere near enough time establishing how she became such a visionary.

Tonight‘s #Hallowreading is this historical fiction novel set during the Black Plague. It‘s my latest #bookclub book and of course it‘s due back to the #library today when I still have about 150 pages to go. Fortunately it‘s a very quick read!

Delighted to have this book on my kindle & kindle is now officially coming to Copenhagen 🙏🏻 @Lel2403
Text from my daughter ( trip organizer) she wants my DOB ... this is what I‘m dealing with 😂🙄 we are Excited

For fans of Minette Walters, this is 99p for the Kindle at the moment