REVIEWS
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant first novel in a highly-anticipated series.
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2019
In 13th-century Ireland, a young female protagonist comes of age amid a breathlessly brutal narrative offset by unflinching faith...and love.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for those looking for an historical adventure based in 13th century Ireland .
Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2019
This is a wonderful start to an historical fiction series that I enjoyed very much. The characters are fully fledged and you empathize with the main character right from the start. The journey Eloise must take, both in personal maturity, family loyalty, and dealing with hardship and danger will keep you reading chapter to chapter. Beautifully researched. The authors knowledge of horses and mounted archery is just icing on the cake.ebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Become Embroiled in This Fast-Moving Adventure
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2019
A reader realizes quite fast that this author has not only an in-depth command of the time period (13th Century Ireland), but also, great skill in description. Eloise, a teenage girl, is involved in a desperate struggle to survive war, hot-pursuit, and coming of age challenges. The author moves the action with true-to-life, gritty, prose describing archery, siege engines, castle defense, horse-back riding, and the mission to save family and friends. This is a work to be savored. As someone who loves historical fiction, this story immerses a reader into this period in a way that is entertaining and educational. Downright inspired writing. Looking forward to Book Two.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Storytelling & Action
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2020
This story sings with the thrill of the chase, the shock of good and bad surprises, and the lyrical language of a master storyteller. The first chapter electrified my interest, opening with a daring solo hunt on horseback. The hunter aims to kill swift and mercifully. The stag crumples.
The story reveals the passionate wishes of seventeen-year-old princess of Dahlquin, in Connacht, Ireland. The main character, Princess Eloise, wants to attend university but in 1224 girls and women were rarely educated. Besides, her father the king, wants her to marry thus forging a strategic new alliance for the kingdom. All of these character interactions and action unrolls seamlessly.
Knights errant get lost in the Irish fog. The six warriors seek entrance to Connacht Castle. Their secret is barely guessed. Treachery sends Eloise on a desperate adventure, in which she must use her skills and mental agility to outwit foes and hazards.
“My characters speak with great urgency.”
And they do. They disagree and spar without being quarrelsome. They grate and grow on each other. Most of all their vivid individualism brings the novel to life in the best way, they live in readers’ minds and hearts. Unforgettable.
I enjoyed each chapter due to the original characters, intrigue, and plot surprises. Author, Anne Beggs gave her readers a tale for the ages. I can’t wait until book two in the series is released.
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling Novel of a time long past...
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2020
I really enjoyed reading Archers Grace because of it's setting, character development, themes, story craft, use of language, details about the time period, and so much more. Clearly the author has an intimate knowledge of the relationship of rider and horse which add much to the quality of the story about a time where horses were integral to daily life. The pace of Archer's Grace ebbed and flowed in a way that kept me deeply engaged. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story, well researched and engrossing
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022
Made me laugh, made me cry, made me feel all the emotions. Captured the angst of being a 17yo female on the cusp of adulthood but still struggling with the emotional challenges of being a teenager. Can't wait for the next book!
REVIEWS
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REVIEWS
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2023Verified PurchaseAn enjoyable collection of short stories connected by the theme of a chest with a false bottom. In different eras and countries, women hid or found a clue to their secret. I rarely read short stories. This book reminded me how much fun they can be.
Historical Novel Society
The eight stories in this anthology are linked by a wooden chest with a heart-shaped lock. The most recent story is presented first, and each story takes the reader further back in history. When we first encounter the chest, it is in the possession of an aging hippie tarot reader in Berkeley in the summer of 1972. In the last story, we meet a princess in medieval Ireland, who is about to participate in a Solstice ritual that mixes Christianity with ancient Celtic rites.
The stories vary in style, as well as in place and time. The Ireland story employs both bawdy humor and a touch of mysticism. But, at its heart, it is a family story – albeit a very violent and earthy family. The collection also includes a thriller, a story of lost love, a mystery, and a couple of stories of women’s liberation. The stories are definitely aimed at a female audience. All of the authors are women, and all of the main characters are women. Many of the themes involve the specific problems of women in their eras.
The approach of moving backward in time is effective. I was very interested in following the chest backward to its origin. As with most short story collections, I liked some stories more than others. But I think any woman would find at least a few stories to like in this anthology.
Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2023Verified PurchaseI really enjoy reading short stories, especially when they're set in time periods I don't usually read as I'm able to get a flavor of the era. An old chest with a heart-shaped lock lent itself perfectly to the different eras.
5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging selection of short stories
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2022Verified PurchaseI loved these historical short stories, all centred around the common theme of an ancient wooden chest with a heart-shaped lock. For some it was front and centre of the story; while for others it was subtly snuck in - so you had to read carefully to spot it!
The quality of the writing was uniformly good, and each story, set in a different time and place, was complete and satisfying.
I can highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction.
REVIEWS
Historical Novel Society
Historical fiction in vignettes! This collection offers eleven short stories that reflect the theme of winter celebrations in a form that is easy to digest. Much like a holiday smorgasbord, readers can sample a delightful array of different writers’ styles, characters, plots, and settings. The historical backdrops range from the 15th to the 20th centuries, and the geographical locations include India, England, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States. The midwinter moon shines on all these locations through holidays such as Christmas, Twelfth Night, New Year’s Eve, and the Indian celebration of Pongal. Frost, snow, ice, and bitterly cold temperatures appear in many of them.
Winter holidays are an excellent theme for a collection because they can be memorable, life-changing moments in many different lives. Some of the different lives here include a French newcomer to England during the Wars of the Roses, a boxer in Georgian London, an Indian- French couple on the cusp of Indian independence, a Dutch grandmother in late Northern Renaissance Holland, an American medic and Belgian nurse during the Battle of the Bulge, and Swiss villagers on the precipice of the industrial age. Young or old, rich or poor, their winter holidays often include both joy and sorrow as well as rage, guilt, and glee. Emotional interactions with families and burgeoning hopes for the future feature in many of them. All these unique stories together underscore the very common human experience of winter holidays. Recommended with gusto for readers wishing to nibble on a wide range of historical fiction pieces in bite size chunks that will nourish their mind and their heart.
Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2023 This is a charming anthology of what might be best described as cozy historical fiction tales—stories set at various points in the past, each at the time of a particular winter holiday and each with a warm and homey tone. The stories sometimes feature melancholy or darker elements, but each is also optimistic, inspiring, or joyful. I truly enjoyed every tale, but if I had to pick my two favorites they are probably Vanitha Sankaran's heartwarming "Boiling Point" (set in Pondicherry, India, during the Pongal celebration in January 1941) and C.V. Lee's deftly told "Philippe's Epiphany" (set in London, England, on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1471).
I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2023Paper Lantern Writers have written another fantastic anthology (also enjoyed last year's Unlocked). Each short story took me on a delightful journey to a different time and place. Reading this was a such pleasurable way to reconnect with favorite authors and discover new ones.
Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2023 Escape into the enchanting "Beneath a Midwinter Moon" anthology by Paper Lantern Writers, where each short story is a satisfying gem that leaves you longing for more. Perfect for winter, these tales, set in diverse historical periods, offer rich storytelling, cultural insights, and glimpses into captivating worlds. A delightful and immersive read for any season.
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2023 I really enjoyed this book -- a very clever concept, and lots of interesting variations on the theme. I particularly enjoyed Vanitha Sankaran's story set in 1941 Pondicherry. It was evocative and haunting, and beautifully rendered, and it stayed with me long after I finished reading.
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2023 Set in a variety of eras over many centuries, this collection gives us a glimpse of several different holiday celebrations. Entertaining and educational! What I like best about historical fiction.
REVIEWS
Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2024Verified PurchaseThere is a theme to this collection of stories: people, mostly women, facing a moment of decision, but it’s also fun! Not that anybody except the reader is having any. I so enjoyed traveling from India to medieval Ireland to the States for the birth of the poodle skirt.
Especially like Ana Brazil’s angry widow who plots revenge on the famous war photographer who defiles her dead husband in order to get a better photograph. It makes you think: what about those battlefield pictures? From any war? How would you feel if you recognized your husband, son, brother or friend? Sure the photographs are great but at what cost?
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024 Verified PurchaseI will admit that i didn't read all of the stories, some had trigger warnings that I heeded. It was really interesting to see all the different ways that the authors interpreted a "day of reckoning". I liked the different takes although I did get really angry at some of the characters. I never used to see the appeal of short stories, but now that I have a toddler, I absolutely understand. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024Verified PurchaseI will admit that i didn't read all of the stories, some had trigger warnings that I heeded. It was really interesting to see all the different ways that the authors interpreted a "day of reckoning". I liked the different takes although I did get really angry at some of the characters. I never used to see the appeal of short stories, but now that I have a toddler, I absolutely understand. Highly recommend!
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2024I love this collection of short stories. At the end of a long day, I’m reluctant to pick up a big novel—the thought of wading
through all those pages just makes me tired. But most of these stories can easily be completed in just one sitting—ideal for readers with only a limited amount of time.
I was surprised and delighted when I read BEG, BORROW, TOMORROW by Anne Beggs. The story’s setting in a medieval convent reveals some intriguing but little-known facts of history. And the ending caught me totally by surprise. Often I get caught up in the development of the story only to be disappointed by a trite or predictable ending. I never saw this one coming, though. A totally enjoyable read!
Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2024I've enjoyed novels by several members of the Paper Lantern Writers, so I was excited about this collection. It exceeded my expectations. The writing is consistently strong, and so are the characters. I love that these stories transported me to so many different places and historical moments—Amsterdam in the 1600s, New York City during the Civil War, India during WWII, an Irish convent in the 1200s. Despite the breadth of settings and the protagonists' widely varying circumstances, there are some common themes that permeate the collection: tenacity, resilience, and determination. This was an outstanding read. Highly recommend!
REVIEWS
already a BEST SELLER =----> What a delightful surprise! @paperlanternwriters Historical fiction writing craft book is showing up as a #1 New Release. The Orange Line =----> I am very honored to have contributed a chapter to this book entitled "How to Portray Horses Accurately" It is a very unique book written by 11 different award-winning authors sharing their expertise on research, writing dual time lines, taming the messy middle and so much more. Release date is set for May 1st. Currently available for pre-order in ebook, but a paperback will be available closer to pub day.