A Sea of Sorrow Blog Tour and Review

A Sea of Sorrow: A Novel of Odysseus

by David Blixt, Amalia Carosella, Libbie Hawker, Scott Oden, Vicky Alvear Shecter, and Russell Whitfield

Publication Date: October 17, 2017

Knight Media, LLC

eBook & Paperback; 524 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Odysseus, infamous trickster of Troy, vaunted hero of the Greeks, left behind a wake of chaos and despair during his decade long journey home to Ithaca. Lovers and enemies, witches and monsters--no one who tangled with Odysseus emerged unscathed. Some prayed for his return, others, for his destruction. These are their stories…

A beleaguered queen’s gambit for maintaining power unravels as a son plots vengeance.

A tormented siren battles a goddess’s curse and the forces of nature to survive.

An exiled sorceress defies a lustful captain and his greedy crew.

A blinded shepherd swears revenge on the pirate-king who mutilated him.

A beautiful empress binds a shipwrecked sailor to servitude, only to wonder who is serving whom.

A young suitor dreams of love while a returned king conceives a savage retribution.

Six authors bring to life the epic tale of The Odyssey seen through the eyes of its shattered victims—the monsters, witches, lovers, and warriors whose lives were upended by the antics of the “man of many faces.” You may never look upon this timeless epic—and its iconic ancient hero—in quite the same way again.

My Take:

I have read several takes on the Odysseus saga and I have to say that A Sea of Sorrow may actually be my favorite. I really enjoyed reading the tale from the very different perspectives of those characters that bear the actual burden of Odysseus' actions. I found each tale to be absolutely unique and I was pleasantly surprised that I could find some of these so-called "monsters" so sympathetic. I think it was a great idea for the focus of this version of the tale. Instead of Odysseus being the hero, he ends up as the guy who wrecks havoc and then twists the story to make himself sound better than he ever was. And isn't that what we do? Try to make ourselves out as the good guy? The wronged one?

Each of the stories has their own strong points and it is very difficult to pick a favorite. I really enjoyed each one for various reasons. I guess my favorites were all from the female perspective. Funny how that works out. Hekate's Daughter tells Circe's story and explains how and why she ended up on that island in the first place and how she became known as a witch. This tale really turns Odysseus' version on its head and I love that. 

The Siren's Song was probably one of the most heart-wrenching tales. The story of the sirens has always seemed sad, but with this telling it is a real tearjerker. This one tells the story of a family line of women and their created mythology and religious beliefs. Its a story of survival, family, love, tragedy and myth. Beautifully written, but really sad.

I found Calypso's Vow to be the turning point in the story. It turns the tables on Odysseus again, but it also gives the rest of the book and the whole saga its twist and brings it all back around so the reader can really see the point of the voyage that Odysseus makes. This one was also nicely written and made me rethink  my ideas about the saga.

Overall, I found A Sea of Sorrows to be a very good retelling of the Odysseus tale and I actually enjoyed it more than the original, of course. This was fun and made me rethink about some angles on the tale. I would happily recommend A Sea of Sorrows to anyone, but especially those who may be intimidated by the idea of reading The Odyssey. I also think those readers familiar with The Odyssey would really enjoy these new takes on the tale - I know I did. Highly recommended.

About the Authors

Amalia Carosella graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelors degree in Classical Studies and English. An avid reader and former bookseller, she writes about old heroes and older gods. She lives with her husband in upstate New York and dreams of the day she will own goats (and maybe even a horse, too). Amalia's novels include Tamer of Horses, Helen of Sparta, By Helen's Hand, and Daughter of a Thousand Years.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

David Blixt's work is consistently described as "intricate," "taut," and "breathtaking." A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS'D series) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY'S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history.

Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, he describes himself as "actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order."

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Libbie Hawker writes historical and literary fiction featuring complex characters and rich details of time and place. Libbie's recent novels include Daughter of Sand and Stone, Mercer Girls, A Song of War, White Lotus and Persian Rose.

 She lives in the San Juan Islands of Washington State.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Russell Whitfield was born in Shepherds Bush in 1971. An only child, he was raised in Hounslow, West London, but has since escaped to Ham in Surrey.

 Gladiatrix was Russ's first novel, published in 2008 by Myrmidon Books. The sequel, Roma Victrix, continues the adventures Lysandra, the Spartan gladiatrix, and a third book, Imperatrix, sees Lysandra stepping out of the arena and onto the field of battle.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Scott Oden was born in Indiana, but has spent most of his life shuffling between his home in rural North Alabama, a Hobbit hole in Middle-earth, and some sketchy tavern in the Hyborian Age. He is an avid reader of fantasy and ancient history, a collector of swords, and a player of tabletop role-playing games. When not writing, he can be found walking his two dogs or doting over his lovely wife, Shannon.

Oden’s previous works include the historical fantasy, The Lion of Cairo, and two historical novels, Men of Bronze and Memnon. He is currently working on his next novel.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Vicky Alvear Shecter is the author of multiple books set in the ancient world, including the YA novels, CLEOPATRA'S MOON, based on the life of Cleopatra's only daughter, and CURSES AND SMOKE: A NOVEL OF POMPEII and the adult historical collaborations, A SONG OF WAR, A YEAR OF RAVENS, and A DAY OF FIRE. She has written a mid-grade series on mythology (ANUBIS SPEAKS, HADES SPEAKS, and THOR SPEAKS) as well as two award-winning biographies for kids. She a She is a docent at the Michael C. Carlos Museum of Antiquities at Emory University in Atlanta.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Blog Tour Schedule

Tuesday, October 17
Review at A Book Drunkard

Wednesday, October 18
Feature at A Holland Reads

Thursday, October 19
Feature at View From the Birdhouse

Friday, October 20
Review at Pursuing Stacie

Monday, October 23
Review at The Maiden's Court

Tuesday, October 24
Feature at The Reading Queen

Wednesday, October 25
Review at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, October 26
Review at What Cathy Read Next

Friday, October 27
Feature at So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, October 30
Review at Creating Herstory

Tuesday, October 31
Review at Historical Fiction Reviews

Wednesday, November 1
Review at Back Porchervations

Thursday, November 2
Feature at The Writing Desk

Friday, November 3
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Monday, November 6
Review at Broken Teepee

Tuesday, November 7
Feature at A Literary Vacation

Wednesday, November 8
Feature at Passages to the Past

Friday, November 10
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Monday, November 13
Review at Unabridged Chick
Feature at CelticLady's Reviews

Tuesday, November 14
Review at Bookramblings
Feature at Myths, Legends, Books & Coffee Pots

Thursday, November 16
Feature at I Heart Reading

Friday, November 17
Review at A Book Geek
Review at The True Book Addict

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of A Sea of Sorrow: A Novel of Odysseus! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 17th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. A Sea of Sorrow

Sown in Tears & Where Do I Go - Book Blast

Sown in Tears by Beverly Magid

Publication Date: September 18, 2012

Paperback & eBook; 194 Pages

ISBN-13: 978-1478104575

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Jewish

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER.

Russia, 1905: The Jews are restricted to the area called thePale of the Settlement and the target of anti-semitism fomented by the government and exacerbated by the laws and the economy. After an attack on the village of Kortitz, Leah Peretz must find a way to survive and protect her young children. Her life is complicated by the unexpected attentions of the Russian officer, Captain Vaselik. Can she trust him? Should she join the burgeoning worker movement? Suddenly her path to self-discovery has become one of drama, revolution and courage.

"I read this story in ONE day. I could not put the book down!" - Impressions In Ink Book Blog

"Sown in Tearswill have you gripped from the first sentence. This exciting, fast-paced novel takes all the elements of romance, family love, friendship and loyalty and places them into the fascinating setting of a small Jewish settlement in Russia in 1905. Magid creates a wonderful atmosphere of stifling terror and poverty in the Jewish community and the courage and survival instincts of Leah or so expertly created that you are willing her on, even when her actions could have serious consequences for her family. This novel truly stands out in the ‘chick lit’ category as a brave and exciting choice of subject matter written with real heart and finesse." - BestChickLit.com

Available in Paperback and eBook on Amazon

Where Do I Go? by Beverly Magid

Publication Date: October 9, 2017

BeWrite Press

Paperback & eBook; 138 Pages

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Jewish

READ THE FIRST CHAPTER.

It's 1908 and Leah and her boys have immigrated to New York's Lower East Side to live with her brothers after surviving a pogrom in their Russian village. She is determined to find a home in America but the conditions are harsher than she expected. The garment sweat shops are brutal to work in and it's essential that her son Benny works after school to help with expenses. Unbeknownst to her he runs errands for the local bookie/gangster. Life isn't what Leah hoped for, but she's a fighter and not willing to accept the awful conditions at Wollowitz's Factory. She's on a journey to find her own voice, to find a place for herself and her sons, to find a little beauty and romance in her life.

Available in Paperback and eBook on Amazon

About the Author

Beverly Magid, before writing her novel, was a journalist and an entertainment and celebrity PR executive, who interviewed many luminaries, including John Lennon, Jim Croce and the Monty Python gang, and as a publicist represented clients in music, tv and film, ranging from Whoopi Goldberg, John Denver and Dolly Parton to Tom Skerritt, Martin Landau, Kathy Ireland and Jacqueline Bisset.

Beverly is a longtime west coast resident who still considers herself a New Yorker. Among the social issues she’s passionate about is literacy and she worked with KorehLA to mentor elementary children in reading. Also she has been an advocate for Jewish World Watch, an organization dedicated to working against genocide and to aid the victims of war atrocities. On a lighter side, she is also a volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo, monitoring animal behavior for their Research Department.

She is a news and political junkie who supports environmental, animal and human rights issues. She believes most passionately that “We must remain vigilant to the those who would erode the rights of people around the world and work to defeat them.”

For more information, please visit Beverly Magid's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Book Blast Schedule

Monday, November 13
Passages to the Past

Tuesday, November 14
Creating Herstory

Wednesday, November 15
The Never-Ending Book
History From a Woman's Perspective

Thursday, November 16
A Book Geek

Friday, November 17
So Many Books, So Little Time

Monday, November 20
WS Momma Readers Nook

Tuesday, November 21
Locks, Hooks and Books

Wednesday, November 22
Adventures Thru Wonderland

Thursday, November 23
What Is That Book About

Monday, November 27
Let Them Read Books

Thursday, November 30
Pursuing Stacie

Giveaway

During the Book Blast we will be giving away a signed copy of SOWN IN TEARS! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents in the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
 – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

  Beverly Magid Book Blast

The Rules of Magic - Quick review

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
Publication date: October 10, 2017
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Hardcover; 369 pages
Source: purchased at B&N

Description:

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.

My Take:

Because I love Practical Magic so much, I couldn't wait to get my hands on The Rules of Magic. All the other books I was reading were put on hold so I could devote my time and attention to this book. While I didn't want it to end, I also couldn't put it down. Quite the dilemma.

I have always wanted to find out more about the amazing aunts from Practical Magic, and The Rules of Magic gave me everything I wanted. The reader is treated to more of the family history, the curse and the story of Franny and Jet growing up during the 1960's. The extra special treat was learning about their brother, Vincent. I loved every minute of this book and the way it wrapped everything up at the end was just wonderful. 

Rather than go into too much detail, I will just say: go read The Rules of Magic!

About the author:

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Rules of Magic, The Marriage of Opposites, Practical Magic, The Red Garden, the Oprah’s Book Club selection Here on Earth, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, and The Dovekeepers. She lives near Boston.

The Murderer’s Maid blog tour and review

The Murderer's Maid by Erika Mailman

Publication Date: October 30, 2017

Bonhomie Press

Hardcover; ISBN-13: 978-0997066449

Genre: Fiction/Historical/Mystery

Bram Stoker Award finalist Erika Mailman brings the true story of the brutal murder of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother into new focus by adding a riveting contemporary narrative.

The Murderer's Maid interweaves the stories of two women: one, the servant of infamous Lizzie Borden, and the other a modern-day barista fleeing from an attempt on her life.

Trapped by servitude and afraid for her own safety, Irish maid Bridget finds herself an unwilling witness to the tensions in the volatile Borden household. As Lizzie seethes with resentment, Bridget tries to perform her duties and keep her mouth shut.

Unknowingly connected to the legendary crime of a century ago, Brooke, the illegitimate daughter of an immigrant maid, struggles to conceal her identity and stay a jump ahead of the men who want to kill her. When she unexpectedly falls in love with Anthony, a local attorney, she has to decide whether to stop running and begin her life anew.

With historical detail and taut, modern storytelling, Erika Mailman writes a captivating novel about identity, choices, freedom, and murder. She offers readers a fresh perspective on the notorious crime and explores the trials of immigrants seeking a better life while facing down fear and oppression, today and throughout history. Intelligent and detailed, The Murderer's Maid is a gripping read from beginning to bloody conclusion.

“A complex and riveting parallax view of domestic crimes, decades apart.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Erika Mailman writes a page turner of a thriller that will fascinate as well as terrify.” — Margaret Lane, New York Journal of Books

"Fascinating, mesmerizing, and so darkly atmospheric that you keep looking over your shoulder as you read." ―Diana Gabaldon, internationally-bestselling author of the Outlander series

"The Murderer’s Maid is a fascinating and deeply chilling tale. Erika Mailman weaves a story that is by turns poignant, compelling, and murderously suspenseful." ―Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic’s Daughter

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Powell's

My Take:

When offered the opportunity to read and review The Murderer's Maid, I jumped at the chance. How could I not? A historical fiction novel dealing with the Lizzie Borden murders and a novel by Erika Mailman in one neat package? Of course I had to agree.

The Murderer's Maid is a little different from other novels that I have read dealing with the Borden murders. The novel is told from three different points of view and two different timelines. Bridget is the Irish maid that the Borden family hires and her story presents a unique and interesting view of the events. The reader also gets to read parts of the story from Lizzie's point of view, which is really necessary for certain parts of the story. The final viewpoint is from Brooke, who is a daughter of an immigrant housekeeper much like Bridget was. Her story line is current day and she has an unknown link to the Borden story.

I found the novel to be very entertaining as well as thought provoking. What initially seems to be another novel trying to figure out what happened in the Borden household and why, also presents a thoughtful look at the lives of recent immigrants who find themselves in precarious situations. The novel examines how dependent and vulnerable immigrants can be in their new country as well as the attitudes they encounter while trying to acclimate to their new home. 

Brooke's story presents a modern day look at the immigrant experience through her memories of her mother's experience. Brooke, is in a unique and dangerous situation because she has been on the run from a mysterious person who is trying to kill her. She takes work under the table and pretends to be an undocumented worker despite the fact that she was born in the U.S. - all in an attempt to stay one step ahead of her would-be murderer. There is a certain irony there since unknown to her, she has a family link to the Borden murder. Even though I would really like to discuss some of the fun aspects of Brooke's story, I will control myself since they would give too much away. Suffice to say, there is plenty to keep the reader's attention in just this timeline. 

I can't decide which timeline I enjoyed the most - my choice changes from day to day. I read The Murderer's Maid in about a day and stayed up late to finish it and it was completely worth it. I really enjoy the author's writing and I really loved the novel. I would wholeheartedly recommend The Murderer's Maid to any reader who enjoys true crime, historical fiction, thrillers and/or mysteries.

About the Author

Erika Mailman is the author of The Witch's Trinity, a San Francisco Chronicle Notable Book and Bram Stoker Award finalist, and Woman of Ill Fame, a Pushcart Press Editor's Book Award nominee. She's a Yaddo fellow and lives in Northern California with her family.

For more information, please visit Erika Mailman's website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday, October 16
Review at Unabridged Chick
Feature at Passages to the Past

Tuesday, October 17
Interview at Unabridged Chick

Wednesday, October 18
Review at 100 Pages a Day

Thursday, October 19
Review & Excerpt at Books of All Kinds
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Friday, October 20
Spotlight at Bookfever
Review at Once Upon A Book

Monday, October 23
Review at Poppy Coburn
Review at A Bookish Affair

Tuesday, October 24
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Feature at A Literary Vacation

Wednesday, October 25
Review at Back Porchervations
Feature at Must Read Faster

Thursday, October 26
Review at Linda's Book Obsession

Friday, October 27
Review at What Cathy Read Next
Feature at The Reading Queen

Monday, October 30
Review at A Holland Reads

Tuesday, October 31
Review at The Maiden's Court

Wednesday, November 1
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Review at Books of a Shy Girl

Thursday, November 2
Review at Book Nerd

Friday, November 3
Review at T's Stuff
Review at Just One More Chapter

Monday, November 6
Review at A Book Geek
Review at CelticLady's Reviews

Tuesday, November 7
Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Wednesday, November 8
Review at The True Book Addict

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a hardcover copy of The Murderer's Maid! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
 – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.