A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Bantam
Release Date: 6th October 2015
Genre: Fiction, History, Fantasy

Summary: 
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms contains the first three prequel novels of the A Song of Ice and Fire book series. The short stories take place almost a century before the series, when the Targaryen family were still in rule of the Iron Throne.


Review:
So, I finally finished my postgraduate dissertation which means I can do things like read, eat and sleep again! Seeing as the world is in a Game of Thrones hype at the moment, when I saw this collection of short stories - it went straight in my shopping basket!

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Title: The Miniaturist
Author: Jessie Burton
Publisher: Picador
Release Date: 3rd July 2014
Genre: Fiction

Summary:
Nell Oortman thought that was she marrying into the wealthy family of an Amsterdam merchant. However, her new husband, and his family, are hiding a dangerous secret. He presents Nella a curious and unique wedding gift in the form of a miniature model of their house. Nella soon enlists the help of a miniaturist to help decorate her new toy.

Things soon take a dark turn when she is sent mysterious and intrusive decorations for her model home and the secrets hold within her family start to leak...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief
Author: Markus Zusak
Publisher: Transworld Publishers
Release Date: 8th September 2007
Genre: History

Summary:
It is 1939 in Nazi Germany and war is in the air.

Soon after the death of her young brother, Liesel moves in with a foster family on the poverty stricken Himmel Street. Feeling isolated and scared, she finds solace in books and the stories they tell.

Review:
I am not going to lie, I have been putting off reading this book for a while. I am not sure why, but I have dreading reading this book... (it may have something to do with it being a book based on history, I am not too sure).

The Hogwarts Library by J. K. Rowling

Title: The Hogwarts Library

Author: J. K. Rowling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens

Release Date: 8th November 2012

Genre: Non-Fiction-Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy

Summary:

Ever wondered what it is like to study at Hogwarts? 

Well now here is your chance to read the mystical and weird text books that Hogwarts students have to read!

Review:

On one of my many visits to the Warner Brothers Studio Tour London, I bought the Hogwarts Library. This collection, which was written by J. K. Rowling (under the names of made up authors) for Comic Relief some years ago, contains three books; Quidditch Through the Ages by Kennilworthy Whisp, Fanstastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander and The Tales of Beedle and the Bard. As they are are essentially Non-Fiction books set in a Fictitious world, I think the genre classification, Non-Fiction-Fiction seems most appropriate?

Earthly Powers by David Anderson

Title: Earthly Powers
Author: David Anderson
Release Date: 10th June 2014
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Genre: Thriller

Summary:
In 1945, just before the end of the war, a German U-boat transported a deathly secret away from the ruins of Berlin.

Hidden on Arcadia Island, on the outskirts of British Columbia, it was safely stored away to make sure it did not fall into the wrong hands.

However, many years later it is about to be rediscovered by the islands latest resident, Terri Stark.

But when Lucius Stringer and his eco-group, Earth Power, move onto the island; strange, and deadly, things start ruin Terri’s peaceful haven.

Sword of Empire: Centurion by Richard Foreman

Title: Sword of Empire: Centurion
Author: Richard Foreman
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Release Date: 30th April 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary:
It is 174 AD and Gaius Maximus has just returned to Rome, after years fighting in the North, to settle down with the beautiful Aurelia.

However, all is not well in the capital and plans to overthrow the Emperor soon emerge.

Review:
Just so you know, I was asked to review Sword of Empire: Centurion by the author himself as I am doing work experience with his publishing house, Endeavour Press. I have also previously reviewed it's prequel Sword of Empire: Praetorian (my review can be found here).

Like with Sword of Empire: Praetorian I was a bit wary of reading a book from the historical fiction genre; but I actually quite liked it.

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones
Author: George R. R. Martin
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: 23rd December 2010
Genre: Dark Fantasy

Summary: 
In the Land of Westeros Winter is coming and the struggle for the Iron Thorne has begun.

Review:
I was not sure what I was expecting when I was persuaded to start reading this series but I did not think it was going to be as good as it actually is.

It is awesome and it is easy to see why it has become so popular.

Sword of Empire: Praetorian by Richard Foreman

Title: Sword of Empire: Praetorian
Author: Richard Foreman
Publisher: Endeavour Press
Release Date: 14th November 2013
Genre: Historical Fiction

Summary: 
Set in 171 AD, Sword of Empire: Praetorian follows Gaius Maximus, a centurion officer of the Praetorian guard, as he escorts the son and daughter of a powerful German tribal chief back to their home in Germany. Amid rising tensions, and imminent battles between the Germanic armies, will Maximus's attempts be futile or will the Emperor succeed in his plans to gain back power and establish a treaty between the two rivals?

Review:
I have to admit Sword of Empire: Praetorian is not something I would usually read but as it was only 99p on Amazon Kindle I thought I would give it a try!

I was expecting the tone of the novella to be quite serious and political. I was, however, pleasantly surprised as little snippets of humour caught me off-guard and the underlying, yet subtle, themes of romance, family and rivalry made the plot interesting and entertaining.