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donealrice

Debbie's Spurts

Just an avid reader. Mostly SF/Fantasy, some hobbies, paranormal, urban fantasy and lighter, fluffier things.

 

Currently reading

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking
Samin Nosrat, Wendy MacNaughton
Bring Me Their Hearts
Sara Wolf
House of Earth and Blood
Sarah J. Maas
A Selection of Designs inspired by Iznik & Delft Pottery in Cross Stitch: 16 stunning floral cross stitch designs
Durene Jones
Ain't Love a Witch?
Dakota Cassidy
Progress: 1 %
The Old Witcheroo
Dakota Cassidy
Gemina (The Illuminae Files)
Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
Progress: 100 %
The Dragonbone Chair
Tad Williams
Progress: 14 %

Favorite Book Quotes


"Never interrupt your enemy while he is making a mistake"— Lois McMaster Bujold

 

 

 

 

 

 

Review of "At The Queen's Command" by Michael A. Stackpole

At the Queen's Command  - Michael A. Stackpole

This reader's personal opinion, ©2015, all rights reserved, not to be quoted, clipped or used in any way by Google Play, amazon.com or other commercial booksellers*

 

This one was a fantasy genre alternate history of Colonia America that starts in the year 1763.  (Why that means nook and other retail and book sites classify it as "steampunk" I have zero idea — no Wild West frontier, no Victorian England, none of the "look" of either in fashion or other designs or technology.)

 

I have read other books by Mr. Stackpole.  And this was completely different and didn't even sound like his "voice."

 

Initially, that threw me along with dialogue that seemed too much in the line of "la sir you are no gentlemen it will be duels at dawn" style.  Glad I persevered because it was a very good book.  This line had me giving it a chance:

 "But men were not numbers even though

casualty lists suggested otherwise"

I had to make myself continue past the "la sir" style that I did get the rhythm of because a heavy on the military read was  not something I was in the mood for, alternate history is seldom a favorite read, -- so other readers more fond of alternate history and military/political strategy are likely to rate higher.   Without a trusted author and a really old dusty member of the TBR pulled out to fit a group "Roulette" calling for first book with a 2-letter title ...

 

A very well done re-imagining with some surprise fantasy beings and characters you get into.  I will pursue the series when I am in the mood for something with a Colonial America military flavor.


*©2015. All rights reserved except permission is granted to author or publisher to reprint/quote in whole or in part. Copyrightholder may have posted on booklikes, BookRabbit, Leafmarks, The Reading Room and may have cross-posted to other book sites. Posting on any site does not grant that site permission to share with any third parties.

 

Ratings scale used in absence of a booklikes suggested rating scale:

★★★★★ = All Time Favorite 
★★★★½ = Extraordinary Book. Really Loved It.
★★★★☆ = Loved It.
★★★½☆ = Really Liked.
★★★☆☆ = Liked.
★★½☆☆ = Liked parts; parts only okay. Would read more by author.
★★☆☆☆ = Meh. Okay. 
★½☆☆☆ = Disliked but kept me reading in hopes would get better.
★☆☆☆☆ = Loathed It. Possibly DNF and a torturous read.
½☆☆☆☆ = So vile was a DNF or should have been. Can