Laura Rahme

Book Title: Julien's Terror
Author: Laura Rahme
Format: Kindle

Book Title:
The title of the book ' Julien's Terror ' is mysterious and intriguing.

Book Cover:
The cover image of the book is a beautiful vintage oil painting of a young person dated back in the 1700s.

Plot:
The story is about Julien and Marguerite, their dreadful childhood, their encounter and getting into a relationship. It is set up in the years of 1794, the time of the French Revolution. It deals with the aftermath consequences of war and ruined lives. There is trauma, there is terror, there is distress and there is a mystery. At some times the book is hard to read because it switches between characters, timelines, and stories.

To experience an unseen yet known centuries back story, don't miss to read this gripping thriller.

What I like:
1. An awesome storyline which is almost very fresh to read.
2. The hardships common people face after the mayhem of war are explained in detail with not much drama but factual things.
3. Mystery elements of the female protagonist's identity are woven in a very fascinating manner.
4. The setting of the story in the rustic times of war and aftermath creates a dark atmosphere which is apt for a psychological thriller.
5. The fearsome experiences children face because of unpleasant upbringing and the effect on their mental growth did subtly give chills in the spine.
6. The emotions of love, longing, fear, dissent, commitment, and responsible nature are very well illustrated.

What I didn't like:
The story is very engrossing and it was almost impossible to find any errors or drawbacks.

Characters:
Every character is plotted very well and realistic approach made the characters very alluring.

Narration:
An engaging narration with spine chilling sequences is found in the story.

Language & Grammar:
A very fine language with flawless grammar is found in the story.

My Final Verdict:
Experience a love story with a terror backdrop dated back during the vintage times of the French Revolution.

Book Title: 4/5
Book Cover: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Narration: 4/5
Language & Grammar: 4/5
Final Rating: 4/5… (meer)

Since I am so interested in cooking/baking I immediately recognized the name of the book’s protagonist as Mssr. Careme is a very well known chef. It was interesting to read this fictional account of his life as I will admit to knowing absolutely nothing about him.

He did not have a charmed beginning as he was left on the streets at age 8 at the time of the French Revolution so it was not very safe for a child at all. Chaos reigned and he was lucky to have found his way.

But find it he surely did as he had a great talent for cooking – especially baking and making showstopping desserts. He found a patron in Tallyrand and his talent kept him safe but he longed to know the secret of Chantilly.

Ms. Rahme presents his story in an delightfully readable way and it made me want to know even more about this incredibly talented man. Who doesn’t love a delicious dessert? I know I love making them as anyone who visits the blog with any regularity would know.

If you enjoy historical fiction and reading about food this book will bring those two loves together in a tasty tale that ends in a very satisfying way.… (meer)

Marie Antoine Carême was left to fend for himself on the streets of Paris in 1792 at just eight years old. Antonin works making soup for a chophouse, abused and underfed. He soon finds something better where he is taught how to cook. Antonin dreams of someday cooking for the rich. He finds his way to an apprenticeship with Sylvain Bailly and finds his passion in pâtisserie, creating elaborate edible structures. Antonin's structures caught the eye of French Diplomat, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand. Antonin is brought into the world of politics and trains under Boucheseiche in Talleyrand's kitchen, creating a year's menu with no repeat dishes. Antonin realizes his dream, cooking for Napoleon, princes and princesses throughout his career. However, he can't shake the story of Chantilly that Boucheseiche told him and the lesson that it contained.
The Secret of Chantilly is the story of real-life King of Chefs and the Chef of Kings, Marie Antoine Carême. Told like a fairy tale, we are first introduced to Antonin on his death bed as he recounts his life from the streets to Palaces. The writing makes Antonin's life seem like magic, but it is really just hard work and a little luck as he climbs the culinary ladder. Set in the backdrop of the French Revolution, Antonin's story could have easily been one of tragedy. I enjoyed reading about his life as a child, his friendship with Marie-Lou and his time learning how to cook. As Antonin began working for Talleyrand, the pace flattened out a bit for me when it should have been full of political intrigue. I was very interested in Antonin's time spying for Talleyrand, but the venture fell flat for me. What was most interesting was the food and people's reactions to Carême's creations. I was glad that Carême finally realized the secret of Chantilly and I was able to learn about the life of this French master chef.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (meer)

Set in 15th century China in the early days of the Ming Dynasty, The Ming Storytellers is a beautifully rendered tale of love and loss, hope and despair. While this novel features the stories of three incredible woman -- Min Li, an imperial concubine, Shahrzad, a Persian traveller, and Jun, a seamstress and storyteller -- it is Min Li who features most prominently and is the heart of this novel. But this is also a novel of Admiral Zheng He, one of China's greatest explorers.

Having little knowledge of Chinese imperial history prior to reading this book, I was fascinated by the history imparted throughout the story. Not only does The Ming Storytellers include key historical events such as the Ming Fleet's Sixth Expedition, but it also clearly conveys the politics, and ways of life and customs of the era. One of this novel's greatest strengths is Rahme's ability to seamlessly weave this history into the fabric of her narrative. As a result, even though there is a tremendous amount of historical detail found in this novel, it never feels as if it has just been dumped into the text. I particularly enjoyed learning about life within the Imperial Palace, which had a complex, hierarchical administration run by eunuchs, as well as of the Ming Fleet's expedition across the Indian Ocean.

Even though The Ming Storytellers is well over 600 pages, the book doesn't feel long. The story moves along quickly, and there are never any lulls. The narrative's focus shifts back and forth between the various principal characters, which I found helped to maintain my interest. Rahme's prose is lovely, and her descriptions eloquent, helping to create a vivid sense of place. While there are times when the reader might wonder how all the various story lines connect, Rahme brings them all together nicely in the end.

While I enjoyed The Ming Storytellers immensely, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it contains some minor editorial and formatting issues -- at least my e-copy does. While not significant enough to take anything away from the story itself, they are noticeable. Those who frequently read electronic advance copies, which I've found often have similar issues, probably won't be all that bothered by this. But readers used to perfectly formatted e-books might be a little put off, at least initially. I hope readers don't let these minor issues put them off the book as I think The Ming Storytellers is a historical novel well worth reading.

Highly recommended to historical fiction fans interested in learning more about China during the Ming Dynasty.

Note: I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.… (meer)