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The Green Wave
The Green Wave takes on a big subject with even bigger stakes: how the shipping industry, a cornerstone of global trade, can move away from fossil fuels and embrace renewable energy. The book is structured as a wide-ranging tour through history, technology, economics, regulation, and future trends. It covers the evolution of ships from wooden rafts to today’s steel giants, then dives into renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydrogen, and biofuels. It discusses technological breakthroughs in clean propulsion, ship design, and retrofitting. It also highlights the financial realities of sustainability, the importance of regulation, and case studies of companies already making the leap. In its closing chapters, it looks forward to global collaboration, workforce training, and how public perception will push the industry toward greener horizons.
The research is thorough, and the ideas are hopeful. The writing leans on big metaphors and detailed passages that can feel dense if you’re not steeped in the subject. The author works hard to cover every angle, which gives the book an encyclopedic feel. I found myself drawn in by the case studies like retrofitted cruise ships and tankers switching to LNG or rotor sails, and those concrete examples carried more emotional weight than the broader discussions of efficiency or emissions. The author’s care for the subject is evident, and that urgency shines through in ways that are often inspiring.
I think the strongest parts are where the book shows the human side of the industry. When it talks about shipbuilders experimenting with new materials or port operators installing charging stations, the story feels alive and relatable. I did come away with a better grasp of the real options on the table. It made me hopeful that change is possible if industry leaders, governments, and consumers push in the same direction.
I’d recommend The Green Wave to readers who want a detailed, almost textbook-level overview of green shipping, but also to anyone who enjoys seeing how technology and human ambition collide with global challenges. It’s not a breezy read, but it’s a meaningful one. Policymakers, environmental advocates, and business leaders will probably get the most out of it. For casual readers curious about clean energy, it may feel overwhelming, though still worthwhile if you stick with it.
Pages: 348 | ASIN : B0CPKDBWSB
Shrouded in Mystery
Seven Hills One Light follows two sisters whose faith places them in grave danger during the religious persecution occurring under Nero’s reign. Where did the idea for this book come from?
About eight years ago, my husband and I went on a 3-week road trip through most of Italy, and about a third of our time was spent in Rome. From the moment I got off the train, I was in love! I knew I had to write a story set in the ancient city. Then, a number of years later, we went back to Italy, this time to live there for a few months. We spent another week or so in Rome, and it was during that trip that I came across the names of two women, Tryphosa and Tryphena, who are mentioned in the bible as being early Roman converts to Christianity. But the details of their life are shrouded in mystery, so I sought to fill them in. I used a lot of what I saw in the city to influence how I wrote the novel.
What draws you to the historical fiction genre?
Ever since I was in third grade, I’ve had two major passions: writing and history, primarily ancient history. I often get lost down these rabbit holes researching [amaturely] my favorite historical eras. I primarily read historical fiction as well, so it only seemed right that my debut novel would be historical fiction.
Do you have a favorite character in your book? One that you especially enjoyed writing for?
Authors probably routinely say this, but I really enjoyed writing from Phosa’s point of view [my main character]. She has a lot of the same traits as I have. She is authentic and clearly shows her feelings. She isn’t afraid to say what needs to be said, but she also sometimes stumbles into social situations she didn’t intend to get into. And the best part of her is that she actually grapples with her extreme fear of being found out by the Roman authorities. I think too often, we are shown these stories of early church martyrs who were just 100% courageous and had no fear of death. I didn’t think that was very realistic.
What is the next book that fans can look forward to seeing from you?
So, right now, I am taking a break from the In the Shadow of Lions series and writing a super cute Christmas Romance novella. I am a huge fan of Christmas! But right after that, I will be diving right back into the thick of things and revealing what happened to Phena in book two!
Author Links: GoodReads | Amazon
Two Sisters, One Fate: A Journey of Love, Survival, and Faith in Ancient Rome
In a city where whispers of a new faith ignite both hope and peril, two orphaned sisters find their lives forever changed by love and danger. Seven Hills One Light weaves a tale of passion, resilience, and faith that readers of The Nightingale and The Book Thief will love.
In the heart of Rome, danger lurks around every corner as rumors of Christianity spread through the streets. For Tryphosa and Tryphena, life is a precarious dance of survival—they are unmarried, vulnerable, and devoted to their faith in the enigmatic teachings of Jesus. With the telltale symbol of the fish discreetly hidden behind their ears, they live in constant fear of discovery.
When a sudden upheaval shatters their fragile existence, leaving them homeless and desperate, Phosa and Phena are forced to make choices that could seal their fates. Navigating a city rife with political intrigue and threats to their very survival, the sisters grapple with profound questions about their faith. As they struggle to reclaim their lives, the unexpected arrival of two captivating men—each harboring their own secrets—turns their world upside down and tests their resolve in ways they never anticipated.
Amid the chaos, a fiery romance ignites between Phosa and Simon, a passionate young man whose magnetic presence challenges her beliefs and stirs desires she thought she could suppress. Their connection is electric, yet fraught with danger, as every stolen moment becomes a risky gamble against the backdrop of a city that seeks to destroy them. Meanwhile, Phena finds herself drawn to a charismatic Jewish moneylender whose charm promises a life of luxury and safety, but also entangles her in a web of societal expectations and moral dilemmas.
As the stakes heighten and tensions rise, the sisters must confront the ultimate question: Can their faith withstand the trials of love, or will their hearts lead them down paths of betrayal and despair?
In her enthralling debut, Hazel Dains crafts a spellbinding narrative of passion, betrayal, and courage set against the dramatic backdrop of ancient Rome. As faith and love intertwine, readers will be captivated by the sisters’ journey, experiencing every heart-pounding twist and emotional turn.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into this unforgettable tale of love and survival! Order your copy of Seven Hills One Light today and immerse yourself in a world where faith and romance collide in the most unexpected ways.
Erinland
Kathryn Berryman’s Erinland infuses Christianity into ancient rites while catapulting 21st Century characters into a 9th Century Viking war. Two teens, Amy and Richard, serve as threads in an intricate tapestry of historical fiction. Sharing the weave is Aiden, a monk protecting valuable antiquities with his life.
The story moves along through the points of view of one of the three most important characters. When Amy and Richard land in their respective, opposing villages, they are fully embraced. Both are long-awaited reincarnations of gods of the time. We’d expect the teenagers to feel displaced and confused, but they adapt quickly.
Berryman provides much in the way of Viking history, landscape, and relic description. Erinland is driven by her vast interest in these. We learn much lore through the tale of these ordinary, troubled children endowed with extraordinary powers from the glorious beings they represent. Berryman’s depictions of the cultures during the time are lovely and detailed as she describes their villages, clothing, and lifestyles. “The kransen, a gilt circlet worn on the head by unmarried girls, is removed from the young bride to be. It is a symbol of her virginity. The kransen is wrapped up by the bride’s attendants and put away until the birth of her eldest daughter who it will pass to.” (Page 194).
In Berryman’s desire to share her knowledge, she writes long monologues. These establish her as a credible authority on ancient history, but do so at the expense of natural dialogue. After suddenly being transported in time, the three primary characters are plunked down and force-fed tons of information. “Richard listened closely to Vagn as he spoke. It was a lot of information to absorb.” (Page 325).
The lack of meaningful exchanges sacrifices character development. This is particularly true for Amy, but less so for Richard. Relating to the characters is essential for us to want to read on.
Because war is the foundation of the plot, we may find it difficult to suspend belief when we are told the teens can learn how to become warriors in a few afternoons. Berryman relies upon descendent memory to take care of the problem. “Familiarise yourself with our ways. Your memories will return. A son of Odin retains his father’s essence and with it his memories and might.” (Page 183).
In the end Erinland is a fascinating story that fuses mythology with well-choreographed battle scenes.
Pages: 278 | ASIN: B01MR9IAQL
The Wanderer’s Last Journey
On a trade visit to Malta, Orfeo – in line to the throne of Pylos – is kidnapped by mysterious strangers. The net is spread far and wide, with heroes from all over the Aegean joining forces in the quest to find the lost prince.
Is Orfeo in danger, though? His captors seem to have strange motives, what exactly do they see him as? A prince, a prophet, a political pawn, or something more? Only one thing is for certain, nothing is as it appears on the surface, and Orfeo must keep his wits about him. This wonderful work of historical fiction will amaze and engage you in equal measures.
With The Wanderer’s Last Journey, Murray Lee Eiland Jr. has woven an astounding and complex tapestry. It has all the makings of a classic fantasy epic, as the rich and evocative world he creates is as intriguing as it is intricate, whilst the narrative constantly keeps us on our toes. Eiland Jr. clearly has an eye for important details, as his simple use of language is restrained and mannered. He writes much like any of the great classical fantasy writers, with simplistic, well-constructed sentences forming the framework for a complex and sprawling narrative. Where he does choose to go into detailed description, he paints for us a clear and colourful picture. The milieu of The Wanderer’s Last Journey, whilst mostly serving as a stage on which to set the players, is perhaps one if the novel’s most astonishing features. This mythical, magical Mediterranean is exotic and enticing, and we are left wanting to learn more about it. As the story expands and speeds towards its thrilling crescendo, its setting is left unexpanded, and one wonder’s whether the novel might have benefited from going into greater detail in this regard. In many ways it is unfamiliar from the Ancient Greece we know and are familiar with, yet it verges upon Virgil and Homer. The Iliad is an obvious reference, and Eiland Jr.’s love of this period is clear on the page.
This novel sets Eiland Jr out as an author of great scope and intention, however one who isn’t afraid to create a world of great depth and complexities. He cleverly weaves multiple storylines and, for the most part, manages to keep on top of this, and keeps all the strands of his stories working together. There are moments, though, where the machinations of the plot seem to get the better of him. The action tends to flit between one character’s perspective and another’s, and whilst this serves to provide us with a huge wealth of storyline, it occasionally distracts from it. It also means, at points, that we aren’t given long enough in each character’s story to form an emotional bond with them, and we are left wondering who exactly our protagonist is. This is perhaps to be expected, though, with a story so vast, and one with so many strands, and for the most part The Wanderer’s Last Journey works well as a rich, entertaining fantasy epic.
Pages: 237 | ASIN: B018RHOIRI
LITERARY TITAN 