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In the Shadows of Castles
In the Shadows of Castles is a historical novel that plunges the reader into a world of brutal ambition, betrayal, and survival, following the journey of Ralph Pomeroy as he carves his way through a medieval landscape rife with violence and intrigue. From the very first pages, where Ralph defends a maid from his monstrous father and changes the course of his own life, the book grips you and refuses to let go.
The author does not shy away from graphic violence, whether it’s a battlefield soaked in blood or the raw horror of domestic abuse. The opening scene, where Ralph catches his father assaulting a maid and retaliates with lethal force, sets the tone for a novel that is brutally honest about the era it portrays. The writing makes these moments feel immediate and visceral. The raw descriptions of power struggles and suffering make for an immersive, if at times gut-wrenching, read.
The character development is another highlight. Ralph’s transformation from an abused boy to a hardened warrior is fascinating. His choices are rarely black and white, and that moral ambiguity makes him feel real. At one point, after years of violence, he reflects that he never wants to be like his father, yet he rules with the same iron fist, wrestling with the ghosts of his past. The contrast between his brutality and his tenderness toward his wife, Tate, and their children makes him complex rather than just another medieval antihero. Other characters, like Morwenna and Whitgar, bring additional layers of intrigue, especially during moments of high-stakes strategy and battle scenes.
There is hardly a moment to breathe between fights, betrayals, and desperate escapes. While this keeps the reader engaged, it occasionally leaves little room for quieter, more reflective moments. Some plot points could have been explored with more depth, such as the internal struggles of supporting characters. The writing style itself is clear and evocative, with a knack for vivid detail, whether describing the stench of a city sewer or the glint of torchlight on a sword.
In the Shadows of Castles is not for the faint of heart. If you enjoy historical fiction that leans into its brutality rather than romanticizing the past, this book delivers. The novel thrives on tension, power struggles, and moral dilemmas, making it a gripping read for those who appreciate historical realism over fairy tale endings. If you’re looking for a story that pulls no punches and drags you straight into the mud and blood of the medieval world, this one is worth picking up.
Pages: 432 | ASIN: B0B457G4X8
The Present World Situation
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Portrait of an Innocent Girl follows a man who transcends space and time and finds himself in Nazi-era Vienna on a mission to locate a haunting painting stolen during WWII. Where did the idea for this novel come from?
First, I want to thank you for having me. As for the idea, I was trying to come up with something that would flow from Volume 1 of the series, which also dealt with art. I also wanted something that felt current, and with the present world situation and the rise in hate, I felt that going back to Nazi Germany would resonate. That led to a natural discourse about the state of antisemitism in this country during the World War II years.
Can you share with us a little about the research that went into putting this book together?
Yes. The research revolved around art that had been stolen by the Nazi regime and remained missing. While the artist and the art in the story are fictional, I drew from real art that had been taken. I also drew from real life events as much as possible. The research into the state of affairs in the United States in the years leading up to World War II was quite eye-opening.
What challenges have you faced in writing complex plots?
The most challenging aspects are ensuring that a change, or new plot point, doesn’t adversely effect something which had already been written earlier in the story. I think my legal training, and having spent so much time drafting legal documents, which presents a similar issue, has helped. I know some authors who keep spreadsheets to assist them. I keep it all in my head. The middle-of-the-night awakenings are frequent!
Can we look forward to Volume 3 soon? Where will it take readers?
I think a Volume 3 may be in my future. I like to take time in between the books in a series to write something different, and I’ve just completed a new manuscript which is totally unrelated to the Watching series. As for where Volume 3 will take readers, that is still yet to be determined, but I do have some ideas swimming around the cranium. We’ll have to wait and see.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Website
Along with Watchings, this time Josh also experiences a new paranormal pheonomenon-visits-as he ventures into the past to discover the current whereabouts of the haunting painting.
Ignoring the physical toll and near-death dangers of non-corporeal time travel, he visits Nazi Germany, Austria, and South America, attempting to achieve a measure of justice for those wronged by the Nazi regime.
Assisted by his wife Adrian, FBI Special Agent Starling Herbert, and Interpol Investigator Dubois, they race a cabal of present-day Nazis to retrieve the stolen art.
Along the way, Josh is surprised to learn how family ties are wound into this story he could not ignore.
What Will We Choose Today?
Beyond This World There Is A World I Want follows a strong-willed woman who finds herself at the heart of the resistance against the Nazi occupation. This is an intriguing setup to a novel that is high in social commentary. What was your moral goal when writing this novel, and do you feel you’ve achieved it?
One of the challenges of writing historical fiction is that history tells you where your characters must be and also how they might personally deal with those times. While doing research for Beyond I discovered that women faced incredible oppression through a rigid ideology that viewed their primary role as homemaker and child bearer. Mussolini’s Italy restricted a woman’s access to education and professional opportunities. That helped me develop my female protagonist, Nina Caruso, a strong-willed young woman who wanted to chase a life-long dream…to be a schoolteacher. Her vigilance to pursue that dream in the era of Mussolini affected her relationship with her husband and father. Not because they were bad people, but simply because they were raised in Fascism and feared retaliation from an authoritarian and vindictive government. How does one make the best decision when the world is falling apart around them? I hope I achieved that objective through the emotional and spiritual growth of my protagonists, Nina Caruso and Vincenzo Spinelli.
I found Nina to be an extraordinarily well-written and in-depth character. What was your inspiration for her and her emotional turmoil throughout the story?
I wanted to write about the challenges of a woman growing up in Fascist Italy who wanted to be more than a homemaker and child bearer. Nina’s dream was to be a schoolteacher. As the war grew closer to her hometown of Gallicano, Nina was forced to choose between the old Fascist guard which had aligned itself with Nazi Germany and the emerging resistance. Whatever decision Nina made would create tension within her family, village, and country. My objective was to have readers see through Nina’s eyes, question what they might have done, and the importance of getting quiet, going inward for those important answers.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There was an ethical breakdown in Italy after World War One. The lack of trust in the previous government (Democratic Socialist) that had mismanaged the war and the Versailles Treaty led to an Italy that wanted something totally different. And along came a conman in Benito Mussolini, a politician who swayed in whichever way the political winds were blowing to gain power. Fear was Mussolini’s weapon of choice. Make his followers afraid of the ‘other’ (socialists, anti-fascists, immigrants, Africans, etc) and convince them that only il Duce could solve the troubles of the past. I wanted my readers to ask the same questions. What do you do when there is an ethical breakdown in your country? Do you have the courage to stand up to tyranny? To choose right over wrong, kindness over control, love over fear, and make tough decisions that benefit all…not just the ones on top.
What is one thing that you hope readers take away from Beyond This World There Is A World I Want?
I wanted my readers to understand the importance of forgiveness and to go beyond the world their physical eyes see. Both of my protagonists are on that journey during a very difficult time. Italy was not only in the middle of a World War, but also a civil war. My female lead, Nina Caruso comes from a place of control and must surrender that burden to become the woman she wants to be. My male lead, Vincenzo Spinelli, comes from a place of fear and needs to surrender that perception of himself before he can move forward. Fear is keeping Vincenzo from discovering his belonging, purpose, and love in a world gone mad. One of the definitions of the word beyond is unknown. Another definition means when we ‘repurpose our mind’. The vision of one world causes you to lose vision of the ‘real world’—God’s world of Love. There is a world of ego and a world of love and innocence. The ego thought system has been reinforced throughout history—one of greed and gluttony, war and suffering. But, if we have the ability to change our thoughts, we’ll have no reason for war and abuse and control. Which one will we choose today?
The Indomitable Miss Otis
Grace Dunworthy’s The Indomitable Miss Otis is a historical novel that plunges the reader into the world of Regency England, complete with its rigid social customs, grand balls, and the ever-present tension between propriety and personal ambition. The story follows the spirited and sharp-witted Kitty Otis as she navigates high society, family expectations, and romantic entanglements with a mix of intelligence and stubbornness. Along the way, she encounters a colorful cast of characters, from the dashing but world-weary Mr. Blanchard to the well-meaning yet restrictive figures in her family. Through Kitty’s journey, the novel explores themes of independence, class, and the pressures placed on young women in this era.
Dunworthy’s writing has a delightful energy, particularly in dialogue. Kitty, in particular, is a force of nature, delivering sharp retorts with a confidence that makes her impossible to ignore. One of my favorite moments is her verbal duel with Squire Warden when he criticizes her gown choice, only for her to slice through his hypocrisy with a razor-sharp tongue, exposing his outdated sensibilities. These exchanges are where the novel truly shines. Kitty is no passive heroine, and Dunworthy gives her the words to fight back in a way that feels both authentic to the period and refreshingly modern.
Some sections, particularly those focused on society’s strictures and Kitty’s internal debates about love and duty, reoccur throughout the book. Her prolonged uncertainty over Mr. Blanchard’s affections is well-drawn. While these moments deepen the novel’s themes, they sometimes slow the momentum of the more dynamic scenes. However, Dunworthy’s commitment to historical accuracy and detail makes up for these moments. Her portrayal of Regency customs, from fashion to courtship rituals, is rich and immersive.
What I appreciated most was the book’s emotional core. Despite the humorous sparring and social maneuvering, Kitty is a deeply feeling character, and her moments of vulnerability hit hard. Her struggles with societal expectations and personal happiness are encapsulated beautifully in a scene where she questions whether she can truly be happy by sacrificing love for security. Dunworthy captures the tension between heart and mind with great empathy, making Kitty’s journey feel personal and relatable, even across centuries.
The Indomitable Miss Otis is perfect for fans of historical romance who love a headstrong heroine with a sharp tongue and a good heart. If you enjoyed the wit of Jane Austen but wished her heroines had a little more bite, Kitty Otis will be your new favorite. While the book occasionally lingers on its themes, its lively dialogue, strong characters, and well-researched setting make it an engaging and satisfying read.
Pages: 305 | ASIN: B0DWY1VW32
Authentic Moments
Calypso’s Longing is a lyrical reimagining of the Odyssey’s forgotten goddess, a tale of love, loss, and defiance told in intimate, poetic prose as she reclaims her story from the gods who silenced her.
The diary-style narration is intimate. Was that always the plan, or did the structure evolve as you wrote?
Yes, was always a diary.
Your writing blends mythology with contemporary emotions so seamlessly. How do you balance the timeless and the modern?
My and my friends’ experiences as well as songs and movies for the modern, along with the perceived emotions of the goddesses in ancient mythology.
The sensuality in the book is bold and unapologetic. Was it challenging to write those moments with such raw honesty?
Most poems were written separately and highlighted the situation at that point, which allowed those moments to be described authentically.
Author Links: GoodReads
Goddess Calypso is hailed as “the Concealer”, the lustrous temptress goddess who holds the great Greek Warrior hero Odysseus captive on her island, Ogygia in Homer’s The Odyssey.
In this riveting collection of poetry, woven as a novella, we finally hear Calypso’s side of the story. We sense the depth of emotions of both Odysseus and Calypso while indulging in the scenery and the atmosphere of this romantic retelling from the vast chronicles of Greek Mythology.
In this fiction fantasy of over one hundred original poems, we experienced the five cycles of love – anticipated, activated, annihilated, adjudicated and authenticated. This reimagining finally frees Calypso from merely being a byline in Homer’s version of history and Odysseus’ story.
Feisty, Opinionated, Brave
Maisie Moon’s Guilt follows a young Irish woman navigating the crushing weight of guilt, faith, and societal judgment in 1940s Catholic Ireland and post-war England in a journey of identity and redemption. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My mother was a devout Catholic and came from Ireland. She travelled to England from Ireland in 1947 to train as a nurse and she ran a ward at an early age in Birmingham. So the first part of the book is modelled on my mother’s own experiences. However, she didn’t have a child out of wedlock, that was the fictional part to give her more flaws, and make her more relatable.
How did you balance the subtle supernatural elements with the gritty realism of Nancy’s story?
Yes, not so easy, as you do have to have an interest in the supernatural to suspend disbelief. I tried to make the experiences as realistic as possible.
Nancy’s voice feels so raw and authentic. Was her character based on anyone you know or real historical accounts?
Nancy was based on my mother who passed in 2021 at the age of 93. She was feisty, opinionated, brave and with a heart of gold. As I said, previously, when I cared for her in the last month of her life, she recounted many of the hospital stories to me. So many of the stories are actually true.
With regards to the flashbacks, those are mixed with my own memories of meeting my cousins in Ireland at a young age.
What research did you undertake to capture the vivid details of post-war England and 1940s Ireland?
I did plenty of research as I love history. I used every available resource as I want the facts to be correct. I have to be careful not to info dump into my writing, as often I want the reader to enjoy the historical facts as much as I do, but sometimes I go into too much detail. It needs to be shown rather than told.
Author Links: GoodReads | Instagram | X | Website
England begins to rebuild after the devastation of World War II, a young Irish Catholic travels to England to train as a nurse and escape her heart-breaking past. Determined to make a fresh start, the last thing Nancy Flanagan expects is to encounter a mysterious patient harbouring his own dark secrets. Secrets that will turn her world upside down . . .
Together, Nancy and her patient decide to right their past wrongs and face down an evil that has been lurking in the shadows. With the help of a ragtag team, they travel to Argentina to pursue these malignant forces.
As Nancy delves deeper within the murky world of mythical beings, she discovers she has an unknown gift. Confronted with a supernatural malevolence targeting her loved ones, she emerges as an unlikely heroine in the endless spiritual warfare of good versus evil. Can she and her friends survive the emotional and physical toll on them? Will Nancy succeed and save her loved ones and the world?
Beyond This World There Is A World I Want
Beyond This World There Is A World I Want by Steve Physioc is a gripping historical novel that immerses the reader in the turmoil of World War II Italy. The story follows Nina Caruso, a strong-willed woman who finds herself at the heart of the resistance against the Nazi occupation. As her husband and father are taken by the Germans, she is forced to navigate the dangerous waters of war, morality, and survival. With a blend of romance, espionage, and political intrigue, the novel captures the harrowing choices faced by those who resisted tyranny.
The setting is so richly described that I felt the dirt roads under my feet and smelled the chestnuts roasting in the town square. The author does not shy away from the brutality of war, particularly in scenes where Nina is confronted by SS Major Karl Richter. The tension in these moments is palpable, making it impossible to look away. Nina’s defiance, especially in her interactions with Richter, showcases her resilience and depth as a character. The moment when she carefully pushes his riding crop away from her chest, refusing to cower, is a testament to her quiet strength.
Nina is not just a heroine; she is flawed, determined, and heartbreakingly real. Her relationship with her husband, Paolo, is particularly complex. One moment, they are passionately in love, and the next, she is furious at him for siding with fascists to keep their lives stable. The betrayal she feels when she learns he secretly agreed to suspend her teaching job is gut-wrenching. Meanwhile, her aunt Josephine steals the show with her sharp wit and fearless opposition to oppression. Their conversations about women’s rights and education add an important layer to the story, making it not just about war but also about the fight for equality.
The novel also masterfully explores the moral gray areas of war. Not everyone who collaborates with the Nazis does so out of ideology; some do it to survive, others out of fear. The same goes for resistance fighters; some are noble, while others are ruthless. Physioc does an excellent job of showing these nuances, particularly through Vincenzo, a reluctant monk who must decide whether to follow his faith or fight against fascism. His internal conflict adds a deeply human element to the story, making his journey as compelling as Nina’s.
Beyond This World There Is A World I Want is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novel that I would highly recommend to fans of historical fiction. If you enjoy stories with strong female leads, high-stakes drama, and a richly detailed setting, this book is for you. It is a tale of love and loss, courage and fear, survival and sacrifice. Most importantly, it is a reminder of the power of resistance, even in the darkest of times.
Pages: 446
Like Embers in the Night
Andrew Goliszek’s Like Embers in the Night delivers a moving exploration of human endurance, inspired by real-life events during the Second World War and the grim realities of Soviet labor camps. At its core, the novel tells Wanda’s extraordinary story, a tale of survival, family, and love blossoming against the backdrop of unimaginable chaos. Goliszek juxtaposes human suffering with defiant acts of resistance, crafting a work of historical fiction novel that serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable will to persevere.
Through vivid and unflinching prose, Goliszek captures Poland’s anguish, caught between the brutalities of Soviet oppression and Nazi atrocities. The dehumanization faced by those imprisoned in labor camps and the relentless physical and emotional toll inflicted upon them leave a searing impression. Wanda’s resilience as a survivor of not just one but two merciless regimes resonated deeply with me.
The novel’s portrayal of war is unrelentingly raw, exposing the grim realities of trauma and suffering. Goliszek’s ability to immerse readers through evocative imagery and skillful storytelling is exceptional. Each scene pulses with intensity, making it nearly impossible not to feel the characters’ pain and perseverance. Particularly striking is the depiction of Wanda’s post-traumatic stress. Goliszek captures the subtle, heart-rending triggers, such as the delicate breath of a child, that unearth buried memories of Wanda’s darkest moments. These details lend an authenticity that lingers long after the final page.
At the emotional heart of the story is Wanda and Janek’s love, a relationship forged through shared hardship and sustained by hope. Their bond shines as a beacon in the pervasive darkness, offering glimpses of light amid the despair. The narrative structure, which alternates between Wanda’s present-day struggles with dementia in 2004 and flashbacks to her harrowing past, amplifies the emotional depth of her journey. Her unwavering love for her family becomes her anchor, sustaining her through unimaginable suffering.
Like Embers in the Night is an unmissable read for fans of historical fiction or those drawn to stories of resilience, love, and the triumph of the human spirit. Goliszek’s story not only immerses readers in the brutality of history but also leaves them with an appreciation for the strength and courage that emerges in the face of adversity.
Pages: 342 | ISBN : 978-1509259298
LITERARY TITAN 