In 1782, during the final clashes of the Revolutionary War, one of our young nation’s most valiant and beloved soldiers was, secretly, a woman.

When Deborah Samson disguised herself as a man and joined the Continental Army, she wasn’t just fighting for America’s independence—she was fighting for her own. Revolutionary, Alex Myers’s richly imagined and meticulously researched debut novel, brings the true story of Deborah’s struggle against a rigid colonial society back to life—and with it the courage, hope, fear, and heartbreak that shaped her journey through a country’s violent birth.

After years as an indentured servant in a sleepy Massachusetts town, chafing under the oppressive norms of colonial America, Deborah can’t contain her discontent any longer. When a sudden crisis forces her hand, she decides to finally make her escape. Embracing the peril and promise of the unknown, she cuts her hair, binds her chest, and, stealing clothes from a neighbor, rechristens herself Robert Shurtliff. It’s a desperate, dangerous, and complicated deception, and becomes only more so when, as Robert, she enlists in the Continental Army.

What follows is an inspiring, one-of-a-kind journey through an America torn apart by war: brutal winters and lethal battlefields, the trauma of combat and the cruelty of betrayal, the joy of true love and the tragedy of heartbreak. In his brilliant Revolutionary, Myers, who himself is a descendant of the historical Deborah, takes full advantage of this real-life heroine’s unique voice to celebrate the struggles for freedom, large and small, like never before

Those who know me well know how much of a fan of the revolution I am. In turn they also know how picky I can be about books set in the era and how I often lament the lack of good, readable and accurate books that take place during this nations forming. After reading Revolutionary by Alex Myers, I am no longer lamenting. This book was simply put one of the finest historical fictions on the Revolutionary war I have ever read.

The story of Deborah Samson may not be known by as many as say the story of General George Washington, but to those who know it like me, we love it. It has been an honor and a privilege to read such a well told fictional account of the time in her life that made her become a soldier. From a woman who was seen as strong willed straining at the bit to break free from the reigns of confinement to a man, a good soldier who served loyally and bravely for the freedom of this country every word is placed with purpose and intent. For me personally it was one little detail that stood out the most that just gave that extra little push to making me believe in this whole story, the use of he and she. As the story comes from Deborah’s point of you would expect to always see she being used, however I noticed in the moments where Deborah truly became Robert and felt more closely with Robert the wording became he. That makes sense to me I get that. Just as towards the end when Robert starts to feel more like Deborah again we see she come back into play, a small detail that some might not even notice as they read the action of the story but I did and I appreciate it.

While as with any historical fiction there are some playing with facts here and there overall I cannot fault the accuracy of Revolutionary. From the uniforms to the way that the drills and firing of the musket are described it all rings true and right well researched. This book gets a highly recommend from me because it is truly a master piece of the Revolutionary war, telling a story that many in this world today will still connect with now.

My Gemstone Rating:

Book two of the Éire’s Viking Trilogy.

Beginning ten years after the end of Éire’s Captive Moon, this is the story of how Agnarr Halvardson returns to Éire with the intention of settling there, marrying, and siring sons.

It is also the story of Aislinn, who was a child in Ragor when the Northmen raided eleven summers prior but is now a working physician in her own right. She spent a year in Bangor Monastery and became a Christian before Cowan and Charis returned to take the children to Cowan’s village in the kingdom of Dál Fiatach and returns there a decade later to finish learning all she can from the monks about their healing practices.

When Cowan brings her a patient, injured and temporarily unable to speak, she can’t help but find the strong, tall man attractive, even if such feelings unsettle her.

Although sparks fly immediately, Agnarr’s idea of wedding Aislinn—the physician who heals him when he is injured—is hampered by many factors, including language and cultural differences. There is also the matter that he is the man who kidnapped and enslaved Charis years before.

Everyone who knows me knows I love a good Viking story, for the historical side and because Loki is my Patron God. I loved the first book in this series  Éire’s Captive Moon by Sandi Layne so I was very excited to dig into the second book to see what Agnarr and Charis and Cowan would get up to again.

I can say I was not disappointed.

Once again we delve deep into a wonderfully written story of war, love, loss and dealing with emotions and learning forgiveness. The story is centered mostly on Aislinn and Agnarr and the story that becomes their love. Not only their love but what Agnarrs love for the land that is Ireland. Aislinn was one of the children from the tunnels in the last books, so her family was slaughtered by the raiding party and she held anger to the men from the North, which is fully understandable. However through her faith in her God she is able to slowly forgive.

As with the last book you can tell that a great deal of research went into this book and the blending of the cultures and histories is fantastic. While the one point I didn’t really like was when Agnarr converted ( I won’t give spoiler details as to what goes on.) , I know that is a personal preference. As a reader I fully understand why he did aside from it being one of the points of the stories, how Ireland came to be not taken over but settled, so it makes sense for the actual story and I appreciate that.

Personally for me this was another triumph of work from Sandi Layne and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the third installment. I love when a book makes me feel like I am visiting old friends and that is how I felt throughout the whole of this one.

My Gemstone Rating: