Friday, June 24, 2011

Review - The Bronze and The Brimstone by Lory S. Kaufman

What could go wrong in the 14th century for three time-traveling teens?
How about EVERYTHING?

The Bronze and the Brimstone: The Verona Trilogy, Book 2

TITLE:    The Bronze and the Brimstone
AUTHOR:    Lory S. Kaufman
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 334 pages
PUBLISHED:   The Fiction Studio, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review and Book Tour

  

FROM THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:  Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention of the rich and powerful.But standing out can get you into unexpected – situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move.

Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disastrous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens.

Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone.

Do they have a future in this past?

MY TAKE:    I had the good fortune to be on the book tour for The Lens and The Looker which is the first book in this Verona Trilogy.  You can read my review HERE. I was hooked and was very fortunate that I didn't have to wait for this second book to arrive as I already had it on hand.  I pretty much read them back to back.  It was very easy to dive right into the past with these three teens.

The Bronze and The Brimstone picks up right where we left off in the first book.  I did really like how the author briefly reintroduced us to the characters and their situation.  It is helpful to remind the familiar reader of the storyline and could very easily pull a person who is just starting the series with this book right into the story. 

I am still amazed by the obviously extensive amount of research that Lory Kaufman has put into these stories.  He is very detailed and thorough.  I have learned a lot about Verona and the fourteenth century.  I've picked up interesting information on the creation of optical lenses, gunpowder, cannons and much more.  The best part is that it was enjoyable and unexpected learning that was not from a dry textbook. 

The characters are all growing up a bit more and are easing into their life in the Verona of the past.  They each adapt to their situations and are learning to roll with the punches a bit more.  The relationships they form with the people around them really reflect this move towards maturity for all three of them.  While we still deal mostly with Hansum, Lincoln and Shamira are both getting more time to shine in this book.  I especially enjoyed reading about Lincoln.  He has grown up quickly and taken on quite a bit of responsibility.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series. The Lens and the Looker  and The Bronze and the Brimstone are both available NOW.  Lory tells us he is working on The Loved and The Lost which will wrap up this brilliant trilogy and the story of Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln.  Looking forward to this highly anticipated book!

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

WHERE TO BUY IT:    Amazon and The Book Depository

You can learn more about the author and the Verona Trilogy by visiting:
History-Camp
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

The Lens and the Looker: Book #1 of the Verona Series (History Camp: the Verona Trilogy) The Bronze and the Brimstone: The Verona Trilogy, Book 2
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~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

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