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Recent Reviews for Lorrieann Russell
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My Brother's Keeper (Book) - 6/3/2007 3:37:13 PM
My Brother's Keeper is one of the best fictional sagas I have ever read. Lorrieann Russell introduces us to William Fylbrigge, a young Scottish upstart who is about to marry the duke's daughter and take his place of honor as the Earl of Sutherland. There is, of course, skullduggery galore waiting in the shadows for William and the readers. William's own brother, Thomas, is the ringleader of the villains, but it is Thomas' wife Bryndah who scares the pants off the new earl. Through several twists of fate, Bryndah is the surrogate mother who raised him until he was twelve, but only William and a few of his close friends realize what a queen witch Bryndah really is. The plot swirls around the witch trials of Scotland, which predated those in Salem. Lorrieann has taken a real-life character she discovered in a search through her own genealogy and developed an elaborate, fictional tale around his short life.
Lorrieann Russell is one of America's best new authors. Yes, I know that this book was released back in 2001, but it may be re-released by a traditional publisher in the future. Lorrieann's third book, a prequel to My Brother's Keeper, is due out any time now. Look for Ms. Russell to become known as a notable author of historical fiction.
In the Wake of Ashes (Book) - 6/3/2007 2:38:52 PM
Any fan of historical fiction should at least give a look to Lorrieann Russell's work. Her show-don't-tell, conversational style places the reader right there in the room with her characters. In the Wake of Ashes is the sequel to My Brother's Keeper. Together, they add up to more than 1000 pages of enjoyable reading.
I recommend that anyone read My Brother's Keeper before In the Wake of Ashes in order to get the full impact of the details in the sequel. Ashes begins with William Fylbrigge on his way to America from Scotland via ship in 1612. He is practically in a coma when the voyage begins, but by the time he reaches his destination, he is ready to begin his new life as William Philbrick. In the Wake of Ashes is basically the continuation of the story of William after surviving a witch trial back in Scotland. Marred only by an excessive number of typos, In the Wake of Ashes carries William through new adventures in which I am quite sure his fans will revel. The local Indian tribe is a friendly one, and Ms. Russell presents an intriguing glimpse into early American life in the time before we made all the natives mad at us. This makes In the Wake of Ashes seem sort of like a Last of the Mohicans set a century or so earlier, and the comparison is a favorable one for the talent of Ms. Russell!
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