Can't Wait Wednesday: Castles: A Fortified History by Dan Jones

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Castles: A Fortified History, by Dan Jones. He doesn't need introducing to us medieval history buffs as Jones is one of my favorite authors and podcasters on all things middle ages. This book traces the history of the world's most famous castles and includes drawings and photographs. Known for wonderful research, I'm sure Jones won't disappoint with a unique story about each fortress. 

History, Medieval History

November 3, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads

Castles have been built to defend humanity for millennia—from the walls of Troy in the Bronze Age and the desert bastion of Krak des Chevaliers in Syria; to Windsor Castle and the Tower of London; to Himeji in Japan and Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. They have inspired terror and passion, foiled conquering forces, and been deployed as the ultimate expression of wealth, status, and supremacy.

In Castles, Jones leads readers on a journey through the many eras of castle-building and across continents as each stronghold tells a unique story of power, politics, and survival, revealing the shifting tides of warfare, the rise and fall of empires, the resilience of people under siege, and the flourishing of new ideas.

Blending rich storytelling, deep research, and beautiful original illustrations, Castles is an epic story of why humans build fortifications and how they powerfully capture our imagination. With Jones's trademark scholarship and flair, he shows how defiance, endurance, and ambition have been carved into the landscapes we've inherited.

Book Series I Want to Catch Up On

This week's theme for Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, is "Book series I want to catch up on." My first thought when I saw this was.."just ten??" Lol, I am notorious for starting a series and getting sidetracked by another one. I had to struggle to pick the top ten. I usually like the books I read and genuinely want to know what comes next with the characters but there are just too many choices out there!

1. The Welsh Princes Trilogy by Sharon Kay Penman

2. Lady Eleanor Swift by Verity Bright

3. The Century Trilogy by Ken Follett

4. The Wars of the Roses by David Field

5. Miss Ashford Investigates by Vivian Conroy

6. Fiona Figg and Kitty Lane by Kelly Oliver

7. Lady Caroline by Isabella Bassett

8. Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters

9. Charlotte and Thomas Pitt by Anne Perry

10. William Monk by Anne Perry

 

Stacking the Shelves #100

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Path in the Dark by J.R. Tomlin (A Medieval Mystery)

Kindle purchase: $2.99 this week

This author has several series set in medieval Scotland and this is the start of a brand new series but with fictional characters and a mystery theme. Her other series focus on real characters from history but this is the first I'm aware of that has fictional ones. Robert the Bruce plays a part in it though, so real historical characters are present. It will be interesting to see how she works a mystery into the time and setting. 

The Imprisoned Princess: The Scandalous Life of Sophia Dorothea of Celle by Catherine Curzon

Kindle purchase: $2.99 this week

I had heard of the story of Sophia Dorothea before but never delved into the details. This is the only straight history book I've seen of the scandal although Jean Plaidy wrote one about her life called, The Princess of Celle, that is hard to find now. I thought this looked original and interesting and was on sale for a great price this week. 

Mystery Mile by Margery Allingham (Albert Campion Book Two)

Kindle purchase: $0.51 this week

I have book one from this series and now book two is on sale this week. I have yet to read the first in the series but this author is a famous one from the Golden Age of Detective mysteries and I really need to give it a go soon. I thought since book two was so cheap I'd go ahead and get it. Campion tries to keep a judge and his family safe from a sinister, elusive gangster in this classic mystery. 

A Lady's Guide To Etiquette and Murder by Diane Freeman (A Countess of Harleigh Mystery Book One)

 

Publication Date:

June 26, 2018

Genre: 

Cozy Mysteries, Historical Mysteries

Length:  

272 pages

Series:

Countess of Harleigh Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

In this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures, and scandalous pitfalls, of a London social season.

Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. After an obligatory year spent mourning her philandering husband, Reggie, she puts aside her drab black gowns, leaving the countryside and her money-grubbing in-laws behind. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York, for her first London season.

No sooner has Frances begun her new life than the ghosts of her old one make an unwelcome appearance. The Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.

While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances learns of mysterious burglaries plaguing London’s elite. The investigation brings death to her doorstep, and Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst, perhaps even among her sister’s suitors. And Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season, and their lives, come to a most unseemly end.

My Thoughts:

This has been in my Kindle for a long time and I just decided to give it a try. It was a cute cozy mystery with fun characters and really worked in that turn of the century feel with the setting, social mores, and fashions. I enjoyed Frances, her sister, and all their drama with introducing Lily to high society in order to hopefully land a husband. It was funny when attention was drawn to Frances's American ways vs the English expectations. And the introduction of George made it clear they'd be solving more cases together in future stories. 

Overall a decent first book in a cute series that reminded me a lot of the Rhys Bowen series, Her Royal Spyness. The ending wasn't terribly surprising but did keep me guessing throughout the book and without giving it away I'll say that it will be interesting to see how they work in the fallout in subsequent books. I liked the main character, she was witty and kind and so that makes me want to see what happens to her!

Can't Wait Wednesday: A Time Traveler's Guide to the 13th Century by W.B.J. Williams

 For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, A Time Traveler's Guide to the 13th Century, by W.B.J. Williams. This caught my eye on Net Galley because it specifically features the 1200's, a time I used to find boring and pointless to study but now I love. 

So much happened that we don't realize and when I delved into the reigns of King John, King Henry III, and Edward I, I started to wonder why it is overlooked. This book covers history during the same time period but includes the world at the time, not just England.

If you love medieval history this book is for you!

History, Medieval History

October 15, 2026

Book description courtesy of Net Galley

Step into the world where Europe's first great universities flourished, philosophers and poets reshaped the medieval imagination, caravans carried silk and spices from China to Cairo, and mighty cities like Venice and Hangzhou dazzled travelers with wonders now lost to time. Journey through the bustling streets of Paris, Budapest, Constantinople, Baghdad, Timbuktu, Lalibela, Mayapan, and Cahokia, and visit the legendary courts of emperors, sultans, and kings. This richly researched guide by the author of the historical fantasy The Garden at the Roof of the World takes the traveler on an unforgettable tour of the sights, beliefs, dangers, and marvels of a world known today mostly through ruins and chronicles, bringing the 13th century to life with the excitement of a grand adventure.

Unlike traditional medieval histories focused primarily on Europe or Asia, this immersive guide spans the entire world, from Europe and the Middle East to Africa, Asia, and the Americas, to reveal the interconnected global web of the 13th century's diversity and splendor. A blend of history, travel, and forgotten chronicles, it invites readers to discover a medieval age far larger, richer, and more fascinating than most people imagine.