History & Alternate History – Page 18

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REVIEW: Merchants of Milan – Edale Lane

July 18, 2020 by scott

Genre: Historical, Fantasy, Romance LGBTQ+ Category: FF/Lesbian Reviewer: Devon Get It On Amazon About The Book Three powerful merchants, two independent women in love, one masked vigilante. Love blooms between Florentina and Maddie, but Florentina’s role as the vigilante Night Flyer could lead to her death and Maddie’s broken heart. Florentina, set on revenge for her father’s murder, creates an alter-ego known as the Night Flyer. Madelena, whose husband was also murdered, hires Florentina as a tutor for her children and love blossoms between them. However, Florentina’s vendetta is fraught with danger, and surprising developments threaten both women’s lives. The … Read more

INNOVATION: Cover Reveal

July 15, 2020 by scott

It’s gettin’ real, y’all. The marked-up manuscript came back from Ryane last week, and we’ve now heard from just about all of the authors with their changes and approval. Now we upload to Amazon for preorder! And it’s time for the cover reveal! Here’s the eBook cover: And here’s the print cover: Next up? Announceing the Judges’ Choices in about two weeks, and then publication on August 8th. So many great stories!

Time Travel: AI Restores 1890’s Videos to HD-Like Clarity

June 23, 2020 by scott

Shot more than a century ago, a scene showing “Buffalo Bill” as he conducts an interview with an Oglala Lakota leader looks as if it were filmed yesterday. This old film clip was recently remastered using artificial intelligence (AI), and the result lookslike high-definition video. The artist behind this transformation is giving Live Science readers a first look at the astonishing result. Though still black and white, the remastered footage no longer appears jittery and sped-up, as silent films usually do. Motion in very old movies looks unnaturally fast because the hand-cranked film cameras of the day captured fewer frames … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Practical Mage’s Guide to Magic and Mayhem – Dan Ackerman

June 3, 2020 by scott

QSFer Dan Ackerman has a new queer fantasy historical book out: “The Practical Mage’s Guide to Magic and Mayhem.” Hiram Reinhart abandoned a life of privilege when he could no longer stomach the ugliness of plantation life. Now he resides in Canada, selling small enchantments to keep his rag-tag family fed and housed, if only barely. Matthew Blackwell, another mage, seeks out Hiram’s assistance in order to find a demon. Hiram seeks out the demon on his own, concerned for the creature’s well-being. The demon, Phaedrus, turns down Hiram’s offer of aid at first. Soon enough, Hiram and Phaedrus regret … Read more

REVIEW: Conned – Kim Fielding

June 1, 2020 by scott

Title: Conned Series: Bureau Book 6 Author: Kim Fielding Genre: Paranormal, Historical, Romance LGBTQ+ Category: MM Gay Publisher: Tin Box Press Pages: 249 Reviewer: Maryann Get It On Amazon About The Book World War I veteran Thomas Donne is new to San Francisco. Always a stoic man, shell shock and a lost love have nearly turned his heart to stone. No matter—a private eye has no room for softness. Almost broke, he takes on what appears to be a simple case: finding a missing young man. As a magician and medium, Abraham Ferencz cons his audiences into believing he can … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Secrets of Milan – Edale Lane

June 1, 2020 by scott

Edale Lane has a new FF alternative historical fantasy out, book two in the Night Flyer trilogy: “Secrets of Milan.” The Night Flyer had brought Florentina and Madelena together but now threatens to drive them apart. While Florentina searches for a mysterious underworld organization that has attempted to murder the woman she loves, Maddie struggles to deal with the danger Florentina is courting. Her brother, Alessandro, has become the most prominent merchant of Milan, but the Night Flyer uncovers a secret so shocking it could destroy them all. Secrets of Milan is the second book in Edale Lane’s Night Flyer … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Cannon Fire – C.J. Baty

May 30, 2020 by scott

QSFer C.J. Baty has a new MM historical paranormal book out, The Legend of the Ghost Train book 2: “Cannon Fire.” 1862 – Maxwell Ryder refused to honor a prearranged marriage with Penelope Walker. Instead, he fell madly in love with her younger brother, Jeremiah. When Maxwell returned to his regiment, Penelope planned the murder of her brother. Hiding his body where no one would ever find it. Maxwell died during a Civil War battle never knowing what happened to his love. Present – Luke Ryder was the last descendant of the Ryder family. It was on his watch that … Read more

COVER REVEAL: Conned, by Kim Fielding

May 21, 2020 by scott

Kim Fielding has a new MM historical paranormal mystery coming out in the “Bureau” series: “Conned.” And we have the cover reveal! World War I veteran Thomas Donne is new to San Francisco. Always a stoic man, shell shock and a lost love have nearly turned his heart to stone. No matter—a private eye has no room for softness. Almost broke, he takes on what appears to be a simple case: finding a missing young man. As a magician and medium, Abraham Ferencz cons his audiences into believing he can cheat death and commune with their dearly departed. Although his … Read more

ANNOUNCEMENT: Devilfish – Anna Kensing

May 15, 2020 by scott

QSFer Anna Kensing has a new paranormal historical bi/gay MM romance out, “Devilfish.” Prosperous merchant Elliot Bishop has built a safe life in Port Townsend, Washington. The family business is thriving, he’s engaged to be married, and he’s not about to let his rogue stepbrother’s sudden return home disrupt his plans. But when his fiancée disappears under the same mysterious circumstances as his mother did years ago, and his childhood nightmares about octopuses reoccur, Elliot senses someone—or something—took both women, and now it’s after him. Captain Declan Fitzgerald finally has his own ship and crew, but he’s still governed by … Read more

Swordplay With Bronze Age Weapons is Really Hard

May 7, 2020 by scott

Hefty Bronze Age swords are an impressive sight, but scholars have long wondered if these swords were primarily ornamental or if they were used regularly in combat. Modern researchers took a closer look at these weapons — even hoisting them in mock battles — and they discovered that not only were these swords battle-ready, using them effectively was a lot harder than it looked. To see how much damage the swords could inflict, a research group in the United Kingdom called the Bronze Age Combat Project (BACP) brought together experts from universities and museums; and hobbyist volunteers who train in … Read more