Sylvie Duchenne wants to help her country of France during the war.  After travelling with her mother's dancing troupe, Sylvie has the necessary skills for a placement with the Special Operations Executive, the SOE.  She is placed at the Mirabelle nightclub in Nantes.  Sylvie is to act as a courier, but also has a more dangerous role of extracting information from any German soldiers that she may attract.  Sylvie dives into her role, ready to help in any way possible.  However, her first contact never appears and Sylvie must quickly change plans, relying on the club's pianist, Felix.  As Sylvie's missions become more involved, a German Secretary, Dieter Baumann becomes entranced with Sylvie. As the Resistance moves forward with operations, Sylvie's cover is compromised and she will have to make a life changing decision.

The Secret Agent is historical fiction of the Resistance set during World War II.  The strength of Sylvie's character drew me in from the very first scene where she was being interrogated.  I was intrigued by the training that the women of the SOE went through and the various roles that they played in the Resistance.  While Sylvie may not have been a real person, she was based upon three very real women who risked everything to help their country:  Noor Inayet Khan, Odette Hallowes and Violette Szabo.  While there may have not been a resistance cell in Nantes, I was impressed by the historical detail of the occupied town, the attitudes of the people there and the activities of the Resistance.  I was constantly amazed by Sylvie's fortitude and willingness to take on tasks.  The writing style bounced back and forth between Sylvie's point of view before the war and during the war creating an even pace and well rounded characters.  


This book was received for free in return for an honest review. 

​Long ago, a trader along the Silk Road overheard two former soldiers divulge of their quest to recover a powerful chalice.  The trader develops a scheme to get the treasure for himself.  However, in retrieving his prize, the trader unleashes a powerful being that wreaks havoc upon the Earth.  Years later, when the town has been experiencing a prolonged drought, the trader tells his story.  He fears his actions long ago have resulted in disaster.  Together, the trader and a younger man set off to right his wrong from long ago.  

The Demon in the Well is an epic tale told in rhyming verse.  It's been awhile since I have read anything in this format and I enjoyed the deep immersion into the story and how quickly I was pulled in.  The verse made the story move very quickly and kept me wanting to know what happened next. I was surprised by how smoothly the rhymes carried the story.  While the characters may not have been as well formed, I still feel like I knew who the characters were.  Most of all, I enjoyed the author's inspiration for The Demon of the Well and what his imagination was able to create.  Overall, The Demon of the Well is an exciting journey told in a unique way. 
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.