Praise for Ann Chamberlin

Sofia won both Affaire de Coeur's
"Best Foreign Historical" and "Best Cover" Awards

"This is a brilliant novel. Ann Chamberlin is the master of crafting exciting realistic historical fiction. Sofia brings alive sixteenth century Italy and Turkey through the eyes of its fabulous lead protagonists. The clever portrayal of harem life adds a touch of historical Middle Eastern ethnicity, thereby allowing the reader to see the world through another culture. "

"Blends absorbing historical detail with a lively, romantic plot about two Italian teenagers sold into slavery in the Ottoman Empire. . . But it's the fascinating descriptions of Islamic culture, including Giorgio's painful transformation into a slave, that makes this story compelling."

"A stunning story that sweeps you along. . . the reader soaks up details of a life of which neither character nor reader has ever dreamed. A brilliant evocation of a strange and fascinating world with dynamic and believable characters. This is a book that will live in your memory."

"This unblinking plunge into a sixteenth-century harem enthralls with its lyrical prose and mesmerizes with its depiction of the young man who pays the ultimate price for innocent passion. The era in Sofia comes brilliantly alive. Chamberlin is a master storyteller."

-- Kathleen Dougherty, author of Moth to the Flame and Double Vision

"Magnificent! Sofia is a breathtaking story of love, betrayal and heartache, with captivating characters, set in a fascinating and exotic time period only Ann Chamberlin could so skillfully bring to life."

"Sofia is a fascinating story, beautifully told. It captures the imagination and holds it firmly in hand from page one to the finish. Ann Chamberlin succeeds in blending passion and humor, joy and pathos, to produce a Turkish delight of a tale."

More Reviews of Sofia at
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Praise for The Sultan's Daughter

The Sultans Daughter won both Affaire de Coeur's "Best Foreign Historical" and "Best Cover" Awards

"Historical fiction at its greatest level. The Sultan's Daughter is so colorful and real, readers can not only see sixteenth century Turkey, but smell the aromas (pleasant and ugly) of a different society. Ms. Chamberlin is one of the best writers today as she combines teaching her readers with an amazingly entertaining and interesting tale of intrigue. This reviewer strongly recommends this novel and its predecessor because both books are among the best historical fiction written in the ninties."

"The world of the harem, with all its power struggles, comes alive. . . rich historical detail."

"Exotic. . . . in addition to capturing and effectively communicating the extraordinay opulence and the devious intrigue of the Turkish royal court, Chamberlin does a marvelous job of delineating a believable female character, working within the constraints of her time and place to achieve astounding goals and ambitions. Lush historical fiction."

"The reader is drawn into a world of Machiavellian intrigue where the struggle for power among the women of the seraglio influences the politics of both the East and the West."

"A complex historical tale of two formidable women. . . . elaborate, lush historical fiction."

"The Merlin of St. Gilles' Well is wonderful!. . . It's the best book I've read in months and months; a terrific premise, and so beautifully imagined and described, I can only gnash my teeth in envy. . . Every word is--literally--magic, evoking another world, an older time--and the echoes of the Old Ways that live on in us, unseen."

From Booklist September 1, 1999:
* starred review--"Well-regarded historical novelist Chamberlin turns her pen to what is labeled fantasy by the publisher but is perhaps better described as 'magical historical realism.' For it is only fantasy if you don't believe in magic, and magic forms the bedrock upon which Chamberlin has built a marvelous recasting of the story of Joan of Arc in terms of ancient pagan beliefs in the power of kings to invigorate their lands. Brittany, with its residual Celtic heritage, figures prominently in the novel's settings, and philosophical questioning of dualistic thought is a strong theme brilliantly expressed in the book. Some sections, such as that detailing the decoding of the pagan subtext of superficially historical and Christian tapestries, could almost stand alone as academic works. But fear not, such scholarliness is not what Chamberlin depends on to keep us reading. Instead, those old reliables, smart pacing, complex and compelling characters, and, above all, a superbly realized magical world, in which extraordinary powers are wielded by Druidical hermits and inner vision is as true as outer vision, make the book compelling. A splendid beginning to what should become a classic series."

From Booklist
* starred review--"Chamberlin is making a familiar historical tale even more memorable in her retelling."

From Publishers Weekly
"Chamberlin deserves an honorable place in the company of such writers as Twain, Shaw and Anouilh who have dramatized the life of the Maid of Orleans."

From Booklist May 15, 1999
"What if the God of Eden were really a goddess? What if the fall from grace were a fall into agriculture, away from the hunter-gatherer life? And what if someone could write this oft-told tale in a ravishingly poetic way? Chamberlin has done so, re-creating a world in which humanity and nature live in harmony, with the former celebrating the bounty of the latter and migrating seasonally among milk-and-honey lands. The goddess is Lilith, the powerful and fiercely sexual force of survival and reproduction. Into this Eden comes an arrogant man who pits himself against the natural order by refusing to let old ones die when their time has come and to migrate when the season demands. Told by Adam's daughter, the bard Na'amah, the tragic story holds an underlying warning for today: that we are about to destroy what little is left of that primeval Eden. Thoroughly based in contemporary research about prehistory, Chamberlin's novel is a gorgeous melding of art and scholarship."

"Ann Chamberlin tells her story with authenticity and depth.. . . I found I was on the last page before I knew it, the story is so absorbing. Chamberlin is a great storyteller. I look forward to her next novel."

"Engrossing. . . .the characters are believable . . . . [and] brought vividly to life."

"A tale of passion, loss and fated retribution. . . . [a] meticulously researched, well-crafted novel."

"From the shocker of her opening sentence, Ann Chamberlin's evocative and vivid writing makes us share every joy, every sorrow, every treachery and tenderness in the life of a truly remarkable woman. This is the finest debut novel I have ever read. This is one of the finest novels I have read, period. I envy Chamberlin's talent."

"Rich and subtle, woven of threads brilliant and dark, Ann Chamberlin's Tamar is a story of dignity and courage in the face of outrageous betrayal, wisdom and selflessness in the midst of ignorance and greed, the triumph of what is best in us over what is worst -- this is a big, beautiful, powerful book."

"The vibrance of Tamar catches what so much of fiction misses these days -- reality. Chamberlin's succulent details and glittering humor engulfs us. She showcases a great secret of historical writing: that history isn't over."

-- Diane Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Best Destiny and The Great Starship Race

"A fascinating journey into history, legend, myth, and magic. . . Ann Chamberlin brings the ancient realm of King David to startling, thrilling life in this tale of a time and place where God was called Goddess, and dwelled in the secret groves protected by the knowledge of women. Tamar is a one-of-a-kind adventure of the mind and soul. Don't miss this."

"Tamar is a truly unique and beautifully written drama that brings an exceptional woman and a distant time to vivid life. I loved it!"

"Masterful! Told with intelligence and compassion, Tamar's story reaches the heart."

"Tamar is brilliant -- luscious, evocative, honest, and moving. I've seen a dozen authors try to write in similar milieus, but none has succeeded better. In my estimation, Ann Chamberlin isn't a name to watch, she's a star that has already risen! I do hope a sequel is in the works."

"Ann Chamberlin's sweeping saga of life in biblical times should do for the Age of David what Jean Auel did for prehistoric man. . . . A brilliant depiction of a lost age, but also a parable for our own."

"This is a visionary novel from a very promising newcomer to the field of historical fiction. Chamberlin will be a name to watch for in years to come. Her storytelling abilities and thorough research combine to produce a novel reminiscent of an early Mary Renault or Marion Zimmer Bradley."

"Chamberlin lures the reader into a richly textured universe. Tamar is vivid and hypnotic; it frightens, titillates and delights the senses. A wonderful read."