The Historical Fiction Shelf
Brighter than the Flames
Stefan Scheuermann
https://www.scheuermannbooks.com
Virtualbookworm.com Publishing
9781638680185, $28.95, HC, 348pp
https://www.amazon.com/Brighter-than-Flames-Stefan-Scheuermann/dp/1638680183
Synopsis: Anna Koob was born into a middle-class German family in 1566. A bright and spirited girl, she became a favorite of her village of Kleinostheim. As an eight-year-old, she is summoned to the home of a prominent baron. The baron's daughter has asked for her as she lies dying. What happens in the baron's home sets off a chain of events that will dictate the flow of Anna's future.
Anna grows into a learned and outspoken woman, a dangerous thing to be in the generation before the Thirty Years War. As her intellectual and spiritual light shines around her, some delight in her, some fall in love with her, and some are frightened by her and set themselves to extinguish her light from the world.
Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel inspired by a historical witch trial, populated by memorable characters, and rife with unexpected plot twists and turns, "Brighter than the Flames" by novelist Stefan Scheuermann will have a very special appeal for readers with an interest in the Historical Fiction subgenre. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community library Historical Fiction collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists that "Brighter than the Flames" is also available in a paperback edition (9781638680178, $21.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Stefan Scheuermann has degrees in history and literature. His writing spans multiple genres in fiction and non-fiction, from comparative language and biography to alternative history and historical fiction/fantasy. The author of The Swan Knights Trilogy and The Tannhauser, Stefan enjoys blurring the lines between history and fiction, showing the remarkable stories that can come from obscure lives. He has a personal and professional website at
https://www.scheuermannbooks.com
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