The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom (Review)

The Shadow King by Harry Sidebottom

Bookshop.org | Ebook | TG Jones | Waterstones

Blurb

334 BC. Alexander the Great is just twenty-one years old when he sets out with a small army to challenge Persia, the largest and most powerful empire in the world.

Together, his Macedonian army marches East into the unknown – winning battles against overwhelming odds, storming impregnable fortresses from the Aegean through to India.

But there is another Alexander. Prince of the Macedonian royal house of Lyncestis, he becomes Alexander the Great’s general and most trusted friend.

Alexander of Lyncestis is between this friendship and the duty to avenge his murdered brothers. And he is under threat, too. Others – Persians, Greeks, Macedonians – see him him as a rival for the throne. For six years of conspiracy and battle, his life hangs by a thread.

For Alexander of Lyncestis is the Shadow King.

Review

Harry Sidebottom is a new author for me but when I saw this book I thought it sounded like a book that was perfect for me and I was right.

The first word I would use to describe this book is ‘immersive’. Once I started reading I was captured by the storyline and couldn’t put the book down. The writing is so descriptive that I could imagine I was there in all these incredible battle scenes. The characters are also all fantastically written. I also loved the maps at the beginning of the book which I could refer to and see how Alexander the Great’s campaign progressed. The other element I liked was the Historical Afterward which gave me more information.

The book is about Alexander of Lyncestis, a man torn between many loyalties but he gave an oath to Alexander the Great and that oath can not be broken. He is also Alexander the Great’s friend and trusted general who has fought in many battles for Alexander the Great. However, he is also a threat towards Alexander the Great and as the book goes on we see just how threatened Alexander the Great begins to feel.

The book is a brilliant retelling and I believe quite accurate account of the life and deeds of Alexander of Lycestis which has spurred me on to do my own research. Alexander the Great is a character from history that I don’t know much about but after reading this book I did some further research into him and plan on reading some nonfiction books to learn more. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons and will definitely be reading more by Harry Sidebottom in the near future.

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About the author

Harry Sidebottom is Lecturer in Ancient History at Merton College, Oxford, and part-time lecturer in Classics and Ancient History at the University of Warwick. He has written for and contributed to many publications, including Classical Review, Journal of Roman Studies, and War and Society in the Roman World.

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The Teashop Girls by Elaine Everest (Review)

The Teashop Girls by Elaine Everest

Bookshop.org | TG Jones | Waterstones |

Blurb

The Teashop Girls is a warm and moving tale of friendship and love in wartime, by the bestselling author of the Woolworths series, Elaine Everest.

It is early 1940 and World War Two has already taken a hold on the country. Rose Neville works as a Lyon’s Teashop Nippy on the Kent coast alongside her childhood friends, the ambitious Lily and Katie, whose fiancé is about to be posted overseas in the navy. As war creates havoc in Europe, Rose relies on the close friendship of her friends and her family.

When Capt. Benjamin Hargreaves enters the teashop one day, Rose is immediately drawn to him. But as Lyon’s forbids courting between staff and customers, she tries to put the handsome officer out of her mind.

In increasingly dark and dangerous times, Rose fears there may not be time to waste. But is the dashing captain what he seems?

Review

Now I will be honest, I have read this series in completely the wrong order. I read book two Christmas with the Teashop Girls back in 2021 and I really enjoyed it. I intended to read the next books in the series a lot earlier than this but I’m never great with a series. So for a recent holiday I downloaded this book to my Kindle and it was the perfect holiday read.

Set in the 1940’s the book introduces us to the characters Rose, Lily and Katie. Rose, Lily and Katie all live in Kent and have been friends since childhood and now all work at the Lyon’s Teashop as Nippy’s. The book focuses on ups and downs of the three friends lives but also the ups and downs of WWII and how the war influences people’s lives.

Katie has a fiance who is about to be posted overseas in the Navy but Rose and Lily are both single. However, when the handsome Benjamin Hargreaves enters Rose’s life she is immediately drawn to him. Benjamin isn’t just a handsome face he is also kind hearted and generous and willing to help anyone in need. Benjamin is a huge hit with whoever he meets.

I really enjoyed reading about Rose, Katie and Lily again but my favourite is Flora. Flora is Rose’s mom and she is wonderful. Flora is hardworking, running her guesthouse but also helping with the war effort in any way she can. Flora never stops and will help anyone who needs aid but she will also stand no messing from anyone.

Learning about the Lyon’s Teashop was really interesting in this book and I also enjoyed the book being set in WWII. I had forgotten how much I enjoy Everest’s work and I look forward to reading book 3 in the series. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Elaine Everest was born and brought up in northwest Kent and has written widely – both short stories and features – for women’s magazines. When she isn’t writing, Everest runs The Write Place creative writing school in Dartford Kent, and the blog for Romantic Novelists’ Association.

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Belgravia by Julian Fellowes (Review)

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

Blurb

On the evening of 15 June 1815, the great and the good of British Society have gathered in Brussels at what is to become one of the most tragic parties in history – the Duchess of Richmond’s ball. For this is the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, and many of the handsome young men attending the ball will find themselves, the very next day, on the battlefield.

For Sophia Trenchard, the young and beautiful daughter of Wellington’s chief supplier, this night will change everything. But it is only twenty-five years later, when the upwardly mobile Trenchards move into the fashionable new area of Belgravia, that the true repercussions of that moment will be felt. For in this new world, where the aristocracy rub shoulders with the emerging nouveau riche, there are those who would prefer the secrets of the past to remain buried . . .

Review

I bought this book after watching the fantastic TV series and I was really excited to read it, which of course means that it sat on my TBR pile for a few years. I will be honest I struggled at the beginning to get into this book. I found Fellowes writing style to be more like he is writing a screenplay rather than a novel and I found it hard to get into the flow of the book. However, once I got used to the style I did start to enjoy the book.

The book begins with a ball, a ball being held in the middle of a war. This ball is in Brussels and is hosted by the Duchess of Richmond on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. Sophia Trenchard and her family are attending this ball and this is where she learns some devastating news. It is this news that sets in motion events that will not resolve for many years.

The story then moves ahead 25 years where we meet the Trenchard family again. This family is now very wealthy and rubbing shoulders with the aristocracy even if the aristocracy are not keen on rubbing shoulders with new money they grin and bear it. James Trenchard has been hugely successful and dreams of making it in high society. However, in his social climbing he can behave in quite a cringe worthy manner which makes his poor wife Anne dread going out in society with him and I can see why. I really liked Anne because she was quiet, she was thoughtful and she knew what she was doing. She was a little bit too trustworthy of her maid at times but otherwise she was a sensible woman who dreamed of a quiet life. She knew she wasn’t welcome in the homes of the aristocracy but she went to please her husband and she sat quietly, said the right things and smiled at the right people then she quietly went home again. James on the other hand had to be talking to people, to be made known to everyone in the room and was quite embarrassing at times. I felt myself cringing with poor Anne.

I enjoyed how the book showed how society functioned in the Victorian period and I loved the glimpses of the servants behaviour. I also really liked how true events were woven into this story. It really gave me Downton vibes at times. I also really liked the characters in the book with Anne being my favourite. This was my first book by Julian Fellowes but it will definitely not be my last. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes (Baron Fellowes of West Stafford), DL. English actor, novelist, screenwriter, and director.

Fellowes is the youngest son of Peregrine Fellowes (a diplomat and Arabist who campaigned to have Haile Selassie restored to his throne during World War II). Julian inherited the title of Lord of the Manor of Tattershall from his father, making him the fourth Fellowes to hold it. He was educated at Ampleforth College, Magdalene College, Cambridge, and at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.

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Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll (Review)

Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

Blurb

Quiet and reserved, Clemmie is happy in the background. But although her parents may overlook her talents, her ability to read hieroglyphs makes her invaluable at the Egyptian relic parties which have made her father the toast of Victorian society.

But at one such party, the words Clemmie interprets from an unusual amulet strike fear into her heart. The beautiful and dangerous glyphs she holds in her hands will change her life forever.

Five years later, Clemmie arrives in Egypt on a mission to save what remains of her family. The childhood game she used to play about the immortal sisters, Isis and Nephthys, has taken on a devastating resonance and it is only by following Nephthys’ story that she can undo the mistakes of the past. On her journey up the Nile she will meet unexpected allies and enemies and, along with long-buried secrets and betrayals, Clemmie will be forced to step into the light.

Review

I was really excited to read this book and had it preordered for quite a while and I read it almost as soon as it arrived in my parcel box which is unusual for me.

I will be honest I did not gel well with this book. I really tried and there were parts that I enjoyed but I did struggle with the writing style and some of the characters. One of the elements I did enjoy was that the main character Clemmie was an asthmatic. As a fellow asthmatic I found it really interesting to see how asthma was treated in the Victorian period. It really made me realise how dangerous asthma was in that period as there really wasn’t any drugs to help if they had a bad attack.

The other element I loved was the descriptions of Egypt and how the Victorians visited the different locations. I also enjoyed the snippets of Egyptian myths that were included in the book and I would have loved to have had more of those and the descriptions of Egypt. The showing of how Egypt was plundered by tourists and so much history was either destroyed or taken was also good to see that it wasn’t covered up or skipped over but was made part of the story.

I did struggle with how much this book jumped around at times from the present to past and sometimes to dreams. I just felt like it detracted from the storyline and I found it slowed the pacing down quite a bit. I also struggled with Clemmie. Clemmie was a very frustrating character to me. At times she was just too naive and childish and although I know the Victorians were very superstitious Clemmie was broaching on the ridiculous.

This was a take it or leave it book for me, I did enjoy the scenes set in Egypt but I found the flashbacks all too frequent and I just wanted the story to get a move on and back to Egypt. I give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Rachel Louise Driscoll won the Curtis Brown Creative scholarship in 2020. Originally from the South West of England, she lives in the North East with her husband and cat, Cleopatra. Nephthys is her debut novel. She was inspired to write Clemmie’s story by an experience she had at a local museum as a child where she was allowed to hold a mummified ancient Egyptian cat. Enjoying the hours of avid research required, Rachel even wrote some of the book wearing a corset in order to capture Clemmie’s experience more accurately!

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The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Review)

The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

Blurb

1950s Hollywood: Every actress wants to play Salome, the star-making role in a big-budget movie about the legendary woman whose story has inspired artists since ancient times.

So when the film’s mercurial director casts Vera Larios, an unknown Mexican ingenue, in the lead role, she quickly becomes the talk of the town. Vera also becomes an object of envy for Nancy Hartley, a bit player whose career has stalled and who will do anything to win the fame she believes she richly deserves.

Two actresses, both determined to make it to the top in Golden Age Hollywood—a city overflowing with gossip, scandal, and intrigue—make for a sizzling combination.

But this is the tale of three women, for it is also the story of the princess Salome herself, consumed with desire for the fiery prophet who foretells the doom of her stepfather, Herod: a woman torn between the decree of duty and the yearning of her heart.

Before the curtain comes down, there will be tears and tragedy aplenty in this sexy Technicolor saga.

Review

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is one of my favourite authors and I fully plan on reading all her books so I was quite excited to read this book which I bought at Christmas. I was not disappointed.

The first thing that struck me about this book was just how clever it was. It doesn’t just tell one woman’s story it tells three and they are very different from each other. Vera is an unknown Mexican who is cast as the lead in a Hollywood film. The film is about Salome, the well known biblical figure from the Bible. The second woman is Nancy, who has only ever had bit parts and will do anything to get that lead role she dreams about. The third woman is Salome, that legendary woman from the Bible whose dance set in motion certain events.

I loved the setting of this book and found 1950’s Hollywood fascinating. How it all worked on the set of film, the way to publicise a film through socialising and being seen at certain events, right down to where they had lunch with other actors and writers. These scenes were so well written and well researched that it really helped me see what it was like, the glamorous parts and the not so glamorous.

The character I really did not like in this book was Nancy. Nancy was one of these characters who was convinced that she was cheated by everyone and that she should have the best of everything and yet she wouldn’t work for anything and was horrible to people. She was jealous and vindictive and I really didn’t like the parts of the book where she featured.

Vera was my favourite character and one that I felt very protective over. She had always been overshadowed by her sister, she even knew she wasn’t her mother’s favourite child and her mother regularly compared her to her sister. Vera was innocent and polite and kindness itself. She wanted to help everyone and be friends with everyone and never had a bad word to say about anyone.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved how Salome was portrayed. I could not put this book down and it very nearly made the 5 Dragons but I just could not get on with the character of Nancy and her storyline. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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About the author

Silvia Moreno-Garcia is the author of several novels, including Mexican Gothic, Gods of Jade and Shadow and The Daughter of Doctor Moreau. She has also edited a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning She Walks in Shadows (a.k.a. Cthulhu’s Daughters). Mexican by birth, Canadian by inclination.

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Mary I: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir (Review)

Mary I: Queen of Sorrows by Alison Weir

Blurb

Adored only child of King Henry VIII and his first wife Katherine of Aragon, young Princess Mary grows up as the sole heiress to the English throne. But her father wants a son, and soon Mary’s world begins to fall apart.

With her parents’ marriage – and England – in crisis, Mary is banished from the court and kept apart from the mother she adores. The King promises to restore his daughter to favour, but first Mary must do something for which she will never forgive herself.

She seeks solace in her faith. But when her brother Edward VI dies, she finds herself fighting for the crown – and for her life. Emerging triumphant, all seems fair for the reign of Queen Mary. And then, very quickly, things began to go badly wrong…

Review

As you probably know if you have followed my blog for any length of time, Alison Weir is one of my favourite authors. Mary I has never really been one of my favourite monarchs from history but I was excited to read this book by Weir.

I have always found it difficult to feel any sympathy for Mary and this book was no exception. However, this book did highlight for me that Mary did not have an easy life. Her childhood started as perfect, loving parents and everything at her feet. However, that soon changed and she was separated from her parents and her life was thrust into turmoil. From that moment her life was not easy and even when she became queen her life did not go as she would have liked.

Mary could have done so much as Queen. Weir sets the scene of an England in chaos, the economy is a mess, her loyal subjects who always showed her such love are suffering and yet she does very little to help them. She is pushed around by her council and makes bad decisions, her husband doesn’t really help her and acts like a spoilt child when he can’t get his way and uses blackmail on Mary to try and get his own way. Then to top it off Mary orders cruel punishments for the heretics and orders people to be burned at the stake. Her people soon found it hard to still love her.

This book is as always brilliantly written and thoroughly well researched. Although the book is historical fiction it is based on historical evidence and well known facts from that time. The only thing that kept Mary going through her life was her fierce belief in God and the Catholic faith. I have always found the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’ quite apt for Mary I but after reading this book I fully agree with Weir’s choice of ‘Queen of Sorrows’. I give this book 5 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

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About the author

Alison Weir was born in 1951 and is a British writer of history books, and latterly historical novels, mostly in the form of biographies about British Royalty.

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The Household by Stacey Halls (Review)

The Household by Stacey Halls

Blurb

In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life – but how badly do they want it?

Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her her stalker of 10 years has been released from prison . . .

As the women’s worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price . . .

Review

Stacey Halls is one of my favourite authors and is definitely an auto buy author for me so I was very excited when I bought this book. As usual though it got added to my TBR pile and didn’t get read straight away.

The thing I always love about Halls’ books is how well researched her history is and this books makes no exception. This book features Urania Cottage which was a second chance for women who had fallen. Urania Cottage was a refuge for prostitutes, thieves, criminals and the destitute. It gave them new skills and a new chance at life. The cottage was real and just like the book was founded by Charles Dickens and the heiress Angela Burdett-Coutts. However, the thing I love about this book is that Halls features the women in this book and Dickens is only mentioned at certain points. It could have been so easy to make a big feature of such a famous author but thankfully he only gets a very tiny bit part and we get to learn more about the actual women in Urania Cottage and Angela Burdett-Coutts.

There are various women featured in the book whose histories we only learn about as we read through the book. Martha and Emily (who were actual inspirations for people in David Copperfield) and Josephine and Annie. At the other end of the social ladder we get to learn more about Angela Burdett-Coutts which is again based on the true history of Angela Burdett-Coutts. Angela is hugely wealthy and loves to help others, she also loves to travel and host parties. She is a woman of means who should have no worries but sadly she is plagued by a stalker who has stalked her life for the past ten years. As the book goes on these characters’ worlds collide and it is fascinating to see it all unfurl.

I enjoyed this book but I did find it lacked the special something Halls’ previous books had. I found Annie very annoying so I was quite pleased she wasn’t featured massively. The one thing I really liked though was that these women who had totally fallen never lost their strength, their pride and their drive. They remained strong characters throughout. This book also also drove me to do further research of my own into Urania Cottage and Angela Burnett-Coutts. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Stacey Halls grew up in Rossendale, Lancashire, as the daughter of market traders. She has always been fascinated by the Pendle witches. She studied journalism at the University of Central Lancashire and moved to London aged 21. She was media editor at The Bookseller and books editor at Stylist.co.uk, and has also written for Psychologies, the Independent and Fabulous magazine, where she now works as Deputy Chief Sub Editor. The Familiars is her first novel.

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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (Review)

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Blurb

In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and is sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin. Rostov, an indomitable man of erudition and wit, has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside the hotel’s doors. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances provide him entry into a much larger world of emotional discovery.

Brimming with humour, a glittering cast of characters, and one beautifully rendered scene after another, this singular novel casts a spell as it relates the count’s endeavour to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be a man of purpose.

Review

I started watching the TV series of this before I started reading the book but when I was in Waterstones I saw a copy and thought I would like to read the book. As soon as I got home I started to read it and now I have finished the book before the end of the TV series and inevitably I’m getting frustrated with the TV series.

It took me a long time to read this book and I’m not entirely sure why as I really enjoyed it and by the end of the book many characters were like old friends that I didn’t want to let go of.

The book begins in 1922 where we meet Count Alexander Rostov who is sentenced to live out the rest of his days at the Hotel Metropol. If he tries to leave he will be shot. He is stripped of his wealth (although he might have a few little hidden stashes around), his home and his beloved grandmother but he isn’t stripped of his self respect and his sense of purpose. Although as the book goes on we see the Count’s sense of purpose change somewhat. The Count is never beaten down by the regime, he never lets bad thoughts hold him down for long. He always holds his head up high and presents himself as the true gentleman he is.

The first thing that really struck me was how clever this book was. The whole book is set in a hotel but I was treated to so much more. Count Rostov’s insights into world events, into what is happening in the Russian politics, into books, music and even the movies is wonderful. You learn so much and yet it is all set in a hotel. It really is very clever writing by Towles.

You get to meet some fantastic characters in this book. The more notable hotel staff who are there right from the beginning to end and are always the Count’s friends and of course there is Anna the famous actress. However, the two most intriguing characters are two young girls. Nina is a nine year old girl when she meets the Count and she is full of questions but they become firm friends. Nina gives the Count a sense of purpose, he goes on adventures around the hotel with her, he looks forward to her visits and seeing what experiments she is working on. He sees Nina grow and he loves her so when Nina turns up with her daughter Sophia and asks the Count to look after Sophia for a while, he can’t refuse.

This book spans decades and in those decades we see the Count become head waiter, a friend, a teacher, a father figure, a bee keeper and much more. He goes from a gentleman of distinction to a gentleman of work and different purposes. We see the Count grow and those around him grow, especially Sophia. I loved this book and I love Towles’ writing style and will definitely be reading more of his books. The only problem for me with this book was the big time jumps where I would have liked a bit more detail of what had been happening in the gaps. I was also really disappointed in the ending where I was left with so many unanswered questions. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Born and raised in the Boston area, Amor Towles graduated from Yale College and received an MA in English from Stanford University. Having worked as an investment professional in Manhattan for over twenty years, he now devotes himself full time to writing. His first novel, Rules of Civility, published in 2011, was a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback and was ranked by the Wall Street Journal as one of the best books of 2011. The book was optioned by Lionsgate to be made into a feature film and its French translation received the 2012 Prix Fitzgerald. His second novel, A Gentleman in Moscow, published in 2016, was also a New York Times bestseller and was ranked as one of the best books of 2016 by the Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the St. Louis Dispatch, and NPR. Both novels have been translated into over fifteen languages.

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The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Review)

The Daughter of Doctor Moreau by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Blurb

Carlota Moreau: a young woman, growing up in a distant and luxuriant estate, safe from the conflict and strife of the Yucatán peninsula. The only daughter of either a genius, or a madman.

Montgomery Laughton: a melancholic overseer with a tragic past and a propensity for alcohol. An outcast who assists Dr. Moreau with his scientific experiments, which are financed by the Lizaldes, owners of magnificent haciendas and plentiful coffers.

The hybrids: the fruits of the Doctor’s labor, destined to blindly obey their creator and remain in the shadows. A motley group of part human, part animal monstrosities.

All of them living in a perfectly balanced and static world, which is jolted by the abrupt arrival of Eduardo Lizalde, the charming and careless son of Doctor Moreau’s patron, who will unwittingly begin a dangerous chain reaction.

For Moreau keeps secrets, Carlota has questions, and in the sweltering heat of the jungle, passions may ignite.

Review

Why did I take so long to read this book? This book sat on my TBR for so long and I really can’t tell you why because I am yet to find a book by Moreno-Garcia that I haven’t loved. It took me quite a long time to finish this book but that was because this thing called work kept getting in the way of my precious reading time.

This book is a really clever take on the H. G. Wells story called The Island of Doctor Moreau. I loved this refreshing new take on a classic and I thoroughly enjoyed the feminist twist that Moreno-Garcia included.

I really enjoyed how this book was told between Carlota’s and Montgomery’s perspectives but that was also one thing that slightly let this book down for me because some chapters I found too repetitive. Carlota was a very interesting and unconventional character who was both beguiling and annoying at the same time. It was very hard to make her out at times but all became clear as the story continued.

Montgomery was a very sad character who had many demons lurking that were created by his extremely tragic back story. The man had hardly known a moment of happiness or peace in his life but to me he was a fascinating character who really added to the story. He was loyal, he was sensitive, he was kind and understanding and cared for others but he was also brash and hard with a temper.

This book was very much a slow burner for me but I didn’t mind that as it just added to the feeling of suspense. This book was a great historical fiction read with a sci-fi twist that really felt like a classic sci-fi story just like Wells. Moreno-Garcia did brilliantly at keeping the original feeling of a Wells sci-fi novel but with a modern edge and I loved it. I give this book 4 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Foyles | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

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The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory (Review)

The Other Queen by Philippa Gregory

Blurb

Two women competing for a man’s heart. Two queens fighting to the death for dominance. The untold story of Mary Queen of Scots.

Fleeing rebels in Scotland on Queen Elizabeth’s false promise of sanctuary, Mary Queen of Scots finds herself imprisoned as the “guest” of George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury and his indomitable wife, Bess of Hardwick. Soon the newly married couple’s home becomes the centre of intrigue and rebellion against Elizabeth, and their loyalty to each other and to their sovereign comes into question. If Mary succeeds in seducing the earl into her own web of treason, or if the great spymaster William Cecil links them to the growing conspiracy to free Mary from her illegal imprisonment, they will all face the headsman. Using new research and her passion for historical accuracy, Gregory places the doomed queen into a completely new tale of suspense, passion, and political intrigue.

Review

I have always been a massive fan of Philippa Gregory’s books although I will be honest I find them a bit more gossipy if that is the correct word than say an historical fiction book by Alison Weir. I started this book before Christmas but because of how busy I was and one thing and another I took a break from reading it and then picked it back up last week.

I will be honest this book was a hard slog for me and I mean a hard slog. I just could not gel with the format. The book is told from the perspectives of Mary Queen of Scots, Bess of Hardwick and George Talbot Earl of Shrewsbury. Each chapter is told from one of their opinions but the chapters are extremely short and so I could never seem to get fully into each chapter.

We will never know what these three characters were truly like as all that is left is historical evidence but I found Gregory’s interpretation an interesting one, especially of Bess. One of my favourite houses to visit is Hardwick and I admire Bess. She was a powerful woman who in this day and age would have been a successful business woman who people would hopefully respect and admire. However, in Tudor times Bess is hampered by being a woman, by marrying George she signs over everything she owns to him and this leaves her in constant danger of losing it all. However, Gregory portrays her as money obsessed and almost a bean counter but I really don’t think that is what she was like. She was a strong woman who wanted her independence and the right to be a successful land and property owner without being judged by the men in the world. I couldn’t help but feel devastated for her as events unfurled.

George was exactly as I always imagined him whether that is a fair assessment or not I can’t say but Gregory in my opinion got him down perfectly. I’ve read so many differing opinions of Mary Queen of Scots and I can see the side Gregory decided to portray but I must admit she was annoying. I’ve never come across a character who kept contradicting herself so much.

Overall, this book was like ploughing through treacle and not like Gregory’s other books I have read. I just did not like the format and could never seem to get into the book. I give this book 3 out of 5 Dragons.

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Purchase Links

Bookshop.org | Harper Collins | Waterstones | WH Smith

About the author

Philippa Gregory is one of the world’s foremost historical novelists. She wrote her first ever novel, Wideacre, when she was completing her PhD in eighteenth-century literature and it sold worldwide, heralding a new era for historical fiction.

Her flair for blending history and imagination developed into a signature style and Philippa went on to write many bestselling novels, including The Other Boleyn Girl and The White Queen.

Now a recognised authority on women’s history, Philippa graduated from the University of Sussex and received a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where she is a Regent and was made Alumna of the Year in 2009. She holds honorary degrees from Teesside University and the University of Sussex. She is a fellow of the Universities of Sussex and Cardiff and an honorary research fellow at Birkbeck University of London.

Philippa is a member of the Society of Authors and in 2016, was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to Historical Fiction Award by the Historical Writers’ Association. In 2018, she was awarded an Honorary Platinum Award by Nielsen for achieving significant lifetime sales across her entire book output.