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mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
1.0
I love historical fiction, and while I largely only read about the monarchy, I was really looking forward to reading about another historical event. The plot was actually rather good, and I really enjoyed the investigative aspects and the double-crossing elements. If this book had been better edited, I actually would have given it a two-star rating. Alas.
Firstly, the book was too long and the sub-plots were stupid. There, I've said it. Kate feeding and talking to a bear?? What? Why? How is that relevant to the Gunpowder plot? So much could have been cut out and it still would have made sense. Long pages of Francis walking about and watching people or being watched. Long paragraphs detailing Kate making gloves and what they looked like and how hard she had to push the needle through the material - it all should have been cut out so that the tension and action could progress. Instead we kept getting this building of tension, and then nothingness.
Kate was given a lot of page time and was one of our main narrators, but her presence could have been removed entirely and the book would still have been readable. I actually started skipping her chapters because they were so dull and added nothing to the plot. Francis should have been the only narrator because he was in the thick of the action and was actually likeable.
It is a real shame that this hadn't been better edited, because it could have been a better read.
Firstly, the book was too long and the sub-plots were stupid. There, I've said it. Kate feeding and talking to a bear?? What? Why? How is that relevant to the Gunpowder plot? So much could have been cut out and it still would have made sense. Long pages of Francis walking about and watching people or being watched. Long paragraphs detailing Kate making gloves and what they looked like and how hard she had to push the needle through the material - it all should have been cut out so that the tension and action could progress. Instead we kept getting this building of tension, and then nothingness.
Kate was given a lot of page time and was one of our main narrators, but her presence could have been removed entirely and the book would still have been readable. I actually started skipping her chapters because they were so dull and added nothing to the plot. Francis should have been the only narrator because he was in the thick of the action and was actually likeable.
It is a real shame that this hadn't been better edited, because it could have been a better read.
sony08's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was quite a quick read for me. The author got straight into the action and quickly introduced all characters.
The story covers the time before and just after the alleged BLOW UP of Parliament in 1605 and all involved with this plot. She introduces Guido Fawkes neither as a villain nor as a hero and kind of leaves the reader to make up their own minds.
We are introduced to the twisted body of Robert Cecil who hires firemaster Frances Quoynt to find him traitors who plot to kill the King James I - but the task gets more twisted and difficult that Frances anticipates.
The characters of Kate Peach and both father and son Frances Quoynts were very well described and very likeable each in different way and for different reasons.
The language was crude at times and maybe not what you'd read in books by Phillipa Gregory or Alison Weir, but after few chapters I got used to that and realised that when you write about the lives in the darkest parts of 17'th century London with all it's ale houses and brothels you need to make the language seem authentic.
Great book - for me it's 10/10 and I will read more by this author.
The story covers the time before and just after the alleged BLOW UP of Parliament in 1605 and all involved with this plot. She introduces Guido Fawkes neither as a villain nor as a hero and kind of leaves the reader to make up their own minds.
We are introduced to the twisted body of Robert Cecil who hires firemaster Frances Quoynt to find him traitors who plot to kill the King James I - but the task gets more twisted and difficult that Frances anticipates.
The characters of Kate Peach and both father and son Frances Quoynts were very well described and very likeable each in different way and for different reasons.
The language was crude at times and maybe not what you'd read in books by Phillipa Gregory or Alison Weir, but after few chapters I got used to that and realised that when you write about the lives in the darkest parts of 17'th century London with all it's ale houses and brothels you need to make the language seem authentic.
Great book - for me it's 10/10 and I will read more by this author.
meglet_kitten's review against another edition
Interesting plot and characters, with a bit of a surprise ending.
bibliobethreads's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book, and some parts of it were really well written. However, I agree with some other reviewers that near the end of the novel, it seemed as if the author had run out of ideas and it was just dragging along. Shame, as parts of it were quite good!
jennp28's review against another edition
good solid historical fiction. nice to hvae it set slightly outside the "main players" but have them so involved in the story.
nickrockfitz's review against another edition
4.0
Started out pretty slow but I loved the subject matter. I didn't even know about the gun powder controversy. I learned about V for Vendetta first and the fact that it's based off of a real life event and then given a fictional back story in old England. Love that!
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