kayedacus's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
I was sooooo not ready for this book to end.
This was a fun, fast-paced story, as expected; however, there were a few things with it that didn't work quite as well for me as the first book.
***Spoilers below***
The biggest problem I had with this book was not that Brendan found himself succumbing to Sybilla's seductive ways but that he spent most of the book not remembering Kate---not thinking at all about the woman he's supposedly in love with and wants above all else to marry and spend the rest of his life with. The confrontation between Brendan and Kate when they do finally see each other again did not have the emotional impact or resonance it would have if Kate hadn't been forgotten/not mentioned for three-quarters of the book. It's an "out of sight, out of mind" type of scenario, which gives no weight to Brendan's "betrayal" of her with Sybilla. Yes, I understand that men process emotions differently and can compartmentalize their thoughts and emotions; but it didn't ring true that he wouldn't think about Kate at all once he was separated from her.
Another issue I have is the amount of time that's passed between Book 1 and Book 2. When Scarcliff is telling Brendan about how he and Nan scrimped and saved their money to buy the tavern, this seems as if it would be something that would have taken years and years to accomplish, not just a few months. King Edward VI died July 6, 1553 (an event covered in Book 1). Jane Grey "reigned" as queen from July 10 through July 19, 1553 (Book 1) and was then rightfully deposed by Queen Mary I (still in Book 1). Jane Grey was then imprisoned in the Tower. In Book 2 (this book), Jane and the Dudleys, including her husband Guildford, are still imprisoned but, before the end of the book, they are executed, which happened on February 12, 1554. So, somehow, in seven months, Scarcliff and Nan saved enough money to buy a tavern by working as a mercenary/man for hire and a prostitute? I find that really hard to believe.
I'm also very upset by Peregrine's demise. I kept hoping that he'd pop up again and that we'd find out that the poison only made him seem dead but didn't actually kill him. I miss him. :-(
Those few issues aside, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next installment!
I was sooooo not ready for this book to end.
This was a fun, fast-paced story, as expected; however, there were a few things with it that didn't work quite as well for me as the first book.
***Spoilers below***
The biggest problem I had with this book was not that Brendan found himself succumbing to Sybilla's seductive ways but that he spent most of the book not remembering Kate---not thinking at all about the woman he's supposedly in love with and wants above all else to marry and spend the rest of his life with. The confrontation between Brendan and Kate when they do finally see each other again did not have the emotional impact or resonance it would have if Kate hadn't been forgotten/not mentioned for three-quarters of the book. It's an "out of sight, out of mind" type of scenario, which gives no weight to Brendan's "betrayal" of her with Sybilla. Yes, I understand that men process emotions differently and can compartmentalize their thoughts and emotions; but it didn't ring true that he wouldn't think about Kate at all once he was separated from her.
Another issue I have is the amount of time that's passed between Book 1 and Book 2. When Scarcliff is telling Brendan about how he and Nan scrimped and saved their money to buy the tavern, this seems as if it would be something that would have taken years and years to accomplish, not just a few months. King Edward VI died July 6, 1553 (an event covered in Book 1). Jane Grey "reigned" as queen from July 10 through July 19, 1553 (Book 1) and was then rightfully deposed by Queen Mary I (still in Book 1). Jane Grey was then imprisoned in the Tower. In Book 2 (this book), Jane and the Dudleys, including her husband Guildford, are still imprisoned but, before the end of the book, they are executed, which happened on February 12, 1554. So, somehow, in seven months, Scarcliff and Nan saved enough money to buy a tavern by working as a mercenary/man for hire and a prostitute? I find that really hard to believe.
I'm also very upset by Peregrine's demise. I kept hoping that he'd pop up again and that we'd find out that the poison only made him seem dead but didn't actually kill him. I miss him. :-(
Those few issues aside, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next installment!
mefi's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
lazygal's review
3.0
A few days ago Courtney Lewis blogged about New Adult and ended with "I'd be interested to hear what other people feel fall into New Adult but are not contemporary romance. What is out there that would appeal to this transitioning age group?"
Well, here's one that's not just historical fiction but the lead is not some plucky girl, it's a young man (probably late teens - if we're told, I forgot the exact age)! Perfect for history loving guys. Set in the Tudor Era, during Queen Mary's reign, we get a serious dose of the intrigues and plot surrounding Mary, her half-sister Elizabeth, the proposed marriage of Mary to Philip of Spain, and the Dudley family (already in the Tower for the whole Queen Jane Grey thing, soon to be in bigger trouble over the Wyatt Rebellion). Our hero is Desmond Prescott, who alludes to his royal blood (he's from the wrong side of the blanket) often and is loyal mainly to Elizabeth but mostly to the Tudors, so willing to do Mary's bidding as well. Not an easy balancing act!
What's interesting is that this is one of the few books that paints Mary in a sympathetic light - not so much of the Bloody here. As with all historical fiction, the language and some of the details feel a bit too modern but overall this is a great read for people a little intimidated by Hilary Mantel's tomes.
ARC provided by publisher.
Well, here's one that's not just historical fiction but the lead is not some plucky girl, it's a young man (probably late teens - if we're told, I forgot the exact age)! Perfect for history loving guys. Set in the Tudor Era, during Queen Mary's reign, we get a serious dose of the intrigues and plot surrounding Mary, her half-sister Elizabeth, the proposed marriage of Mary to Philip of Spain, and the Dudley family (already in the Tower for the whole Queen Jane Grey thing, soon to be in bigger trouble over the Wyatt Rebellion). Our hero is Desmond Prescott, who alludes to his royal blood (he's from the wrong side of the blanket) often and is loyal mainly to Elizabeth but mostly to the Tudors, so willing to do Mary's bidding as well. Not an easy balancing act!
What's interesting is that this is one of the few books that paints Mary in a sympathetic light - not so much of the Bloody here. As with all historical fiction, the language and some of the details feel a bit too modern but overall this is a great read for people a little intimidated by Hilary Mantel's tomes.
ARC provided by publisher.
kayedacus's review against another edition
4.0
4.25 stars
I was sooooo not ready for this book to end.
This was a fun, fast-paced story, as expected; however, there were a few things with it that didn't work quite as well for me as the first book.
***Spoilers below***
The biggest problem I had with this book was not that Brendan found himself succumbing to Sybilla's seductive ways but that he spent most of the book not remembering Kate---not thinking at all about the woman he's supposedly in love with and wants above all else to marry and spend the rest of his life with. The confrontation between Brendan and Kate when they do finally see each other again did not have the emotional impact or resonance it would have if Kate hadn't been forgotten/not mentioned for three-quarters of the book. It's an "out of sight, out of mind" type of scenario, which gives no weight to Brendan's "betrayal" of her with Sybilla. Yes, I understand that men process emotions differently and can compartmentalize their thoughts and emotions; but it didn't ring true that he wouldn't think about Kate at all once he was separated from her.
Another issue I have is the amount of time that's passed between Book 1 and Book 2. When Scarcliff is telling Brendan about how he and Nan scrimped and saved their money to buy the tavern, this seems as if it would be something that would have taken years and years to accomplish, not just a few months. King Edward VI died July 6, 1553 (an event covered in Book 1). Jane Grey "reigned" as queen from July 10 through July 19, 1553 (Book 1) and was then rightfully deposed by Queen Mary I (still in Book 1). Jane Grey was then imprisoned in the Tower. In Book 2 (this book), Jane and the Dudleys, including her husband Guildford, are still imprisoned but, before the end of the book, they are executed, which happened on February 12, 1554. So, somehow, in seven months, Scarcliff and Nan saved enough money to buy a tavern by working as a mercenary/man for hire and a prostitute? I find that really hard to believe.
I'm also very upset by Peregrine's demise. I kept hoping that he'd pop up again and that we'd find out that the poison only made him seem dead but didn't actually kill him. I miss him. :-(
Those few issues aside, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next installment!
I was sooooo not ready for this book to end.
This was a fun, fast-paced story, as expected; however, there were a few things with it that didn't work quite as well for me as the first book.
***Spoilers below***
The biggest problem I had with this book was not that Brendan found himself succumbing to Sybilla's seductive ways but that he spent most of the book not remembering Kate---not thinking at all about the woman he's supposedly in love with and wants above all else to marry and spend the rest of his life with. The confrontation between Brendan and Kate when they do finally see each other again did not have the emotional impact or resonance it would have if Kate hadn't been forgotten/not mentioned for three-quarters of the book. It's an "out of sight, out of mind" type of scenario, which gives no weight to Brendan's "betrayal" of her with Sybilla. Yes, I understand that men process emotions differently and can compartmentalize their thoughts and emotions; but it didn't ring true that he wouldn't think about Kate at all once he was separated from her.
Another issue I have is the amount of time that's passed between Book 1 and Book 2. When Scarcliff is telling Brendan about how he and Nan scrimped and saved their money to buy the tavern, this seems as if it would be something that would have taken years and years to accomplish, not just a few months. King Edward VI died July 6, 1553 (an event covered in Book 1). Jane Grey "reigned" as queen from July 10 through July 19, 1553 (Book 1) and was then rightfully deposed by Queen Mary I (still in Book 1). Jane Grey was then imprisoned in the Tower. In Book 2 (this book), Jane and the Dudleys, including her husband Guildford, are still imprisoned but, before the end of the book, they are executed, which happened on February 12, 1554. So, somehow, in seven months, Scarcliff and Nan saved enough money to buy a tavern by working as a mercenary/man for hire and a prostitute? I find that really hard to believe.
I'm also very upset by Peregrine's demise. I kept hoping that he'd pop up again and that we'd find out that the poison only made him seem dead but didn't actually kill him. I miss him. :-(
Those few issues aside, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next installment!
elvenavari's review
5.0
I was swept up in the plot of this one. I just love this era and all the mysteries that surround it. I could have done without that one death though, I really liked that character. It hurts my heart that I won't see this character in a later book.
phathaway's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
stitchsaddiction's review
5.0
The Tudor Conspiracy is book two in the Spymaster Chronicles and we return to Whitehall with Brendan Prescott, Princess Elizabeth's spymaster being involved in intrigue and an adventure at the heart of the Tudor dynasty. We have a little romance for Brendan which is a true reprieve during the turmoil of navigating Whitehall and London as a whole under the reign of 'Bloody' Mary I and the public re-emergence of Catholicism in England.
What I loved in The Tudor Conspiracy particularly, is despite Brendan being a member of Elizabeth's household? Brendan has loyalty to the Tudor dynasty in general and there are moments where you can see how much he admires Mary despite her more unpleasant and cutthroat ways of handling rebellion and those who endangered her reign. Once more, Christopher Gortner's incredible world-building and historical research draws you in and the whole book is incredibly well done so the descriptions easily trigger your senses you can almost smell, taste and see all that is around Brendan and those we encounter. Even the descriptions of fabrics make you feel like you can run your fing3rs over exquisite embroidery or rough worn fabrics.
This is an incredible book to read, I love this series and is there were more than the three out there.
What I loved in The Tudor Conspiracy particularly, is despite Brendan being a member of Elizabeth's household? Brendan has loyalty to the Tudor dynasty in general and there are moments where you can see how much he admires Mary despite her more unpleasant and cutthroat ways of handling rebellion and those who endangered her reign. Once more, Christopher Gortner's incredible world-building and historical research draws you in and the whole book is incredibly well done so the descriptions easily trigger your senses you can almost smell, taste and see all that is around Brendan and those we encounter. Even the descriptions of fabrics make you feel like you can run your fing3rs over exquisite embroidery or rough worn fabrics.
This is an incredible book to read, I love this series and is there were more than the three out there.
samantha_randolph's review
4.0
High in action and breath-taking plot: Full review: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=38829