middaycharming's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
elliemcc11's review against another edition
5.0
Thanks to Netgalley & publisher for the ARC.
Whilst many books have been centered around the Tudor court, I, personally, have read less books about the Stuarts, so this intrigued me, along with the description explaining it was based on a true story. And I really enjoyed this book and was totally immersed in the retelling of the Overbury Scandal, and the history of the friendship between the Countess of Essex and Mistress Anne Turner.
The Countess of Essex (Frances Howard or Frankie) was a young and unhappily married woman. Her husband was an unpleasant character and engaged in what today would be regarded as domestic abuse. The novel contains graphic descriptions of abuse, including physical and sexual, but they give necessary context to the story, which is written in the first person by Mistress Anne Turner. Mistress Anne Turner was the wife of a doctor who attended James I and has access to the court and went to dress the ladies including Frankie. She and Frankie formed a close friendship, initially to help Frankie have a happy marriage, but as the abuse continued they set about using all means possible in a bid for the Countess of Essex to be parted from her husband. Whilst the Countess of Essex was eventually able to remarry the man she loved, it came at great personal tragedy.
Whilst many books have been centered around the Tudor court, I, personally, have read less books about the Stuarts, so this intrigued me, along with the description explaining it was based on a true story. And I really enjoyed this book and was totally immersed in the retelling of the Overbury Scandal, and the history of the friendship between the Countess of Essex and Mistress Anne Turner.
The Countess of Essex (Frances Howard or Frankie) was a young and unhappily married woman. Her husband was an unpleasant character and engaged in what today would be regarded as domestic abuse. The novel contains graphic descriptions of abuse, including physical and sexual, but they give necessary context to the story, which is written in the first person by Mistress Anne Turner. Mistress Anne Turner was the wife of a doctor who attended James I and has access to the court and went to dress the ladies including Frankie. She and Frankie formed a close friendship, initially to help Frankie have a happy marriage, but as the abuse continued they set about using all means possible in a bid for the Countess of Essex to be parted from her husband. Whilst the Countess of Essex was eventually able to remarry the man she loved, it came at great personal tragedy.
medievaljenga's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the setting (England, 1609) and the narrator (woman, mother of six, doctor's wife, designer of clothes even though she definitely wasn't called that back then) at first. But the story just kept getting bleaker and bleaker and finally I gave up about 40% through. Can't read bleak stories in the winter.
kookikrissie's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
What a powerful story, full of friendship and emotions; based on a true story it will not leave readers untouched. Reading historical fiction is not always easy, sometimes it touches so much reality that makes you read the story to discern what part is true and what part is fiction!
This is a story about two women, they will have a friendship that will last for years until something happens, this will put their friendship and lives at risk… I loved how the story showed the real lives of our main characters, Frances and Anne, even with their different backgrounds their friendship seems to complete the missing parts in their respective lives. It was not difficult to be part of the story and feel their emotions in our own skin and try to help them in their worst moments. Because let’s be honest, being a woman is never easy and during the seventeenth century they were only mere servants to use and discard as pleasure, it didn’t matter if they were mothers, wives or daughters. This makes my blood boil, but even if I know that there’s nothing to do now it still makes me angry, I can’t thank all the women that risk their lives to change the way the world is going.
If you are looking for an interesting and poignant story, this is your read, it will keep you turning pages till the end, believe me.
Ready for “A Net for Small Fishes”
This is a story about two women, they will have a friendship that will last for years until something happens, this will put their friendship and lives at risk… I loved how the story showed the real lives of our main characters, Frances and Anne, even with their different backgrounds their friendship seems to complete the missing parts in their respective lives. It was not difficult to be part of the story and feel their emotions in our own skin and try to help them in their worst moments. Because let’s be honest, being a woman is never easy and during the seventeenth century they were only mere servants to use and discard as pleasure, it didn’t matter if they were mothers, wives or daughters. This makes my blood boil, but even if I know that there’s nothing to do now it still makes me angry, I can’t thank all the women that risk their lives to change the way the world is going.
If you are looking for an interesting and poignant story, this is your read, it will keep you turning pages till the end, believe me.
Ready for “A Net for Small Fishes”
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
Anne Turner is the wife of a court physician, although genteel she is not wealthy and dependent on the money she makes as a dresser. When she is asked to work with Frances Howard she falls under the spell of a beautiful but mercurial woman in an abusive marriage. Frances' husband, the Earl of Essex, is impotent and despises his wife but when Frances meets Robert Carr, favourite of King James, suddenly the marriage becomes a cause celebre that splits the court. In order to help Frances, Anne risks all.
The scandal around the divorce of the Essex and the subsequent death of a courtier were part of the history of the court of James I. Here Jago has created a fictionalised account but much of the history is accurate and well-researched. The character of Anne is quite cleverly drawn, she is neither the innocent or the witch but she is also portrayed as a woman who has selfish motives for many of her actions. What I also liked was the juxtaposition between the show of court life and the banality of 'normal' life and the way that for many middle-class women the reliance on a male breadwinner was a precarious way to survive.
The scandal around the divorce of the Essex and the subsequent death of a courtier were part of the history of the court of James I. Here Jago has created a fictionalised account but much of the history is accurate and well-researched. The character of Anne is quite cleverly drawn, she is neither the innocent or the witch but she is also portrayed as a woman who has selfish motives for many of her actions. What I also liked was the juxtaposition between the show of court life and the banality of 'normal' life and the way that for many middle-class women the reliance on a male breadwinner was a precarious way to survive.
anniekenway's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Nearly good. Liked the history but plot didn’t really get on with it till v end..
jodipyle18's review against another edition
5.0
Engrossing historical novel about the power of friendship and the struggle of women to be recognized as human beings with their own agency and rights.