deannasworld's review
5.0
This book is a reflection of the time it was set it. It is full of turmoil, tragedy, and heartbreak. It is at times poignant, at times intense and at times heart wrenching.
This reads more like a historical fiction with touches of romance (enough to make my romantic heart glad) then a historical romance but it is brilliantly written and thoughtfully presented.
The English Civil War is a terrible time in England's history, where brother turned against brother, neighbours sold each other out and friends became enemies. This is the setting we find Kit and Thamsine in, thrust in a play beyond their control, where betrayals were common and trust was a precious and often lost commodity.
Kit is everything the book says he is - a scoundrel, a rogue and a charmer, but he also has a secret agenda and is beholden to a very powerful man, unable to control the ebbs and flows of his own life. We see Kit struggle with his integrity as he dances to a puppet master's tune and ache for him as he tries without success to do what is right, living with his conscience and believing that he is trading his integrity for the life of a loved one. He suffers so much throughout this story and my heart breaks for him as tragedy after tragedy befalls him. At the core of it, he is a good man, with strong morals and an upright sense of honor. It drives him to do the things he does even if that does not keep the nightmares at bay.
I am in awe of Thamsine. She is thrust into a world where betrayal is a common currency and she has no one to trust. The one person she does choose to trust betrays her and sets her on a path much like Kit's. Thamsine is a survivor. She's strong and she has hope. While she finds herself in dire circumstances, driven by desperation, she does what she can to survive. In fact, she's so strong, she makes my teeth ache. I could never be the person she is, to have endured all she endured, suffered what she suffered and still stay the caring, compassionate person she is.
I don't normally mention the villain of the story, but Morton was a very villainous villain. He was evil to the core and deserved everything he got for all the pain and suffering he inflicted. Ms Stuart did a great job painting him with a very black brush. He had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Ms Stuart has once again managed to bring the English Civil War to life in this story and I look forward to the next in the series. I'm certain it will be another stunning read.
This reads more like a historical fiction with touches of romance (enough to make my romantic heart glad) then a historical romance but it is brilliantly written and thoughtfully presented.
The English Civil War is a terrible time in England's history, where brother turned against brother, neighbours sold each other out and friends became enemies. This is the setting we find Kit and Thamsine in, thrust in a play beyond their control, where betrayals were common and trust was a precious and often lost commodity.
Kit is everything the book says he is - a scoundrel, a rogue and a charmer, but he also has a secret agenda and is beholden to a very powerful man, unable to control the ebbs and flows of his own life. We see Kit struggle with his integrity as he dances to a puppet master's tune and ache for him as he tries without success to do what is right, living with his conscience and believing that he is trading his integrity for the life of a loved one. He suffers so much throughout this story and my heart breaks for him as tragedy after tragedy befalls him. At the core of it, he is a good man, with strong morals and an upright sense of honor. It drives him to do the things he does even if that does not keep the nightmares at bay.
I am in awe of Thamsine. She is thrust into a world where betrayal is a common currency and she has no one to trust. The one person she does choose to trust betrays her and sets her on a path much like Kit's. Thamsine is a survivor. She's strong and she has hope. While she finds herself in dire circumstances, driven by desperation, she does what she can to survive. In fact, she's so strong, she makes my teeth ache. I could never be the person she is, to have endured all she endured, suffered what she suffered and still stay the caring, compassionate person she is.
I don't normally mention the villain of the story, but Morton was a very villainous villain. He was evil to the core and deserved everything he got for all the pain and suffering he inflicted. Ms Stuart did a great job painting him with a very black brush. He had no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
Ms Stuart has once again managed to bring the English Civil War to life in this story and I look forward to the next in the series. I'm certain it will be another stunning read.
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