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bbwolf59's review
2.0
Too much angst, too much 'drahma,' not enough interest and certainly not enough plot.
cassie_ellie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
yourfavavery's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-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
3.5
zwodderybookdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
herbalmoon's review against another edition
1.0
If you were considering this book in hopes that things got better since the first, you'll be sorry.
The doom and gloom is even more pervasive than before (if that's even possible) and things often come up that are ultimately left unresolved or end up making no sense. I'd been considering giving this book up for a while, but the following scene (wildly paraphrased, mind you) finally forced me to give up.
=====
Sir Walter Raleigh: Princess Elizabeth, I would love to have you visit again in the future, before you leave the country to get married. Would you mind leaving your servant behind (*points to the protagonist*) to help me prepare a surprise that's sure to bring you back?
Elizabeth Stuart: Absolutely!
(*goodbye stuff; Princess Elizabeth, her elder brother and their entourage leave Frances alone with Sir Walter*)
Walter: (*says stuff that indicates he's on the side of the Catholics and how he wants to help Frances steer the princess toward a Catholic husband*)
---She's such a fluffhead, it wouldn't be too hard to change her mind from Protestantism.
Lady Frances Tyringham: Her Highness has more of a brain than you think, but whatever.
Walter: (*leans in and whispers hotly in Frances's ear*) By the way, once you're sworn to Satan, you're always sworn. In fact, you're the devil's slave!
=====
And then, rather than explaining what the hell he meant, the story flashes to Frances discovering that her husband is having an affair.
What the actual fuck?!
Are we supposed to think that Walter believes that because Frances was brought up on charges of being a witch, that she is a witch, despite being exonerated? If that's the case, why is he even working with her?
The doom and gloom is even more pervasive than before (if that's even possible) and things often come up that are ultimately left unresolved or end up making no sense. I'd been considering giving this book up for a while, but the following scene (wildly paraphrased, mind you) finally forced me to give up.
=====
Sir Walter Raleigh: Princess Elizabeth, I would love to have you visit again in the future, before you leave the country to get married. Would you mind leaving your servant behind (*points to the protagonist*) to help me prepare a surprise that's sure to bring you back?
Elizabeth Stuart: Absolutely!
(*goodbye stuff; Princess Elizabeth, her elder brother and their entourage leave Frances alone with Sir Walter*)
Walter: (*says stuff that indicates he's on the side of the Catholics and how he wants to help Frances steer the princess toward a Catholic husband*)
---She's such a fluffhead, it wouldn't be too hard to change her mind from Protestantism.
Lady Frances Tyringham: Her Highness has more of a brain than you think, but whatever.
Walter: (*leans in and whispers hotly in Frances's ear*) By the way, once you're sworn to Satan, you're always sworn. In fact, you're the devil's slave!
=====
And then, rather than explaining what the hell he meant, the story flashes to Frances discovering that her husband is having an affair.
What the actual fuck?!
Are we supposed to think that Walter believes that because Frances was brought up on charges of being a witch, that she is a witch, despite being exonerated? If that's the case, why is he even working with her?
joycerl's review against another edition
5.0
Absolute delight of a book.Easy to lose a few hours!
Set in King James court after the time of the GunPowder Treason this book follows the life of Frances.She is a healer but can’t practise openly for fear of being labeled a witch.Her life at court with her husband and son and trying to balance the different people who try to influence her forms the basis of this book.Very intricate plots woven together to form a richly hued tapestry of a story.
#thedevilsslave#netgalley
Set in King James court after the time of the GunPowder Treason this book follows the life of Frances.She is a healer but can’t practise openly for fear of being labeled a witch.Her life at court with her husband and son and trying to balance the different people who try to influence her forms the basis of this book.Very intricate plots woven together to form a richly hued tapestry of a story.
#thedevilsslave#netgalley
duchessofreadin's review against another edition
3.0
Francis is back in the second book of this series by Tracy Borman. She must once again navigate the dangerous court and do her best to stay above suspicion. Pregnant, unmarried and alone, she is in a very vulnerable position.
I am going to admit that I had more trouble enjoying this one than I did the first. This one seemed stretched and without the same enthusiasm as the first.
While this was not a terrible book by any means, it lacked the pizazz of the first.
I am going to admit that I had more trouble enjoying this one than I did the first. This one seemed stretched and without the same enthusiasm as the first.
While this was not a terrible book by any means, it lacked the pizazz of the first.
librarianmel's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed the first book in this series, but the parts that annoyed me were amplified in book 2. I had checked book 3 from the library and returned it unopened. There is an awful lot of shocked Pikachu face from Frances and that gets really old, really quickly.
booktiamo's review
4.0
An amazing sequel to The King's Witch. In the court of James the First. Frances has lost the father of her child, Thomas Wintour. She is given the chance to marry Thomas Tyringham )who was a real person and Master of Hound to James I) to regain her place at court. We are navigating the court of James I and Frances must do all she can to survive and give up her role in Thomas Wintours cause or face death. This is a spellbinding book, full of all the real life intrigues of court, interspersed with a fictional story.
Great worldbuliding, character development and the story was fast paced and full of twists and excitement!
I can not wait for the next one!
Great worldbuliding, character development and the story was fast paced and full of twists and excitement!
I can not wait for the next one!