Reviews

The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez by Ann Swinfen

littlecogs's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

evafc's review against another edition

4.0

Christoval Alvarez is a young Portugese immigrant, living in London and helping out her father as a physician in St Bartholomew's Hospital. She and her father have escaped the Spanish inquisition, but at a terrible prize. Her real name is Caterina, but she poses as a boy, because for a girl the world would be a far more dangerous place in the year 1586. And as a woman she could never assist her father as a dokter. Having had some training in mathematics, she comes to the attention of famous Sir Francis Walsingham, spymaster for the Queen. She is asbest to work as a code reader and a spy to thwart a plot to help the Scottish Queen Mary to the throne.

This book is a historical cloak and dagger story filled with adventure and suspense. It's the sort of book i loved reading when is was a teenager. Especially because it has a brave and smart heroine as it's main character. I still love this kind of story, as it is a very enjoyable vacationread. The historical details add a bit extra. Christoval, or Kit as she's called, is an interesting person. Conflicted, because of her past, because of her wish to follow a proper education which is a path blocked for women. Still, she's a little to good to be true ;)

I am curious about the other books in the series. That will have to wait, since i am on holiday and without books for the moment...

tamarant4's review

adventurous inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

My whole life was a lie... but now I was play-acting again, this time as a servant boy, messenger for a renegade Catholic, who had entered the country illegally and was offering his services to the Scottish queen. Except he wasn’t. [p. 219]

London, 1590: Christoval Alvarez has lived in Duck Street, near St Barts Hospital, for some years, after fleeing the Inquisition in Portugal with his father: they have shared a life of secrets ever since. Jews have been banned from England for three hundred years, so Christoval -- Kit -- and his father attend church with the Christians: and the two share another secret which would surely doom them both. 

A gifted physician, musician and mathematician, Kit is drawn into the web of spymaster Francis Walsingham, initially to assist with deciphering encrypted messages, but later to carry altered documents and entrap the players in what will eventually be known as the Babington plot. Kit is uneasy with the deceits involved, afraid of secret (possibly double) agent Robert Poley, and exhausted by Walsingham's demands: he'd rather be at the playhouse with his friend Simon.

Swinfen's descriptions of Tudor London are evocative, and her depiction of Kit's life has depth and credibility. There were a few typos ('pouring' over documents, 'leant' a hand, 'few if none') and I wasn't wholly convinced that, even in Tudor times, it would take more than an hour to walk from Tower Hill to Lombard Street -- or that it would be any quicker on horseback. But I can forgive these minor errors, for The Secret World of Christoval Alvarez was a gripping read, with some hefty moral issues and plenty of derring-do. I'll read more in this series.

Fulfils the ‘The word “secret” in the title’ rubric of the 52 books in 2024 challenge.

lreay89's review

3.0

I really wanted to like this book. The character descriptions and the atmosphere are amazing and I did really feel like I was in Tudor England.
I just felt that there was a bit too much going on with the plot and Kit wasn't involved enough in some of the drama. The conclusion was almost all told from Kit's point of view by relaying details rather then actually playing a pivotal role in the drama.

I probably wouldn't read anymore of the series because of this which is a shame. The author writes very well when setting scenes and creating atmosphere. However I felt that Kit could have been involved in things that were a bit more close to the action. Several plot lines I thought here we go he's going to be right in the action here and the opportunities were largely missed. A shame!

weskstarzec's review against another edition

adventurous relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

lty88's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-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? Yes

4.25

A historical fiction with intrigue and suspense. You root for the success of the main character. Interested to see where certain character interactions go in the subsequent books.