Posts
The second Lacey romance sees a shift in focus from disgraced alchemist's daughter Ellie and teenage Earl Will, to their former friend Lady Jane, who secretly risked her own future to ensure their happiness. While hers is another richly drawn Elizabethan love story, the novel as a whole has a wider scope than the first book in the series. In The Other Countess, it's Will Lacey's need to marry for money that threatens to thwart his affections for impoverished Ellie. Though money is once again an issue in this second instalment - this time for teenage Marchioness Jane and younger Lacey brother James - The Queen's Lady also delves a little deeper into the prejudices of the time as in a subplot African servant Diego falls for English dressmaker Milly. In addition, Eve Edwards takes us out of Elizabeth's court and into the sights and sounds of Tudor London itself - not to mention all the way to the 'new world' of America.
As in The Other Countess, Eve Edwards does a spectacular job of recreating an authentic Tudor setting, but again what really impresses is the way that her characters speak to the modern reader. We no longer live in a world where the eldest son is heir to the family estate and second sons like James have to make their own way, but we do live in a world where his experiences in an overseas war will resonate with the young adult audience. And while her female leads hail from a society that places certain constraints upon them, within those limitations they're all impressively independent, individual and blazing with integrity - and all worthy subjects for a ruler as formiddable as Queen Elizabeth, that's for sure.
The Queen's Lady is a welcome return to Eve Edwards' sumptuous Tudor world-building and swoon-worthy romance. The main pairings are every bit as compelling as Will and Ellie from the first book, and endearing illegitimate Lacey brother Kit's story is nicely set up for the sequel - which, having finished this one, I know I won't be able to resist. This is historical romance to lose yourself in.
Out: February 3rd 2011, UK
Many thanks to Razorbill UK for providing a review copy of this book.
10 comments:
I really enjoyed The Other Countess; I must get this one!
Lovely review :0)
Great book, i just posted a link to your blog in my most recent post.
Hello, sorry to bother you, I'm trying to set something up and I'm looking for UK Bloggers. It seems that ARC (Advance Reading Copy) book tours are becoming increasingly US restricted and I am trying to gather a large amount of people exclusively from the UK to set up our own ARC tours. Of course, I need a lot of people of I'm going to prise some good ARC's off of the Publisher's grubby hands...
If you're interested please visit me!
http://comacalm.blogspot.com/2011/02/calling-all-uk-bloggers.html
I have given your blog an award! :) Check it out at: http://brittanysfantasy.blogspot.com/2011/02/blog-awards.html
Thank You!
I'm glad you enjoyed this one as much as the first too. I really love this series and Kit certainly sounds like an intriguing character!
Have not read this series, but I do love historical fiction. Your review has me intrigued. Thanks
I was sent copies of these after declining them (I think the publisher sent them to me by accident) and read them somewhat under sufferance but ended up adoring them! They really are such a lot of fun and the period detail is really interesting. I'll definitely be reading the next one.
Great review. I really enjoyed both The Other Countess and The Queen's Lady. I can't wait for the third book in the series.
Hi! I have never been into much historical fiction, but I think I will try this book out! I just started a new blog, and found yours! Hope you'll give mine a chance! http://magnet4books.blogspot.com/
thanks!
Awww... I am so looking forward to reading this one. I loved the first book and it sounds like this is just as rich and inviting. Fab review!
Post a Comment