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mjporterauthor's review against another edition
4.0
Dark Queen Rising by Paul Doherty is a difficult book to get into. There's a huge amount of information in the first third of the book to process, even for those who might think they know enough about the Wars of the Roses - and it takes some time to work out who everyone is, and what's going on, and why.
However, it is well worth persevering with. Once the action moves from Tewkesbury to London, and into the stable hands of Christopher Urswicke, this reads very much more like a Paul Doherty book and is very enjoyable. Not to say that Margaret Beaufort is not an interesting character, she is, and she also has her moments in London, but I believe it's Urswicke who carries much of the story.
Doherty is, as ever, in his prime, when ensuring we understand just how yucky the London of the 1470's was, and the attention to detail is to be lauded - not just place names, but street names as well.
I look forward to the next book, which no doubt, will contain some quite explosive fallout from the end events in Dark Queen Rising.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
However, it is well worth persevering with. Once the action moves from Tewkesbury to London, and into the stable hands of Christopher Urswicke, this reads very much more like a Paul Doherty book and is very enjoyable. Not to say that Margaret Beaufort is not an interesting character, she is, and she also has her moments in London, but I believe it's Urswicke who carries much of the story.
Doherty is, as ever, in his prime, when ensuring we understand just how yucky the London of the 1470's was, and the attention to detail is to be lauded - not just place names, but street names as well.
I look forward to the next book, which no doubt, will contain some quite explosive fallout from the end events in Dark Queen Rising.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.
faramir2112's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
melshappylife's review against another edition
2.0
Got about half way done and per the NetGalley description I thought this had something to do with mystery. It was very historical with a dash of fiction. Sadly not a fan.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a longstanding fan of Paul Doherty and was happy to read this book.
It's more historical fiction than mystery, the pace is quite slow and there are so many characters.
It takes a bit but if you keep on reading you will be involved in the book and appreciate both the plot and the cast of characters.
I don't know the historical timeframe well and was happy to learn something new.
I hope that there will be more mystery in the next instalment.
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
It's more historical fiction than mystery, the pace is quite slow and there are so many characters.
It takes a bit but if you keep on reading you will be involved in the book and appreciate both the plot and the cast of characters.
I don't know the historical timeframe well and was happy to learn something new.
I hope that there will be more mystery in the next instalment.
Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this ARC
vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
This new series starts with the Battle of Tewkesbury during the War of the Roses, and the machinations of Margaret Beaufort with her two henchman Reginald Bray and Christopher Urswick. In which Urswick is instructed by George of Clarence to find the guilty party in the deaths of four of his retainers
Unfortunately this first 60% of the book was historical fiction. (When I have wanted to read about this time period I have read history books.) So the first half was a struggle to get through, and then the mystery occurred. Basically a locked room scenario. Then the story became more interesting as did the characters. If this series develops as a mystery series (which is what the book was described as) then I could be tempted to read more.
A NetGalley Book
Unfortunately this first 60% of the book was historical fiction. (When I have wanted to read about this time period I have read history books.) So the first half was a struggle to get through, and then the mystery occurred. Basically a locked room scenario. Then the story became more interesting as did the characters. If this series develops as a mystery series (which is what the book was described as) then I could be tempted to read more.
A NetGalley Book
chocolate3cake's review against another edition
2.0
I received this earc for free from NetGalley, but all opinions and ratings are my own, and not influenced by this.
I consider myself relatively well versed in this time period, at least in the sense that I've read a lot of books on the era. Dark Queen Rising isn't what I expected it to be - a very small amount of it focuses on Margaret herself, instead choosing to work through the eyes of Christopher Urswick, her manservant. Although we get fragments from Margaret's own perspective, I feel like her character is underused, and she's never properly characterised due to this.
The title of a 'Historical Mystery' is also not that fitting. There is a slight mystery element, yes, but it wasn't particularly engaging, and seemed to have little bearing on the overall plot. Overall, this book was disappointing, mostly in how little Margaret Beaufort actually featured, used more as a plot device than a concentric character.
I consider myself relatively well versed in this time period, at least in the sense that I've read a lot of books on the era. Dark Queen Rising isn't what I expected it to be - a very small amount of it focuses on Margaret herself, instead choosing to work through the eyes of Christopher Urswick, her manservant. Although we get fragments from Margaret's own perspective, I feel like her character is underused, and she's never properly characterised due to this.
The title of a 'Historical Mystery' is also not that fitting. There is a slight mystery element, yes, but it wasn't particularly engaging, and seemed to have little bearing on the overall plot. Overall, this book was disappointing, mostly in how little Margaret Beaufort actually featured, used more as a plot device than a concentric character.
louisefbooks96's review
3.0
Not the most interesting of books difficult plot line to follow - book not too interesting however last 70 pages were
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