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karenafagan's review against another edition
3.0
In her fifth installment of the Thornleigh series, Blood Between Queens, Barbara Kyle is once again in Queen Elizabeth's court. This time her focus is on Justine Thornleigh, ward of Richard and Honor from the first book in the series, The Queen's Lady.
Mary, Queen of Scots has fled her kingdom hoping for asylum under her cousin Elizabeth. What she receives, however, is house arrest, with Justine as her lady's maid. Unbeknownst to Mary, Justine has been put in the position as spy to Elizabeth. In addition, unbeknownst to Justine, Mary is in cahoots with Justine's father, who is believed to be dead and is a traitor to the English crown, a relationship also hidden from Justine's fiancé, Will. Justine is constantly in limbo between her loyalty to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, her fiancé and foster family, and her father.
Read the rest of my review here: http://cwatc-bookclub.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-blood-between-queens.html
Mary, Queen of Scots has fled her kingdom hoping for asylum under her cousin Elizabeth. What she receives, however, is house arrest, with Justine as her lady's maid. Unbeknownst to Mary, Justine has been put in the position as spy to Elizabeth. In addition, unbeknownst to Justine, Mary is in cahoots with Justine's father, who is believed to be dead and is a traitor to the English crown, a relationship also hidden from Justine's fiancé, Will. Justine is constantly in limbo between her loyalty to Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary, her fiancé and foster family, and her father.
Read the rest of my review here: http://cwatc-bookclub.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-blood-between-queens.html
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
Justine Thornleigh is young and pretty, and has only a few things she’s currently focused on. The first is the Queen’s visit, which I imagine would be awe-inspiring, especially when it’s Queen Elizabeth. The second? Why, a boy, of course… And so we begin Barbara Kyle’s Blood Between Queens.
The Queen’s visit is as fabulous as Justine expects, even when it’s interrupted by the news that Elizabeth’s cousin Mary has crossed into England to escape her Scottish enemies. Next thing she knows, Justine’s sent to Queen Mary as a lady-in-waiting, to keep an eye on this Catholic Queen who may foment rebellion in Elizabeth’s realm.
There’s romance and a secret betrothal. Murder and assorted skullduggery. Family feuds and hidden identities. Monarchs impatient with their wants and needs and plots and plans. Jealousy and envy and hatred. Phew. I’m not sure how Barbara Kyle keeps it all straight!
I really enjoyed reading Blood Between Queens, and its portrayal of the tension between Mary and Elizabeth. And while I know this is Justine’s story and not Mary’s nor Elizabeth’s, I wanted more of the Queens – their thoughts, emotions, and actions – than I found between the pages. Not that I’m complaining, as Blood Between Queens will satisfy any historical fiction fan with its detail and breadth!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
The Queen’s visit is as fabulous as Justine expects, even when it’s interrupted by the news that Elizabeth’s cousin Mary has crossed into England to escape her Scottish enemies. Next thing she knows, Justine’s sent to Queen Mary as a lady-in-waiting, to keep an eye on this Catholic Queen who may foment rebellion in Elizabeth’s realm.
There’s romance and a secret betrothal. Murder and assorted skullduggery. Family feuds and hidden identities. Monarchs impatient with their wants and needs and plots and plans. Jealousy and envy and hatred. Phew. I’m not sure how Barbara Kyle keeps it all straight!
I really enjoyed reading Blood Between Queens, and its portrayal of the tension between Mary and Elizabeth. And while I know this is Justine’s story and not Mary’s nor Elizabeth’s, I wanted more of the Queens – their thoughts, emotions, and actions – than I found between the pages. Not that I’m complaining, as Blood Between Queens will satisfy any historical fiction fan with its detail and breadth!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
awall14's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
I do really like Kyle's books and I think she is one of the best in historical fiction writers purely because you can tell she does her research and does a great job of mixing her fact and fiction to just the right consistency.
However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous ones because basically all the historical fiction I've read takes place during Elizabeth's reign and also involves Mary. While I find their story interesting, for me it has become over done. I would really like it is Kyle did a book in some era that hasn't been written to death (aka let's leave the Tudors and explore something else)
I also wasn't a huge fan of Justine and her naivety and her and Will's relationship didn't hold up at all to the relationships in Kyle's last books. While I always got super into Richard/Honor and Carlos/Isabelle, I was hardly even interested in Will/Justine.
Still a good vacation read and an excellent historical fiction novel.
I do really like Kyle's books and I think she is one of the best in historical fiction writers purely because you can tell she does her research and does a great job of mixing her fact and fiction to just the right consistency.
However, I didn't enjoy this book as much as the previous ones because basically all the historical fiction I've read takes place during Elizabeth's reign and also involves Mary. While I find their story interesting, for me it has become over done. I would really like it is Kyle did a book in some era that hasn't been written to death (aka let's leave the Tudors and explore something else)
I also wasn't a huge fan of Justine and her naivety and her and Will's relationship didn't hold up at all to the relationships in Kyle's last books. While I always got super into Richard/Honor and Carlos/Isabelle, I was hardly even interested in Will/Justine.
Still a good vacation read and an excellent historical fiction novel.
lizinthelibrary's review against another edition
3.0
Full review here: http://bornlibrarian.blogspot.com/2013/04/review-blood-between-queens.html
Bottom Line: An enjoyable but not extraordinary Tudor-era novel focusing primarily on family dynamics and romantic intrigues. It would be a good summer read, choice for fans of the previous books, or for that person who has read EVERYTHING on the Tudors. Should be picked up by libraries who have the others in the series or for a browsing paperback collection.
I downloaded a ebook review copy of this without realizing it was part of a series.While I was frustrated at the hints of backstory that were never fully explained, it did work as a standalone book.
Blood Between Queens is the story of Justine, a young ward of an Elizabethan courtier and how she becomes entangled in the messy relations between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin/rival/heir Queen Mary of Scots.
Justine has been raised by a rival family from her own (think Hatfields and McCoys but in Elizabethan England) after her father's treason ruined her family. She alone knows he is not dead, but rather fled the country. But even she is surprised when he returns to the country and tries to enlist her help to overthrow Elizabeth and put Mary on the throne.
Beyond the political intrigues, Justine is torn between sympathy to her father and childhood Catholicism and love of the family that raised her, a nephew of whom she is betrothed to. Tough choices especially when she is sent to captive Mary's side as a companion and undercover agent for Elizabeth.
The Tudor time is a familiar ground for novelists and this is a good addition to that collection. (Confession I've read much of that era and I'm not sure how I missed this series before.) It is full of historical details and the setting was richly portrayed. In fact at least once I read a detailed description of Elizabethan life (streets, houses, sounds, people, etc) with a feeling of deja vu for having read a similar scene a chapter or so before.
It is engaging as a standalone and it will be a welcome next chapter to those who are enjoying the family's previous epistles. However it might not be the first book I recommend to someone looking for a Tudor-era novel.
My primary complaint is that it was fairly predictable. Never once was I particularly surprised by a character's motivation or actions or any plot development. That said, I did enjoy the book and it had just enough of a plot to keep turning the pages primarily enjoying the characters and the settings.
Bottom Line: An enjoyable but not extraordinary Tudor-era novel focusing primarily on family dynamics and romantic intrigues. It would be a good summer read, choice for fans of the previous books, or for that person who has read EVERYTHING on the Tudors. Should be picked up by libraries who have the others in the series or for a browsing paperback collection.
I downloaded a ebook review copy of this without realizing it was part of a series.While I was frustrated at the hints of backstory that were never fully explained, it did work as a standalone book.
Blood Between Queens is the story of Justine, a young ward of an Elizabethan courtier and how she becomes entangled in the messy relations between Queen Elizabeth I and her cousin/rival/heir Queen Mary of Scots.
Justine has been raised by a rival family from her own (think Hatfields and McCoys but in Elizabethan England) after her father's treason ruined her family. She alone knows he is not dead, but rather fled the country. But even she is surprised when he returns to the country and tries to enlist her help to overthrow Elizabeth and put Mary on the throne.
Beyond the political intrigues, Justine is torn between sympathy to her father and childhood Catholicism and love of the family that raised her, a nephew of whom she is betrothed to. Tough choices especially when she is sent to captive Mary's side as a companion and undercover agent for Elizabeth.
The Tudor time is a familiar ground for novelists and this is a good addition to that collection. (Confession I've read much of that era and I'm not sure how I missed this series before.) It is full of historical details and the setting was richly portrayed. In fact at least once I read a detailed description of Elizabethan life (streets, houses, sounds, people, etc) with a feeling of deja vu for having read a similar scene a chapter or so before.
It is engaging as a standalone and it will be a welcome next chapter to those who are enjoying the family's previous epistles. However it might not be the first book I recommend to someone looking for a Tudor-era novel.
My primary complaint is that it was fairly predictable. Never once was I particularly surprised by a character's motivation or actions or any plot development. That said, I did enjoy the book and it had just enough of a plot to keep turning the pages primarily enjoying the characters and the settings.
colleenlovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
I reviewed this book for www.luxuryreading.com.
Blood Between Queens is my first journey into the Thornleigh saga and let me tell you, there is a lot to love! Barbara Kyle does an exceptional job of bringing a reader new to the series up to speed on what has happened in the previous books. While this makes it easy to read Blood Between Queens as a stand-alone novel, there is so much emotion and drama that has obviously occurred in the previous books that I wish I had read the series from the beginning and I plan on going back and doing so. There is a lot of information packed into this story and while the conflict between Queens Elizabeth and Mary are the historical center the Thornleigh/Grenville family feud is definitely the main story line. Secrets, deception and hatred abound but I enjoyed how a ray of hope was let in to pierce this vicious feud while keeping some conflict to continue into future books in the series (fingers crossed). And good luck being able to put the book down once the real action starts towards the end of the book. All I can say is wow!
Dealing with a number of conflicts – Thornleigh vs. Grenville, Queen Elizabeth vs. Queen Mary, Catholic vs. Protestant, England vs. Spain and more – Blood Between Queens is a rich, absorbing historical adventure that does a superb job of melding true history with fictional characters that are even better than the real ones they interact with. This is a must read for anyone who has read the previous books in the series and an enjoying journey for any lover of English historical fiction or exciting family dramas.
Blood Between Queens is my first journey into the Thornleigh saga and let me tell you, there is a lot to love! Barbara Kyle does an exceptional job of bringing a reader new to the series up to speed on what has happened in the previous books. While this makes it easy to read Blood Between Queens as a stand-alone novel, there is so much emotion and drama that has obviously occurred in the previous books that I wish I had read the series from the beginning and I plan on going back and doing so. There is a lot of information packed into this story and while the conflict between Queens Elizabeth and Mary are the historical center the Thornleigh/Grenville family feud is definitely the main story line. Secrets, deception and hatred abound but I enjoyed how a ray of hope was let in to pierce this vicious feud while keeping some conflict to continue into future books in the series (fingers crossed). And good luck being able to put the book down once the real action starts towards the end of the book. All I can say is wow!
Dealing with a number of conflicts – Thornleigh vs. Grenville, Queen Elizabeth vs. Queen Mary, Catholic vs. Protestant, England vs. Spain and more – Blood Between Queens is a rich, absorbing historical adventure that does a superb job of melding true history with fictional characters that are even better than the real ones they interact with. This is a must read for anyone who has read the previous books in the series and an enjoying journey for any lover of English historical fiction or exciting family dramas.
truebookaddict's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first foray into the Thornleigh series by Barbara Kyle and I have to say, I was not disappointed. In fact, it was a wonderful historical novel. Easily read as a stand alone novel. Truth be told, I didn't even know it was part of a series until I read someone else's review.
I have long been fascinated with the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (one of my most favorite historical figures) and her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. 'What would it have been like to order the execution of a blood relative?' is a question I have long asked myself as I have read about Elizabeth over the years. In Blood Between Queens, the situation between the two queens is the back drop to a story about a feud between families loyal to each faction respectfully, the Thornleighs and the Grenvilles. I liked the depiction of the famous rivalry between queens played out between these noble families.
What struck me is that Kyle knows her history. It is evident that the research was impeccable in the depiction of the historical figures and occurrences, as well in the sights and sounds of that age. I now must go back and read her other books. I can't believe I have not discovered her until now.
I have long been fascinated with the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (one of my most favorite historical figures) and her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. 'What would it have been like to order the execution of a blood relative?' is a question I have long asked myself as I have read about Elizabeth over the years. In Blood Between Queens, the situation between the two queens is the back drop to a story about a feud between families loyal to each faction respectfully, the Thornleighs and the Grenvilles. I liked the depiction of the famous rivalry between queens played out between these noble families.
What struck me is that Kyle knows her history. It is evident that the research was impeccable in the depiction of the historical figures and occurrences, as well in the sights and sounds of that age. I now must go back and read her other books. I can't believe I have not discovered her until now.
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