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baronessekat's review against another edition
1.0
I got to chapter 15 in the book and found myself not caring about the characters, the plot, the mystery, anything. I set the book down for several days hoping to regain interest, but when I picked it back up I found I still didn't care how it ended and opted instead to return it to the library. Very glad I did not pay money for it.
lyndiane's review against another edition
5.0
What a rush! This is what James Bond would have been like more than 400 years ago; "The name is Swyfte, Will Swyfte". There is even a version of Q in the form of a gloomy and sinister John Dee (and don't forget the women). Oh, and to make things even more suspenseful, the fae have been added to the mix as REALLY BAD DUDES!
The story is crammed with action, from carriage chases (this is the 1500's, after all), rooftop shenanigans and sea battles. The author perfectly describes the squalid conditions of a poverty-stricken London that has not yet discovered the benefits of an underground sewage system. It was almost impossible to put the book down, and at 1759 epages (on eReader Prestigio) it was a suspenseful and most satisfying read.
The story is crammed with action, from carriage chases (this is the 1500's, after all), rooftop shenanigans and sea battles. The author perfectly describes the squalid conditions of a poverty-stricken London that has not yet discovered the benefits of an underground sewage system. It was almost impossible to put the book down, and at 1759 epages (on eReader Prestigio) it was a suspenseful and most satisfying read.
mirk's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really fun read on the whole. I liked the mix of fantasy (Unseelie Court) and history (Spain's attempt to invade England) and the non-stop action sword fighting action meant the pages were turned fast. I wish it was shorter, the endless sword fights are fun, but they are not enough to hold the weight of a 500 page book. All the characters were cliches, but the women were particularly annoying, and I hated the italicized flashbacks. A more sophisticated story would have integrated those bits of past history into the narrative.
woodge's review against another edition
Got to page 125. Didn't like the style, didn't like the banter.
krisrid's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. An interesting take on Queen Elizabeth and her use of Walsingham and John Dee in an alternate England where the Fae battle with and brutalize the humans for dominance in the country.
I found this an engrossing read. The characters are strongly written as actual multi-faceted people, with many shades of grey and no neat and tidy heroes. Everyone ends up with blood on their hands at some point, no matter how honourable their intentions, or how ultimately good their souls. This book's plot is a battle royale and it leaves nobody untouched by the intensity of the fight. I like stories where things aren't wrapped up with a bow, because most of us face similar challenges so it's interesting to read about characters who must make hard choices where there isn't a perfect solution and see how they handle that. It makes for a more engaging, relatable character.
Will in particular really drew me in to this story! I liked him so much, and even when he was forced to make untenable choices, even when I didn't agree with the choices he made, I felt connected to him and I rooted for him. He is flawed and damaged, but he fights on, implacably, but with enough humanity to maintain his soul. He could easily become one of my favourite characters ever.
The story is gritty, and there is much violence, some of it disturbing, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. There are battle scenes, and hand-to-hand combat, as well as magical assaults and good people being destroyed by the Fae [Warning: the Fae in this book are not the happy, pixie-dust sprinkling fairies you may have come across in other paranormal books! These Fae are merciless, and see themselves as vastly superior to humans, whom they view as barely more than animals to be culled and used as the Unseelie choose]. But as is always my yardstick, none of the violence here felt excessive or gratuitous, because it made sense in the context of the story the author was telling. These things WOULD have happened if these events were real, and you can't really tell this story without including the scenes that show how, and why the battles are necessary. They also help to crystalize who is who and what side they are fighting for in the reader's mind
The supporting characters are also a great component of the book. Walsingham particularly, but also many of Will's spy team - many of whom turn out to be closer to anti-heroes than heroes. Even the ones I didn't particularly like made an impression on me, and added to the flavours of the story. The characters all added something that only they could bring, and when you put it all together it meshes well as a tapestry of a story with all the right elements and drama.
This is a series, so threads are left unbound for future books, however the author did provide a proper ending for this installment's main story and that always gets points from me. I hate being left hanging off the edge of a cliff with no resolution after committing myself to finishing an author's book, and this did not do that.
My only quibble - and it's a minor one - and the reason this didn't get the fifth star, is the readability was a bit of a challenge for me. I can't even quite put my finger on WHY, but I found the story challenging to read. It wasn't a fast, flowing read, and I found I had to go at it in briefer increments, because I had to read much more slowly than I usually do and this took me longer than normal to finish for a novel. To be fair, that may be more an issue of mine than of the book, but this is my review, so I'm going to mention it. There's a tremendous amount of detail in this. Most of it eventually proves to be valuable and plot-related, but this read took some work for me. I enjoyed and was entertained by it - absolutely no question. But it took just a bit more focus and concentration than I am accustomed to in a novel, even a historical fiction book. So just something to consider and factor in as to WHEN you may want to read this book. If you are looking for light and easy reading, this isn't the book. However, it is undeniably a great, exciting clever story, peopled with wonderful interesting characters. Just be aware you'll need to concentrate and pay attention to get the full benefit of the story.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy "alternate England" settings, battles, Elizabethan political intrigues, and magical involvement in history.
I found this an engrossing read. The characters are strongly written as actual multi-faceted people, with many shades of grey and no neat and tidy heroes. Everyone ends up with blood on their hands at some point, no matter how honourable their intentions, or how ultimately good their souls. This book's plot is a battle royale and it leaves nobody untouched by the intensity of the fight. I like stories where things aren't wrapped up with a bow, because most of us face similar challenges so it's interesting to read about characters who must make hard choices where there isn't a perfect solution and see how they handle that. It makes for a more engaging, relatable character.
Will in particular really drew me in to this story! I liked him so much, and even when he was forced to make untenable choices, even when I didn't agree with the choices he made, I felt connected to him and I rooted for him. He is flawed and damaged, but he fights on, implacably, but with enough humanity to maintain his soul. He could easily become one of my favourite characters ever.
The story is gritty, and there is much violence, some of it disturbing, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. There are battle scenes, and hand-to-hand combat, as well as magical assaults and good people being destroyed by the Fae [Warning: the Fae in this book are not the happy, pixie-dust sprinkling fairies you may have come across in other paranormal books! These Fae are merciless, and see themselves as vastly superior to humans, whom they view as barely more than animals to be culled and used as the Unseelie choose]. But as is always my yardstick, none of the violence here felt excessive or gratuitous, because it made sense in the context of the story the author was telling. These things WOULD have happened if these events were real, and you can't really tell this story without including the scenes that show how, and why the battles are necessary. They also help to crystalize who is who and what side they are fighting for in the reader's mind
The supporting characters are also a great component of the book. Walsingham particularly, but also many of Will's spy team - many of whom turn out to be closer to anti-heroes than heroes. Even the ones I didn't particularly like made an impression on me, and added to the flavours of the story. The characters all added something that only they could bring, and when you put it all together it meshes well as a tapestry of a story with all the right elements and drama.
This is a series, so threads are left unbound for future books, however the author did provide a proper ending for this installment's main story and that always gets points from me. I hate being left hanging off the edge of a cliff with no resolution after committing myself to finishing an author's book, and this did not do that.
My only quibble - and it's a minor one - and the reason this didn't get the fifth star, is the readability was a bit of a challenge for me. I can't even quite put my finger on WHY, but I found the story challenging to read. It wasn't a fast, flowing read, and I found I had to go at it in briefer increments, because I had to read much more slowly than I usually do and this took me longer than normal to finish for a novel. To be fair, that may be more an issue of mine than of the book, but this is my review, so I'm going to mention it. There's a tremendous amount of detail in this. Most of it eventually proves to be valuable and plot-related, but this read took some work for me. I enjoyed and was entertained by it - absolutely no question. But it took just a bit more focus and concentration than I am accustomed to in a novel, even a historical fiction book. So just something to consider and factor in as to WHEN you may want to read this book. If you are looking for light and easy reading, this isn't the book. However, it is undeniably a great, exciting clever story, peopled with wonderful interesting characters. Just be aware you'll need to concentrate and pay attention to get the full benefit of the story.
Highly recommended to those who enjoy "alternate England" settings, battles, Elizabethan political intrigues, and magical involvement in history.
athenalindia's review
3.0
This is not the fault of the author, but my enjoyment of this book was marred by one thing - I kept wondering what it would have been like if written by another author.
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
Note: The rest of this review has been withdrawn due to the changes in Goodreads policy and enforcement. You can read why I came to this decision here.
In the meantime, you can read the entire review at Smorgasbook
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