Scan barcode
alva_ra's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
At the beginning I was really excited for the book as it started quite well, then afterwards it just went downhill. She kinda goes undercover to avoid meeting the love interest, and the book takes a weird historical approach instead of the lesbian romance which it began with. Would not read again or recommend to other people sadly.
thatdianegirl's review
2.0
I've read a few of her books now, and love how Suzannah Dunn uses a servant's/commoner's point of view to tell a historic event. With this one, I loved the characters and their realistically nuanced relationships, but ultimately it felt like it could have been a much bigger book, or one of a series, in order to really give all of the characters time to really shine. I was ultimately left disappointed, there was so much more to explore.
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
3.0
Orphan Alys has managed to survive against the odds. She works as a launderess and has secured a position in the household of the new Queen. Mary Tudor in 37 and has waited to claim the throne for many years, now she has done so and is also about to get married to a Spanish prince. This is causing some upset among the people of England and there are plots to dethrone Mary centred around her half-sister Elizabeth. Alys is pressured into becoming a spy in Elizabeth's household.
This is an interesting take on Tudor history and from the viewpoint of a quite humble servant which is to its benefit. I found the 'lesbian' love affair unconvincing and didn't really see what plot there was. However as a view of Tudor England from a lowly perspective it was interesting
This is an interesting take on Tudor history and from the viewpoint of a quite humble servant which is to its benefit. I found the 'lesbian' love affair unconvincing and didn't really see what plot there was. However as a view of Tudor England from a lowly perspective it was interesting
alvara's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
anniekenway's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Wanted to like this book but very similar to her others. Virtually no plot so even though I believed in characters didn’t want to read it.
capella's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
crawffff's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
eagleshouse's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
I found this book interesting, and I genuinely enjoyed the romance of Bel and Alys, despite the breaking down of it in the end, which felt natural and good for the progression of the story.
HOWEVER, the ending??? absolutely awful. left on a weird disappointing cliffhanger (if you can even call it that), and the book feels incomplete. if Dunn had added even just a couple more chapters wrapping things up instead of seemingly just dropping the story without resolution this book would have a much much higher rating.
TLDR: a good book which is tremendously let down by the ending, or lack thereof.
HOWEVER, the ending??? absolutely awful. left on a weird disappointing cliffhanger (if you can even call it that), and the book feels incomplete. if Dunn had added even just a couple more chapters wrapping things up instead of seemingly just dropping the story without resolution this book would have a much much higher rating.
TLDR: a good book which is tremendously let down by the ending, or lack thereof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexism and Pregnancy
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Fire/Fire injury, Infertility, Xenophobia, and Miscarriage
sarahlou321's review against another edition
4.0
Within the first few pages, I found myself immersed in the Tudor world that Suzannah Dunn had created. The vivid descriptions of the sights and smells of Tudor London really brought the novel to life and at times I felt like I was sailing down the Thames!
The novel focuses on Elizabeth as a princess and the dispute between her and Queen Mary. To read the novel from Alys, the laundress perspective, was an unusual twist as historical fiction is often written from the perspective of the royals.
Alys, the protagonist is a likeable character, with a sometimes dry sense of humour. Her motivation & loyalties aren’t always clear though, not even to herself! She’s sent to spy on Elizabeth, the laundry being the perfect place to do this - it’s amazing how much can be learned from dirty laundry!
The story isn’t fast paced, but it does continue to move along and I was keen to see the outcome that awaited Alys. My only complaint would be that the ending seemed to come unexpectedly, and I wasn’t quite ready for it!
I’d recommend this book and I’d look out for Suzannah’s other novels.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
#thetestimonyofalystwist
#netgalley
The novel focuses on Elizabeth as a princess and the dispute between her and Queen Mary. To read the novel from Alys, the laundress perspective, was an unusual twist as historical fiction is often written from the perspective of the royals.
Alys, the protagonist is a likeable character, with a sometimes dry sense of humour. Her motivation & loyalties aren’t always clear though, not even to herself! She’s sent to spy on Elizabeth, the laundry being the perfect place to do this - it’s amazing how much can be learned from dirty laundry!
The story isn’t fast paced, but it does continue to move along and I was keen to see the outcome that awaited Alys. My only complaint would be that the ending seemed to come unexpectedly, and I wasn’t quite ready for it!
I’d recommend this book and I’d look out for Suzannah’s other novels.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc.
#thetestimonyofalystwist
#netgalley