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noveldeelights's review
3.0
The year is 1959. The place is London. The ship Cornucopia arrives after a long journey from India. On board is Aalia. She’s come to England to find her brother, William. William seems to think he’s a long lost son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour and thus the rightful heir to the throne. He quickly becomes a pawn in a deadly game. Some know the truth and will go to desperate lengths to keep that truth hidden at all costs. There’s a lot of sneaking around and dubious meetings from multiple players with their own ambitions, not at all necessarily noble, which is exactly how I would imagine things to have been in those days.
Set in the era of Elizabeth Tudor’s reign, The Blood of Kings is full of a healthy dose of intrigue that’s to be expected from a life at court and a time when kings and queens weren’t safe from anyone. Aalia must unravel a web of deceit and lies but with so many people around her plotting, is there anyone left she can trust?
Aalia is quite likeable and very different from what women were supposed to be like or act like in those days. She’s fiery, feisty, tempestuous and incredibly stubborn. She’s not someone you can control but she can take excellent care of herself.
I must admit that I often felt a tad confused about the large cast of characters, although it’s entirely possible that was due to my concentration levels not being up to scratch. I also found some chapters to be rather on the slow side, which broke the flow of the story and I didn’t always understand their relevance.
However, the author truly manages to create a wonderful atmosphere of London life in the 1500’s from the pubs to the docks to court.
Set in the era of Elizabeth Tudor’s reign, The Blood of Kings is full of a healthy dose of intrigue that’s to be expected from a life at court and a time when kings and queens weren’t safe from anyone. Aalia must unravel a web of deceit and lies but with so many people around her plotting, is there anyone left she can trust?
Aalia is quite likeable and very different from what women were supposed to be like or act like in those days. She’s fiery, feisty, tempestuous and incredibly stubborn. She’s not someone you can control but she can take excellent care of herself.
I must admit that I often felt a tad confused about the large cast of characters, although it’s entirely possible that was due to my concentration levels not being up to scratch. I also found some chapters to be rather on the slow side, which broke the flow of the story and I didn’t always understand their relevance.
However, the author truly manages to create a wonderful atmosphere of London life in the 1500’s from the pubs to the docks to court.
ljwrites85's review
3.0
Now I haven’t read much historical fiction bar a few cozy mysteries set in the Victorian times, so this was completely new ground for me.
It’s set in Elizabethan England at the beginning of Elizabeth I’s reign just after Mary Queen of Scots has died. If, like me, your only knowledge of Tudor times is some vague memory from Primary school then you might have a bit of trouble getting to grips with this setting like I did.
It also has quite a large cast of characters too which I found a little hard to keep track of and the language was a little difficult to read so I often had to go back and re-read passages. I think it could have also benefited from a glossary.
But I absolutely loved the headstrong and fearless Aalia, she was definitely all you want in a heroine. Also some of the action scenes were fantastic, my favourite being when Aalia saves the young Queen Elizabeth from a church collapsing on her.
Overall I think this is the kind of book you have to sit down, concentrate, while you are transported back in time to another era.
It’s set in Elizabethan England at the beginning of Elizabeth I’s reign just after Mary Queen of Scots has died. If, like me, your only knowledge of Tudor times is some vague memory from Primary school then you might have a bit of trouble getting to grips with this setting like I did.
It also has quite a large cast of characters too which I found a little hard to keep track of and the language was a little difficult to read so I often had to go back and re-read passages. I think it could have also benefited from a glossary.
But I absolutely loved the headstrong and fearless Aalia, she was definitely all you want in a heroine. Also some of the action scenes were fantastic, my favourite being when Aalia saves the young Queen Elizabeth from a church collapsing on her.
Overall I think this is the kind of book you have to sit down, concentrate, while you are transported back in time to another era.
hosborneauthor's review
5.0
As of late, I rarely find a novel that captivates my time and attention as did The Blood of Kings. An engaging story from page one until the very end. Well worth the read for someone who appreciates historical fiction with an edge.
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