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bec_wheels's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed this book so much that I finished it within two days. It was such a thrilling read and Frances is portrayed as a very strong female character. This book kept me hooked throughout and quite a few twists.
kategolledge's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tillymints's review against another edition
3.0
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I may be being slightly harsh on this, but a very solid 3/5 stars.
Set in the very early days of King James VI/I of Scotland/England, The King's Witch follows Frances, a young noblewoman, daughter of Elizabeth I's favourite handmaiden, who knows her way around herbs. The second daughter, Frances had been attending the ailing Elizabeth on her deathbed, using her herbs to give the queen some final comfort, when she is delivered an ominous warning - her queen's successor, James, is none too fond of witches... and healing could quite easily be mistaken for being in league with the Devil. Heavily researched and well-written, Borman's first installment in the Frances Gorges Trilogy follows its titular character as she navigates a fractured court on edge, trying to keep herself from the ducking stool. Oh, and the Gunpowder Plot. Old Jamie wasn't a huge fan of papists either, and that definitely factors in here too. It's telling I'm seeing a major plot point as an afterthought, though.
Frances isn't your typical, naive, well-to-do aristocrat in this book, though there are times where you want to shake her. As with all characters in this book, she's relatable. And she really shouldn't be - I have no idea what it's like to be worried about getting burnt alive when I'm giving people the equivalent of Advil - but she is. Borman writes wonderfully, and her characterization of Queen Anne is refreshing, to say the least, and probably my favourite thing in this book. I remember reading about her as a child in school, and she was merely a footnote of simpering nature. I didn't know better at the time, but Anne is far from it. She rallied against her husband, campaigning for years for the right to raise her own son, Henry, and remained at odds with the way James governed most of her life, never cowering. Honestly, it warms my cold, cynical heart to see a queen consort being written as someone with a spine, her accomplishments and personality lorded, rather than pushed aside for main character development/some odd placed love triangle that seems to plague this genre right now.
Like I said earlier, this is very well-researched. I have been beaten over the head with Tudor/Stuart history since I was a child, and I grew a genuine interest in this time period. All the research in the world, however, won't really save you from a story that lags at times (I spent the first 30% or so of the book feeling like I hadn't made any progress at all, only to discover that it was the story that wasn't moving quickly). It does, admittedly, pick up, but then we get a bit too busy for my liking. Research won't save you from a story that meanders, either. I was drawn to this book purely because of the "witch" title. I knew James hated them, and I really, really wanted to see that explored. It takes a backseat to the Gunpowder Plot, though, which I'm aware is stated as a big chunk of this book, but Frances' main "claim to fame", if you will, is ignored for it and a romance that has a few gaps in. I may just no longer have any imagination and require spoonfeeding at this stage, though. Who knows. I felt disappointed, which is why this book dropped from 4 to 3 stars. It just feels...disjointed, in places, and like Borman somewhat forgot about the witchery for a while. Which is fine, just not what I enjoy.
The ending came on a bit too quickly for me too, but that seems to, again, be a common theme for books with a definite sequel, so I somewhat understand that. It was a little underwhelming, to say the least, but overall, not a bad read. Just not an amazing one.
If you're a fan of late Tudor/early Stuart history and court intrigue, this book is definitely for you. If you're looking for an easy, slow-starting read, also the book for you. Not sure who I'd recommend this to, and if I'll continue the trilogy, but I'll wait to see what book #2 has in store.
I may be being slightly harsh on this, but a very solid 3/5 stars.
Set in the very early days of King James VI/I of Scotland/England, The King's Witch follows Frances, a young noblewoman, daughter of Elizabeth I's favourite handmaiden, who knows her way around herbs. The second daughter, Frances had been attending the ailing Elizabeth on her deathbed, using her herbs to give the queen some final comfort, when she is delivered an ominous warning - her queen's successor, James, is none too fond of witches... and healing could quite easily be mistaken for being in league with the Devil. Heavily researched and well-written, Borman's first installment in the Frances Gorges Trilogy follows its titular character as she navigates a fractured court on edge, trying to keep herself from the ducking stool. Oh, and the Gunpowder Plot. Old Jamie wasn't a huge fan of papists either, and that definitely factors in here too. It's telling I'm seeing a major plot point as an afterthought, though.
Frances isn't your typical, naive, well-to-do aristocrat in this book, though there are times where you want to shake her. As with all characters in this book, she's relatable. And she really shouldn't be - I have no idea what it's like to be worried about getting burnt alive when I'm giving people the equivalent of Advil - but she is. Borman writes wonderfully, and her characterization of Queen Anne is refreshing, to say the least, and probably my favourite thing in this book. I remember reading about her as a child in school, and she was merely a footnote of simpering nature. I didn't know better at the time, but Anne is far from it. She rallied against her husband, campaigning for years for the right to raise her own son, Henry, and remained at odds with the way James governed most of her life, never cowering. Honestly, it warms my cold, cynical heart to see a queen consort being written as someone with a spine, her accomplishments and personality lorded, rather than pushed aside for main character development/some odd placed love triangle that seems to plague this genre right now.
Like I said earlier, this is very well-researched. I have been beaten over the head with Tudor/Stuart history since I was a child, and I grew a genuine interest in this time period. All the research in the world, however, won't really save you from a story that lags at times (I spent the first 30% or so of the book feeling like I hadn't made any progress at all, only to discover that it was the story that wasn't moving quickly). It does, admittedly, pick up, but then we get a bit too busy for my liking. Research won't save you from a story that meanders, either. I was drawn to this book purely because of the "witch" title. I knew James hated them, and I really, really wanted to see that explored. It takes a backseat to the Gunpowder Plot, though, which I'm aware is stated as a big chunk of this book, but Frances' main "claim to fame", if you will, is ignored for it and a romance that has a few gaps in. I may just no longer have any imagination and require spoonfeeding at this stage, though. Who knows. I felt disappointed, which is why this book dropped from 4 to 3 stars. It just feels...disjointed, in places, and like Borman somewhat forgot about the witchery for a while. Which is fine, just not what I enjoy.
The ending came on a bit too quickly for me too, but that seems to, again, be a common theme for books with a definite sequel, so I somewhat understand that. It was a little underwhelming, to say the least, but overall, not a bad read. Just not an amazing one.
If you're a fan of late Tudor/early Stuart history and court intrigue, this book is definitely for you. If you're looking for an easy, slow-starting read, also the book for you. Not sure who I'd recommend this to, and if I'll continue the trilogy, but I'll wait to see what book #2 has in store.
ashndean88's review against another edition
3.0
Lovely writing, and I liked how the story was done during a time in history that I am not familiar with. Everything was also very accurate, which I appreciated. You can tell Borman is quite the historian and really knows her stuff! It made the book more believable.
However, the plot was quite predictable and I got bored often. The characters were dull and I found myself thinking "I don't really care" whenever Frances was faced with a dilemma. Also, concerning the title, I was a little disappointed there was not more focus on the court thinking she was a witch. It was there for the first half, then died off with only hints of it here and there, as though trying to maintain a tie to the title.
So the story was dull and all my stars solely go towards Borman for her research and writing style. I will not be reading the remaining books in the series.
However, the plot was quite predictable and I got bored often. The characters were dull and I found myself thinking "I don't really care" whenever Frances was faced with a dilemma. Also, concerning the title, I was a little disappointed there was not more focus on the court thinking she was a witch. It was there for the first half, then died off with only hints of it here and there, as though trying to maintain a tie to the title.
So the story was dull and all my stars solely go towards Borman for her research and writing style. I will not be reading the remaining books in the series.
misssarahg1's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a lover of the period anyway, I was thrilled to learn more about the Gunpowder Plot. Frances is a great main character with her own ideals and worries that she fights all the way through. I highly recommend.
rebl's review against another edition
3.0
This novel has quite an interesting premise. I'm personally a big fan of historical fiction that examines well-known time periods or figures through the eyes of women, whether they are women who are also well-known, or those who represent people likely to have existed on the periphery of a situation.
The writing itself was very competent, but something about it failed to draw me in. At times, I found the narration too flowery ("purple prose', as it is often called). I quite enjoy literary fiction and lingering descriptions, but this book felt a little trapped in between popular history and literary fiction -- not quite mastering either form. There were plenty of opportunities for drama and conflict that seemed to have been overlooked. That said, it's a good novel and some passages are outstanding, with others less engaging due to their somewhat meandering nature.
I appreciated the spiritual and political themes through the exploration of so-called witchcraft. A huge amount of research would have been undertaken by the author and editors - something we absolutely should respect.
The writing itself was very competent, but something about it failed to draw me in. At times, I found the narration too flowery ("purple prose', as it is often called). I quite enjoy literary fiction and lingering descriptions, but this book felt a little trapped in between popular history and literary fiction -- not quite mastering either form. There were plenty of opportunities for drama and conflict that seemed to have been overlooked. That said, it's a good novel and some passages are outstanding, with others less engaging due to their somewhat meandering nature.
I appreciated the spiritual and political themes through the exploration of so-called witchcraft. A huge amount of research would have been undertaken by the author and editors - something we absolutely should respect.
louise_mc2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
annieb123's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The King's Witch is the first book in a fictionalized historical trilogy set during the reign of King James. Historian Tracy Borman's familiarity and expertise with the period make it very authentic reading, but for readers who aren't very familiar with the background history and the time period, access to supplementary references might enhance the experience. I found myself confused about context at several points and had to go look up the secondary characters. The fictionalized parts of the story are skillfully interwoven with documented history and I was impressed at how plausible the author's interpretations were.
This first volume was released 13th July 2018 by Grove Atlantic. It's 448 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.
History is not normally my first genre choice. This one, however, was very well written and after a slow start, was paced and plotted well. The intrigues and power-jockeying at court were so clearly described that they were almost uncomfortable to read in several places.
Historical fiction lovers will really find a lot to like here. I will pick up the next novel in the series and I did enjoy this one, though I had to look up some of the back-history myself.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
The King's Witch is the first book in a fictionalized historical trilogy set during the reign of King James. Historian Tracy Borman's familiarity and expertise with the period make it very authentic reading, but for readers who aren't very familiar with the background history and the time period, access to supplementary references might enhance the experience. I found myself confused about context at several points and had to go look up the secondary characters. The fictionalized parts of the story are skillfully interwoven with documented history and I was impressed at how plausible the author's interpretations were.
This first volume was released 13th July 2018 by Grove Atlantic. It's 448 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audiobook formats.
History is not normally my first genre choice. This one, however, was very well written and after a slow start, was paced and plotted well. The intrigues and power-jockeying at court were so clearly described that they were almost uncomfortable to read in several places.
Historical fiction lovers will really find a lot to like here. I will pick up the next novel in the series and I did enjoy this one, though I had to look up some of the back-history myself.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes
laurenjpegler's review against another edition
5.0
I think this has quickly become a new favourite of mine. It combines my love for historical fiction, the monarchy and witchery all into one book. It has political intrigue, a strong female character who is a victim of the patriarchal court but manages to come out on top, the actual Gunpowder Plot (!), and beautiful imagery/writing style. Tracy Borman is magical as both a fiction writer and historian. I cannot wait to pick up the next book in the series - just a bummer I have to wait so long for the paperback to come out!
I definitely think the audiobook for this added to my overall reading experience. The narrator was so lively, emotional and clear.
I will have a full review of this up on my blog soon, so make sure to follow me @ www.bookishbyron.wordpress.com
Honestly, though, amazing. I couldn't recommend it enough. So. Good.
I definitely think the audiobook for this added to my overall reading experience. The narrator was so lively, emotional and clear.
I will have a full review of this up on my blog soon, so make sure to follow me @ www.bookishbyron.wordpress.com
Honestly, though, amazing. I couldn't recommend it enough. So. Good.
lreay89's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is rich in historical detail and immerses the reader in the action. I particularly liked the fact that the main character is a real historical figure - albeit one that’s not very familiar so I could discover the 17th century through her eyes.
As the Tudor’s get so much attention often the very interesting period of the early Stuart reign gets forgotten. I’m glad that this book and the series are going some way to redress the balance.
For a first time novel written by a historian used to writing non-fiction I was very impressed and devoured the book in a few days. I’m looking forward to being able to read the rest of the series.
As the Tudor’s get so much attention often the very interesting period of the early Stuart reign gets forgotten. I’m glad that this book and the series are going some way to redress the balance.
For a first time novel written by a historian used to writing non-fiction I was very impressed and devoured the book in a few days. I’m looking forward to being able to read the rest of the series.