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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
I received a copy of Palace of Spies courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a review.
I adore Sarah Zettel, and English history, so of course I had to read Palace of Spies. It didn't disappoint! Peggy is thrown out by her uncle, and to make her way, she takes on the role of a dead girl that she resembles, and starts gathering info for a friend of her mothers. Peggy was smart and fresh, and the story kept me turning pages. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
I adore Sarah Zettel, and English history, so of course I had to read Palace of Spies. It didn't disappoint! Peggy is thrown out by her uncle, and to make her way, she takes on the role of a dead girl that she resembles, and starts gathering info for a friend of her mothers. Peggy was smart and fresh, and the story kept me turning pages. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
At sixteen years of age, Peggy–née Margaret Preston Fitzroy–finds herself to be the well-bred, yet orphaned cousin who must remain in her kin’s good graces in order to keep a roof over her head. Unfortunately, being a contrarian, she is quickly turned out when she refuses to abide by her uncle’s will and falls prey to those who would have her impersonate a lady-in-waiting at a court that harbors spies, murderers, and intrigue. In order to save herself as well as queen and country, she must learn the art of duplicity and know when to trust her heart. Even though this book became exponentially more interesting in the last eighty pages, the prior nigh three hundred pages that the reader must wade through are unmerited. Nonetheless, readers who enjoyed Anna Godbersen’s Luxe series are likely to find a new heroine in Margaret Preston Fitzroy–“counterfeit lady, accused thief, and confidential agent at the court of His Majesty, King George I.”
I received this e-book ARC courtesy of Net Galley.
I tried very hard to get into this book. I like the premise of the series. It wasn't enough to keep my attention. I gave up after a week of trying to read it. The writing was good. It was even humorous at times. The book just wasn't for me.
If I had a teenager, I would definitely let them read it. It's really a young adult book.
I tried very hard to get into this book. I like the premise of the series. It wasn't enough to keep my attention. I gave up after a week of trying to read it. The writing was good. It was even humorous at times. The book just wasn't for me.
If I had a teenager, I would definitely let them read it. It's really a young adult book.
Definitely not what I expected. Some parts too shameful to read though and a little bit hard to figure out.
I got off to a rocky start with this book, but then ended up really enjoying it for what it was.
This was another book that I made myself read because it wasn't something I'd normally pick out on my own and I'm trying to expand my horizons. The cover is hot pink and horrible. I thought for sure that I'd hate it.
I even thought I'd hate it in the first few chapters when she's sexually assaulted and then kicked out of the house for it. I understand that women were largely not in control of their own fates and that the author needed a way to get Peggy out of her life and into spying, but I felt like it could have been done in a much better way and also not have to involve gratuitous attempted rape from a comically-evil-for-no-reason bad guy.
But after that, I really got sucked into the book. It was like a classy soap opera. I loved the courtly intrigue and the silly mystery. Obviously, it's not a classic and I don't think that a woman in Peggy's time would speak/write the way she did, but I enjoyed this book and would probably read it again. I'm glad I decided to pick it up.
This was another book that I made myself read because it wasn't something I'd normally pick out on my own and I'm trying to expand my horizons. The cover is hot pink and horrible. I thought for sure that I'd hate it.
I even thought I'd hate it in the first few chapters when she's sexually assaulted and then kicked out of the house for it. I understand that women were largely not in control of their own fates and that the author needed a way to get Peggy out of her life and into spying, but I felt like it could have been done in a much better way and also not have to involve gratuitous attempted rape from a comically-evil-for-no-reason bad guy.
But after that, I really got sucked into the book. It was like a classy soap opera. I loved the courtly intrigue and the silly mystery. Obviously, it's not a classic and I don't think that a woman in Peggy's time would speak/write the way she did, but I enjoyed this book and would probably read it again. I'm glad I decided to pick it up.
Palace of Spies stars Peggy who finds herself impersonating a girl who died at Court after being kicked out of her home. Peggy soon finds herself wrapped in the scandalous world of the royal court (complete with loads and loads of complicated clothes) and wonders what really happened to the girl whose life she has taken over and is she safe?
I loved this book. It had everything I like in a historical novel, loads of clothes, titled men, scandal and romance. Though the book was long I found myself unable to put it down. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Appropriateness: There's no adult content in this book. I recommend it to readers 13+
I loved this book. It had everything I like in a historical novel, loads of clothes, titled men, scandal and romance. Though the book was long I found myself unable to put it down. I look forward to the next book in the series.
Appropriateness: There's no adult content in this book. I recommend it to readers 13+
PALACE OF SPIES was a fun read. I enjoyed the character of Peggy and the world she is thrust into as she attempts to infiltrate the court of King George I. Of course, even with the preparations our poor girl turned court spy goes through, it still seems a little unlikely that Peggy would be able to pretend to be someone she is not, and that provides a high sense of tension throughout the book. Peggy is a likable and relatable character, and the worlds she inhabits are well detailed and realistic. She has to go through a lot to make it in the surprisingly cutthroat world of the court, and her family background has a sufficiently interesting intrigue to keep you guessing. The mystery of what happened to the girl whose life Peggy takes over and the politics at court are laid out in a way that makes sense, and the romance isn't cliched or overbearing. The historical details are well researched, so it's not a teenage ya that just happens to take place in a Georgian court. You'll wonder who Peggy is really working for throughout the book and get a few laughs along the way. The story wraps up but there is plenty more to fill the other books in the series, which I'll be looking for.
Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
Received as a free digital ARC via Netgalley and the publisher.
This is a fun romp set in the court of George I. Peggy Fitzroy is desperate after being kicked out of her uncles house for refusing to agree to the marriage arranged for her, and accepts an offer from a mysterious man, Mr Tinderflint to become a stand-in for a dead lady in waiting to Princess Caroline. What follows is a fun read with Jacobite intrigue, a bit of romance and general bitchiness from other ladies.
Great mystery. I really enjoyed the characters. Some language and adult situations. Looks like this will be a series - if so, I can't wait for the next one!