Scan barcode
rainnbooks's review
5.0
Just like that dazzling cover image, Lying with Lions is a novel rich in the lush descriptions of the era that the story has set in. Edwardian England vibrates thru the different hues and colors that the author, Annabel Fielding has captured in its vast canvas.
Lying with Lions is the tale of a young girl Agnes Ashford whose ambitions and desire to make something of herself catapults her into the limelight of the dysfunctional Bryant family. Employed first as an archivist, it is not long before she discovers that the winding tunnels of Hartfell Hall have hidden a gruesome secret and the price of silence could be her own life. With a clear outlook of what her place in the house should be, she forges a path ahead that sees her move from a mere employee to the companion helper of Lady Helen Bryant.
The story progresses through the political ups and downs of the time and the repercussions of the war and it is Agnes who sometimes with a whisper here and a whisper there who pulls on the threads that run the house smoothly. There’s something Machiavellian about the games that both Agnes and Helen play that was absolutely thrilling. Lady Helen, a force to be reckoned with, was an impressive character using her cunning and wiles to get away with everything and thus seeing to the core of the desire hidden in Agnes and making her a mirror image of herself.
The author’s research of the era is definitely admirable as is evident in the weaving of historical events that move the story forward. The relationship that develops between Agnes and Helen is kept as a background to the main story of the events that circulate around the Bryant children, Harold and Meredith, and the growth of the characters is captured wonderfully as each incident unfolds to reveal a different facet to all the players involved. The ending was twisty which I was thoroughly surprised as I had no inkling that there were more secrets to be unearthed. It is not often in historical fiction that you have a lead protagonist who is not a goody-good girl, but the author has kept the sketch of Agnes as stark as possible with the kind of ruthless ambition that one can’t help but admire.
Excellent plotting with a deep sense of gothic allure, Lying with Lions is a must-read for all fans of historical fiction.
Fascinating 5 stars ☔☔☔☔☔
Many thanks to Net Galley, Publisher, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
Lying with Lions is the tale of a young girl Agnes Ashford whose ambitions and desire to make something of herself catapults her into the limelight of the dysfunctional Bryant family. Employed first as an archivist, it is not long before she discovers that the winding tunnels of Hartfell Hall have hidden a gruesome secret and the price of silence could be her own life. With a clear outlook of what her place in the house should be, she forges a path ahead that sees her move from a mere employee to the companion helper of Lady Helen Bryant.
The story progresses through the political ups and downs of the time and the repercussions of the war and it is Agnes who sometimes with a whisper here and a whisper there who pulls on the threads that run the house smoothly. There’s something Machiavellian about the games that both Agnes and Helen play that was absolutely thrilling. Lady Helen, a force to be reckoned with, was an impressive character using her cunning and wiles to get away with everything and thus seeing to the core of the desire hidden in Agnes and making her a mirror image of herself.
The author’s research of the era is definitely admirable as is evident in the weaving of historical events that move the story forward. The relationship that develops between Agnes and Helen is kept as a background to the main story of the events that circulate around the Bryant children, Harold and Meredith, and the growth of the characters is captured wonderfully as each incident unfolds to reveal a different facet to all the players involved. The ending was twisty which I was thoroughly surprised as I had no inkling that there were more secrets to be unearthed. It is not often in historical fiction that you have a lead protagonist who is not a goody-good girl, but the author has kept the sketch of Agnes as stark as possible with the kind of ruthless ambition that one can’t help but admire.
Excellent plotting with a deep sense of gothic allure, Lying with Lions is a must-read for all fans of historical fiction.
Fascinating 5 stars ☔☔☔☔☔
Many thanks to Net Galley, Publisher, and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India, Medium.com, Facebook, and Twitter.
omgreading's review
3.0
Thank you NetGalley & KDP for the ARC.
Agnes Ashford is a budding archivist newly in the employ of the Bryant family, cataloguing their rich history in the tunnels below the sprawling Hartfell Hall. In her work, she stumbles upon a long buried family secret and her choices moving forward lead her into a new life of romance, ambition, and deceit.
This is historical fiction, and I found it to be well-researched and appreciated the way it was woven into the story. As the book went forward, the descriptions got better, and I loved the details of all the locales, the art, and the atmosphere that was created. Agnes is a clever character, and I enjoyed how her story went overall, so I am glad I got the chance to read the book.
I almost DNF'd this book around the 20% mark. The early writing in the book was very disjointed to me and there was a major pacing issue. I'm glad I kept reading because after I got past that, the story picks up and everything just flows a little better. The blurb of the book hints at past wounds for Agnes, but I felt I got no real reference to that and was expecting it to be a bigger part of the story. If it had focused fewer secrets or scandals and the bigger ones explored more, I think it could have been a much more interesting story for me.
Agnes Ashford is a budding archivist newly in the employ of the Bryant family, cataloguing their rich history in the tunnels below the sprawling Hartfell Hall. In her work, she stumbles upon a long buried family secret and her choices moving forward lead her into a new life of romance, ambition, and deceit.
This is historical fiction, and I found it to be well-researched and appreciated the way it was woven into the story. As the book went forward, the descriptions got better, and I loved the details of all the locales, the art, and the atmosphere that was created. Agnes is a clever character, and I enjoyed how her story went overall, so I am glad I got the chance to read the book.
I almost DNF'd this book around the 20% mark. The early writing in the book was very disjointed to me and there was a major pacing issue. I'm glad I kept reading because after I got past that, the story picks up and everything just flows a little better. The blurb of the book hints at past wounds for Agnes, but I felt I got no real reference to that and was expecting it to be a bigger part of the story. If it had focused fewer secrets or scandals and the bigger ones explored more, I think it could have been a much more interesting story for me.
flybybooks's review
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Anastasia Rydaeva for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
TW: rape, child death, murder
Lying with Lions is a gothic historical novel with a Wuthering-Heights-esque energy. Our Main Character Agnes, a Woman pushed from a well-off position in life by the debt and alcoholism of her Father, is an Archivist for the Family of a Baron. It is her job to comb through and sort hundreds of years of letters and documents the family has been collectiong in the expanse of tunnels under their estate. This endeavour opens up possibilities for Agnes as she discovers secrets long-forgotten or put to rest. When the Baron is poisoned, the estranged Son to be contacted and the Lady of the House in need of companionship and counsel, Agnes is close at hand. So begins a tale of love and lust, of greed and servitude, of guilt and betrayal. So begins the tale of Helen and Agnes.
This book grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. The way it was written kept me hanging on to every word. The imagery was rich, the storyline flowing. The Characters were fleshed-out, their motives clear where they needed to be and unclear when it was better. If you are a fan of morally grey characters, then this book (and this genre) is for you: the multidimensionality of horrible acts and unjust justification of inexcusable acts were expertly displayed.
I particularly enjoyed the sapphic romance. It was, as romances often are in gothic fiction, not a healthy relationship dynamic. However, watching the development of the relationship, the waxing and waning of love and resentment side by side, was very enjoyable. I did think it felt a little rushed in the beginning, though this is ultimately forgiveable given how much I loved the rest of the book.
If you loved Wuthering Heights and the Bridgerton Series, but wish they were sapphic, then you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.
TW: rape, child death, murder
Lying with Lions is a gothic historical novel with a Wuthering-Heights-esque energy. Our Main Character Agnes, a Woman pushed from a well-off position in life by the debt and alcoholism of her Father, is an Archivist for the Family of a Baron. It is her job to comb through and sort hundreds of years of letters and documents the family has been collectiong in the expanse of tunnels under their estate. This endeavour opens up possibilities for Agnes as she discovers secrets long-forgotten or put to rest. When the Baron is poisoned, the estranged Son to be contacted and the Lady of the House in need of companionship and counsel, Agnes is close at hand. So begins a tale of love and lust, of greed and servitude, of guilt and betrayal. So begins the tale of Helen and Agnes.
This book grabbed my arm and wouldn't let go. The way it was written kept me hanging on to every word. The imagery was rich, the storyline flowing. The Characters were fleshed-out, their motives clear where they needed to be and unclear when it was better. If you are a fan of morally grey characters, then this book (and this genre) is for you: the multidimensionality of horrible acts and unjust justification of inexcusable acts were expertly displayed.
I particularly enjoyed the sapphic romance. It was, as romances often are in gothic fiction, not a healthy relationship dynamic. However, watching the development of the relationship, the waxing and waning of love and resentment side by side, was very enjoyable. I did think it felt a little rushed in the beginning, though this is ultimately forgiveable given how much I loved the rest of the book.
Spoiler
Beware the ending, it will destroy you. Also it was amazing and inevitable and fitting. All roads lead to rome and all.If you loved Wuthering Heights and the Bridgerton Series, but wish they were sapphic, then you will enjoy this book. I highly recommend.
li_reading's review
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Lying with Lions delivers exactly what the synopsis promises: an archivist, family wounds and a dark secret; all within the first quarter, what follows is a difficult-to-follow journey through Edwardian politics. While there were sparks of intrigue, I largely found myself anticipating a strong narrative that never took hold.
I struggled with the pacing, with an engaging start that fizzled out as the story progressed. The element of romance was a pleasant change of pace, although it was rather contrived and seemed to appear out of thin air. What could have been the book's saving grace, instead fell flat.
Characters such as Meredith and Harold were positively enchanting and provided much-needed relief from the politics of the Bryant household, I only wish the story could have revolved around them instead.
The first-person narrative took getting accustomed to, however there were several moments which brought a smile to my face at the beauty of the writing. Unfortunately some typographical errors did pull me back into reality, breaking the flow of the story.
In all, I found many components of the book to be enjoyable (the setting, the characters, the lesbian romance) but found the delivery to be lacking.
I struggled with the pacing, with an engaging start that fizzled out as the story progressed. The element of romance was a pleasant change of pace, although it was rather contrived and seemed to appear out of thin air. What could have been the book's saving grace, instead fell flat.
Characters such as Meredith and Harold were positively enchanting and provided much-needed relief from the politics of the Bryant household, I only wish the story could have revolved around them instead.
The first-person narrative took getting accustomed to, however there were several moments which brought a smile to my face at the beauty of the writing. Unfortunately some typographical errors did pull me back into reality, breaking the flow of the story.
In all, I found many components of the book to be enjoyable (the setting, the characters, the lesbian romance) but found the delivery to be lacking.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Animal death, Violence, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Drug use and Misogyny
confessionsofabookworm's review
5.0
I haven’t read too much historical fiction but when I do I am reminded how much I enjoy it.
This book was historical fiction but with a gothic feel about it. The romantic elements were written in a way that you could feel the tenderness of it. We also saw how society changes during the Edwardian era into the era of George V. The family Agnes is working for has to change too. Agnes was a real character that I loved reading about. Cannot say too much as I will give away the ending of the book.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work now.
This book was historical fiction but with a gothic feel about it. The romantic elements were written in a way that you could feel the tenderness of it. We also saw how society changes during the Edwardian era into the era of George V. The family Agnes is working for has to change too. Agnes was a real character that I loved reading about. Cannot say too much as I will give away the ending of the book.
I look forward to reading more of this authors work now.
meaghanreadshfx's review
5.0
I loved Lying with Lions, it reminds me of everything great of Downton Abbey with plenty more intrigue and darkness. I really enjoy historical fiction and this book hits all the right notes. Agnes is a really compelling character and is really empowered despite the setting. Lying with Lions really handles classism and the shifts between classes really well and the romance aspect of this is handled with care. It's a definite must-read!
inkyteacups's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
§ I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley/the author to review but I was not financially compensated in any way. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my observations while reading this novel. §
"Lying With Lions" is a historical fiction novel with a LGBT+ element. The story revolves around Agnes, who is an archivist in the noble Bryant household. Slowly, she starts to uncover more secrets and is pulled into the family business. Especially those of Lady Bryant.
Agnes and Lady Bryant stand out not because they are extremely strong characters in their own ways. Agnes is the quiet one who is smart and knows exactly how to play people. While Lady Bryant was born into power, and carries the strength to keep it. Criticisms does not matter to her. Her motives are indomitable according to her, even as a new age starts to dawn.
While the blurb promises one big secret to uncover, it is hard to discover which one exactly that is supposed to be. During the the whole plot there are plenty of scandals. So it was hard to focus on either of them because up until halfway through the book, I realised that there is not going to be a single big one that the story was building up to. In 233 pages there appear to be five family dramas, which is a lot to ask of so few pages. Added to that, that the pace is rather slow. So you end up with a book you can put aside almost any time.
However, the ending is *chef kiss*. It is raw, and powerful. In the end, it remains a tragedy and I loved it. Then there is the difference between the outside view and what really happened.
In the end, a good ending could not save "Lying with Lions" from its rating. Unfortunately, it is let down by various mistakes as well as a plot that appears to be all over the place.
A FULL REVIEW IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE BLOG LATER THIS WEEK!
"Lying With Lions" is a historical fiction novel with a LGBT+ element. The story revolves around Agnes, who is an archivist in the noble Bryant household. Slowly, she starts to uncover more secrets and is pulled into the family business. Especially those of Lady Bryant.
Agnes and Lady Bryant stand out not because they are extremely strong characters in their own ways. Agnes is the quiet one who is smart and knows exactly how to play people. While Lady Bryant was born into power, and carries the strength to keep it. Criticisms does not matter to her. Her motives are indomitable according to her, even as a new age starts to dawn.
While the blurb promises one big secret to uncover, it is hard to discover which one exactly that is supposed to be. During the the whole plot there are plenty of scandals. So it was hard to focus on either of them because up until halfway through the book, I realised that there is not going to be a single big one that the story was building up to. In 233 pages there appear to be five family dramas, which is a lot to ask of so few pages. Added to that, that the pace is rather slow. So you end up with a book you can put aside almost any time.
However, the ending is *chef kiss*. It is raw, and powerful. In the end, it remains a tragedy and I loved it. Then there is the difference between the outside view and what really happened.
In the end, a good ending could not save "Lying with Lions" from its rating. Unfortunately, it is let down by various mistakes as well as a plot that appears to be all over the place.
A FULL REVIEW IS GOING TO BE AVAILABLE ON THE BLOG LATER THIS WEEK!
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape, War, and Sexual content
saintlyhowl's review
3.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Before starting this book, I was in a MASSIVE reading slump and I’m so glad I picked up this book because it was a very quick and enjoyable read and I feel it’s gotten me out of my slump!!! Historical fiction is typically a genre I don’t tend to go towards but the synopsis plus the fact that this had a sapphic couple made me very excited to read this!!! The writing style was automatically something I loved from the very start, it has that porse-type style to it that I always love. Agnes also interested me because of how smart she seemed and I loved how ambitious she is throughout the story, especially because it was something I could relate to in the character. But, I found beyond that I didn’t really care that much for her character. Initially I went into the book for the romance (as I always do lol), but I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that the plot was very, very well developed and I found I enjoyed it more than the romance aspect. I didn’t connect much at all to Lady Helen and her relationship with Agnes, which was disappointing. I feel this is definitely a book to read more so for the plot and aesthetic rather than the characters and romance. I’m very glad I checked out this book and will definitely look forward to reading more of the authors works!!!!
Before starting this book, I was in a MASSIVE reading slump and I’m so glad I picked up this book because it was a very quick and enjoyable read and I feel it’s gotten me out of my slump!!! Historical fiction is typically a genre I don’t tend to go towards but the synopsis plus the fact that this had a sapphic couple made me very excited to read this!!! The writing style was automatically something I loved from the very start, it has that porse-type style to it that I always love. Agnes also interested me because of how smart she seemed and I loved how ambitious she is throughout the story, especially because it was something I could relate to in the character. But, I found beyond that I didn’t really care that much for her character. Initially I went into the book for the romance (as I always do lol), but I was pleasantly surprised with the fact that the plot was very, very well developed and I found I enjoyed it more than the romance aspect. I didn’t connect much at all to Lady Helen and her relationship with Agnes, which was disappointing. I feel this is definitely a book to read more so for the plot and aesthetic rather than the characters and romance. I’m very glad I checked out this book and will definitely look forward to reading more of the authors works!!!!
lkluhs24's review
4.0
I’m really happy that NetGalley offered me the opportunity to read this book ! This was so cool: the historical context with the Bryant history was super nice. I just think that a little part ( around the middle ) is too fast so it’s very difficult to understand. Appart from that, the book is awesome.
rosiebooks10's review
3.0
✨3.5/5 Rating✨
Spoilers & Thoughts Below!!
•A historical fiction following Agnes Ashford, an archivist employed by the Bryant family who uncovers a long buried family secret and gets tangled in their lies and ambition.
•This was an enjoyable read, I loved the Edwardian era and all the historical elements throughout this book.
•The writing was very beautiful and descriptive.
•The premise of the book was very interesting and the beginning definitely was captivating. However, it did slow down and kind of drag towards the middle and end.
•The relationship between Agnes and Lady Helen was well written and developed. Their dynamic was intriguing and definitely based on loyalty and servitude.
•Overall, this was just a beautifully slow written historical family saga filled with secrets and a sapphic romance.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**
Spoilers & Thoughts Below!!
•A historical fiction following Agnes Ashford, an archivist employed by the Bryant family who uncovers a long buried family secret and gets tangled in their lies and ambition.
•This was an enjoyable read, I loved the Edwardian era and all the historical elements throughout this book.
•The writing was very beautiful and descriptive.
•The premise of the book was very interesting and the beginning definitely was captivating. However, it did slow down and kind of drag towards the middle and end.
•The relationship between Agnes and Lady Helen was well written and developed. Their dynamic was intriguing and definitely based on loyalty and servitude.
•Overall, this was just a beautifully slow written historical family saga filled with secrets and a sapphic romance.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**