Scan barcode
A review by sheaisaliterarywreck
Lying With Lions by Annabel Fielding
dark
reflective
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? Yes
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and KDP for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Lying with Lions is a historical fiction family saga that follows the Bryant/Davenport family primarily from the perspective of Agnes Ashford, a young archivist with forged qualifications who is looking to make her place in the world. Agnes falls into an affair with Lady Bryant and finds herself catapulted into the family drama: no longer is she merely the orphaned archivist, she is now the dearest confidant and secretary to Her Ladyship. The drama that unfolds is brutal, and none are left unscathed.
LwL reads very much like a classic from the period, but lacks the social commentary I normally appreciate coming hand-in-hand with the style. I hoped I would find the family saga compelling enough on its own, but I instead found myself irritated with the success of Agnes' manipulations despite her regular lack of forethought (many of her actions seemed to be contradictory to her characterization—in an unbelievable way, rather than in an unreliable narrator way) and the stale chemistry between Agnes and Lady Bryant. The last quarter of the book did finally begin to change my harsh opinion of Agnes and her affair, but not significantly enough for me to rate the book a full 4 stars. The concept of the story and much of its plot I thoroughly enjoyed, but its execution less so.
Lying with Lions is a historical fiction family saga that follows the Bryant/Davenport family primarily from the perspective of Agnes Ashford, a young archivist with forged qualifications who is looking to make her place in the world. Agnes falls into an affair with Lady Bryant and finds herself catapulted into the family drama: no longer is she merely the orphaned archivist, she is now the dearest confidant and secretary to Her Ladyship. The drama that unfolds is brutal, and none are left unscathed.
LwL reads very much like a classic from the period, but lacks the social commentary I normally appreciate coming hand-in-hand with the style. I hoped I would find the family saga compelling enough on its own, but I instead found myself irritated with the success of Agnes' manipulations despite her regular lack of forethought (many of her actions seemed to be contradictory to her characterization—in an unbelievable way, rather than in an unreliable narrator way) and the stale chemistry between Agnes and Lady Bryant. The last quarter of the book did finally begin to change my harsh opinion of Agnes and her affair, but not significantly enough for me to rate the book a full 4 stars. The concept of the story and much of its plot I thoroughly enjoyed, but its execution less so.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and War