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A review by abookishaffair
Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I by Sandra Byrd
4.0
"Roses Have Thorns" is another great historical fiction pick from Sandra Byrd. It's told from the perspective of Elin, who comes from Sweden as part of a royal delegation and is left behind. She works her way through the court of Queen Elizabeth I to become one of Elizabeth's most treasured ladies-in-waiting. This isn't my first Byrd book and I continued to like the way that she tells a story. She really knows how to keep you engaged. The historical
I absolutely love reading about the court of Elizabeth. She is one of my very favorite historical figures to read about. She seems to have sort of a different favor in every book that I read about her and I love seeing all of the different facets.
Because Elin becomes such a close confidant to Elizabeth, we get a really good picture of who Elizabeth was as a person and as a friend. Elin is a great narrator and I thought that it was really cool that Byrd based it off of a real woman as she states in her author's note at the end of the book. As Byrd points out, there are a lot of people that think that Elizabeth wasn't good friends with any woman so Byrd was intrigued by this Elin who not only was one of the ladies-in-waiting but a close friend I don't mind made-up characters but I think it's always interesting to hear stories about real people. I really enjoyed seeing things from Elin's perspective.
Elin herself is a really interesting character. She is smart and savvy. She also has a way with herbs that I really enjoyed reading about her skills as it is something that I'm interested in.
Bottom line: This book is definitely another good historical fiction book!
I absolutely love reading about the court of Elizabeth. She is one of my very favorite historical figures to read about. She seems to have sort of a different favor in every book that I read about her and I love seeing all of the different facets.
Because Elin becomes such a close confidant to Elizabeth, we get a really good picture of who Elizabeth was as a person and as a friend. Elin is a great narrator and I thought that it was really cool that Byrd based it off of a real woman as she states in her author's note at the end of the book. As Byrd points out, there are a lot of people that think that Elizabeth wasn't good friends with any woman so Byrd was intrigued by this Elin who not only was one of the ladies-in-waiting but a close friend I don't mind made-up characters but I think it's always interesting to hear stories about real people. I really enjoyed seeing things from Elin's perspective.
Elin herself is a really interesting character. She is smart and savvy. She also has a way with herbs that I really enjoyed reading about her skills as it is something that I'm interested in.
Bottom line: This book is definitely another good historical fiction book!