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Loading... Blood Between Queens (edition 2013)by Barbara Kyle
Work InformationBlood Between Queens by Barbara Kyle
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. BLOOD BETWEEN QUEENS by Barbara Kyle is a riveting Historical fiction set in England. The tale of two Queens, Mary, Queen of Scots and Queen Elizabeth of England. Mary fleds to England in hopes Queen Elizabeth will grant her sanction. What happens than is only part of the story.....Filled with spies, danger, jealousy, betrayal,rivalry,intrigue,and history. Ms. Kyle blends history with intrigue and romance. A great read for anyone who enjoys history, England, the Tudor era,and intrigue. You don't want to miss this thrilling and intriguing story of the Two Queens. Received for an honest review from the publisher. RATING: 4 HEAT RATING: MILD REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy My Book Addiction and More Where I got the book: won it on the author's blog. This is the fifth book in Barbara Kyle's Thornleigh series, about a family close to the English court during the reigns of the Tudors. Justine Thornleigh, a daughter of the Thornleighs' rivals, the Grenvilles, has been brought up as a Thornleigh and is presumed to have relinquished her family's Catholic sympathies. Her loyalty to Queen Elizabeth is tested when she is sent to be a lady in waiting to, and to spy on, Mary Queen of Scots. Life is further complicated by the fact that her true love, Will, is a Thornleigh who would be horrified to know that Justine's really a Grenville, and by the murder of her best friend, which must be avenged. I do like the way Kyle weaves real history into a tale of adventure and ambition spanning generations. It's the currently fashionable trope of seeing history through the eyes of a minor character, but given extra dimension by introducing a large cast of characters and making sure their lives aren't easy. There are times at which I find the device isn't entirely successful; we lose sight of the murder mystery at intervals, for example. But on the whole it's an entertaining, lively piece of fiction, a refreshing twist on the Tudor genre. Justine Grenville, the ward of Richard Thornleigh, is tasked with a very important mission on behalf of Elizabeth I. She must befriend Elizabeth’s cousin Mary, Queen of Scots and report back any suspicious behavior. To do this will win her great favor with her betrothed, Will Thornleigh. She must prove that she is a loyal Protestant and deny her Catholic upbringing. After someone from her past makes an appearance, her faith is put to the test. Though the characters are engaging, the plot line was a bit predictable. It did however have everything that I love about a good Tudor novel, schemes and betrayal. Each page brought the reader further into the intrigue but also at times got a bit complicated with the abundance of characters that come in and out and obviously have a back story but this being the fifth novel the reader is unaware exactly what it is. Even with the few downsides to Blood Between Queens, I would still recommend this to all Tudor era readers. The blend of historical facts and Barbara Kyle’s imagination flows seamlessly and at times you can picture yourself standing in the halls alongside Elizabeth I. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to SeriesThornleigh Saga (5)
Fiction.
Literature.
Romance.
Historical Fiction.
HTML:Riveting, adventurous. . .superb! â??Historical Novel Society Following her perilous fall from a throne she'd scarcely owned to begin with, Mary, Queen of Scots, has fled to England, hoping her cousin, Queen Elizabeth, will grant her asylum. But now Mary has her sights on the English crown, and Elizabeth enlists her most trusted subjects to protect it. Justine Thornleigh is delighting in the thrill of Queen Elizabeth's visit to her family's estate when the festivities are cut short by Mary's arrival. To Justine's surprise, the Thornleighs appoint her to serve as a spy in Mary's court. But bearing the guise of a lady-in-waiting is not Justine's only secret. The weight of her task is doubled by fears of revealing to her fiancé that she is in truth the daughter of his family's greatest rival. Duty-bound, Justine must sacrifice love as she navigates a deadly labyrinth of betrayal that could lead to the end of Elizabeth's fledgling reign. . . Compelling and inventive, Blood Between Queens artfully blends history's most intriguing figures with unforgettable characters, bringing to dazzling life the fascinating Tudor era. "Colorful descriptions, accurate details and exciting twists. . .designed to keep readers' attention." â??Romantic Times on The Queen's Captive "Unfurls a complex and fast-paced plot, mixing history with vibrant characters." â??Publishers Weekly on The King's Daughter "Riveting, heady, glorious, inspired." â??Susan Wiggs on The Queen's Lady Praise for The Queen's Gamble "Starts strong and doesn't let up. . .Kyle's latest is extremely accessible for readers unfamiliar with the series." â??Publishers Weekly "Memorable characters, lush historical details, fascinating intrigues, and court drama. History and romance merge, loyalty and passions run high and readers are riveted to the pages." â??RT Book R No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.54Literature English (North America) American fiction 20th Century 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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I have long been fascinated with the relationship between Queen Elizabeth I (one of my most favorite historical figures) and her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. 'What would it have been like to order the execution of a blood relative?' is a question I have long asked myself as I have read about Elizabeth over the years. In Blood Between Queens, the situation between the two queens is the back drop to a story about a feud between families loyal to each faction respectfully, the Thornleighs and the Grenvilles. I liked the depiction of the famous rivalry between queens played out between these noble families.
What struck me is that Kyle knows her history. It is evident that the research was impeccable in the depiction of the historical figures and occurrences, as well in the sights and sounds of that age. I now must go back and read her other books. I can't believe I have not discovered her until now.
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